Long Ahh chapter!!!
Chapter 84: Super S-Rank Secret Mission—Instant Kill, Fifty-Five Sand Ninja
By the time Sand ninja transmitted intelligence to Chiyo, it was already evening.
Turn back the clock to that afternoon.
Konoha's Ninja Academy, having entered vacation period, should've been completely empty.
Yet at this moment, a certain classroom was packed full.
The occupants weren't students who hadn't graduated yet, but rather mostly vest-wearing all-around jonin.
The remaining non-vest wearers were equally all-around jonin—like Yoru, they simply didn't enjoy wearing vests.
For instance, the Legendary Sannin, having made time during their busy schedules to attend the jonin council, today rarely wore neither vests nor combat armor.
On the podium, Hiruzen Sarutobi and two elders sat before a long table, discussing various topics with the jonin.
Most topics related to the war.
"I have a proposal..."
As another topic concluded, Tsunade suddenly stood, and under everyone's gazes, declared: "I wish to reform the Ninja Academy's current training system."
At these words, everyone's eyes flashed.
Wearing his Hokage hat, Hiruzen spoke seriously: "Please share your thoughts, Jonin Tsunade."
"I hope the Ninja Academy can reduce unnecessary courses and add elective classes, allowing every enrolled student to quickly learn their chakra nature, develop talents based on interests, and establish clubs where they can freely discuss topics after class, learning from and competing with each other..."
Tsunade slowly explained the reform concepts she'd refined over these months through repeated consultations with Yoru.
The jonin present who came from ordinary backgrounds, having earned their seats purely through talent and effort, showed increasingly bright eyes.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya looked at Tsunade with surprise, as though meeting this childhood companion for the first time.
Such progressive thinking, and it would give students from civilian and shinobi families opportunities closer to clan-born students.
Only those clan-born jonin representing their clan heads at this meeting showed somewhat ugly expressions.
If Tsunade weren't the First Hokage's granddaughter and the Senju clan representative, they'd definitely resent her.
Tsunade's elective course reforms essentially aimed to break clan department monopolies.
These clans maintained control over important departmental positions precisely through bloodline limits, secret techniques, and inherent specializations.
Among civilians, only exceptional geniuses qualified to squeeze into this circle.
Yet now Tsunade wanted to help civilians discover talents and develop specializations starting at the academy.
Near-term impact on clan status might be minimal, but long-term was uncertain.
Hiruzen stared intently at Tsunade, his face expressionless yet his heart filled with delight.
Tsunade's proposal left him enlightened.
Though this reform would also affect Hiruzen and the elder council families' rule, it could stabilize his Hokage position further and allow Konoha's civilian ninja to rapidly rise.
He could also place exceptionally talented prospects into certain departments, gradually forming factions that divided clan power.
With the shinobi world war erupting, he wouldn't need to watch those clans' expressions anymore.
Hiruzen instantly made his decision.
But on the surface, his expression and eyes remained unchanged.
After Tsunade finished, Hiruzen swept his gaze around the classroom and asked: "What are everyone's thoughts?"
"I approve of Tsunade-sama's proposal."
A vest-wearing young man with long silver-white hair stood and spoke.
As the first to approve, he successfully drew Tsunade's attention.
But she only glanced at him, offering a smile before withdrawing her gaze.
No one held more confidence in this proposal than her, especially at today's gathering. Even if Hiruzen wanted to protect clan interests, he couldn't stop it.
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
"I also approve."
Including Jiraiya and Orochimaru, jonin after jonin raised hands to vote.
Today's jonin council primarily discussed war-related matters. Tsunade's proposal was purely unexpected.
Clan heads not participating in war had only sent representative jonin.
Konoha's clans numbered just a few, their jonin count barely breaking double digits.
Because the elder council's family representatives sat at that long table.
The remaining jonin all came from civilian and shinobi family backgrounds.
They understood clearly how difficult their paths had been, reaching Konoha's upper ranks purely through talent and luck.
But their talent didn't guarantee their descendants would also be gifted.
Once Tsunade's proposal passed, their descendants would benefit. How could these jonin possibly oppose it?
