Naruto: Analyzing Everything in a Life Against Heaven

Travel through Naruto, and your soul will be transported to a dying war orphan!

When battlefield intuition reveals deadly murderous intent, extreme analysis unlocks incredible cheats – enemy ninjutsu seals? Deconstructed at a glance! Combat flaws? Instantly pinpointed!

Three Body Techniques? Master in one day! A-level Ninjutsu? Master in three days!

In the Konoha training camp, I shocked everyone with my overwhelming presence; in the bloody battlefield, I single-handedly killed the enemy and became famous!

So what about the Sannin? So what about Hanzo?

My analysis is the ultimate law of the ninja world!

From an orphan whom no one cares about, to the cold-faced god of death that the entire ninja world fears, I, Ye Feng, will use extreme analysis to kill my way through this troubled world!

This time, I will rule the ninja world!

Naruto: Analyzing Everything in a Life Against Heaven
Chapter 1: Lone Wolf on the Battlefield, Extreme Survival
[Time: Mid-Second Ninja World War][Location: An abandoned village ravaged by war on the border of the Fire Nation]The pungent smell of blood and burnt smell mixed together, like the lowest quality marsh gas, violently penetrated into the nasal cavity, almost suffocating the human soul.
In my ears were intermittent groans, the wails of the wounded, the faint roar of explosions in the distance, and… the teeth-grinding rustling sound of some wild beast gnawing on carrion.
Ye Feng suddenly opened his eyes.
What meets the eye is a hellish scene.
Broken walls and charred wooden beams were scattered in the muddy pool of blood. Everywhere you look, there are incomplete corpses. Some are wearing different styles of ninja uniforms, and some are in civilian clothes. They are lying on the ground in all directions. The blood has dyed the earth dark red, like some kind of ominous sacrificial scene.
“Well……”
A pounding headache hit him, as if someone were pounding a drill into his brain. Countless chaotic, shattered fragments of memory flooded in like a tide, impacting his consciousness.
War, explosions, desperate cries, cold blades… and the short and terrifying life of a boy named “Kenta”.
No, not Kenta now.
He is Night Breeze.
A soul from a peaceful era inexplicably took over the body of a war orphan who had been knocked unconscious by the shock wave in the previous battle.
Having merged with the memories, he also inherited this body’s weakness and… its near-death state.
He was only about seven or eight years old, as thin as a bean sprout, and covered in dirt and blood from who knows who. He felt a sharp pain in his left arm, as if a bone had been broken. Hunger was like a maggot in his tarsal bones, gnawing at his stomach.
“Hold!”
Ye Feng cursed in his heart, but there was no extra expression on his face. There was only a pair of deep and cold eyes that were not suitable for his age. Like the calmest predator, he quickly scanned the surrounding environment.
This is a battlefield! A brutal battle just took place. Now is a brief period of calm, but the danger is not far away.
The enemy who made the final kill?
Our own ninjas searching for spoils?
Or is it a wild beast attracted by the smell of blood?
The shadow of death hovered overhead like a vulture.
Suddenly, an indescribable throbbing surged from the depths of his heart, like some kind of instinctive alarm. Ye Feng almost subconsciously held his breath, curling up even tighter, hiding behind a broken section of low wall, his gaze fixed on a pile of rubble about thirty meters to the left and ahead.
There’s… something there!
【Battlefield Intuition】!
The word flashed through Ye Feng’s mind. This wasn’t a system prompt, but a natural realization that emerged after integrating certain characteristics of this body with the analytical abilities of an adult soul. The original owner of this body seemed to be born with an extraordinary sensitivity to danger!
A few seconds later, a ninja wearing a Sunagakure uniform but clearly injured stumbled out from behind the rubble, clutching his abdomen. He looked around warily, his eyes fierce, a bloody kunai tightly grasped in his hand, clearly searching for any missed targets or…supplies that could be replenished.
Ye Feng’s heart suddenly shrank, but was immediately suppressed by his strong rationality.
calm!
He is now just a “comatose” or “dead” child. As long as he doesn’t make any noise and doesn’t attract attention, the other party will most likely not waste time and energy on a little kid.
He reduced his presence to a minimum, even controlling his breathing, as if blending into the “corpses” around him.
