Storm Release Ninjutsu

The amount of chakra Byakuya possessed now was as different as heaven and earth compared to before, evoking a sense of wonder that one should "look at a scholar with new eyes after three days apart."

First came a minor increase in chakra volume, then a limited-time mission that boosted it further, and the recent improvement in his physical stamina had pleasantly surprised him, as it had also caused his chakra reserves to take a significant leap forward.

The various base stats of the body are not isolated; an increase in one stat often brings about a strengthening of the others.

The feeling of making steady, grounded progress is truly good, and the taste of constantly growing stronger is simply wonderful.

However, I currently have the stats but lack real combat experience. If I were to encounter a ninja of my own level but with seasoned combat instincts, I would undoubtedly be the one defeated and killed.

For this Root mission, I must be extremely cautious. The ninja world is full of old foxes; I should use Shadow Clone Technique more often to probe.

Byakuya used Storm Release chakra to soothe his muscles, blending in water-natured chakra so that the lightning-natured chakra within the Storm Release was no longer so savage and overbearing, providing him with a perfectly measured "massage."

In truth, Byakuya greatly coveted the Lightning Release Chakra Mode of Kumogakure, or perhaps the Lightning God Armor, but unfortunately, that was a secret technique passed down through generations, and it was basically impossible to obtain.

He tossed a Military Ration Pill into his mouth, rested until his stamina reached its peak, and jumped off the tree trunk to continue his journey.

The Military Ration Pills he carried did not have the effect of restoring chakra; they were merely food made from radishes, buckwheat flour, wheat flour, honey, and the like to replenish physical stamina.

After leaving the village, Byakuya had once considered whether he should simply defect, but he snuffed out that thought in an instant.

For a long time to come, Konoha would be his umbrella. Although he had been tricked by that old fox Hiroya, compared to facing the cruel outside world where it was kill or be killed, Root still followed at least a modicum of rules.

When he arrived outside the Ninja Tool Research Branch that had been attacked by rogue ninjas, he did not reveal himself, choosing instead to hide in the shadows and observe.

It was a three-story building backed against a fan-shaped cliff wall. Its exterior was very simple, revealing no information. In front of it was a cliff, and below the cliff, the river water rushed violently, with two side-by-side tree trunks spanning the banks to serve as a bridge.

Byakuya formed hand seals with both hands.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

He dispatched the shadow clone into the research facility to gather intelligence while his main body remained outside, alert for any movement.

The clone took a detour, moving far from the main body's position, approached the cliff edge from another direction, stepped onto the tree trunks acting as a bridge, and arrived at the research facility.

The two iron doors were open, and a lingering scent of blood could be faintly detected.

The clone acted as if facing a formidable enemy, carefully approaching the iron doors. Sensing no ambush, it slipped inside with silent steps.

The first thing it saw were six researchers who had seemingly tried to flee, lying dead behind the door. The killer's methods were extremely cruel, as if they were toying with prey; they had slashed them until they were covered in wounds, let them run, and then killed them with a single blow just as they were about to rush out the door, extinguishing their hope of survival.

A large amount of blood on the ground had already dried and congealed into a dark brown color.

The clone drew its ninja sword and cautiously searched for useful information.

There were no unusual findings; the killer's movements had been crisp and clean, without even signs of a fierce struggle.

It found the basement where ninja tools were forged.

The door was closed.

The moment it pushed the door open, over a dozen kunai and shuriken flew toward its face.

"Ha, the Konoha ninja has finally arrived. Let's take his corpse and retreat!"

"Time to make some money."

The clone brandished its ninja sword—its swordsmanship, having received a minor boost, was still quite precise—and knocked down all the kunai and shuriken.

The basement had no lights and was pitch black, while the candle holder on the wall of the corridor leading to the basement held a candle flame that was about to go out.

The enemy was in the dark, and he was in the light.

The clone had become a target, and it did not know how many enemies were inside.

