As soon as Shinji came out of the room, he saw the Ibu clan elder flying in the sky.
Although he was flying by relying on smoke, was it really that easy for a flying ninja to appear these days?
However, now was not the time to think about this. Shinji slightly bent his knees and then lunged towards the elder.
Boom!
The entire house collapsed, and the huge sound made the elder, who had originally intended to kill Muta, involuntarily look over.
That was—
The clan head's position!
Before he could react, a figure appeared directly in front of him.
Shinji clenched his right fist, Chakra gathered in his hand. Along with the massive Chakra condensation, a wisp of Chakra flame burst out from his fist, as if it were solid.
Shinji glanced at the Chakra flame on his fist, thinking, 'So that's how it is.'
Then, he punched directly at the elder's chest.
Thud—
A solid-like Chakra shockwave erupted, and then the elder's figure flew away.
Down below, even Muta, trapped in the smoke cage by the elder, saw this scene. His lips twitched involuntarily. He had just seen that the moment the elder was hit, his entire chest had caved in.
Rumble—
The moment he landed, the elder crashed through a house, then rolled rapidly like a cannonball.
After a long time, when the commotion stopped, the entire canyon also quieted down.
Shinji landed lightly on his tiptoes, shaking off the bloodstains on his right hand.
"Phew, that was a close call."
Muta let out a deep breath. He hadn't dared to breathe at all in the smoke cage earlier. He was afraid there might be toxins in the smoke.
"Are you still good to go?" Shinji asked, looking at Muta.
"Yes, Shinji-sama." Muta quickly nodded.
This was an eagerly sought-after opportunity to earn military merits.
Shinji nodded, then began to join the battlefield.
The Ibu clan, already being hunted, now retreated steadily like stray dogs. Looking around, there was not a single clansman to be seen. This caused a sense of despair to rise in the hearts of the scattered Ibu clan members.
The Ibu clan has been annihilated!
As this thought emerged, the Ibu clan members who had been stubbornly resisting all began to flee towards the entrance and exit.
Shinji, who had been waiting there, slowly rose as he watched the first Ibu clan members flee to this spot.
The man, who had originally thought he could escape, saw Shinji standing there and couldn't help but open his mouth.
His face was full of despair as he shouted at Shinji, "Why—"
"Why can't you spare us!"
Looking at the almost collapsing Ibu clan members in front of him, Shinji's expression remained calm. He formed a hand seal with one hand, then exhaled Wind Release from his mouth.
Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!
In the Ninja World, there is no such theory as "no one is innocent."
If Konoha were to be invaded today, they would retaliate with all their might, not stand here asking such questions.
What is the greatest original sin?
Weakness!
Moreover, the Ibu clan's foundation over these years was not clean at all.
Did they really think that relying on this canyon, not engaging in production, and having every member be a soldier was a skill?
Resources, necessities for life—what did the Ibu clan not obtain through plunder?
Shinji had no so-called saintly compassion, especially since before he became strong, he too had lived in constant fear, and the Ibu clan only experienced this feeling today, the day of their annihilation.
Empathy and compassion are best reserved for those you care about.
—
The night wind howled.
Shinji looked at the canyon in the distance, ablaze with roaring fires. The explosives the Ibu clan had prepared for war over the years were now ignited.
"That's good. At least there's a grand farewell ceremony."
He turned to look at the Konoha ninjas, who had already treated their wounds and were replenishing their energy.
In this battle, two of the twenty ninjas Shinji had brought were lost. They were Chunin who had been injured by the Ibu clan Elder's smoke and died before treatment could be administered due to the onset of the poison. Fortunately, everyone present was quite experienced, and their emotions didn't fluctuate much.
War inherently comes with death, they had all prepared for it before setting out.
"Shinji-sama, the bodies have been collected."
"Choza-sama has also been sent a message."
Shinji nodded.
For now, they could only rest in place, at least until they knew Choza's location. Only then could they rush to rendezvous with him.
He only hoped that Choza had already found the Sea Serpent Gang's location.
Otherwise, the remaining time...
It would be too late to complete the mission Kakashi had assigned.
Once the time was up, whether successful or not, they had to rendezvous with Kakashi's main force.
Thinking of this, Shinji went alone to a tree and closed his eyes to rest. He hadn't slept for two full days, and although he wasn't tired, he still needed some rest.
—
After an unknown period, hurried footsteps approached, and Shinji opened his eyes.
Muta quickly came before Shinji, squatted down, and said, "Shinji-sama, we just received word that Choza-sama has found the Sea Serpent Gang's location."
"What time is it now?" Shinji asked.
"You've only rested for less than half an hour. Choza-sama also said to wait until you're rested before regrouping."
Shinji stood up, shook his head, and said, "No, the mission takes priority."
"Is everyone ready?" Shinji turned and asked the group of people looking at him.
"We are ready!"
Hearing the question, everyone stood up straight and responded loudly.
Shinji smiled and said softly, "Good. When we return, I'll treat you all to drinks."
Everyone looked at Shinji and smiled. To be invited to drinks by the Third Hokage's personal student. In the village, mentioning that would earn them respect.
"Let's go, move out!"
"Yes!"
Shinji turned, took a step towards the newly learned location, and charged out.
Whoosh... Whoosh...
The dozen or so ninjas behind him all followed his footsteps, heading towards Choza's location.
—
Splash, splash—
Waves crashed on the shore. Choza, resting in the dense forest behind the beach, let out a deep breath.
To ascertain the Sea Serpent Gang's location, even with the intel provided by Shikaku, he still put in a great deal of effort to find it.
"These guys are truly cunning." Choza said, looking at the turbulent sea.
Who would have thought that the Sea Serpent Gang would hide in such a place?
Konoha's Anbu had passed through here several times, yet they hadn't even seen their shadows.
If Choza hadn't found it strange, he might not have found them before the time ran out.
...
Night.
On the distant sea, the seawater suddenly spread outwards, and a submarine, seemingly made of steel, slowly surfaced. On its hard shell, an opening slowly widened.
A man wearing a protective mask slowly emerged from the opening, looking at the deserted sea.