The Sand Village ninja looked around and didn’t seem to find the “living thing” Ye Feng, and then began to grope around the corpse of a person who looked like a Konoha ninja.
Ye Feng’s cold eyes locked onto the Sand Ninja, and his brain began to analyze rapidly like a high-speed precision instrument.
【Extreme Analysis】!
This was another gift from his soul, or perhaps a transformation of an adult’s mind under intense concentration. He could force himself into a state of absolute focus, greatly enhancing his observation, analytical skills, and even his ability to imitate and learn.
Sand Ninja…slow movements, injured left leg, severe chakra depletion…Threat Level: Medium-low.
He searched with practiced skill and a clear goal: ninja tool bags, scrolls, military ration pills or first aid supplies that might be hidden on his person.
Ye Feng’s eyes greedily swept over the ninja tool bag on the waist of the Sand Ninja.
Inside… he had what he needed most right now! Weapons! Medicine! Maybe even food!
Kill him?
The thought flashed through my mind, but was immediately rejected by reason.
The risk is too high! My body is too weak. No matter how injured the opponent is, he is still a ninja. If I fail, I will be the one to die.
Survival is the first priority!
Ye Feng forced himself to look away and continue observing his surroundings.
After finishing the search, the Sand Ninja seemed to want to leave this dangerous place as soon as possible. After identifying the direction, he limped in another direction and soon disappeared in the thick smoke and ruins.
The crisis was temporarily resolved.
Ye Feng slowly breathed a sigh of relief, but his tense nerves did not dare to relax at all.
He did not stand up immediately, but continued to maintain his “corpse” state, while pushing the ability of [Extreme Analysis] to the extreme, scanning every inch of the surrounding land like a radar.
After confirming that there was no other direct threat, he carefully and quietly climbed out from behind the low wall.
You must find usable supplies as soon as possible and find a way to survive!
In this era, human life is worthless, especially war orphans. Without power, they are at the mercy of others or die in some inconspicuous corner due to hunger, disease, or the aftermath of the next battle.
He first crawled towards the body of the nearest Konoha ninja, who looked like a Chunin, with a fatal wound on his chest, and was already dead.
Ye Feng’s face was expressionless, devoid of the fear and discomfort a child would feel. His movements were as practiced as if he had done them a thousand times before. He first quickly checked the area around the corpse for traps (his “Battlefield Intuition” told him this was a relatively safe place), then reached out and untied the ninja tool bag from the man’s waist.
It feels heavy to the touch.
When I opened it, I saw a lot of things inside.
Five standard kunai, eight shurikens, a roll of steel wire, a few small smoke bombs, and a small medical kit containing bandages, hemostatic powder and a few basic detoxification pills.
The biggest surprise was that he found a small, sealed tube of Bingliang Pills in the interlayer of the ninja tool bag! There were five of them!
This thing is a high-energy compressed food. One pill can match an average person’s daily consumption. For ninjas, it is a good thing to quickly replenish physical strength.
“Very good.” Ye Feng whispered to himself, his voice hoarse and dry.
Without hesitation, he stuffed everything into his tattered clothes, hiding it as best he could. He placed the Bingliang Pills closest to his body, a life-saving trump card.
He then quickly checked the other two bodies. One was a Konoha Genin. His ninja bag wasn’t full, but it was better than nothing, so he added a few kunai and shurikens. The other was a Sunagakure ninja. Unfortunately, his belongings seemed to have been looted by his fellow Sunagakure ninja, so he only found a broken kunai.
Just as he was about to search for the next target, [Battlefield Intuition] sounded the alarm again!
This time the sense of danger is even stronger, coming from multiple directions!
Ye Feng suddenly looked up and saw several figures in the distance approaching this direction quickly. Judging from their jumping and moving postures and their attire, they were ninjas from Konoha!
We are here to clean up the battlefield and search for survivors!
If discovered, they would most likely be taken away. But… they might also be treated as a burden. In wartime, efficiency is paramount, and the fate of an orphan who cannot prove their worth is often very worrying.
You have to show your worth! At least… you can’t act like an ordinary, scared kid!
Ye Feng’s brain was working rapidly, and his [Extreme Analysis] ability allowed him to instantly observe the details of the person coming.
