"I never said you could leave."
Yamei dusted himself off, his pink Mangekyo fixed on Camilla as it slowly spun.
"Urgh!!"
At the sight of Yamei, Naruto struggled even harder, clearly agitated.
After glancing at him, Yamei turned his attention to Timsi, the royal descendant.
They don't seem to intend to hurt Naruto... Can I use that?
Yamei's thoughts raced. All along the way, he had been plotting how to obtain the Source of Life!
But the current unexpected developments had already gone beyond the scope of the mission!
Once Naruto was rescued, Kakashi and the others would definitely choose not to continue the investigation and return to Konoha instead.
If that happened, the Source of Life would slip through his fingers!
But what if Naruto was taken away?
Then they would most likely choose to rescue Naruto, which meant they would inevitably investigate Heide! Step by step, they would find the Source of Life!
At that thought, Yamei's eyes grew brighter as he looked at Timsi!
No, that still wasn't safe enough! It would be best to capture Timsi too!
That way, Naruto's safety could be guaranteed while greatly ensuring that the mission continued!
Besides, the merchant caravan formed by the remnants of the royal family had been traveling through several nearby countries.
If they encountered it, Timsi would be the key! He couldn't be allowed to escape!
And there was also...
Yamei couldn't help turning toward Sasuke, who was staring intently into the sky. His scarlet Two Tomoe were trembling violently.
Perhaps... this is also Sasuke's chance to awaken the Three Tomoe!
One arrow, two birds! Maybe even three!
After all, this mission could also temper these still-immature kids! It was perfect!
Don't worry, Naruto. I won't let you fall into danger! You may have to suffer a little for now, but I'll make it up to you afterward!
With his mind made up, Yamei began to act.
His Mangekyo spun. After placing a genjutsu on Naruto to ensure his safety, he formed hand seals.
Lightning Release: Lightning Strike Tornado!
This technique he had copied from Raiga Kurosuki became especially terrifying in Yamei's hands!
Bolts of lightning as thick as arms twisted around one another, instantly forming a gigantic lightning tornado over thirty meters tall that howled toward Camilla!
"You've got to be kidding me!!"
Camilla's pupils constricted as she hurriedly shook Timsi, who was hanging from her body. "Timsi! Hurry! Stop it!"
Suppressing his shock, Timsi's longsword suddenly extended as strands of lightning rapidly gathered around it.
Lightning God's Thunderclap!!
As if the god of thunder had erupted in fury, thick lightning blasted through the surroundings, turning the struck ground black and scorched!
Camilla was unfortunately struck twice by the falling lightning, her body convulsing! If Timsi had not helped steady her, she would have fallen already.
"So strong!"
Sasuke, Shikamaru, and the others were already dumbfounded! Such a terrifying Lightning Release! They would have believed it was A-rank!
"Damn it! Why is this guy so strong?!"
Camilla looked down at the figure standing on the beach with apprehension. Then, catching something from the corner of her eye, she burst into laughter. "You can't stop me!"
"Soldiers! Stop them at all costs!"
Hearing Camilla's command, everyone looked toward the fortress and saw more than a dozen soldiers appear.
"Buy time for Yamei!" Gritting his teeth, Shikamaru led the still-conscious others to intercept the soldiers.
But Shikamaru and the others were ultimately too few in number. Several soldiers broke through their defense and charged into the battlefield between Yamei and Camilla.
As Camilla desperately dodged Yamei's ninjutsu, the delight on her face grew stronger. When she saw the soldiers' bodies begin to swell, she threw her head back and laughed.
"Now you can enjoy yourselves slowly! I'll be leaving first!"
With that, Camilla spread her wings and took off!
But in that instant, a hammer suddenly materialized beside her right hand and smashed down hard on it!
"Ah!"
Camilla cried out in pain, and the hand clutching Timsi abruptly loosened!
"Ah! Save me!!"
"Not good!" Camilla's expression changed as she swooped down! But Yamei was faster! In a flash, he grabbed Timsi and swung his blade horizontally!
"Damn it! Just you wait! Lord Hyde won't let you get away with this!!"
Camilla shot Yamei a resentful glare before pink mist surged from behind her, carrying Naruto away at high speed.
Yamei landed and immediately sensed terrifying fluctuations spreading from the surrounding soldiers.
"Self-destruction?"
Muttering to himself, his Mangekyo spun sharply. The soldiers in the middle of self-destructing all froze as if they had jammed.
Severing Command could interrupt techniques that were currently being cast, and self-destruction counted as a derivative of a technique. Since they were in the process of self-destructing, it was naturally easy to deal with them.
Tossing Timsi aside, Yamei flashed forward and cut down the soldiers one by one.
"Yamei, where's Naruto?" Sasuke asked anxiously.
"The enemy used the soldiers' self-destruction, and the sky was her domain. She was too fast... so I couldn't save him."
"What?!" Sasuke froze upon hearing that. "Couldn't save him... couldn't save him..."
Yamei stared closely at Sasuke, watching his Two Tomoe tremble ever more violently. Satisfied inwardly, he turned toward the silent Shikamaru and the others.
"Shikamaru, Shino, keep an eye on the one I captured. I'll go help Kakashi and the others clear out the remaining soldiers."
"Okay!" Shikamaru nodded.
In a little over ten minutes, they wiped out all the soldiers and woke the few people who had fallen under genjutsu.
After being captured, Timsi remained silent, and Yamei's group paid him no attention.
Kakashi and Kurenai gathered Yamei and the others together. Their voices were somewhat grave. "The situation has gone beyond our expectations, and Naruto has been captured, so we currently have two choices!"
"First! We end the mission and return to the village to report!"
"Then what about Naruto?" Sakura asked anxiously.
Yūhi Kurenai responded, "We can only wait for the village to send a stronger team to rescue him."
Everyone fell silent. Leaving aside whether the village would send anyone, even if it did, by the time they came and went, who knew where the enemy would have hidden!
And no one could guarantee that the enemy would not hurt Naruto during that time.
"What's the second choice?" Yamei slowly raised his eyes.
Kakashi hesitated slightly. After exchanging a glance with Yūhi Kurenai, he said, "The second choice is to continue the mission and rescue Naruto!"
Everyone's eyes immediately lit up as they looked at Yamei with hopeful gazes.
"We choose the second option!"
Kakashi and Yūhi Kurenai nodded at the same time. "Good! Then let's prepare to rescue Naruto!"
As he spoke, Kakashi looked at Timsi and Lank in the distance. "Fortunately, we have two prisoners this time. Our chances of rescuing Naruto are still quite good!"
After confirming everyone's choice, they discussed some more details before Kakashi finally looked at the quiet Sasuke.
"You all go collect intelligence from the fortress. I'll talk to him." Yamei stepped forward.
"Then I'll leave him to you." Kakashi nodded and led the others into the Sea Fortress.
Yamei sat down beside Sasuke. "Three Tomoe now?"
Before you continue