Four Gates Status (Fourth Update)

Vast amounts of chakra flooded the heavens and earth, causing the ground to tremble. Countless grains of yellow sand formed a massive circle, and amidst the tremors, the earth began to sink slowly.

The caravan leader stared at the scene, dumbfounded. He happened to be outside the circle, narrowly avoiding being swallowed by it.

Yet, watching over three-quarters of his caravan and all his cargo being consumed, his eyes turned bloodshot.

"That's a business deal worth over three million!"

"Boss, don't go over there! It's Death Quicksand! You won't come back if you go in!"

"If this trip is ruined, our entire caravan is finished! Where are the Konoha ninjas? They promised to escort us to the Land of Wind."

"Boss, they're in the quicksand too."

Miura Mingyuan's expression shifted violently. He leaped into the air, only to find he couldn't escape the range of the quicksand.

"This isn't natural quicksand; it's Ninjutsu! Everyone, prepare for battle!"

His three Genin teammates scrambled to gather together, yet all they could see was the silent, dangerous sinking of the sand—not a single enemy in sight.

Miura Mingyuan's face turned pale.

"The enemy is beneath the desert!"

"A Ninjutsu with such a massive area of effect and such violent chakra... the enemy is a Jonin!"

"What kind of enemy is this? A Jonin wouldn't care about this small amount of cargo, and they wouldn't need to go to such lengths just to kill us."

Compared to dying in a desperate fight, this feeling of being swallowed by quicksand, unable to find the enemy and utterly helpless, was far more despairing.

Furthermore, the enemy was clearly stronger than them, yet they were hiding like cowards—it was absolutely shameless!

"Gate of Opening, open!"

"Gate of Healing, open!"

"Gate of Life, open!"

Three gates opened in an instant!

Gong Yi arrived at the edge of the quicksand, his body radiating green energy. He looked at the massive, wide-range Earth Style: Death Quicksand before him, which was being maintained by two Jonin and assisted by six Genin, and took a deep breath.

Three gates were not enough; he had to open the fourth.

And the fourth gate meant leaving the safety zone of the Eight Inner Gates, entering the danger zone, and truly stepping into the state of the Eight Inner Gates.

Gong Yi clenched his fists tightly and let out a roar toward the sky.

"Gate of Pain, open!"

As if endless energy were surging from his body, Gong Yi felt as though he could ignore everything!

Looking down at the ground sinking ever faster, Gong Yi lifted his foot!

He stomped down heavily!

"Get out here!"

BOOM!

A terrifying, peerless force transmitted into the ground like a thunderbolt.

In that moment, pressure like a collapsing mountain and a churning sea crushed the earth violently.

The ninjas hiding underground felt as if their bones were about to shatter. Without hesitation, they scrambled frantically to escape from beneath the desert.

One!

Two!

Three, four, five, six!

Then, two Jonin with faces as gloomy as water slowly floated up from the ground, staring daggers at Gong Yi.

"Eight ninjas. Good, very good! To deal with a mere Konoha Chunin squad, you actually deployed two Jonin squads!"

Gong Yi gave a ferocious grin; in his Eight Inner Gates state, he looked like a demon god.

The two Jonin exchanged a glance, and one of them barked, "Brat, this doesn't concern you. Get lost!"

Gong Yi pointed to the forehead protector on his head and laughed grimly, "Do you still think it doesn't concern me?"

Hyuga Senso and Ogawara finally arrived. Seeing Gong Yi's current state, both were incredibly shocked.

Gong Yi waved his hand, "Go and save everyone; they aren't dead yet!"

"But..." Ogawara looked at the eight ninjas eyeing them hungrily and said worriedly, "Gong Yi, you're all alone."

"I said go!"

"Yes, Captain!" Hyuga Senso nodded, grabbed Ogawara, and headed toward the center of where the Earth Style: Death Quicksand had covered.

One of the Jonin opposite them roared, "Stop them!"

Two Genin suddenly lunged forward, preparing to intercept Hyuga Senso and Ogawara.

However, before they had even covered half the distance, a figure appeared before them like a ghost.

BANG!

Bang!

With just two kicks, the two genin were sent flying backward.

Their bodies tumbled through the air like discarded rags, blood spraying wildly from their wounds.

The two jonin who had been keeping their eyes on Gong Yi felt their pupils constrict.

Fast! Too fast!

They had been staring directly at Gong Yi, yet they hadn't even perceived his movement just now.

"Are you... from Konoha?"

Faced with the enemy's question, Gong Yi offered no reply, simply standing there as a terrifying aura radiated from his entire body.

The presence of a ninja under the effects of the Eight Inner Gates was truly overwhelming.

With Gong Yi standing guard, none of the six remaining enemies dared to take a single step forward.

Soon, Hyuga Senso brought out the four ninjas led by Miura Mingyuan.

As for the civilians, none of them were brought out.

Gong Yi turned his head to look back.

Hyuga Senso quickly explained, "Those civilians aren't dead, just unconscious. Ogawara knows medical Ninjutsu and is currently treating them."

Gong Yi nodded.

Miura Mingyuan looked at Gong Yi in astonishment; though shocked by his youth, he didn't dare underestimate him in the slightest.

"Who is this lord?"

"Konoha Special Jonin, Gong Yi!"

After speaking, he ignored Miura Mingyuan and turned his gaze directly toward the six people eyeing them like tigers.

"Sunagakure Ninja? Or Iwagakure Ninja?"

The lead jonin was still wondering how Konoha had produced such a figure, as the name Gong Yi was completely unfamiliar to him.

Upon hearing Gong Yi's question, he instinctively wanted to nod, but immediately shook his head instead.

"No, we are rogue ninjas."

"Heh," Gong Yi sneered, "To me, there is no difference."

"Hyuga Senso, Miura Mingyuan, the five of you, kill the four genin opposite. Leave the two jonin to me!"

Hyuga Senso looked up sharply, worriedly saying, "Captain, we can have Ogawara and the others handle those four genin. I can join forces with Captain Miura to hold off one of the jonin."

Gong Yi waved his hand, "No need, just leave it to me."

Faced with Gong Yi's confident, perhaps even arrogant, attitude, the two jonin were incensed.

"Arrogant!"

"Conceited!"

Gong Yi whipped his head around, his figure exploding forward.

"Die!"