Entrapment

In Episode 21, Orochimaru attached Hidan's head to a puppet. The latter immediately started cursing, saying this lousy body could not even self-harm!

Feiyun stood to the side and said that his immortality seemed to depend on something, rather than the cells themselves.

But Orochimaru obsessively stroked Hidan's forehead.

No, this was another form of immortality!

Hidan suddenly revealed a ferocious smile. "Hehehe, do you know?"

"Lord Evil God likes fools like you who think they can control medicine the most!"

Rather than getting angry, Orochimaru laughed and licked the sweat from his cheek. "Perfect. This is true immortality!"

"Ziyun-kun, I'm very grateful to you. This gift is simply wonderful!"

"With Hidan as a case study, combined with the previous data..." Hehehe. Orochimaru spread his arms and raised them weakly, as though he wished to embrace some supreme existence.

He gazed up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle. "If heaven had not given me you, how could I know eternity? The ages would be like a long night, Feiyun-kun!"

Feiyun could not help feeling embarrassed. How had he stolen my line?

For quite a long time afterward, Feiyun trained in Wood Release and some ninjutsu taught by Orochimaru. He challenged Orochimaru many times, but Orochimaru refused every time, claiming he was too busy with research. Who knew whether he was afraid of losing to Feiyun and being unable to save face?

Of course, Feiyun had not forgotten to update the bounty notices at the Bounty Exchange and continue his main job of hunting Konoha's Four Great Clans. After all, no form of training compared to actual combat. Its improvement to battle experience and strength was something ordinary step-by-step training could never match.

On Konoha's side, the Third Hokage repeatedly sent people to invite experts back to the village, only to be refused every time.

Konoha's situation was truly grim—or rather, the Four Great Clans' situation was grim. The assassins could not be caught no matter how many were arrested, and they could not be guarded against no matter how hard they tried. They were everywhere. Sometimes, even ordinary, honest villagers became assassins. The bounty was simply too tempting.

A hundred million ryo for killing an ordinary person. Why work? Why farm?

Take a gamble, and a commoner could become a boss!

Thus, Uncle Wang the blacksmith, Ergou from the edge of the village, and even the nurse auntie from Konoha Ninja Academy all took action.

Money made people lose themselves. With Tsunade still refusing to return, the Third Hokage had no choice but to repeatedly send orders pleading for Jiraiya to come back.

Unable to bear the Third Hokage's repeated pleas, Jiraiya had no choice but to return to the village to gather material.

With the three of them stationed there, the results were immediate. The assassins' arrogance was greatly suppressed.

Jiraiya activated Sage Mode several times, his powerful sensory ability covering all of Konoha as he easily killed several groups of bounty hunters.

Such terrifying ability, combined with Konoha's exaggerated propaganda, gradually sobered up many people who had been blinded by money. Konoha had also begun taking all kinds of countermeasures, making it increasingly difficult for Feiyun to hunt ninjas from the Four Great Clans.

Konoha placed extraordinary importance on intelligence regarding the movements of ninjas from the Four Great Clans, especially clan ninjas with bounties on their heads. The Bounty Exchange could no longer easily obtain intelligence on them.

Still, though he was no longer as efficient as before, Feiyun did not expect to rely on the Bounty Exchange for information on bounty targets anymore. He had built a good relationship with Kabuto, who handled intelligence work, and obtained plenty of information on the Four Great Clans from him. Bounty or no bounty, Feiyun did not care. As long as there was intelligence, he acted immediately.

Yakushi Kabuto also hated Konoha to the bone. The painful memories of the orphanage made him wish Konoha would explode on the spot, so naturally he was happy to help Feiyun. That day, Kabuto took the initiative to find Feiyun, who was practicing ninjutsu.

"Feiyun-kun, there's a big fish."

Feiyun put away his tea and radish beans, then turned and asked, "What big fish? Let's hear it."

