[B-Rank Ninja Scroll: Blood Piercing Bullet]!

That was only a clone I just fought?

Homura Oyashiro stared at the [Shadow Clone] across from him as it burst into smoke and vanished, immense shock rising in his heart.

His eerie, ghostly Ketsuryūgan eyes became somewhat dull from that stunned emotion.

But Homura Oyashiro was an Elite Jonin after all. Ignoring his surprise, the instant he realized his visual genjutsu had failed, he immediately refined Chakra, intending to flee the spot as quickly as possible.

However, the familiar feeling of restriction coming from his body made Homura Oyashiro realize that he had once again been controlled by that brat's "shadow."

When did that brat sneak behind me?

Homura Oyashiro gritted his teeth as blood poured from his eye sockets like tears.

Hearing the young voice coming from behind him, he understood that the other party had discovered his true identity.

At this point, Homura Oyashiro could no longer afford to conceal the sounds of battle.

Run! Take Chiyo and escape Konoha ninja's sensory range as fast as possible!

Just as Homura Oyashiro tried to unleash all his strength and break free from the shadow binding him from behind—

The Pig Deer Butterfly team that had been lying in wait finally made its move.

Inoichi Yamanaka sat cross-legged on the ground and raised both hands, his right palm facing forward and his left palm facing backward. The thumbs and index fingers of both hands touched, forming a strange gesture resembling a camera.

Generally speaking, ninja hand signs came in twelve forms, each named after one of the twelve earthly branches.

But those were only the basic gestures for forming seals.

Within the ninja world, some special secret techniques required special gestures to assist in their execution.

The special camera-like gesture Inoichi Yamanaka formed at this moment was specifically suited to the Yamanaka Clan's advanced mental secret techniques.

And the target focused by this "palm camera" was Homura Oyashiro, who was restrained by Nara Kaikei's [Shadow Binding Technique].

"Ninja Art: Mind Disturbance Body Technique!"

The mental power Inoichi Yamanaka had accumulated for so long surged forth, rapidly crossing the distance and crashing into Homura Oyashiro's brain.

This advanced Yin Release Secret Technique from the Yamanaka Clan completely scattered Homura Oyashiro's Mental Energy.

Even though his consciousness remained clear, Homura Oyashiro could no longer smoothly control his body, much less perform ninjutsu or advanced techniques such as Kekkei Genkai.

Another ninja has acted.

Feeling his body completely slip out of his control, Homura Oyashiro's heart sank deeper and deeper.

A secret technique that disrupts the connection between mind and body... It should be someone from the Yamanaka Clan, right? Pig Deer Butterfly has mobilized...

Nara Kaikei stood within Homura Oyashiro's shadow behind him.

Feeling the other man's resistance almost instantly vanish, he immediately understood—his clan head had acted!

Nara Kaikei poked his head out and happened to see Nara Shikano flash into view.

The Old Clan Head stepped closer, pried open Homura Oyashiro's jaw, and stuffed a dark, specially made pill into his mouth.

"That's enough, Kaikei."

Nara Shikano spoke while signaling toward the rear.

"I've given him medicine that suppresses Chakra. For the time being, he can no longer use or refine Chakra."

Just as Nara Kaikei nodded and released the [Shadow Binding Technique]—

Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi also emerged from the shadows and arrived at the scene.

Ignoring the disheveled and grim-faced Homura Oyashiro, the two members of the current Pig Deer Butterfly team stared at Nara Kaikei in astonishment.

Before this small-scale battle erupted, Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi had not thought highly of Nara Kaikei's chances.

Battles between ninja could indeed, in a sense, be called "information warfare."

Once one side's combat abilities were exposed—

The other side could formulate a specialized battle plan in advance based on that leaked intelligence and fiercely target the enemy's weaknesses.

For ninja, acquiring intelligence on an enemy's abilities beforehand was practically equivalent to grasping the key to victory in advance.

But that only applied to ninja whose strength levels were not far apart.

Asking a Genin to fight an Elite Jonin?

How was that any different from sending him to his death?

In Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi's eyes—

The gap in strength between a Genin and an Elite Jonin was not something that could be erased merely through leaked intelligence.

Not to mention that the information they possessed regarding the Chinoike Clan's abilities was decades old.

Yet what Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi had never expected was—

Even though Homura Oyashiro had displayed an enlargement ability beyond the scope of their intelligence during this battle—

Nara Kaikei had still delivered an almost perfect performance.

"You're impressive, Kaikei."

"As expected of a genius from the Nara Clan!"

For a young ninja prodigy from the same Pig Deer Butterfly faction, Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi naturally did not hold back their praise.

"Well done, Kaikei."

Nara Shikano also praised him, his weathered face full of satisfaction.

Although he had personally told Nara Kaikei to face Homura Oyashiro alone earlier—

To be honest, Nara Shikano had not been very confident either.

Though hidden in the shadows, the Old Clan Head had long been prepared to offer support at any moment.

Yet Nara Kaikei had truly taken down Homura Oyashiro!

Even Nara Shikano believed that Nara Kaikei's performance in this battle had been nearly beyond reproach.

