Intelligence on the Uzumaki Clan

The next afternoon.

"Something's up!"

Natsuki suddenly perked up and said.

"Did you find them?"

Uzumaki Kushina asked hurriedly.

She had expected the mission to be thrilling and exciting, but it turned out to be far more boring than she had imagined.

Because they had been wandering around since yesterday afternoon with absolutely nothing to show for it.

"Kurohane spotted a group of Rogue Ninja raiding a merchant ship on the sea to the south," Natsuki said immediately. "If nothing goes wrong, that should be our target."

These Rogue Ninja were essentially pirates.

This stretch of sea was their territory, and in theory, they wouldn't allow a second pirate faction to exist.

"Then let's go save them right now!"

Nawaki said happily.

Given his personality, he certainly wouldn't miss out on an opportunity to intervene when he saw injustice.

"There are only three of us, so the best approach is to approach quietly and launch a sneak attack from the shadows," Natsuki said after a moment of thought. "I'll take care of the pirate leader."

"Understood."

Nawaki didn't say anything more upon hearing this.

Natsuki was the strongest among them and possessed the secret technique known as Shadow Assassin, making him the best fit to deal with the pirate leader.

"Stay safe."

Uzumaki Kushina said quickly.

"You too."

Natsuki dispelled his Summoning Technique and, along with Nawaki and Uzumaki Kushina, rushed toward the merchant ship.

A short while later, they caught sight of the merchant ship.

Two groups were currently clashing on the deck, though they couldn't see the specific situation; they could only hear the screams.

A thick mist had enveloped the merchant ship.

This was the classic jutsu of Kirigakure, Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique.

Its effect was to create a massive amount of fog to disrupt the enemy's line of sight.

Ninja from Kirigakure were trained in the Silent Killing technique from a young age, allowing them to easily gain the upper hand within the mist.

Furthermore, the pirate leader of these Rogue Ninja was a Special Jonin who specialized in Water Release.

In the Ninja World, specific environments provided bonuses to elemental jutsu.

For instance, a Water Release ninja would see their strength increase significantly when near water.

Because there was water nearby, a Water Release ninja didn't need to expend chakra to create water; they could simply use their chakra to manipulate the existing water.

"Troublesome."

Seeing this, Nawaki felt a bit agitated.

"Wait for me."

Natsuki thought for a moment and said, "It's most likely the pirate leader using the Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique. I'll go take him out."

After he finished speaking, he used Cast-Weight Magic: Water Spider, and his entire body began to sprint across the sea at an incredible speed.

Although one could use chakra for Water Surface Walking, it provided no speed bonus.

Upon reaching the merchant ship, he immediately activated Shadow Assassin.

After boarding the deck, Natsuki scanned his surroundings and quickly spotted the pirate leader.

Although the mist obscured his vision, he could sense the fluctuations of chakra.

The chakra fluctuations were strongest near the pirate leader.

Natsuki approached him cautiously.

When he was close enough, he finally saw the pirate leader.

He was a middle-aged man wearing a Kirigakure forehead protector with a slash through it, which signified his status as a rogue ninja.

The man fighting him was also middle-aged, but his strength was clearly inferior; he was already covered in wounds and wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.

Natsuki hesitated no longer.

He dispelled Shadow Assassin and immediately gripped the Sword of the Thunder God.

Water Breathing Third Form: Flowing Dance!

Natsuki originally intended to use the abilities of the Zoro Template, but since they were at sea, Water Breathing—which was essentially Water Release—would receive a bonus.

The next moment, flowing water appeared all around him.

As his body moved, he swung the Sword of the Thunder God toward the neck of the Rogue Ninja leader.

An intense sense of crisis emerged.

The Rogue Ninja leader's face revealed sheer terror.

However, he was a Special Jonin who had been through hundreds of battles, so he reacted with incredible speed, turning around to strike with his blade.

Natsuki's blade had already been swung, and under normal circumstances, it would be difficult to change direction.

But he was using Water Breathing Third Form: Flowing Dance.

Its characteristic was the ability to launch attacks from multiple directions.

Natsuki's Sword of the Thunder God suddenly shifted, bypassing the leader's blade and piercing straight into his heart.

In an instant, blood sprayed out.

The Rogue Ninja leader couldn't help but widen his eyes.

His gaze was filled with disbelief.

On one hand, it was because of the blade that had suddenly changed direction, and on the other, he was stunned that he had actually died at the hands of a small child.

