Ten kilometers away from Hoshigakure
It was also an unnamed cave, but with the help of Hatoyama Dayū, they finally found this outpost deep in the mountains.
Hōryūsai and Temari transformed into two attendants of Hatoyama Dayū, following behind.
Hatoyama Dayū pointed to the cave. "That's our Vulture Organization's temporary base. Everyone should be outside searching for Natsuhiboshi and the Sand Ninja, but our leader, Vulture Gangō, should be inside."
Hōryūsai nodded. "Inside the cave, I sensed five Chakra reactions, all of them quite strong."
Five people?
Temari's original intention was to capture Vulture Gangō alive and bring him back to Sunagakure to interrogate him and find out the details, but now it seems that she can no longer act discreetly.
Hōryūsai looked at the hesitant Temari: "Captain Temari, shall we go in?"
Temari finally nodded. "This is a rare opportunity. After today, the leader will be alert when he sees that one of his troops is missing, and it will be very difficult to find him then."
Led by Hatoyama Dayū, Hōryūsai and Temari entered the cave.
In the dim and damp cave, several torches were stuck in the cave wall. By the faint Kakkō, Temari could see what was inside.
In the center of the cave, there was only a simple stone bench. The leader, Vulture Gangō, lay on his side, watching the four ninjas in front of him talking.
Upon seeing Hatoyama Dayū, he stopped talking. " Hatoyama Dayū? Why are you back?"
By the dim Kakkō, Temari could see that the Vulture Gangō looked exactly like a vulture.
He was in his sixties, bald, with a sickly reddish-brown, wrinkled skin. He wore black leather gloves, lay on a bench, one hand supporting his chin, and looked... extremely ugly.
Temari: "Damn, this guy is even more disgusting than Hongshi."
Hatoyama Dayū hurriedly said, "Chief, our squad was ambushed by Sand Ninja in the Land of Bears, and we lost one member."
"I see."
Vulture Gangō sneered, "Speaking of which, your Transformation Technique are far too rudimentary."
Hatoyama Dayū was startled. "You..."
Hōryūsai and Temari exchanged a glance. "We didn't expect to be found out so quickly."
"Bang! Bang!"
Hōryūsai and Temari deactivated their Transformation Technique, and the four organization members immediately went into battle alert, watching the three of them warily.
Who are you people?
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Hatoyama Dayū swallowed hard and stammered, "I... can I... leave?"
Hōryūsai waved his hand. "That's enough. I'll have Shino remove the poisonous insects from your body later."
Vulture Gangō remained in his original posture, showing no intention of making a move. "Nuclear? I've never seen this Forehead Protector before, but I do recognize Temari; she's one of the guards of the Kazekage brat."
Temari drew the Great Sickle Weasel Fan from behind her and unfolded it fully. " Hōryūsai, this is a matter for my Sunagakure. You don't need to interfere."
Hōryūsai stroked his beard. "Hehehe, we are allies after all, how can we stand idly by? Besides, judging from the sophistication of this leader's Transformation Technique, his strength is no weaker than ours."
Vulture Gangō frowned. "Oh? You can tell I used Transformation Technique too?"
Hōryūsai laughed and said, "Your Transformation Technique is just as crude and rudimentary."
"Click click click"
The Vulture Gangō's expression grew increasingly furious, and the surrounding mountains began to shake. "I'll see just how powerful you are."
Four mercenary ninjas rushed forward, simultaneously Hand Seals and unleashing Ninjutsu, attempting to gain the upper hand.
" Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel!"
Temari swiftly swung her fan, and with the aid of the Great Sickle Weasel Fan, a violent gust of air spun wildly in the cave. The four ninjas were simultaneously repelled by the invisible Wind Blade, and their Ninjutsu attempts were thus interrupted.
A wall of earth rose up in front of Vulture Gangō, blocking the wind's attack. "Not bad."
" Earth Release ·Earth Stone Pillar!"
After the four landed on the earthen wall, they quickly formed the same hand seals, raising a square stone pillar in the center of the cave, thus neutralizing the Wind Release.
"Chief, this woman is incredibly powerful!"
" The Kazekage's bodyguards are certainly very strong; that fan of hers is no ordinary ninja tool."
Hōryūsai showed no sign of making a move. "Ordinary mercenary organizations don't have such seamless teamwork. You're the Rock Ninja, aren't you?"
