Beastlike Instinct

"It's good that I'm busy. Just watching like that was really boring. I almost couldn't resist rushing out, but thankfully the captain is composed, or I would have ruined things."

Nawaki grumbled, eager for a fight. The fight at the supply station hadn't been very effective, with Katsuki and Hoshio stealing the spotlight. It wasn't that he liked showing off, but he was itching for a fight and couldn't satisfy his burning passion without a good battle.

There are few ninjas who are well-behaved and obedient. Even a kind-hearted person like Sakumo can turn into God of Slaughter on the battlefield. Konoha's White Fang is fearless when he kills people, and his infamous reputation can stop children from crying at night.

For unfortunate children like Nawaki, who grew up during a time of war, nothing is more desirable than proving themselves through the fighting on the battlefield.

This is evident in the fact that the Konoha 12 who grew up in peacetime had completely different mindsets.

"Alright, alright, Nawaki, it's your turn this time. It's just a few big headscarves. I'm afraid you'll kill so many people that your hands will get sore. Don't complain that you can't kill all these big headscarves." Katsuki laughed. What are the Sand Ninja here? They're heading for the Sand Ninja's camp where they're stockpiling food and supplies. They're bound to have many encounters with the Sand Ninja along the way.

"We'll talk about that later, but right now I'm itching to get my hands on it!"

"You two, stop chatting. The second wave of Sand Ninja should be here soon." Fugaku used a Body Flicker Technique to teleport directly to Katsuki's side. "Katsuki, can you still use that technique you just used?"

"It is possible, but a group of Sand Ninja have already died, and the others will probably be on guard, making it difficult to strike," Katsuki said hesitantly.

"Let's try moving the battlefield forward a bit. We don't need to be stuck here. The Sand Ninja might not notice," Fugaku said. "Even if they do, it doesn't matter. At worst, it'll just waste some of your Chakra. That's not a big problem for you, is it?"

His crimson eyes were fixed on Katsuki. Under his Mitsudomoe perception, he could naturally see Katsuki's bottomless Chakra. He was amazed, but he had great composure and did not show the slightest expression on his face.

"That's not entirely unacceptable... Let's leave it at that!"

Although the decision was somewhat impulsive, it wasn't flawed upon closer examination. Katsuki shook his head and agreed. Just as Fugaku had said, at worst it would just be a waste of some Chakra, which was hardly a problem for him.

With hand Hand Seals, Shadow Clone appeared one after another, then headed back the way they came. The terrain here was complex, with jagged rocks and steep cliffs along the way, providing countless places to hide and launch surprise attacks. Soon, the clones found their places, some crouching, some standing, and one of them lay directly in a rock hollow.

Fugaku led the group back unhurriedly. Since the battlefield had moved forward, they, as bait, also needed to move closer.

Something's not right!

The Sand Ninja at the front slowed down, and the Sand Ninjas behind him also slowed down, their probing gazes falling on the four sensory ninjas at the front.

Okunuki Kumasaburo raised his thick, bushy eyebrows high, but remained silent.

"Lord Kumasaburo, Shino and the others' Chakra fluctuations have disappeared, and they disappeared in an instant." The leading sensory ninja said in a sorrowful voice. Everyone present knew very well what the disappearance of Chakra fluctuations meant.

"A fleeting moment? Interesting!"

Facing the gazes of his subordinates, Kumasaburo revealed an excited smile, rubbing his large, fan-like hands together as if he were impatient. To be able to take down four sensory ninjas in an instant, one must either be a very powerful expert or possess unpredictable methods. This deal doesn't seem to be going to be boring.

"You all step back."

With a wave of his hand, Kumasaburo drove everyone behind him and strode forward. Wherever he walked, colorless wind blades swept past, leaving twisted cracks on the bluish-gray rocks, which were quickly filled with flowing water.

The crowd immediately followed Kumasaburo's lead.

Kumasaburo may have a sharp tongue, but his strength is undeniable, and with him leading the way, safety was greatly guaranteed.

Step by step, Kumasaburo Sanlang moved forward with unwavering determination. His burly frame was as immovable as a mountain, and his fierce aura continued to rise. Even his own people following behind him were a little out of breath and slowed down to create some distance.

After walking for about ten minutes, Kumasaburo suddenly stopped in front of a Taiseki.

The stone pillar was estimated to be five or six meters in diameter, rising straight up into the sky. They had seen many stone pillars like this along the way, all of which were landforms formed by wind and rain erosion and were nothing special. The Sand Ninja looked at Kumasaburo with confusion, wondering what was so special about this place and making their own guesses.

"Get out here."

With his five fingers together, like a giant cleaver, a bluish-white aura swirled between Kumasaburo's fingers and palms. He then slashed out, striking the stone pillar directly.

The stone pillar, over ten meters high, had stood here for countless years, enduring sun and rain, wind and rain, and weathering the elements. Yet today, it suffered a terrible fate, encountering this humanoid beast. When the beast swung its blade, the stone pillar made a loud rumbling sound, and most of its body fell to the ground.

However, the Sand Ninja paid no attention to the falling stone pillar; instead, they tensed up, gripped their weapons, and stood ready for battle.

There was nothing unusual about it except that a discordant noise could be heard amidst the enormous roar.

It sounded like a balloon being popped. Although it was not very clear amidst the booming sound of the breaking stone pillar, the Sand Ninja were very familiar with it. Wasn't that the same sound when the Shadow Clone were killed?

"That was close! Such a method of concealing Chakra fluctuations is unheard of. No wonder Shino and the others were defeated here. If it weren't for Lord Kumasaburo Sanlang, we probably wouldn't have fared well either."

Those who felt it most deeply were the sensory ninjas. Only when the Shadow Clone hidden behind the stone pillars disappeared did they catch a slight fluctuation of Chakra. After their relief, they were filled with deep trepidation.

Just one step away from the gates of hell, life and death truly hang in the balance.

"Tch, Shadow Clone, huh? What a shameless trick!"

Kumasaburo closed his eyes, his hands clasped together like knives, half-lowered, half-raised, and he took a step to the right...

Using his bare hands as knives, splitting mountains and shattering rocks was as easy as pie. In just over ten seconds, Kumasaburo, relying on his beast-like intuition honed through life and death, wiped out all the Shadow Clone that Katsuki was hiding on his left and right.

Hidden not far ahead, Katsuki stared in astonishment, but before he could say anything, the howling wind echoed in the sky, and suddenly, a strong wind rose.