Chapter 42

With his current strength, he could sweep through this place anyway!

Unfortunately, Tsunade was in charge here. If he really did that, he would be fine, but the Konoha ninja accompanying him would be in danger.

After all, they were only jonin. They couldn't compare to him!

Now he was beginning to understand what it meant to be weighed down by others.

"System! Check in!"

Ding! Congratulations, host! You have received one Advanced Electric Massage Board!

Sure enough, this check-in system was unreliable. Still, he could put it to use on Tsunade later...

Liuyun's eyes shifted as he stole a glance at the busty woman nearby. If I put this thing against Tsunade's thighs...

At that thought, a lecherous grin immediately spread across his face.

Not far away, Tsunade, who stood poised for action, involuntarily shivered.

She turned her head and immediately spotted Liuyun's strange grin.

Clenching her teeth, she shot him a fierce glare. What dirty scheme is this little bastard cooking up now?

Once we get back, I'm definitely going to teach him a lesson.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and their surroundings grew quiet.

Tsunade checked the time, then called softly, "Move out!"

At her command, everyone who had been waiting vanished from the tree trunks.

Liuyun followed closely behind Tsunade.

Ding! The host has been detected undertaking a high-difficulty mission for the first time! Make your choice, host!

1. Follow Tsunade and complete the mission according to her plan. Reward: a ten percent increase in physical constitution!

2. Leave on your own and draw the enemy's attention. Reward: a ten percent increase in mental energy.

3. Just charge in! Destroy the Sand Ninja Main Camp single-handedly and deal the Sand Ninja a devastating blow!

Reward: a ten percent increase in chakra!

Liuyun fell silent. The rewards for choices one and two were both ten percent increases. For a moment, he couldn't decide which to choose.

Still, he was more inclined toward the third!

"Teacher Tsunade! Let me draw the enemy's attention!"

"You know my ability is ice. If you start a fire and I end up using Ice Release during the fight..."

"No! Stay beside me. Don't you also have genjutsu?" Tsunade rejected the idea without hesitation.

"Fine!"

Liuyun wanted to argue, but seeing the determination in Tsunade's eyes, he could only shake his head with a wry smile.

Just then, the entire Sand Ninja Camp blazed with light, and Sand ninja emerged one after another.

Ebizo's booming laughter rang throughout the Sand Ninja Camp.

"Princess Tsunade, I've been waiting for you for quite some time!"

One Ice Release technique entombed the Sand ninja! (Second update, please subscribe!)

Tsunade's face turned as pale as paper. Her expression darkened. "This is bad! We've walked into a trap!"

Her eyes shifted, and she continued, "Liuyun! It looks like someone wants us dead!"

"Now you're getting smarter!" Liuyun teased, looking at Tsunade.

Just then, sounds of fighting came from the Sand ninja's camp, accompanied by terrifying surges of chakra.

"This is bad! The camp's supply stores are empty! We've been tricked! Everyone, get out! Aah!"

That was Hyuga Asuka's despairing roar before death!

"Trying to leave? Not so fast! What do you think our Sand Ninja Main Camp is? Somewhere you can come and go as you please?"

An aged voice carrying a hint of authority rang out around them.

"That old hag Chiyo!" Tsunade said through gritted teeth.

"Ah! Looks like Sunagakure learned about our plan as soon as we entered the Land of Rivers!"

"They turned our own plan against us!"

Liuyun sighed. Torches now shone all around them, their yellow flames illuminating the two figures in the corner with perfect clarity.

Sand ninja appeared nearby one after another, holding torches, their faces expressionless.

Ebizo stepped out from the crowd and spoke with a smile.

"Princess Tsunade, it's been a while! This is the first time we've met under these circumstances!"

As Ebizo spoke, several more screams rang out in succession. There was no need to guess—the Konoha ninja were being killed!

"They won't get away! There are Sand ninja chakra signatures everywhere within a hundred meters!" Liuyun sighed and shook his head slightly.

"Brat! We meet again!" Ebizo looked at Liuyun, a mocking edge creeping into his smile.

"Let's see how you escape this time! Can you turn the tables like you did before?"

"Princess Tsunade! We meet again as well!"

Chiyo slowly emerged from the crowd, a smug smile appearing on her aged face.

She addressed a nearby Sand ninja. "Throw them all in front of Princess Tsunade! Let's see whether everyone from this raiding party is here!"

Thud! Thud!

Corpses in bloodstained clothing were thrown before Liuyun and Tsunade, their faces frozen in resentment.