This was an overwhelming victory!
Seeing the vast majority of jonin vote approval, Hiruzen's face finally showed a smile: "Since everyone chooses approval, I'll also adopt this opinion, reforming the Ninja Academy's training system and implementing it as soon as possible."
"Does anyone have other topics or proposals?"
By the time the jonin council ended, dusk had arrived.
The jonin filed out of the academy like students after school.
Some jonin didn't linger in the village, planning to return to the border today.
The Legendary Sannin as commanders, however, walked unhurriedly toward an izakaya.
This attitude contrasted sharply with several months ago.
Because... Tsunade had successfully developed the antidote formula.
During these months of probing and skirmishing, Konoha had established several production lines, manufacturing massive quantities of antidote.
Though not yet covering all three fronts, the frontline facing Rain Country had achieved several bottles per person.
Unless Hanzo of the Salamander went to other frontlines, allying with Wind or Earth Countries or simultaneously fighting both nations plus Fire Country, attacking the border base no longer gave him the nearly invincible strategic deterrence he'd possessed months ago.
From early year to now, the war had continued over eight months.
Through reconnaissance squad and ANBU efforts, the salamander requiring five minutes to refill its poison gas was no longer a secret only Sunagakure knew.
Hanzo of the Salamander had lost his power to fight an entire nation alone.
No longer needing to flee at the sight of this Demigod, the Legendary Sannin could finally breathe easier, entrusting border base operations to the command team.
Hence their return for the jonin council.
"Where's that Yoru kid?"
Walking toward the izakaya, the Legendary Sannin passed Yoru's house.
Glancing at the unlit cottage without chakra fluctuations, Tsunade—who'd wanted to invite him to celebrate over dinner—looked toward Orochimaru.
Looking closely revealed Tsunade now differed somewhat from months ago.
Several months prior, Tsunade either wore combat armor heavier than green vests or just a white undershirt.
Her light yellow hair was usually tied in a large ponytail.
Now Tsunade still wore a white undershirt, but with a dark blue cardigan over it, her hairstyle changed to long straight hair.
Her way of addressing Yoru had also evolved from initially "Gojo brat" to "Yoru brat" to now simply "Yoru" like Orochimaru.
Clearly, months of consultations had made them close acquaintances.
However, the biggest change was the faint blue-purple diamond mark on Tsunade's forehead—the Yin Seal's embryonic form nearing completion.
Only these past few months had Tsunade begun training the Yin Seal under Yoru's suggestions and guidance.
In less than four months, through the Senju clan's massive chakra, medical expertise, and Yoru's provided experience, Tsunade had surpassed Yoru's year of effort.
Once Tsunade completely mastered the Yin Seal, her appearance would freeze for decades to come at this most beautiful stage—possessing youth's lingering charm yet mature blossoming, belonging to a woman's most radiant period.
Because... in canon, Tsunade hadn't even begun training the Yin Seal when the Second Shinobi World War ended.
By the time she mastered it, this golden blooming period had long passed.
Hearing Tsunade's question, Orochimaru smiled faintly: "After teleporting us back a few days ago, he went to execute a secret mission."
"What mission?"
Tsunade and Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru curiously.
"I said it's secret. How would I know?" Orochimaru showed rare exasperation, yet provided a cryptic answer. "Sarutobi-sensei did hint that if perfectly successful, this mission counts as super S-rank merit, allowing him to exchange for one technique from the Scroll of Seals or forbidden technique vault. If unsuccessful, it's just an ordinary B-rank mission."
"Super S-rank mission?"
Both widened their eyes. Jiraiya asked incredulously: "He's only a tokubetsu jonin, yet Sarutobi-sensei assigned him this level of mission? Don't tell me he wants Yoru to infiltrate a great village assassinating the Five Kage, or assassinate jinchuriki and commanders?"
Just as S-rank jutsu are recognized as the highest-level techniques, yet Flying Thunder God and Spirit Transformation qualify as 'super S-rank jutsu' above that...
S-rank missions similarly had those still technically S-rank yet practically earning 'super S-rank' designation.
