341-345

Chapter 341: Then Bet Your Life to Achieve Your Dreams!

—

"This time, in order to ensure the smooth progress of the Five Nations Conference,"

"The Hidden Cloud Village has established seven divisions and set up three defensive lines within the inner city,"

"Arranged in three concentric rings,"

"They are as follows—"

"The first ring: The Long Wall Defense Line."

A pale finger tapped the outermost part of the map, and a steady voice followed,

"Composed of a ninja army formed by various minor nations, forces invited by the daimyos, and the Hidden Cloud's intelligence units. This section is the largest and most diverse, including samurai, rogue ninja, bounty hunters, the daimyos' personal guards, and core ninjas from various villages, whose influence on the war will be critical."

"They are responsible for defending the walls, intelligence reconnaissance, and barrier detection, making this the easiest line of defense to breach."

"Of course, based on further intelligence, it’s likely that the Hidden Cloud never intended to hold us back at this stage."

"The second ring consists of the Hidden Cloud Village’s true elite forces."

The red-haired youth lifted his gaze, his eyes flashing slightly as he moved his finger, tracing a large empty section on the map. He then drew a circle around the central landmark—Tenshukaku.

"The War Stop Line!"

"Crossing this line means engaging in a full-scale ninja war with no difference from a battlefield confrontation!"

"This ring is composed of three divisions: the Special Combat Unit, the Surprise Attack Unit, and the Disruption Unit. These three divisions form a protective arc around Tenshukaku in the city center."

"With an elite force of over two thousand stationed across a ten-hectare defensive zone, they maintain a loose outer formation but a tight inner perimeter. Upon receiving intelligence from the Long Wall, they can immediately mobilize and reinforce any battlefield across the city."

At this point, Sasori—who had never spoken at such length in one go—paused briefly, slightly furrowing his brows before pointing to the very center of the map.

"As for the third ring of defense, the Imperial Guard Line,"

"It is only known that this force consists of the daimyo’s personal guards and an elite entrapment unit."

"Their exact numbers and composition are unclear, but one thing is certain—it will be the most difficult line to break through."

—

Not far outside the inner city walls of Yunming City,

Behind a small rise in the terrain,

Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, Mei Terumi, Mangetsu Hozuki, Homura Oyoru, Kakuzu, and Sasori were gathered around a detailed map of the inner city’s layout.

Upon hearing Sasori relay the intelligence, their expressions collectively tensed.

"Are we certain this information is reliable?" Yahiko furrowed his brows, lifting his gaze to meet Sasori’s with a solemn expression.

"Of course."

Sasori’s face remained unchanged as he calmly revealed his source.

"Yura, from the Sand Delegation, is a pawn I control through my Mind Puppet Jutsu. He has been embedded in the Hidden Cloud camp for the past six days."

"The intelligence he provides won’t have any major discrepancies."

"Hmm…" Yahiko hesitated for a moment before speaking heavily:

"Based on the information Nagato, Konan, and I gathered while tracking the situation, after Shinji publicly declared his assassination intent,"

"The Hidden Cloud immediately recalled its main forces stationed in the Land of Frost back to the Land of Lightning, rushing toward Yunming City. If Sasori’s intelligence is correct—"

"Then what we will be facing,"

"Is an organized army of eight thousand elite Hidden Cloud shinobi, along with reinforcements from various nations summoned by their daimyos."

"In total,"

"A ninja force exceeding ten thousand!"

Upon hearing this, the group's expressions darkened even further.

The eight of them had dispersed after Shinji chose to leave quietly, setting out separately on various missions.

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, using the special concealment abilities of Nagato’s summoned chameleon, infiltrated enemy territory to gather intelligence on the Hidden Cloud.

Meanwhile, Kakuzu and Homura Oyoru investigated potential infiltration routes into the inner city, ultimately obtaining the map they were now reviewing from the Uchiha clan.

Mei Terumi and Mangetsu Hozuki leveraged their family connections and influence to gather intelligence on the daimyos’ reinforcements.

And then there was Sasori—an enigmatic red-haired figure who seemed completely detached from the group’s overall goal. Even his decision to assist Shinji appeared arbitrary.

No one could truly understand him, nor could they determine his motives. And since they had no authority over him, they originally only requested that he remain silent about their plans until the operation was complete, allowing him the freedom to leave afterward.

Unexpectedly,

Sasori, without a word, had managed to extract the defensive positions and numbers of five out of the seven enemy divisions, bringing the Akatsuki organization an invaluable windfall.

Or, depending on how one looked at it, a terrifying revelation.

At that moment,

Sasori swept his gaze over everyone and let out a soft, mocking laugh.

As an outsider, he saw through their fears and ambitions more clearly than any of them.

"So what now?"

"Faced with an army of ten thousand,"

"You lost wanderers, who came seeking answers from a twelve-year-old boy,"

"Are you finally waking up to reality?"

His gaze locked onto Yahiko, then swept across the rest of the group.

He was searching for any expression worth mocking, hoping it would distract him from his growing impatience—his burning desire to see someone again.

Revealing the devastating truth to Akatsuki only at the last moment had nothing to do with good or evil—it was just his own amusement.

Because Sasori hated waiting.

However—

"No!" Yahiko showed no signs of defeat. Instead, he spoke sincerely,

"Thank you, Lord Sasori, for your intelligence! And thank you all for the effort you’ve put in for today!"

He lifted his head seriously, his gaze sweeping over everyone—

The displeased Sasori, who frowned at Yahiko’s gratitude.

