Suddenly!
Many Cloud Ninja actually felt a faint, seemingly non-existent pressure from Aoba's body.
The golden-haired Cloud Ninja and a dark-skinned Cloud Ninja both subconsciously had lightning and Lightning Style chakra wrapping around the surface of their bodies.
This is the Lightning Style Chakra Mode of Kumogakure.
This is a B-rank Lightning Country secret taijutsu developed by the Second Raikage.
Although it is only B-rank, its upper limit is extremely high.
"Sister Kurenai, protect them," Aoba instructed Kurenai.
"Hm? What do you mean?", Kurenai was already planning to fight, but was stunned by Aoba's words.
Aoba didn't answer her, and directly rushed up.
This time it wasn't like the group from Amegakure who could be used for Hinata and the others to practice on.
Immediately after—
"Getsuga Tensho! Getsuga Tensho! Getsuga Tensho! Tensho! Sho!"
From the pitch-black blade of Zangetsu, chakra surged out endlessly as if it cost nothing.
And the crescent moon-shaped Wind Style chakra slashes rushed forward one after another like a storm.
Each slash contained terrifying power and sharp momentum, emitting sharp, piercing whistles as it tore through the air.
Aoba seemed to be dancing in the moonlight.
The Cloud Ninja who faced the moonlight had drastic changes in expression.
At first, two Cloud Village jonin tried to use the Lightning Style Chakra Mode to endure and charge at Aoba to take him down.
But they hadn't resisted for long before collapsing to the ground like the other Kumogakure chūnin.
As for Kurenai and the others, they watched the battle dumbfounded the whole time.
Once everything ended, Aoba sheathed his sword.
He turned around to face the dumbfounded group.
"All solved!"
The four girls came back to their senses.
A small, soft body suddenly rushed over and hugged him.
Yakumo looked at him with stars in her eyes, "Aoba, you were so cool just now!"
Before he could speak, Yakumo changed the subject again, "But you didn't even leave one for me."
Aoba patted her small head and smiled, "I'll leave one for you next time."
"Aoba-kun," Hinata also spoke, but her expression was different from Yakumo's spoiled tone. Her gaze was incomparably firm.
"Hinata…"
"I will become stronger!"
Hinata knew that Aoba had handled all the enemies alone because he was worried they would get hurt.
Her current strength was still too weak.
She couldn't help him.
Aoba saw the meaning in Hinata's eyes and nodded with a serious expression.
"Yeah, I believe in you!"
"Aoba, do you need to replenish your chakra?"
Uzumaki Kasui walked to Aoba's side and quietly asked near his ear.
Her tone also carried a bit of anticipation.
"No need," Aoba flatly refused.
This little chakra consumption was nothing to him.
On the contrary, Kurenai didn't know what to say. Looking at the Kumogakure ninja lying in disarray on the ground, all covered in blood, but still breathing. It should be that Aoba had deliberately spared them.
"What are you going to do with them?", Kurenai took the initiative to ask for Aoba's opinion.
'Alright then, if Aoba wants to be the team leader, let him be.'
She herself could just honestly act as a mission-taking tool.
Having a student like this in the class gave a strong sense of security...
"Of course send them all back to Konoha," Aoba said as if it were natural.
Three jonin, nine chūnin, and it seemed there was even a special individual, this kind of configuration.
Aside from extracting intel, even for negotiating with Kumogakure, it was enough to make them pay a price.
You see, those guys from Kumogakure, although rather shameless and fond of abducting children everywhere, but for their fellow villagers, they were truly loyal.
Arguably the most united among the Five Great Ninja Villages.
"But... isn't it inconvenient to carry them?", Kurenai looked puzzled.
"No need to carry them, just have someone come pick them up," As he spoke, Aoba bit his finger, formed hand seals, and slapped the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
A puff of smoke rose, and a slug the size of a cat or dog appeared.
"Lord Aoba," Slug's soft and pleasant voice rang out, "Do you have orders?"
"Slug-sama, do you have a clone at sensei's place?"
"Please wait a moment," Slug's two antennae stretched slightly.
Connecting with the clone in another location.
"Using a summoned beast to contact Tsunade-sama? That really is convenient," Kurenai exclaimed in admiration.
After a moment, Slug spoke again, "I have contacted the clone beside Tsunade-sama."
Aoba nodded, "Can you reverse summon one of my shadow clones over?"
"No problem."
"Please do, Slug-sama," Aoba performed the Shadow Clone Technique again.
"No need to be polite, Lord Aoba. This is my duty," Slug's tone remained gentle.
The next moment.
The shadow clone beside Aoba disappeared.
They didn't remain idle.
