Chapter 146: This Is Only the Beginning

The Frontline Battlefield was shrouded in smoke, and the roar of the Explosive Talisman was deafening.

Ninja corpses lay scattered across the ground, some Konoha Ninja and some Cloud Ninja.

The two sides engaged in fierce combat…

"Damn, hasn't the support arrived yet?"

"Hold them back, don't let them get close!"

At this moment the Konoha Ninja were suppressed by the Cloud Ninja, and a breach had been torn in the defense line.

The Cloud Ninja's assault force surged in like a wolf pack, Lightning Release Ninjutsu exploded among the crowd, and screams of agony rang on.

Facing the perfectly coordinated Cloud Ninja, the Konoha Ninja formation was collapsing.

"Third Squad all wiped out, requesting support!"

"Why hasn't the support come yet, we're about to break!"

The Konoha Ninja struggled to resist the Cloud Ninja's frantic onslaught.

Desperate shouts echoed across the battlefield.

Suddenly, three figures appeared on the battlefield—it was the arriving Lian Ye Squad.

"Swoosh—!"

A flash of blade streaked by, and a charging Cloud Hidden Chunin suddenly froze, spitting blood from the throat and collapsing to the ground.

Lian Ye materialized in the battlefield's center like a phantom, his blade dripping blood without staining.

His Three Tomoe Sharingan rotated slowly, eyes locking onto two Cloud Hidden Jonin, "These two are mine."

"Tuan Cang, suppress the enemies on the right. Xiaochun, go treat the wounded."

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang heard and swiftly formed hand seals: "Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"

Dozens of high‑pressure Wind Blades whistled out, forcing several Cloud Hidden Chunin attempting to attack on the right to retreat.

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun rushed toward the cluster of wounded, and under the cover of the Konoha Ninja, began using Medical Ninjutsu to treat them.

The arrival of Lian Ye and his two companions stalled the Cloud Ninja's offensive.

"It's Konoha reinforcements!"

"Watch out, it's a Konoha Jonin arriving!"

"Wait, that's Uchiha Shun… watch his Sharingan!"

Lian Ye said nothing and charged straight at the two Cloud Hidden Jonin on the left.

"Arrogant little brat!" one Jonin roared, forming hand seals: "Lightning Release: Lightning Panther!"

Lightning transformed into a purple‑blue leopard that lunged, and Lian Ye's Three Tomoe Sharingan rotated slowly, easily discerning the leopard's attack trajectory.

"Swoosh!"

His figure vanished instantly, reappearing beside the Jonin, the Tachi in his hand descending from above.

"What?!"

The Cloud Ninja hadn't expected Lian Ye's speed, and faced the incoming Tachi, had no time to dodge.

Instinctively he attached Lightning Release Chakra Mode to his arm, raising it to hard‑counter Lian Ye's attack.

"Clang—"

Shockingly, the Cloud Ninja actually took the Tachi's blow head‑on.

The sharp Tachi left only a tiny wound on him.

Having missed, Lian Ye immediately created distance.

"Kid, your attack is truly ineffective before me," the Jonin said smugly, mocking.

His physical condition ranked among the very strongest in the Village.

He could even keep up with Lord Raikage…

Combined with Lightning Release Chakra Mode's defense, he could easily repel most attacks.

Relying on his robust physique, he was slaughtering foes across the battlefield.

Lian Ye showed no remorse for the failed ambush, instead stared at the opponent with a mocking grin.

"His physique is indeed strong, but…"

Before the words finished, the Cloud Hidden Jonin sensed something was wrong.

Instinctively he looked at his injured arm, seeing it turning black at a visible speed, veins bulging, the spread accelerating wildly.

"Poison…?!" he stared at Lian Ye in terror, no longer boasting.

A companion beside him, seeing the scene, hurriedly took the Antidote from the Ninja Tool Bag, "Take it quickly!"

The previously panicked Jonin, upon seeing the Antidote handed over, instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

That Antidote was the one Lord Raikage had paid a high price for from the Wind Shadow.

It was said to be crafted by a Genius Poison Maker of the Wind Country, capable of neutralizing the vast majority of toxins.

It cost a staggering one hundred thousand taels per dose!

After Lord Raikage bought it at that price, he distributed it to all the Village's Jonin.

He had previously been poisoned by accident, and after taking the Antidote the toxin was cleared.

He deeply understood the Antidote's potency.

Realizing this, the Jonin immediately swallowed the Antidote, his face regaining its earlier smugness.

"Heh heh, kid, I admit I was scared by you just now, but…"

Before he could finish, the Jonin suddenly collapsed, convulsing, foam spilling from his mouth, lifeless.

"Who gave you the confidence to counter my poison?" Lian Ye stared at the dead Jonin with a strange expression.

He had just seen the opponent's confident demeanor and almost thought the Antidote worked.

Even the so‑called Genius Poison Maker of Sand Hidden Village had no way to deal with the poison he had crafted.

Let alone the Antidote developed by Cloud Hidden Village.

"Bastard!" Jonin, seeing a comrade die from poison, showed dread in his eyes.

When did Konoha Ninja develop such a terrible poison?

Even the Antidote made by Sand Ninja proved useless…

Lian Ye gave the opponent no time to think, hid his left hand behind his back and began forming seals.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

With a low shout, a fireball several meters in diameter erupted from the sky.

Cloud Hidden Jonin, watching the massive fireball bearing down on him, hurriedly left his position.

He had just evaded the attack when he suddenly discovered Lian Ye had vanished.

An ominous premonition rose from his heart; instinctively he looked behind, and met a pair of crimson eyes.

Bad!

A flash of blade, a head fell to the ground.

The surrounding ninja, seeing this scene, instantly wore horrified expressions.

Whether Cloud Ninja or Konoha Ninja, they all halted the battle for a moment.

What difference is there between this instantaneous speed and a demon?!

Before he could react, he disappeared from the spot.

No one knew from where he would charge out with a knife the next moment.

The Konoha Ninja, upon seeing the forehead guard on Lian Ye, subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

It's a relief that this terrifying guy is one of our own.

The Cloud Ninja, however, wore grim faces; this instantaneous speed is utterly impossible to defend against.

The ninja, after a brief daze, resumed the fight.

Seeing Lian Ye's strength, the Konoha Ninja's morale clearly rose.

The Battlefield where Lian Ye was was only a spot on the front line; the number of ninja on both sides was not large, only a dozen or twenty.

It had been over twenty, now only a dozen remain.

……

With Lian Ye and two others joining the fight, the situation quickly reversed.

The battle continued for a while, and Cloud Ninja casualties began to rise.

"Retreat, everyone retreat!"

"That Uchiha's poison knife must not be touched!"

After Lian Ye killed two more Jonin, the Cloud Ninja leader finally issued the retreat order.

The remaining Cloud Ninja receded like a tide.

Lian Ye did not pursue, but coldly stared at the direction they fled.

"We won... we won!"

The remaining Konoha Ninja cheered, their faces showing victorious joy.

Lian Ye sheathed his blade and said softly, "This is only the beginning."

……