Chapter 88: An Annoying, Troublesome Brat

On the border of the Rain Country and the Earth Country.

Inside a wooden hut, Fujinaka Genma materialized.

“Lord Danzo!”

Fujinaka Genma bowed slightly.

Danzo saw Fujinaka Genma appear; on the surface he merely nodded faintly, but inside he breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

He knew his own limits—he was no match for that old bastard, Oonoki, in direct combat.

Without Fujinaka Genma holding the line, he couldn’t help but feel uncertain.

Victory was within reach, his prestige soaring—if Oonoki, that immortal old man, struck back now, everything he’d gained would vanish.

He would not allow it.

But Fujinaka Genma was surprised to arrive and see another person besides Danzo.

Orochimaru!

“Genma-kun!”

Orochimaru greeted with a cheerful smile.

“Lord Orochimaru!”

Fujinaka Genma quickly replied.

Danzo glanced at the two, then rose and walked out. “Come with me to face Oonoki!”

Fujinaka Genma and Orochimaru immediately followed.

Soon.

The group reached the front line of the opposing forces.

Watching Oonoki hovering in midair, arms crossed, Fujinaka Genma couldn’t help but feel envy.

Flying—so convenient.

Easy to escape.

Most importantly—so impressive.

Hovering above, looking down on everyone—it radiated authority.

As Fujinaka Genma stared at Oonoki, Oonoki was studying him in return.

“This is the brat called the Leaf’s Death God?”

“Seems nothing special.”

He scoffed inwardly, but held no contempt.

To underestimate someone who’d built such a reputation was to invite death.

“Danzo, hand over this brat, and today’s battle ends.”

Oonoki cut straight to the point.

Danzo’s gaze darkened. “Oonoki, Itachi’ve grown senile.”

“We are the victors!”

“Then there’s no choice—we fight!”

Oonoki snorted, too lazy to waste words, and immediately formed hand seals.

He’d come here to kill.

“Lord Danzo, beware!”

The Root ninja warned.

No one expected the Earth Kage himself to be so dishonorable—launching a surprise attack without warning.

Oonoki’s hand seals weren’t fast, but they were clean.

He brought his hands together, then apart—a white, transparent barrier appeared, then extended, engulfing Fujinaka Genma and the others.

He struck with lethal intent from the start.

Danzo’s Body Flicker Technique was swift.

And his battlefield experience was vast—he’d fought in two Great Shinobi Wars, and he was not yet the broken old man he’d become.

He barely evaded the jutsu in time.

Orochimaru, with his serpent’s instinct, dissolved instantly into a pool of sludge.

Only Fujinaka Genma didn’t move.

The barrier enclosed him.

Dust Release: Primitive World Technique!

Within the barrier, everything was disintegrated.

The small hill where Fujinaka Genma’s team had stood was reduced by more than half.

The Leaf ninja were stunned.

Had they been eliminated?

The Iwa ninja cheered.

But Oonoki frowned in midair.

Too easy.

A man famed for his Body Flicker—Danzo could dodge this—how could Fujinaka Genma not?

He didn’t believe it.

Sure enough.

As the Leaf ninja worried and the Iwa ninja cheered, Fujinaka Genma reappeared.

He’d actually used Kamui to evade, teleporting elsewhere, then returned via Flying Thunder God.

To outsiders, it looked like he’d simply used Flying Thunder God.

Looking up at Oonoki, Fujinaka Genma smiled. “Your speed is too slow. Unless someone restrains me, or catches me off guard, this technique won’t work.”

Flying Thunder God isn’t an ordinary Body Flicker—it has immense range.

Far beyond the reach of Dust Release.

Oonoki frowned; he knew Fujinaka Genma spoke the truth.

Old limbs, slow movements—natural.

“What a troublesome, irritating brat.”

Oonoki sneered inwardly at Fujinaka Genma’s fox-like grin.

Fujinaka Genma turned to the Iwa ninja. “Kage, let me say something bold—none of these men can coordinate with Itachi to restrain me.”

“Unless Itachi’re willing to turn me and them all to dust together.”

“Even then, I might not die.”

The Iwa ninja felt their scalps prickle under Fujinaka Genma’s gaze.

