Great Tree City had nothing particularly remarkable about it; it was merely a place where timber was bought and sold. But that could not dampen the enthusiasm of a group of sheltered children. Over the past two days, Nawaki had practically explored the entirety of Great Tree City and still had not grown tired of it.
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 nearly been standard practice for children to go to war at four years old. At least the major ninja villages no longer did such things. Even in urgent wartime, they would not send four-year-olds onto the battlefield. Well, at the very least, 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 and created one warped monster 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 had a healthy mindset.
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 already be good if they could reach Konoha in fifteen days.
Under Team 3's escort, the caravan set out on its journey back to the Land of Fire.
"In another half month, if we reach Konoha safely, the goods we purchased this time will last us for an entire year. We'll have to trouble you all for the next half month as well."
Along the way, Ishimura Yukito exchanged pleasantries with the three members of Team 3. When Yagi Nobuto and the other three had attacked last time, the convoy had not been far from the battlefield. He knew ninjas had been the attackers. He did not dare underestimate these ten-year-old ninjas with such strength. In Ishimura Yukito's eyes, as long as nothing unexpected happened, these three would surely make something of themselves 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 was after, he did not chase him away and instead spoke courteously with him.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Uchiha Kiyoshi stopped talking with Ishimura Yukito and told him to find somewhere to hide first.
"You should move farther away. Something seems off."
Ishimura Yukito also realized the seriousness of the situation. He called for the convoy to stop and ordered the ordinary people to find somewhere to hide so they would not be caught in the crossfire. Then he hid behind a wagon loaded with goods.
At that moment, not only were the three members of Team 3 on guard, but even Orochimaru, who had been concealed in the shadows, appeared directly before Uchiha Kiyoshi and the others.
"I wonder which side is ahead of us. Since you've shown yourselves, stop skulking around and come out."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and scanned the forests on both sides, seeking the enemies hidden in the dark.
Orochimaru truly deserved to be called a qualified Jonin. After one sweep of his gaze, he roughly pinpointed the enemy's location and looked toward a spot in the forest to the left.
Perhaps because they had been discovered, the other side no longer hid and revealed themselves directly.
Four ninjas had come. Judging by their forehead protectors, they appeared to be ninjas from Iwagakure.
Damn, our luck is awful. We ran into Rock Shinobi already?
Uchiha Kiyoshi roughly judged their origins and cursed inwardly.
I hope this doesn't turn into a conflict. This is the Land of Earth, after all. We don't have the home-field advantage.
The opposing side had a lineup similar to Team 3's: a middle-aged ninja dressed as a Jonin, accompanied by three Genin around eleven or twelve years old. No, was that big guy really eleven or twelve?
There stood a burly youth who looked fifteen or sixteen, with a large nose, a red ninja cap, and a red skintight combat uniform. His right arm was bare. With that build and outfit, if he had not been standing beside two companions who clearly looked eleven or twelve, Uchiha Kiyoshi would have thought he was fifteen or sixteen. Looking more closely, however, his still-youthful face revealed that he was not very old. He had simply developed quickly.
With that outfit, and a beard added on... could that be Kitsuchi from the original story, the one who appeared in the Fourth War?
Now that I look at him, he really does resemble him.
When the opposing Jonin saw Orochimaru, his pupils contracted. Though the Sannin had yet to become famous, as the disciple of the Third Hokage, Orochimaru was already well known. Every ninja village possessed basic intelligence on him. Clearly, this Jonin from Iwagakure had recognized Orochimaru.
"Hehe, this is our Land of Earth. What are you Konoha Shinobi doing here?"
Though he recognized Orochimaru, Doseki had no intention of backing down. No one would know whose strength was greater until they fought. A group of Konoha Shinobi had come to the Land of Earth and happened to be encountered by him; it would not be appropriate to simply let them pass. Besides, the current situation was already tense. There was no need to consider friendly relations between the two countries. Perhaps if they captured these people, Iwagakure could gain an advantage in its future dealings with Konoha.
Hearing the undisguised hostility in his tone, Team 3 immediately tensed and stared at the opposing side.
Orochimaru had also guessed what the other side was thinking. He did not stand on ceremony and immediately formed hand seals.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough
Compared with 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, elevating a C-rank Ninjutsu to such power, made Doseki's expression turn serious in an instant.
Perhaps due to mutual understanding, after Doseki used Earth Style Wall to block the gale, he and Orochimaru simultaneously rushed into the nearby forest.
Both had considered Uchiha Kiyoshi and the others and separated the battlefield to avoid accidentally injuring them.
Doseki had been sent by Ōnoki of Both Scales to guide his son, Kitsuchi, so his strength naturally could not be underestimated. He actually fought Orochimaru to a standstill.
Yet the longer they fought, the more alarmed Doseki became. Though he had not fallen behind and neither side held an advantage, he was already in his forties and at the peak of his strength. Orochimaru, on the other hand, was not even twenty, yet he could already contend with an experienced Jonin like him without falling behind.
No. If a genius like this continues to grow, he will definitely become a major obstacle to Iwagakure.
Having made up his mind, Doseki's attacks became increasingly vicious, every move aimed to kill. Unfortunately, his opponent was Orochimaru. Though Orochimaru had yet to fully mature and only possessed Jonin-level strength, survival was what he excelled at most.
Doseki's attacks rarely inflicted any real damage on Orochimaru. On the few occasions when he injured himself to severely 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," and aside from his pale complexion, he bore no injuries.
Doseki was dumbfounded. How was he supposed to fight this? Was Orochimaru refusing to play fair?
Meanwhile, after Orochimaru and Doseki left, the oppressive presence of the two Jonin was gone, and Team 3 and the Rock Shinobi squad both relaxed slightly.
"Finally, we can move. Jonin really are no joke. Just their clash of auras made us so stifled we could barely move. Nawaki, Sarutobi Saku, I'll handle the big guy. You deal with the other two."
Following Uchiha Kiyoshi's order, the opposing side was not about to show weakness either. Before long, Team 3 and the Rock Shinobi squad began fighting.
Before you continue