Trouble struck: the Jinchūriki was stronger than expected

Several days later, in the Land of Earth, at the foot of a desolate, steep mountainside, the rumbling sound of wheels could be heard.

A group of strong Stone Ninja surrounded the three large carts, escorting them step by step towards Iwagakure).

The leader, a Stone Ninja, was a tall man with an umbrella on his head, Tea-colored mask over his mouth, and Yellow-brown armor over his body.

This person is none other than Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki of Iwagakure!

Han's first impression is that of a solitary ascetic, with thick robes and cloaks concealing his inner self.

The Five-Tails Jinchuriki is also very powerful. He can enhance his Taijutsu) for combat by manipulating the power of Steam, and he also enhances his Brute Strength and speed.

Sand and gravel churned and rolled, and a fierce wind howled through the Yamanaka.

The group moved forward in an orderly fashion, their synchronized steps creating a peculiar rhythm, like Mukade with countless legs that never loses its composure.

Suddenly! A strange gust of wind swept by, stirring up dust that blinded everyone.

Two dark figures suddenly appeared on the mountain path leading to the Stone Ninja team, taking advantage of the Wind and Sand that blurred their vision. The cold and hot auras clashed, creating a contradictory yet surprisingly harmonious atmosphere.

Han raised his hand to shield his eyes, his fingertips peeking out through a slit, a glint of light flashing in his sharp eyes.

His eagle-like gaze pierced through the rushing sand and dust.

The two women had flowing hair and wore Red Clouds on a Black Background Coat, exuding an innate elegance. Although they were two women, they were also two powerful figures!

"Everyone be careful, there are two people!" Han immediately warned.

The group of Stone Ninja quickly surrounded the three large carts, and the circle shrank by half in an instant, as if it had been rehearsed beforehand.

Once the formation was complete, Han took a step forward and walked to the very front of the group.

"Who are you people?" Han asked in a deep voice. The things he was escorting behind him were too important, and he would never choose to provoke a conflict unless absolutely necessary.

However, the expected response did not come.

As the dust settled, two dark Lushan were revealed. Pakura squinted and glanced into the crowd.

"Three large carts, just as the intelligence indicated."

At this point, Pakura paused for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze back to the Five-Tails Jinchuriki standing at the very front of the group.

"Tall stature, Tea-colored face mask, Yellow-brown armor."

The goal has been set.

Pakura's entire aura suddenly changed. Before, Pakura could be described as a passionate flame, warm but harmless.

At this moment, Pakura was like a roaring tongue of fire, scorching waves of air surging out, swallowing and scorching the air.

Pfft!

Pakura raised one hand, and chakra quickly gathered along with the movement of her hand, forming two dazzling fireballs that swirled around her palm.

The air seemed to boil over at that moment, and the sight became distorted by the rapidly rising temperature.

"Pakura Scorch Release ninja? Shouldn't you be dead?" A solemn look appeared in Han's eyes. Ten years ago, Pakura disappeared in the chaos of Konoha.

Everyone already knew she was dead, and it was Chiyo who released the news in Sunagakure, confirming that Pakura was indeed dead.

I never expected to see Scorch Release again in a place like this!

Han didn't want to know about the old stories of Sunagakure and Pakura; he only wanted to know why Pakura would attack them now.

"What do you want? Money?" Han glanced subtly at the large truck behind him.

Three large carts were loaded with money, grain, and important War Supplies.

These items were specifically allocated to Iwagakure by the Daimyo of the Land of Earth, enough to support the village for at least a year.

Pakura remained silent, the fireball in her hand growing hotter as she continued to gather chakra to prepare the Jutsu Formula.

It seems they intend to end the battle in one move!

A look of hesitation appeared in Han's eyes. Such a large sum of money and grain was enough for the two of them to live a luxurious life for the rest of their lives.

However, Han could vaguely sense a hostility; the coldness emanating from Pakura's eyes was directed at him!

Sudden!

"Attack, Bai!" Pakura shouted, his arm suddenly swinging forward.

Whoosh whoosh...

A blazing fireball streaked through the air, its suffocating temperature seemingly capable of drying out the land in an instant, causing the moisture in the air to vanish rapidly.

"Everyone be careful, it's Scorch Release!" Han shouted a warning, quickly Hand Seals and Body Flicker Technique away from the Scorch Release fireball's attack path.

Bang bang bang!!

The Stone Ninja are most skilled in Earth Release, which can be used not only for offense and concealment, but also, and more importantly, for defense.

More than a dozen Stone Ninja Jonin, who were proficient in Earth Element Chakra Nature Transformation, immediately moved to the front row, their hands clasped together and their fingers interlaced.

