Chapter 25

In the lush forest, shadows danced beneath the trees as several figures swept past like the wind.

"Sir! I don't understand. Why did we go to all this trouble just to kidnap this little girl?"

One of the Cloud Ninja asked in confusion.

"Hmph! What do you know? This girl is a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan. They say Konoha's previous Jinchūriki was Mito Uzumaki, the First's wife!"

"After years of covert investigation, if my guess is right, this girl is Konoha's candidate for the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"

The lead Cloud Ninja's eyes gleamed as he spoke with absolute confidence.

"So bringing this girl back will definitely count as a major achievement!" The Cloud Ninja's eyes lit up, delight spreading across his face.

"Of course! Knowing the Third Raikage, he won't skimp on our rewards!" Yotsuki Shunfeng said slowly.

"All right! Stay sharp. We need to get out of here quickly. By now, Konoha has probably discovered that this girl was kidnapped!"

"Understood!" ×3

Inside the Cloud Ninja's backpack, Kushina's groggy mind snapped awake when she heard their conversation.

Her little face went deathly pale, fear filling her eyes.

I've been kidnapped? What did they just say? The Third Raikage? They're from Kumogakure?

The thought that Cloud Ninja had kidnapped her and were taking her to Kumogakure filled Kushina with panic.

She looked behind them. There wasn't a single pursuer from Konoha, which only made her panic worse.

She shouted frantically, "What are you trying to do? Put me down!"

"Oh? You're awake?" Yotsuki Shunfeng said flatly.

"I suggest you stop struggling. We're spies sent to Konoha by the Cloud Ninja."

"Your identity is rather special. If you keep struggling or shouting, we won't mind bringing back a corpse!"

"Your corpse is worth just as much as you are alive anyway. If you're smart, you'll stay still. Understand, little girl?"

Yotsuki Shunfeng's icy words terrified Kushina.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she nodded cautiously.

"Good! As long as you behave, we'll bring you safely back to Kumogakure!"

"I can guarantee that whatever treatment you received in Konoha, you'll receive the same from us Cloud Ninja!"

Yotsuki Shunfeng was very satisfied with Kushina's response.

Then he barked, "Pick up the pace! We need to leave Konoha's territory as quickly as possible!"

"Yes, sir!" ×3

Watching the trees race backward around her, Kushina couldn't help remembering her days at the Ninja Academy.

She remembered all the little moments she had shared with Mikoto and Liuyun.

No! I have to save myself! Kushina forced herself to rally.

She turned her little head, bit off some of her red hair, and spat it out.

The loose red strands fluttered through the air, scattering around them.

Every so often, Kushina bit off a few more strands of red hair to leave a trail.

Half an hour later, there was still no sign of pursuers from Konoha.

A trace of despair filled Kushina's eyes. On the verge of breaking down, her little face deathly pale, she suddenly shouted.

"Uchiha Liuyun, you bastard! Why aren't you here yet?"

"Little girl! Do you have a death wish?" Yotsuki Shunfeng's face twisted viciously.

The moment he finished speaking, a voice approached from behind them.

"Message received, my little princess! Your guardian knight is late. I'm sorry you had to endure such a fright!"

By the time his final words fell, Liuyun had already appeared a short distance behind the Cloud Ninja.

"An Uchiha Clan brat. What an arrogant little punk. You two, stay behind and deal with him!"

Yotsuki Shunfeng coldly addressed the two Cloud Ninja at the rear.

"Yes, sir!" ×2

The two Cloud Ninja drew their kunai, turned, and rushed at Liuyun.

They moved so fast that only two afterimages were visible beneath the moonlight.

Kumogakure specialized in Nintaijutsu, and the Third Raikage was one of its greatest practitioners.

Naturally, Kumogakure's ninja were no slouches at Taijutsu either.

The two were fast, but Liuyun was faster. With the Sharingan assisting him, there was simply no comparison.

(I read the comments. You all like the pervy stuff, so don't worry—it's definitely coming!)

My little princess, I'm sorry you had to endure such a fright! (Fourth update!)

He suddenly accelerated, streaking forward like a beam of black light.

He appeared between the two Cloud Ninja and pressed one hand against each of their abdomens before they could react.

Crack! Crack!

A freezing current surged, and ice appeared, spreading across their entire bodies like a plague.

In the blink of an eye, two lifelike ice sculptures stood on the branches.

Liuyun didn't spare them a glance. Without stopping, he accelerated again.

Running ahead, Yotsuki Shunfeng heard the commotion behind him and frowned. He looked back and saw Liuyun already closing in.

He couldn't help cursing, "Those two useless idiots! They couldn't even stall a brat, and he killed them instead!"

He turned to the Cloud Ninja beside him. "Go on ahead. I'll stop the brat behind us!"

