Chapter 9: If You Want to Escape, You Have to Ask Me First, Right?

Chapter 9: If You Want to Escape, You Have to Ask Me First, Right?

Uehara Naraka was forced to train taijutsu for a week, and his Life Energy only increased by 3 points. The efficiency was truly pitifully low.

Fortunately, this training wouldn't have to continue much longer.

Amegakure's civil war was about to begin. No one would imagine that just the combination of the Six Paths of Pain, Konan, and Uehara Naraka would overthrow Hanzō of the Salamander's rule.

The main force for the war, temporarily, was just Konan and Uehara Naraka.

Due to Nagato's physical immobility, Pain couldn't fight continuously for long periods. Therefore, Konan and Uehara would be responsible for eliminating Amegakure's ninja outposts in the Land of Rain and any Ame ninja operating outside, forcing Hanzō of the Salamander to gather all his forces.

As long as Hanzō gathered all the Ame ninja back to Amegakure to protect himself, the Six Paths of Pain would mobilize collectively to annihilate those ninjas gathered to resist them.

Those naive and innocent youths who were betrayed by Hanzō and Danzō back then had finally grown some brains.

Uehara Naraka received a mission to clear a ninja outpost, along with relevant intelligence. Stationed at that post were two ninja squads, a total of eight ninjas, including two Chunin captains.

And his task was to kill seven of them, deliberately letting one escape, allowing the Ame ninja to relay the message that war had begun back to Amegakure.

Preferably, causing panic in Amegakure.

This required a bit of acting skill.

But, since Uehara Naraka considered himself one of Akatsuki's Four Great Actors, vying for the title of Best Actor against Black Zetsu, Obito, and Uchiha Itachi, the one thing he didn't lack was naturally acting skill.

Eastern Land of Rain.

An outpost hidden beneath a cliff.

The cliff outpost was garrisoned by two Chunin and six Genin. Their usual duty was to monitor whether large armies entered the country, whether wandering ninjas appeared, or if anyone dared to oppose Lord Hanzō.

Ame Chunin Kamakura slowly wandered to the entrance of the outpost cave, gazing at the pouring rain outside, and muttered absently, "Every day is terrible weather. I wonder when this damned weather will ever stop..."

Tap...

Tap tap tap...

A peculiar sound drifted in.

This sound wasn't like the crashing downpour.

The Ame Chunin stopped speaking and listened carefully to the outside noise. Anyone who grew up in the Land of Rain could easily distinguish it—the sound of rain hitting a bamboo umbrella.

Kamakura quickly turned his head towards his teammates, secretly signaling with his fingers: an enemy was here!

After all, in such terrible rainy weather, for someone to inexplicably come to the Ame outpost, they definitely weren't here for sightseeing, right?

"Um... Are you guys ready?"

A young, shy voice came from within the downpour.

Just as these Ame ninjas were feeling somewhat speechless, a purple energy ray sliced the entire cliff in half, and the heavy rain poured down through the gap...

The Ame ninjas ignored the rain falling on their faces, staring as the cliff slowly collapsed to both sides. This shocking scene assaulted their minds...

"...What on earth... is this technique?"

"Just one strike, instantly cutting the whole cliff apart..."

Faced with the situation, only Chunin Kamakura retained some rationality. He leaped behind a nearby rock and shouted a warning, "The enemy is strong! Everyone, be alert and take cover!"

While warning his subordinates, Kamakura carefully peeked out, observing the enemy who had destroyed their base...

It was a young ninja boy holding a bamboo umbrella.

Kamakura subconsciously wanted to deny what he was seeing. How could an enemy demonstrating such power appear so young?

Yet, it was the truth.

Uehara Naraka walked in step by step, smiling at the numerous Ame ninjas, and said softly, "Well then, shall we begin?"

"Kid, what's your purpose for coming here!"

Kamakura gripped the kunai in his hand tightly, his nerves stretched increasingly taut. He couldn't even tell if the moisture on his forehead was rain or sweat.

"What meaningless nonsense are you talking about?"

Uehara Naraka lifted his umbrella, revealing his smiling face, but said, "I came here... of course, it's to kill you all!"

That young face was clearly smiling, yet spoke such bloody words, as if Kamakura was looking at a devil.

This kid must be utterly evil!

"Bastard, kill him!"

Kamakura charged forward, brandishing his kunai, shouting for his subordinates to swarm forward. Under their captain's command, a group of Ame ninjas rushed up, holding ninja swords, chain blades, and shuriken!

Uehara Naraka held his bamboo umbrella and sighed, lowering his head, "Life is so short, why do you still like taking shortcuts?"

A golden light flashed and appeared on him!

It was a golden dome that enveloped his entire body, blocking the attacks from numerous ninja tools!

Handle after handle of golden virtual light swords appeared around the protective shield. As Uehara Naraka waved his hand, the light swords fell in an instant, piercing through the bodies of all the Ame ninjas who had gotten close to him!

"..."

Kamakura was utterly horrified!

In his line of sight, whether it was shuriken, kunai, or ninja swords and chain blades, none could penetrate that seemingly thin golden shield. It was simply despair-inducing.

With casual gestures, the boy had killed most of the ninjas in the entire outpost. Now, only he and the other Chunin remained!

Fortunately, the other Chunin hadn't lost his senses. He quickly formed hand seals, and a stream of water shot out, "Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"

Clearly, this C-rank Water Release ninjutsu caused the enemy no trouble at all. Uehara Naraka simply twisted his body to avoid the rushing water.

A splash of water suddenly transformed into a water whip, binding Uehara's body!

"Water Release: Water Stream Whip!"

Kamakura tightly held the other end of the Water Stream Whip, his mind having calmed down. He quietly shouted to his comrade, "You return to the village and report the intel from here! I'll hold him back..."

"..."

The other Ame Chunin didn't hesitate either. After nodding, he quickly sprinted into the distance. He also didn't believe Kamakura could defeat the boy.

But... at the very least, the intelligence from here had to be delivered.

As long as Chunin Kamakura could hold the boy back for a little while, he could use the heavy rain to blend into the environment and escape this battlefield!

"Ha, abandoning your comrade and just running away like that isn't very nice, is it?"

A card appeared at Uehara Naraka's fingertips, spinning deftly. He flicked his wrist, throwing it towards the fleeing Ame Chunin!

It was clearly just a playing card, yet it behaved sharper than a shuriken.

The card swiftly flew through the downpour and embedded itself in the Ame Chunin's body. Immediately after, a muffled explosion sounded...

The fleeing Ame Chunin's corpse was obliterated, leaving nothing behind.

Uehara Naraka easily broke free from the Water Stream Whip with one hand, raised his bamboo umbrella, and looked up at the sole remaining Chunin, Kamakura, "Even if you want to escape back to report to Hanzō of the Salamander, shouldn't you let me pick who gets to leave alive?"

(End of Chapter)