Chapter 334: Pakura
Ishiro quickly set up the natural energy seal. He was very proficient at this, having set it up several times when he was alone outside.
Then, under Ishiro's watch, Ōnoki entered Sage Mode.
Next, Ishiro placed a Water Release jutsu on the ground, then signaled for Ōnoki to begin casting a Lightning Release ninjutsu.
Although Ōnoki had never learned the lightning attribute nature transformation, he still knew how to cast a C-rank Lightning Release.
After sensing the Sage Chakra in his body, Ōnoki began his attempt.
"Sage Art: Lightning Release - Lightning Guide." This was the simplest C-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu. Ishiro had started his own lightning training with this one.
The first attempt failed, the second failed, but Ōnoki's expression grew more and more solemn because as the caster, he had already felt the abnormality.
Sure enough, on the fifth attempt, a powerful bolt of lightning appeared over the water jutsu Ishiro had just cast.
"Hiss~" Ishiro and Ōnoki, these two Tsuchikage, simultaneously sucked in a breath. It was too incredible.
Shinya Matsutani's guess was correct!
Because of the addition of natural energy, Sage Chakra inherently possessed all the characteristics of the five attributes. It just needed the caster to guide them out.
Ōnoki was very excited. This meant he could train in ninjutsu of other attributes. Even if he could only use Lightning Release in Sage Mode, it was enough of a surprise for him.
What's more, according to Ishiro's chakra theory, if he used Lightning Release Sage Art for a long time, would it be possible for him to truly master the lightning attribute nature transformation on some future day?
Ishiro was also very excited. Whether he could cast ninjutsu of an attribute he didn't have had no effect on him; he was already proficient in all five.
But if the effect of Sage Chakra was truly as Shinya had predicted, then there was hope for improving his proficiency in the wind attribute.
Konoha's delay in returning the Seven-Tails had meant that Ishiro had never had a chance to make a move on it. This had led to him not being too concerned about his wind attribute training.
However, now Ishiro seemed to have found another shortcut.
But this matter was not urgent. Ishiro couldn't appreciate Ōnoki's excitement. He let him experiment with Lightning Release on his own, while he went to arrange things to deal with Pakura.
The most troublesome part of dealing with Pakura was not the frontal combat, but how to discover her exact whereabouts.
Scorch Release was very damaging to ninjas. Ishiro had to seize the initiative; otherwise, if Pakura went on a rampage first, the losses on his side would not be small.
But fortunately, the Land of Snow could now be considered Ishiro's home turf. Just as he was thinking about how to find Pakura's tracks, a piece of news came from the capital of the Land of Snow.
"Someone is inquiring about the intelligence of the Rainbow Ice Wall treasure?" Ishiro asked, somewhat puzzled.
In fact, Ishiro was biased by his preconceptions. Having seen the original story, he was very clear that the so-called treasure was just Sōsetsu Kazahana's response to his daughter's wish. It was of no use to others.
But others didn't think so. After Pakura conducted some reconnaissance in the capital of the Land of Snow, she was led astray by the two words "treasure."
Especially after learning that Iwagakure's branch was being built near the Rainbow Ice Wall, Pakura felt that she had found the truth. The next step was just to confirm what the treasure specifically was.
According to Rasa's request, after figuring out Iwagakure's intentions, she could return to Sunagakure.
After nightfall, Pakura's group left the capital and snuck towards the Rainbow Ice Wall.
By the time it was late at night, Pakura's group had finally reached the vicinity of their destination.
"Lady Pakura, the treasure is right ahead. That direction should be the Iwagakure branch. Their branch is under construction, and things like sensory barriers have not yet been activated," an Anbu member reported to Pakura after scouting.
Pakura nodded and asked, "Is there anyone near the treasure?"
The Anbu replied, "I didn't dare to get too close, just sensed and scouted from a distance. I didn't find anyone, but it's not out of the question that the other party has used special means to hide their tracks."
"But even if there are people hiding there, the number won't be large."
Pakura nodded, then asked doubtfully, "Since Iwagakure came for the treasure, why didn't they send people to guard it?"
The Anbu in charge of reconnaissance also found it strange and said, "I don't understand either. If Iwagakure has already obtained the treasure, then there's no need to build a branch here at all. There are many places in the Land of Snow more suitable for establishing a hidden village than this. But if they haven't gotten it yet, why leave it unattended?"
At this time, another Anbu said, "Could it be loose on the outside but tight on the inside? On the surface, there are no defenses, but in secret, there are elite ninjas guarding it, having specifically set a trap?"
Pakura thought for a moment and said, "It shouldn't be. The Land of Snow has already signed a treaty with Iwagakure. It's perfectly legitimate for Iwagakure to guard the treasure. There's no need to be secretive. Doing so would instead make them seem guilty."
At this moment, an Anbu suddenly shivered and hurriedly said, "Lady Pakura, could it be that we've been exposed, and Iwagakure has set a trap for us?"
Hearing this, Pakura's heart also skipped a beat. It wasn't impossible.
