Chapter 103 - 33

Chapter 33: Many Wives, Much Fortune! On the First Mission!"We've been spotted!" Izumi's Sharingan activated instantly. "Five of them, approaching at full speed! They're very fast!""Defensive formation!" Kurenai shouted. "Hinata, Tayuya, fall back! Guren, Crystal Wall! Tenten, detonate the traps!"Guren pressed her hands to the ground: "Crystal Release: Crystal Wall!"A pale red crystal wall rose from the ground, forming a barrier.Almost simultaneously, five figures rushed out from the forest!They were indeed "human," but their eyes were hollow and lifeless, and black Chakra threads were wrapped around their bodies like puppets on strings.Tenten threw out a scroll: "Explode!"The pre-set explosive tag traps went off, but those human figures didn't dodge or evade, charging through the explosions.Their bodies were being damaged, but their movements remained unaffected."They can't feel pain!" Sakura exclaimed.Izumi's Sharingan spun rapidly: "The control threads are coming from underground! Cut them!"Naruto formed hand signs: "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"A violent wind swept through, but those threads were exceptionally tough, only swaying without breaking.Just then, Tayuya raised her flute.What she played was no longer the melody from her practice, but an ancient, desolate tune that seemed to come from the depths of the river of time.The moment the flute sounds echoed, the charging human figures all paused at once.For the first time, their eyes found focus!A painful, confused focus."This is..." Tayuya said with difficulty while playing, "an ancient tune to soothe the soul... my clan used it to guide the deceased..."Those figures stopped and began to make whimpering sounds. The black threads on them shook violently, as if fighting against the flute's sound.Hinata's Byakugan saw that the "core" deep underground was becoming erratic in its control due to the interference of the flute."Now's the time!" Kurenai drew a Kunai. "Cut the threads!"Izumi, Naruto, and Guren acted simultaneously.Kunai, wind blades, and crystal shuriken! All attacks were aimed at those black threads.The threads snapped one by one.With every thread that broke, a "human figure" slumped to the ground, clarity returning to their eyes before... dissipating into points of light.They had died long ago. They were merely soul fragments forcibly bound.When the last "human figure" vanished, the forest fell into an eerie silence.Tayuya lowered her flute, her face pale: "They... are free."However, the crisis was not over. The "core" underground began to fluctuate violently because it had lost its control targets. An even larger wave of negative emotions spread out, making everyone feel a pang of heart palpitations."It's going to erupt!" Hinata cried out. "The core is gathering energy, about to release all the absorbed pain!"Kurenai made an immediate judgment: "Everyone, evacuate immediately! We can't block a mental shock of this level!"But just as they turned to run, three figures descended from the sky, blocking their path.A Kumogakure Jonin appeared before them with two Chunin."Sorry, this path is closed," the leading Kumogakure Jonin grinned. "That 'Resentment Core' was bait we set up. I didn't expect to catch such big fish! The daughter of the Hyuga Head Family, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, an Uchiha survivor, and a rare bloodline limit... quite a harvest."Kurenai immediately stood in front of the children: "Kumogakure? Do you know what you're doing?""Of course we do," the Jonin shrugged. "Infiltrating another country, setting up dangerous devices, kidnapping bloodline limit Ninja... these are all serious crimes. So, we won't be leaving any witnesses."Battle was on the verge of breaking out.However, the children of Ivy did not back down."Kurenai-sensei," Naruto suddenly spoke up, "can you leave this to us?"Kurenai was stunned: "Naruto, they are Jonin!""But there are seven of us." Naruto's eyes were bright. "Besides, Hinata has seen their Chakraweaknesses, Tayuya's flute can interfere with their minds, Guren's Crystal Release can create a geographical advantage, Izumi-nee's Sharingancan see through their movements, Sakura and Ino's Genjutsu and medical skills can provide support, and Tenten's Ninja tools can cover us with attacks."He looked at his companions: "This is our first mission, and our first real battle. I want to see how far we can go."Kurenai looked into the children's eyes. She saw fear, but she also saw determination."...Ten minutes." Finally, she said, "If you can't gain the upper hand within ten minutes, I will intervene. You two in the shadows, please be ready at any time."The two Hyuga guards emerged from the shadows and nodded.The Kumogakure Jonin laughed: "Kids want to challenge a Jonin? Interesting. Then I'll play with you! But the price will be your lives."The battle began.The Kumogakure Jonin launched the first attack, Lightning Release Chakra covering his body as he charged toward Hinata like a bolt of lightning; his primary target was clear."Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Pentagonal Pillars!" Guren pressed her hands to the ground, and crystal walls rose instantly—not for defense, but to create a maze-like terrain, forcibly changing the Jonin's charge trajectory."Byakugan: Gentle Fist!" Hinata did not retreat, taking a Gentle Fist stance. In her eyes, the opponent's Chakra flow was clearly visible. The Lightning Release was concentrated in his right arm, and there was an old injury on his left ribs where the Chakra flow was sluggish.She sidestepped the lightning punch and struck his left ribs precisely with her palm."What?!" The Jonin groaned, the Chakra flow in the left half of his body instantly becoming chaotic. He hadn't expected this seemingly timid girl to strike so accurately."Lightning Release: Earth Flash!" Another Kumogakure Chunin released a jutsu, electricity spreading along the ground."Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!" Ino and Sakuraworked together to cast it. This was a combination Ninjutsu they had just learned; though crude, it was enough to block this strike.Tayuya's flute sounded again.This time, it wasn't for soothing, but for "interference." Sharp sound waves pierced the eardrums of the three Kumogakure Ninja, disrupting their Chakra control."Annoying sound waves!" The Kumogakure Joninformed signs, "Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!"A massive pillar of lightning blasted toward Tayuya."Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Wall!" Guren rushed in front of Tayuya, the crystal wall thicker than any before.Hinata's Byakugan had predicted the attack trajectory in advance, giving her enough time to prepare.The lightning pillar slammed into the crystal wall, causing countless cracks to explode across it, but it failed to break through."Now's the time!" Izumi's Sharingan locked onto the other Chunin, "Genjutsu: Mist Servant Technique!"The Chunin's movements stiffened. Tenten seized the opportunity and threw ten Kunai with explosive tags attached: "Tool Maneuver: Exploding Spheres!"The explosion swallowed that Chunin.