"Yes, Lord Yotsuki!"

The Cloud Ninja carrying Kushina answered and left without hesitation.

Holding a kunai, Yotsuki Shunfeng wreathed himself in lightning!

It was the Cloud Ninja's secret technique, Lightning Release: Body Tempering Technique!

"Uchiha Clan brat, you brought this death upon yourself!"

With a vicious grin, Yotsuki Shunfeng stomped down and appeared before Liuyun like a streak of brilliant blue light.

Lightning flashed and arcs of electricity writhed around him, making him look like a thunder god descended to earth.

His kunai flashed toward Liuyun's neck, moving so quickly it left afterimages.

Lightning wrapped around the sharp kunai, greatly amplifying its destructive power.

Before it even reached Liuyun, its destructive pressure was enough to strike terror into anyone's heart.

Without question, Yotsuki Shunfeng's strength had reached the level of an Elite Jonin.

Any other ninja facing Yotsuki Shunfeng with his secret Lightning Release technique active would have stood a strong chance of being killed.

Unfortunately for him, his opponent was Liuyun—Uchiha Liuyun, who possessed numerous abilities and Kage Level strength.

As his kunai was about to slice open the brat's neck, a trace of contempt appeared on Yotsuki Shunfeng's vicious face.

I thought he'd be strong. So much for that.

The next instant, his expression changed drastically. The brat's eyes suddenly turned scarlet, three tomoe clearly visible within them.

"Three-Tomoe Sharingan! Impossible! At his age?"

Liuyun's activated eyes made him hesitate briefly, but then wild delight spread across his face.

"Good! Excellent! Who would've thought I'd get to kill an Uchiha Clan genius before leaving? My luck is incredible!"

Suddenly, the scene before Yotsuki Shunfeng changed, and in an instant, he found himself in another space.

A red moon hung high overhead! Crows cried.

Cross-shaped stone monuments stood scattered all around.

He was bound spread-eagled to one of the monuments.

Across from him, Liuyun watched him calmly.

"Brat! What is this place?" Yotsuki Shunfeng struggled and shouted.

"This is my Mangekyo's ocular technique. You're getting off far too easily!"

Liuyun picked up a long blade and stabbed toward Yotsuki Shunfeng's kidney. Screams soon rang throughout the Tsukuyomi Space.

In reality, Yotsuki Shunfeng's eyes went blank. The lightning around him dissipated, and he fell to the ground like an ordinary person.

Liuyun appeared before Yotsuki Shunfeng in a flash.

He reached out with his slender little hand and gripped Yotsuki Shunfeng's neck.

Then he squeezed hard!

Crack! A crisp snap rang out.

The Jonin leading this Cloud Ninja mission was dead!

Liuyun tossed him aside like garbage, checked his direction, and vanished.

In the forest, beneath the dancing shadows of the trees, a young man raced forward.

As he ran, he kept glancing behind him.

The scenery swept backward in a blur, and anxiety crept onto his previously impassive face.

"Damn it! Why isn't the leader here yet?"

"Hmph! Your leader isn't coming! He's no match for Liuyun!"

Kushina shouted triumphantly from his back. Her dejected expression had long since vanished.

Warmth filled her heart, and she even found herself looking forward to seeing Liuyun.

"Shut up, little girl! Say another word and I'll kill you!" the Cloud Ninja roared viciously.

"Hmph!" Kushina curled her lips in disdain.

As Liuyun put it, anger only made people lose their reason.

People who lost their reason would do crazy things they'd never normally dare to do. At times like this, it was best to endure whatever she could.

"Something's wrong!" The fleeing Cloud Ninja frowned and stopped on a large tree.

"I already passed this tree. And why is it so quiet around here?"

"Oh? You finally noticed?"

Liuyun emerged from his hiding place among the treetops and spoke with a smile.

"Liuyun! What took you so long?" Kushina turned her head, puffed out her cheeks, and complained.

"Ah! Sorry! Sorry! I'll definitely come sooner next time!"

"I'm sorry my little princess had to endure such a fright!"

Liuyun's words brought a blush to Kushina's little face. She lifted her head haughtily and said, "I'll forgive you this time. Be earlier next time!"

"Yes! Of course! I'll obey my little princess's orders!" Liuyun nodded, looking utterly obedient.

"Enough, you two! Do you think I'm not here?" the Cloud Ninja Chunin roared, his face twitching.

Dating at their age and flaunting their affection right in front of me! Do they not consider single guys human?

"Ah! I forgot you were still here!" Liuyun came back to his senses and smiled awkwardly.

"Damn you, brat! Now you've really pissed me off! I know I'm no match for you, so I'll take this little girl to the Pure Land with me!"