Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki Chapter 162: Night Raid on the Raikage’s Son Begins!

Kazuyama swiftly gathered natural energy, using the Coiling Serpent Technique before activating the Transparent Escape Technique. As he absorbed the energy in his concealed state, a faint red glow flickered across the red snake patterns on his body, marking the influx of natural energy.

"Chōi, gather your chakra. I doubt it'll be long before Snake Princess appears."

"I know, I know. Ever since you got Snake Princess, you don't need my Scale Powder anymore. Found yourself a new love and forgot the old one."

Chōi's plaintive tone nearly made Kazuyama lose focus on his defensive barrier.

"Good for you, Chōi. You haven't learned much else, but you sure know how to talk."

"I've been injured, haven't I? You expect a wrapped-up mummy like to rush over and sprinkle powder? You'll have to manage this ti. Next ti, we'll go to Sunagakure or Iwa, and I'll let you have your way."

Despite his complaints, Chōi understood Kazuyama's current situation and didn't argue further. The natural energy around them grew denser, and the flickering red patterns on Kazuyama's body intensified. Thanks to the Transparent Escape Technique, he remained hidden—otherwise, glowing red in the middle of the night might have caused quite a scare.

Within just a quarter of an hour, the red snake patterns ca to life. A drowsy voice soon echoed through the space.

"Kazuyama boy, why are you waking up in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

Tagitsuhi's form materialized before him, her face carrying the drowsiness of soone who had just been roused from slumber.

"Tagitsuhi, I don't have a choice."

"Kinrin was injured in battle today, and I need to avenge this."

"If you look at , my hands are broken, I'm covered in wounds—I have to avenge this too!"

Tagitsuhi's gaze drifted over Kazuyama's battered state before she chuckled.

"What happened to you, kid? Why are you such a ss?"

"Tagorihi told about Kinrin's situation. Her injuries aren't serious—her strength lies in her physical abilities, after all."

"It seems your opponent gave you a rough ti."

Kazuyama nodded. The thought of A, the Raikage's son, soured his mood instantly.

That bastard really had it out for him—just because he had tricked him a few tis using the Flying Thunder God Technique? A guy that big with a heart so small!

But that was fine—Kazuyama's heart wasn't any bigger. He wouldn't even wait until morning to get his revenge!

"Hmph! He did this to —I have to repay the favor!"

"Tagitsuhi, I'm counting on you this ti!"

Tagitsuhi covered her mouth, laughing at Kazuyama's pitiful state.

"Tell , what do you need?"

Since he had already mastered the Coiling Serpent Technique and Tagitsuhi was here, there was no reason to hesitate.

Kazuyama flashed a devious grin.

"Tagitsuhi, sotis, Genjutsu is the most devastating weapon."

"I might be in bad shape, but my opponent isn't necessarily any better."

"All you need to do is amplify his trauma—infinitely."

"And at the sa ti, use Genjutsu to make sure more people know about it. The weight of their stares alone will be enough to crush him with sha."

Destroying soone's will was far more effective than simply killing them. Besides, he wasn't even sure if he could kill A outright.

A's strength rivaled the Third Raikage. Injuring him at all was already an achievent. That was only because his One Thousand Years of Death Rasengan had been enhanced. Otherwise, relying on ordinary Taijutsu to breach Lightning Release Armor would have been nothing but a pipe dream.

"Hmph, so I've beco your exclusive tool for revenge?"

"First it was Tsunade, and now it's Kumo?"

Drawing on her natural energy, Tagitsuhi could already sense the presence of many people not far ahead. Several of them had particularly strong auras, though they all seed sowhat weakened. Given how badly injured Kazuyama was—and how Kinrin had suffered as well—it was clear they had fought earlier in the day.

And now, here he was, sneaking up on them in the dead of night.

"Oh dear, are you just going to stand there and let your little brother get bullied?"

"I'm telling you, those people from Kumo are brutal. Look at , I've been bullied into oblivion."

Tagitsuhi shook her head helplessly but then flashed a devilish smile.

"Let's go, let's go persecute them!"

Kazuyama nodded eagerly, first leaving behind coordinates for the Flying Thunder God Technique before activating the Transparent Escape Technique and moving toward the Kumo hideout.

Though the camp was quiet at night, nurous Kumo shinobi were still patrolling. Even concealed, he remained cautious.

"Tagitsuhi, can you sense who has the most chakra here?"

"Yes. And I have to say, this person's chakra output is absurdly high."

Surprise flickered across her face. As Snake Princess, she had cultivated for countless years—very little could impress her. Yet this chakra was enough to make even her take notice.

"Hmph, just another reckless brute."

Following Tagitsuhi's guidance, Kazuyama crept toward a tent positioned at the very front of the camp.

"Damn, this guy's got so nerve. He actually set up his tent at the forefront—just how confident is he?"

Looking at the tent where A, the Raikage's son, was resting, he couldn't help but feel a bit shocked. Was this a Kumogakure tradition? The stronger the shinobi, the closer they placed themselves to the battlefield?

If so, there was nothing to criticize about Kumo. The Raikage always led from the front lines, and even A, his heir, did the sa.

Maybe the saying was true—righteous n made the best killers. Kumogakure's unity and warlike nature were a direct result of the Raikage's leadership.

"Kazuyama, I'm going to start."

"Good! I'm counting on you, older sister Tagitsuhi!"

"Sage Art... Red Fang Fearso Phantom Technique!"

Tagitsuhi folded her hands in prayer. The next mont, her snake form materialized, and an invisible, long red serpent slithered toward A before sinking its fangs into his neck.

There was no pain—after all, it was Genjutsu.

A, however, was already ensnared.

Normally, even when resting, he would never let his guard down. As a commander, he had to stay alert at all tis.

But his fight with Kazuyama earlier had shattered that vigilance.

That humiliating One Thousand Years of Death attack, amplified by a spiraling chakra burst, had broken through his Lightning Release Armor.

It wasn't just the pain—though it had been imnse—but the sheer embarrassnt of it. Even with his absurd durability, he couldn't shake the deep sting of humiliation.

Back at the base, the dical-nin had treated him, but only for physical injuries. How could he possibly explain the real problem?

That his heart had been wounded? That he had suffered the sa fate as Dodai?

No—he still had his pride. There were so things he simply couldn't admit.

(100 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / PinkSnake