There were five of them, led by a seemingly experienced Chunin, his face a look of weariness and numbness. The other four were Genin, also covered in smoke and gunpowder, their movements efficient. They were quickly examining the bodies on the ground and providing emergency care to the wounded who were still breathing.
The night wind did not hide, nor did it cry out.
He suppressed the discomfort in his body, slowly stood up, leaned against a broken wall, and watched the approaching team of Konoha ninjas calmly.
In his hand, he tightly grasped a kunai he had just picked up, which was still intact. This was not for attacking, but to show that he was not completely helpless.
“Huh? There’s still a living kid?” The leading Chunin noticed Ye Feng, frowned slightly, and stopped.
The other Genin also looked over, their eyes filled with a hint of surprise and… indifference. War had made them accustomed to life and death, and the presence of an orphan didn’t cause them much emotional fluctuation.
“Captain, what should we do?” asked a young Genin.
The Chunin didn’t answer immediately. He looked at Ye Feng. This child was too calm, too calm to be a child. He was covered in blood and his clothes were torn, but he stood straight, his eyes cold, and he still held the weapon in his hand.
This didn’t look like an ordinary war orphan. Rather, it looked like a wolf cub, still baring its fangs in the face of despair.
“What’s your name?” the Chunin asked in a deep voice.
Night Breeze licked his cracked lips and answered in the clearest voice possible: “Night Breeze.”
No extra words, no crying, no begging.
A strange look flashed in the Chunin’s eyes. He pointed at the bulging bag hidden in Ye Feng’s arms and asked, “Have you collected any supplies?”
Ye Feng nodded without hiding anything. He knew that in front of such an experienced ninja, hiding anything would be foolish. He even took out a small roll of bandages and a small packet of hemostatic powder from his pocket and handed it over: “The medical ninja should need this.”
He had just used [Extreme Analysis] to observe that there was no dedicated medical ninja in this team of ninjas, and the first aid supplies they carried seemed to have been consumed in the previous battle.
This action once again surprised the Chunin.
This child is not only calm, but also very smart. He knows how to observe, judge, and even knows how to use the smallest cost to exchange for the chance of survival.
The Chunin was silent for a few seconds, then said to the Genin next to him: “Take him. Check him carefully, don’t leave him alive to the enemy.”
“yes!”
A Genin came over and gently supported Ye Feng. Ye Feng did not resist and followed them obediently. However, his cold eyes were like a scanner, recording everything around him.
The intensity of the chakra fluctuations of these ninjas, their equipment, movement patterns, and coordination between each other… all this information is captured, analyzed, and stored by [Extreme Analysis].
He knew that he was safe for the time being.
At least, he was incorporated into Konoha’s system before arriving at the next transit station or camp.
But this is just the beginning.
If you want to survive in this cruel world, and live well, it is far from enough to rely solely on cleverness and temporary obedience.
He needs strength!
Absolute power enough to control your own destiny!
Chakra… Ninjutsu…
There was a cold light flashing in Ye Feng’s eyes, like a hungry wolf slowly opening its eyes in the dark night.
He clenched the ration pills and the cold iron objects hidden in his arms, feeling the pain in his arms and the hunger in his stomach, all of which silently reminded him of the reality of this world.
This is the world of Naruto, a bloody place where the strong are respected and human life is as precious as paper.
And he, Ye Feng, will reach the pinnacle of power at all costs! Whoever dares to stand in his way will be the soul of the dead under his fangs!
Supported by a Genin, Ye Feng walked among the ruins filled with corpses, one step deep and one step shallow. The corner of Ye Feng’s mouth curled up into an almost imperceptible cold arc.
A hellish start?
Then fight your way out of hell and reach the top!
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ActivityRegister as a Filo member and receive 200 points![Register Now]Chapter 2: The Dormant Wolf Cub, A First Glimpse of the Way (Old Version)
[Second Ninja World War – Temporary Camp on the Fire Country Border]Following the footsteps of the Konoha ninja, Ye Feng trudged through the mud and ruins, taking one deep step and one shallow step.
The smell of blood in the air did not diminish at all. Instead, as it approached the rear, it was mixed with the smell of herbs and… despair emanating from more wounded people.
What I saw along the way was even more shocking than before.
Huge holes blasted out by ninjutsu, charred trees, and the wreckage of collapsed houses were everywhere. More corpses were scattered on both sides of the road in various twisted postures, and there were even limbs hanging on broken branches.