Nagato and Konan, who looked at him with unwavering support.

Mangetsu Hozuki, who smirked in anticipation.

Kakuzu, who remained expressionless.

And Homura Oyoru, who had done absolutely nothing, almost got beaten for it, yet now found himself embarrassed by Yahiko’s heartfelt thanks.

Finally, Yahiko’s eyes landed on Mei Terumi, who had remained silent, her expression growing heavier.

"Then, for the final confirmation,"

"Mei Terumi, you’re not deceiving us,"

"According to our plan, whether or not Shinji comes, this will be the battle that launches our dreams!"

"Of course!"

Mei Terumi took a deep breath, a firm resolve flashing in her emerald-green eyes.

"This is not about begging for Shinji’s power!"

"It’s about moving forward for our own dreams!"

"Whether it’s you, me, or anyone here!"

"Assassinating the daimyos, striking down the Mizukage, seizing a nation, and gathering power of our own!"

"Ultimately—"

"To bathe the world in Akatsuki’s light!"

Yahiko exhaled deeply, exchanged glances with Konan and Nagato, then turned around—

Climbing to the top of the rise,

He gazed ahead at the towering twenty-meter-high black stone walls. His vision seemed to penetrate them, reaching the thousands of soldiers waiting beyond.

His eyes sharpened, and a grin spread across his face as he clapped his fists together and laughed:

"Then bet your lives to achieve your dreams!"

"Akatsuki—"

"Begin the operation!"

(End of chapter)

Chapter 342: Akatsuki Squad, Assemble!

“Our objective is clear,”

“It is the Tenshu Pavilion at the center of the Third Ring Defense Line!”

“The Five Nations Conference is taking place there, meaning the Kage and Daimyo will definitely be present.”

“So, the plan is simple—”

Yahiko gazed solemnly at the towering black stone walls ahead and spoke with determination:

“We will split into two groups: a diversion team and a breakthrough team.”

“We will concentrate our attack like a sharp blade, piercing through the enemy's defenses!”

“Our goal is to break through as quickly as possible, assassinate the Daimyo, carve a direct path through the enemy lines, and retreat!”

“The diversion team will alternate positions to disrupt enemy reinforcements and prevent us from being surrounded and trapped in a prolonged battle.”

“The breakthrough team,”

“Must take the most dominant stance possible,”

“And crush everything in our path!”

Hearing this, the group nodded in agreement. Even Kakuzu, the eldest and most experienced fighter among them, approved of the strategy.

“A wise choice.”

Facing a force of ten thousand soldiers crammed into the narrow battlefield of the inner city, scattering would only lead to them being divided and picked off one by one.

The advantage Akatsuki held over the enemy was that every member possessed the strength of an elite Jonin or higher. Only by concentrating their power could they break through the formation while minimizing losses—ensuring they had enough strength left to face the unknown threats of the third and final defense layer and ultimately assassinate the Daimyo.

“Then, let’s go over it one more time.”

Yahiko turned his head slightly, his eyes firm.

“The diversion team consists of me, Konan, Suigetsu, and Oya Castle En.”

“The breakthrough team consists of Nagato, Kakuzu, and Mei Terumi!”

“And finally, Sasori will cover our rear and take care of the Chakra Cannon that stopped Orochimaru’s plan to collapse the Hidden Cloud.”

“That’s it!”

“Wait a moment!”

At that moment, Oya Castle En frowned slightly, lowering the square-framed sunglasses perched on his nose, revealing his blood-red, rectangular-pupiled Dragon Eyes.

“The first obstacle before us isn’t just this wall that we can climb over.”

He raised his left hand and made a sweeping motion. A faint, nearly weightless chakra ripple spread out in front of the team, like a breeze disturbing the surface of a pond, creating invisible waves.

Then, with a serious tone, Oya Castle En continued:

“It’s the spherical barrier created by the Hidden Cloud’s barrier team, covering the entire inner city!”

“Anyone who trespasses will be immediately detected, and reinforcements will be dispatched to this location.”

“If we can avoid that...”

However, before he could finish—

“Whoosh!”

From several kilometers away, on the western side of the inner city, a series of densely packed, tadpole-like sealing runes suddenly spread outward, racing past them and disappearing into the distance.

In the next moment, the enormous barrier covering the entire city became fully visible—

And then, in the blink of an eye,

The barrier's surface was dyed completely red, covered in tadpole-shaped symbols!

Then—

Boom!

With a slight tremor, the sensory barrier before them shattered like glass!

“The west side… someone acted before us?!”

Mei Terumi was taken aback, looking north in surprise.

“Who could it be?!”

“No matter who it is, they just did us a huge favor. This is our chance!”

Yahiko quickly turned to the group behind him, his brows furrowed.

“Nagato!”

“Understood!” Nagato nodded solemnly.

He took a few steps forward, grabbing Yahiko’s shoulder, while Yahiko crouched down and supported Nagato’s legs.

“Let’s begin!”

Yahiko took a deep breath, channeling chakra throughout his body.

Beneath his black cloak with red clouds, his muscles tensed, veins bulging.

Unlike Nagato, who wielded the devastating power of the Six Paths and the Rinnegan, or Konan, who had created her own Paper Release techniques with exceptional intelligence,

Yahiko had always considered himself untalented. He had focused solely on mastering Water Release and swordsmanship, training to a level that even Jiraiya had found astonishing.

His body was one that could go toe-to-toe in a fistfight with a berserk Naruto in his Six-Tails state!

