Chapter 104: [Smoke Clone Technique]!
Wisps of green smoke passed through the cracks in the tree and floated outside, landing and transforming into a child of about eight or nine years old.
Nara Keisuke looked at the fantastical scene before him, and his understanding of the Iburi clan's "Smoke Release" immediately deepened. To be perfectly honest, the functionality of the Iburi clan's "Smoke Release" was excellent. The ability to transform one's own body into elusive white smoke could be regarded as an extraordinary "shape transformation." Whether used for concealment or defense, this "Smoke Release" could produce very good effects.
However, compared to its functionality, the drawbacks of "Smoke Release" were far too severe. Its extreme instability meant that even a gentle breeze could potentially take the life of an Iburi clan ninja. Under these circumstances, it was simply impossible for them to stably use their Kekkei Genkai ability. An ability that cannot be used is no different from having "no ability."
'If the Iburi clan's Smoke Release Kekkei Genkai could be stabilized, would they grow into a powerful Kekkei Genkai family comparable to Kirigakure's Hozuki clan in the future?'
'The myriad forms of smoke and water can both, to a certain extent, grant immunity to physical attacks...'
'And the weight of smoke is lighter than water, allowing it to float in the air. This could also be used as a special form of flight...'
While a few scattered thoughts flashed through Keisuke's mind, Iburi Yukimi also noticed that due to her rashness, her younger brother had left her side. A look of nervousness and anxiety immediately appeared on her slightly freckled little face. Hiding in the tree hollow, she threw herself forward, trying to squeeze out from between the cracks.
But Yukimi was not yet very proficient in her family's inherited "smoke transformation" skill. Her forward lunge not only failed to get her out of the tree hollow, but instead, her head slammed into the inner wall of the trunk, and with a "thud," she bounced back to where she started.
Seeing this, Nara Keisuke couldn't help but want to laugh. He looked at Uchiha Shisui's shadow clone at his side and nodded. The clone burst with a "poof," turning into a puff of smoke and dissipating on the spot, but it left with the intelligence that "the target has been found."
"Big sister!" Tenzō cried out in alarm. He subconsciously used his "smoke transformation" ability, wanting to return to the tree hollow.
"Tenzō, wait for me outside!" Yukimi's voice came from within the tree. "I'll be right out!"
As soon as her voice fell, another wisp of light smoke floated out of the crack, landed outside, and transformed into a young girl of about eleven or twelve.
"Big sister!" Tenzō ran over and hugged his sister's waist tightly. "Big sister, I want to go home!"
"Be good, Tenzō." Yukimi comfortingly patted her brother's head. "Once we get to Konoha and see Lord Orochimaru, everything will be fine."
This pair of siblings—no, the entire Iburi clan, has such a strong obsession with Orochimaru...
Nara Keisuke raised an eyebrow. To dispel their idea of going to Konoha, he spoke up to remind them, "Even if you go to Konoha, you won't be able to see Orochimaru."
"Why?" Yukimi looked up, nervously watching him. "Lord Orochimaru is clearly a Konoha ninja!"
"Because the war has broken out. Orochimaru is currently not in Konoha, but on the front lines fighting the enemy," Keisuke replied. "This is something everyone in Konoha knows. Considering the close relationship between your clan and Orochimaru, the adults in your family should also be aware of this."
This unexpected piece of news was like a bucket of cold water poured over Yukimi's heart. She suddenly wilted, closing her mouth and not saying a word. Sensing his sister's disappointment, Tenzō opened his small mouth but didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only silently hug her waist tighter.
A few minutes later, Uchiha Shisui and Shizune returned from the other direction, and the four-person squad regrouped.
Nara Keisuke gave the order, "Take these two children back to the Iburi clan."
Yukimi raised her head again, wanting to say something. But just then, "Grrr—grrr—" an abnormally loud rumbling sound suddenly came from her stomach. The freckled girl's face flushed "swoosh" red, and she decisively shut her mouth.
The closest one, Iburi Tenzō, was the first to hear the sound. He gently tugged on his sister's clothes with his hand and said in a low voice, "Big sister, I'm hungry too..."
"I have a rice ball here." The kind-hearted Shizune took the initiative to step forward, took a triangular onigiri from her ninja tool pouch, and handed it to the siblings. "You can use this to fill your stomachs for now."
Hyūga Retsu's brow furrowed slightly. It wasn't that she was against Shizune's kindness in sharing food with the Iburi siblings. It was just that this was not part of the mission. The squad's mission was only to find the children and bring them back to their family. But seeing that neither Shisui nor the captain had spoken up to stop it, Retsu buried this small doubt in her heart.
"Thank you," the red-faced Iburi Yukimi said, accepting the rice ball and thanking her in a small voice. She broke it into two pieces, one large and one small. She gave the larger one to her brother and kept the smaller one for herself. The two of them began to wolf down the food at almost the same time.