War is a huge and cruel meat grinder that crushes life into cheap minced meat.
Ye Feng silently observed the ninja team leading the way ahead.
The five men maintained a standard defensive formation throughout their movements, never relaxing their vigilance even in the relatively safe rear area. Their pace seemed weary, yet they possessed a resilience ready to burst forth at any moment. Their chakra flow, though not at peak levels, remained steady and concentrated.
[Extreme Analysis] operates quietly, recording and analyzing their movement patterns, coordination habits, and even subtle changes in expressions.
The Genin who supported him seemed to be a little curious about Ye Feng, the “calm kid”, and would occasionally look down at him, but Ye Feng always remained silent and calm, neither appearing afraid nor taking the initiative to talk, like an emotionless puppet.
This calmness beyond his age made the Genin feel a little at a loss, so he simply stopped paying attention.
After walking for about half an hour, a relatively open area appeared in front of us.
A simple wall was built with sharpened wooden stakes and earth-style ninjutsu. Behind the wall were densely packed tents. Ninjas were moving hurriedly among them, and the air was filled with a tense and solemn atmosphere.
This is one of Konoha’s temporary camps on the front line.
Rather than being a camp, it was more of a huge shelter for wounded soldiers and a transit point for supplies.
“Alright, kid, we’re here.” The leading Chunin stopped and pointed to a registration tent at the entrance of the camp. “Go there to register and someone will arrange for you.”
He nodded to the Genin who was supporting Ye Feng, “Hand him over to the people in the logistics department.”
“Yes, Captain!”
The Genin led Ye Feng towards the registration tent. Sitting at the door of the tent was a Konoha Genin who looked equally exhausted, concentrating on recording something.
“Hey, Oki, there’s a war orphan here. The captain asked you to take care of him.” The Genin who led the way said concisely.
The Genin named Oki raised his head, his eyes bloodshot. He looked at Ye Feng, his gaze lingering on him for a few seconds, as if he was a little surprised by Ye Feng’s calmness.
“I understand. Let’s keep him.” Da Mu’s voice was a little hoarse.
The Genin who led the way patted Ye Feng’s shoulder as a farewell, then quickly turned around and returned to the team. Their mission was not over yet.
Ye Feng stood there, looking at the Genin named Oki.
“Name?” Da Mu picked up a pen and prepared to write it down.
“Night Breeze.”
“age?”
“Probably… seven or eight years old.” Ye Feng gave a vague answer based on his body’s memory.
“Where are the family members?”
“They’re all dead.” Ye Feng’s tone was calm, as if he was stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.
Da Mu paused with his pen, then looked up at Ye Feng again with a complicated expression. He had seen many children like this during the war, but this was the first one to be so calm.
He shook his head, stopped asking questions, and quickly wrote down the information on the register: “Ye Feng, male, approximately 7-8 years old, war orphan, condition: healthy (minor trauma).”
After writing, he pointed to a relatively secluded area inside the camp: “Go over there, see the largest gray tent? Go find a Genin named ‘Mina’. She is in charge of you… children.”
Ye Feng looked in the direction he pointed, and [Extreme Analysis] instantly locked onto the target tent, taking into account the path, guard distribution, and terrain characteristics along the way for analysis.
“Thank you.” Ye Feng murmured a thank you, and without stopping, he walked towards his target.
His small figure seemed out of place in the noisy and busy camp, but his steps were extremely firm.
Along the way, he saw more of the cruelty of war.
The wounded soldiers with missing arms and legs lay on simple stretchers and groaned in pain. The medical ninjas were busy performing palm magic, but their chakra was obviously not enough to deal with so many wounded. They could only give priority to treating those ninjas who were still capable of fighting or had higher value.
Supplies were scarce and the atmosphere was depressing.
Every ninja’s face was filled with fatigue and numbness, as if they might collapse at the next second.
This is the Konoha camp during the war, real and cruel.
Ye Feng’s heart grew even colder, and his desire for power grew even stronger. Only by possessing enough power could he escape this fate of being at the mercy of others!
Soon, he found the largest gray tent. At the entrance, a freckled, ponytailed female ninja, who looked only thirteen or fourteen years old, was distributing something. She must be the “Mina” Ohki had mentioned.