A powerful Earth Element force erupted from it.

"Earth Release · Earth Flow Rampart!"

The crowd shouted in unison, and a high, sturdy wall, constructed by more than ten Jonin using Earth Release Ninjutsu, stretched out in front of them.

The view suddenly dimmed, the sunlight was blocked out, and there was the suffocatingly hot fireball.

Pfft!!

Two muffled thuds sounded as Pakura's Scorch Release fireballs struck the tall earthen wall.

Everyone tensed up, and more than ten Stone Ninja from Iwa ninja Jonin their hands against the earthen wall, recklessly pouring their heavy Earth Element chakra into it.

Even through a wall several feet thick, one could feel a slightly hot sensation.

The fireball melted the earthen wall, creating a gap. Earth Element chakra was injected, and the surrounding Rock and soil gathered together to fill the gap once again.

The two sides remained locked in a stalemate, the Scorch Release being powerful enough to instantly evaporate all the moisture from a person's body.

However, the Stone Ninja had the advantage of superior numbers and chakra levels several times higher than Pakura's. As they mutually depleted each other's chakra, the Stone Ninja held an absolute advantage.

"As expected of the elite of Iwagakure, a simple Earth Flow Rampart blocked my technique." Pakura gave Shiro, who was preparing the Jutsu Formula, a wink.

Bai Xin understood, and with a flick of her slender hand, one after another, crystal-clear, snow-white ice needles shot through the air.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

The incessant, strong wind could be heard clearly.

Ice Release: Thousand Feather Flying Needles!

Like feathers, the light and beautiful ice needles left a trail of white mist in the air, causing the temperature of the entire barren mountain to drop by tens of degrees.

The water vapor in the air condensed into wisps of ice.

The sound of freezing echoed, and the ice threads, clearly visible to the naked eye, spread towards the Stone Ninja's group like a giant spider web.

At that moment, a tall and strong body descended from the sky; it was the Five-Tails Jinchuriki who had leaped into the air to dodge the fireball attack a moment earlier.

Han clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and his chakra turned into steam, accelerating his blood circulation. Not only his speed and strength, but also the power of his Fist Force increased several times over.

A deafening roar!

The man descended from the sky, his punch engulfing both Pakura and Bai.

The Fist Force stirred up a fierce wind, like an invisible mountain pressing down, bound to crush Pakura and Bai into dust.

As a veteran Kage-level, Han's strength should not be underestimated. More importantly, he is experienced and knows how to seize opportunities.

Pakura unleashed her full power in one move, and hadn't even prepared her second technique yet, while Haku was launching Ice Release Secret Technique to attack the Stone Ninja convoy.

Han Zheng seized the opening between the two attackers and struck!

"Never mind him, I'll handle him!" Pakura gritted his teeth, glanced at the pale face that had turned slightly pale, lowered his body, and then gathered his strength to jump up.

Although Pakura is Ninjutsu -type expert, her Taijutsu is also quite strong, and her Scorch Release technique can be used in conjunction with Taijutsu to attack enemies.

With a flick of her wrist, a sharp Kunai appeared at her fingertips. With a snap, her fingers closed, and the tightly gripped Kunai flashed a silver light in the wind.

What seemed like an ordinary blow, given Han's confidence, meant that even if he were hit by an attack of this magnitude, his life would not be in danger.

Unfortunately, the opponent is a Scorch Release ninja who became famous ten years ago!

The power of Scorch Release is too cruel and domineering. Anyone hit by Scorch Release will turn into a dried-up corpse in an instant. Even Han, who is Jinchūriki, does not dare to underestimate it!

You can't take it head-on; you have to get out of the way!

The thought flashed through his mind, and Han's Fist Force deviated from its original trajectory, the resulting gust of wind heading straight for Pakura.

"Ugh!" Pakura's body stiffened, and his upward momentum abruptly stopped.

Even the Scorch Release power hidden in the Kunai attack couldn't hit Han, who was a Kage-level Taijutsu, strength, and speed.

This seemingly ordinary punch possessed earth-shattering power!

Pakura's eyes One Flash, and she decisively threw out the Kunai in her hand. At the same time, she secretly formed a Hand Seals, and with a bang, a cloud of white mist engulfed her.

Clang!

As Han fell, he used the hardest part of his armor to Kunai the kunai away, then increased the force of his Fist Force.

With a deafening roar, the iron fist, as big as a clay pot, along with the burly figure, crashed down and smashed into the rocks.

The mountains and rocks crumbled, and the sky and earth shook.

Thick, dark cracks spread out in all directions.