The middle-aged man who had been fighting the Rogue Ninja leader also froze in place.

A truly shocking scene unfolded before him.

A child who looked to be seven or eight years old had just run a Special Jonin through with a single strike.

"Am I under a genjutsu?"

The middle-aged man asked subconsciously.

But the mist rapidly dissipating all around him told him that this was no genjutsu.

With the death of the Rogue Ninja leader, the Hidden Mist Technique he had been maintaining could no longer be sustained.

"What's going on?"

"The boss is dead?"

"This is impossible!"

The other Rogue Ninjas also noticed Natsuki and the leader he had killed as the mist cleared.

"I am a ninja from Konoha."

Natsuki immediately said to the middle-aged man, "Let's finish them off first, then we can talk."

"Right!"

The middle-aged man, feeling the relief of surviving a disaster, said excitedly.

Water Breathing Second Form: Water Wheel!

Natsuki leaped into the air, striking the nearest Rogue Ninja like a spinning water wheel.

In the Rogue Ninja's vision, there was nothing left but the swirling, blade-like flow of water.

He looked down and saw his own throat had been slashed open.

Water Breathing First Form: Water Surface Slash!

Natsuki turned, and the Sword of the Thunder God in his hand swung out.

Before him, an arc of blade light composed of water precisely sliced through the head of another Rogue Ninja.

Now that he possessed four Kakashi-levels of Chakra, he had no fear of consumption, frequently using the first three forms of Water Breathing, causing heads to roll one after another.

Not only were the merchant ship's guards stunned, but Uzumaki Kushina and Nawaki, who had just boarded the ship after seeing the mist dissipate, also wore expressions of shock.

"Water Release combined with sword technique?"

Tsunade asked with a look of surprise, "Did you teach him that? Or did he create it himself?"

"He created it himself."

Orochimaru sighed with emotion, "I knew he was learning Water Release from Nawaki, but I didn't expect him to create a set of Nintaijutsu."

"To be able to defeat a Special Jonin, this Nintaijutsu is not weak; it's at least B-rank."

Tsunade evaluated.

"Mm."

Orochimaru smiled faintly, looking very satisfied, and said, "Natsuki always manages to surprise people."

"The battle is over, let's go down."

Tsunade nodded and said.

With the death of the Rogue Ninja leader, the Rogue Ninjas were defeated like a collapsing mountain and were quickly wiped out.

"I am the person in charge of this merchant ship, Ryoichi."

A middle-aged man stepped forward and asked, "May I ask your honorable names?"

"Orochimaru."

Orochimaru said casually.

"Tsunade."

Tsunade also announced her name.

"Could it be the two high-ranking disciples of the Hokage of Konoha?"

Ryoichi immediately revealed a look of shock.

"You know us?"

Tsunade asked, somewhat surprised.

Although they were famous now, it was mainly within Konoha.

"I am a merchant from the Land of Whirlpools."

Ryoichi explained.

"I see."

After Tsunade finished speaking, her eyes suddenly narrowed.

Because she noticed that the expression of one person in the crowd was unnatural.

Although it was only a fleeting moment before returning to normal, it still did not escape her eyes.

"Thank you all for your help; I am willing to pay the reward for an A-rank mission."

Ryoichi said very consciously.

"That is acceptable."

Tsunade did not refuse.

An A-rank mission was a good addition to the resumes of Natsuki and the others.

Besides, ninjas were essentially mercenaries; since they had saved them, they should collect their payment.

"My lords, please rest first."

Ryoichi raised his hand and said, "We will clean up the merchant ship."

Orochimaru and Tsunade nodded.

The group, led by Ryoichi, entered the cabin to rest.

"I discovered that someone is acting strange."

Tsunade said directly, "His expression changed when he heard our names, and his strength is not weak; I fear he is a Jonin."

"This merchant ship comes from the Land of Whirlpools."

Natsuki's heart stirred, and he asked, "Could it be a spy ninja who stole intelligence from the Land of Whirlpools or the Uzumaki Clan?"

The reason he thought this was naturally because he knew the Uzumaki Clan was about to be exterminated.

But before the extermination, there must have been intelligence gathering.

The Uzumaki Clan was no small fry; they were a great ninja clan on par with the Senju and Uchiha clans.

Without sufficient preparation, it would be difficult to wipe out the Uzumaki Clan overnight.

As soon as Natsuki said this, everyone's expression changed, especially Uzumaki Kushina, who revealed an anxious look.