This smiling brat looked harmless—but recall his battlefield record, his losses inflicted over the past months—and fear crept in.

Many Iwa ninja in the front lines swallowed hard.

Fujinaka Genma turned his gaze from the Iwa ninja and looked up at frowning Oonoki. “Kage, are Itachi certain Itachi want to fight here?”

“I enjoy killing—but to fulfill my mission, even if my robes are soaked in blood, I won’t hesitate.”

“Once I strike, no one can stop me.”

Oonoki’s brow twitched. “What a boastful brat.”

Behind him, Danzo and Orochimaru exchanged surprised glances.

They’d never seen Fujinaka Genma this arrogant.

Arrogant?

If Fujinaka Genma knew their thoughts, he’d immediately refute them.

He was just stating facts.

Madara Uchiha was arrogant.

He was still just a kid.

“What a boastful brat!”

“Let me teach Itachi a lesson!”

Suddenly, a voice rang out—then a thunderous crash as a figure appeared before the Iwa ranks.

Old Zuo!

Fujinaka Genma raised an eyebrow.

Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails, Son Goku.

Master of Lava Release.

He might indeed restrict his speed.

Oonoki frowned but said nothing.

This wasn’t the plan.

But unless Old Zuo stepped forward, there was no way to break the deadlock.

Then Orochimaru appeared beside Fujinaka Genma, slashed his own finger, and performed a Summoning Jutsu—summoning Manda. “Your opponent is me!”

Honestly, he was quite interested in jinchuriki.

In midair, Oonoki watched Orochimaru.

One of the Three Legendary Sannin, a powerful Summoning Beast.

Even if he isn’t a match for the jinchuriki, he can at least hold him off for a while.

At that moment, Fujinaka Genma looked at Lao Zi and said, “My Lord Orochimaru, let me try first.”

Fujinaka Genma rarely stepped forward so boldly.

Because the evaluation from the Ride and Slash system had just come in.

50,000 Ride and Slash points for repelling Ooki.

How can Itachi repel him without fighting?

So, with a summoning cry, Fujinaka Genma vanished from his spot, like a white bolt of lightning striking before Lao Zi.

Boom!

Lao Zi, hastily covering both arms with Tailed Beast chakra, was instantly punched flying.

He smashed through one Iwa ninja after another, carving a clear path.

The Iwa ninjas he struck were either dead or wounded.

“This brat has incredible strength!”

Lao Zi was secretly stunned, and immediately his entire body was wrapped in crimson Tailed Beast chakra.

But before he could cast a ninjutsu, Fujinaka Genma appeared before him.

“Indeed fast!”

Lao Zi’s pupils shrank sharply—he had no time to react, and was blasted flying once more.

“Fall back!”

The Iwa commander ordered, and the Iwa ninjas scattered immediately.

But before a battlefield could clear, Fujinaka Genma reappeared behind Lao Zi.

At this point, Fujinaka Genma was already in Lei Shen Mode.

But this time, Lao Zi was prepared.

Lava surged and flowed across the ground.

Hiss…

Fujinaka Genma landed, and his Lei Shen armor was steadily dissolved by the lava.

Yet.

He lowered his gaze, and the Mangekyo Sharingan appeared.

Kamui—phantomize his legs.

Simultaneously, a horizontal slash.

Plop!

Lao Zi’s tail was severed outright, leaving a deep sword wound across his waist.

Roar!

This time, Lao Zi went berserk.

More Tailed Beast chakra tails emerged.

Four!

And his Tailed Beast transformation advanced further—he could barely be recognized as human.

In this state, Lao Zi’s speed increased dramatically.

But Fujinaka Genma’s speed was even greater.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Lao Zi was repeatedly blasted away, his body accumulating more wounds.

Ooki, hovering above, frowned.

This battle’s pace was too fast—they couldn’t coordinate.

Roar!

Suddenly.

Lao Zi let out a pained roar.

Then, with a cry that was not “Yohoo,” Lao Zi fully transformed into the Four-Tails.

Or rather,

Lao Zi fully unleashed the Four-Tails, Son Goku.

“Retreat!”

Danzō gave a decisive order.

When a Tailed Beast goes mad, it doesn’t recognize friend or foe.

Ooki also ordered his troops to fall back.