Chapter 217: Effort

In the rock ninja outpost of the Grass Country.

Under the cover of the barrier.

Inside a bustling night market that should not appear here.

A massive earth-release rock barrier stands tall within it.

"It seems Dong Shilang's situation isn't looking good!"

The surrounding illusion kept rippling, making Yuzhibo Yan realize that Dong Shilang had run into some trouble, and she involuntarily furrowed her beautiful brows.

"But on our side…"

Looking opposite, this defense was like a tortoise shell; for a moment they were like mice trying to drag a tortoise, with nowhere to apply force.

These rock ninjas, in order to preserve their lives, were truly willing to spend any cost; their chakra seemed to need no stamina as they frantically reinforced the defense, somehow increasing the thickness of this earth-release barrier to nearly five meters.

This made them lose the desire to continue trying after just a single attempt.

Even Yuzhibo Chaoxia, after trying the Thousand Birds Sharp Spear once, did not continue attempting,

She is only fourteen now; being able to skillfully control this ninjutsu is already good, and besides, she just tried using this ninjutsu to kill the rock ninjas who wanted to ambush them.

It's simply too costly to sustain!

"It seems we can only wait for Dong Shilang to make progress on his side, then have him break this barrier!"

"But wouldn't that just show us as incompetent?"

She gritted her teeth, and Yuzhibo Yan's temper flared. She insisted on trying again, refusing to believe that without Dong Shilang they couldn't even handle this small matter.

"Chaoxia, Longhuo, Zhe, let's all work together, think of a way, and smash this tortoise shell!"

Although she held her breath, Yuzhibo Yan wasn't stupid; she knew that if she alone brute-forced it, even exhausting herself wouldn't solve the problem, and she still needed her companions to have a chance.

"Good! Let's work together!"

"Mm! Everyone together, we will surely succeed!"

"Right! We can't wait for Dong Shilang to do everything for us!"

Not only Yuzhibo Yan, but Zhe as well had no intention of giving up at this moment.

No one wants to always be the one lagging behind, especially those of the Uchiha who have awakened the Sharingan.

Everyone's pride is etched into their bones!

Just as Dong Shilang's companions were striving not to become the one dragging the rear, the battle on Dong Shilang's side also began.

"Heshi! Let's attack together!"

"Liangxiong! You cover us two! Keep an eye on our status at all times!"

Having just caught sight of Dong Shilang's figure, the Hill Squad Captain impatiently launched an attack, but he hadn't lost his reason and still reminded his comrades.

"Don't look directly into his eyes!"

After saying that, he charged toward Dong Shilang, intending to clash in taijutsu.

Given the opponent's demonstrated genjutsu ability, if we engaged in medium- to long-range combat, should they unleash any genjutsu, it would become troublesome.

It would be better to force the opponent into close combat, leaving this dangerous foe no opportunity to use genjutsu—this is also the best way to deal with a genjutsu ninja!

But doing so would inevitably mean facing the opponent's Sharingan; however, with three of us here, it should pose no problem.

But often, plans can't keep up with rapid changes, as is the case now.

Pfft!

A sound of a blade piercing flesh came from behind the Hill Jonin.

"Why?"

Looking at the ninja sword that had pierced through his chest, Liangxiong seemed to realize something, his expression turning unusually resentful.

But at this point everything was already too late; the opponent had just stood behind him, too close.

Moreover, with the sudden ambush, he could not possibly dodge the enemy's sneak attack.

"Is it genjutsu…?"

As the rock ninja named Heshi pulled his ninja sword from his comrade's body, Liangxiong could only collapse helplessly to the ground, leaving a resentful sigh.

Even in death he never understood how Heshi had fallen under genjutsu, given that the opponent's chakra fluctuation showed no abnormality.

"You damned Leaf Village ninja, go die!"

After sneaking from behind and killing his own comrade, Heshi did not stop his actions but instead, with a frenzied expression, charged toward his own captain.

While launching his attack, he also shouted loudly, completely unaware that he himself had fallen under genjutsu.

"Heshi! You scoundrel! Wake up!"

"Do you know what you've done?"

Faced with this sudden change, the Hill Jonin had no time to grieve before being forced to confront his comrade's attack.

He could only passively block the opponent's desperate assault while shouting angrily, though he himself knew this could not dispel the opponent's genjutsu.

"It's all your doing, you bastard!"

He didn't forget to roar furiously at Dong Shilang midway; because his emotions were overly agitated, veins bulged on his forehead.

He never imagined things would suddenly turn out this way; clearly the three of them had been cautious all along and had not fallen under the opponent's genjutsu.

But looking at Heshi's state, it's obvious they'd been caught in the opponent's scheme; the opponent's methods were simply too superb for the three of them to notice.

"Correct answer, but no reward!"

Faced with the enemy's gaze that seemed to want to rip his skin and strain his muscles, Dong Shilang showed not the slightest waver; he had seen such looks many times before.

It could no longer affect him at all!

Instead, at this moment he was leisurely, pulling out the emerald-green flute he had just put away, placing it to his lips, and began to play.

The Heshi under his control was clearly stronger than the Hill Jonin; if he didn't lend a hand, the Hill Jonin, if willing to pay the price, could probably gain control of the situation in about ten or so rounds.

From the corner of his eye he saw Dong Shilang's movement, and a feeling of despair weighed upon the Hill's heart.

This enemy's genjutsu is truly terrifying; it silently controlled the brown stone, in one fell swoop took out Liangxiong, not to mention, and while controlling the opponent, could again cast genjutsu.

Given the opponent's proficiency in genjutsu, without the cooperation of companions, trying to dispel the genjutsu is simply impossible.

Looks like I really can't escape this calamity this time!

And the fact is exactly as this Jonin of the earth mound thought; with the lingering flute sound, Dong Shilang blew it again, not much time had passed, and only three corpses remained on the spot.

And Dong Shilang's figure also disappeared~