The next morning
Last night, Temari's team decided to split into two groups. Temari and Hōryūsai took Hatoyama Dayū to the mercenary ninja base to capture the leader of the Vulture Organization, Vulture Masaharu; while Hongshi and Natsuhiboshi infiltrated Hoshigakure to steal Xing. Shino stayed in the cave to guard the eight prisoners. As for what to do with them, they would discuss it when Temari returned.
However...
Poison Gas Canyon
Hongshi and Natsuhiboshi stood at the edge of the canyon, watching the yellow poisonous gas billowing around them.
Hongshi rested her chin on her hand, seemingly lost in thought, "Emm..."
Natsuhiboshi asked, " Hongshi, what's wrong?"
Hongshi asked solemnly, "Why was I sleeping in the dirt this morning?"
Natsuhiboshi covered her mouth and chuckled, "Hehehe, I can't say that."
Hongshi pointed at the yellow poisonous fog. "Speaking of which, what's going on with this canyon? Where did all this poisonous gas come from?"
Natsuhiboshi shook her head. "It existed when I was born; its origin cannot be found."
Hongshi took a deep breath into the air, and a pungent smell made him sneeze. "Ugh! This smell is intoxicating!"
Natsuhiboshi hurriedly stopped him. "This gas is extremely toxic, don't inhale it!"
Hongshi grinned. "Hehe, it's alright, I'm immune to all poisons."
Natsuhiboshi couldn't see through the bald, muscular man in front of her. Although he seemed incredibly stupid, he exuded an aura of unparalleled strength, as if he feared nothing in the world. " Hongshi-kun, do you know about the Nuclear Ninja Village?"
Hongshi chuckled to himself, "Of course I know. It's an incredibly powerful ninja village, excelling in technology, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu. I think the person who founded this village must be the smartest, strongest, and most handsome ninja in the world."
The Lord God: "What you're saying is making me want to vomit!"
Natsuhiboshi laughed and said, "You're making me think you're a ninja from the Nuclear Ninja Village too, but is that really what you think? The Nuclear Ninja Village is just a small ninja village."
"Well, quality is more important than quantity in warfare."
"Alright. You're so heavy, I probably can't fly you over. I'll go first, then throw the zipline, and you can come over."
Hongshi scoffed, "Zip line? Is that my style? I'll just jump across."
" Hongshi-kun! Our mission is to infiltrate..."
"Awoo awoo awoo!"
Hongshi transformed into a black shadow, flying into the air and forming a black arc over the Poison Gas Canyon before landing on the opposite side.
"Boom!"
The immense force of the impact cracked the ground upon impact, producing a loud bang.
"Smooth landing! Perfect score!"
Just after the Hongshi landed, Natsuhiboshi used the Mysterious Peacock Method to follow it.
However, at that moment, more than a dozen Star Ninja wearing identical gas masks leaped out of the forest opposite and stood in front of Hongshi: " Konoha ninja, what are you doing in Hoshigakure!"
Hongshi, hands on hips. "Hahaha, I am Konoha ninja. My mission is to infiltrate your Hoshigakure and steal the Star."
The Star Ninja were originally sent by Akahoshi to search for the Yotaka Squad because they hadn't returned to the village to report in time. Unexpectedly, they heard a heavy thud as soon as they arrived, and when they rushed over, they saw Hongshi.
Upon hearing Hongshi's words, the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Hey, is this guy an idiot?"
"I think so too. He calls this infiltration? It's more like an invasion."
"Seriously, this guy's physique is ridiculously big; he's as black as a coal miner."
Hongshi: "(°ー°), I said I wanted to steal stars, why didn't any of you react at all?!"
Natsuhiboshi caught up at this moment, but after seeing the dozen or so people rushing out in the air, she turned in a perfect arc and flew back.
"Too many people, can't beat them, gotta run."
The Star Ninja Captain coughed twice. "Ahem, since you... infiltrated and got caught, then come back with us."
Seeing Natsuhiboshi turn and leave, Hongshi was Hongshi. He turned around and pointed at Natsuhiboshi: "Hey! Natsuhiboshi! You just left like that? So decisive! Even so, Star Ninja is still the strongest!"
What? She's Natsuhiboshi! Go after her!
Hunting down Natsuhiboshi was the top priority for Hoshigakure. Upon hearing Hongshi's words, they all used the Mysterious Peacock Method to give chase.
"Trying to leave? Lightning Release: Lightning Binding!"
The Lord God: "The name of your Ninjutsu is outrageous!"
Hongshi opened his right hand, and a ball of lightning instantly appeared in his palm. More than a dozen chains of lightning flew out from his hand and accurately wrapped around all the Star Ninja.
"Oh dear!!"
The lightning chains were incredibly fast, leaving everyone with no way to avoid them. They were instantly subdued, and at the same time, powerful lightning raged throughout their bodies, causing their souls to leave their bodies, smoke to billow from their seven orifices, and rendering them unable to move.
Hongshi gripped the lightning chain, its shape shifting to make the chain almost tangible, and dragged back more than a dozen Star Ninja.
Natsuhiboshi noticed something was wrong. When she turned around, she saw Hongshi unleashing chains of lightning that instantly subdued more than a dozen people.
"Oh dear... please spare me! Stop shocking me!"
The lightning power on the lightning chains was no joke; it was like thousands of tiny needles constantly piercing their bodies, not only rendering them unable to move, but also causing the Mysterious Peacock Method to completely collapse and their Chakra to be burned away.
Hongshi gripped the lightning chain, pulled out a pair of glasses, and put them on. "(⑅ōᴗō) Hehe, still flying? I told you I was going to infiltrate the Hoshigakure, why didn't you believe me?"
Natsuhiboshi landed beside Hongshi: " Hongshi-kun, aren't you medical-nin? By the way, what's with the glasses you're wearing?"
Hongshi laughed and said, "I'm the strongest Genin Konoha; Medical Ninjutsu is just a side job."
Natsuhiboshi didn't know much about Hongshi. From a normal point of view, being able to control more than a dozen ninjas with a single Ninjutsu could indeed be considered one of the best among the Genin.
Lord God: "Listen carefully to the question! This bastard is talking about Konoha Genin! Konoha Genin!"
Looking at the Natsuhiboshi Star Ninja said, "Alright, Hongshi-kun, you can let them go now. Our goal is to infiltrate Hoshigakure."
Hongshi removes the lightning chain. "Infiltrating? Sounds like fun, okay, okay."
Natsuhiboshi: "(°ー°) I always have a bad feeling."
The Star Ninja Captain lay on the ground, his body billowing black smoke, raising a trembling hand and pointing at Hongshi: "You... you... you..."
He lost consciousness before he could finish speaking.
Natsuhiboshi asked, "Oh dear, what was supposed to be a perfectly good infiltration operation has turned into such a commotion. How are we going to handle all these people?"
Hongshi created a Shadow Clone and laughed, "It's alright, this is when Shadow Clone come in handy."
Seeing the Shadow Clone, Natsuhiboshi felt relieved. "Alright, let's disguise ourselves and head to Hoshigakure."
"OK."
Under Natsuhiboshi's watchful gaze, Hongshi broke off a branch from the side and held it in front of himself. "From now on, I am a tree."
Hongshi 'Shadow Clone gave a thumbs up. "Wow! What a perfect disguise! You can't even tell!"
Natsuhiboshi: "Are you guys stupid! I'm talking about the Transformation Technique! Transform into Yotaka!"
Hongshi: " Yotaka? Who's Yotaka?"
Hongshi Shadow Clone: "I don't know, I've never seen it before."