The desert winds ca and went swiftly. In the blink of an eye, the chaotic, sand-filled skies returned to calm, and the howling echoes within the canyon walls faded into silence. It was as if nothing had happened at all.
Jinghang untied his headscarf, shook off the sand that had clung to it, and patted the dust off his cloak. He unscrewed his water pouch and took a couple of gulps before turning his gaze toward the mouth of the valley, his mind already formulating the tactics he was about to employ.
"They're coming!"
Kamizuru Heiji suddenly opened his eyes. Sure enough, a red bee flew up to him, darting in patterns—sotis forming the shape of an "8," other tis a "0."
"Enemy... fifty-eight in total... two bound... one hour away," Heiji muttered under his breath as he carefully tracked the bee's movents.
"So, this is how your Kamizuru clan communicates with bees? Impressive! I like it," Jinghang remarked, observing Heiji's actions and deducing their aning.
At that mont, the red bee stopped its flight and rested in Heiji's palm, clearly exhausted from its journey. Heiji gently placed the bee back into its hive and turned to Jinghang.
"Yes, this is the unique bee-dance communication technique of the Kamizuru clan. The ssage just now indicated that there are fifty-eight enemies, two of whom are bound—likely captives—and they are about half an hour away."
"They're moving quickly. Go ahead and set up your ambush. Rember, don't go beyond the boundaries I've set, or you might get caught in the crossfire."
"Understood."
Heiji swiftly concealed himself among the chaotic pile of rocks to the left rear.
Jinghang placed his index finger in his mouth and let out a sharp whistle. From atop the valley, Chikei Kōjin poked his head out and made a series of hand signals toward Jinghang.
"Ten kiloters ahead... signs of Iwagakure activity... hmm, it seems they've picked up the pace."
Jinghang responded with an "OK" gesture, followed by a thumbs-up, signaling the start of the genjutsu preparations.
With that done, Jinghang pulled a scroll from his cloak. He unfurled it, revealing a single character written boldly across it: "细" (Precision).
"Captain, there's movent up ahead!"
An Iwagakure ninja reported to Kazama Kyo.
Kazama Kyo raised a clenched fist, signaling the team to halt imdiately.
"Speak!"
"Our sensory ninja has detected Sunagakure forces two kiloters ahead at Seven Winds Pass."
"Hmm, it seems Sunagakure's response ti isn't too slow. How many of them?"
Kazama Kyo removed her mask and hooked it onto her belt.
"Approximately thirty."
"Thirty?"
Kazama Kyo pulled out a map and scrutinized it carefully.
"We have no choice. This is the fastest route through. If we detour, not only will the journey be longer, but we might also get entangled with Sunagakure's stationed forces. What's their defensive setup?"
The reporting ninja said nothing but took the map, pulled out a pencil stub, and began sketching on it.
"Hasegawa? Are you sure Sunagakure has deployed their forces in this formation?"
"Yes, I'm certain."
"Heh, it seems the Sunagakure commander is a clueless fool. If they had used the terrain to stage a layered defense, we might have been bogged down. But this idiot has spread his forces in a single line across the narrowest point of the valley. As long as we force a breakthrough, they'll be crushed like powder!"
"Could they have set up traps?" another Iwagakure ninja suggested.
Kazama Kyo pondered for a mont before shaking her head.
"While this is a canyon, the terrain isn't particularly narrow. Traps? A few Earth-Style: Earth Walls will deal with them easily. Besides, it's fifty against thirty—we have the advantage!"
"Captain, you're brilliant!"
"All units, leave four n at the valley entrance to guard the captives. The rest, form an assault formation and advance alternately. Kill every Sunagakure ninja you encounter—no survivors!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The Iwagakure ninjas responded in unison.
This group was indeed a well-trained elite unit. Moving in groups of three, ard with short blades and kunai, they progressed cautiously, their feet never leaving the ground to avoid stepping on caltrops. They quickly reached the middle of the canyon, just a turn away from Jinghang's "defensive line."
However, they failed to notice that the sandy ground beneath their feet was gradually darkening. A faint tallic scent lingered in the air, almost imperceptible.
"Iron Sand: Black Mist Technique!"
Jinghang's low voice echoed through the canyon.
The three leading squads—nine ninjas in total—suddenly froze, their expressions twisted in pain. Their bodies contorted unnaturally, and chilling screams filled the air. Monts later, the screams ceased, replaced by silent coughing as they gasped like fish out of water. Blood seeped relentlessly from their skin, as if an invisible hand was tearing and tornting their bodies.
This was Jinghang's newly developed Iron Sand Ninjutsu: Black Mist Technique. In essence, it refined ordinary iron sand into particles as fine as dust. Once the enemy entered the attack range, they would either inhale the iron dust into their lungs or have it cling to their skin.
Once activated, the technique caused the iron particles to wreak havoc from the inside out, destroying the respiratory system, lungs, and other internal organs. Even if the particles didn't enter the body, those clinging to the skin would penetrate through and travel along blood vessels, piercing straight into the heart. A truly lethal and insidious technique.
The downside, however, was that Jinghang was never fully satisfied with the refinent of the iron particles. If they were too large, they risked being detected; if too small, they approached an ionic state, which was harder to control and less lethal. After nurous experints on White Zetsu spore bodies in his lab, Jinghang finally determined the optimal particle size.
Through great effort, he managed to refine nearly two hundred pounds of iron sand by grinding rust into fine powder and reducing it with carbon.
"Dust Release: Detachnt of the Primitive World Technique!"
Kazama Kyo's sharp voice rang out as a massive cubic barrier materialized, enveloping the nine afflicted Iwagakure ninjas. Within seconds, their bodies disintegrated into dust.
The remaining Iwagakure ninjas barely had ti to react before Kazama Kyo crouched to examine the darkened sand beneath their feet. Monts later, she shouted sternly:
"It's the Iron Sand Technique! Retreat! Everyone, remove all tal items from your bodies—now! Quickly!"
She drew her own ninja blade and discarded it, along with her forehead protector and ninja pouch.
In an instant, the Iwagakure ninjas began shedding their equipnt—swords, kunai, shuriken, forehead protectors—creating a pile of tal that quickly grew into a small mountain.
"Dust Release: Detachnt of the Primitive World Technique!"
Kazama Kyo disintegrated the entire pile of tal into ions.
"Everyone, stand behind ! Prepare Earth-Style techniques!"
Kazama Kyo's expression was grim as she manipulated her Dust Release to form a wide, translucent "wall," which she used to steadily "plow" through the area.
Finally, they rounded the corner, only to see a blue-haired ninja standing proudly at the mouth of the valley, his eyes radiating killing intent.
"I've long heard of the Third Kazekage's mastery of the Iron Sand Technique. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation!"
"Iron Sand: Drizzle!"
Jinghang wasted no words, launching an attack imdiately.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
Countless black iron particles rained down like bullets, striking the thick earth walls with ferocious force, kicking up clouds of dust. Monts later, the Dust Release Wall pushed through once again.
"Are you trying to exhaust my iron sand?" Jinghang smirked coldly.
"Forgive my lack of creativity; this is the only strategy I could think of for now," Kazama Kyo replied with a charming smile.
Jinghang, however, remained wary. He knew all too well that this woman was no ordinary opponent. Her relentless pursuit of him in the Land of Earth years ago had been as tenacious as a pack of wild hyenas.
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New Chapter live! Patreon updated to Chapter 124
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