At this moment,

With Nagato on his shoulders, Yahiko clenched his jaw, veins throbbing as he roared:

“Hah!!”

Like launching a javelin, he thrust Nagato upward with a powerful push!

Boom!

The air around them exploded with a sharp, supersonic blast!

Nagato soared into the sky,

Gliding over the walls, bypassing the barrier, and flying past the stunned samurai stationed on the walls.

As countless Hidden Cloud shinobi from all directions turned their gazes toward him,

Nagato stretched his hand downward.

The fierce wind lifted the red bangs that usually covered his forehead,

Revealing beneath them—

A pair of terrifying Rinnegan, rippling circles converging into a single black pupil!

At this moment—

“RAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!”

He roared, his fingers clenched into a claw.

“Shinra Tensei!!!”

The unseen hand of a god that repels all things—

Descended in an instant!

Centered on Nagato, a spherical gravitational shockwave exploded outward, covering nearly a hundred meters!

In the blink of an eye—

Like being crushed by a solid iron ball, the twenty-meter-high wall collapsed instantly!

The guards on the wall—samurai and small-nation shinobi alike—were sent flying before they could even react.

Those unfortunate enough to be directly beneath the impact were flattened into the rubble!

As Nagato used the recoil force to propel himself forward,

Only then did the Hidden Cloud shinobi a hundred meters away snap out of their daze, frantically sounding the alarm!

“Enemy attack!”

“Enemy attack!!”

“Command center! The eastern sector is under attack! Requesting immediate reinforcements—AAAHHHH!!!”

Before the smoke and dust had even settled, from the edge of the collapsed wall to the command post, the message was rapidly relayed through flag signals.

In mere moments, over a thousand mixed-nation shinobi, led by their Hidden Cloud commanders, surged forward in a dark wave—

However—

Just then—

The smoke cleared.

Behind Nagato, seven figures had appeared!

And all seven—

Were wearing the same black cloaks adorned with red clouds!

The wind howled, making their robes billow wildly!

Two of them stepped forward, forming rapid hand seals as they moved.

The first was a tall figure with glowing green eyes, wearing a mask, with two shadowy creatures perched on his shoulders.

By merging his Fire Release mask and Wind Release mask, he simultaneously unleashed Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work and Wind Release: Pressure Damage, creating a devastating large-scale jutsu.

“Combined Ninjutsu—Blazing Gale Dance, Phantom Mask Inferno!”

As the jutsu took form,

Kakuzu took a deep breath, clasping his hands into the final "Snake" seal!

“—Boom!!!”

The charging wall guards had barely come face to face with the attackers when—

A hurricane-force wind erupted across nearly a kilometer!

A sea of flames, as vast as a tsunami,

Crashed down upon them!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 343: "Good Timing! Fire the Chakra Cannon at Shinji!"

---

"That technique… is that Kakuzu, the S-rank rogue ninja from Takigakure? He joined the Akatsuki too?"

Standing at the center of the battlefield, atop a towering cylindrical rock formation,

Jiraiya, alongside the envoy members, gazed toward the east. There, in an instant, a section of the city wall had been blasted apart. Immediately after, a massive sea of flames swallowed the advancing army.

Jiraiya furrowed his brows slightly, his mind racing.

"So, Shinji’s Akatsuki has finally made its move. But the response from Kumogakure is clearly a step too slow."

He tilted his head slightly, glancing toward the west. However, all he could see was a rock wall blocking his view.

"I can’t see from here..."

"But according to the plan, Minato should have already taken action."

"Still, this barrier is massive. Even with Minato’s sealing prowess, there’s no way he could break it this quickly!"

"Did something unexpected happen?"

Jiraiya reached into the ninja tool pouch strapped to his lower back, gripping a uniquely shaped kunai. He took a deep breath.

To fulfill the prophecy of the Great Toad Sage and protect Shinji,

Five days ago, Jiraiya had ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi’s orders. Before setting off for the Land of Lightning, he had secretly released Namikaze Minato, who had been ‘detained’—in reality, placed under house arrest—alongside Uzumaki Kushina. Then, he and his disciple had rushed to Kumomine City.

Their objective was to dismantle the most troublesome obstacle in Kumogakure’s defense—

A massive sensory barrier covering the entire inner city, impervious to physical attacks.

This barrier essentially gave Kumogakure a "map hack," allowing them to detect enemy movements at all times and deploy overwhelming countermeasures.

Even a Kage would struggle to survive in such an environment.

A ninja army with enhanced intelligence versus one without is a night-and-day difference.

The former could preemptively prepare powerful combination techniques—jutsu capable of rivaling, if not surpassing, the power of a Kage.

Even the Ten-Tails would struggle in such conditions.

But the latter, against the elite Akatsuki, would be utterly powerless.

In a world where individual strength could reach absurd heights, numbers alone weren’t enough. You needed vision, intelligence, and coordination to make numbers truly matter.

Jiraiya brought Minato here for exactly that reason.

No matter how much Ay boasted, once Jiraiya struck at the heart of the problem, he’d be left speechless!

Over the past five days, Jiraiya had infiltrated Kumomine City, using his stealth skills to thoroughly investigate the sensory barrier.

Now—

He had blinded the Kumogakure army.

With the first two defensive layers crumbling before the Akatsuki’s assault, their defenses had already begun to collapse!

"So, what will you do now, son of the Raikage?"

Jiraiya smirked slightly, turning his gaze toward the young Ay.

"It’s about time you revealed the personnel of your third defensive layer, isn’t it? Otherwise, how can we feel at ease?"

