Chapter 321: The Two Clones Clash
"Miss Huitu… sigh."
Huitu's skeptical expression didn't escape Han's notice. He sighed and began to explain truthfully.
Yesterday's battle—though it seemed dramatic—actually lasted less than ten minutes.
Only one support unit had managed to arrive near the village during that time.
But by then, it was too late.
From what Han could tell, Dust Release was useless against the Fourth Kazekage—it posed no threat.
The Fourth's Wind Release Slashes were far too powerful. Not only could they cut through a Tailed Beast Bomb, they could also slice Dust Release apart.
After that, Roshi had been killed. When the Third Tsuchikage lured the Fourth Kazekage into the sky, no one knew what happened between them.
The next time they were seen, the Fourth Kazekage was descending from the sky—holding the Third Tsuchikage's corpse.
And that… was that.
Faced with someone who could cut Tailed Beast Bombs and kill the Third Tsuchikage, Han knew his only option was to let the Fourth Kazekage go.
Otherwise, they would've all died.
"That's how it happened," Han said quietly. "I'm sorry, Miss Huitu. The battle ended too quickly. Reinforcements didn't arrive in time."
Even if they had, a high-altitude fight between two Kage was far beyond anything they could interfere in.
He didn't say that aloud. If Huitu were in a calm state, she would've understood—but right now, she was far from calm.
"Why didn't you all charge in? The Fourth Kazekage must've been low on chakra after fighting my father!"
Huitu shouted angrily, "You could've killed him! And instead, you just let him walk away after murdering my father!!"
"You—was it you?" she cried, grabbing Han's collar, her red eyes locked on his. "You let him die, didn't you!? Say it—!"
Han stayed silent. There was nothing he could say to someone who had lost all composure.
But he didn't regret the decision he'd made.
Because at the time, he hadn't sensed even a flicker of fatigue in the Fourth Kazekage's chakra.
Which meant only two possibilities:
Either the man had an abnormal chakra reserve—
Or killing the Third Tsuchikage hadn't cost him much chakra at all.
Han believed both were true.
So, he hadn't dared force the Fourth Kazekage to stay. After the Tsuchikage's death, the village couldn't afford the consequences of provoking him further.
"Leave."
After venting her grief, Huitu slowly regained some reason. Not much—but enough to stop blaming others.
Deep down, she understood: if everything Han said was true, her father had died for only one reason—
The Fourth Kazekage was simply too powerful. Even with little chakra left, Han and the others hadn't dared strike.
"Shiyan… where are you…?"
"Father is dead… sob Brother's gone too…"
"Please come back soon… sob sob"
Huitu collapsed onto the ground, like a helpless lamb who had lost all protection. At this moment, only Shiyan could give her a sense of safety.
Very soon—
By noon, Earth Release Clone Shiyan returned.
"Shiyan!"
At the main hall entrance, the moment she saw him, Huitu threw herself into his arms. Her tears started flowing again.
She had grown up being spoiled by her father and older brother. Their deaths had hit her harder than anyone could imagine.
If Shiyan hadn't returned, she might have completely broken.
"I'm back."
Shiyan gently caressed her back. He didn't need to say much—just those two words were enough.
In that moment, Huitu felt an overwhelming sense of safety, like a stray dog finally finding home. She clung tightly to him.
The members of the Ōnoki clan watching from nearby had sorrowful expressions, but also a glimmer of relief.
At least, the next Tsuchikage was likely to come from their clan.
Shiyan was a civilian orphan—but if he and Huitu stayed together, once he became Tsuchikage, all the resources and influence would naturally flow to their family.
It would be no different from Huitu herself holding the title.
Of course, this was all their own wishful thinking.
The only person who knew the truth—Ōnoki—was now dead. If he could see his beloved daughter clinging to Li Yao, her family's greatest enemy, as if he were a savior… he would've died of rage on the spot.
Shiyan's eyes flashed with subtle delight. After comforting Huitu, he stepped before the crystal coffins of Ōnoki and Huangtu, placing his hand solemnly on Ōnoki's casket as if consumed by grief.
After a long silence, he turned around—his sorrow transforming into cold, focused hatred.
He looked into Huitu's eyes with fierce determination and said, "Wait at home. I'll go bring back the Fourth Kazekage's head."
"I'll go with you," Huitu said, blocking his path.
Shiyan reached out, gripping her shoulders, gazing into her eyes. "Be good."
"Okay…" Under his calm, steady gaze, Huitu relented—tamed, or perhaps broken.
Shiyan smirked inwardly. From now on, Huitu was his.
He immediately departed with two ANBU squads, heading for the Land of Birds.
Li Yao's Wind Release Clone and Rasa's group had made no effort to hide their retreat. Iwagakure had been tracking them the entire way.
After arriving in the Land of Birds, Li Yao's Wind Clone didn't leave.
He was waiting for Shiyan.
The two still had a show to put on—demonstrating a clash of unmatched strength.
Only then would Shiyan's ascension to Tsuchikage be unquestioned.
Very soon—
One day later—
In the Land of Birds, Earth Release Clone Shiyan and Li Yao's Wind Release Clone began a legendary battle.
Shing!
BOOM!
Wherever a single Wind Slash landed, a canyon a hundred meters long would be carved into the ground.
Crash!
BOOM!
With a single gravity-enhanced punch, Shiyan shattered a mountain into rubble—a blow on par with a Tailed Beast Bomb.
"Lord Kazekage's slash was blocked!!!"
"How's that possible!?"
"That's a slash that even a Tailed Beast Bomb couldn't stop!!"
From several kilometers away, the Sand shinobi watching were stunned. They couldn't believe their eyes—especially Rasa. He couldn't understand how anyone in Iwagakure could block the Fourth Kazekage's Wind Slash.
Blocking it would be one thing—if it had been some kind of powerful jutsu.
But no—the Iwa shinobi named Shiyan, Ōnoki's disciple, had blocked it with his body.
That was a slash that even a Tailed Beast Bomb couldn't withstand. Was his body more durable than the Tailed Beast Bomb?
The Sand shinobi weren't the only ones shocked. Even the Iwa ANBU accompanying Shiyan couldn't comprehend it.
How could Shiyan block something so terrifying with his bare body?
But unlike the fear on the Sand side, the Iwa shinobi were overjoyed.
At least now they knew—there was someone in Iwa who could stand against the Fourth Kazekage.
They didn't need to fear sudden attacks anymore.
The battle raged on—at least to the outside world.
But within their minds, the two Li Yao clones had very different thoughts entirely.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Kira1997