It immediately retreated, grabbed the candle from the holder with its backhand, and threw it into the basement.

The light illuminated a small area.

The fierce expressions of two men flashed by, the candle went out, and then another dozen shuriken followed.

The clone intentionally took the hit, clutching a wound on its leg as it slumped against the corridor wall.

"Is that it? It seems the intelligence was correct; the powerful ninjas of Konoha have all been sent to the front lines, leaving the rear empty."

"Go up and slit his throat. Hiss, what kind of mask is that?"

"Shuten-doji, the legendary demon king."

The two men walked out of the dark basement with blades in hand and arrived before the clone.

They raised their blades.

The moment they swung down, the clone opened its mouth and spat out a bright blue, wave-like lightning, which, like a controlled stream of water, pierced through their bodies in an instant.

"Storm Release: Torrential Lightning Flash."

Developed based on Water Release: Water Wave, the key was replacing the water-natured chakra in his mouth with Storm Release chakra. Its power was quite impressive, possessing rapid explosive force and short-range coverage, primarily dealing piercing damage with an added paralyzing effect.

This was the advantage of a Kekkei Genkai rooted in one's bloodline; it could be used with ease.

The two men looked astonished, but their bodies suddenly vanished within the stream-like lightning.

Shadow clones!

As Byakuya's shadow clone finished releasing the ninjutsu, shuriken, kunai, and ninja blades flew from the basement, piercing its vital points.

"Heh, the ninjutsu is quite impressive."

"A greenhorn. It seems the evil Konoha has no one left to use."

The clone struggled to lift its head, using the dim candlelight to memorize their appearances before vanishing.

"Another Shadow Clone?!"

"Damn it! Damn it!! All Konoha ninja are treacherous and cunning!"

Hidden outside, the real Byakuya browsed the images transmitted back by his Shadow Clone, staring at the research facility backed against the mountain wall.

He could not judge the strength of the two people hiding in the basement, but the good news was that through their words, he could tell their emotions were somewhat agitated.

If he put himself in their shoes, having penetrated deep behind enemy lines to sabotage the Ninja Tool Research Branch, staying behind to boldly ambush instead of leaving immediately meant certain death if they lingered too long; they must be absolutely desperate to retreat now.

Byakuya recalled their conversation, especially the phrases "Take his corpse and we'll retreat" and the gleeful "Time to make some money," and couldn't help but ponder: could they be bounty hunters from the Bounty Exchange? Had another hidden village issued a bounty, hiring them to cause destruction in Konoha's rear and assassinate Konoha ninja?

In this way, with the clone having alerted the enemy, the situation had instead turned into the enemy being in the light while he was in the dark.

From the perspective of the two inside the research facility, since a Konoha ninja had discovered them with a Shadow Clone, if they continued to lie in wait, they would soon be surrounded by other Konoha ninja arriving with the news.

The best decision would be to flee immediately, using every possible means to escape the sight of Konoha ninja.

"Shadow Clone Technique."

Without waiting for his chakra to recover to its peak, Byakuya ordered a clone to go to the mountain wall behind the research facility to block that route.

The real Byakuya lay in ambush in a lush, leafy tree on the cliff side.

But just as the clone arrived, two people burst out of the research facility's broken window, their escape route being the mountain wall, and they sprinted across the cliff face.

Byakuya's Shadow Clone threw two kunai; one of them seemed unable to dodge in time, and a kunai pierced his back.

"Are you okay? I'll carry you."

"Forget about me! Run, or neither of us will survive!"

"No, we are comrades; there is no reason to abandon a comrade!"

The man helped him run to a flat area on the mountain wall, bent down to carry him, and they fled in a panic, with Byakuya's Shadow Clone in hot pursuit.

Watching this touching scene, the real Byakuya spat out two words: "Clumsy."

About six minutes later.

Two more people ran out of the research facility, not taking the mountain wall, but heading straight for the bridge formed by the trees.