Such missions were more dangerous than S-rank, not only endangering executors' lives but potentially affecting the entire ninja village or even nation. Usually only the Five Kage or Kage candidates possessed ability to execute and complete them.
"I said only perfect success qualifies as super S-rank. It's not that serious." Orochimaru showed complete confidence in Yoru. "Besides, with his abilities and personality, are you actually worried he'll have problems?"
"Haha... True enough. That kid's so cautious, he absolutely won't touch anything without certainty." Jiraiya rubbed the back of his head, laughing heartily.
Tsunade inserted both hands in her cardigan pockets, her face showing a beautiful smile.
---
Early morning hours.
Rain Country remained shrouded in clouds, many areas experiencing rainfall.
Neighboring River Country was deep in night's silence, even forest animals having entered sleep.
Today was August 16th. The full moon hung high.
Moonlight spread like a silver-white curtain across dense vegetation and mountain ranges.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh...
Black afterimages flew through the mountain ranges.
The whistling sounds were minimal, chakra control extraordinarily precise, like ghosts merging with darkness.
After who knows how long, these figures successively merged into darkness—either using concealment techniques to hide or vanishing without trace.
Inside a certain mountain's excavated cavern, dim lights currently flickered.
Over fifty ninja wearing ANBU attire and animal masks stood within—unclear whether genuine or fake ANBU.
Among these ANBU stood Ebizo without any disguise.
As all ANBU members returned, one obviously the captain knelt on one knee, reporting: "Ebizo-sama, after three hours of investigation, we can confirm that mountain bodies and underground areas within a twenty-kilometer radius of that region contain no artificially excavated caves or barrier traces."
"No one within twenty kilometers?" Ebizo's expression finally changed, his eyes disbelieving. "Does that mean some Hyuga clan member's far-sight range has broken through intelligence limits, able to see beyond twenty kilometers? Or was this truly just coincidence?"
The ninja he'd brought were all elite among elite.
Some were operatives he'd trained for years, some were high-level combat power yet unused in war with unexposed intelligence, plus ANBU members directly under the Kazekage.
Each either possessed powerful combat ability or special capabilities, all being first-rate in their respective domains.
Their joint investigation would expose even barrier masters, Earth Body Flicker specialists, or Transparent Release users.
If even they found no problems, there truly were no problems.
The more problem-free things seemed, the more suspicious Ebizo grew.
So cautiously, after consideration, he suddenly spoke: "Shinta, Hiko—use Earth Body Flicker to infiltrate there, then have shadow clones unseal two super-large scrolls with unsealing techniques. Check whether they contain strategic supplies and Flying Thunder God seals."
"If no problems exist, bring those two scrolls back to notify us."
"During this process, don't expose your real bodies, and don't contact that squad. Their scents might have been marked—perhaps even barriers can't block it."
Ebizo thought of the Aburame clan.
That clan possessed a nearly extinct insect called rinkaichū, with olfactory ability a thousand times stronger than ninja dogs, capable of tracking any specific scent substance it contacted.
If Konoha deployed those insects, they'd definitely captured that ninja squad's scent. Even twenty kilometers away, they'd know their position.
"Yes."
The ANBU named Shinta and Hiko bowed their heads respectfully, then slowly sank into the ground.
Once their heads completely disappeared beneath the surface, ANBU sitting at the cave's four corners maintaining hand seal positions suddenly changed one seal—taking less than a second before restoring it.
Approximately an hour and a half later, one ANBU maintaining the barrier suddenly spoke: "Ebizo-sama, they're returning."
"How are they?"
"Chakra presence and intensity unchanged. Shinta and Hiko's real bodies."
"Let them in."
"Yes."
As hand seals changed again, Shinta and Hiko's figures soon emerged from the ground.
Behind them, super-large scrolls hung at their waists, standing nearly as tall as themselves.
Shinta's voice filled with excitement: "Ebizo-sama, the scrolls do contain strategic supplies. According to shadow clone inspection, no supplies inside bear Flying Thunder God seals."
Hearing this, Ebizo's face showed a smile: "Excellent..."
