Battle Against Yamamoto

"Oh? You actually recognized me?" Qingyun said.

"Is that hard? A master of your age is quite rare in the entire ninja world, isn't it? I reckon it can only be Qingyun of Konoha, right?"

"Information is money here! Generally, we aren't allowed to sell out our clients, but as you know, everyone has to eat."

"It's very simple: give me enough compensation, otherwise, even if you kill me, I won't tell you." Yamamoto asked for money right off the bat, but money was the one thing Qingyun had in abundance.

Qingyun then handed over hundreds of thousands of ryo to Yamamoto, leaving the man somewhat shocked.

"To toss out hundreds of thousands of ryo so casually... it seems you really are wealthy."

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

"The person responsible for commissioning your assassination is Danzo of Konoha."

"Of course, to ensure you were thoroughly eliminated, Danzo also hired a Kage-level powerhouse. Logically, you should be dead by now; I didn't expect you to still be alive." Mr. Yamamoto's words were unpleasant, but Qingyun had obtained the intelligence he wanted.

"Danzo, huh? I already knew it was him; coming here was just to confirm it." Qingyun then said, "Your Underground Bounty Station actually dared to accept a contract to kill me? I hope you can learn a lesson and not be so foolish next time."

Qingyun then prepared to weave hand signs to release a ninjutsu, intending to teach the Bounty Station a lesson.

"Wait." Yamamoto stopped Qingyun's impending attack and said, "There are many rogue ninjas and wandering shinobi across the world. To survive, what else can they do besides killing and robbing?"

"There are plenty of things they can do, not just killing—especially not killing me." Qingyun ignored Yamamoto.

"They aren't accepted by their own countries or villages, so they can only come to the Underground Bounty Station to take on shady jobs to make ends meet. And those who come here to take such contracts..."

"Are all people who disdain mere murder and robbery; they still consider themselves ninjas."

"Doing what they must to survive is not wrong. Since you are Qingyun of Konoha, I think you should understand this, right?" Yamamoto's words were quite reasonable.

However, Qingyun was actually just testing this Yamamoto.

If he truly cared for his subordinates, Qingyun would naturally let him go, but if he intended to use his subordinates as a human shield, Qingyun would never show mercy.

"You are a rare talent. Since you asked me not to attack, then I won't. I have only one requirement: your Underground Bounty Station must submit to me!" Qingyun said.

"Want us to submit? You really are an interesting kid."

Qingyun's words made it hard for Yamamoto to believe they were coming from the mouth of a child.

"Actually, it's quite simple. To become our boss, there are only two things we acknowledge: money and a master who can truly defeat us."

"I can see that you aren't lacking in money, but if you only have the strength of a Jonin, there is absolutely no way you can make us submit."

"So, how about you defeat me? I am the strongest person here. Defeat me, and I will make the decision for them to submit to you." The man named Yamamoto before him was very direct, proposing a battle immediately.

Qingyun smiled faintly; his strength was naturally not at the Jonin level.

Even without using the Goro Goro no Mi, Qingyun's overall strength was at least at the Elite Jonin level; after all, he had learned quite a lot from the Third Hokage!

Following Yamamoto's challenge, many people immediately gathered around. Qingyun hadn't expected that shortly after arriving at the Underground Bounty Station, he would be fighting its strongest member.

"This guy... he's actually a Kage-level powerhouse too!"

Because the original story had only revealed the tip of the iceberg of the ninja world.

In this world of ninjas, there were still many things yet to be unearthed.

The middle-aged man named Yamamoto before him was clearly the person in charge of the Underground Bounty Station, and he had already shed his previous lethargic state.

"The genius of Konoha, Qingyun, I want to confirm one thing: have you encountered a ninja named Kakuzu?" Yamamoto asked suddenly before the battle began.

Qingyun nodded and said, "Of course. Wasn't that guy's target me? The fact that I am still here means I defeated him."

However, no one believed Qingyun's words. The surrounding rogue ninjas and wandering shinobi jeered; they believed Qingyun was a genius, but at most, they only acknowledged his strength as that of a Jonin.

Who was Kakuzu? He was a Kage-level powerhouse. The only time he had ever failed was against the First Hokage; every other time he accepted a contract, he completed it successfully.

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

"Defeating Kakuzu? Sorry, that is truly unimaginable!"

"However, if you want the Underground Bounty Station to submit, you must at least defeat me. Since that's the case, make your move!" Yamamoto prompted.

"In that case, Fire Style: Great Flame Technique!" Qingyun started off by using a fire technique of the Sarutobi Clan, spitting out incredibly scorching flames from his mouth with infinite power!

"The speed of those hand signs is too fast! And isn't this ninjutsu the Fire Style of the Sarutobi Clan? Oh, right, this guy's teacher is the Third Hokage." Uncle Yamamoto seemed very adept at the Body Flicker Technique, using his agility to quickly dodge the flames.

"Lightning Style: False Darkness!" Uncle Yamamoto quickly wove hand signs, also using a ninjutsu to counter Qingyun.

Who was Qingyun? Someone who possessed lightning energy—how could he fear such a mere Lightning Style technique?

One second Qingyun was facing the lightning attack, and the next, he instantly had the lightning coiling around his own body.

A Thunder Bird had already taken shape, and the terrifying lightning instantly left everyone present dumbfounded.

"Th-this level of lightning... is this coming from a child?"

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

Qingyun was slapping the faces of those who doubted him with his strength time and time again.

At this very moment, Yamamoto also felt things taking a turn for the worse and immediately said, "Since that's the case, I have no choice but to use my strongest move."

"Lightning Style: Lightning Spear!" Yamamoto used his lightning chakra to directly manifest a spear of electricity, then charged toward Qingyun's Thunder Bird.

The Thunder Bird was 30 million volts; that level of lightning would cause massive destruction to the human body.

The Thunder Bird and the Lightning Spear finally collided, sparks flying everywhere, and anything caught in the aftermath was completely destroyed by the electricity.

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

"Using Lightning Style in front of me is not a wise move." Qingyun smiled faintly, and by now, Yamamoto had already collapsed to the ground.