Chapter 66

"If someone approaches us, my insects will detect it immediately! But since I haven't received any signals, that means… there are no enemies in the vicinity at all!"

Haidao spoke confidently, the chakra insects from the Aburame clan swarming silently within his body. Then, with a low grunt, he activated his kekkei genkai.

"Byakugan, activate!"

With a surge of chakra to his optic nerves, the veins at his temples bulged, and his field of vision instantly expanded—allowing him to see chakra flow and internal organs within a kilometer radius.

"Captain, I can confirm there are no chakra signatures nearby… My Byakugan hasn't detected any anomalies either," Haidao reported with slight hesitation. "Could it be that your mechanical mouse… malfunctioned?"

Facing the suspicion,

Tian Yu only gave a faint smile, and calmly replied with a question of his own:

"When did I ever say they were around us?"

"Huh???"

Everyone was stunned.

They looked at each other in confusion, unable to grasp his meaning.

Even Tsunade, who was quietly observing, raised an eyebrow.

Tian Yu then explained unhurriedly: "They're not nearby… they're lying in ambush five kilometers ahead of us."

"I get it now—it's Feishiguan!"

One of the Konoha spies, who had been active in the Land of Hot Water before, suddenly gasped in realization.

"That's the only route we can take to return to Konoha from Yugakure. They're lying in wait for an ambush!"

Tian Yu nodded slightly, his gaze calm.

Haidao and Ao both paused, their expressions twisting in disbelief.

"But Captain… Feishiguan is five kilometers away… How could you possibly know that?"

Mid-sentence, their voices trailed off and fell into stunned silence.

Because at that very moment, they remembered something—the mechanical mouse!

That small automaton Tian Yu had demonstrated earlier…

Could it really detect chakra signatures from five kilometers away?

The realization sent chills down their spines.

Terrifying.

Unbelievably terrifying!

A detection radius of five kilometers—

To a perception ninja, that level of detection capability would rival even their clan's elite sensory units.

Possibly…

Only someone on the level of the clan patriarch would have such a range.

Silence fell.

They stared blankly at their twelve-year-old captain…

Realizing that he was far more frightening than they had initially imagined.

"Let's move out," Tian Yu said calmly, turning to them.

"Since they've taken position along the only path back, it's time we paid them a proper visit."

"Otherwise, they might really think we're just soft persimmons—easy to pinch and manipulate!"

---

Nightfall.

Under the cloak of darkness, Tian Yu's team moved swiftly and silently.

A trail of black silhouettes danced across the dense canopy, darting from branch to branch, their movements leaving behind faint afterimages.

"We're getting close. Everyone, prepare for combat," Tian Yu whispered.

"Yes, Captain (Ming Yu-sama)!" came the unanimous reply.

Aside from Tsunade and Shizune, all of the Konoha ninjas—including the spies—followed Tian Yu's orders without hesitation.

At some point, the young ANBU captain had already established absolute command within the team.

Tsunade and Shizune didn't say much—but even they quietly prepared themselves for battle.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, several sharp whistling sounds cut through the air.

A barrage of kunai rained down from above, their glint flashing under the moonlight.

"Everyone, get down!" Haidao shouted,

He immediately stepped forward, assuming a Hyūga stance.

"Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation!"

Hakkeshō Kaiten—a high-level secret technique passed down within the Hyūga Clan.

At the moment of attack, the user emits chakra from all the Tenketsu, then spins rapidly like a top to form a rotating dome of chakra that deflects any incoming assault.

This advanced form of Gentle Fist,

When combined with the Byakugan's near-360-degree field of vision,

Has long been considered an "absolute defense."

Clang! Clang!

Most of the kunai and shuriken collided with the semi-spherical chakra dome around Haidao, bouncing off harmlessly.

The few that slipped past were easily intercepted mid-air by Tian Yu and the others with practiced reflexes.

A deadly rain of weapons descended—

Yet not a single person on Tian Yu's side was harmed.

Attacks like these, while potentially lethal in an ambush against the unprepared,

Were utterly ineffective against trained shinobi like them.

Especially since Tian Yu had long foreseen the ambush.

Even in darkness, Haidao's Byakugan allowed him superior visual clarity—far exceeding ordinary ninja.

"This… this is bad… There are a lot of them!" Haidao suddenly shouted in alarm.

"How many? Speak clearly!" Sunflower demanded anxiously.

"Yes—based on chakra signatures, there are five individuals with Jōnin-level strength…

Another fifteen are Special Jōnin…

The rest, all with at least Chūnin-level chakra… around seventy to eighty of them!"

Hsss…

Everyone except Tian Yu inhaled sharply at the report.

Five Jōnin, fifteen Special Jōnin, and nearly eighty Chūnin?

That was far beyond the standard security force of a simple casino.

Previously, when Haidao and Ao had encountered resistance near the casino,

The enemy forces were nowhere near this scale or strength.

This was more like a full military battalion from a small shinobi nation!

Even Tsunade now understood that Tian Yu's cautiousness hadn't been cowardice.

The truth was—

Their enemy this time… was not ordinary at all.

---

Chapter 70: The Strength of Anbu

Tian Yu chuckled coldly.

"So many forces deployed… and they still underestimate us."

Across the battlefield, five ninjas with Jōnin-level chakra signatures stepped forward.

They formed a wall—blocking the only route leading back to the Land of Fire.

"Hmph! You thought our casino's money was so easy to win?"

One of them scoffed, stepping up.

Pointing directly at Tian Yu, he sneered,

"Hand over that brat. And while you're at it, return all the money you scammed from us. Maybe we'll let you live."

"You're dreaming! Captain Ming Yu would never hand himself over to you!" Sunflower snapped, fists on her hips, glaring defiantly.

"Hah! What a noisy little brat."

Another enemy Jōnin chuckled darkly, his voice laced with menace.

"We've come fully prepared this time! Not even Tsunade of the Sannin will get past us!"

"You…"

Sunflower's masked eyes widened with rage,

She stepped forward to retort, but a hand gently landed on her shoulder.

"Captain…" she muttered, biting her lip.

"No need for words," Tian Yu said softly.

Whoosh!

He flicked his wrist.

A shuriken cut through the silence, gleaming as it flew.

With a calm voice, he declared:

"The battle begins."

"Haidao, Ao, Sunflower—let's see what you've got."

"Yes, sir!"

Three voices answered in perfect unison.