Chapter 83: Ambush!

In the 45th year of Konoha, June 16th.

Fujinaka Genma packed his gear, bid farewell to his mother, Kushina Uzumaki, and others, and set off alone toward the Land of Rain.

He had been to the Land of Rain before.

But traveling alone was new.

He left Konoha at eight in the morning.

Fujinaka Genma possessed extraordinary stamina; alone and unburdened, he went all out.

He reached the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire in just one morning.

A small ninja team of ten men was stationed there.

“Senior Genma!”

The team leader bowed deeply.

Though his seniority surpassed Fujinaka Genma’s.

When he became a Jonin, Fujinaka Genma was still a student.

But the ninja world is ruled by strength—when Fujinaka Genma was still a regular Jonin, those who respected him called him “senior,” others simply addressed him as “Captain So-and-So.”

But now, Fujinaka Genma’s power was terrifying.

He inspired more dread than Minato Namikaze, the famed Yellow Flash of Konoha—he single-handedly led two major battlefronts, an awe-inspiring feat, and his status had risen invisibly, though he remained officially a Jonin.

“No need for ‘senior.’ No need for such formality.”

Fujinaka Genma smiled.

He rested, replenished his strength, and asked about conditions on the other side of the border.

Though stationed only along the frontier, Taiyong knew much.

He had to understand the Land of Rain’s situation to respond to any emergency.

Whether reinforcing into the Land of Rain or requesting aid from Konoha, it was essential.

After speaking with Taiyong, Fujinaka Genma learned the Land of Rain’s situation was extremely complex.

Not only was Konoha fighting the Iwa ninja, but the Suna ninja were also at war with Iwa—and the battles spilled into the Land of Rain.

Moreover, many other ninja organizations were active within the Land of Rain.

Not to mention the covert intelligence agents and assassination ninja secretly sent by Kirigakure and Kumogakure.

It was a complete mess.

Hearing this, Fujinaka Genma sighed: “Hanzo has completely lost control of the Land of Rain.”

Taiyong nodded, then shook his head: “Hanzo’s Rain Village remains powerful—yet currently, it shows no intention to join the war. No other faction dares openly appear near Rain Village.”

“During the last Great Ninja War, Hanzo led Rain Village against the other Five Great Villages without yielding—he is no coward.”

“His inaction now likely means he’s waiting for an opportunity.”

Fujinaka Genma nodded slightly, then continued gathering information.

One hour later.

After resting, Fujinaka Genma entered the Land of Rain.

Behind him, Taiyong and the other team members watched his figure recede into the distance.

Someone sighed: “So young. When I was his age, I was still a lowly Genin who knew nothing!”

“They say since becoming a ninja, he’s killed over a thousand enemies—and he always cuts off their heads. Just now he seemed so gentle, like a cheerful boy. Yet…”

“Indeed.”

“Minato truly trained an exceptional student!”

“This is surpassing the master!”

…

The voices faded. Fujinaka Genma smiled faintly, then increased his speed.

As he advanced deeper into the Land of Rain, all he saw was ruin.

Some villages were completely abandoned.

Even small towns were nearly deserted.

Passing through a small town, heading toward the rendezvous point, Fujinaka Genma suddenly frowned.

He halted, his eyes glinting coldly: “Come out.”

“No wonder they call Itachi the Death God of Konoha!”

A voice rang out. Moments later, a figure emerged from the ground ten meters to Fujinaka Genma’s left.

Iwa ninja?

The man wore no ninja headband, but his appearance matched Iwa traits.

Fujinaka Genma did not turn, speaking calmly: “If Itachi know I’m the Death God, Itachi shouldn’t have shown yourself.”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Figures appeared all around him, dressed in varied garb.

No one replied—they struck at once. Kunai, shuriken, and especially explosive tags flew from every direction.

Simultaneously, explosive tags buried beneath the ground detonated.

The first man appeared to draw his attention, luring Fujinaka Genma into the trap’s center, then unleashed the ambush.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Violent explosions merged into one, engulfing Fujinaka Genma.

The initial Iwa ninja had already retreated swiftly before detonation, watching from afar: “No one could survive that.”

“And he wouldn’t have time to use the Body Flicker Technique!”

At that moment, the ambushers emerged one by one.

Dressed differently—Kirigakure, Suna, Kumo, and Iwa ninja, all present.

The explosions ended.

Amid the swirling dust of the crater, Fujinaka Genma’s form materialized—inside his Lightning God Mode.

Had it not been for his reinforced Divine Robe and the armor beneath, plus Lightning God Mode and Flying Thunder God, he would have been blown to pieces.

Foolish.

Fujinaka Genma’s gaze turned icy. He tore through the smoke with a white streak of speed, appearing instantly before the Iwa ninja on his left, and brought his leg down in a brutal slash.

“How is this possible?”

The Iwa ninja gasped, raising both arms, encasing them in rock.

Boom!

The rock on his arms shattered. His eyes bulged. His arms snapped with a crack. Fujinaka Genma’s leg, unslowed and unweakened, struck his shoulder.

Boom!

The Iwa ninja was driven straight into the earth. The force sank the ground, then exploded outward.

Behind Fujinaka Genma, kunai and explosive tags rained down, detonating continuously—yet none touched his robes.

Too fast!

But—

The second wave arrived quickly.

Still useless. Even his Lightning Armor could not be pierced.

After killing the decoy Iwa ninja, Fujinaka Genma drew his blade.

Three minutes later.

Bodies littered the ground. Fujinaka Genma calmly wiped blood from his Raijin Blade, about to sheathe it—when his brow twitched. He looked up. A figure was speeding toward him.

Boom!

The earth beneath Fujinaka Genma’s feet exploded. He shot skyward, snatching the incoming ninja’s throat mid-air with his hand, dragging him down from the sky.

“Gurgle…”

“S-Senior Genma!”

The man’s voice trembled, sweat pouring from his forehead beneath his mask.

He swore—since joining Root, he had never felt such terror, never come so close to death.

“Root?”

Fujinaka Genma asked.

“Yes, Senior Genma!”

The Root ninja spoke quickly, staring at the corpses around him, terrified he’d be next.

No one truly fears death—not even Root!

Fujinaka Genma did not release his grip. He asked again: “Codename.”

“Rokka.”

The Root ninja answered quickly.

Match confirmed.

Fujinaka Genma released him, sheathed his blade: “Take me to Danzo-sama.”

“Yes!”

The Root ninja exhaled in relief.

Five minutes later.

Inside a cave, Fujinaka Genma saw Danzō dressed in combat gear.

Upon hearing Fujinaka Genma describe the ambush, Danzō frowned. “Was the intelligence leaked within Konoha?”

The order came directly from Hiruzen Sarutobi; the chance it was leaked before being issued is negligible.

Waiting until Fujinaka Genma reaches the Land of Rain to make arrangements leaves too little time.

There is only one possibility: soon after Fujinaka Genma left Konoha, the intelligence reached the Land of Rain, and then he contacted all parties to coordinate a joint ambush.

Unfortunately, Fujinaka Genma has a safeguard!