A Forceful Entrance
A bluish-white wind swept across the sky, tearing transparent raindrops to shreds. The raindrops were swept away by the gust of wind, and millions of raindrops first broke apart, then merged together, forming a sizable wave in the blink of an eye.
In an instant, the wind howled and the waves surged in mid-air.
Wow, that's amazing!
Kamiya was quick-witted; before anyone else could speak, he started yelling. However, he also practiced Wind Release, and the churning winds in mid-air deeply affected him, even causing a sense of defeat in his heart. He couldn't help but doubt whether he could ever achieve this level in his lifetime.
Before they had even truly clashed, Kamiya was already dampened, and a shadow fell over her pretty face.
The remaining people were also horrified. Several of them turned ashen-faced, completely losing any sense of pride they had felt from effortlessly annihilating the first wave of Sand Ninja.
Fugaku swallowed hard, calming his turbulent emotions, and braced himself for battle.
Katsuki's Shadow Clone were completely useless; on the contrary, the opponent put on such a show of force in mid-air, which was enough to show that the newcomer was a tough opponent.
"Boom!!!"
The gale-force winds carried the heavy waves crashing down, propelling the massive waterfalls as they slammed into the mountains. In an instant, it was as if the earth had collapsed, and the deafening roar made everyone's ears ring. Fortunately, the people of Konoha were not inexperienced rookies, and they all reacted with remarkable speed. Before the waves crashed down, they cleverly used their own methods to dodge.
The huge, protruding rock was shattered by the falling waves, creating a large crater in the already treacherous terrain. Several not-so-thick stone pillars were also broken by the spreading shockwave, with half of the pillars flying far away, demonstrating the immense power of the attack.
"Goodness, thank goodness I ran fast, otherwise if that hit had landed squarely, it would have crushed my bones."
Facing the lingering waves, Nawaki squatted on Taiseki, holding down his straw hat, and stared in astonishment at the huge pit filled with water.
"Crush bones? That's still good. Without your Hardening Technique, we wouldn't even be able to find the whole corpse." The Otome's eyebrows twitched, her pretty face full of solemnity.
A storm is brewing, and the wind is howling.
Intelligent people sensed that unusual aura. Such power in a single strike meant that the newcomer should not be underestimated. A good family background not only provides resources that are difficult for ordinary people to access, but also cultivates a keen eye. And having a keen eye means having a better chance of survival on the battlefield.
Upon hearing Otome's words, Nawaki frowned deeply. He was just careless by nature, but not stupid. This reminder made him even more vigilant.
"You scum from Konoha are quick to hide, aren't you? If you've got the guts, come up and have a go at your grandpa."
Kumasaburo had a strong voice, loud and clear, which could be heard clearly even a hundred meters away.
A towering, imposing figure came into view of the Konoha members.
Just a glance from afar caused everyone's expression to change. Kumasaburo held a huge Iron Fan high in both hands. He and the Sand Ninja were all veterans of battle, and everyone knew that this was the Sand Ninja's unique ninja tool. Anyone who could wield this Iron Fan fan was either a master of Wind Release or a genius with extremely high talent in Wind Release Technique.
Kumasaburo had a long beard and a weathered face, clearly not a child prodigy, which meant he was definitely one of the best Jonin.
Fugaku's face twitched, but he quickly regained his cold and stern expression. He simply frowned and stared at the incessant rain falling from the sky, ignoring the provocative words and remaining unmoved.
After waiting for several breaths, none of the Konoha members paid any attention to Kumasaburo.
"Haha!! You're all cowardly wimps, Konoha's slippery devils. Since you don't dare to come up, then your grandpa will come over."
After waiting for a few breaths, Kumasaburo burst into laughter, his hands gripping the Iron Fan tightened suddenly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging like small snakes, as he mustered all his strength to strike.
"Shadow Clone Technique"
Katsuki had quietly reached the very front of the group. A broken stone pillar was stuck diagonally beside the pit. He stood on the broken section of the pillar, his hands forming the Ren seal, and raised his head to face Kumasaburo from afar.
The clones appeared silently all around, numbering over a hundred, each with a fierce look in their eyes.
Without any command, the Shadow Clone, upon taking shape, already remembered the original's will. In the instant after appearing, a hundred Shadow Clone rushed forward in unison, their agile figures leaping between cliffs and ravines, traversing deep ravines and fissures, treating the complex terrain as nothing.
"Earth Release, Earth Spear"
The hundred or so clones Hand Seals in perfect unison, with an error of no more than half a second between each. This is the advantage of Shadow Clone. To say that they are one and of one mind is an exaggeration, but the tacit understanding between these hundred or so clones is something that ordinary people cannot achieve.
Huge and sharp rock spears rose from the ground, their booming sounds echoing everywhere. As far as the eye could see, the dense forest of rock spears almost filled every available foothold.
Today, Katsuki has acquired many more advanced techniques, no longer struggling to survive with only Taijutsu and C-rank Ninjutsu. Sakumo taught him many high-level Ninjutsu, including both Lightning Release and Earth Release. Whenever he has free time, he spends it studying them, and today marks his first public appearance.
"Huh!"
Feeling the tremors beneath his feet, Kumasaburo's pupils contracted. His gaze did not fall on the forest of rocky spears that rose from the ground like a tidal wave, but instead on the scattered Shadow Clone.
"Red hair... Could it be... it was all worth it! After all this bad luck, today my luck has finally turned around! Hahaha!!"
Kumasaburo first muttered to himself nervously, then burst into wild laughter. His legs bent slightly like springs, and then he leaped high into the air, waving his huge Iron Fan like a bird taking flight, easily dodging the protruding rock spears.
Laughter echoed in the rain, releasing Kumasaburo's long-suppressed emotions.
Because of his loose tongue, he was kicked out of the high-level power ranks by Chiyo and relegated to a lowly transport captain position in the logistics unit. It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed, but the fact that he was able to smoothly become a transport captain was all thanks to his family's influence; otherwise, who knows how high the grass would be on his grave by now.
He had almost given up on any ambition and was just drifting along in the logistics unit, but today, on a whim, he chased after these Konoha thieves and stumbled upon a treasure.
He summoned over a hundred Shadow Clone, and seeing their fiery red hair, he made a very bold guess: this little guy was a member of the Uzumaki Clan.
The Okunuki Clan has a long and distinguished history in Sunagakure, dating back to the Warring States period. They later integrated into Sunagakure and gained knowledge of many secrets of the Shinobi World. The Uzumaki Clan was one of the most powerful clans at the time, especially renowned for its ability to suppress Tailed Beast.