Achieve the best results with the least cost!
If someone always engages in head-on combat when faced with a battle, they are definitely not a ninja, but a martial artist!
The main tasks of a ninja are secret planning, sabotage, assassination, intelligence gathering, and other clandestine missions.
In particular, the four basic precepts for ninjas written in the book—not to abuse Ninjutsu, to abandon all self-respect, to keep one's mouth shut, and to never reveal one's identity—demonstrated ninjas as emotionless assassination machines.
Araki wasn't brainwashed by the rules of ninjas, but he would take the essence and discard the dross, learning the parts that were useful to him and filtering out the manipulative and controlling aspects.
We must use strategy to win!
Araki raised his hand, revealing a small wooden ball in his palm, containing the inhaled poison.
It's the same style as the one given to Kushina.
This poison is not very lethal, but it is very effective at paralyzing. Even if the dose is not large enough, it can at least reduce a large part of one's fighting ability if inhaled quietly, making it a powerful debuff.
Next...
A resolute glint flashed in Araki's eyes. He picked up the green pill and swallowed it to protect himself from the poison.
He then quickly Hand Seals, and streams of Chakra surged from his body, flowing into the ground as he poured them into the earth, instantly filling the environment with a powerful life force.
" Wood Release: Tree Binding Eternal Burial!"
Araki immediately used Wood Release Ninjutsu. This was one of the few times he had used Wood Release Ninjutsu since coming to the ninja world, since he was now outside the barrier of Konoha and had already scouted out the surrounding environment.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
In that instant, Araki felt his heart pounding powerfully, and streams of green Chakra, brimming with terrifying vitality, were rapidly overflowing, continuously flowing into his limbs and bones. The meridians that flowed through him displayed a thriving appearance, as if all things were reviving, replenishing the Chakra he had consumed.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Vines sprouted from the ground, seemingly alive, winding and coiling around each of the Kumogakure ninjas lurking there.
"???"
The Kumogakure ninjas present were immediately filled with a bunch of question marks. Then, after sensing the Chakra on the vines, they realized that a ninja had suddenly launched an attack on them.
"Enemy attack!"
One of the Chunin captains immediately shouted and then leaped up to avoid being entangled by the vines.
They don't know what the vines are for.
But one thing is certain.
Don't get entangled.
Otherwise, they might be restricted.
That's dangerous!
The vines didn't grow fast, or rather, they grew very slowly. They only grew faster when they first sprouted out, resembling snakes, which startled them.
But when they saw what was going on, they found that the vines were growing at an unusually slow pace, only twisting and changing shape, like ropes trying to entangle them.
this...
It's like you're joking around!
Does such an attack actually work?
The three ninja squads had begun dodging the vines while searching for the person controlling them.
Under these circumstances, their attention was partly on finding the person and partly on the vines; they didn't think too much about anything else. They just found the phenomenon strange but didn't pay much attention to it.
Gradually...
This state lasted for about ten seconds.
The vines seemed to have lost their lives, falling to the ground one by one and never moving again.
"?????"
The Kumogakure ninjas were filled with even more questions, their minds utterly bewildered by the current scene.
"Is this Wood Release Ninjutsu?"
Suddenly, a Chunin from the Kumogakure squad spoke up, his brow furrowed. His gaze was fixed on the vines, and he looked deep in thought.
"How is that possible!" Another Chunin shook his head and said, "As everyone knows, the only person who could master Wood Release was First Hokage Hashirama Senju of Konoha. After his death, there have been no more Wood Release ninjas."
"What's with these vines?" The last Chunin suddenly fell into thought. He hadn't thought of this if the first Chunin up.
"Could there really be Wood Release ninjas?" Even the Chunin who had just denied it couldn't help but start to doubt.
"We're currently in the vicinity of Konoha. If Konoha is hiding Wood Release ninjas, this is extremely important intelligence!" the first Chunin said again, his tone somber, immediately drawing everyone around into a serious atmosphere.