A dozen children about the same age as Ye Feng gathered around the tent. Most of them had frightened or numb looks in their eyes. They huddled together and shivered.
The arrival of Ye Feng did not attract much attention.
Mina glanced at him and asked, “New here? What’s your name?”
Mina glanced at the list in her hand and found the information that Da Mu had just registered: “Well, Ye Feng…Okay, stand over there and line up. There will be food later.”
Her tone was calm, even a little impatient, and it was obvious that managing these noisy and frightened children made her exhausted.
Ye Feng followed his instructions and walked to the end of the line, keeping a subtle distance from the other children.
He did not cry or whisper like other children, but just stood there quietly, his cold eyes like the most sophisticated instrument, observing everything around him.
Mina was distributing food—a small piece of dry, hard black bread to each person, and a small bowl of paste whose contents were unclear.
When it was Ye Feng’s turn, he calmly took the food, said “thank you”, then walked to a relatively clean corner and started eating in silence.
The black bread was so hard that it grated on his teeth, and the paste had a strange smell, but Ye Feng ate it very seriously, without wasting a single bit. This was the energy he could get to sustain his life.
At this moment, a boy who looked older than Ye Feng and had a scar on his face came staggering over with two followers, staring at the black bread in Ye Feng’s hand with unfriendly eyes.
“Hey, new guy, that bread looks good. How about giving it to me, Scar Brother, as a gift?” The scarred boy in the lead grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.
When the other children saw this scene, they subconsciously shrank their necks. It was obvious that the scarred boy was the bully among this group of orphans.
Ye Feng raised his eyelids and glanced at him, his eyes calm.
[Extreme Analysis] instantly gave an assessment: Scarred boy, about ten years old, stronger than himself, with some basic fighting skills, Threat Level: Low. Two henchmen: Negligible.
“Get out.” Ye Feng spat out a word, his voice was not loud, but extremely cold.
The scarred boy was stunned for a moment, as if he hadn’t expected this frail newcomer to speak to him like that. He immediately became furious and said, “You’re looking for death!”
As he said that, a fist as big as a casserole smashed towards Ye Feng’s face!
Ye Feng’s body moved as if it were a conditioned reflex!
[Battlefield Intuition] allowed him to predict the opponent’s attack trajectory, and [Extreme Analysis] instantly analyzed the opponent’s weaknesses of unstable lower body and dispersed punching power!
Instead of retreating, he advanced, his body slightly tilted at a tricky angle, narrowly avoiding the fist. At the same time, the half piece of black bread in his hand was like a weapon, fiercely stabbing the scarred boy’s eyes!
This attack was fast and fierce, completely beyond the scar-faced boy’s expectations!
“Ah!” The scarred boy screamed, covered his eyes, and staggered backward.
Ye Feng took advantage of the situation and without any hesitation, he used a standard military combat sweep kick to accurately kick the scarred boy’s ankle on the supporting leg!
“Plop!”
The scarred boy fell heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
The two followers were so frightened that they stood there, not daring to move forward.
Ye Feng slowly stood up and looked down at the scarred boy who was screaming in pain on the ground. His cold eyes swept over the other silent children, and then fell back on the scarred boy.
He did not continue to attack, but said in an emotionless tone: “No one can take my things.”
After saying this, he picked up the black bread that had fallen on the ground, dusted it off, and continued to eat it in small bites as if no one was around.
The whole process was so quick and agile!
The children around were stunned, looking at Ye Feng with eyes full of awe and fear. Even Mina, who was in charge of the management, was attracted by the movement here and looked at the scene in surprise.
She didn’t expect that this seemingly inconspicuous and taciturn child could be so decisive and efficient when fighting, and even… with a ruthlessness that only a veteran of the battlefield could have!
Mina walked over quickly, frowning and scolding, “What are you doing! No fighting!”
She helped the scarred boy who was still groaning on the ground to his feet, glared at him, then looked at Ye Feng with a complicated expression: “Your name is Ye Feng, right? Come with me.”
Ye Feng followed Minai silently and walked into the big tent.
The tent was dimly lit, with some simple beds and miscellaneous items placed inside. Minai asked Ye Feng to sit on a small stool, and she sat down across from him.
