The Advancing Kazuma

Facing the charging rebel ninjas, Asuma advanced instead of retreating, taking advantage of his close-combat skills. His two weapons, the Flying Swallow, unleashed Chakra blades, and with a few slashes, he cut the five missing-nin into wooden stakes.

Five rogue ninjas who escaped Substitution Technique swung their arms in mid-air, sending a barrage of Kunai flying towards Asuma. Many of the Kunai were even attached with Explosive Tag, covering Asuma from all sides.

Five rogue missing-nin were providing cover also unleashed Kunai and Shuriken, leaving Asuma facing attacks from above and in front.

At this moment, the twenty ninjas on both sides bypassed Asuma and rushed up the steps.

Asuma was powerless to stop the ninja teams on both sides. Facing the attack of ninja tools, Asuma remained calm and fearless. His gauntlets did not affect his hand Hand Seals. With his mastery of wind-style Chakra, Asuma quickly retreated and formed hand Hand Seals, and his Ninjutsu was formed in a flash.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

Asuma exhaled a gust of wind, shook his head, and sent the wind sweeping forward and upward. A basic C-rank Wind Release Ninjutsu blew away all the attacking ninja tools, neutralizing the attack.

Asuma is incredibly strong, being one of the top ninjas among the Guardian Shinobi Twelve. Under normal circumstances, several ninjas of this level would only take him two or three moves to defeat. However, after a prolonged battle, some of them ran out of Chakra and could only defend against and neutralize the attacks.

Call out!

A blue, long, staff-shaped weapon, unaffected by the Kazekage, broke through the wind and thrust straight at Asuma.

Asuma reacted extremely quickly, dodging to the side and then delivering a powerful right-hand Flying Swallow punch that sent the staff flying.

"Drink!"

The Chiriku on the steps glared angrily, and a fierce-looking Vajra appeared behind him, lasting for two seconds before disappearing.

Those rebellious ninjas who broke through Asuma's defenses were brutally beaten by the red Chakra fist that appeared out of nowhere, and were all sent flying back down the steps.

The staff held by the Guardian Ninja leader Kazuma is a precious Chakra weapon that can be disassembled into a multi-section staff that can extend and retract.

Asuma deflected Kazuma's staff, Kazuma, charged forward at lightning speed, five small clusters of Chakra glowing on the five fingers of his left hand.

"Five Elements Seal! Asuma!"

Kazuma's face contorted in rage as he roared Asuma's name, pressing his left hand's five fingers against Asuma's chest.

The Five Elements Seal is a high-level Fuinjutsu that even Jonin struggle to master. Kazuma, as the radical leader of the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, possesses superb Ninjutsu skills.

"It's over!"

Asuma's pupils contracted as he watched the five fingers about to be pressed against his chest.

"Welcome Approach: Thousand-Armed Murder!"

Just as Kazuma was about to succeed, the Chiriku Jiraiya on the steps roared angrily. Suddenly, a giant red Chakra fist appeared around Asuma and slammed towards Kazuma with incredible speed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Kazuma was sent flying by a punch, taking several more red Chakra punches in mid-air.

"Hahaha, how come you only have this much strength? Your Chakra is almost depleted!"

After being knocked away, Kazuma adjusted his body in mid-air and landed without looking disheveled; instead, he laughed loudly.

Kazuma is right. Asuma Sarutobi and Chiriku are both at their limit, and their Chakra is almost depleted.

Asuma and the Chiriku Dilu were very close friends, and at this moment they both understood that it was time to retreat and rest for a while.

"Lord Asuma, Chiriku, please rest for a while. Let us take the lead!"

The thirteen Guardian Ninja behind the Chiriku Jiraiya stood up, leaped down the steps, and landed behind Asuma.

In the moment of crisis, Asuma and the Chiriku Jiraiya did not hesitate. They took out their Military Ration Pill, swallowed them, and immediately retreated silently.

