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The large Iwagakure village, with the Tsuchikage's office building at its center, was surrounded by nearly a thousand Iwa-nin. The sight was terrifying, and the fact that they had mobilized so quickly in the dead of night suggested that this had been planned beforehand. However, this enormous force had actually been assembled on short notice—within the brief time it took for Ye Zi to infiltrate the office and reach the vault. This demonstrated the frightening discipline and readiness of Iwagakure's forces.
The towering stone Tsuchikage office was now tightly encased in a layer of yellow rock, completely unrecognizable. The person responsible for this drastic measure didn't care that the iconic building of Iwagakure might be destroyed in the process. The goal was not to crush the intruder but to trap him before he could escape.
And the person behind this move could only be Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage himself. His actions shocked the surrounding Iwa-nin, who stared wide-eyed at the encased office.
"Is it really necessary to go this far?" Kitsuchi, Ōnoki's son, sighed inwardly, already calculating how much it would cost to rebuild the office.
Nearly a thousand Iwa-nin were spread out in a wide formation, with the office at its center. The perimeter stretched far, showing just how large the village was. Ōnoki floated in the air, his arms crossed as he coldly observed the stone prison that had sealed the office.
Whether it was Konoha's White Fang or Little White Fang, both were significant threats to Iwagakure and other ninja villages. Eliminating either one would be a major victory.
Ōnoki wasn't sure which one of them had been trapped, but he was confident that it was one of the two.
"First, you tried interrogation, and now you're directly infiltrating. How naive," Ōnoki thought coldly as he gazed at the stone prison. He wasn't in a rush—he was certain that the Konoha ninja inside wouldn't escape. His main concern was avoiding turning the intruder into a pile of crushed flesh.
He was so confident that he didn't worry about the possibility of Ye Zi escaping. If someone managed to break out of a thousand-strong Iwa-nin encirclement, it would be an embarrassing blow to Iwagakure.
Inside the vault, Ye Zi heard Ōnoki's mocking tone but didn't respond. Silently, he dispelled his Transformation Jutsu, reverting to his black combat suit and fox mask adorned with lightning patterns.
Behind the mask, his expression was emotionless. He briefly scanned the disordered room but didn't waste time pondering whether this had been a trap set by Danzo from the start.
Though his face remained blank, his eyes reflected a serious demeanor as he considered how to escape from this overwhelming encirclement.
His senses told him that there were nearly a thousand Iwa-nin outside. In fact, the entire strength of Iwagakure seemed to be gathered around him, as if he were an ant trapped under a heavy metal lid, unable to move.
"Tsk, tsk, you're in big trouble this time. I can sense a big guy outside—it seems to be someone like that girl from Konoha," Shokui's gleeful voice suddenly echoed in Ye Zi's mind.
Hearing Shokui's words, Ye Zi's seriousness lightened slightly. Since his life was bound to Shokui's, if Ye Zi died, Shokui would perish as well. The fact that Shokui could still take pleasure in his predicament meant that there must be a way to escape.
"You have a plan?" Ye Zi asked.
Shokui sneered, "Of course I do."
"What's the plan?"
"Break through the stone. I'll enlarge myself, grab you, and toss you out. You might get hurt, but after that, you'll have to figure out how to escape on your own."
Ye Zi realized he had overestimated Shí and replied bluntly, "That's a stupid idea."
Shokui, irritated, retorted, "I told you not to come here in the first place. You deserve to be trapped."
Ye Zi ignored him. He had already come up with a few ideas. One was to use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to transport himself to Shokui's world, but he couldn't stay there long, and returning would only place him back in the same spot, so he dismissed that option.
Another plan was to use Lightning Release to stimulate his cells and break out, but he would have to withstand the first wave of attacks. If he couldn't, it would be a death sentence.
To withstand the onslaught from the Tsuchikage, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, and nearly a thousand Iwa-nin, he would need Shokui to enlarge himself and act as a shield.
This seemed to be the most viable option. Based on his sensory abilities, Ye Zi could detect the general strength distribution outside. The strongest presence was directly in front, where the Tsuchikage was stationed, making that area unsuitable for an escape attempt. The flanks were also heavily guarded, so the only option was to break through the rear, even though it meant heading deeper into the Land of Earth. He would have to circle back later to escape, all while evading Iwagakure's inevitable pursuit.
"Shokui, you'll need to block the first wave of attacks," Ye Zi said.
Shokui, understanding what Ye Zi meant, grudgingly agreed, knowing his own life was at stake.
This mission was a failure.
For the first time in his career with Root, Ye Zi had failed a mission.
Having decided to escape, he wasted no time. He gathered chakra and altered its nature, causing the blade of his sword to crackle with intense lightning.
Moments later, Ye Zi's entire body was enveloped in lightning, with faint sparks dancing in his eyes.
"Chidori!"
With a dazzling flash, the lightning blade sliced through the stone walls. The office building cracked open with a thunderous sound, splitting in two. Moonlight streamed through the gap, illuminating Ye Zi's fox mask.
As the moonlight shone, his body disappeared.
Ye Zi shot out of the gap like a flash of lightning. Behind him, a cross-shaped glow tore through the air as Shí emerged, his one-eyed, long-armed form rapidly expanding. His rock-like muscles bulged, and he followed closely behind Ye Zi, letting out a fierce roar as he stretched his arm forward to match Ye Zi's speed.
The Iwa-nin outside had been prepared to attack the moment the building was breached. However, Ōnoki, intent on capturing Ye Zi's body, refrained from using his signature Dust Release technique, missing his chance to strike.
No one could have predicted that Ye Zi had such a massive summon like Shokui. This was the first time Ye Zi had revealed Shokui's full form.
In the stunned gazes of the Iwa-nin, Shokui's enormous body rushed to shield Ye Zi, his massive arms protecting him from harm. Instantly, the Iwa-nin launched countless Earth Release techniques from every direction—rooftops, the ground, even poles—bombarding Shí with an overwhelming barrage of attacks.
Rocks shattered and debris flew everywhere as Shokui let out a pained howl. He wasn't invincible, and the sheer volume of attacks almost overwhelmed him. However, it was enough.
After enduring the first wave, Shokui immediately retreated.
A bolt of lightning shot out from the dust and smoke, like an arrow piercing through the front lines of the Iwa-nin, signaling Ye Zi's attempt to break free.
Ōnoki's eyes widened, and in an instant, he disappeared, reappearing next to Ye Zi. His hand reached for Ye Zi's shoulder.
Ye Zi glanced at Ōnoki, his eyes narrowing slightly. He twisted his wrist, bringing his lightning-infused blade down toward Ōnoki's wrist.
"Hmph."
Ōnoki snorted and instantly covered his hand with a thick layer of stone, forming a massive rock fist that swung at Ye Zi.
But Ye Zi's slash was a feint. He quickly withdrew his blade and, taking advantage of the slower movement caused by Ōnoki's rock fist, darted away like a wild horse, widening the distance between them.
"Did he fool me?"
Ōnoki glared at Ye Zi, who had already put several meters between them, and his eyes flared with anger.
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Currently on Chapter 187 - A Crisis Emerges