At the same time, Haku activated his Jutsu Formula, and countless ice needles fell on the Earth Flow Rampart. The temperature of the earthen walls, which had been Scorch Release red by the Scorching Release, suddenly dropped.

In the instantaneous alternation between extreme heat and extreme cold, even the hardest soil and rocks crumbled and fell away in pieces of varying sizes.

"Retreat first!" Ye Cang nimbly flipped in the air, dodging the sand and stones splashed up by the collapsing earth, Pakura steadily, grabbing Bai.

The two quickly jumped up and retreated into the distance with several leaps.

Han is Taijutsu master; his speed and power are among the best in the Ninja World.

Engaging in close combat with such a master would be unwise, so Pakura and Bai seized the opportunity to create distance.

Han was aware of his strengths and weaknesses. Faced with the Scorch Release and Ice Release, he had to stay close and entangle his opponents.

Swish!

The Han man stepped onto the ground, his legs bent, and his muscles bulged out in strips, followed by a burst of white steam from his feet.

When the air pressure reached a critical point, Han pushed off with all his might, the earth shattered with a deafening roar, and his body shot out like an arrow in an instant.

Its speed was so fast, like a white flash, arriving in an instant.

After their first encounter, Bai realized that if her opponent caught up, both she and Pakura would be in danger.

"Ice Release: Ice Rock Hall Without End!" The pale-faced man who had been flying backward turned serious, his slender hands rapidly forming Hand Seals, and clearly visible ice threads appeared out of thin air.

Click click click!

A thick, tall ice wall suddenly appeared, blocking the way between the two sides and separating Pakura and Bai from Han, who was in hot pursuit.

Bang!

With a loud bang, Han turned sideways and kicked the ice wall, sending ice shards raining down.

Without the continuous infusion of Haku's chakra, the ice wall collapsed instantly, unable to withstand the pressure, turning into crystal-clear ice crystals scattered all over the ground.

Although Han shattered the ice wall with one kick, it also slowed down his relentless offensive.

Pakura and Bai repeatedly flipped and jumped backward until they were more than twenty steps apart before stopping.

The two men's expressions turned grave; they had realized that the large figure before them was not to be trifled with. "The Five-Tails Jinchuriki is much stronger than expected."

Most importantly, both Pakura and Haku are strong Ninjutsu users. Their Taijutsu is not weak, but it is nothing compared to the Five-Tails Jinchuriki.

Neither of them could directly confront or even restrain Han.

"Should we retreat first?" Bai glanced at Pakura, who was panting slightly, and asked in a low voice.

The actual fighting lasted only two minutes, but it was a high-intensity and fierce battle. Pakura's Taijutsu were not weak, but he could not keep up with Han's pace.

By this time, she was already quite tired.

"They have no intention of letting us leave, and the elite Stone Ninja protecting the cart haven't moved yet," Pakura said solemnly, wiping the sweat from his face.

Dozens of elite Stone Ninja were merely guarding the wagon for defense; only the Five-Tails Jinchuriki actually launched the attack.

Even with just that, the two of them were already struggling to cope.

If ten more Stone Ninja from Jonin join the battle, their situation will become even more dangerous.

"Putting aside their strength, their high speed, high damage, and high burst of close-combat Taijutsu are something the two of us can't handle."

Taking advantage of the pause in the fighting, Pakura began to analyze the situation in a low voice.

It's not that Pakura and Haku are weak; if they were facing Jinchūriki who excels at ranged Ninjutsu, they could simply set up their formation and exchange ranged Ninjutsu attacks.

One is ice, the other is fire, giving them a clear natural advantage.

However, Pakura and Shiro's opponent was Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, who could use steam to increase speed and power, like a high-damage ice and fire mage teaming up against an extremely fast, high-burst warrior.

"It seems that what that guy wants isn't the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, but to deal with us!" Having experienced the betrayal of Sunagakure, Pakura's mind has become more mature.

Since they have chosen to stand on Tōka's side, they will inevitably face danger from Nagato.

Nagato and Konan won't act openly, but they hope to eliminate them under the guise of a mission.

Even if they fail, it doesn't matter. If they can't achieve their expected goal, it means that Pakura and Haku have captured the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and brought back a large sum of money.

It's a win-win situation no matter how you look at it!

"You mean the Immortal Unit's activities have been discovered?" Bai disliked killing, but she was clever and quick-witted, and immediately understood Pakura's meaning.

"Very likely..."

Pakura exhaled a deep breath and murmured to himself.

Just as the two were talking, two squads of Stone Ninja lurked in the ground, concealing their presence and slowly approaching.

Earth Release: Rock Concealment Technique allows one to move freely among Rock and hide oneself.