The Spy

Rasa released Pakura's hand, took a step forward, and looked toward Roshi atop the dune. "If I remember correctly, this is supposed to be Land of Wind territory.

Four-Tails Jinchūriki, you've crossed the border!"

The secrecy surrounding a Jinchūriki's identity was hardly absolute. Anyone who cared enough could find out. Even Naruto had been surrounded by rumors about the Nine-Tails since he was a child.

That was why the Akatsuki managed to capture Jinchūriki so reliably. As for Itachi Uchiha's trip to Konohagakure to investigate the Jinchūriki's identity... perhaps he'd just been slacking off.

Roshi's pupils contracted slightly. Rasa's tone was confrontational, and he'd identified Roshi at a glance. This was no friendly visitor.

What Roshi didn't realize was that, as far as the Land of Wind was concerned, he was the intruder.

Crossing into another country wasn't usually a serious problem. The real issue was that Iwagakure Ninja had raided a Sunagakure outpost a few days ago—and hadn't managed to kill every witness.

Roshi steadied himself and replied calmly, "I have no intention of fighting you.

"I came here only to find the person who killed a squad of our Iwagakure Ninja. He's a shinobi skilled in Lightning Release.

"How about we each go our separate ways and leave one another in peace?"

"This is Land of Wind territory, and you want me to leave?"

Rasa took another step forward, his presence growing more imposing. He sneered, "And why did your Iwagakure Ninja die in our country in the first place?

"Let's be frank. Your people entered the Land of Wind, claiming they were looking for you, but you know perfectly well what they were really here to do.

"Now you're telling me you came to look for them? Who do you think you're fooling?"

Roshi's face darkened. Iwagakure really was in the wrong here. Fine, they'd come to gather intelligence—but why had they destroyed a Sunagakure outpost?

They'd let the whole truth spill out.

"I'll say it again: we each leave, and we leave one another in peace.

"Though you now have Kage Level chakra reserves, you still lack the combat experience to match. If we fight, you won't be able to beat me.

"I don't want to see a promising newcomer lose his life here."

Roshi's tone hardened. Of course, he couldn't simply let Rasa live. The problem was that Rasa had a special status: he was the Third Kazekage's personal disciple, with strength at least approaching Kage Level.

That meant Rasa was almost certainly the next Kazekage, with a status akin to that of a crown prince. Killing him would be tantamount to declaring war on Sunagakure.

It wasn't up to Roshi to decide which village to fight or when to fight it. Only Ōnoki could make that call.

The two of them might disagree, but Roshi knew better than to ignore the consequences. Killing Rasa would have too great an impact.

Rasa chuckled and manipulated the metal particles beneath the desert, gathering them together. "You don't want to let me leave? What a joke.

"This is Land of Wind territory. Don't you think you're being a little overbearing?"

There was no question that Roshi was the invader. No matter how amiable his tone, his words were still domineering. He'd come into someone else's home and told them to leave...

"Looks like we can't settle this peacefully."

Roshi sighed softly. His chakra surged out and enveloped his body, transforming into extremely hot magma that formed a layer of Lava Armor.

It was similar to Akainu's elemental transformation.

In the original story, even Naruto's Rasengan couldn't break through this armor, which showed just how strong its defenses were.

Wanting to test its strength, Rasa manipulated several high-density metal spheres and accelerated them with Electromagnetic Force, sending them hurtling toward Roshi.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several sharp cracks split the air. Roshi had only just heard them when pain flared in his chest and forehead. Several metal particles had embedded themselves in his armor.

Heated to a high temperature, they gradually liquefied and slid onto the sand, where they quickly cooled.

Rasa frowned. Its physical defenses were indeed formidable. Metal spheres moving at one or two times the speed of sound, Shuriken, and Senbon would struggle even to pierce the armor. They could inflict minor injuries at best, let alone cause serious harm.

This was going to be difficult. Roshi was every bit the veteran Kage Level powerhouse.

Pakura was also shocked. Rasa's three effortless attacks were more than she could have blocked. Roshi's Lava Armor had astonishing defensive power.

Roshi touched the wound on his chest, equally startled. His Lava Armor could withstand ordinary B-rank ninjutsu, which meant Rasa could casually deal single-target damage on par with a B-rank technique.

This kid absolutely couldn't be allowed to live.jpg

The two villages were bound to fight sooner or later. It was worth starting the war early if it meant eliminating Rasa before he became a greater threat!

"Boy, you've made me angry!"

Roshi growled. His hands flashed through Hand Seals, and several more metal particles slammed into him.

Bracing himself against the pain, Roshi finished his Hand Seals, leaned his head back, and drew in a deep breath. He spat out several magma fireballs that flew toward Rasa.

The fireballs swelled as they caught the wind, growing larger and larger. By the time they reached Rasa, they were over two meters in diameter!

Pakura's pupils contracted. Her own fireballs were the same kind, but these made hers look pathetic. An elite jonin was clearly no match for a true powerhouse.

Feeling the hot wind rush toward him, Rasa chuckled. He released Electromagnetic Force, drawing a steady stream of high-density, high-hardness metal particles from beneath the desert.

He used Electromagnetic Force to hold them in place before him, forming an even sturdier shield, just as he had when facing Pakura.

The magma fireballs struck the metal shield, splattering magma everywhere. Rasa directed metal particles to block every last drop, keeping them from touching either him or Pakura.

Pakura glanced sideways at him. The same trick again.

Magma was usually between 900 and 1,400 degrees Celsius, while iron melted at just over 1,500 degrees. And the metal particles Rasa had drawn up weren't just iron; some had even higher melting points.

Even so, the metal shield quickly melted into liquid metal. Clearly, the Shinobi World didn't follow the laws of science.

As with the last time he fought Pakura, chakra must be acting like some kind of accelerant, raising the temperature of the technique, Rasa concluded.

At the same time, he seized Pakura and darted backward. Roshi had launched himself forward after spitting out the magma fireballs.

Like a meteor of fire falling from the sky, he smashed through the metal shield, now molten, and landed where Rasa had stood moments earlier, scorching countless grains of sand into glass.

"Thanks."

Rasa said the two words, stirring up a little more of Roshi's anger. He shaped the liquid metal into several pillars and a few large spheres, periodically drawing more metal from underground to fill them out.

This was in the bag. It looked like he could take Roshi down without revealing his Alias.

Unwilling to remain a spectator, Pakura suddenly formed Hand Seals and spat out several Scorch Release fireballs, which struck Roshi.

Roshi threw back his head and roared. A Tailed Beast tail, formed from chakra, unfurled behind him and lashed against the sand.

The heat of his Lava Armor grew even more intense. Waves of heat rolled outward, magma blazed, and he seemed ready to set the entire desert alight.

Rasa was speechless. He glanced at Pakura. She was a good person, but unfortunately, she was a spy.

"I was trying to help you."

Pakura was embarrassed too. Who knew that after her Scorch Release fireballs hit, the other side would be unhurt and even stronger?

The book's been recommended! There are two more chapters coming. Please toss me a few recommendation tickets...