Chapter 35

Chakra: 52.3 units

Ninjutsu: Rasengan, Multiple Shadow Clone, Body Flicker Technique...

Taijutsu: master-level swordsmanship, Kunai Throwing...

Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique, Tree Binding Death...

Bloodline: Uchiha Bloodline, Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Ice-Ice Fruit abilities

Overall combat strength: Junior Kage Level

Inventory: Secret Room Douluo Deluxe Edition (severely damaged), Gatekeeper Old Wang (lightly worn), Underground Teacher series (10 volumes, severely worn)...

This was Liuyun's status panel now. For the past month, after completing his daily fixed choices,

he had spent all his remaining time developing his Ice Release, Genjutsu, and Mangekyō Sharingan.

Ice Release and Genjutsu aside, he could already use the Third Form of his Mangekyō Sharingan's Susanoo with ease.

He had also developed his right eye's Ice Release amplification to twice its original strength!

Using Ice Release with his right Mangekyō eye multiplied its power.

Unfortunately, he still hadn't perfected his illusion realm. Something was always missing from its first layer.

"Liuyun, are you all right?"

Mikoto's worried voice pulled Liuyun back to reality.

"I'm fine!" He had only been thinking.

Seeing that Liuyun was ignoring him, Nawaki turned to his friend Shimura Youzheng for a chat.

Liuyun had nothing to say to Nawaki. The kid really had no brains!

Chatting while they were on the march? Had everything he'd learned at the Ninja Academy gone to waste?

Then again, perhaps it was because they were still within Konoha's territory.

That night, Aoto Iseki assigned people to patrol in shifts.

Liuyun held Mikoto close and fell asleep against a tree.

A full day of rushing onward was nothing to Liuyun, but his little sweetheart Mikoto had struggled with it.

Before long, she was fast asleep.

The next day, they set out again. At their speed, reaching the border from Konoha would take at least four or five days.

Three days later, Liuyun frowned as they hurried along, his young face turning solemn.

Within his sensory range, powerful Chakra fluctuations lay not far ahead.

(Please send flowers! Flowers! Come on, big spenders, spare me a few! Sob!)

Sand Ninja Ambush—Ebizo!

There were four Elite Jonin alone, seven who were a little weaker, and fifteen people in total!

"Four Elite Jonin, seven Jonin, and four Elite Chunin. They've brought quite a force!"

Do they plan to wipe us all out before we can react?

"Everyone, pay attention! We're almost at the front line. Stay alert! You can rest once we get there!"

A Chunin in the group called out.

On a concealed branch, more than a dozen figures crouched, sat, or stood, watching the forest below without expression.

They wore Sand Ninja Forehead Protectors. At their head was a man in his prime.

"Lord Ebizo! I've sensed them. The intelligence was right—there are many Ninja heading our way!" a Sand Ninja sensor reported flatly.

"Good luck! It really is Konoha's supply convoy!" Ebizo raised an eyebrow. "Have you confirmed their numbers?"

"About thirty. Only five have notable strength. One of those five is a Jonin; the other four are Chunin!"

"One Jonin? Four Chunin?" Ebizo could hardly believe his ears.

He scoffed. "Is Hiruzen Sarutobi an idiot? All these people and supplies, and he sent only one Jonin? Not even an Elite Jonin?"

"Check again. I don't believe Hiruzen Sarutobi sent just one Jonin to escort them! He must have someone hidden nearby!"

"Yes!" The sensor nodded.

A moment later, he returned to Ebizo with a strange look and spoke quietly.

"Lord Ebizo, I've checked at least three times. There really is only one Jonin and four Chunin!"

"Then we'll take them all out at once! Our squad has only just been formed. They'll make a fine first display of our strength!"

A bloodthirsty smile spread across Ebizo's face.

"On my command, wait until every Konoha Ninja enters attack range before striking!"

"Understood!"

The Sand Ninja sneered. To them, Liuyun and the others were already dead meat.

Before long, a group of serious-faced boys and girls entered the forest, led by Aoto Iseki.

"Liuyun! I have a bad feeling about this. This place feels so oppressive!"

Mikoto frowned and whispered in Liuyun's ear.

"Don't worry. I'm here." Liuyun glanced discreetly at the nearby trees and spoke gently.

"Exactly! Don't be scared, Mikoto! Your big brother Nawaki is here for you!"

Senju Nawaki thumped his chest, making sure no one forgot about him.