Just as Jiraiya had predicted, upon seeing the eastern frontline collapse in an instant,

Maki, the Suna shinobi that Rasa had conveniently sent as a scapegoat, turned pale. His already sand-colored face lost all color.

Without hesitation, he turned to Ay and demanded,

"Son of the Raikage! This is your so-called ‘flawless defense’?"

"If you can’t even guarantee the safety of the envoy, then I’d say your so-called ‘security’ is nothing but—"

However, before Maki could apply more pressure,

Ay turned toward him with a cold glare and said indifferently,

"Kumogakure is not as fragile as you think."

"Watch closely!"

The moment his words fell,

The battlefield shifted once more.

The first layer of Kumogakure’s defenses had collapsed almost instantly under the combined assault of Composite Style: Blazing Wind Dance and the Strange Mask Explosions.

Their scattered attempts at Water Release counterattacks had barely put up any resistance before they were utterly routed.

However, what happened next caught everyone off guard.

Just as a breach was opened, Kumogakure forces quickly reinforced it.

From the left and right wings, two additional squads surged toward the opening—clearly prepared for this exact scenario.

Unlike their predecessors, these reinforcements had come ready.

*"Combined Water Style: Surge Wave!"*

A large number of Water Release users within the squads performed a synchronized combination jutsu, significantly amplifying its power.

What would normally be a simple Water Release technique, when executed by hundreds of ninjas in unison, became comparable to the Great Water Shockwave Technique.

As it collided with Kakuzu’s Composite Jutsu, a massive white mist erupted across the battlefield.

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, shifting his gaze toward the reinforcements’ flanks.

Floating in the air, like dark clouds, were clusters of tiny black creatures.

"It looks like… bees?"

"Correct," Ay said flatly.

"That is the Kamiarashi Clan from Iwagakure. They specialize in controlling bees—similar to your Aburame Clan in Konoha."

"When Shinji declared war on the Daimyō, he made himself the enemy of the entire ninja world."

"And such a foolish move… Heh, absolutely laughable."

"There’s nothing left to see here."

"Let’s move on. We should proceed to the Five Kage Summit immediately."

Hearing this, and seeing the battlefield rapidly shifting into a stalemate, Jiraiya’s heart tightened.

This so-called ‘brotherhood-built’ Kumogakure, known for having the fewest Kekkei Genkai and secret techniques,

Had actually gained access to other villages' hidden arts—thanks to the Daimyō’s influence.

If Akatsuki’s momentum was halted, and they failed to break through to the Daimyō’s castle in one swift strike,

Then the only path left for them…

Would be defeat.

And if Jiraiya wanted to ensure Shinji’s survival, there was only one way—

To take the risk himself.

As an envoy, he had managed to position himself at the heart of the conflict,

Where Shinji was destined to appear.

And then—he would hand over Minato’s kunai.

But now…

Would Shinji really show up there?

And what decision should he make next?

Jiraiya was lost in thought.

However—

At that moment—

From the lower levels of the spiral staircase built along the cliff, a series of rapid, urgent footsteps echoed.

"Lord Ay!"

A group of Kumogakure Barrier Team members, clad in white cloaks and headbands, rushed up, gasping for breath.

Their faces were filled with anxiety as they shouted—

"Urgent intel!"

"Shinji—he’s appeared!"

Hearing this, Ay’s expression shifted instantly, his eyes flashing with excitement.

"What did you say?"

The Barrier Team member pointed in the direction Jiraiya had come from.

"He’s at the northern gate! Right outside the city!!"

A sneer crept across Ay’s face as he waved his hand.

"Good timing!"

"He actually dares to stroll right through the front gate?"

"Just how little does this brat think of us?"

"Listen up!"

Ay’s eyes darkened as he turned to the Barrier Team ninjas and barked:

"Relay this to B immediately—fire the Chakra Cannon at him!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 344: Sage Art—Yin Release Phantom Form! Hypnotizing Ten Thousand People!

Just as the Hidden Cloud forces suddenly discovered Shinji's traces and before the young Ay could decisively order an attack—

On the western side of the inner city.

This was where the Hidden Cloud's barrier squad, tasked with maintaining the sensory barrier, was stationed.

At that moment—

Sitting cross-legged before a massive water-like sphere,

An elderly man, clad in a white uniform with a full head of white hair, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Strange… Was that an illusion? What was that noise?"

But in the next instant—

His vision blurred, and before he could react, a uniquely shaped kunai was already pressed against his throat. A young man with golden hair and a cold, stern face had appeared before him without a sound.

He instinctively swallowed.

"You… You’re—! The Yellow Flash!"

The barrier squad captain cautiously looked up, recognizing the intruder’s face. His eyelid twitched, and a chill ran down his spine.

Since the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War, a common rule had spread among all the major hidden villages:

"If you encounter Konoha's ‘Yellow Flash’ during a mission, you are allowed to abandon the mission immediately, and it will not be considered a failure."

Logically, since he had encountered the Yellow Flash here, he should be able to justify abandoning his post.

But…

The place he was guarding was crucial to the safety of nearly ten thousand people—his comrades and juniors.

Clenching his teeth, the barrier squad captain made a desperate decision. He reached out toward the massive water sphere, hoping to use the last of his strength to relay the message: The Yellow Flash is here!

However—

A hand, wrapped in a blue forearm guard, moved faster than him, gripping his outstretched hand before he could touch the sphere.

"I need you to step aside quietly."

Namikaze Minato’s calm gaze fell on the hand reaching for the water sphere as he spoke in a composed voice.