Although Inoichi Yamanaka had delivered the decisive move in the end—

If Nara Kaikei had used the "Shadow Stitching Technique" rather than the "Shadow Binding Technique" when he snuck behind Homura Oyashiro, the battle could likewise have ended immediately!

What pleased Nara Shikano even more was Nara Kaikei's flexible use of the clan's inherited Shadow Secret Technique during this battle.

Nara Kaikei nodded in thanks to the three elders, silently stepped aside, and summoned the panel.

Just as the Old Clan Head had administered the medicine to Homura Oyashiro—

A mission completion notification had appeared directly on the panel.

[You have defeated the B-Rank Ninja Battle Mission Target!]

[You have obtained one B-Rank [Ninja Scroll]!]

It seems the [Lazy Ghost System] doesn't care about the mission process, only the result...

Nara Kaikei quietly observed the virtual panel, his thoughts racing.

Once I trigger a battle mission, as long as the opponent is defeated before me, it counts as mission completion regardless of whether anyone else intervened...

Looks like I can piggyback on battle missions too, not just commissioned missions?

Nara Kaikei felt that he had discovered the key point of the [Lazy Ghost System].

At the same time, however, Nara Kaikei inexplicably felt that something was off.

How is this a [Lazy Ghost System]?

Other than eating and taking medicine to increase attributes, it's practically becoming a mission system...

Nara Kaikei grumbled inwardly.

But grumbling aside, he still had to open the [Ninja Scroll].

Nara Kaikei glanced at Homura Oyashiro, who was slumped on the ground like a Salted Fish that had lost all its dreams.

I wonder what good stuff this B-Rank [Ninja Scroll] can give me...

For Nara Kaikei, the Chinoike Clan's visual genjutsu was a very good reward option.

If he could integrate it into [Lacquer Eye], Nara Kaikei could also experience the wonderful feeling of knocking someone unconscious with a single glare.

Will it be genjutsu?

Nara Kaikei opened the [Ninja Scroll].

[Opening...]

[Contents recorded in this B-Rank Ninja Scroll: Jutsu]

[B-Rank Jutsu: Blood Piercing Bullet]

[Jutsu Description: An advanced blood-control secret technique of the Chinoike Clan]

[Jutsu Effect: Infuses one's Yin Release Chakra into blood, compresses the blood to its limit, then fires it in a concentrated burst like a bullet. Its initial firing speed can reach the speed of sound.]

[Jutsu Evaluation: I got up, fired one shot, and instantly killed them. What else is there to say?]

Huh?

Nara Kaikei stared at the B-Rank Jutsu on the panel, his pupils widening slightly.

Am I about to evolve from the cold weapon era into the firearms era?

Although the Jutsu Description for [Blood Piercing Bullet] specifically stated that it was a special blood-control secret technique of the Chinoike Clan—

Compared to the ninjutsu he had obtained before, such as [Camouflage Concealment] and [Super Beast Imitation Painting]—

[Blood Piercing Bullet] was undoubtedly the closest fit for Nara Kaikei's ability system.

Because it was a Yin Release Secret Technique!

In just a few moments, Nara Kaikei had devised a combination ninjutsu strategy, though—

It was a little dirty.

Camouflage Concealment, which grants invisibility, combined with the extremely fast Blood Piercing Bullet...

Turn invisible, get close, and blow their head off point-blank.

What kind of filthy ninja would come up with such a filthy combination jutsu?

Nara Kaikei was in an exceptionally good mood.

Just then—

Homura Oyashiro, who had just been hanging his head in despair, happened to raise his head as well.

"So I've fallen into your Konoha's hands..."

Having lost control over his Chakra, Homura Oyashiro had been forced out of the Ketsuryūgan state, and his pupils had returned to their original pale violet.

"But I can't understand it. I thought I was cautious enough along the way. How exactly did you discover me?"

Actually, none of us discovered you were a ninja...

Nara Shikano kept a straight face, showing little emotion.

"That is a secret."

The Old Clan Head stared at Homura Oyashiro.

"Ninja of the Chinoike Clan, why did you conceal your identity and infiltrate the Land of Fire?

"I advise you to confess honestly.

"Otherwise, we will have no choice but to search your brain ourselves."

As his words fell, Inoichi Yamanaka stepped forward at the right moment, making his presence known.

As the deputy captain of Konoha's Analysis Unit, Inoichi Yamanaka was highly skilled in memory investigation.

Homura Oyashiro glanced at Inoichi Yamanaka. Terror still lingered in his eyes, and he remained deeply shaken by the power of that mental secret technique.

"If I said I came to the Land of Fire only to hide my identity, do business, earn money, and support my family... would you believe me?"

Special hand signs, such as the cross seal for the [Multi-Shadow Clone Technique].

The heart-shaped seal for the [Mind Body Switch Technique].

There are some others as well. Interested readers can look them up on their own.

Regarding the medicine Nara Shikano fed him.

The inspiration came from the medicine Tsunade gave Jiraiya before the battle at Tanzaku Town.