Heavens, Bless Him

Ye Liangnai's side

"Everyone, don't be so nervous. It's not like I'm a monster!"

He landed on one of the ships and waved at the pirates, who were panicking and even looked terrified.

"Gulp!"

But how could the pirates not be nervous?

The Ye Liangnai before them was a devil who had taken down more than a dozen skilled fighters in a single minute.

"E-Enough nonsense! Die!"

Strike first and gain the advantage; hesitate and suffer!

The pirates swarmed toward Ye Liangnai.

"What a pity, everyone!"

Facing the charging pirates, Ye Liangnai helplessly snapped his fingers.

In the next instant, violent lightning engulfed every pirate ship on the sea.

"Argh!"

Amid the earth-shaking flashes of lightning, heart-rending screams rang out one after another as the pirates struggled desperately within the electric storm.

Quite a few tried to jump into the sea to escape.

Unfortunately, the sea was filled with lightning as well, and it was even more powerful.

Whether they took to the sky or plunged into the sea, there was nowhere to survive!

"Lightning Release: Thunder Array!" Ye Liangnai declared.

"Now, time to watch the show!"

Ye Liangnai sat on the ship and watched the battle on the sea.

"Watching other people fight really isn't bad!"

Ye Liangnai sheathed his sword, rested his head on his arm, and lay down in a semicircular spot, becoming a spectator.

The captain's strength was only close to jonin level.

Without Sea Monk's assistance, he fell into a disadvantage after only a few exchanges against an opponent like Tenshin.

Then, after another dozen or so exchanges, Ao Liu Yi brutally defeated Qian Zhang, while the captain also lost to Tenshin!

"Damn it! I'm not willing to accept this!!!"

Youta, too, was pierced through the heart a thousand times by a group of Cloud Ninja Anbu and died!

But the captain was probably the most unwilling of them all.

His eyes were wide open, his chest bleeding profusely as he lay on the sea and said in broken breaths, "If I'd known... I would've... handed over... Youta right away... Then it... wouldn't have... come to... this..."

"That guy... was right... I really am... just a frog... at the bottom... of a well..."

With that, he breathed his last!

"Captain, that was incredible!"

When Tenshin and the others arrived at Ye Liangnai's ship, Ye Liangnai immediately stood and praised them.

"No one can compare to you when it comes to being incredible!"

"You're very good. I hope you can earn Lord Raikage's recognition as soon as possible!"

"It truly is a tremendous loss for Kirigakure that someone like you left the village!"

Tenshin looked at Ye Liangnai with an unreadable gaze as he spoke.

Heavens, please let him not be a spy!

If he truly joins Kumogakure, then within a few years, he'll definitely become a vital fighting force for our village.

Perhaps Kumogakure's hope of revival in the future rests on him!

At present, Kumogakure had only one pillar of its younger generation: Darui!

Now, there was also Kira. He was only seventeen years old, and his future was promising!

"You flatter me, Captain!"

Ye Liangnai smiled, then thought, Perhaps I should change this little habit of always giving my all. I can't stand out so much in Kumogakure!

Otherwise, it might even have the opposite effect!

He could not help reflecting on his actions, only to helplessly realize that he had still performed far too outstandingly in this battle.

He had practically influenced the entire course of the battle. Even Tenshin, the captain, could not compare to him!

Tenshin and the others did not know what Ye Liangnai was thinking, but the looks Ao Liu Yi and the others gave him were no longer so unfriendly.

Instead, they had begun to acknowledge him!

What Kumogakure respected most were the strong!

As long as you were strong enough, you could earn enough respect.

After resting for several hours, the group set off on their return journey!

Several hours later!

A team of Konoha ninja appeared there!

When they saw that this pirate settlement had already been wiped out, they could not help being shocked.

"The Cloud Ninja did this. Why would they come here? What are they plotting?"

The Konoha ninja immediately became vigilant.

The Cloud Ninja had suddenly crossed the border and appeared within the Land of Fire. Could they be planning something?

Especially at such a critical time—

Internally, the Uchiha Clan was growing increasingly restless, while traces of Kumogakure had suddenly appeared outside.

This could not be a coincidence!

"Investigate carefully, then report this matter in detail to Lord Hokage. We absolutely cannot let down our guard against Kumogakure!" the lead ninja said coldly.

One ninja then used a Konoha ninja bird to send the information here back to Konoha.

The ninja the Land of Water had stationed near the Land of Fire also learned of this news.

In an instant, because of Kumogakure's operation, the three great nations of Water, Fire, and Lightning all began to grow wary of one another.

If Ye Liangnai had known—

That the Konoha ninja had directly linked an ordinary mission to the Uchiha Clan, he probably would have laughed out loud.

He would definitely have said, Everyone, you're being too nervous!

However, he did not know!

After returning to Kumogakure, he was given two days off.

Naturally, he did not slack off and worked hard to earn Enhancement Points.

While he was earning Enhancement Points, in the Raikage's office...

"His battle record was really that terrifying?"

After hearing Tenshin's mission report, especially the description of Ye Liangnai's achievements, the Fourth Raikage could not help being surprised.

He had slaughtered a group of Special Jonin and chunin who could not fight back at all, turning the battle around on his own.

And Kirigakure had only labeled someone with that kind of strength as a B-rank rogue ninja?

If it were up to him, he would at least be A-rank. If he were considered more dangerous, even S-rank would not be unreasonable!

The Fourth Raikage felt as if he had found a treasure.

"Lord Raikage, if we can win this man over, he will surely become another sturdy arm at your side. It would be a great blessing for Kumogakure."

"Therefore, we must be even more cautious, lest he be a spy deliberately sent out by Kirigakure!" Darui, standing beside the Fourth Raikage, said.

What Tenshin understood, he naturally understood as well. He knew perfectly well how significant a talent like Ye Liangnai was to Kumogakure.

He was known for being calm and wise, much like Kakashi, and was an extremely troublesome opponent.

"Darui, aren't you worried that once he grows stronger, he'll take your position?" the Fourth Raikage teased.

"Kumogakure has always respected the strong. If I'm weaker than him and he takes my spotlight and position, then I'll only have myself to blame!"

"However, I won't admit defeat either!"

"Lord Raikage trusts me so greatly. No matter what, I cannot disgrace you. I have confidence in my own strength!"

Darui was only seventeen, the same age as Kira, whom Ye Liangnai was pretending to be. He was at the age of youthful vigor, when one was eager to compete and prove oneself.

Hearing such confidence and determination, the Fourth Raikage burst into laughter. "Go fight him once and see how much stronger or weaker the two of you are!"

"Darui, if you want to grow, you need to fight more strong opponents!"

The Fourth Raikage patted Darui on the shoulder, placing great hopes on him.