The Water Formation Wall fell.
More than ten Konoha Anbu now stood atop the cofferdam.
On the water surface in front of the cofferdam stood over twenty Iwa-nin.
Yōkō gave the order: "Fox Squadron Combined Jutsu! Begin!"
Four ninja each used Fire Release: Dragon Fire Bullet.
Four fire dragons surged forth.
Yōkō stood in the center, with two other ninja flanking the Fire Release users, simultaneously using Wind Release.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The biggest problem with Fire Release was its slow speed, making it hard to hit people.
But now, fueled by the strong wind, the fire's power and speed increased significantly.
Under the combined jutsu, the four fire dragons instantly covered a water surface dozens of meters wide.
Boosted by the Wind Release, the Fire Release's attack range also increased, instantly engulfing many Iwa-nin.
The stronger Iwa-nin jumped to avoid the Fire Release, but eight or nine Iwa-nin were directly consumed by the sea of fire.
The Fox Squadron's combination jutsu had proven effective in its first use.
Yōkō thought to himself, Who says Fire Release jutsu can't kill people? Quite a few died just now.
The Iwa-nin jumping in the air looked in horror at the Konoha Anbu's combined jutsu.
In this narrow canyon, the power of the Fire Release jutsu was amplified.
Purple Cat acted now, using the Mind Body Switch Technique to control the Iwa-nin squad leader.
The Iwa-nin squad leader was controlled and took a few seconds to break free. By the time he regained control of his body, he was horrified to see Konoha's second jutsu arriving!
"Water Release: Water Cutting Wave!"
A fierce, thin line of water shot from Yōkō's mouth.
A large chunk of the canyon wall on the side was sliced off first, the cross-section clean, the rock crashing into the water and sending up white waves.
After the Water Cutting Wave swiftly swept across, the dozen or so Iwa-nin in the air were cut in half at the waist.
Some Iwa-nin had even covered their bodies with rock, hoping to increase their defense.
Unfortunately, it was useless against Yōkō's Water Cutting Wave.
This manner of death was even more nerve-wracking than being consumed by fire.
Halved corpses fell into the water, the smell of blood quickly attracting mindless fish.
The fish probably thought some angler was chumming the waters.
The Iwa-nin squad leader also died under the Water Cutting Wave. Yōkō let White Goat handle the remaining few Iwa-nin, while he himself jumped onto the bank above the Yoshimizu River canyon.
Koishi Chisa remained where she was, her long, willow-leaf eyes fixed intently on the Fox Anbu.
The way he had adjusted her glasses earlier felt too natural, too comfortable. Koishi Chisa suspected she had met this Fox Anbu before.
After Yōkō reached the shore, his subordinates went to deal with the remaining Iwa-nin, while he quickly searched the surroundings.
Soon, he found a signal – a mark carved on a carriage.
Konoha also had many spies hidden in Iwagakure. The Land of Fire attached great importance to the hydroelectric plant, so the Anbu had activated a spy planted within Iwagakure.
Many carriages were parked near the hydroelectric plant, belonging to capital residents who had come to see the completion of the foundation.
"Water Release: Water Cutting Wave!"
A water line shot out, shearing off the top of a carriage.
Yōkō stood on the carriage roof, looking down at the merchant guild president inside, and relayed the intelligence the spy had sent ahead:
"President Kaneshi from the Land of Earth, your true identity is a retainer of the Land of Earth's Minister of the Treasury."
"The infiltration unit is doomed. The Land of Fire's Minister of the Treasury has also arrived in the Land of Rivers' capital and would like to speak with you."
President Kaneshi's eyes showed fear. It wasn't just this Konoha Anbu's powerful strength, but the fact that he accurately stated his identity. He had thought he was well hidden in the Land of Rivers.
Yōkō jumped into the carriage, kicked the door open, and gestured for him to follow.
Kaneshi tremblingly stepped outside the carriage and saw that the Iwa-nin were almost all dead.