“Have you ever learned to fight before?” Mina asked carefully. The action Ye Feng had just taken was definitely not something an ordinary child could do.
“On the battlefield, if you want to survive, you have to be able to do it,” Ye Feng replied calmly. This was the truth. Among the fragments of memory in this body, there were indeed some instincts to fight for survival.
Mina fell silent. She had also come from war and understood the meaning of this sentence.
She sighed, “I know you’ve been through a lot of bad things, but this is Konoha’s camp, and there are basic rules. Don’t start trouble again, understand?”
Ye Feng nodded: “As long as others don’t mess with me.”
This answer made Mina feel helpless, but she also knew that it would be meaningless to preach to these children who had crawled out of a sea of blood and corpses.
She changed the subject: “Just now I saw that you were very agile and had quick reactions… Do you… want to become a ninja?”
This was a test, but also an opportunity. During wartime, orphans with potential were often absorbed into the ninja training system and became new blood.
Ye Feng’s eyes lit up for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure: “I want to. Only with strength can we survive.”
His answer was frighteningly blunt, yet also incredibly true.
Mina looked at the persistence and coldness in his eyes that didn’t match his age, and her heart moved slightly. Perhaps this child really had the potential to become an excellent ninja.
“Ninjas… need a special power called ‘chakra’. Have you heard of it?” Mina began to guide.
Ye Feng nodded. Of course he knew that this was the foundation of the power system in the Naruto world.
“Chakra is a combination of the energy of the human body’s 130 trillion cells and the spiritual energy accumulated through practice and experience,” Mina explained, trying to keep it simple. “It’s the foundation for unleashing ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu. To become a ninja, you must first be able to sense and extract chakra.”
“I’ll now teach you a very basic method of feeling,” Mina said, closing her eyes and forming a simple seal with her hands. “Relax your body, empty your mind, and carefully feel… the flowing, subtle energy within you…”
Ye Feng immediately closed his eyes and imitated Mina.
【Extreme Analysis】Run at full speed!
He was not only listening to Mina’s description, but also analyzing her breathing rate, mental state, and even the weak but real chakra flow pattern in her body!
The soul of an adult, coupled with the terrifying analytical ability of [Extreme Analysis], allows him to understand this abstract “feeling” far beyond that of a child!
The spirit sinks into the body, exploring according to the “optimal path” analyzed…
The energy of the cells… the energy of the spirit… combines… flows…
Less than a minute had passed!
Ye Feng suddenly felt a weak but clear warm current, like a thawed stream in early spring, slowly gathering and flowing in his lower abdomen Dantian!
This is Chakra!
He succeeded!
On the first try, I successfully felt and initially condensed the chakra!
Although the amount was very small, pitifully little, the real feeling of energy made his icy heart beat faster!
Power! This is the first key to the door of power!
“I feel… it.” Ye Feng opened his eyes, his voice still calm, but only he knew how excited he was at the moment.
Mina looked at him in surprise: “So fast?!”
It had taken her several days to barely feel a vague sense of energy! This kid named Ye Feng only took a minute?!
Genius? Or… a monster?
Mina observed Ye Feng carefully and found that although he looked calm, a layer of fine sweat beads appeared on his forehead. It was obvious that the previous attempt had exhausted him a lot.
She suppressed her shock and nodded, “Very good. Being able to sense chakra so quickly shows that you are very talented. From now on, practice this method every day and try to refine it, making it more abundant and stronger.”
She stood up and took out a folded piece of paper from a box next to her. She handed it to Ye Feng: “This is a detailed explanation of the basics of chakra refining. Take it and read it yourself. How much you can understand depends on your ability.”
This was clearly a reward and investment for his previous performance.
Ye Feng took the thin piece of paper that held hope and strength, and placed it solemnly in his arms: “Thank you.”
“Go, find a place to rest. Remember, don’t cause trouble again.” Mina waved her hand.
Ye Feng nodded, turned and left the tent.
Instead of returning to the corner he had just been in, he found a relatively secluded and less disturbed pile of wood at the edge of the camp and sat down.
He did not immediately look at the detailed explanation of the refining technique. Instead, he carefully took out the half-eaten piece of black bread from his arms, broke off another small piece, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.
Then he closed his eyes.
