Rescue Operation, Part Fourteen

The grass was ankle-deep, with glistening dewdrops clinging to the tips of the blades; the night dew was chilly and damp.

As the chaotic footsteps passed by, dew soaked into their shoes, and the hard muscles on the pedestrians' faces twitched almost imperceptibly. The biting cold, carried away by gusts of cold wind, further drained the little warmth they had left.

Traveling at night is a tough job.

Especially when traversing mountains and forests like this, without any established roads, only overgrown thorns and weeds, and with rugged and steep terrain.

The Land of Fire is mostly composed of vast plains and boundless forests, with few majestic mountains and rivers. Only near the border are there complex terrains.

As they walked through the increasingly difficult wilderness, their bodies were exhausted, but a sense of joy gradually crept into their spirits. The more rugged and difficult the path became, the more it showed that they were leaving this prosperous land and returning to the mountain kingdom where thunder roared through the sky.

The eyes of the Cloud Ninja shone brightly. Even though the Land of Fire was the most prosperous country in the world, after so many years of lurking, they still longed for their hometown where thunder echoed.

Even Kurokawa, who was as tough as an iron man, showed a slight softening in his hardened expression. However, when he thought of Araki, who had disappeared without a trace, his brows immediately furrowed deeply, and he felt uneasy.

"Captain, there's Chakra fluctuation behind us, one, two, three... **, a total of nine Chakra, and the amount of Chakra is astonishing!"

Just as Kurokawa was deep in thought, a Cloud Ninja suddenly cried out in alarm, his face as pale as paper and his voice trembling.

It wasn't that the Cloud Ninja was cowardly; it was simply that the people who suddenly rushed into his perception range from behind were too fierce, especially one of them Chakra was as deep as an abyss, giving people a sense of inexhaustibility. If he really had to express his feelings, he could only say that it was simply a humanoid Tailed Beast.

Unlike the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki captured nearby, it didn't have the eerie and terrifying feeling of Tailed Beast Chakra. It was just pure Chakra, human Chakra, yet its boundless power was far beyond what humans could possess.

"Nine Chakra... Hehe, we have nine of us too, what's there to be afraid of?"

Seeing his subordinates' frightened appearance, Kurokawa angrily rebuked them. Their cowardly behavior turned any unease he felt into rage. The Cloud Ninja Cloud Ninja offense, had a belligerent nature, and despised those who were timid and hesitant.

Although the Cloud Ninja was unwilling and wanted to argue, it wasn't that he was cowardly, but rather that the enemy was truly overwhelming. However, when he met Kurokawa's murderous eyes, the words caught in his throat, and he obediently lowered his head and remained silent.

Among the Five Great Ninja Villages, the Genin Iwagakure has the clearest distinction between genin and genin, and the strictest rules. No one dares to disobey orders, or the executioner's blade will fall directly. It is extremely ruthless. Therefore, almost no Stone Ninja dares to retreat when charging into battle. If they retreat, they will not only lose their heads, but also be branded as cowards.

The Cloud Ninja also used this as an example. Although their system was not as strict as the Stone Ninja's, they still valued hierarchy and status. Ordinary junior Genin would not dare to challenge the authority of Jonin.

Kurokawa frowned. Although his anger burned fiercely, he didn't let it cloud his judgment. The newcomers were not friendly; those who came with good intentions would not come. Araki had disappeared without a trace, but the people of Konoha had caught up with him. Even a fool could tell that Araki and his men were doomed.

"Halt! Everyone, snap to attention and prepare to engage the enemy!"

The Cloud Ninja immediately stopped in their tracks. Three Kushina Cloud Ninja formed a circle around Kushina, while the rest darted into the forest, splitting up into groups of two or three and not all staying together.

The squad system has long been deeply ingrained in all the major ninja villages. Two or three people who know each other well form a team to avoid fighting alone, but also to avoid the team becoming too bloated and cumbersome due to the large number of people. The Cloud Ninja present were all elites who had gathered in the second batch. They were skilled in combat and were not afraid of even the Konoha Anbu.

Kushina closed her eyes. Although she couldn't Hand Seals or use Mind's Eye of the Kagura, she could still concentrate and perceive a short distance using the Uzumaki Clan's talent.

Within a few breaths, she sensed nine streams of Chakra rushing toward her.

"Hmm!"

Sensing that familiar Chakra, Kushina almost cried out in surprise, but thankfully she stopped herself in time. Unfortunately, she bit her tongue, and a faint taste of blood filled her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she felt a sense of peace she had never felt before.

The powerful Chakra acted like a calming pill, instantly soothing his restless heart. His eyes darted around, taking in the Cloud Ninja on either side, and he began to ponder how to resist. Even with his hands bound, it didn't matter; the Adamantine Sealing Chains Secret Technique didn't require Hand Seals.

However, she needed to seize the right moment to act. Suppressing her excited and pounding heart, Kushina lowered her eyes, looking as if she had given up resisting.

······

"Clang!"

The katana, swirling with silent wind, clashed with the lightning-sparkling blade, and the battle began in an instant.

Uchiha No's Body Flicker Technique was incredibly fast, and he rushed out first. His instincts, honed through countless bloody battles, led him to immediately target Kurokawa, the most dangerous member of the Cloud Ninja team. A murderous smile appeared on his face; it was this kind of tough nut to crack that made the most of it.

He dismissed his brothers who wanted to help, telling them to go take care of the little ones, and then went off alone to entangle Kurokawa.

Like a revolving lantern, the shadows shifted rapidly in the moonlight, their dark forms moving like phantoms in the dim forest. The clanging sounds of their movements echoed through the woods, startling countless birds that were roosting there at night.

Kurokawa's face was so gloomy it could drip water. After exchanging two or three blows with Uchiha No, his heart sank into an abyss. His opponent was a tough nut to crack, especially those blood-red eyes, which made him afraid to meet their gaze. Fighting with such restraint made him extremely uncomfortable.

If it were at a different time or in a different place, even if the situation were more difficult, he wouldn't be worried. With his skills, even if he was no match, he could always retreat safely. But this time, he couldn't retreat. He had put in a lot of effort for this operation. The Cloud Ninja had used all their strength to plant spies in the Land of Fire, and it was inevitable that they would be purged afterwards.

In the coming years, the Cloud Ninja's information channels within the Land of Fire will likely shrink by more than half, and they may even be eradicated entirely. It will take an unknown amount of effort and time to plant spies again. If the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki cannot be brought back to the village, one can imagine how many people will be held responsible.

Filled with worry, Uchiha No launched a fierce and rapid attack, putting Kurokawa at a disadvantage for a time. However, his strength was ultimately not weak, and even Uchiha No could not defeat him quickly.

Thunderous roars and flashes of Kakkō filled the mountains and forests, and the fighting intensified.