Asuma and Chiriku had just retreated to the steps when they heard a shout.

Earth Style: Earth Release: Antlion Technique!

The floor below the steps abruptly turned into a swamp, and more than a dozen Guardian Ninja fell into the swampy mud.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At the same time, countless Kunai with Explosive Tag attached were shot into the mud pit, causing a violent explosion.

The dozen or so Guardian Ninja who had just begun to recover were wiped out by a combination of Ninjutsu before they could even make a difference.

"Ha, that's exactly what I've been waiting for."

Kazuma sneered. His trap was precisely to eliminate these troublesome lackeys.

Asuma Sarutobi and Chiriku rested for less than ten seconds before the last remaining guarding ninja were all defeated and killed.

Before the Chiriku Dilu could even use his Immortal Talent to stop them, Asuma and Chiriku exchanged glances, and the two of them, in perfect unison, immediately dodged and retreated, running into the palace.

"Chase!"

Upon seeing this Kazuma, who was below the steps, shouted loudly and rushed into the palace. Thirty rebellious Guardian Ninja followed behind Kazuma, heading straight for the Daimyo Palace's living quarters.

Asuma Sarutobi and the Chiriku Jiraiya had grim expressions and were running at top speed. Looking at the ninja ranks behind them, Asuma Sarutobi said in a deep voice:

"Chiriku, protect the Daimyo and help him escape to Konoha!"

Asuma was very clear about what to do in the current situation: only Konoha could protect the Daimyo and eliminate radicals like Kazuma.

The bad news is that the Fourth Hokage is also in the palace. Asuma doesn't know the Hokage's current situation, whether he has left the Capital City to recruit Konoha Ninja.

If the Hokage also gets hurt in this coup, then the Land of Fire is truly in deep trouble.

"Escort the Daimyo away first! We can protect Daimyo from either the Fire Temple or Konoha. If that doesn't work..."

Chiriku Dilu answered in a deep voice, pausing slightly after speaking.

At this moment, Chiriku had some unusual thoughts in his mind.

The current Daimyo and Prime Minister Retsu are very likely the murderers who assassinated the former Daimyo, even though both the Fire Temple and Konoha only honor the Daimyo.

However, Kazuma's actions cannot be entirely dismissed as unjustified. Kazuma's campaign against Natsuno-no-Mae was perfectly reasonable.

Both Konoha and the Fire Temple are large and powerful organizations, and what they need is stability.

The former lord, the Daimyo son, has always been a proponent of centralized power and suppressing Konoha. The monks of the Fire Temple are not within his scope of suppression.

"If all else fails, then let's give up on Prince Xia Chang!"

As the Chiriku ran, he added solemnly.

"No! We must not abandon Prince Xia Chang! Chiriku Kazuma are just using the pretext of attacking Xia Chang!"

Based on my understanding of Kazuma wants is to control the Daimyo! Then he'll suppress and control Konoha, consolidate power, and conquer the major powers!

If Kazuma's ambitions succeed, the Land of Fire will surely be plunged into chaos and devastation!

Asuma was very popular among the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, and he used to be very close to Kazuma.

Even Asuma himself was influenced by the idea that Kazuma likened the Daimyo and the Hokage to two pieces of jade, and that the Land of Fire only needed one piece of jade.

Kazuma's core idea was to make Konoha a purely military organization, obeying the Daimyo's commands. His original intention was that the Land of Fire only needed the Daimyo, and did not need the Hokage.

"You're right!"

The Chiriku Jiro ran side by side with Asuma, and after being awakened by Asuma's words, he realized the truth.

In the living room of the lord, Prime Minister Lie paced back and forth at the door, while the lord of Xia Chang sat cross-legged.

As night deepened, neither of them could sleep.

After receiving news of Kazuma and his plan to install the eldest son, Chusheng, as the successor, the two have been waiting for good news from Asuma and Chiriku, as well as for the arrival of the Fourth Hokage.