Kabuto pushed up his glasses, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Asuma. He'll be leading a team through the Great Killing Formation at the border of the Land of Wind today."

Feiyun's eyes lit up as he laughed. "Hoho, that really is a big fish!"

"Are we doing it?"

"Of course we're doing it. Those thirty-five million ryo are mine!"

Kabuto nodded and took out an intelligence scroll. "The detailed route map and related intelligence are all recorded in this scroll."

Feiyun took the scroll and opened it for a look. "Time is tight. I'm leaving first. I need to head back, pack up, and move immediately."

Before he had even finished speaking, Feiyun flashed away from the training ground.

Not long after he left, Orochimaru emerged from a corner and slowly walked over to Kabuto. Kabuto hurriedly bowed.

"Lord Orochimaru!"

Orochimaru looked in the direction Feiyun had left and frowned. "I overheard your conversation. Those four old men in Konoha are highly alert right now. How could the route of an elite jonin like Asuma possibly be leaked?" Kabuto was startled by those words and quickly dropped to one knee.

"My intelligence network..."

Orochimaru spoke blandly.

"An intelligence network is sharp, but sometimes it can wound its owner. For example, someone could use a scheme against you and deliberately release false information to fish for you."

Kabuto hurriedly said, "Should I immediately go bring Feiyun-kun back?"

Orochimaru stopped him, a mysterious smile curling at his lips. "I very much want to see how high his current limit is. Besides, I haven't gone out to stretch my legs in a long time."

Gathering Sand Town was a small town at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. Sandstorms often swept through the area, hence its name.

Three ninjas wearing Konoha forehead protectors entered the town. At their head was Konoha's elite jonin, Asuma Sarutobi.

He held a cigarette between his lips, its smoke scattered by the wind and sand. On the third floor of a tavern in town—

Feiyun wore a windproof coat. He did not turn to look at Asuma and the others entering the town, because there was no need. His Spiritual Power perception was his eyes.

There did not seem to be anyone lying in ambush, nor were there any powerful chakra users nearby.

Feiyun muttered to himself.

Of course, he was not stupid. He understood there was some risk involved.

Asuma and the others entered a teahouse to rest.

The three removed their windproof hoods. One Konoha chunin complained, "This whole arrangement is really exhausting, Mr. Asuma."

Another special jonin nodded.

"Isn't that the truth?"

"The Land of Wind's environment is too harsh. I never want to come here again."

Asuma warily scanned the surroundings, pinched the cigarette burning down to his lips between his fingers, and took a brief rest.

"Let's hurry back to Konoha!"

Not long afterward, the three Konoha ninjas left the teahouse and headed out of town.

Just as the three reached the town's exit, spikes suddenly erupted from the ground beneath Asuma's feet.

Asuma leaped back and drew his special chakra blades at the same time. The chakra blades shattered the pursuing spikes, while the other two Konoha ninjas flashed away and opened the distance.

"Who is it? Who dares attack a Konoha jonin?"

A figure flickered into existence behind Asuma.

Asuma reacted extremely quickly, pouring chakra into his weapon with all his strength. His special chakra blade cut the figure in two, only for him to discover it was merely a wooden clone.

The real Feiyun emerged from the shadows beneath a roof, his Sharingan glinting coldly under his hood.

"The Hokage's son is more fun than trash fish."

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

Without another word, Asuma unleashed a powerful Wind Release ninjutsu. Fierce winds shredded half the street into fragments.

The people scattered in panic, but Feiyun neither dodged nor retreated. Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!

A huge mass of wooden fibers burst from Feiyun's right arm like a colossal curtain and collided with the sharp wind blades. Wood chips mixed with sand, forming a fog barrier that blotted out the sky.

"T-This is Wood Release?"

Asuma was too shocked for words. Watching Uchiha Feiyun slowly emerge from the smoke and dust, Asuma gritted his teeth. "Evil Uchiha, you really are impossible to get rid of!"

Feiyun sneered. "I think you're the evil one. Your wind destroyed many civilians' homes."

