met free Chapter 101 Post-War Developments
Chapter 101 Post-War Developments
Chapter 101 Post-War Developments
The lightning that had been raging around Yuan Tuoye receded rapidly like a tide, and he resumed his seemingly unhurried demeanor, speaking as he did so.
"I have something to tell you. The fluctuations from our battle have probably attracted the Cloud Ninja. Congratulations!"
"Hmph! The guys from Konoha wouldn't be lagging behind, would they? Was this all part of your plan?" She had already seen through this man's wicked sense of humor.
"Heh, very clever." Gen Takuno chuckled. "So, want to avoid becoming a prisoner of Konoha? Then muster your last bit of strength—run!"
Having said that, he turned around and strode away from the mess.
"Wait—wait a minute!" Yugito screamed with all her might, struggling to support her heavy body with her elbows. Every movement made her vision go black with pain, her face turned as pale as paper, and large beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks.
The powerful regenerative ability of the Jinchūriki was on full display at this moment; even after suffering such severe damage, their vitality remained astonishingly tenacious.
Yuan Tuoye heard the sound and glanced back slightly.
Seeing that Yugito was able to sit up by force, a hint of admiration for the Jinchūriki's powerful vitality did indeed flash in the depths of his eyes.
"Who are you?! Why?!" Yugito's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with endless doubt and complex hostility.
This issue is of utmost importance to her.
This enigmatic enemy disrupted everything, spared himself, and asked for something so "small"!
With his back to her, Yuan Tuoye continued walking, his voice carried clearly on the wind: "Just a ninja obsessed with collecting the world's strangest things. You can call me a collector."
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure seemed to blend into the deepening twilight, and with a slight sway, he disappeared completely.
"A collector, perhaps?"
On the desolate and cold battlefield, only Yukito remained, struggling to process this unfamiliar title.
Confusion enveloped her eyes like a thick fog.
She survived, but she felt no gratitude whatsoever.
On the contrary, the figures of her fallen comrades, their dying eyes, and the desperate cries of the Cloud Village ninjas pressed heavily on her heart, the heavy feeling of suffocation even more unbearable than the physical pain.
After a long while, a leaf swirled and landed on the back of her bloodstained hand.
Yukito bit her lower lip until she tasted a slightly metallic, sweet flavor.
Those eyes, which were originally filled with confusion, were gradually replaced by a cold and resolute look, shining astonishingly brightly like a quenched blade.
"See you next time—I'll be stronger! Strong enough—" she whispered, each word like a vow squeezed out between clenched teeth, "—I'll let you go this time too! And then I'll personally—send you to hell!"
She struggled to prop up her exhausted, broken body, enduring the excruciating pain that felt as if her internal organs were being torn apart, and dragged her numb, heavy injured legs, staggering step by step toward the Cloud Village ninja army's encampment.
She must meet her own people before a legendary ninja like Jiraiya arrives!
Once it falls into the hands of Konoha, it will become a bargaining chip for the other side, which will be a heavy blow to Kumogakure and a complete trampling on her personal dignity!
Perhaps we should thank that "collector" for his efficient fighting style?
The fact that the outcome was decided so quickly actually gave her a brief but invaluable respite.
Finally, just before the light at the edge of consciousness was about to go out completely, several familiar figures appeared on the rugged mountain path at the end of the field of vision, accompanied by anxious shouts.
"Yukito-sama!!!" That heart-wrenching, concerned cry was like heavenly music.
The tension that had been stretched to its limit finally snapped.
"Great! You're here! Let's leave quickly!" Yukito managed a relieved smile on his pale face.
Before her smile could fully bloom, the accumulated injuries erupted, darkness completely engulfed her consciousness, and her body collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.
The last thing I saw was my Cloud Ninja companions rushing towards me in a panic.
The pungent smell of scorched earth mixed with the lingering chakra of the tailed beasts permeated the ravaged battlefield. Just as Jiraiya finally rushed to this place, the scene before him made him gasp.
The earth looked as if it had been ravaged by a giant, covered with bottomless cracks and giant pits.
His brow was furrowed, and the chakra he exuded undoubtedly belonged to Matatabi, the Two-Tails of Kumogakure. Although its power was violent, it was already at its limit.
However, the other aura that countered it and could cause such destruction vanished without a trace, as if evaporated into thin air.
This clean and efficient style is awe-inspiring.
"Who on earth was it?" he muttered to himself, filled with confusion. "To be able to face the Two-Tails in its fully transformed tailed beast form and end the battle in such a short time? And even—to erase their own tracks?"
Jiraiya was filled with doubt and surprise. He rushed from the Konoha camp as fast as he could, hoping to come to the aid of the village ninjas who had encountered the Two-Tails, but the scene before him was far beyond his expectations.
Those with the strength to command on the Konoha front should be in command right now.
"Could it be that besides Konoha and Kumogakure, there's a third force entrenched on this battlefield? And—this force seems to be specifically targeting Kumogakure?"
Once this thought took root, it entwined his mind like a vine.
He had long felt that this war was fought unusually "purely," with the Hidden Cloud Village honestly fighting only on the front lines without resorting to any underhanded tactics.