Hyuga Asuka, Fuchishiru Kazen, Nako Daye...

Looking at those familiar figures and their eyes that remained open in death, Tsunade shed silent tears.

They had all been her comrades, yet they might have died here for nothing because of her.

"Come on, don't cry! Look, you've ruined your makeup. You don't look pretty anymore!"

Liuyun stroked Tsunade's cheek and spoke gently.

"Why is there a brat here too? Has Konoha run out of people?"

Chiyo frowned, her expression tinged with surprise.

Has Konoha really run out of people? They're even sending children now?

"Sister! Don't underestimate him! He's Uchiha Liuyun—the one who defeated me!"

Ebizo walked over to Chiyo and spoke gravely.

"Him?" Understanding dawned on Chiyo's face, followed by a cold sneer.

"Perfect! We'll settle our old and new scores together. Today, Konoha won't just lose Princess Tsunade. It'll lose an extraordinary prodigy too!"

"Well! Since we're going to die anyway, I'd like to ask how you knew we were coming to raid your Sand Ninja Main Camp."

Liuyun spoke calmly, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"We don't know! Someone shot an arrow into the camp this morning, with a note tied to its end!"

"Written on it was the battle plan you discussed in your camp last night...

"I didn't believe it at first! I thought it was another Konoha trick!"

"But my younger brother believed it immediately! Because the handwriting on that note was identical to the one concerning your Konoha supply convoy last time!"

Chiyo chuckled as she spoke, her voice dripping with mockery.

"Konoha really is a dark place! You even harm your own people! You're far worse than us Sand ninja!"

"It seems the two of you have quite a few enemies in Konoha!"

Just as I thought! Liuyun muttered inwardly.

He wrapped an arm around Tsunade's waist and spoke in a low voice.

"Pull yourself together. If you stay like this, how are you going to escape, return to camp, and avenge them? How will you find the mastermind?"

Liuyun's words gradually brought life back to Tsunade's unfocused eyes.

"That's right! I have to escape! I have to avenge them and find the mastermind!"

Tsunade's expression hardened with determination, fierce flames burning in her eyes!

At that moment, her will to live was reignited!

"Attack! I want to see both their corpses tonight!"

Chiyo swept her hand forward and shouted.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Kunai and puppets flew in from the sides, as thick as a swarm of locusts.

"Once we make it back alive, you're going to owe me a huge favor!"

"We'll talk if we get back. As long as we make it back, I'll do whatever you want!" Tsunade said, her expression grave.

"You said it!" Facing the barrage of attacks, Liuyun smiled faintly.

Holding Tsunade's supple waist, he spoke softly.

"Leave the rest to me! It's time you saw my true strength!"

Without waiting for Tsunade's puzzled response, he stamped his foot down hard!

Boom! Crack!

Freezing cold rapidly spread from Liuyun's body.

Ice began forming over the dark brown ground, then swept outward in every direction like a plague!

A wave of ice surrounded him, blocking every incoming attack at his will.

"Watch out! It's that brat's Ice Release! Dodge!"

Ebizo's expression changed. He knew just how terrifying this brat's Ice Release was!

Once frozen, even a jonin would have a hard time breaking free!

He himself had been one of its victims and had suffered dearly. If he hadn't been strong enough back then, he might have remained at the Konoha Border forever.

Unfortunately, his shout couldn't keep pace with the spreading ice!

By the time his words had fallen, every Sand ninja surrounding Liuyun had already become an ice statue!

Even Chiyo beside him was caught off guard and frozen!

Crack! Crack!

Dense chakra surged, and cracks spread across Chiyo's ice statue like a shattered mirror before it burst apart.

Chiyo stepped out, trembling, her aged face incredibly grave.

"This cold! It's far stronger than the Yuki Clan's!"

"That's right! Once you're frozen, you have to break the ice quickly. Otherwise, once your body loses all sensation..."

"Even if someone breaks the ice from outside, you'll never wake up again!" Ebizo immediately explained.

Chiyo stole a glance at the surrounding ice statues, her face darkening.

"Everyone, use ninjutsu! Even if the entire Sand Ninja Main Camp dies today, these two must not leave!"

When her younger brother had returned earlier, she had thought he was exaggerating. Now it seemed that if this brat wasn't eliminated, he truly could become someone like Hashirama Senju in the future!

"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel!"

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"

"Wind Release: Wind Blade!"

The surviving Sand ninja unleashed their ninjutsu like people possessed!

At the pinnacle of ninja, looking down upon the world—with me, Liuyun, the heavens endure! (Third update)