Northwestern Land of Earth, the Desolate Mountains.
Wearing his Suzaku mask, Lin Ze seemed to blend into the shadows of the mountain rocks, his presence suppressed to the utmost.
He had been searching this area for nearly a day.
The Bounty Station's intelligence had only provided a general area. Finding a rogue ninja who was deliberately hiding was no easy task.
Fortunately, Lin Ze's perception could now cover a radius of more than three kilometers and reach nearly a hundred meters underground.
Found him.
At the entrance to a narrow cave sheltered from the wind, Lin Ze picked up a faint chakra signature, bearing clear earth-nature characteristics and a hint of explosive energy.
His chakra reserves are roughly at an ordinary Jōnin's level, and his aura seems a little unstable. Looks like life hasn't been easy since he defected.
The target's strength was unremarkable. After confirming there were no traps or other hidden enemies nearby, Lin Ze decided not to waste time.
He took a deep breath, quietly setting the power within his body in motion.
The next instant, both his legs underwent an instantaneous Dragon Transformation.
At the same time, Wind Element currents wound around his legs, further reducing his weight and increasing his speed.
Make this quick.
With a thought, Lin Ze abruptly vanished from where he stood!
Inside the cave, the deserter from the Iwagakure Demolition Corps was resting against the rock wall, several scrolls filled with explosive clay hanging from his waist.
He seemed to sense something and jerked his head up, a trace of horror flashing through his eyes.
But it was already too late.
A hand covered in azure scales and wrapped in air currents rapidly grew larger before his eyes.
Crack!
Lin Ze's knife-hand struck his Adam's apple with precision, its tremendous force