"I am not here as a Konoha ninja, nor do I wish to escalate this into a war."

"My only objective is to disable the sensory barrier over this city. Once I'm done, I will seal away your memories so you won’t be blamed for anything."

"Disable the barrier?"

The barrier squad captain was momentarily stunned before shaking his head and speaking through gritted teeth.

"Even if you disable the barrier, it’s useless."

"Besides, dismantling a high-level barrier like this takes far longer than you think. This is an advanced large-scale barrier technique, modified from the Uzumaki Clan’s ‘Regenerative Barrier’."

"Namikaze Minato, the patrol team checks on me every five minutes. If you're discovered here, it will be considered an act of war between our nations!"

"You better think this through!"

"That’s something to worry about later," Minato said, shaking his head. He pressed down on the captain’s hands, bound him with a sealing technique, and tossed him aside.

Then, he looked up at the giant water sphere before him, bubbles gently drifting within.

For a brief moment—

His mind flashed back to six days ago, to the moment Shinji suddenly turned on him and knocked him unconscious.

Minato took a deep breath, clenched his trembling fists, and his expression hardened.

As someone who had fought alongside Shinji, he knew one thing for sure—

Shinji was incredibly strong!

If Shinji had managed to break through the Raikage’s defenses and defeat Killer B in the Hell Valley battle,

Then this assassination attempt—

It might just work.

With the Fourth Raikage protecting him, the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning was certainly a difficult target, but Shinji might still succeed.

However—

What comes after the assassination?

He would face tens of thousands of Hidden Cloud soldiers, an unfamiliar battlefield filled with traps, and—unlike the Hell Valley battle—both A and the Third Raikage would be present, ready to fight him head-on instead of engaging in a battle of attrition.

Even with Shinji’s strength back in Hell Valley, he could very well have been killed there. And now, having lost his Tailed Beast, his stamina and endurance were significantly weakened.

That’s why Minato was here.

"I need to disable this barrier before Shinji enters the inner city. Otherwise, he won’t make it to Jiraiya-sensei—meaning I won’t be able to use the Flying Thunder God to extract him."

"I don’t have much time—three minutes at best. I’ll have to take the gamble."

With that thought, Minato raised his hand, formed a seal, and pressed his palm onto the water sphere.

"Shinji…"

"This time,"

He lifted his head, his gaze resolute.

"I won’t be careless again!"

"Even if I have to break your arms and legs, I’ll bring you back to Konoha!"

### Meanwhile, on the other side—

The northern side of Cloud鸣 City, near the main gate.

Having completed his training on the fifth day, then traveling via the Island Turtle to the Land of Frost before retracing his path back to the Land of Lightning—

Shinji had returned.

Unlike the last time, when he crashed into the inner city with an entire mountain, encountering no resistance—

After six days, the Hidden Cloud forces had rebuilt the city.

Through the vision of his Sharingan, Shinji could clearly see a massive barrier covering the entire city. The retracted drawbridge and murky moat were all encapsulated within it.

But then—

"Is this… the Regenerative Barrier?" Shinji's expression turned slightly amused as he observed the chakra network within the barrier.

A chuckle escaped his lips.

Back when he first left the village, he had extracted this very technique from the future Hidden Cloud barrier squad captain, Molloy.

The *Super Deadlock Barrier*—

An advanced sealing technique derived from the Uzumaki Clan’s Regenerative Barrier.

And yet—

The Hidden Cloud was using this very technique as the city's primary line of defense?

Ji couldn't help but laugh at the irony.

After all, the enemies he had trapped using this technique were either dead or had become allies. The only person who had ever seen it—Rasa—had been too far away to identify its exact mechanics.

Later, he had stopped using it since it wasn’t particularly effective against Kage-level opponents.

And the Hidden Cloud—well, everyone knew they were poor. Aside from their unique taijutsu and Lightning Release techniques, they mainly relied on stealing jutsu. During the fall of Uzushiogakure, they had managed to snatch only a limited number of sealing techniques.

To them, the Regenerative Barrier was already one of their highest-grade sealing jutsu. After all, even their Jinchūriki were still using the outdated Iron Armor Seal.

Through a series of coincidences, a significant information gap had emerged—

The Hidden Cloud had deployed their most advanced barrier technique against Shinji, unaware that he had long since mastered it.

"Well then, this should be a good way to say hello."

A small smile played on Shinji’s lips as he raised his hand and pressed it against the barrier.

Strange markings spread from his heart, down his arm, and onto the barrier—

Then, he channeled an enormous amount of *natural energy* into it, flooding its network.

Suddenly—

Ji’s expression flickered. Through the surge of natural energy, he sensed activity on the other side of the barrier.

"Hm? Someone's already trying to disable the barrier?"

"This chakra… Minato?"

"He sensed me too… Wait, is he—?"

Ji's eyes gleamed.

He and Minato were essentially doing the same thing—injecting their chakra into the barrier to locate and seize control of its core.

The difference?

Ji was overwhelming the entire barrier with an absurd amount of natural energy.

Minato, on the other hand, was already at the core and racing against time to spread his chakra across its sealing network.

One lacked control; the other lacked time.

A perfect match.

Sensing Shinji’s chakra, Minato immediately switched tactics—

He was going to help Shinji seize control of the entire barrier!

"In that case…"

Ji's eyes sparkled.

"I can use this city-wide barrier for something even greater."

*"Sage Art—Yin Release Phantom Form!"*

"A genjutsu to hypnotize ten thousand people!"