The remaining Iwa-nin, upon seeing Kaneshi, looked nervous and rushed towards him.
Kaneshi was the employer for this Iwa-nin operation. The mission wasn't considered complete until Kaneshi witnessed the hydroelectric plant's destruction with his own eyes.
The four surviving Iwa-nin surrounded Kaneshi.
Yōkō looked at Kaneshi and said, "What, still struggling?"
Kaneshi shook his head and said to the Iwa-nin:
"The mission is over. No more resistance. Konoha knows my intelligence perfectly clearly. Resistance is meaningless. Escort me into the Land of Rivers' capital to meet the Land of Fire's Minister of the Treasury."
The Iwa-nin looked at each other, then at their squad leader.
The squad leader had no choice but to nod.
Yōkō scanned the area and was somewhat surprised to see that White Goat's squad had lost one member.
Even in an advantageous situation, danger was ever-present. An Iwa-nin's last struggle had taken one of White Goat's squad members with him.
Koishi Chisa also walked up from the upstream cofferdam at this time.
Purple Cat approached Koishi Chisa and said, "Miss Koishi Chisa, the Land of Fire's Minister of the Treasury has entered the capital. Please meet with him as soon as possible."
Koishi Chisa first looked at Purple Cat's light golden hair, then at her slim and toned figure, and finally at the eye holes of Purple Cat's mask, trying to see her eyes.
Purple Cat found it baffling; why did this woman seem hostile towards her?
Koishi Chisa said, "Alright, let's return to the capital together."
President Kaneshi and the Iwa-nin, the Konoha Anbu, along with Koishi Chisa and Land of Rivers officials, all returned to the capital.
Koishi Chisa went to the back of the group and walked side-by-side with the Fox Anbu.
"Konoha Anbu, have we met before?"
Yōkō said directly, "Please do not speak to the Konoha Anbu during a mission."
Koishi Chisa had been gently rebuffed, but she felt the Anbu's voice was strangely familiar.
The group entered the capital's Tenshu Castle directly.
Inside the main hall.
The Land of Rivers' Daimyō sat in the main seat. To his left was the Land of Fire's Minister of the Treasury, Itada Hatada.
Yellow Dog stood behind Itada Hatada.
Yōkō entered the hall and stood beside Yellow Dog.
Itada Hatada was portly, dressed in a brocade robe and wearing a gold-wire openwork hat. Equivalent to the Land of Fire's Minister of Finance and Central Bank Governor, he held immense power and was personally escorted into the Land of Rivers by Yellow Dog.
He was one of the important benefactors of the Anbu and Root, not only providing well-paying national missions for the Anbu but also having dedicated funding.
Itada Hatada had come this time because he was interested in the hydroelectric technology and planned to introduce it to the Land of Fire.
Itada Hatada looked at Kaneshi and said, "So it's you, Kaneshi. You poured my wine last time I met with the Land of Earth's Minister of the Treasury."
Kaneshi hurriedly bowed his head: "Lord Hatada, it is I."
The Land of Rivers' Daimyō gestured for his sister Chisa to sit beside him.
After Koishi Chisa sat down, she stared at the Fox Anbu.
The Land of Fire's Minister of the Treasury, the Anbu Battalion Commander – none of these people held Koishi Chisa's attention. Her mind was full of plans on how to test the Fox Anbu's true identity.
After everyone was seated or standing in place, the Daimyō said:
"Today, the esteemed guest from the Land of Fire, Minister of the Treasury Mr. Itada Hatada, has come to the Land of Rivers."
"Because of the hydroelectric plant matter, the Land of Rivers has suffered considerable trouble."
"Konoha and Sunagakure are already fighting in the western part of the Land of Rivers. I do not wish for the capital to be unsettled as well."
"Mr. Itada Hatada, please convey the Land of Fire Daimyō's instructions."
***
Dive deeper into the story with 50+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!
(End of Chapter)