"But... this is too weak!" The second Chunin's lips Chunin as he stared at the vines on the ground that had stopped wriggling.
"Perhaps that Wood Release ninja isn't that strong!" The third Chunin pondered, stroking his chin. He glanced around, not noticing anyone, but had a strong feeling that the person was there. He said, "We can't find the caster now, but one thing is certain: we've been exposed. The frontline squad might already be wiped out. We should retreat immediately and report the Wood Release ninja to Lord Raikage."
Agreed!
Agreed!
The other two Chunin nodded in unison.
Instantly.
The three Chunin planned to lead their respective squads back to the Land of Lightning.
But at that very moment...
A strong sense of drowsiness washed over them, making their eyelids feel extremely heavy, and even opening their eyes became very difficult.
It seemed that no matter how much force I used, I couldn't lift my eyelids.
Consciousness began to blur.
"Not good!"
The three Chunin immediately realized something was wrong. They heard thuds as they fell to the ground. The Genin had come with them couldn't withstand the numbing effect of the poison and all collapsed.
Who is it?
"Who?"
Who is plotting against us?
The three Chunin wanted to voice their questions, but found that their throats were numb and they couldn't say anything.
In their hazy state, they vaguely saw a figure slowly walking towards them.
Her face was completely obscured.
Only a vague outline could be seen.
immediately.
Consciousness dissipated.
It has completely fallen into a state of deep sleep.
Araki stared intently at the fallen Kumogakure. There were twelve of Chunin and nine Genin, and not a single one was missing.
"No wonder the Sunagakure ninjas like to use poison; it is indeed very convenient. However, the Puppet Technique is a bit outdated. I will slowly research and develop a more suitable method."
Araki gained valuable experience and received significant training during this assassination attempt on the Hidden Kumogakure ninjas.
At least two key issues can be identified at this point.
First, the more poison the better. We must speed up the pace of making money and then concoct more different kinds of poison. We can't let it gradually become just a numbing effect. More poison is never a bad thing!
Secondly, his current methods of applying poison are somewhat lacking. He needs to apply poison at close range, and he can't always risk using his Wood Clone. He needs to develop a method of applying poison similar to Puppet Technique, but he doesn't intend to learn Puppet Technique, nor does he have the means to do so.
"Finish him off first!"
Araki had long since developed the good habit of finishing off enemies, and he could never overlook such an important matter.
Any mercy shown to the enemy is cruelty to oneself!
This time, he used Wood Release Ninjutsu, which was unusual for him, so he couldn't leave any survivors. As for why those vines didn't bind the Kumogakure ninjas, but instead wilted one by one.
The most fundamental reason is...
Araki's core strategy for this battle was to use poison.
The vines created by the Wood Release Ninjutsu were merely a distraction for the Kumogakure ninja.
As they dodged the vines and searched for the caster, a small wooden ball was inconspicuously wrapped in a vine right in the middle of them.
Taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, it was quietly rolled up and torn apart, instantly spreading poisonous gas everywhere.
Chapter 20 Loot (Eighth Update)
Araki took out a Kunai from his ninja tool bag and stabbed it into the heart of each of the fallen Kumogakure ninjas in turn.
As a medical student who has studied for half a year...
Although I haven't had any real clinical internship, locating the heart is not a problem for me.
"Pfft!"
"Pfft!"
"..."
"Pfft!"
A series of piercing sounds rang out; twelve people in total, twelve hearts pierced, reaping twelve lives.
This was the most people Araki had ever killed.
But he didn't have any negative reaction at all.
Only doubt remains.
It is unclear who exactly is the informant for the Kumogakure ninjas.
Araki didn't have any so-called "truth-revealing medicine," so he knew there was no possibility of learning the truth from these Kumogakure ninjas.
These people won't tell!
Rather than wasting time on that interrogation, it's better to end it directly.