(End of chapter)

Chapter 344: Sage Art—Yin Release Phantom Form! Hypnotizing Ten Thousand People!

Just as the Hidden Cloud forces suddenly discovered Shinji's traces and before the young Ay could decisively order an attack—

On the western side of the inner city.

This was where the Hidden Cloud's barrier squad, tasked with maintaining the sensory barrier, was stationed.

At that moment—

Sitting cross-legged before a massive water-like sphere,

An elderly man, clad in a white uniform with a full head of white hair, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Strange… Was that an illusion? What was that noise?"

But in the next instant—

His vision blurred, and before he could react, a uniquely shaped kunai was already pressed against his throat. A young man with golden hair and a cold, stern face had appeared before him without a sound.

He instinctively swallowed.

"You… You’re—! The Yellow Flash!"

The barrier squad captain cautiously looked up, recognizing the intruder’s face. His eyelid twitched, and a chill ran down his spine.

Since the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War, a common rule had spread among all the major hidden villages:

"If you encounter Konoha's ‘Yellow Flash’ during a mission, you are allowed to abandon the mission immediately, and it will not be considered a failure."

Logically, since he had encountered the Yellow Flash here, he should be able to justify abandoning his post.

But…

The place he was guarding was crucial to the safety of nearly ten thousand people—his comrades and juniors.

Clenching his teeth, the barrier squad captain made a desperate decision. He reached out toward the massive water sphere, hoping to use the last of his strength to relay the message: The Yellow Flash is here!

However—

A hand, wrapped in a blue forearm guard, moved faster than him, gripping his outstretched hand before he could touch the sphere.

"I need you to step aside quietly."

Namikaze Minato’s calm gaze fell on the hand reaching for the water sphere as he spoke in a composed voice.

"I am not here as a Konoha ninja, nor do I wish to escalate this into a war."

"My only objective is to disable the sensory barrier over this city. Once I'm done, I will seal away your memories so you won’t be blamed for anything."

"Disable the barrier?"

The barrier squad captain was momentarily stunned before shaking his head and speaking through gritted teeth.

"Even if you disable the barrier, it’s useless."

"Besides, dismantling a high-level barrier like this takes far longer than you think. This is an advanced large-scale barrier technique, modified from the Uzumaki Clan’s ‘Regenerative Barrier’."

"Namikaze Minato, the patrol team checks on me every five minutes. If you're discovered here, it will be considered an act of war between our nations!"

"You better think this through!"

"That’s something to worry about later," Minato said, shaking his head. He pressed down on the captain’s hands, bound him with a sealing technique, and tossed him aside.

Then, he looked up at the giant water sphere before him, bubbles gently drifting within.

For a brief moment—

His mind flashed back to six days ago, to the moment Shinji suddenly turned on him and knocked him unconscious.

Minato took a deep breath, clenched his trembling fists, and his expression hardened.

As someone who had fought alongside Shinji, he knew one thing for sure—

Shinji was incredibly strong!

If Shinji had managed to break through the Raikage’s defenses and defeat Killer B in the Hell Valley battle,

Then this assassination attempt—

It might just work.

With the Fourth Raikage protecting him, the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning was certainly a difficult target, but Shinji might still succeed.

However—

What comes after the assassination?

He would face tens of thousands of Hidden Cloud soldiers, an unfamiliar battlefield filled with traps, and—unlike the Hell Valley battle—both A and the Third Raikage would be present, ready to fight him head-on instead of engaging in a battle of attrition.

Even with Shinji’s strength back in Hell Valley, he could very well have been killed there. And now, having lost his Tailed Beast, his stamina and endurance were significantly weakened.

That’s why Minato was here.

"I need to disable this barrier before Shinji enters the inner city. Otherwise, he won’t make it to Jiraiya-sensei—meaning I won’t be able to use the Flying Thunder God to extract him."

"I don’t have much time—three minutes at best. I’ll have to take the gamble."

With that thought, Minato raised his hand, formed a seal, and pressed his palm onto the water sphere.

"Shinji…"

"This time,"

He lifted his head, his gaze resolute.

"I won’t be careless again!"

"Even if I have to break your arms and legs, I’ll bring you back to Konoha!"

Meanwhile, on the other side—

The northern side of Cloud鸣 City, near the main gate.

Having completed his training on the fifth day, then traveling via the Island Turtle to the Land of Frost before retracing his path back to the Land of Lightning—

Shinji had returned.

Unlike the last time, when he crashed into the inner city with an entire mountain, encountering no resistance—

After six days, the Hidden Cloud forces had rebuilt the city.

Through the vision of his Sharingan, Shinji could clearly see a massive barrier covering the entire city. The retracted drawbridge and murky moat were all encapsulated within it.

But then—

"Is this… the Regenerative Barrier?" Shinji's expression turned slightly amused as he observed the chakra network within the barrier.

A chuckle escaped his lips.

Back when he first left the village, he had extracted this very technique from the future Hidden Cloud barrier squad captain, Molloy.

The *Super Deadlock Barrier*—

An advanced sealing technique derived from the Uzumaki Clan’s Regenerative Barrier.

And yet—

The Hidden Cloud was using this very technique as the city's primary line of defense?

Shinji couldn't help but laugh at the irony.

After all, the enemies he had trapped using this technique were either dead or had become allies. The only person who had ever seen it—Rasa—had been too far away to identify its exact mechanics.

Later, he had stopped using it since it wasn’t particularly effective against Kage-level opponents.