Before Asuma could continue, Feiyun directly drew his blade and slashed.

Asuma was formidable as well, directly blocking the blow. Their chakra blades collided, sending sparks flying in every direction as the clang of metal rang endlessly.

However, Asuma's taijutsu was ultimately inferior to Feiyun's. He suffered wounds across his body and was eventually pierced through the shoulder by a single slash.

"Not bad. You actually avoided the vital spot."

Feiyun's voice was indifferent. "But I'll be taking those thirty-five million ryo now."

Just as Feiyun prepared to cut Asuma apart, shoulder and all, another Asuma rushed out from behind him. His entire body was covered in explosive tags as he grabbed Feiyun.

"You little brat, taste this Asuma's true body!"

Twin blades locked Feiyun's katana in place from both sides, then Asuma leaped backward, detonating the shadow clone in advance.

"A clone's pretty tough, huh?"

Feiyun's expression remained calm.

The entire street collapsed in the explosion. Within the smoke and dust, Feiyun was wrapped in a Wood Release arm guard, while Asuma had already used the smoke to circle around to his blind spot.

Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning! High-temperature flames exploded with a roar, but the next second, Feiyun's burned skin fell away as wood chips. Beneath it, newly formed skin revealed the distinctive patterns of Hashirama cells.

"Hoh!"

Asuma's pupils contracted sharply, and he turned to flee.

Feiyun extended his right hand and clenched his fingers. "I only wanted to use you to test my body's defensive strength. Let's end this!"

Feiyun sped after Asuma. Just as he was about to catch up, a figure rushed in from the side. It was that Konoha chunin.

Yet, unexpectedly, Feiyun was knocked flying. The chunin's appearance changed, revealing a one-eyed old man.

"Danzo."

Feiyun steadied himself with a flip and stared at Danzo in surprise.

"Ha, so that's how it is. You kept your ambush right beside you. No wonder something felt strange. Was that Wood Release you used just now?"

"What exactly is going on?"

Supreme Danzo demanded.

"Guess."

Feiyun looked at Danzo of the Shimura Clan as though he were an idiot.

Supreme Danzo's expression twisted, his teeth grinding.

"Uchiha are evil by nature. I'll send you to hell right now!"

Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!

Feiyun snorted coldly.

Earth Release!

Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!

Seeing his attack blocked by the earthen wall, Danzo rapidly formed hand seals. Wind Release: Continuous Vacuum Waves!

The earthen wall was blasted apart, but Feiyun had already formed hand seals with both hands. Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees! In the blink of an eye, vast numbers of enormous vines burst from the ground, surging crazily toward Danzo and the others like a tsunami.

"It really is Wood Release!"

Danzo said in a low voice, "Go. This battle is no longer something you can take part in!"

Asuma clutched his wound and swiftly fled.

Feiyun noticed Asuma escaping and immediately formed hand seals. Three Wood Release clones burst from his body, racing after Asuma atop the vines.

"You little brat, don't look down on me! I'm your opponent!"

Danzo roared.

Too many members of his clan had died at Uchiha Feiyun's hands. It was impossible for him not to be furious!

Summoning Jutsu! A gigantic long-nosed monster appeared with a boom, smashing apart the vines and blocking the Wood Release clones.

Danzo stood atop Nightmare's head. "Your Wood Release is far from sufficient!"

Feiyun wanted to summon the giant snake to fight, but he did not want to expose Orochimaru. That would be far too disloyal!

Nightmare let out a long howl, opened its bloody maw, and began sucking in everything before it. Feiyun gathered a massive amount of chakra beneath his feet to stabilize himself while forming hand seals. Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

Sure enough, Nightmare sucked all the flames in and howled in pain as it was burned.

Danzo clearly understood this, yet he had still used that move. Which meant—Feiyun immediately spun around and slashed at the attacking Danzo. Their chakra blades collided. "Trying to sneak attack me?"