On a large tree not far away, Jiraiya observed the battlefield through a telescope. Seeing the decisive outcome, he frowned solemnly. "Sunagakure has suffered a humiliating defeat this time. They severely underestimated Masanari Hattori's strength, and their arrogance led them to engage him in such a disadvantageous location with a river. It's a pity. They lacked self-restraint."
With his keen eyesight, he recognized the battle as a resounding victory for Kirito. Jiraiya knew the two puppet masters from Hidden Sand were formidable adversaries. In the Wind Country's battles, countless Konoha ninjas fell by their hands, including double-digit number of jōnin. Even he, Jiraiya, might have struggled against them if faced alone.
Yet in this battle, they were thoroughly defeated. The blame lay in their underestimation of a powerful water escape ninja in a watery environment.
At the onset of the battle, Kirito overwhelmed them with a massive waterfall technique. Subsequently, they fell victim to Kirito's Water Escape·Shui Xiangyu before mounting a counterattack. Forced to abandon their primary puppet techniques, they resorted to ninjutsu against Kirito.
Jiraiya realized victory was already decided. When a puppeteer abandons their craft, defeat is imminent.
He contemplated his own abilities. Perhaps summoning a large toad with psychic skills could offer some chance against Kirito in a watery setting, but victory was uncertain. Kirito was a formidable adversary.
"Record every detail of this battle and bring the information back. Masanari Hattori, from the Rain Village, is not to be provoked lightly. It's best to avoid conflict with him in the Rain Country," Jiraiya instructed a Konoha Anbu ninja nearby.
"Understood," the Anbu ninja affirmed, disappearing with a teleportation technique to carry out the orders.
Meanwhile, nearby ninjas from other villages swiftly dispatched messengers to relay the news.
Chapter 92: Fragrant Peach
Kirito, relying on his soul perception, discerned that Chisha and Shalan were still alive, albeit on the brink of death. He had no interest in killing them; the living were more valuable than the dead.
Anticipating that Sand Yin would be willing to pay a hefty ransom for their safe return, Kirito instructed seven water clones to retrieve Chisha, Shalan, and their fallen puppets.
A blue-haired Yuren approached Kirito with deference. "Master Zhengcheng, entrust these captives to us, Yuyin. We promise to extract every secret from them."
Peach hunters, Kirito thought.
Kirito's expression soured. While handing over Chisha and Shalan to Yuyin seemed reasonable, he doubted Yuyin's ability in medical ninjutsu. Handing them over might result in their deaths, and Kirito couldn't guarantee his maximum benefit from the spoils.
Thus, he declined. "Tell Hanzang I'll take them for now. Assure him I'll return them intact in a few days. I'll ensure they're alive. Also, request negotiations for their captivity to be held with Sayin, Konoha, and Yanyin."
Without waiting for a response, Kirito departed with the water clones.
Observing this, Lan Fayu hesitated but ultimately refrained from speaking. He understood his position; Kirito didn't even regard Hanzo's authority, let alone a lower-ranked ninja like himself. If he pushed too hard, he might find himself in trouble.
"Master Jiraiya, he's leaving," reported an Oil Girl Chunin from behind Jiraiya.
Their mission was to eliminate Masanari Hattori, whom Kirito was impersonating. Could Kirito leave so easily?
"No need to pursue. Now's the time to gather spoils. Chasing would only escalate hostilities, especially if I reveal my identity. It's best to avoid unnecessary conflict," Jiraiya reasoned.
The Aburame Chunin understood, though Jiraiya's words left her somewhat puzzled.
Jiraiya's hunch told him he would cross paths with Kirito again soon. He absorbed some natural energy and sensed Chisha and Shalan's chakra had not dissipated, indicating they remained alive. He was confident Kirito wouldn't let them die; those captives were too valuable.
As they departed, the other Konoha ninjas followed suit. Jiraiya didn't conceal their departure from surrounding villages. Iwagakure, for instance, were the first to notice their exit.
Meanwhile, in the Iwa team, Kitsuchi's, the son of the Third Tsuchikage, pondered his next move. His comrades urged pursuit, confident in their ability to defeat Kirito and claim the spoils. But Kitsuchi's hesitated; he sensed a strong menace from Kirito.
As an elite Jōnin, Kitsuchi's possessed superior vision compared to his Chunin comrades, allowing him to recognize the fallacy in Tatsuchi's suggestion.
While it was true that Kirito had employed numerous potent water escape ninjutsu, it didn't necessarily indicate extensive chakra consumption. The true strength of water escape ninjas in water-rich environments lay in their ability to manipulate existing water, significantly reducing chakra expenditure compared to creating water from scratch. This efficiency not only conserved chakra but also accelerated seal execution, enhancing overall combat effectiveness.
Kitsuchi's estimated that Kirito possessed ample chakra reserves for sustained combat. Moreover, Kirito's formidable display instilled little confidence in Kitsuchi's ability to defeat him, even with his group of Chunin comrades. The potential for heavy casualties loomed large in such a confrontation.