Hired ninja organizations
Vulture Gangō slowly sat up. "Hehe, it seems you haven't lived this long for nothing."
"Hehe."
Temari retracted the Great Sickle Weasel Fan behind her back and solemnly said, "They are all very strong. I'll use Wind Release in conjunction with your Fire Style."
Hōryūsai nodded, then began Hand Seals: "Alright."
Then, Temari and Hōryūsai simultaneously leaped backward, jumping out of the cave and releasing Ninjutsu towards the entrance.
Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!
" Wind Release: Gale Technique!"
Hōryūsai's abdomen swelled up as he exhaled a large amount of Chakra, which transformed into a fire dragon composed of flames. At the same time, Temari swung her Great Sickle Weasel Fan, creating a strong wind that made the fire dragon even more ferocious. The two worked in perfect harmony, and the wind was also mixed with some sharp Wind Blade.
"Boom!"
Fire dragons and Wind Blade are about to engulf the entire cave, obscuring the view inside.
" Earth Release · Earth Style Wall!"
The voices of the four mercenary ninjas rang out simultaneously, and the rocks and soil at the cave entrance instantly bulged up, forming a two-meter-thick earthen wall that blocked the flames outside the cave.
" Temari, these four are acting strangely. It's rare to see ninjas working together so seamlessly."
Ordinary ninjas, after years of cooperation or specialized training, can combine the same Ninjutsu to amplify its power. But now, four people have achieved perfect coordination, something even Hōryūsai has never seen before.
The flames gradually scorched the earthen walls, destroying most of them, but they never caused any harm to them.
Earth Release: Earth Stone Dragon!
The four of them joined forces again, switching from defense to offense. The charred earthen wall changed shape, transforming into a giant dragon made of earth and stone, which broke through the fire dragon's body and charged towards Hōryūsai and his companion.
Although Temari was mentally prepared, she did not expect the combined Ninjutsu of the four to be so powerful. Just as the earth dragon was about to hit her, she swung out a fan and used the force to fall to the other side.
Hōryūsai gripped his cane with his left arm, while flames erupted from his right arm as he struck the head of the earthen dragon.
" Nuclear Ninja Secret Technique: Ikkotsu!"
"Boom!"
Under Hōryūsai's powerful punches, the earthen dragon was blasted into pieces and scattered.
Just as Hōryūsai was feeling smug, a figure rushed out from the remaining earth and stone dragon; it was none other than the Vulture Gangō.
Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Fist Technique
Vulture Gangō right fist encased in stone, charged Hōryūsai's face. "Old man, you should rest over there!"
It must be said that Vulture Gangō chose the perfect time to attack. In the heat of the moment, Hōryūsai had no chance to dodge and could only raise his hands to hastily meet the attack.
"Boom!"
With another loud bang, Hōryūsai's figure fell from the sky, and the ground even cracked.
"Bang." Vulture Gangō also stopped maintaining his Transformation Technique and revealed his true form. It turned out to be Jonin, a Kurotsuchi Iwagakure.
Kurotsuchi possesses the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, and her talent in both combat and training is extremely high.
The Added-Weight Rock Fist Technique is an excellent Ninjutsu that combines the Added-Weight Rock Technique with the Rock Fist Technique. It has extremely powerful destructive force, and most Taijutsu ninjas cannot withstand this attack head-on.
Seeing this, Temari, " Hōryūsai! Are you alright?"
Hōryūsai slowly stood up from the ground, a hint of anger on his face. His cane opened, revealing a katana within. "To actually repel an old man like me Thirteen Nuclear Guardian Pillars, is truly a disgrace. Captain Temari, I will fight with all my might from now on, so be careful not to get caught in the crossfire!"
Temari hurriedly said, "There are too many of them, we should cooperate..."
Hōryūsai completely ignored Temari's words, slowly drawing his katana. "The ninjas of the Nuclear Ninja Village must never bear any further wounds. This is Lord Nuclear Shadow Kage's order. We will not allow ourselves to be tainted by mere Rock Ninja, and even if we are repelled, it is absolutely unacceptable."
Standing atop the dilapidated earthen dragon, Kurotsuchi felt the air temperature gradually rise. "When you're old, just stay home and rest. The world belongs to the young, understand?"
Temari really wanted to tell the story of Hōryūsai, who was only a teenager.
"Move aside - Zanka no Tachi - East - Rising Sun Blade!"