Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!
A blazing dragon-shaped flame tore across the sky, illuminating the collapsed buildings and cramped battlefield with searing heat.
Over thirty meters away, Yujin watched from the outer edge of the battlefield. The intense fire reflected in his eyes. He was slightly stunned—an ordinary-looking ninja could casually cast an advanced Fire Style jutsu?
The heat wave traced the trajectory of the fire like an arrow shot from a bow, distorting the surrounding air with its intensity.
Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!
Just as the fire dragon was about to hit, a Stone River ninja on the other side quickly formed hand seals. With a rumble, a thick wall of earth surged up from the ground, blocking the fire dragon's path.
Boom!
The long trail of flame slammed straight into the earthen wall. With pressure from both front and back, the fire dragon was instantly flattened into a "fire pancake."
The thick wall shook as though it had been slapped by a massive flaming hand, emitting a deafening roar while blasting waves of heat in all directions.
The impact was so powerful that the surrounding ground even began to tremble.
"Watch out!"
Another Sarutobi ninja shouted a warning. The one who had cast the fire jutsu instinctively sensed danger and dodged to the side. Just as he left his original position, several sharp earthen spikes burst out from the ground.
Earth Style: Rock Fist Technique!
A Stone River ninja's hands transformed into massive stone fists. He charged forward, ready to engage in close combat.
Fire Style: Grand Blaze Technique!
A Sarutobi ninja avoided direct confrontation and chose to flank with a Fire Style jutsu.
Earth Style: Rising Earth Spears! Fire Style: Great Flame Bullet!
Ninjutsu of both Earth and Fire styles flew chaotically across the battlefield. As Yujin observed, he couldn't help but nod to himself—yep, the Sarutobi's flame bullets weren't much different from his own.
Both sides clashed with fire and earth techniques. Though no casualties had occurred yet, this was no mock battle. As chakra reserves dwindled, injuries and deaths were inevitable.
Yujin carefully assessed the situation. As time passed, coordination and formation among allied ninjas gradually fell apart.
Soon, the Sarutobi ninja carrying the supply scroll had fewer and fewer companions around him. A narrow corridor opened near the battlefield's edge.
"This is my chance! Now or never!" Yujin thought and slipped silently into the battlefield.
Just as the ninja was forming seals to cast a jutsu, he suddenly felt a weight lift from his shoulder—the scroll was gone.
Startled, he turned around and saw a stranger behind him, wearing a sheepish and awkward expression.
"Too heavy? Hindering your fighting? Let me hold this for you."Yujin had already cut the scroll's strap and was now cradling it under one arm. Meanwhile, he subtly tripped and shoved the ninja, nearly toppling him.
Without hesitation, Yujin turned and ran. A thief had principles: get the goods and get out—no unnecessary complications.
Yujin actually had respect for the Sarutobi clan and didn't want to stir up more trouble. Otherwise, a stab to the back would've ensured the ninja wouldn't give chase.
Even though Yujin's movements were seamless and smooth, in such a tense situation, it was impossible for either side not to notice a shady act like that.
Forced into action, Yujin hastily formed hand seals and hurled a fireball at a Stone River ninja trying to intercept him. At the same time, he shouted:
"I'll take the supplies and fall back first! You hold them off and withdraw later—don't get bogged down in a fight. Securing the supplies is the priority!"
He deliberately kept his head low, making it hard for any Sarutobi ninja to see his face.
The battlefield was chaotic. Since no one noticed him approaching earlier, the Sarutobi ninjas subconsciously assumed he was one of them. As for the Stone River ninjas—he used a Fire Style jutsu. Clearly a Sarutobi ninja.
A cooked duck must not be allowed to fly away.
"Wait, you—!"The Sarutobi ninja originally in charge of the scroll realized something was off—he didn't recognize this person at all. How could he be allowed to just take off with their supplies?
But before he could raise an alarm, the surrounding Stone River ninjas had already closed in relentlessly.
The Sarutobi ninjas fought back desperately, determined not to let any enemies leave the battlefield and jeopardize the safety of the supplies.
Yujin never expected the Sarutobi to be foolish enough not to realize he was a thief. He only needed them to hold out for a minute or two.
He quickly fled the battlefield, slipped behind a broken wall to block line of sight, and then dove into a massive tree.
Moments later, he vanished entirely. For the original owners, the chances of finding him again were next to none.
Robbing and running... kind of thrilling.
The excitement was theirs, but had nothing to do with him.
As a neutral bystander, Yujin considered himself just a curious spectator. He was a good person who didn't hurt others. The scroll he took was a legitimate and justified "income."
He could've easily assassinated a few Sarutobi ninjas if he wanted to—but he didn't.
So everything Yujin got from the battlefield, aside from his life, was merely "payment for survival."
Not that assassinating a Sarutobi was easier than targeting Tsugawa ninjas—no, it was just that the Sarutobi were being held back by equally strong Stone River opponents. Yujin, as a third party, would've faced far less resistance if he did decide to strike.
After fleeing the battlefield with the Sarutobi's scroll, there was no way they'd ever find him again.
No one could find him—meaning the scroll was now ownerless. And ownerless property, by nature, belongs to the one who discovers it.
Yujin's "ownership" of the supplies was fully aligned with public order and morality. He wasn't violating any ethical or legal principles.
After putting considerable distance between himself and the now-irrelevant battlefield, Yujin released his Mayfly Technique, emerging from his hidden movement state.
He re-tied the broken scroll strap into a knot, slung it across his back, and headed toward his clan's encampment.
This mission had been a resounding success. His "XP scroll" theory had been proven right—a single "White Zetsu XP scroll" had rapidly boosted his strength. And the desperately needed supplies for the camp had also been… acquired.
Whether the Sarutobi planned to use these supplies on the front lines or return them to the village, Yujin was certain they contained everything his camp needed. This one scroll could drastically alleviate their survival difficulties.
This opportunistic looting went remarkably smoothly—no trouble, no mess. It seemed Yujin had finally caught a streak of good luck.
But in a time of war this harsh and brutal...Does "smooth sailing" even exist?