Furthermore, Kitsuchi's recognized the likelihood of Kirito destroying any spoils rather than relinquishing them, rendering any pursuit futile.
Jiraiya's departure solidified Kitsuchi's's decision. He understood the futility of engaging Kirito and the potential consequences for his comrades.
Prioritizing the safety of his team and recognizing the formidable threat posed by Kirito, Kitsuchi's asserted, "Let us retreat. Dealing with this Ame-nin is far more challenging than you anticipate. Even confronting him here, victory is uncertain. If you encounter him in the Land of Rain, avoid conflict at all costs."
His pronouncement left the other Iwanin visibly shocked, highlighting the gravity of Kirito's threat.
---
Soon after, Rock ninjas began showing fearful expressions and ceased discussing the foolish proposal of seizing Kirito's spoils.
Even Kitsuchi's had experienced more losses than victories against the Hidden rain, leading to fatalities in the past.
Eventually, under Kitsuchi's leadership, Iwa's team retreated swiftly.
Both Konoha and Iwa chose to withdraw, and ninjas from other villages, who had contemplated taking advantage of the situation, departed as well.
However, there were still those who opted to pursue Kirito. Among them were a group of black-skinned men from Kumogakure, led by a Kumo Jōnin sporting sunglasses.
"Hmph, a group of cowards. It seems that only we from Kumogakure can capture this big fish. Follow me, and we'll snatch those two puppet masters from that Ame-nin. Let Kumogakure gain more benefits! Once we secure the puppet master lineage, the boss will undoubtedly reward us generously."
Observing the departure of Konoha and iwanin, the Kumo ninjas sneered.
"Oh~" The kumo ninjas exclaimed excitedly, quickly following their leader, who dashed across the water.
Half an hour later, in an abandoned village within the Land of rain.
A disarray of kumo ninjas soaked in the water, their bodies oozing dark red blood from wounds inflicted by wind blades conjured through wind Ninjutsu. The surrounding water turned a deep crimson hue, depicting a gruesome scene.
In the midst of the fallen Kumo ninjas, Kirito stood, gripping the head of a large black-skinned man aloft with one hand.
Gazing at the dying kumo-nin, Kirito sneered, "Konoha and Iwa wisely retreated, but you Kumo thought yourselves special? Do you think I'm an easy target just because you know some Thunder Release? Who said I'm only adept at water escape ninjutsu?"
Utilizing his soul's perception, Kirito had sensed the Kumo ninjas tailing him earlier that morning. Despite their determined pursuit, Kirito chose to confront them decisively when they arrogantly demanded he surrender the spoils.
The strongest among the Kumo group was only a Jōnin proficient in swordsmanship and thunder release. The rest were Chunin with basic Thunder Release skills. Against Kirito's vast repertoire of ninjutsu, they posed little threat.
Employing wind barriers conjured through Wind release : Wind Wall, Kirito nullified their Thunder Release techniques, swiftly countering with various ninjutsu to overwhelm the Kumo ninjas. In less than three minutes, he defeated them all.
"Boss will avenge us," a dying Yunyin Jōnin stubbornly declared.
"If I intended to kill you, you'd already be dead. Don't worry. You're all valuable assets I'll use to rebuild Amegakure. I won't let you die so easily," Kirito retorted coldly.
With that, he rendered the Kumo Jōnin unconscious with a forceful blow to the ground.
Subsequently, he collected all the fallen Kumo ninjas with his water clones before swiftly departing. This time, there was no pursuit.
Before long, all the ninja villages received the latest news regarding Hattori Masanari. Sand village and Kumo village reacted furiously, with Kumo Third Raikage venting his rage by destroying his newly replaced desk.
Within the Sand Hidden Village's Kazekage Building, a group of high-level officials had been urgently summoned by the Third Kazekage to discuss the recent developments.
Sand Hidden Village, Kazekage Building, and the round table room were the scene of an urgent summons for a group of Sand Hidden high-level executives by the third Kazekage.
Seated at the head of the table, the third Kazekage wasted no time once all attendees had arrived. Addressing the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure, he stated, "Now that everyone is present, let us commence the meeting. I presume the discussion has already begun on your journey here. It's clear that our attempt to assassinate Hattori Masanari has failed, resulting in the capture of our operative by the enemy. Amegakure has subsequently proposed a captive exchange. It is now up to us to decide whether to agree to this proposal."
Upon hearing the Kazekage's words, the elders of Sunagakure ceased their discussions and directed their attention to the middle-aged woman seated at the first position to the left of the third Kazekage.
This woman was Chiyo.
Adorned with numerous honorary titles—such as the wife of the first Kazekage, esteemed former Sand ninja, current Shadow-Level Puppet Master of the Sand, and leader of the Sand's martial arts faction—Chiyo's identity wielded immense power and influence. In the present context, she held significant sway over Sand Hidden Village, with few daring to oppose her, fearing the wrath of this seemingly composed yet deeply aggrieved mother.