Before he could voice his next words, a voice reached his ears.
"Indeed excellent—didn't expect you'd be the one coming, you old schemer!"
His pupils instinctively contracted, approaching pinhole size.
His expression also began shifting from delight toward terror.
Yet whether pupil or expression changes, the process seemed so slow.
As though... spacetime had frozen.
Then in Ebizo's vision, the dimly-lit cave suddenly manifested black lines with faint black lightning crackling around them.
These lines, also like lightning arcs, curved and spread outward.
Like an artist holding a pencil, drawing barely-connected wavy lines on motionless cartoon characters.
Except these wavy lines were surrounded by black lightning special effects.
The lines spread to Ebizo's vision's edge—simultaneously the cave's far end—before stopping.
There, a figure now stood at some point, black lightning crackling around them, gripping a katana with both handle and blade pitch black.
This katana was similarly surrounded by black lightning, as though covered in black Lightning Release nature transformation.
The figure turned around, facing Ebizo.
The turning speed was normal. Ebizo's vision began tilting left and right while gradually eroded by darkness.
Before his sight blurred and darkness consumed him, Ebizo saw ANBU on left and right—where black lines had traced—separating from bodies, cross-sections smooth and straight with no blood spraying.
As though... not physically severed bodies, but decomposed by rule-based power.
Before consciousness completely dispersed, Ebizo's thought wasn't of his sister, but sudden realization.
So... spacetime hadn't frozen. His neural reaction speed was too slow, the opponent's speed too fast. Even his expression hadn't changed before being dismembered.
Like him, the surrounding ANBU shared this fate.
No time to think or analyze what that power was, Ebizo's soul departed for the Pure Land.
Like him, the fifty ANBU members standing in two rows occupying most cave space.
Watching Ebizo-sama and companions who'd been reporting joyfully one second transform into dismembered corpses the next, the four ANBU sitting at corners maintaining the barrier were the only ones completing expression changes.
Yet their reactions equally weren't great.
Or rather, they'd been scared stupid.
When four kunai enlarged in their vision, they finally recovered awareness—already too late.
Whoosh—
Black flashes and traces of black lightning vanished before their eyes.
Four ANBU heads simultaneously dropped to the ground, rolling several times.
Removing their masks would reveal expressions frozen in earlier horrified states.
Watching the dismembered corpses covering the ground, Yoru gripped his bloodless chakra blade, his face gradually showing an excited smile—paired with surrounding black lightning, resembling a serial killer's grin.
"Damn, that felt amazing! Worth waiting half the day!"
Yoru suddenly cursed, forcefully swinging his chakra blade several times.
If not for the corpse-covered ground, he'd want to dance in place to release this excitement.
No helping it—he'd slashed too satisfyingly!
Using Dimensional Slash in a crowded narrow space was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Since developing Dimensional Slash, Yoru had dreamed of this countless times. Today that dream finally became reality.
Moreover, these people all wore animal masks, seemingly ANBU elites—a lineup more luxurious than Yoru's dreams.
Earlier, using intangibility and Earth Body Flicker to secretly tail those two ANBU members here, confirming everyone inside was an expert—Yoru hadn't hesitated at all, directly releasing the Space-Time Yin Seal, using not only intangibility and Dimensional Slash but fusing Space-Time chakra with Lightning Release chakra, raising silent speed to its extreme.
This exhilaration of using his strongest state to instantly kill a pile of elites left Yoru trembling with excitement.
Especially having tailed that tokubetsu jonin squad since daylight from Fire Country to River Country—if not for those supplies being 'marked,' and explaining his plan to Hiruzen beforehand gaining approval and encouragement, plus being able to request support anytime even if accidents occurred minimizing losses—Yoru wouldn't dare be this bold.
Even so, it brought Yoru considerable pressure.
Fortunately, the plan went smoothly. That squad ultimately placed all supplies in the secret base.
During the stakeout, Yoru had teleported away countless times to recover Space-Time chakra, emotions constantly building.
Now this ultimate slash released both technique and pent-up emotions together. Under double satisfaction, even his previous life's intimate encounters seemed to pale in comparison.
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