The Mist Ninja struggled to pull their feet out of the ice, and just as they were about to see the face of the person who launched the attack, they felt something pull their legs back down.
When they looked down, they were nearly scared to death by the bizarre scene before them.
A series of crystal-clear skeletons stared at them with empty eye sockets, their sharp fingertips digging deeply into their protective gear.
For a moment, cries of agony rose and fell.
As the Mist Ninja fought desperately against the skeletons, a Flying Thunder God Kunai shot out from the shadows and pierced the spot where Pakura had fallen. In the hazy light, Pakura only saw a graceful figure teleport to her side.
Reinforcements?
No, I was clearly betrayed by the village, how could I possibly have any reinforcements?
It seems this was just a hallucination I had before I died.
With that thought in mind, Pakura closed her eyes.
"These Mist Ninja actually have some martial ethics."
Finding no signs of poisoning in the wound, Kazashiro marveled at the opponent's martial virtue, while simultaneously throwing out two poisoned Senbon.
"Sorry, I'm busy right now. Let's talk later."
Ignoring the Mist Ninja who had repelled the skeleton attack, Kazashiro began treating Pakura.
Treatment is not a simple matter either. Because the two sides are on opposing sides, Kazashiro must keep her alive while preventing her from regaining her mobility too quickly.
What if the treatment goes too smoothly and this guy runs away without you noticing?
Blocking the Kazashiro Senbon, the Mist Ninja slashed back at two skeletons attempting to subdue him, revealing a confident smile:
"Don't worry, it won't waste your time."
This Mist Ninja believed he had seen through Kazashiro's methods; the opponent's moves, though seemingly terrifying, were in reality nothing more than terrifying.
Being a man-made object, its movements are easily predicted. While it can kill Genin and Chunin, it's no match for a powerful jonin like myself.
He coated his Ninja Blade with Chakra and slashed out, but was blocked by an ice wall before it could reach Kazashiro.
"I just can't do anything with you, since you've already said that—"
The Mist Ninja the Kunai attack by tilting her head, but felt a sharp pain in her waist.
"Then I'll play with you."
The boy's voice sounded behind her. Mist Ninja painfully turned around and saw Kazashiro standing where the Kunai fallen.
"This technique... Damn it, don't underestimate the ninjas of the Bloody Mist Village!"
Realizing something was a belated surprise, the Mist Ninja one second and then clutching their waist and kneeling on the ground groaning in pain the next.
The Mist Ninja had no time to look at the second Kazashiro appearing beside him. All he knew was that a Ninja Blade was piercing his other, intact kidney, and the intense pain left him with no strength to retaliate.
Without giving the other party time to utter trash talk, Kazashiro drew his Ninja Blade and plunged it into the neck of the Mist Ninja, killing him instantly.
With the demise of this leading Mist Ninja, the battle within the First Line of Heaven has come to an end.
Although they were man-made, the skeletons, with their first-mover advantage and sheer numbers, still managed to send many unfortunate Mist Ninja to their deaths and meet the Six Paths.
After eliminating the last survivors, the two Kazashiro stood still and slowly turned into ice blocks.
The ice wall quietly crumbled at that moment, revealing Kazashiro's figure, who was focused on treating patients while also engaging in some minor mischief.
"Alright, with this, this guy won't be able to harm me after he wakes up."
Feeling the treatment was almost complete, Kazashiro clapped his hands, summoned a Shadow Clone, and unceremoniously tossed Pakura to it. "Carry this guy on your back and head back to Shikkotsu Forest!"
The Shadow Clone tilted its head. "Didn't we say we were going to get something good to eat?"
"Yes, you carry her back to Shikkotsu Forest, and I'll go to town to find some good food and then come back. Isn't that perfect?"
"..."
Watching the Shadow Clone leave unwillingly, Kazashiro didn't forget to stage a scene of destroying the evidence before leaving, using a fire jutsu to erase all traces of the battle at Yixiantian.
When the Kirigakure Village, having received no news for a long time, finally sent people to investigate, all they found was a scene of utter devastation.
"The traces of Fire Release are consistent with Pakura's fighting style."
Standing in the center of the scene, Yagura listened to his subordinates' report with a tense expression.
What was thought to be a straightforward ambush turned out to be a disastrous endeavor, with all fifty Mist Ninja dying there.
Is Pakura a monster, or are the Mist Ninja just too weak, getting killed even in a 50-on-1 fight?
He slammed his green-flowered, stick-shaped weapon into the ground with such force that it perfectly reflected Yagura's state of mind at that moment.
The Mist Ninja by the sudden commotion and his liver trembled. He was about to curse out loud, but he immediately controlled himself.
The seemingly underage kid in front of me is actually one of the few remaining elite Jonin from Kirigakure. Anyone who survives in the Bloody Mist Village and becomes a Jonin must have their own unique skills.
However, this Mist Ninja still felt wronged. What's the use of taking your anger out on me? The facts are right there. If you have the guts, go find the culprit and take your anger out on him.
Yagura remained silent, standing still and waiting for the results of the trace tracking.
The Mist Ninja who reported remained silent, only grumbling to himself.
An eerie silence fell over the scene, broken only by the sounds of the Mist Ninja carrying away the charred corpses.
"Yagura, no trace of Pakura's escape has been found."
"Yagura, the number of bodies at the scene does not match."
Both sides were reporting the situation simultaneously.
This made Yagura's headache even worse.
The current situation is that they have no idea whether Pakura is dead or alive, nor do they know whether Sunagakure has properly fulfilled their duties.
Yagura gritted his teeth inwardly, but there was nothing he could do.
"Reply to the village that the mission was successful."
After weighing the pros and cons for a long time, Yagura made a decision.
"Yes."
There was no other way; the deal was inherently secretive, and they were also in a position of being outnumbered 50 to 1. A thorough investigation would inevitably attract the attention of neighboring countries.
When that time comes, the entire Shinobi World will know about Kirigakure's shameful act, and it will definitely overshadow Sunagakure, which betrayed its own ninja.
Besides, I'm the one who has to take responsibility for this matter.
But this is precisely the crucial moment when he is about to become the Fourth Mizukage!
In a fit of pique, he started twirling the sticks, Yagura led his men to thoroughly clean up the scene before leaving.
By the time the report reached the Mizukage, the scroll contained only one sentence. "Mission successful."
Trusting Yagura, the Mizukage and elders had no suspicions and signed a peace treaty with Sunagakure.
After receiving Kirigakure's reply, the Sunagakure leadership, as pre-arranged, blamed Iwagakure for Pakura's death, intending to use it as a pretext for war in the future.
At the same time, Rasa began looking for an excuse to attack Konoha.