They piled up all the Kumogakure ninja lying in disorder together.
"That's weird!"
"What is it?", Aoba asked.
"Look, they're all so dark-skinned, why is this guy so pale? I thought everyone in Kumogakure had dark skin," Yakumo pointed at Atsui, who was "unsoiled despite emerging from the mire," full of curiosity.
Aoba stroked his chin, "That is kind of strange."
He treated Atsui, restoring his consciousness, "You... you all…"
Aoba directly stabbed Zangetsu in front of him, shutting him up.
At the same time, he cast a simple interrogation-type genjutsu on him.
"What's your name?"
"Atsui."
"What's your relationship with Samui?"
"She's my sister."
Since it was ordinary intel, there wasn't much guarding, and it was asked out easily.
"Seems this guy is a small important figure in Kumogakure."
"Is that Samui strong?", Yakumo was full of curiosity.
Aoba nodded, "Samui is the disciple of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki from Kumogakure. She's one of the rare strategist-type ninja there, a bit like Uncle Shikaku."
"Then does this count as a major achievement for us?", Yakumo's eyes lit up again.
"Of course it does," This kind of thing, maybe they could even negotiate more terms.
"This mission has really been full of surprises, from taking down a Konoha rogue ninja to capturing so many Cloud Nin," Kurenai sighed emotionally.
This one commission was enough to complete several missions.
While they were discussing, suddenly another puff of smoke rose from the ground.
Tsunade appeared in front of them, carrying Aoba's shadow clone.
Shizune also appeared alongside her.
"Sensei?", Aoba was a bit surprised. He didn't expect Tsunade to come personally.
Originally, he had planned for Tsunade to send an Anbu squad to take these Cloud Nin away.
He released the shadow clone.
"You and Sister Shizune came over, will the village be alright?"
"Hmph! Shizune and I haven't left the village in a while. Besides, Shikaku is in the village, and we also left behind shadow clones. We'll return soon, it's no problem," Tsunade snorted, then looked at the many Kumogakure ninja piled together.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, "You brat, always making something new!"
Aoba helplessly shrugged, "We were just acting in self-defense."
If those Kumogakure ninja hadn't attacked them, it wouldn't have come to this.
Tsunade waved her hand, and the dark green cloak with the word "Gamble" on the back fluttered.
"Don't worry, we're in the right this time. And with prisoners in our hands, if I don't peel a layer off that Fourth Raikage guy, I'll quit gambling tomorrow."
'Wow, such a BIG resolve?'
"Right, Sensei, I also have this to give you," Aoba took out the Sword of the Thunder God.
"The Sword of the Thunder God?", Tsunade received the hilt, her beautiful eyes widening slightly in surprise.
A stunned expression emerged.
In her mind, the figure of Senju Tobirama appeared.
After a brief daze.
Tsunade threw the Sword of the Thunder God back to him.
Aoba caught the hilt, a little surprised, "Sensei, this…"
"This thing is of no use to me. Since it was you who got it, you decide what to do with it."
"This... thank you, Sensei…"
"Alright, continue your mission. But when you finish, go to the Land of Waves, something special seems to have happened on Kakashi's end."
"Got it!"
———
"What did you say? Atsui and the others were all captured by Konoha's ninja and even taken back to Konoha?"
[Land of Lightning, Kumogakure]
A certain female ninja who was not inferior to Tsunade had just returned to the village after completing a mission, only to be shocked by her sister's news.
"Yes, Lord Raikage has already sent someone to negotiate with Konoha."
Another dark-skinned secretary-looking kunoichi tried to comfort her friend while helplessly shaking her head.
"However, Konoha's attitude this time seems unexpectedly tough, and our ninjas did attack them first. It's hard to argue our case."
"Why would Atsui attack Konoha's ninja?", Samui's expression was full of confusion, 'Atsui should have been stationed at the base in Uzushio, right?'
'Why would he go provoke Konoha ninja for no reason?'
"It's because...", Mabui then explained it to her friend.
"Byakugan and the Uzumaki clan, huh... that's indeed worth taking a risk for…", After muttering a couple of sentences, Samui fell silent.
This was an old tradition of Kumogakure, meant to make the village stronger.
But this time it was her younger brother doing it.
She felt somewhat helpless inside, "So what's the result of Raikage's negotiation?"
Mabui shook her head, "Not ideal. Konoha's new Hokage has quite a tough temper. The envoy we sent was almost killed…"
"Mainly because one of the Konoha nin attacked was her student…"
"…", Samui was speechless.
Such important intel, and no one confirmed it in advance?
She remained silent for a long time.
"Can I go negotiate with Konoha?"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y