Rock Shinobi Clash

Great Tree City had nothing particularly remarkable about it; it was merely a place where lumber was bought and sold. Yet that did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of a group of sheltered children. Over the past two days, Nawaki had truly toured every corner of Great Tree City, and he still hadn't had enough.

That was right, they were still children. Though they already possessed considerable strength and had even killed quite a few people, they were ultimately only ten-year-old kids.

All that could be said was that many things in the Ninja World were somewhat twisted. Things were better now. During the Warring States period, it had practically been normal for four-year-olds to go to the battlefield. At least now, none of the major ninja villages would do such a thing. Even in urgent wartime, they would not send four-year-olds into battle. Well, at minimum, they had to be six and have attended the Ninja Academy for a year.

It was precisely these twisted practices that led to one tragedy after another, creating twisted monsters one after another.

However, none of that had much to do with Uchiha Kiyoshi anymore. As a young man who had received a socialist education, Uchiha Kiyoshi's mindset was very healthy.

In two days, the caravan had also finished loading its goods. Compared to the journey here, the convoy was moving much more slowly now. It would be good enough if they could reach Konoha in fifteen days.

Under Team 3's escort, the caravan set out on its return journey to the Land of Fire.

"In another half month, we'll reach Konoha safely. The goods we purchased this time will be enough to last us a year. We'll have to trouble you all for the next half month."

Along the way, Ishimura Yukito exchanged pleasantries with the three members of Team 3. When Yagi Nobuto's group of four had attacked last time, the convoy had not been far from the battlefield, so he knew that ninjas had been behind the assault. He did not dare underestimate these three ten-year-old ninjas who possessed such strength. In Ishimura Yukito's view, as long as nothing unexpected happened, these three would surely amount to something in the future. Building a good relationship with them would benefit him as well.

"You're too polite. Since we accepted your mission, this is simply our duty."

Although Uchiha Kiyoshi did not know what Ishimura Yukito's intentions were, he did not send the man away and instead spoke with him courteously.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Uchiha Kiyoshi stopped speaking with Ishimura Yukito and told him to find a place to hide first.

"Move farther away first. Something seems off."

Ishimura Yukito also realized the seriousness of the situation. He had the convoy stop and ordered the civilians to find somewhere to hide to avoid being caught in the crossfire. Then he found a freight wagon himself and hid behind it.

At this moment, not only were the three members of Team 3 on guard, but even Orochimaru, who had been hidden in the shadows, appeared directly and came before Uchiha Kiyoshi and the others.

"I don't know who is up ahead, but since you've shown yourselves, stop skulking around."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and scanned the forests on both sides, seeking out the enemies concealed in the dark.

Orochimaru truly deserved to be called a qualified Jonin. After one sweep of his gaze, he had roughly pinpointed the enemy's position and looked toward a spot in the forest to the left.

It seemed they had been discovered, so the other side no longer hid and revealed themselves directly.

Four ninjas had arrived. Judging by their forehead protectors, they should be ninjas from Iwagakure.

Damn, was our luck really this bad? We ran into Rock Shinobi already?

Uchiha Kiyoshi roughly judged their origins and cursed inwardly.

Hopefully there won't be a conflict. This is the Land of Earth, after all. We don't have the home-field advantage.

The other side had a composition similar to Team 3's: a middle-aged ninja dressed as a Jonin leading three Genin around eleven or twelve years old. No, was that big guy really only eleven or twelve?

There was a burly youth who looked fifteen or sixteen, with a large nose, a red ninja cap, and a red skintight combat suit. His right arm was bare. With that build and attire, if he had not been standing with two companions who were clearly eleven or twelve, Uchiha Kiyoshi would have thought he was fifteen or sixteen. Looking closer, though, his still somewhat immature face showed that he was not that old; he had simply developed early.

With that outfit, and a beard added on, could he be Kitsuchi from the original story, the one who appeared in the Fourth War?

Looking at him now, he really does resemble him.

When the opposing Jonin saw Orochimaru, his pupils contracted. Although the Sannin had not yet become famous, as the disciple of the Third Hokage, Orochimaru was already quite well known. Every ninja village possessed basic intelligence on him. This Iwagakure Jonin had clearly recognized Orochimaru as well.

"Heh heh, this is our Land of Earth. What are you Konoha Shinobi doing here?"

Though he had recognized Orochimaru, Tsuchi Ishi had no intention of backing down. One could only know how strong someone was after fighting them. A group of Konoha Shinobi had come to the Land of Earth and happened to run into him. It would not be appropriate to simply let them go. Besides, the current situation was already tense, so there was no need to consider friendly relations between the two countries. Perhaps if they captured these people, Iwagakure could even gain the upper hand in its future dealings with Konoha.

Hearing the undisguised hostility in his tone, Team 3 immediately tensed and stared at the other side.

Orochimaru had also guessed his intentions. Without further courtesy, he formed hand seals.

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough

Compared to Sarutobi Saku's Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, Orochimaru's Great Breakthrough was far more powerful.

A massive gale erupted around them and swept toward the four Rock Shinobi. Even the large trees on either side began to snap.

That move alone—bringing a C-rank Ninjutsu to such a level of power—made Tsuchi Ishi's expression turn serious in an instant.

As if by mutual understanding, after Tsuchi Ishi used an Earth Style Wall to block the gale, he and Orochimaru simultaneously rushed into the forests beside them.

They had both considered Uchiha Kiyoshi and the others and separated the battlefield to avoid accidentally injuring them.

Tsuchi Ishi, having been assigned by Ōnoki of Both Scales to guide his son Kitsuchi, was naturally not weak. He actually fought Orochimaru to a standstill.

Yet the longer they fought, the more alarmed Tsuchi Ishi became. Though he had not fallen into a disadvantage and neither side held a clear edge, he was already over forty and at the peak of his strength. Orochimaru, on the other hand, was not even twenty, yet he could fight an experienced Jonin like him without falling behind.

No. If a genius like this is allowed to grow, he will definitely become a major obstacle to Iwagakure.

Having made up his mind, Tsuchi Ishi's attacks became increasingly ruthless, every move aimed to kill. Unfortunately, his opponent was Orochimaru. Though Orochimaru had not fully matured and possessed only Jonin-level strength, what he excelled at most was staying alive.

Tsuchi Ishi's attacks rarely inflicted any real damage on Orochimaru. On the few occasions when Tsuchi Ishi endured injuries to grievously wound Orochimaru, he thought it was about to end.

Orochimaru opened his mouth and spat out a "new" Orochimaru. The "new" Orochimaru crawled out of the old "skin." Aside from his pale complexion, he bore no wounds.

That left Tsuchi Ishi dumbfounded. How was he supposed to fight this? Were you seriously this afraid of losing?

On the other side, after Orochimaru and Tsuchi Ishi left, the oppressive aura of the two Jonin was gone, and both Team 3 and the Rock Shinobi team felt their bodies relax.

"Finally, we can move. Jonin really are no joke. Just the clash of their auras was enough to suppress us so badly that we couldn't move. Nawaki, Sarutobi Saku, I'll handle the big guy. You two deal with the remaining two."

Following Uchiha Kiyoshi's order, the other side was naturally unwilling to be outdone. Before long, Team 3 and the Rock Shinobi team clashed.