Ambush and Counter-Ambush

They were at a disadvantage in terms of strength. Dada hurriedly looked at Meizi and said, "Sister Meizi, they're very strong. I need to check on Jonin Anzai. Only if he returns can we stabilize the situation. Don't run around. If things get critical, use the Summoning Scroll. At the very least, we need to let the village know we've been attacked."

Meizi nodded heavily, her expression grave. Though she did not want Dada to put himself in danger, it was clearly faster for him to go find Anzai Mamoru.

Some time had passed since Anzai Mamoru had been ambushed. Rationally, Dada felt that Anzai Mamoru should not have been killed in a single blow, but Tsunade was one of the future Sannin after all...

Dada did not want to attract Tsunade and Orochimaru's attention. He quietly started backing away, unaware that the two had long since set their sights on him.

When they saw Dada trying to move, Orochimaru and Tsunade exchanged a glance.

Suddenly, Tsunade, who had appeared to be barely holding on, erupted with strength. She forced back the Chunin surrounding her in just a few moves, then flashed toward Dada. With nowhere to dodge, Dada was preparing to block when a figure appeared before him. Anzai Mamoru, who had been absent for so long, arrived in an instant and slashed at Tsunade from the side, leaving a bone-deep wound on her arm.

"Answering an ambush with an ambush. I hadn't planned on showing myself this early." Anzai Mamoru sneered at Tsunade.

It turned out Anzai Mamoru had returned to the battlefield long ago, but he had stayed hidden, waiting for an opportunity.

On an ordinary ninja, a wound like that would have cut their combat strength in half.

But Tsunade did not even look at the injury on her arm. "That punch didn't feel good, did it? You recovered pretty quickly."

Anzai Mamoru narrowed his eyes. "Sorry, but I'm a Medical Ninja. A wound like that is nothing."

Tsunade's smile widened. "What a coincidence. So am I." Her palm glowed faintly. With a light sweep, the wound on her arm healed at a visible speed.

The rapid, intricate exchange left Dada stunned. The ever-changing battle made him, someone who had never taken part in real ninja combat, sincerely admire the ninja's combat wisdom and endless array of methods.

As expected of a profession born for battle.

If he had not been planning to find Jonin Anzai, that ambush might have achieved even greater results.

Still, seeing Anzai Mamoru made both Dada and Meizi breathe a sigh of relief. With Anzai Mamoru and Kawanishi Kyohei, two Jonin, along with Yotsuki Ki and the others, things should be stable. The only question was whether Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, was lurking nearby. If he was, then the danger had not passed.

Dada had no specific memory of the Sannin fighting together, but they were clearly far stronger as a team than when fighting separately.

If Jiraiya appeared, there would be no one on their side left to stop him.

Dada felt that he could not keep watching. Even without Jiraiya, dragging this out could bring more surprises. They should gather all their strength and preferably take down one person first.

Although he was only at Chunin level, he could still be useful if he stayed cautious.

But he had to be careful, then even more careful. A ninja's methods allowed no room for even the slightest carelessness.

Just then, a Kunai flew in from nowhere, aimed straight at Meizi's back. As an ordinary person, Meizi did not react at all.

At the critical moment, Dada swiftly tugged Meizi aside, making her fall to the ground and dodge the Kunai.

Instinctively, Dada looked at the Kunai embedded in the ground.

The instant his gaze turned toward it, a puff of white smoke rose. The Kunai vanished and turned into a small snake as thick as a child's arm.

The small snake raised itself upright, its glowing crimson eyes fixed on Dada.

"Ninja Art: Hell Viewing Technique."

The moment Dada saw the snake's eyes light up, he sighed helplessly inside.

Damn it... ninjas really can't be underestimated...

Everything went black. Before Dada lost consciousness, the last thing he heard was Meizi's startled cry.

"This is so impressive it's making my scalp tingle..."

Meanwhile.

In the capital of the Land of Soup, Jiraiya stood atop a roof, completely unaware that a small white snake beside him had been hissing to call him.

"Hehehe... the ladies of the Land of Soup really are bold. Vacuum bathrobes are the best, hehehe."

When the little white snake saw that he kept ignoring it, it angrily bit Jiraiya on the butt.

"Ow! Who ambushed me!?"

The little white snake hissed its displeasure, threw the scroll wrapped around its tail at Jiraiya's face, then angrily turned into a puff of white smoke and disappeared.

Jiraiya opened the scroll, and his expression turned serious. He quickly rose to his feet and ran toward the hot spring tavern where Torifu Akimichi was staying.

A thousand miles away, in Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning.

Inside the Raikage Building, Dodai was holding a scroll so close that his face was nearly pressed against it, while Third Raikage A wore a pair of ridiculously tiny glasses and scribbled across a sheet of paper.

"Look, according to Young Master Dada's proposal, once the semi-finished goods we produce—sword blanks, pre-forged iron bars for Kunai, and so on—cover forty percent of a certain region, we'll have the power to influence prices in that region. Once we exceed seventy percent, we can..."

"We can do what?" A leaned over and asked.

"We can... control both ends. The iron ore and finished weapon industries will be completely under our control...!"

A's breathing grew heavier.

"Oh. Of course, there is one condition: the remaining share must be fragmented. Any competitors must be struck down early."

A took off the laughably small glasses on his face, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and said, "How feasible do you think this plan is?"

Dodai also rubbed his eyes. "I think it is highly feasible. Though Young Master Dada is young, he possesses frightening talent. The Orphanage reforms are the best example. Even if we take a step back, the village can afford the loss even if it fails."

"Even now, I still find it hard to believe Dada is so gifted. Qi inherited my physique, while Dada inherited my brains. How fortunate..."

Dodai involuntarily tightened his grip on the scroll.

Hold it in! Hold it in! Attacking the Raikage is a serious crime.

"But whether it's Dada or Qi, both will become pillars of the village's future. Hahaha, you're right. This is worth trying... but it would be inappropriate to leave this matter solely to the Yotsuki Clan."

Dodai swallowed. The next topic was somewhat sensitive. "It wouldn't be impossible to do it in the village's name, but..."

A smiled. "Dada's vision is still a little too narrow. This can begin as the Yotsuki Clan's undertaking, but in the end, it will belong to the village..."

Dodai asked in confusion, "My lord, what do you mean?"

Just as A was about to explain, an elderly man whose beard was nearly gone rushed into the Raikage's Office despite the guards outside trying to stop him. He nearly shoved his cane into A's face.

"A! Something terrible has happened! The Summoning Scroll the clan prepared for Dada has been activated! Dada has been captured!!!"

"What!!"