Although she believed that her group was well-hidden, this was, after all, someone else's home turf.
Suddenly, Pakura was faced with a dilemma: should she go and scout?
If she went, what if Iwagakure really had an ambush? That would be too dangerous. It was rare to lead a team out on a mission of this level, and Pakura didn't want her subordinates to suffer too many losses.
But if she didn't go, although their mission could be considered complete, returning with only unclear intelligence, Pakura was unwilling.
Just the thought of Rasa possibly showing a disappointed expression made Pakura dismiss the idea of giving up.
"I will go alone. You all wait here. If anything happens, retreat first. I will break out," Pakura finally chose a compromise.
This made a certain amount of sense. Since the era of hidden villages began, not many Kage-level individuals had been ambushed by the enemy. According to conventional thinking, if Pakura went alone, without anyone to drag her down, it would be best.
However, hearing Pakura's words, one of the Anbu squad leaders was shocked and said, "Lady Pakura, that's too dangerous. What if Iwagakure targets your weakness? The consequences will be unimaginable."
This was also correct. Among Kage-level powerhouses, taijutsu-type ninjas were more durable than ninjutsu-type ones. If a ninjutsu-type ninja was ambushed, it was more dangerous. And Pakura was a ninjutsu-type Kage with a very significant weakness.
However, Pakura was not too concerned. She said, "Rest assured, my intelligence has not been leaked. And even if Iwagakure knows someone has invaded, they won't necessarily expect it to be me."
If Ishiro were here and heard this, he would definitely be speechless. How could they not expect it? On a major matter like this, if Rasa didn't send Pakura, would he send an Elite Jonin to their deaths? No matter what, this was an Iwa branch, considered one of Iwagakure's main bases. An Elite Jonin level was simply not enough.
Among Kage-level powerhouses, if not Pakura, would he send Chiyo, or Rasa himself?
Chiyo had already retired and would not leave the village for this kind of matter. (Ishiro did not know that Chiyo had already left Sunagakure with Ryosuke.)
As for Rasa himself, which Kage of a village would personally do this kind of work? Not everyone was Ishiro.
It was just that Pakura's mind was now full of Rasa's disappointed gaze, so she subconsciously ignored these minor details. Of course, there was also the reason that Pakura was very confident in her own strength.
The Anbu thought for a moment and then said, "I'm still not at ease with you going alone. Let Yin Squad go with you. They can coordinate with you."
Pakura frowned slightly but did not refuse.
Thus, Pakura, leading a four-man Anbu squad, quickly approached in the direction of the Rainbow Ice Wall.
Pakura chose a direction far from the Iwagakure branch base. The five of them spent a considerable amount of time getting close to the Rainbow Ice Wall.
With the help of the faint moonlight, Pakura looked at the neat and tall stone walls before her, lost in thought. "There is indeed a problem with this place. These stone walls are clearly not naturally formed."
"This must have been an important site built artificially a long time ago. There might really be a treasure inside. Maybe it's something left over from the Warring States period."
Although the ninja world didn't have a setting where the older something was, the more powerful it was, the Warring States period had also produced many powerhouses. They might have really left some good things behind.
"I must find out what's inside. At the very least, I must find out if there's a possibility for Sunagakure to get a piece of the pie."
Thinking this, Pakura slowed her pace and signaled for the four members of Yin Squad to continue following.
What Pakura didn't know was that at this moment, a pair of eyes was watching this direction from mid-air.
Ever since Ishiro got the news from the direction of the Land of Snow's capital, he had guessed that Pakura might come to the Rainbow Ice Wall to scout, so he had been waiting here early on.
Ishiro's Mind's Eye could sense the chakra fluctuations of Pakura and her four companions, but his naked eye couldn't see clearly. He could only see a faint shadow moving occasionally.
Ishiro was actually puzzled. "Why are there only five people? The intelligence from Ikura showed that Pakura had brought at least several dozen people. Did they split up? Or is this just the advance party?"
Ishiro had already entered Sage Mode, but in his Sage Art-enhanced perception, there were only five chakra sources.
"But just now, a ninja had clearly scouted the vicinity. I didn't startle the snake and let that person go back."
Ishiro had originally thought he would be waiting for the main force led by Pakura, but only five had come. Fortunately, Pakura was among these five. That huge, scorching chakra source must be her.
Among the ninjas sent by the Sand this time, only Pakura was of value; Ishiro looked down on the others.
Since that's the case...
"Porcelain Release: Kunai Rain!"
Facing Pakura, Ishiro's tactic was simple. He directly used Porcelain Release to generate a large number of physical-attack kunai, completely covering the entire area around her.
"Not good! Enemy attack! It's an ambush! It's kunai! Lady Pakura's intelligence has been leaked! Full defense!"
"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall! Wind Release: Hurricane Barrier! Armor of Sand! Puppet Technique!"
The chakra fluctuation caused by Ishiro's casting of Porcelain Release was huge. Pakura and her group were already on high alert and immediately responded.
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