Chapter 65: Instant Defeat of Konoha's Three "Shinobi"
Eastern Konoha.
In a forest, Li Yao lay resting atop the thick branches of a large tree.
After eating his fill the previous night, he had continued traveling for another four hours.
Combined with the strain from unlocking his chakra points earlier, his mind was utterly exhausted.
It was a fatigue that physical vitality alone couldn't restore—only sleep could.
But sleep? Absolutely out of the question.
He didn't dare fall into a deep sleep—not while still inside the Land of Fire. It was too risky.
Instead, Li Yao rested with his eyes half-closed, shutting down all mental activity and leaving just enough awareness active to monitor chakra fluctuations.
And his caution proved correct.
Ten minutes into his rest, three figures entered his sensory range—an enemy shinobi team. Li Yao snapped awake instantly.
"So they've finally come."
He stood up, rubbing his bloodshot eyes.
He looked exactly like someone who had just fallen asleep only to be suddenly roused—mind no calmer than before, perhaps even more exhausted.
Li Yao focused on the three chakra signatures approaching him through the woods.
In such a remote area, a group of three ninja heading in his direction could only mean one thing: they were hunting him.
That Konoha would send a team to pursue him didn't surprise Li Yao.
But that they'd arrive so quickly—he hadn't expected.
He knew slaughtering a noble family the night before would draw Konoha's attention. He'd left obvious tracks—ones he couldn't conceal.
Even though his ability to suppress chakra fluctuations far surpassed ANBU, he couldn't erase physical traces left on the ground.
With the observational skills of a trained shinobi, they'd find him eventually.
"If only I could fly…"
Li Yao thought. If he could fly and suppress his chakra, most tracking techniques would be useless against him.
Unfortunately, very few ninjutsu granted true flight.
The most famous was the Third Tsuchikage's Light-Weight Rock Technique.
Li Yao longed to copy it someday.
But for now, he needed to evade Konoha's pursuit.
He quickly devised a response.
With a thought, he created a Shadow Clone.
The clone stayed in place, while the real Li Yao forced his weary mind onward in a new direction.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Four kilometers behind, three figures raced through the treetops, closing the distance.
They were a Konoha patrol team—each squad comprised of three ninja trained in tracking and sensory skills.
They specialized in hunting down rogue shinobi within the Land of Fire.
They had been the first to discover the massacre at the noble estate.
"Captain, the target's movements last night suggest they're heading out of the country. Maybe they're not a local rogue. Should we alert our comrades near the border?"
The man with short hair and a sword on his back asked while moving.
Ordinary rogues wouldn't try to cross the border now—the perimeter was heavily guarded. Any attempt would be instantly sensed and intercepted.
Besides, most strays wouldn't dare attack nobles.
Doing so in the Land of Fire was a major crime. Konoha would pursue the culprit relentlessly to appease the noble class.
It was more common for rogue ninjas to rob merchants or civilians—not nobles.
And two of the slain ninja had been from the Sarutobi clan.
That suggested something more than random violence—possibly a covert operation from a rival nation.
If that were true, their team needed to alert command immediately.
Letting such an intruder escape would be disastrous.
"Not yet. Let's catch up to the target first."
The woman in the lead had flowing black hair, a fitted uniform, and striking curves. As she leapt between trees, her long legs moved with elegance and strength, unintentionally drawing the attention of the men on her flanks.
Her face was beautiful and cold.
In response to her teammate's suggestion, she gave a sharp look and said, "We don't know the target's full capabilities. Let's locate them first. Then we'll decide whether to alert the border teams."
They hadn't even seen the enemy's face. Premature alerts would only stir trouble.
Besides… she had already informed Sarutobi Hiruzen. Now she just needed to confirm whether the killer of those two brothers had acted deliberately.
That distinction mattered.
At one kilometer away, the captain halted.
"Stop!"
She raised her hand. The team froze.
The target had suddenly stopped moving. In her chakra sense, they were just ahead—still, unhidden.
"What is it, Captain?"
"Be alert. The target may have detected us."
"Prepare for combat."
"Yes, ma'am."
The three moved into a triangular formation as they approached.
"They're coming."
Li Yao's clone smiled. As the three approached within 100 meters, they split up—just as he expected. The strongest chakra signature charged straight ahead. The other two flanked from left and right to trap him.
Li Yao didn't move. He silently calculated their distance.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…!
At 20 meters, the three intentionally revealed themselves before quickly darting behind trees and using the opportunity to throw shuriken at Li Yao.
Their clones rushed forward while the real bodies attacked from cover.
But it was all futile—Li Yao's chakra sense detected everything.
Unless it was a Shadow Clone, standard elemental clones could never fool him.
"Genjutsu: Darkness Technique."
"Sealing Technique: Black Iron Chains."
With a thought, Li Yao swatted away the incoming shuriken using his chains.
At the same time, his darkness genjutsu burst forth from his body, infiltrating all three targets—including their real bodies twenty meters away.
In an instant, their vision went black. The clones vanished.
"Genjutsu—damn it!"
They realized immediately that their tactics had been anticipated and countered.
"He's a genjutsu expert!"
They tried to activate the genjutsu release seals inside their bodies.
Clang clang clang!
But three black iron chains pierced the air—too fast.
Before they could react, the chains struck.
Bang bang bang!
Though they were seasoned warriors who managed to block the first volley based on sound and instinct alone—even blind—they couldn't stop the second.
Li Yao's chains wrapped around all three, sealing their chakra and binding them tightly.
"Indeed, intelligence determines victory in a ninja battle."
Looking at the three Konoha ninja restrained at his feet, Li Yao couldn't help but reflect again on the power of information.
They had no idea he could use genjutsu. Against an unfamiliar enemy, they were no match—even though they were comparable to ANBU.
Of course, credit was also due to his powerful Darkness Genjutsu technique.
And the fact that his chain control speed had increased significantly.
Regardless, he had won.
And now it was time to reap the spoils.
With a thought, three Adamantine Chains shot from Li Yao's body and pierced the captives.
Chakra flowed into his dantian and Death Gate storage at a steady pace.
(END CHAPTER)
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