"Don't rush, eat slowly, there's still plenty of time..." Keisuke handed over the bottle of Ramune he hadn't had a chance to drink yet, then looked to the side. "Shisui, just now you... no, never mind."
Halfway through his sentence, a memory flowed into Keisuke's mind. The [Shadow Clone] that had been with Shisui and Shizune had already relayed the news of finding the children back to the Iburi clan.
"Big sister, and big brother, you are all good people." Yukimi, who had quickly finished the rice ball, bowed to Shizune and Keisuke with her brother to thank them. "Good people, just like Lord Orochimaru."
Little one, you have a unique way of praising people... Nara Keisuke pressed his lips together.
Shizune asked with some curiosity, "Why did you two leave your family to go find Lord Orochimaru?"
Keisuke frowned. The other two had similar expressions. "Shizune!"
"Hm?" Shizune looked at the squad leader, bewildered, not yet realizing she had asked the wrong question.
Yukimi's clear, childish voice broke the atmosphere. "Because Lord Orochimaru needs us!" she said generously. "The adults all said that Lord Orochimaru helped us solve a very big problem, and the family wants to repay him. They plan to send the most talented child to follow him. This is also what Lord Orochimaru wishes to see."
Hearing her words, Shizune belatedly reacted. She really shouldn't have opened her mouth just now...
"In any case," Keisuke said, looking at the two children and giving the order again, "let's send them back first."
In front of the cave.
"Thank you so much for your help, ninja-samas!" Iburi Gota held Yukimi and Tenzō's small hands and bowed repeatedly to Keisuke's group.
"It's our duty." Keisuke nodded slightly in return. "Mr. Iburi, we'll be returning to the village to report the mission."
Amidst the Iburi clan's thanks, the four of them quickly departed.
On the shadow eagle.
"Captain, I'm sorry." Shizune's apology reached the ears of her companions. "I shouldn't have asked that question just now."
"It's not a big deal." Keisuke controlled the [Shadow Creature], moving in the direction of Konoha. "It just means we need to report one more piece of information to the Third Hokage when we get back."
Although Keisuke said it lightly, Shizune still felt a little guilty. For a ninja, completing the mission was the first priority. All information outside the scope of the mission was basically not within a ninja's consideration. Rashly contacting and understanding other intelligence not related to the mission could easily bring unnecessary trouble to a ninja.
Shizune continued to apologize, "I'm very sorry, everyone."
"If you're really sorry, then you can treat us to a meal next time we get together," Keisuke said. He really didn't take this matter too seriously, but still offered a solution. "As for the location, we'll let Hyūga-san decide."
"Okay!" The one who responded more enthusiastically than Shizune was her little sister, Hyūga Retsu, sitting next to her.
Back in the village, at the Hokage's Office, after handing in the mission scroll.
Several messages popped up on Nara Keisuke's panel.
[D-rank Ninja Commissioned Mission Scroll has been submitted!]
[D-rank Mission [Find the Child] has been completed!]
[You have obtained one D-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]
Sarutobi Hiruzen put the mission scroll away and looked at the four youths before him with a smile. "How do you feel about your first mission?"
"Trivial and troublesome," Keisuke expressed his thoughts directly.
The smile on Hiruzen's face froze. This question, he really shouldn't have asked Nara Keisuke. Next time, he should ask Shisui instead...
"Lord Hokage, during this mission, we discovered an unexpected piece of intelligence." Keisuke organized his words and relayed the information about Orochimaru and the Iburi clan to Hiruzen.
"Mm, I am aware of the news that Orochimaru invited the Iburi clan to settle near Konoha," Hiruzen's response did not exceed Keisuke's expectations. "He has also mentioned to me about helping the Iburi clan improve their physical constitution... You've all been very diligent."
As he said this, Hiruzen directly skipped over the topic and took out a banknote from his drawer. "This is the reward for this mission, one thousand ryo."
Keisuke took the reward and led the squad out of the Hokage's Office.
Outside the building, Shizune had a look of relief. "So Lord Hokage knew about the matter between Lord Orochimaru and the Iburi clan..."
"Hm?" Keisuke glanced at Shizune, distributed the reward money to the other three according to the rules, and casually opened the D-rank secret scroll he had just obtained. "I would hope so..."
[Opening...]
[Contents of this D-rank Shinobi Secret Scroll: Technique]
[D-rank Kekkei Genkai Technique: Smoke Clone Technique]
[Technique Description: A special material clone created through a Kekkei Genkai.]
[Technique Effect: Transform the chakra in one's body into the "Smoke" nature, and use smoke as a medium to create a solid clone, with effects similar to the ordinary Shadow Clone Technique.]
[Technique Evaluation: Smoking is harmful to your health, so I became smoke.]
(End of Chapter)
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