Overwhelming Battle

The Hidden Cloud Village convoy sped along the broad dirt road, its wheels crushing gravel and kicking up clouds of dust.

Zuri sat in the foremost carriage, his fingers constantly tapping against his knee, his brow tightly furrowed. As the Jonin in charge of this operation, his mood was even heavier than it had been on the way there.

In the end, they still hadn't managed to obtain an intact Byakugan Kekkei Genkai...

Whenever Zuri recalled the hypocritical faces of Konoha's higher-ups at the negotiating table, he could not help gritting his teeth. They obviously knew Hidden Cloud's true objective, yet they had still put on such a performance.

They talked about "peace," but then turned around and planned to execute a member of the Hyuga Branch Family before handing over the corpse... If he had not invoked the excuse that "Lord Raikage would personally judge the culprit," they probably would not have even been able to bring back this living Hyuga clansman.

The carriage jolted, and Zuri's gaze unconsciously drifted toward the rear—where a specially made prison wagon held Hizashi Hyuga, his eyes covered.

This was the first time they had obtained an unharmed Byakugan wielder.

In past wars, the Hyuga Main Family had been protected without a single gap, while any Branch Family member captured would immediately be executed by the Main Family through the Caged Bird Curse Mark. Being able to bring back a living specimen this time was already an unprecedented breakthrough.

At the negotiating table, he had already warned Konoha not to execute the "criminal" without authorization. Although it was merely a show of formality, he genuinely worried that Konoha would secretly interfere.

As long as they returned to Hidden Cloud...

A trace of fanaticism flashed through his eyes. The village's scientists had long coveted the Byakugan. If they could unravel the secrets of the Caged Bird through human experimentation, perhaps even find a way to transplant the Byakugan...

Lord Raikage would surely...

Suddenly, the carriage came to a violent halt, cutting off Zuri's thoughts. "What happened?" he shouted sharply, yanking open the curtain.

"Lord Zuri! Something unexpected has happened! It may be an enemy attack!"

The frantic cries of the Hidden Cloud ninja made Zuri frown deeply. An enemy attack? On these plains? Bandits and brigands would never dare attack an official Hidden Cloud convoy, and if they were ninja from another village...

Did they not know this was equivalent to declaring war on Hidden Cloud?

As he leaped from the carriage, the convoy had already come to a complete stop. Every Hidden Cloud ninja had entered a combat stance, kunai and shuriken in hand.

Following everyone's gazes, Zuri saw a figure standing silently in the middle of the road, clad in a black robe and wearing a Fox Mask. Sunlight cast a cold sheen across the mask, making the expression beneath it impossible to see.

This did not look good...

Zuri's hand unconsciously moved toward the ninja blade on his back, but he released it a moment later. The most important mission now was to safely deliver the Byakugan back to Hidden Cloud. There was no need to create further trouble.

"Who are you?" He stepped forward several paces and called out in a booming voice. "This is the diplomatic convoy of Hidden Cloud Village! No matter which village you belong to, this act is equivalent to declaring war on Hidden Cloud!"

The black-robed man did not answer. He merely slowly raised his hands and began forming hand seals. As he moved, the cloak behind him suddenly fluttered despite the lack of wind.

"Nine-Headed Sobek."

A low voice echoed across the plains. With every word spoken, a corresponding massive character emerged in the air, flickering with a dim blue radiance.

"Azure Dragon. White. Vermilion. Black. Void. South. North. Three. Jade."

The nine characters formed a massive array in the air, radiating a suffocating wave of Chakra. The Hidden Cloud ninja unconsciously took several steps back.

"Nine-Headed Beasts!"

At the black-robed man's command, nine enormous Summoning Beasts of different forms roared out of the array. Each radiated a terrifying pressure. They lined up neatly on either side of the black-robed man, completely blocking the road.

The black-robed man slowly raised one hand and pointed toward the prison wagon.

"My demand is very simple."

The voice from beneath the mask was so cold that it carried no trace of emotion.

"Hand over the power of the Byakugan."

Zuri's face instantly darkened like ink, veins bulging at his temples. He stared fixedly at the black-robed, masked figure before him as information on powerful figures from every major village in the Ninja World flashed through his mind—a ninja capable of summoning nine different kinds of Summoning Beasts at once? He had never heard of such a thing!

Just which village was this guy from?

But this was not the time to think. As an experienced Hidden Cloud Jonin, Zuri made his decision at once and sharply swung his right hand. "Everyone! Attack with everything you have!"

His hands instantly formed seals, his chest swelling high. "Lightning Style: False Darkness!"

"Boom—!"

A blinding bolt of lightning shot from his mouth, aimed directly at the black-robed man's chest. At almost the same moment, the Hidden Cloud ninja around him began forming seals as well.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Ball!"

"Lightning Style: Ground Running!"

"Lightning Style: Lightning Thousand Needles!"

Dozens of Lightning Release ninjutsu glowing with blue-white electricity struck from every direction, completely engulfing the black-robed man's position. The dazzling lightning illuminated the entire plain, while the pungent scent of ozone filled the air.

Yet—"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A series of dull impacts rang out. A sight that left every Hidden Cloud ninja dumbfounded appeared before them: the Lightning Release techniques, powerful enough to pulverize rock, struck an invisible wall several meters away from the black-robed man. After bursting into dazzling sparks, they all vanished without a trace!

"I see..."

The low voice beneath the mask carried a faintly amused sigh.

"So you chose violence in response to my demand? You have completely abandoned the possibility of negotiation... I respect your loyalty to your village..."

"Now... crush them!"

The nine colossal figures charged into the Hidden Cloud formation like arrows released from a bow. The ground trembled beneath their footsteps.

"Protect the Byakugan!" Zuri roared himself hoarse, cold sweat beading across his forehead. He stared fixedly at the charging Nine-Headed Beasts, his hands rapidly forming seals as he prepared to meet them—

"Hey, look over here."

A cold voice suddenly sounded beside his ear. Every hair on Zuri's body stood on end. He whipped his head around, only to find that strange Fox Mask right before his eyes!

When did he?!

"You bastard...!"

Zuri had just touched the short blade on his back when a burst of agonizing pain erupted in his abdomen. His eyes widened as his body flew backward like a rag doll, tracing an arc through the air.

"Lord Zuri!"

His subordinates' terrified cries sounded in the distance, but they were quickly drowned out by the roars of the Nine-Headed Beasts. The Hidden Cloud ninja fought back in panic, yet they were effortlessly crushed like ants—elite Jonin-level Summoning Beasts against ordinary ninja was nothing but a one-sided slaughter.

"Cough... cough, cough..."

Zuri struggled to rise, a metallic sweetness flooding his throat. Yet before he could push himself up, a hand pressed against the back of his neck and forced his entire body into the dirt.

How was this possible?!

Zuri's pupils contracted violently. As an elite Jonin of Hidden Cloud, his taijutsu prowess ranked among the best in the village, yet he was being utterly crushed right now?!

"You..." He struggled to shift his eyes, trying to see the person pinning him down. "Who exactly are you?!"