Indeed, Chiyo was in a foul mood. Had she not exercised restraint, she might have journeyed to the Land of Rain to confront Masanari by herself. Gazing blankly at the elders of sunagakure gathered in the room, she remained silent, her eyes flashing with a steely resolve. Any dissent at this critical juncture would be met with swift and harsh retribution.
She then turned her gaze to the middle-aged man seated at the first position to the right of the third Kazekage—her younger brother, Ebizo.
"Ebizo, allow me to remind you: While Chisha and Shalan bear responsibility for the mission's failure, they are both esteemed youths of our village and leaders among the younger generation. They have distinguished themselves on the battlefield countless times and are poised to become stalwarts of our Sand. Given our capability to ransom them from Amegakure, it is imperative that we assist them. Failure to do so would grievously wound the spirits of the young men and women who serve and sacrifice for our village. Therefore, I support the redemption of these two."
Having received his sister's unspoken directive, Ebizo reluctantly rose to address the assembly. With a cough, he spoke with measured rationale.
"Indeed, Chiyo is correct. We cannot afford to dampen the morale of our youth."
"Agreed. Furthermore, Chisha and Shalan possess valuable information about our village. While Amegakure may not extract this information from them, there is no guarantee that Konoha won't. We cannot allow Konoha and Amegakure to conclude the deal, as it would severely impact our ongoing conflict with Konoha..."
As Ebizo articulated his stance, Suna elders aligned with Chiyo voiced their support.
Observing the consensus, the opposition remained silent, opting for abstention rather than outright defiance—a tacit acknowledgment of Chiyo's authority.
Though displeased with the opposition's reticence, Chiyo refrained from further comment, turning her attention back to the third Kazekage seated at the head of the table.
Ultimately, the final decision rested with Sandai Kazekage—the preeminent ninja of Sand Hidden Village.
"With no objections, we shall proceed with Elder Ebizo's proposal. However, the successful redemption of Chisha and Shalan hinges on Hattori Masanari's disposition. He currently holds them captive, and only his intentions are of consequence," declared the Sandaime Kazekage, unsurprised by the outcome. With unanimous agreement, the proposal passed smoothly, the Kazekage asserting his authority.
"Fear not, Kazekage-sama. Hattori Hanzo's inclinations will lean toward Amegakure. As such, he cannot disregard internal sentiments within amegakure. I shall employ our Sand influence within Amegakure to push him and sway Hattori Masanari in our favor," Ebizo asserted, rising once more to demonstrate his authority as Suna Elder.
Over the years, Suna's efforts against Amegakure extended beyond the frontlines to subversive tactics. Through clandestine operations, Ebizo spies had infiltrated Amegakure's ranks, ensuring Sand Hidden's influence persisted even behind enemy lines.
In fact, Amegakure's war against Konoha, orchestrated by Hanzo, had Ebizo's touch in it.
Despite recent criticisms over the failed assassination attempt on Uzumaki Mito, the prestige of Sunagakure, particularly its intelligence network, remained formidable. While the loss of a seasoned spy within Konohagakure was lamented, the understanding of Uzumaki Mito's strength and Konohagakure's defenses tempered the censure.
Indeed, Sunagakure had performed admirably on the frontlines, owing much to the invaluable intelligence provided by its operatives. This intelligence advantage had repeatedly tipped the scales in Sunagakure's favor against Konohagakure.
With this assurance, there was newfound optimism regarding the redemption of Chisha and Sha Lan.
"Elder Ebizo, I entrust this matter to you. Ensure that Amegakure's internal sentiments favor Sunagakure," Third Kazekage remarked, pleased with Ebinozo's assurance.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama," Ebizo replied, meeting Chiyo's gaze with resolve.
The subsequent discussion centered on determining the cost of redeeming Chisha and Sha Lan. While the redemption was deemed politically necessary, the financial burden was a contentious issue, with both supporters and opponents seeking to safeguard their interests.
After protracted negotiations, a compromise was reached: redemption costs would be shared by supporters and opponents at a ratio of 73%.
With the meeting adjourned, the Sunagakure officials dispersed, their thoughts consumed by the impending ransom.
On their journey back, Chiyo, exhausted both mentally and physically, queried her younger brother Ebizo: "ebizo, how confident are you in rescuing Chisha and Shalan?"
"Do not worry, Sister. As long as our offer matches or exceeds Konohagakure's, and no unforeseen obstacles arise, success is within reach," Ebizo assured, though his confidence wavered.
"Hmph, spare me your empty reassurances. I am prepared for the worst. Curse the Ame village, curse Hattori Masanari," Chiyo seethed with resentment, seeing through Ebizo's attempts to comfort her.
Beside her, Ebizo remained silent.
It was clear to him that blaming Amegakure and Hattori Masanari for the night's events was misguided. Sunagakure had provoked them, yet refused to acknowledge their own role in the conflict. Nonetheless, in a world where might dictated right, reasoning held little sway.
"When will this world find peace? Senju Hashirama, you departed too soon," Ebizo lamented, gazing at the waning moon in the gray sky, reminiscing about a more peaceful era.
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