And the Hidden Cloud—well, everyone knew they were poor. Aside from their unique taijutsu and Lightning Release techniques, they mainly relied on stealing jutsu. During the fall of Uzushiogakure, they had managed to snatch only a limited number of sealing techniques.

To them, the Regenerative Barrier was already one of their highest-grade sealing jutsu. After all, even their Jinchūriki were still using the outdated Iron Armor Seal.

Through a series of coincidences, a significant information gap had emerged—

The Hidden Cloud had deployed their most advanced barrier technique against Shinji, unaware that he had long since mastered it.

"Well then, this should be a good way to say hello."

A small smile played on Shinji’s lips as he raised his hand and pressed it against the barrier.

Strange markings spread from his heart, down his arm, and onto the barrier—

Then, he channeled an enormous amount of *natural energy* into it, flooding its network.

Suddenly—

Shinji expression flickered. Through the surge of natural energy, he sensed activity on the other side of the barrier.

"Hm? Someone's already trying to disable the barrier?"

"This chakra… Minato?"

"He sensed me too… Wait, is he—?"

Shinji eyes gleamed.

He and Minato were essentially doing the same thing—injecting their chakra into the barrier to locate and seize control of its core.

The difference?

Shinji was overwhelming the entire barrier with an absurd amount of natural energy.

Minato, on the other hand, was already at the core and racing against time to spread his chakra across its sealing network.

One lacked control; the other lacked time.

A perfect match.

Sensing Shinji’s chakra, Minato immediately switched tactics—

He was going to help Shinji seize control of the entire barrier!

"In that case…"

Shinji eyes sparkled.

"I can use this city-wide barrier for something even greater."

*"Sage Art—Yin Release Phantom Form!"*

"A genjutsu to hypnotize ten thousand people!"

(End of chapter)

Chapter 345: Barrier Removal, Susanoo Under Fire!

At the break of dawn, the faint light illuminated the sky.

As the rising sun revealed half of its golden outline, the drifting clouds were dyed a deep crimson.

The moment the emissaries of the Five Nations stepped through the city gates, the atmosphere atop the walls shifted instantly.

No one spoke. Even their breathing grew tense and ragged.

Everyone present knew exactly what kind of person was about to arrive. The only question was—from which direction would the madman who had declared an assassination come?!

Ninjas and samurai alike, assembled in numbers, held their breath as they scanned every corner beyond the walls. Their eyes darted anxiously across the emptied, desolate streets, sweeping for any sign of movement.

Until—

A footstep echoed clearly in front of the city gate.

TAP. TAP. TAP.

The sound of ninja boots crushing dust, treading steadily over the paved stone road.

"Captain! Over there!"

On the city walls, upon hearing the approaching footsteps, the deputy officer, Motoi, snapped his head around. He pointed straight ahead, calling urgently to his commander beside him.

"There’s an enormous chakra signature—coming right at us!"

Motoi's face tensed. The moment he sensed that overwhelming presence, his fingers forming the '未' seal nearly trembled beyond control.

That chakra… it was comparable to a Tailed Beast Jinchūriki!

At that moment, Rami'i—the seasoned commander entrusted with the city's defenses—narrowed his gaze. His sharp eyes locked onto the street corner at the far end of the road. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself.

Hoo…

From the street corner, a figure emerged.

Fifty meters away from the gate, the figure halted abruptly, as if noticing something intriguing.

Dressed in a gray undershirt and a high-collared black short-sleeved top, loose lantern-style pants secured with a purple rope belt—the same kind Orochimaru wore—and shin-high black ninja boots, the boy’s face was one Rami'i could never forget.

"No doubt about it… It's Shinji!"

Rami'i sucked in a sharp breath, his tension spiking as his gaze fixed on the ground where the boy stood.

From beside him, Motoi continued reporting everything he observed.

"The regeneration barrier… he's found it!"

"He hasn’t triggered the alarm… Wait, what is he doing?"

Motoi’s breath hitched as he watched Shinji raise a hand toward the invisible barrier.

If he took even a single step forward, the barrier team would detect his presence instantly, summoning an army to intercept him.

Yet, Shinji stood perfectly still at the threshold, as if deliberately avoiding that outcome.

"What the hell is he planning?"

"Doesn't matter!" Rami'i made a split-second decision. His voice was low but firm.

"Motoi, report to HQ immediately! They need to know Shinji is here—NOW!"

"Summon Kyōeimon!"

Motoi obeyed without hesitation, performing the summoning technique. A contract-bound owl materialized before him, instantly taking off toward the heart of the city, heading for the inner citadel.

At that moment—

Standing before the barrier, Shinji had, of course, noticed all of this.

Yet, he made no attempt to stop them.

Instead, he pressed his palm firmly against the barrier’s surface.

Within seconds—less than a minute—something happened.

From the point of contact, intricate patterns of densely packed sealing symbols spread outward like a swarm of tadpoles. They pulsed and expanded, dyeing the entire city’s defensive barrier in the crimson hue of the Uchiha Fire Formation.

Then—

CRACK!

A sound like shattering glass echoed through the air.

Before everyone's eyes, the previously invisible barrier encasing the city revealed its massive, semi-spherical form. It wavered violently—then suddenly, with a resounding crash, it shattered into oblivion!

Through the silent, unspoken coordination between Namikaze Minato and Shinji, they had seized control of the barrier’s core in an instant.

And in that same moment—Cloud Village’s first line of defense was completely nullified.

The barrier was down!

At that very instant, Shinji lifted his head sharply.

His crimson Sharingan eyes locked onto the cloud ninja stationed atop the walls, all poised for battle.

"Cloud Village…" his voice was calm but ice-cold.

"Are you ready for my arrival?"

A stunned murmur rippled through the ninja ranks atop the walls.

Their instinctive reaction, upon meeting Shinji’s gaze, was to recoil—averting their eyes as an involuntary shiver ran down their spines.

But in the next moment, the seasoned Rami'i roared furiously.

"Stay calm!"

"Execute the plan—"

"UNLEASH JUTSU!"

In an instant—

Both sides erupted into action!

Shinji lunged forward, body low, charging at full speed!

His target: the commanding Cloud ninja standing atop the walls—Rami'i.

There was no elaborate strategy.

He had no need for one.

All he needed was to break through. Tear down the wall. Push forward.

Straight to the heart of the city.

There was no room for hesitation. No interest in stealth or subtlety.

This was no mere assassination—

This was absolute, unstoppable force.

He would advance. And advance. And keep advancing!

Until no one in this city dared to stand before him.

Victory would belong to Uchiha!

At that moment—

From atop the city walls, a deafening roar erupted in unison:

"Lightning Release: Thunder Illusion Lightning Pillars!"

x50!

Faster than sound,

is light!

This technique turns the entire body into lightning, causing the opponent to mistake it for a vision-obstructing illusion, thus unknowingly falling into a genjutsu. Using the cover of intense light, the enemy is drawn into the illusion without realizing it. Even Sasuke's "Taka" team fell victim to this technique.

However, the Hidden Cloud side doesn't need the genjutsu aspect this time. What they need is simply the blinding light!

Fifty beams, each as powerful as a ship's searchlight, simultaneously burst forth!

In an instant, everything around was engulfed in white light, transforming the area into a blinding domain!

In this environment, both sides would lose their vision,

but the side that was prepared in advance could take full advantage of the situation!

At this moment,

high above on the cliff where the central castle's keep stood,

the young man, A, wore a fierce expression. He looked toward the nearby mountain peak where the massive iron cannon was positioned, and shouted,

"Bee, fire the—"

"CANNON!!!"

Standing at the edge of the giant cannon, a Hyuga ninja with Byakugan furrowed his brows, clearly displeased with A's rude command. Yet, bound by duty, he kept his eyes wide open, staring straight ahead as he spoke without turning his head,

"Zeroing in. Correcting for live ammunition."

"North side, 11 o'clock direction, adjust three units to the left."

Upon hearing this, Killer Bee immediately followed the instruction, then channeled a massive amount of Tailed Beast chakra into the cannon!

In the next instant,

"—BOOM!!"

Flames burst from the cannon's muzzle, propelling the solid cannonball out with tremendous force!

Whoosh!

The wind roared as it pierced through the hollow trajectory!

In an instant, the projectile flew over the castle walls, resembling a meteor with a blazing red tail as it shot toward the gate!

Meanwhile,

at the castle gate, both opposing forces were in the midst of battle, their vision completely robbed by the multi-layered 'Lightning Style: Lightning Illusion Flash Pillars'!

Under the intense light, even the Sharingan couldn't clearly perceive the surroundings.

However,

the Hidden Cloud's strategy was overly optimistic.

They overlooked Shinji's unique ability—Mind's Eye!

By merging all five senses to form a real-time, delay-free mental image, Shinji could 'see' the incoming projectile headed straight toward him.

"Tch."

"So, this is the Chakra Cannon that blasted apart Orochimaru's Eight-Headed Serpent Technique?"

Watching the solid cannonball rapidly approaching, Shinji raised an eyebrow.

When Orochimaru met him again after the Hidden Cloud Collapse Plan, his attitude had noticeably softened. He no longer spoke arrogantly about mastering countless jutsu. Whether it was because of the knowledge he gained from the White Snake Sage or because he was hit by this thing, Shinji couldn't be sure.

Right now,

if he activated Sage Mode, Shinji could easily dodge this Mach 3 cannonball.

However,

Sage Mode needed to be saved for dealing with the Third Raikage. Shinji's research revealed that this state couldn't be maintained indefinitely, contrary to what legends claimed.

The effect of Heaven's Blessing brought by Sage Transformation was to negate the drawbacks of Sage Mode. As long as there was enough natural energy, Sage Mode could be used without limit.

But currently, his Sage Heart, which he created, couldn't sustain the infinite energy needed for continuous usage.

The immense natural energy stored within the Sage Heart could only maintain Sage Mode for about 5 minutes. If the state exceeded 1 minute, the energy consumption would exponentially increase. Even with the natural energy gathered from the surrounding 10,000-meter radius, resetting the state would only allow for one more usage.

Of course, as he continued to use Sage Mode, the natural energy would enhance his cellular activity, gradually increasing his physical strength. Eventually, his base form would match his initial Sage Mode activation. It was estimated that within three years, he would achieve Base Form = Initial Sage Mode.

Right now, at best, Shinji had only 10 minutes of Sage Mode.

Using it here would be a waste.

"In that case... I'll use this!"

Shinji's lips curled into a grin as he excitedly watched the cannonball speeding toward him!

In his scarlet eyes, the pitch-black tomoe spun slightly.

In the next moment,

26 bones, glowing between bright yellow and crimson red, emerged from Shinji's back!

A half-body skeletal Susanoo swiftly formed amidst the blinding lightning. It raised its arm,

one skeletal hand of Susanoo lifted instantly, fingers spread wide,

and reached out barehanded to catch the cannonball!

(End of Chapter)