As they spoke, Ebizo gave a cold smile from the branch and murmured,

"Strike. It's time to send Konoha a generous gift!"

The Sand Ninja had been itching to act. Each unleashed their best Ninjutsu.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Wind Release: Sickle Weasel!"

"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel!"

"Great Fireball Technique!"

Powerful Wind Release attacks burst from their mouths, joined by a Fire Release attack!

Fed by the wind, the flames turned the area around Liuyun into a sea of fire in an instant.

"Heh! It worked! What a bunch of clueless rookies!"

"That's that! An excellent start for our squad!"

"Shall we clean up the battlefield?"

The Sand Ninja spoke over one another, some dismissive, others mocking.

To them, a mere Genin squad would be effortless to capture.

"No! Wait! They're unharmed!" the Sand Ninja sensor suddenly said.

"Impossible! Takeshita, did you sense it wrong? How could a bunch of Genin withstand our combined Ninjutsu?" one Sand Ninja said disdainfully.

"I didn't. They're still alive. Something's happening!" Takeshita said again, his face grave.

As soon as he finished speaking, a hissing sound rose from below, like water meeting fire.

Mist billowed upward, and the surrounding temperature plunged.

In an instant, it felt like the depths of winter.

What's going on? Why did mist suddenly appear? Are they Ninja from Kirigakure?

"Wind Release: Blow!" A Sand Ninja used Ninjutsu to clear the surrounding mist.

The sight below left Ebizo and the others dumbstruck, their faces darkening.

On the dirt path bordered by lush grass stood something crystal-clear and snow-white.

A giant, pot-lid-shaped barrier covered the path.

Wisps of mist drifted around it, standing guard on either side.

"Ice Release! Did we attack people from Kirigakure? So it was a trap after all!"

Ebizo's face darkened as he forced out each word.

"Sir! What do we do?"

"Kill them! We've already made our move. No hesitation!"

Resolve flashed in Ebizo's eyes as he answered without hesitation.

As he spoke, Ebizo led the charge, appearing before Liuyun and the others with the remaining Sand Ninja close behind.

Crack! Crack!

Sensing their arrival, Liuyun instantly dispelled the Ice Barrier before him.

"Ebizo!" Aoto Iseki's face fell as he recognized the man.

When he sensed the strength radiating from those behind Ebizo, despair filled his face.

Ebizo ignored Aoto Iseki. His sinister gaze fixed on Liuyun, and his voice turned icy.

"I thought someone from Kirigakure had come. I didn't expect a little Konoha brat!"

"An Ice Release Kekkei Genkai. Konoha certainly is generous!"

"Attack! Leave no one alive! Finish this quickly!"

Ebizo waved a hand, wasting no time.

He rushed straight at Aoto Iseki himself.

The others grinned savagely and charged into the crowd, hungry for blood.

Even the weakest among them were Elite Chunin, and they belonged to a special squad formed by the Sand Ninja.

They were the elite among the Sand Ninja's elite.

Against children fresh out of school, they were wolves among sheep. It was a one-sided slaughter.

Within moments, only Liuyun and his two companions, along with Aoto Iseki, remained standing from the supply convoy, struggling to hold on.

Everyone else had fallen beneath the Sand Ninja's blades.

(Any lurkers who want to comment, speak up! I'll pin your comments. And could you send some flowers while you're at it?)

An Overwhelming Strike!

"Shimura Youzheng!" Nawaki cried out in anguish at the sight of the friend who had been laughing and talking with him moments ago.

"Enough! This isn't the time to cry. I told you to go back, but you wouldn't listen! What good will crying do?" Liuyun snapped.

"Ice Release brat! Your life is mine. Remember the name of the man who kills you: Hiyori Shiya!"

The Sand Ninja before him grinned viciously and licked the blood from his Kunai. Then he vanished.

"Die!"

Hiyori Shiya appeared abruptly in front of Liuyun and slashed hard at his neck!

Clang!

The sound rang out like steel striking steel.

Liuyun looked at the Ice before him and said coolly, "You're right about one thing. Someone's about to die."

He thrust out his small hand. The Ice exploded, sending countless Ice Shards flying in every direction like arrows!

Hiyori Shiya took the full force of it. Before he could even react, the shards riddled him, leaving him bloodied and unmistakably dead.

The sudden turn made the Sand Ninja who had been watching from the sidelines stiffen. They stared at Liuyun's group of three, killing intent blazing in their eyes.

Thud!