Futsu-no-Mitama!

Hokage's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently exhaled a puff of smoke and quickly wrote down the mission order.

S-Rank Mission: Investigate rogue ninja appearing on the border between the Land of Fire and Takigakure. Appoint Kurenai Yuhi as captain, with Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Tsume as team members. Depart immediately.

After signing, he said to the guard beside him, "Kakashi, notify Kurenai Yuhi to see me first, then notify the others."

"Yes, Lord Third Hokage."

Kakashi vanished and reappeared a moment later, followed by a woman with a proud figure, crimson eyes, and long hair, who entered the room.

"Lord Third Hokage," Kurenai Yuhi bowed her head in greeting.

"Jonin Kurenai has arrived," Hiruzen Sarutobi said kindly, smiling. "How has your genjutsu training been recently?"

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Third Hokage. Lord Tobirama's genjutsu insights have been very helpful. I've already developed two B-rank genjutsu."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, his gaze growing more satisfied as if looking at a daughter-in-law. "Is that so? Then it's perfect timing. I have an S-rank mission here. There are suspected rogue ninja near the border with Takigakure. You'll lead the team to investigate. A Jonin from Takigakure will cooperate with you, so it shouldn't be too difficult."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he handed the appointment letter to Kurenai Yuhi, his old face crinkling into a smile.

"Asuma is coincidentally on break these two days. I've already arranged for him to wait for you on the way. You two haven't seen each other in a while, so he can accompany you on the mission. If there's any danger, he can provide timely support."

Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head. "Thank you, Lord Third Hokage."

"Haha, go ahead. That boy Asuma has been protecting the Daimyo for a long time, so he has little free time and is a bit dull. It's rare that you don't mind."

Kurenai Yuhi's face turned even redder, and she hastily withdrew from the office.

Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Tsume had already arrived. After a brief exchange, the three immediately set off towards Takigakure.

On the way, the trio encountered Asuma.

These two are now Konoha's golden couple, and their romance is known to everyone.

Asuma is the Third Hokage's son, and Kurenai Yuhi is the daughter of a hero who died during the Nine-Tails' Rampage, Yuhi Shin.

Both are Jonin, one skilled in Nintaijutsu and the other in Genjutsu, making them a perfect match.

The four of them traveled together and the next day rendezvoused with a team of Chunin from Konoha and Takigakure who were patrolling the border.

As the leading Jonin for this mission, Kurenai Yuhi was in charge, and everyone followed her command, including a Jonin from Takigakure.

After exchanging information, she frowned deeply.

"You're saying the activity on the border has been increasing over the past two days? And the ninjutsu released by the rogue ninja has reached S-rank power?"

She was filled with doubt.

S-rank ninjutsu? That was uncommon, even extremely rare, usually reserved for trump cards.

The Chunin patrol team had only dared to observe from a distance these past two days, listening to the roars from tens of kilometers away, already trembling with fear.

Upon seeing the Konoha Jonin arrive, they felt as if they had found their backbone.

"Lord Kurenai, Lord Asuma, we are absolutely not lying. The roars that can be heard from dozens of kilometers away, along with the bright flashes and lightning explosions, are simply beyond human resistance."

This group had not witnessed many large-scale events, and the terrifying destructive power they saw made them not even dare to face it directly.

Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma exchanged a glance, seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.

"Based on the description, the one appearing at the border is likely an S-rank rogue ninja."

Asuma spat out the senbon he was holding in his mouth and pondered, "Bright flashes and lightning? To be able to practice ninjutsu so recklessly, they must be developing A-rank Lightning Release. Among S-rank rogue ninja, who would be skilled in Lightning Release?"

Kurenai Yuhi thought for a moment. "It could be Hiruko, or perhaps Kakuzu. Only those two have mastered Lightning Release ninjutsu. However, the former is more likely. Kakuzu, on the other hand, is proficient in all five elements."

After they spoke, everyone fell silent.

The people they mentioned were one from Konoha and one from Takigakure, and the victims were present.

After a long pause, Kurenai Yuhi said, "No matter who appears at the border, we must find out. From now on, the Chunin patrol team doesn't need to follow us. This is our mission."

The Jonin from Takigakure gave a few instructions and did not leave, as he was responsible for cooperation on this mission.

The five of them vanished like afterimages.

Half an hour later, about thirty kilometers from their destination, they stopped in unison.

It was now evening, and the setting sun was gradually descending, casting dim light.

From the distant horizon, streaks of purplish-blue lightning occasionally appeared, accompanied by low rumbles, causing unease even from afar.

"What is that?"

Suddenly, Gekko Hayate saw a thick pillar of light ascend, then flash rapidly a few times before disappearing.

Kurenai Yuhi also saw the disappearing light pillar and asked in confusion, "Why does it look so much like Storm Release's laser?"

"It does look very similar, but the scale is too exaggerated," Asuma said.

"We can't just guess. We need to confirm it with our own eyes. If the enemy is very strong, we'll retreat."

Although the mission was important, Kurenai Yuhi had to ensure her team's safety first, at least to avoid pointless sacrifices.

They moved quickly through the dense forest, crossing rivers and waterfalls.

As they approached, the frequency of the light pillars appearing in the sky increased, and the duration of their disappearance shortened.

As the pillar of light appeared, rings of blue light spread with it, like ocean waves, sweeping up countless water vapor.

Moreover, the shape of the pillar of light became increasingly strange, the cylinder gradually flattening, like a greatly magnified sharp sword, only lacking in detail.

The sky had turned gloomy at some unknown time, dark clouds hung low over the mountaintops, and dense lightning flashed within the clouds, with thunderbolts occasionally striking down.

"Be careful, the enemy should be at a critical juncture in developing their Ninjutsu. Everyone, stay hidden. This is just a reconnaissance mission, no need to capture or fight."

Kurenai Yuhi issued a warning.

Given this situation, she had already prepared for the mission to fail.

The group of five said nothing more, their expressions grave as they moved forward.

Fifteen kilometers, ten kilometers, five kilometers...

As they approached three kilometers, the pillar of light stabilized, completely transforming into a giant light sword, with streaks of lightning coiling around its blade, emanating a terrifying and dreadful power.

The group unconsciously stopped in their tracks, goosebumps rising on their skin, their faces filled with shock.

"This is too dangerous, we can't get any closer."

The electric charges floating in the air made the group's hair stand on end.

They hid in the shade of a giant tree, their Chakra-enhanced eyes allowing them to see the source of all this.

From three kilometers away, a figure held a giant light sword nearly a kilometer in height and was ascending into the air.

His figure was not tall, and his face was obscured by the dazzling lightning, making him impossible to see clearly.

From afar, it seemed as though the figure was like a god of thunder, suspended in the air, wielding a divine weapon a thousand meters long, with myriad lightning bolts radiating around him.

He slowly raised his hand and made a chopping motion, his target directly towards the location where Kurenai Yuhi and her group were.

The roar of the waterfalls throughout the borderland gradually weakened.

Only the sound of dense thunder, accompanied by a clear voice, echoed through heaven and earth.

"Storm Release · Futsu-no-Mitama!"