Now it seems that it wasn't that they didn't want to, but rather that their outstretched "hands and feet" had already been ruthlessly severed by this invisible third party!
What exactly is this mysterious force? What is its purpose? Based on the current clues, we can only speculate that they have a deep-seated grudge against Yunyin and that their power is unfathomable.
Looking down at the enormous crater beneath his feet, which looked as if it had been struck by a meteorite, Jiraiya couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
This destructive power was even greater than the "monstrous strength" unleashed by his old partner Tsunade at full power, as he remembered it.
If he knew that the culprit behind this massive pit had only thrown one punch, even a seasoned veteran like him would probably be shocked out of his wits.
Ultimately, Jiraiya, having failed to obtain any further useful information, had no choice but to leave with a belly full of doubts and a vague sense of unease in his heart.
He was unaware that the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Yugito, had been severely injured; otherwise, given his strategic vision, he would have immediately advised Konoha to launch a strong offensive.
He must now bring the crucial discovery of the "existence of a third party" back to camp as soon as possible. Regardless of whether the other party is hostile to Konoha, such an unknown and powerful existence must arouse the highest level of vigilance and defense.
A secluded stronghold far from the hustle and bustle of the battlefield.
When Gen Takuno appeared and casually tossed the Cloud Ninja prisoner he had knocked unconscious onto the ground.
The Snow Ninjas, who had been terrified by the earth-shattering battle waves in the distance, were all relieved, led by Wolf Fang Avalanche.
What followed was an indescribable sense of awe and reverence.
Even from a great distance, the roar that seemed to tear the heavens and earth apart and the frantic tremors of the earth clearly indicated that the side fighting was no ordinary opponent.
Any ninja with a little common sense could guess that it was the Hidden Cloud Village's weapon of war—the Tailed Beast!
During the time that Yuan Tuoye was away, they couldn't even imagine how their master could have survived such a catastrophic force.
However, not only did Yuan Tuoye return, but he did so with such nonchalance that he not only escaped unscathed but also brought back spoils of war.
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This means that even the legendary Two-Tailed Fox could not stop Lord Gen's progress, and was even suppressed by him!
This understanding was etched into the hearts of all the snow people like a brand; it was a kind of awe and fervor that came from the depths of their souls.
"My lord," Wolf Fang Avalanche composed himself, stepping forward with an incredulous tone to ask, "who is—"
Is he the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails?
If that's true, how to deal with this hot potato will be a big problem.
"No," Yuan Tuoye replied simply and casually, with a hint of laziness, "she wasn't my target, so I let her escape."
These casual words would have surely aroused the secret suspicions or worries of the Snow Ninja in the past.
But at this moment, witnessing that Gen Takuno not only survived the battle against the terrifying Two-Tails but also brought back a prisoner, Wolf Fang Avalanche and the others felt that these words were incredibly convincing.
Yuan Tuoye seemed to remember something, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes.
"Our presence has been exposed by the Hidden Cloud Village." He calmly issued new orders. "The planned ambush on the Hidden Cloud Village squad is cancelled. The focus now shifts to recovering the 'fallen'."
He had already carefully arranged for some Snow Ninja to take the place of certain Konoha ninja who had "sacrificed" themselves on the battlefield.
As an intelligence officer, he knows a lot of specific information about ninjas, and as the medical team leader, he can even figure out their physical data!
Combining these elements, he carefully selected some Snow Ninjas and physically transformed them.
In addition, he chose some lonely people who didn't have many friends, so as long as they didn't deliberately stand out, almost no one could find them.
The mission of these special snow ninjas is to infiltrate the edge of the battlefield after each major battle, mainly to "recover" those cloud ninjas who have been faked into a "dead" state by Gen Takuno using his exquisite medical ninjutsu, as well as some cloud ninjas who were knocked unconscious by other ninjas in battle but did not die.
This is his main source of "materials".
As for the capture of the Cloud Ninja Squad, it was largely just to lure out the Two-Tails, Yugito.
Now that the objective has been achieved, there is no need to risk another decoy operation.
"Yes, sir!" Wolf Fang Avalanche accepted the order without the slightest questioning.
Yuan Tuoye pondered that since his whereabouts had been exposed, the Cloud Village would inevitably be on high alert and would not easily send out reconnaissance teams again.
If so, it's definitely a trap, and they might just be sending a terrifying being like Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, to investigate!
Despite his eccentric personality, Killer Bee has mastered the power of the Eight-Tails perfectly, and his strength is widely recognized in the ninja world.
Through his battle with the Two-Tails, Gen Takuno gained a deeper understanding of his own fighting ability, and he was confident that he could be undefeated in a one-on-one fight against the Eight-Tails.
However, merely remaining undefeated was not what he sought; facing both the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and the potential arrival of others simultaneously was far more challenging.
Given that the Fourth Raikage, A, is known for his speed and strength, there is a high probability that he will be defeated.
Moreover, he already possessed a sample of the Eight-Tails' chakra, which he had obtained from Orochimaru. Hunting Killer Bee himself would be inefficient and too risky, making it an unwise move.
Once the arrangements were complete, Yuan Tuoye's figure vanished from the base in an instant.