c36 – The Secret of the Treasure Map
Just when Naruto was puzzled, the ninja called the captain emerged with the female ninja, carrying a blue treasure box reinforced with chakra-seals. The box emitted a faint, unnatural glow similar to sealing tools used by shinobi clans, and the engraved words "treasure map" were visible even from a distance. Naruto thought to himself: "This definitely isn't a normal object. I didn't expect to stumble into something this valuable by chance." The four missing-nin were equally delighted by obtaining the map. The leader said, "It was hidden well, but it finally fell into our hands. It seems this mission is close to completion."
Just as the four began to celebrate, a black shadow flashed like the Body Flicker Technique, and the treasure box suddenly disappeared from their hands. A masked figure in black appeared before them, it was Naruto. The captain was a seasoned rogue shinobi; seeing the box taken from him so cleanly, he realized the intruder's speed was on par with elite-level fighters. Although he had been careless for a moment, he knew this opponent was strong. He signaled the others, and the four quickly surrounded Naruto in a formation similar to an Iwagakure assault pattern, saying, "You're alone, and we have four, plus the two jōnin outside six in total. Hand over the treasure map, and we might spare your life."
Naruto smiled lightly and said, "You really are an experienced shinobi. Emphasizing your numerical advantage to make the enemy surrender is a reasonable tactic. But you should also know that with real masters, numbers don't mean much."
They understood Naruto wasn't so easily intimidated, so after exchanging brief nods, they launched their attack.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!" The hot-tempered ninja formed seals, driving several sharp earthen spikes erupting from the ground around Naruto. Naruto dashed forward instantly, weaving between the spears while charging toward the attackers.
The female ninja quickly formed seals. "Water Style: Great Water Flow!" A powerful torrent surged toward Naruto, but he activated his Thunder God Armor, cloaking himself in an aura of lightning-chakra and continuing forward. Another ninja formed seals at the same moment: "Earth Style: Flowing Earth River!" Water and Earth combined to form a thick mudslide that tried to swallow Naruto's footing, but the lightning armor neutralized most of the resistance. At that instant, the leader completed his own seals. "Earth Style: Falling Stone Sky!" A massive boulder materialized overhead. Naruto was forced to draw the Thunder God Sword and cleave the falling mass; otherwise, he would be crushed. The boulder split in half, but just as he prepared to counterattack, he suddenly noticed four separate chakra signatures hiding nearby.
The four missing-nin began forming synchronized seals, clearly preparing a joint Earth-Style technique. Naruto was about to leap away when a huge shadow fell from above. "Earth Release: Skyfall Earth Prison!" A colossal block of solid earth dropped straight down, trapping Naruto instantly. A thick earthen wall rose around the perimeter as well forming a barrier-type jutsu reminiscent of the Earth Dome Prison technique. Through the solid wall, Naruto heard their mocking laughter. From the sound, the wall was at least a meter thick. The captain shouted, "Judging from the jutsu you used, you're strong stronger than we expected. Too bad you didn't escape when you had the chance. Now that you're trapped inside, you have no way out."
Naruto hadn't expected four more shinobi hiding in ambush, nor that they would coordinate such a technique. He had been caught off guard. Although he didn't know the exact durability of this specialized earth prison, he realized it was his miscalculation. However, based on the jutsu they used mostly Earth Release techniques.these shinobi were almost certainly from or trained in the Land of Earth, familiar with Iwagakure-style teamwork. With limited manpower, this tactical setup made sense. Naruto looked around and noticed the earthen dome slowly shrinking inward. If he did not break out soon, he would literally be compressed.
He poured a vast amount of chakra into the Thunder God Sword. Naruto sprinted forward, gathering momentum for a devastating thrust. Although the strike was not as overwhelming as the Fourth Raikage's Liger Bomb, Naruto was confident this blow could pierce even Orochimaru's Rashōmon gates. The blade slammed into the earth wall with tremendous force, violently shaking the entire dome. The shinobi outside could clearly see the intense flash of the Thunder God Sword's lightning. The four who cast the technique muttered nervously, "What frightening penetration power… No attack has ever pierced this jutsu before. We didn't expect anything like that. But if he can't break it in one go, it won't matter."
Naruto saw that the first strike did not penetrate the earth wall and immediately realized that this earthen prison was not an ordinary Doton technique. In the manga, Lightning Release naturally counters Earth Release, and the Thunder God Sword enhanced by concentrated lightning chakra and shaped like a piercing raiton blade should have shredded normal earth defenses. His attack gathered all power into a single point, similar to the Raikiri's piercing principle, yet the wall held and even began slowly regenerating. Still, Naruto remained calm. He focused more chakra into his blade and delivered a second thrust. The reinforced wall cracked violently and finally broke before it could finish repairing. But as the dust fell, Naruto saw another earth wall behind it.
It turned out that each time Naruto struck one wall, the four shinobi outside immediately formed seals to create a second layered defense, similar to how Iwagakure teams traditionally combine Earth Release to create multi-layer barriers. Breaking through in one strike was the only way to escape. Naruto increased his chakra output and attempted again, but the reinforced double-layer still held. The captain's mocking voice echoed from outside: "What tremendous power, but it's useless. We've increased the wall's thickness. You'll be crushed inside soon enough."
Naruto noticed the walls closing in more rapidly now, clearly intending to finish him quickly. He considered using the Flying Thunder God to escape, but doing so would almost certainly expose his secret technique something he had been careful to avoid in previous chapters. For a moment, he could not think of a simple solution. If his teammates were here, they could combine attacks to break through the layered Doton barrier, but he was alone.
Then Naruto realized something important this earthen prison was nothing like Jirobo's chakra-absorbing Earth Release: Earth Dome from the manga. These walls did not drain chakra. When Naruto used ninjutsu inside, his chakra flow remained normal. With that in mind, he instantly formed a shadow clone. The clone gathered chakra to form a Rasengan, while the real Naruto focused lightning chakra into his hand, preparing to merge techniques. The clone smashed the Rasengan into the inner wall. The four shinobi outside could not see through the solid barrier, but they sensed the earth prison being damaged again. The captain signaled his comrades, and all three immediately began forming seals, hurriedly creating another falling earth wall. At that moment, a burst of lightning erupted from inside. By the time the added wall fell, it was already too late the combined Rasengan impact and Naruto's piercing Lightning Strike blasted a path open. Naruto stepped out with the Thunder God Sword in hand, his black cloak snapping in the wind.
The shinobi who cast the earth prison stared in disbelief. "I didn't expect you to unleash such high-level ninjutsu continuously. Techniques of this caliber normally require time to gather chakra. Even the Raikage rarely performs attacks like that in rapid succession. Just who are you?"
The eight shinobi had originally been two separate squads, but the four-man team's captain commanded the entire group, including the masked gate guards. Although Naruto escaped the earth prison, the two sentries had already rushed in. All ten now surrounded him in a tightening circle. The captain said, "Your strength is impressive, I'll admit that. But surrounded by ten shinobi, you will fall sooner or later. I'll say it again hand over the treasure map."
Naruto replied, "Are you worried I'll destroy the map if I'm pressured? It sounds like this treasure map matters to you far more than it does to me. Tell me what secret it holds. If you do, maybe I'll consider giving it to you."
Seeing that Naruto was deliberately stalling, the man shouted angrily, "If you value your life so little, then don't blame us for what happens next!" He immediately began forming seals again.
Naruto had no idea what strange combination jutsu these ten might use together, and defeating all of them instantly would not be easy. So he quickly dropped several smoke bombs, marked a hidden location, activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, and disappeared.
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