Chapter 67: I'll Win
"Inside the bamboo forest—seven shinobi total. Three patrol around the secret base perimeter. Four others hide using concealment techniques while maintaining the damaged barrier."
Yoru and Tsunade lay atop a massive boulder, their bodies concealed beneath colored cloth matching the stone—the most basic concealment technique.
They currently watched the bamboo forest ahead, hearing Katsuyu's voice.
Before the Slug Sage's perception, the bamboo forest's defensive arrangements proved utterly useless.
"There's a barrier but no chakra energy wall, meaning it's not a defensive barrier like Three-Way Seal or Four Violet Flames Formation—it's a sensory-type barrier." Tsunade analyzed quietly. "This barrier type doesn't just cover the ground but also the underground. Even Earth Body Flicker cannot avoid its detection. Even successful infiltration will expose chakra fluctuations."
"Silent infiltration appears impossible."
Tsunade turned to stare at Yoru, expression grave as she stated her plan: "Shortly, we'll attack together at maximum speed to eliminate those seven, then search their bodies for antidote. If the secret base below truly is a pharmaceutical workshop, we'll ignore everything else, quickly gather all medicine and formula-related materials, and have Katsuyu-sama transport them to Shikkotsu Forest."
Rather than nodding, Yoru proposed: "Since time is critical, let me handle those seven. I don't understand much about medical knowledge—better to buy you time instead."
"Shinobi handling guard duty like this start at chunin level minimum. Can you manage?" Tsunade's gaze showed doubt.
"Don't worry. I'll win." Yoru grinned.
That confident appearance made Tsunade freeze slightly.
Thinking of Katsuyu's evaluation, then considering the Flying Thunder God Technique and Body Flicker speed surpassing her own, Tsunade couldn't help nodding, cautioning: "Alright, those seven are yours! If outmatched, don't persist. The secret base below isn't confirmed as a pharmaceutical workshop yet. Even if this plan fails, we have other methods to obtain antidote."
"Understood." Yoru made an OK gesture.
"Let's go!"
Tsunade's fighting spirit also rose.
As her words fell, Yoru and Tsunade simultaneously transformed into afterimages, rushing toward the bamboo forest ahead.
Yoru's speed proved fastest—in a blink, he left Tsunade far behind, resembling curved lightning shooting into the bamboo forest.
Since he wasn't using full-body intangibility, the four Ame shinobi maintaining the sensory barrier instantly detected Yoru's chakra.
"Alert. Intruder detected."
An Ame shinobi disguised as a bamboo forest rock used his radio to inform the patrolling shinobi.
Those three Ame shinobi instantly tensed, about to retrieve signal flares from their persons to call for help.
The radio sounding again made them relax, abandoning that idea.
"Only one intruder. Chakra strength... veteran chunin level."
"Probably reconnaissance squad. Capture him, or leave an intact corpse, and wait for Hanzo-sama..."
Another Ame shinobi maintaining the barrier prepared to issue orders when his voice suddenly stopped.
Before him, a figure had appeared at some unknown moment, raising a hand to wave through his concealment technique camouflage: "Hello."
"Enem—"
The Ame shinobi only managed one word before a palm grabbed his face. Tremendous force yanked him from the fake rock.
Instinctively attempting resistance, the Ame shinobi discovered his limbs couldn't move.
Losing one maintainer, the sensory barrier instantly returned to its damaged state.
"Call for help!"
The other three Ame shinobi maintaining the barrier shouted urgently.
Among the three Ame shinobi patrolling near the secret base entrance, one immediately attempted to retrieve his signal flare to fire a support request skyward.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
At that moment, three piercing sounds reached their ears.
Three kunai flew in triangular formation—one leading, two following.
Merely glancing at the kunai, that Ame shinobi continued retrieving his signal flare.
Splurt—
Before the kunai approached, a figure used Body Flicker to appear ahead, drawing his shinobi blade to slash, preparing to block these ninja tools for his companion.
The blade struck the leading kunai, but rather than producing the "clang" of metal collision or the "crack" of shattering, it made the sound of tearing cloth and bursting flesh.
The sword-wielding Ame shinobi's eyes widened, gaze filled with shock, his brain freezing.
Because the kunai before him had transformed into the companion who'd just warned them.
Why would he appear here?
Why would he block a blade for a kunai?
In that moment of stunned confusion, the remaining two kunai already flew past him from left and right.
Swish—
A black flash laced with dazzling gold flickered before the Ame shinobi's eyes.
Darkness and heaviness invaded his vision and consciousness.
His head dropped to the ground while his body still maintained sword-swinging posture.
He didn't even know he'd already died.
This death proved far more fortunate than his two companions behind him.
The companion appearing from nowhere likewise froze the other two patrolling Ame shinobi in place.
However, the flying kunai jolted them alert.
Unable to retrieve signal flares now, both Ame shinobi instinctively used Body Flicker to evade, leaping left and right into the air.
While airborne and retreating, they personally witnessed that companion's death scene.
A black figure appeared from nowhere, hand shooting a dazzling golden beam that swept horizontally across their companion's neck.
The golden beam seemingly possessed unstoppable power, instantly separating their companion's head from body.
This incredible scene shocked both men.
"Watch your backs!"
Suddenly, their earpieces transmitted the sensory ninja's warning.
Both reflexively looked behind the other, pupils immediately contracting.
Behind them in the bamboo forest stood a figure maintaining throwing posture, apparently having thrown something.
Their bodies produced no sounds of blades entering flesh, no sounds of vest blocking impacts.
Before they could guess what he'd thrown, kunai appeared crossed before their eyes.
Then that familiar black flash carrying dazzling gold flickered repeatedly before their vision.
Splurt splurt splurt...
As a series of cloth-tearing sounds rang out, severed limbs flew through the air.
They personally witnessed companions being cut in half at the waist, limbs and heads separating from bodies.
The separation speed proved so fast that by the time excruciating pain arrived, both Ame shinobi had lost the ability to scream.
Only that Ame shinobi struck by sealing technique—not killed by his companion's blade—watched with trembling pupils and fearful eyes at that figure who'd landed with back turned, wielding a golden light sword, surrounded by blood rain and falling corpses.
At this moment, in this Ame shinobi's eyes, that figure undoubtedly represented the shinobi world's most terrifying demon!
***
20+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces