Chapter 108: Tuan Cang's Last Words

In the forest, two people were sparring.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang swirled blue‑white vortices with both hands, wind blades tearing the air as they flew toward the Sand Ninja a short distance away.

The Sand Ninja before him was a KuoLei Shi, whose Chakra Thread in hand controlled three human puppets.

Facing the incoming wind blades, the KuoLei Shi curled a cold smile at the corner of his mouth; as his ten fingers fluttered, the three puppets' abdomens burst open with a boom, and countless poison needles rained down like a downpour.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang's pupils contracted sharply, and the Wind Release condensed into a shield that rippled under the impact of the poison needles.

He hurried backward, evading the attack.

The poison needles fell to the ground, and the air filled with a pungent, corrosive odor.

Seizing the chance, the KuoLei Shi maneuvered the puppets into a triangular formation; at their joints, Lock Chains sprang out, trapping Tuan Cang in the center. The chains were coated with black poison liquid, and droplets hitting the ground raised plumes of white smoke.

"A petty trick," Tuan Cang growled low, his hands swiftly forming seals; the Wind Release turned into invisible blades that sliced the lock chains.

Meanwhile, the KuoLei Shi's attacks came in an unending tide; the foremost puppet suddenly opened its chest, revealing an Explosive Talisman inside.

Seeing this, Tuan Cang hurried away from the Explosive Talisman's blast radius.

Seeing the prolonged assault fail, the KuoLei Shi clearly grew impatient.

The fight here would definitely expose his position; if he didn't kill the Konoha ninja before him—

—once other Konoha ninjas arrived as support, he would be in danger.

After all, this is Fire Country's territory; the battle must be resolved promptly.

With that in mind, the KuoLei Shi's ten fingers danced wildly, directing the remaining two puppets to launch attacks.

Facing the KuoLei Shi's frantic tactics, Tuan Cang's Wind Release assault visibly weakened, cold sweat dripping from his temples down his cheeks.

Suddenly, a flash of cold light streaked by, and a steel needle coated with poison pierced his right arm with precision.

Tuan Cang's complexion changed; he thought, "This is bad," and hurriedly pulled the needle out, where black, thick blood oozed from the wound.

"Hahaha!" the KuoLei Shi cackled wildly, his eyes full of mockery, "You've taken my poison; no one can survive it!"

Tuan Cang's arm turned a bluish‑purple hue at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Tuan Cang dropped to one knee, his left hand pressing tightly on the poisoned right arm, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes filled with unwillingness.

Will I die here?

Damn it, I haven't become Hokage yet!

Dying like this… really leaves me unsatisfied…

Tuan Cang could clearly feel his body growing cold, a sign of the poison taking effect.

If only Zhuan Qin Xiaochun were here, perhaps there would be a way.

But in his current state, he probably couldn't hold out until Xiaochun arrived.

At this hair‑raising moment, a sharp blade of light sliced through the night.

Lian Ye brandished a Tachi, his lithe form as swift as a leopard, the blade's edge shimmering with a cold glint.

He stood in front of Tuan Cang without turning his head, saying:

"Tuan Cang, hold on."

Speaking so, Lian Ye's figure became a after‑image as he charged at the KuoLei Shi.

The KuoLei Shi's face changed abruptly; he hadn't expected Konoha ninja support to arrive so quickly, and he immediately commanded the puppets to launch a fiercer assault.

Lian Ye's scarlet Three Tomoe whirled rapidly, capturing every subtle gesture of the KuoLei Shi with crystal clarity.

When the sky‑filled poison needles surged again, his form was like a wraith, easily evading them.

"Oh, you really know how to play with poison," Lian Ye chuckled lightly, his Kunai whizzing past the KuoLei Shi's ear.

The KuoLei Shi turned his head to dodge, and at that moment he panicked, realizing Lian Ye had somehow already come close.

He hadn't expected the Konoha ninja's Flash Body Technique to be so swift, moving faster than he could react!

A flash of cold light appeared, and the Tachi, wrapped in murderous intent, slashed down.

The KuoLei Shi hurriedly twisted aside; amid the sound of tearing fabric, warm blood flowed from the wound in his abdomen.

He, still trembling, said, "That was close; you almost killed me!"

Lian Ye, seeing this, let out a helpless sigh.

The beggar version really isn't as good as the original.

If it had been the original Flying Thunder God Slash, this guy would have died long ago.

His Flash Body Technique is still too slow; it seems he must keep training before mastering the Flying Thunder God.

At that moment, the KuoLei Shi suddenly sensed something wrong with his body.

"You... what did you do to me?!"

Only then did he realize the Konoha ninja before him could also use poison.

And this poison's potency was greater than the one he had concocted.

Instinctively, the KuoLei Shi reached for his Ninja Tool Bag and took out an antidote pill.

He swallowed the antidote, then let out a sigh of relief.

The antidote he had developed could definitely neutralize the poison on his body.

While the KuoLei Shi was comforting himself, he suddenly panicked, discovering he was spitting white foam!

A gurgling sound came from his throat, and before his consciousness faded he heard a cold voice.

"Your poison and antidote are trash."

Lian Ye sheathed his Tachi, closed his Sharingan, and turned his gaze to Tuan Cang, who knelt on the ground, his face a dark blue.

"Tuan Cang, are you alright?"

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang struggled to lift his head, weakly saying, "Lian Ye, I think I'm about to die..."

He really feels so unwilling!

He hasn't become Hokage yet, and has to die in a place like this.

After he dies, the only strong contenders for the Hokage Position will be Lian Ye and Ri Zhan.

They must be very happy knowing a competitor is gone, right?

"After becoming Hokage, you must protect the Village..." Zhi Cun Tuan Zang looked at Lian Ye, his eyes full of pleading, "No matter whether you or Ri Zhan becomes Hokage, you must safeguard the Village."

Since he cannot become Hokage, he will, before dying, tell them how to become a proper Hokage!

Hearing this, Lian Ye was slightly stunned.

The present Tuan Cang genuinely loves the Village, utterly different from the future selfish, unscrupulous Guo Wang who will stop at nothing to achieve his aims.

"Uchiha Lianye, promise me!" Tuan Cang raised his voice, "If the two of you do not protect the Village, I will become a ghost... hmm."

"What nonsense are you muttering? Here, take the medicine."

Lian Ye, without waiting for him to finish, took the Antidote from his ninja pack and shoved it into his mouth.

He can make Poison, so of course he can also make Antidote.

A Sand Ninja KuoLei Shi's crudely made Poison is something he can easily neutralize.

"What did you give me?" Zhi Cun Tuan Zang said with a terrified face.

Just a moment ago he was giving instructions calmly, and Lian Ye suddenly shoved a blackish thing into his mouth.

The thing melted upon entry, a burst of bitter taste instantly spreading through his mouth.

Could this guy think he's dying too slowly and thus give him more poison?

The more Tuan Cang thought about it, the more he felt it was possible; indeed, this is something Lian Ye could do.

After all, this guy has become more and more evil over the past few years...

Just as Tuan Cang was rambling, he suddenly found his body no longer uncomfortable.

His previously stiff body gradually recovered, and the pain lessened considerably.

"Hahaha, I don't have to die." Tuan Cang laughed excitedly, looking up at the sky.

While laughing, he recalled the scene of giving his last words earlier, and his smile instantly froze.

He turned his head cautiously, only to see Lian Ye looking at him with a half‑smile.

Tuan Cang: "……"

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