Shinobi of the Sand

Although Qi had seen what the ninjas of the Five Great Nations looked like in the anime of his past life, he had to admit that there was a massive difference between 2D and 3D. Things that were clear at a glance in an anime were not necessarily so in reality; otherwise, he wouldn't have failed to recognize these people as Sunagakure ninjas.

People in reality were far more complex than the simple sketches in anime...

The Land of Wind was a desert nation. Following the customs of their home, these Sunagakure ninjas were all draped in thick headscarves. At first glance, they really did look like those Arabs he had seen on television in his past life.

The difference was that these people were a hundred times more ferocious than those so-called desert dwellers from his previous life. Compared to them, even the so-called terrorists of his past life were nothing but pure, obedient sheep...

"Rest in place. Keep a lookout."

The leader of the Sunagakure ninjas scanned the surroundings. Qi and his companions were lucky; the waist-high weeds effectively concealed them, and these ninjas seemed to have dulled senses due to mental exhaustion.

However, it was hard to say if their good luck would last, as the distance between the two sides was dangerously close. Qi highly suspected that if they moved even slightly, they would be discovered...

"Lord Tsang Yeh, we've traveled all this way without seeing a shadow of our target. Could the intelligence be wrong?"

After the group sat down, a fierce-looking Sunagakure ninja stood up straight and asked the leader. In a gesture that didn't quite match his stern expression, he diligently handed over his own water canteen.

This method of flattery was quite on point, executed just right...

"It doesn't matter. I trust they wouldn't dare deceive me."

The ninja named Tsang Yeh took the canteen from his subordinate, took a light sip, and handed it back.

"Those old fogies in the village are so disappointing. Since when did the dignified Sunagakure ninjas become the type to kneel before the enemy!"

"It is said that the target's strength is formidable. I hope we can succeed; that way, the people in the village might finally wake up."

Another Sunagakure ninja nodded as well.

"So many comrades have died; how can it just be written off! This is an insult to our ancestors!"

"Well said!"

Tsang Yeh gave a cold laugh.

"This person has become increasingly powerful lately. Given time, I fear he will be another White Fang. We absolutely cannot let him continue to live! This is also for the future of the village..."

"Lord Tsang Yeh, didn't you once fight the White Fang of the Leaf? How does this person compare to him?"

The ninja who had handed over the water earlier suddenly revealed a strange smile.

"Hard to compare. The White Fang was a peerless genius rarely seen in centuries; I have never seen a ninja like that. However, he failed to kill me that time, even though I was defeated..."

Tsang Yeh laughed even more strangely.

"Damn it! That bastard actually committed suicide! But... it's a good thing he died! If he hadn't died, who would have dared to go to war with Konoha, eh!?"

He spoke with such nonchalance, but the four people in the distance were drenched in a cold sweat, nearly shivering in fear...

The White Fang of the Leaf!? This person was someone who had survived a battle against the White Fang! And that talk about him becoming another White Fang—the target this group was trying to kill, wasn't that clearly Minato!?

"Run! This guy is an elite jonin!"

With a roar from Kakashi, he, Obito, and Rin jumped up almost simultaneously and turned to flee!

Could an elite jonin fail to notice four people at the chunin level? That was nonsense!

"You little brats finally realized you should run? Heh... too late... Catch them!"

Tsang Yeh laughed heartily. He watched the four fleeing figures with an expression of pure amusement.

He had naturally discovered the four of them long ago. As a peak existence within Sunagakure, the concealment techniques of Qi and the others were basically a joke to him.

"Don't run!"

"Kids, stop right there!"

Just as the four figures surged forward, the surrounding Sunagakure ninjas who had been sitting on the ground rose up in unison. Amidst their shouts, several figures had already bypassed the four and firmly blocked their escape route!

Damn it! Just feeling the level of chakra fluctuations, the weakest among them is probably an elite chunin, and several are clearly at the jonin level!

Are you kidding me? Since when do ninjas of this caliber hang out in packs!?

Qi felt a chill so intense it nearly suffocated him. They were definitely in big trouble! The kind where there was no chance of survival!

Could they run? Not to mention the elite jonin still sitting on the ground, even the weakest of this group could fight him and Kakashi to a standstill!

And that was not even mentioning Obito and Rin; Obito hadn't even awakened his eyes yet, so he was at best a standard chunin. Against these people, they were dead for sure...

They were an elite team, sure, but if they were an elite team, then this group was a literal team of monsters. How were they supposed to fight this...

"You old geezer! Have you no shame? Actually bullying the younger generation!"

Qi decided to go all out and cursed at Tsang Yeh.

"If you're so capable, go to Konoha and challenge the Sannin to a duel! Jiraiya, Orochimaru, pick whoever you want!"

"I don't want anyone, only the Yellow Flash."

Tsang Yeh snorted coldly and rose to his feet. Before Qi could react, he had already appeared in front of him, raised his hand, and slapped him!

"Bang!"

Qi finally understood what it meant to be a kite with a broken string... He was that kite! With Tsang Yeh's slap, the clothes on his chest were shredded to pieces, and even the chainmail underneath turned into flying debris as he was sent soaring far away...

He finally understood the power of a jonin-level ninja using nature transformation with the wind element...

"Pfft—!"

A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed instantly from his mouth, staining the skin on his chest a deep, vivid red!

"Qi!?"

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin were instantly struck with terror. They crowded around him simultaneously to catch his falling body; otherwise, even if Qi hadn't been killed by that palm strike, he would have been dashed to death by the fall...

Kakashi's expression was even more complex. Seeing Qi, whose strength was comparable to his own, flattened by a single palm strike from the opponent, he abandoned any thought of fighting to the death. This wasn't called fighting for one's life; it was called courting death...

"Little ghost, consider this a lesson: when facing someone stronger than you, do not let your tongue run wild."

Watching Qi, who had temporarily lost the ability to fight, and the three others beside him who had clearly given up resistance, Tsang Yeh finally revealed a look of satisfaction.

"Perhaps to ordinary ninja, you are elites, but to a Jonin, you are nothing more than dregs. If you want to live, stay put and behave yourselves!"

Waving his hand, he commanded his subordinates nearby, "Tie them all up. Treat that little ghost's wounds; don't let him die. I am very interested in him. The way he speaks makes me highly suspicious of whether he is truly a ninja of Konoha."

"Yes!"

The Sunagakure Ninja responded in unison, then stepped forward to disarm them and bind them tightly. Ironically, Qi, who had been beaten to the brink of death, was spared the indignity of being tied up and was even given a stretcher to lie on, though Qi certainly didn't feel happy about it...

After all, if one could feel happy after being beaten into such a state, they would truly be a pervert, and he didn't have such heavy tastes...