The Hidden Treasury of Clouds (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Watching the Tailed Beast Bomb she had launched explode near the Third Kazekage Human Puppet, Yugito felt a surge of joy.

I've got him...

Yet, as the smoke from the explosion in the sky cleared, she realized the Third Kazekage Human Puppet was nowhere to be found in the center of the blast.

Above his head hovered a massive shield made of iron sand; relying on the defense of the Iron Sand Shield, he appeared completely unscathed by the small Tailed Beast Bomb that had just detonated.

Damn it, this guy is incredibly troublesome.

Just as Yugito and the Third Kazekage Human Puppet were locked in a fierce battle, more and more Cloud Village ninjas joined the fray.

As the number of Cloud Village ninjas grew, the Third Kazekage Human Puppet, who had previously been able to trade blows with Yugito, found himself increasingly stretched thin.

In the end, he was forced to rely on his ability to fly, dodging incessantly above the heads of the Cloud Village forces.

As the battle dragged on, Yugito noticed something amiss.

The guy before her seemed intent on drawing their fire; knowing he couldn't defeat them, he still lingered here, which defied all logic.

Could it be that this guy has an accomplice?

With a sudden realization, Yugito immediately sent someone to deliver a message to the elders, urging them to be on high alert and ensure nothing went wrong.

Cloud Village, a heavily guarded location.

An uninvited guest broke in, colliding with a group of Cloud Village ninjas who were just about to head out.

The intruder was none other than Hyuga Lan, disguised as The Fool.

An elder among the Cloud Village ninjas looked at the strange figure wearing a mask and a black robe, his expression instantly turning stern.

"Who are you? Are you the mastermind behind this attack?"

Facing the interrogation from the Cloud Village elder, Hyuga Lan did not answer, but instead asked directly, "Where is your Cloud Village's classified archives? If you don't want to die, take me there at once!"

Faced with Hyuga Lan's demand, the Cloud Village ninjas naturally refused.

"In that case, I'll just have to extract the information from you."

Watching Hyuga Lan walk slowly toward them, the Cloud Village ninjas didn't understand why he was being so arrogant, but they quickly formed hand seals, unleashing various Lightning Release ninjutsu at Lan, while others threw various weapons at him.

Facing the attacks from the Cloud Village ninjas, Hyuga Lan did not stop his advance in the slightest. As the ninjutsu and weapons closed in, he merely waved his hand, and every incoming attack was repelled instantly.

Seeing Hyuga Lan resolve their attacks so nonchalantly, the Cloud Village ninjas were left dumbfounded.

What kind of ninjutsu was that?

How could it have such exaggerated power without even needing to form hand seals?

Watching Hyuga Lan draw closer, some of the Cloud Village ninjas forcibly suppressed their fear and charged at him.

"You lot, cover the elder and retreat! We'll hold him off."

With that, the group of Cloud Village ninjas split into two; the larger portion blocked Hyuga Lan, while a small group began to retreat with the Cloud Village elder.

Trying to escape?

In your dreams!

Hyuga Lan had no intention of wasting time with these Cloud Village ninjas. He extended a hand toward those who had come to block his path.

The next moment, an invisible, surging repulsive force erupted from his palm, striking the Cloud Village ninjas before they could even finish their hand seals.

BOOM!

Accompanied by a deafening roar, thick dust rose from the ground as the Cloud Village ninjas were sent flying backward, crashing into the surrounding walls, their fates unknown.

Seeing Hyuga Lan dispose of the ninjas so quickly, the fleeing Cloud Village elder felt his heart sink.

Damn it, where did this monster come from? I fear we are in grave danger today.

Thud!

Hyuga Lan landed directly in front of the small group of retreating Cloud Village ninjas, blocking their path.

"Where do you think you're going?"

With that, Hyuga Lan extended a hand toward the Cloud Village elder.

The next moment, the Cloud Village elder was caught in an invisible gravitational pull, flying straight toward his hand.

Feeling his body lose all control, the Cloud Village elder knew he couldn't escape death today and ordered the others, "Don't worry about me! Attack him now, or you will all die by his hand!"

Receiving the elder's command, the Cloud Village ninjas hesitated, but ultimately decided to obey. They formed hand seals and unleashed various Lightning Release ninjutsu at Lan.

Barrages of Lightning Release ninjutsu engulfed both Hyuga Lan and the Cloud Village elder in a massive, overwhelming display of force.

Yet, just as the Cloud Village ninjas believed they had seized the opportunity to eliminate the enemy, they saw a strange change occur at the site of the lightning strike.

The lightning lingering in the area dissipated rapidly, soon revealing the scene within.

Hyuga Lan held the Cloud Village elder by the throat with one hand, the man's face turning a deep shade of red from the lack of air.

His other hand reached forward, palm clutching a glowing green orb. Within it, lightning flickered, radiating a terrifying aura of Lightning Release.

"It... it was absorbed?"

"Damn it, this guy can absorb ninjutsu! Everyone, use taijutsu to attack him!"

Realizing that Hyuga Lan could absorb chakra, the Cloud Village ninjas drew their weapons, preparing to engage him in close-quarters combat.

Knowing time was of the essence and that he had no room to play games with these Cloud ninjas, Hyuga Lan hurled the orb directly at them.

As the orb flew toward them, the Cloud ninjas were still confused, only to notice the sphere rapidly expanding, its surface becoming jagged and unstable as if it were about to lose control.

"No, get out of the way!"

But they realized it far too late.

BOOM!

As the orb detonated, violent Lightning Release chakra surged outward, transforming into a barrage of lightning ninjutsu that struck the Cloud ninjas.

Only then did they realize these were the very same lightning techniques they had used to attack Hyuga Lan moments ago; they never expected to be on the receiving end of their own power.

Caught off guard, they had no time to weave hand signs for defense before being swallowed by the lightning, collapsing to the ground as charred corpses.

Having dealt with the others, Hyuga Lan turned his attention to the Cloud Village elder in his grip.

"You... don't think you'll get any information out of me..."

Seeing the elder still putting up a front, Hyuga Lan ignored him entirely. He thrust his glowing hand into the man's chest and withdrew a Memory Orb.

After obtaining the intelligence he needed, Hyuga Lan disposed of the Cloud Village elder with clean efficiency.

Following the information he had acquired, Hyuga Lan soon arrived before a gate covered in seals.

Behind this gate lay the secret chamber where the Cloud Village stored its classified files.

Without delay, Hyuga Lan reached a hand forward. A golden vortex appeared before his palm, rapidly expanding into a spatial gateway.

Through the passage, the interior of the secret room was laid bare before him.

Stepping through the spatial gateway, Hyuga Lan entered the secret chamber...

Back in the underground base located in the Land of Fire.

Numerous puppets were tirelessly working to renovate the facility.

Suddenly, a golden vortex appeared within the base, opening into a spatial gateway. Countless scrolls, weapons, and ninja tools poured out of the passage, raining down onto the floor of the base...