The Battle Against Yamamoto

"Hmm? You recognized me?" Qingyun asked.

"Was it really that hard? Someone as young and powerful as you is rare in the entire Shinobi World. I'd guess the only person who fits that description is Qingyun of Konoha, right?"

"Information is money around here! Normally, we're not allowed to sell information about our clients, but you know how it is—everyone has to eat."

"It's simple. Give me enough money, or even if you kill me, I won't tell you." Yamamoto went straight to asking for money, but money was the one thing Qingyun had plenty of.

Qingyun promptly gave Yamamoto several hundred thousand ryo, which left him rather astonished.

"You just handed over several hundred thousand ryo without a second thought. You really are rich, huh?"

"I keep my word. Since you've paid enough, I'll tell you plainly."

"The person who hired someone to kill you was Danzo of Konoha."

"Of course, to make sure you were killed, Danzo also hired a Kage Level expert. By all rights, you should be dead. I didn't expect you to still be alive." Mr. Yamamoto's words were rather unpleasant, but Qingyun had gotten the information he wanted.

"Danzo, huh? I knew it was him already. I only came here to confirm it." Qingyun then said, "Your Bounty Exchange was actually willing to accept a contract to kill me? I hope you'll learn your lesson and not do something stupid again."

Qingyun then prepared to form Hand Seals and unleash a ninjutsu to teach the Bounty Exchange a lesson.

"Wait." Yamamoto stopped Qingyun from attacking, then said, "There are plenty of missing-nin and wandering shinobi around the world. What else can they do to survive besides kill and rob?"

"There's plenty they can do besides killing people—especially besides killing me." Qingyun ignored Yamamoto.

"They aren't accepted by their countries or villages, so they can only come to the Bounty Exchange and take on shady jobs to earn money and get by. Those who come here to take on this kind of work..."

"They're all people who disdain killing and robbing, so they're still shinobi."

"They do what they have to in order to survive. There's nothing wrong with that. Since you're Qingyun of Konoha, I think you should understand that, right?" Yamamoto's words made a lot of sense.

However, Qingyun had really only been testing Yamamoto.

If Yamamoto sincerely wished the people under him well, Qingyun would naturally let him go. But if he used them as a shield, Qingyun would never spare him.

"You're a rare talent. Since you asked me not to attack, I won't. I have only one condition: I want the Underground Bounty Station to submit to me!" Qingyun said.

"You want us to submit? You're quite an interesting kid."

Yamamoto couldn't believe those words had come from a child.

"Actually, it's quite simple. If you want to be our leader, there are only two things we recognize: money and someone strong enough to defeat us."

"I can tell you're not short on money, but if you're only as strong as an elite jonin, there's no way you'll make us submit."

"So, how about you beat me? I'm the strongest person here. If you defeat me, I'll decide on everyone's behalf and submit to you." The man before him, Yamamoto, was very straightforward and went right to proposing a fight.

Qingyun smiled faintly. His strength was naturally far beyond that of an elite jonin.

Even without using the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Qingyun's strength could at least reach the elite jonin level. After all, he had learned a great deal from the Third Hokage!

When Yamamoto challenged him, many people immediately gathered around. Qingyun hadn't expected that not long after arriving at the Underground Bounty Station, he'd already be fighting its strongest man.

"This guy is a Kage Level expert too!"

After all, the original story had only shown a tiny part of the Shinobi World.

There were still plenty of things in this world of shinobi waiting to be discovered.

The middle-aged man named Yamamoto was clearly in charge of the Underground Bounty Station. Now, he had completely shed his earlier listless manner.

"Qingyun, the Konoha genius. There's something I'd like to confirm before we fight: have you ever encountered a shinobi named Kakuzu?" Yamamoto suddenly asked.

Qingyun nodded. "Of course. Wasn't I his target? The fact that I'm still here means I defeated him."

But no one believed Qingyun. The missing-nin and wandering shinobi around them jeered. They believed Qingyun was a genius, but at most, they recognized him as having the strength of an elite jonin.

Who was Kakuzu? A Kage Level expert. The only time he had ever failed was when he fought the First. Every other time he took a contract, he completed it.

They simply couldn't believe that someone like Qingyun could defeat Kakuzu.

"Defeated Kakuzu? Sorry, that's really hard to imagine!"

"But if you want the Underground Bounty Station to submit, you'll have to defeat me first. So, come at me!" Yamamoto reminded him.

"Very well. Fire Style: Great Flame Technique!" Qingyun immediately used the Sarutobi Clan's Fire Style. He spat scorching flames from his mouth, unleashing overwhelming power!

"His Hand Seals were so fast! And isn't that ninjutsu a Fire Style technique of the Sarutobi Clan? Oh, right—his teacher is the Third Hokage." Mr. Yamamoto seemed especially skilled at the Body Flicker Technique. He used his quick movements to dodge the flames.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!" Yamamoto rapidly formed Hand Seals and used a ninjutsu to counter Qingyun.

Who was Qingyun? He possessed the power of lightning. How could he fear such a trifling Lightning Release technique?

A moment ago, Qingyun had been facing a Lightning Release attack. The next instant, he had the lightning coiling around his own body.

A Thunder Bird took shape, and its terrifying lightning left everyone present dumbstruck.

"Lightning of this magnitude... Did it really come from a child?"

"Is he the Raikage? Am I dreaming?!"

Again and again, Qingyun used his strength to slap the faces of those who doubted him.

At that moment, Yamamoto sensed that things were going badly and said at once, "In that case, I have no choice but to use my strongest technique."

"Lightning Style: Lightning Spear!" Yamamoto turned his Lightning Release chakra into a spear of lightning and charged it at Qingyun's Thunder Bird.

The Thunder Bird was a 30-million-volt attack. Lightning of that magnitude would cause tremendous damage to a human body.

The Thunder Bird and Lightning Spear collided. Sparks flashed all around, and everything caught in the blast was destroyed by the lightning.

But Qingyun's Thunder Bird gained the upper hand in an instant.

"Using Lightning Release against me isn't a wise choice." Qingyun smiled faintly. Yamamoto had already fallen to the ground.