Kumogakure Anbu, Nothing Special

Boom!

The force behind that punch was as heavy as a thousand catties.

The entire underground Anbu facility shook, and the ground around Ao Liu Yi cracked and collapsed outright.

But that was not the important part—

As the Anbu members retreated to avoid the impact, they watched Ao Liu Yi cry out in pain and stagger backward.

His arm had actually been burned!

Meanwhile, Ye Liangnai stood opposite him, casually picking at his ear, completely unharmed.

"He actually caught Ao Liu Yi's punch head-on?"

"No way, is that for real? Is something like that even possible?!"

Over all these years, they had never seen anyone besides the Raikage block Ao Liu Yi's frontal punch.

"This guy knows Barrier Jutsu too? But isn't its power a little too absurd?"

"Even Ao Liu Yi's fist couldn't cause him any damage at all!"

The Cloud Ninja Anbu were all shocked, staring at Ye Liangnai as though they had seen a ghost.

This guy really did have the skills to back up his arrogance! No wonder he had dared to assassinate the Mizukage!

"What's wrong? You were shouting so fiercely, yet you couldn't even break through my defense?"

"Looks like Kumogakure's Anbu aren't as formidable as I imagined!"

Ye Liangnai continued provoking them. They had wanted to put him in his place, but they had clearly picked the wrong target.

He had no intention of being polite or making concessions to these people.

If anyone was going to put someone in their place, it should be him putting them in theirs!

"You damned brat, don't push it too far! Stop acting so arrogant!!!"

Ao Liu Yi's eyes reddened with fury, and his aura became incomparably savage.

Then, roaring once more, he charged forward like a ferocious dragon.

Genjutsu: Mind Numb Technique!

But Ye Liangnai calmly formed Hand Seals, then glared fiercely.

In the next instant, Ao Liu Yi let out a muffled groan, and the lightning around his body vanished.

He felt his Chakra fall into disorder, utterly impossible to control.

Squelch!

The barrier vanished, and Ye Liangnai flashed before Ao Liu Yi. With a white blade in hand, he viciously pierced Ao Liu Yi's shoulder, lightning crackling astonishingly from his hand as he said, "You lost!"

"Damn it...!!"

Ao Liu Yi's entire body was paralyzed by the electric current. He could not move at all.

"Let go of Ao Liu Yi!"

"Newcomer, don't go too far!"

"I advise you to show some kindness!"

Only then did the surrounding Anbu members seem to react. They shouted and rushed toward him.

Ye Liangnai immediately stepped back. "Come on, everyone, don't get so worked up."

"I was only testing the strength of the companions I'll be carrying out missions with in the future!"

"Since you don't want me holding you back, I don't want you holding me back either. An equal exchange—isn't that perfectly fair?"

Ye Liangnai sheathed his sword and looked at the indignant Ao Liu Yi. A cold smile curled across his lips. "If you had been my enemy just now, your head would already be on the ground!"

"Damn... it..."

Those words only made Ao Liu Yi even angrier.

"That's enough. Know when to stop, Kira! Just this once. If there's a next time, I'd be more than happy to play with you!"

At that moment, the Anbu member who had left earlier appeared before Ye Liangnai again and issued him a warning.

A cold, heavy pressure radiated from him, making even Ye Liangnai's expression change.

He was not as strong as Mei Terumi, but he was still about seventy percent of her level.

"Got it, got it!"

Ye Liangnai immediately put on a smile.

The Anbu member glanced at Ao Liu Yi again, left behind the words, "What a disgrace," and departed.

"See you around, everyone!"

Ye Liangnai also left at once, completely ignoring the murderous glares behind him.

"One day, I'll kill him with my own hands!"

Ao Liu Yi swore through gritted teeth, his face full of resentment as his fists cracked continuously.

Meanwhile, the other Anbu members thought, This guy's strength is almost on par with the squad captains, isn't it?

The squad captains were generally Jonin-level, with only a few being Special Jonin.

Ao Liu Yi possessed the strength to fight a Special Jonin, yet he had been defeated by Ye Liangnai so easily.

At the same time, in the Raikage's office.

The Anbu member from earlier reported Ye Liangnai's behavior in the Anbu to the Fourth Raikage.

"That brat really is arrogant!"

"Since that's the case, give him a few basic solo missions first. Let them temper him a little."

"One mustn't be too arrogant. This is Kumogakure, not his Kirigakure!"

As the Raikage, before he had accepted Ye Liangnai, he would naturally side with the Cloud Ninja.

"Yes!"

The Anbu member withdrew, then went to Ye Liangnai's residence—a dilapidated house covered in cobwebs and dust—and conveyed the news.

"Got it, got it. Is this supposed to be punishment for my arrogance?"

Ye Liangnai was not angry in the slightest, which surprised the Anbu member.

In his expectations, shouldn't Ye Liangnai have gotten angry and protested that it was unfair upon hearing this?

"When you're under someone else's roof, you have no choice but to bow your head. Even if I protest, it won't change anything."

"Since that's the case, why waste my breath? I might as well accept fate's arrangements!"

As if he had seen through the Anbu member's doubts, Ye Liangnai answered.

"You're quite an interesting person!" The man left those words behind and departed.

By the time he had cleaned the house, it was already evening.

After moving in and arranging the various daily necessities sent by the Anbu, Ye Liangnai took a quick shower and went to sleep.

The next day!

"Jinghong, reporting for duty!"

Ye Liangnai arrived punctually at the Anbu mission assignment office and began carrying out his own missions.

E-rank mission: Help Grandma Liucun pull weeds!

E-rank mission: Clear trash from the river outside Kumogakure!

E-rank mission: Clean Grandpa Wada's house!

E-rank mission...

In short, they were all the lowest-ranking missions, with the lowest rewards and the most exhausting work.

"Well, if it isn't the high-spirited Jinghong from yesterday. Why are you doing menial labor and such lowly work today?"

"Where did yesterday's arrogance go? Why are you wagging your tail like a lapdog in Kumogakure, begging for pity?"

As Ye Liangnai arrived at the mission site—Grandma Liucun's home—and began pulling weeds, an unpleasant voice sounded behind him.

Ye Liangnai did not even need to look to know who it was.

Such a huge shadow and such an abrasive voice—who else could it be but the big brute Ao Liu Yi?

Ye Liangnai completely ignored his provocation.

The best way to deal with someone looking to pick a fight was to ignore them.

Without anyone responding, he would just look like an idiot and eventually shut up out of embarrassment.

Besides—

I joined Kumogakure to gather intelligence. Carrying out these low-ranking missions is actually more helpful for gathering information!

If he did not have to fight and kill, then he would not fight and kill.

Wouldn't it be better to spend that time earning Enhancement Points and growing stronger?

The Raikage thought this could punish him? Little did he know that Ye Liangnai wished he would never have to go to the front lines.