[Extreme Analysis] started up again, frantically replaying and analyzing the entire process of feeling and concentrating chakra! Every detail, every flow of energy, every spiritual guidance…
He must remember this feeling firmly and find a more efficient way to refine it!
“Chakra…power…”
Chapter 3: Extreme Analysis, a First Look (Old Version)
At the edge of the camp, behind a pile of messily stacked logistical wood, a thin figure sat cross-legged, motionless, as if blending into the surrounding darkness.
It was the night wind.
He did not huddle in the cold tent like other orphans, shivering in fear and anxiety while waiting for dawn.
He was practicing! He was practicing every minute!
With his eyes tightly closed, his entire mind was immersed in the newly born, weak but extremely real energy – chakra – in his body.
[Extreme Analysis] Running at an unprecedented high speed!
He had read the “Detailed Explanation of Basic Chakra Refining Techniques” he had received from Mina countless times. Not with his eyes, but with his “Extreme Analysis” to analyze every word, every picture, and even the unspoken guidance techniques that might be hidden between the lines!
“The essence of chakra extraction is the fusion of spiritual and physical energy… The ratio is key… The flow path must follow the meridians…”
“Ordinary extraction methods are inefficient and result in significant energy loss… The meridian perception is blurred…”
“Optimization Plan 1: Precisely guide mental power to reduce dissipation…”
“Optimization Plan 2: Stimulate specific cell groups to improve the body’s energy extraction efficiency…”
“Optimization Plan Three: Simulate the optimal chakra flow path to reduce internal resistance…”
Ye Feng’s brain was like a high-speed biological computer, constantly analyzing, modeling, and deducing. He could even “see” the faint chakra in his body, like a gurgling stream, flowing and growing slowly and steadily along the path that had been analyzed and optimized.
Every breath, every guidance of mental energy, is far more precise and efficient than the standard method described in the detailed explanation!
The body’s energy is extracted more fully, and the consumption of mental energy is controlled to a minimum. The two are fused in a nearly perfect proportion, and the new chakra continuously flows into the small “cyclone” in the dantian.
The chakra that was originally just a trickle gradually turned into a stream at a speed visible to the naked eye. Although it was still not big, the flow rate was faster and the texture was more condensed!
If outsiders knew about this speed of improvement, they would probably be shocked!
For an ordinary ninja apprentice, even a genius, to achieve the results he achieved in one night, it would take at least weeks or even months of hard work!
But Ye Feng was unaware of this, or rather, he thought this was far from enough!
The hunger still lingered, and the physical weakness had not fully recovered. But as the chakra increased, a warm feeling began to nourish the dry body, and the mind became more focused. Even the stinging pain in the fractured left arm was much lessened.
This is what power feels like!
It makes people intoxicated and crazy!
He practiced tirelessly until a hint of dawn appeared in the eastern sky, the camp began to gradually wake up, and noisy voices were heard. Then he slowly opened his eyes.
He hadn’t slept all night, but instead of fatigue, his eyes gleamed with a terrifying brilliance! Although the total amount of chakra flowing in his body was still small, it was far more than last night!
He could clearly feel that he had greater control over his body and his senses had become more acute.
“It’s not enough…far from enough…”
Ye Feng muttered to himself as he carefully folded the paper containing the basic refining technique and hid it close to his body. Although this thing was basic, it was the starting point of his power.
He stood up and stretched his stiff body. His fractured left arm still felt uncomfortable, but it no longer affected his basic movements. He pulled the last small piece of black bread from his pocket and stuffed it into his mouth expressionlessly, replenishing his depleted energy.
The camp had completely come alive. The ninjas were busy moving around, some packing their gear and preparing to depart, some collecting supplies, and still others doing morning exercises in the open space.
Ye Feng did not return to the orphan tent, but found an inconspicuous corner. While chewing on bread, he observed the ninjas who were doing morning exercises with cold eyes.
He’s looking for… an opportunity to learn!
It’s not enough to just refine chakra, he needs a way to transform chakra into combat power – ninjutsu! Taijutsu!
【Extreme Analysis】Open!
His eyes locked onto a Genin who was practicing basic Taijutsu.
Straight punches, blocks, kicks, dodges… the movements are simple and practical, full of the murderous spirit honed on the battlefield.
Ye Feng’s brain was working rapidly, analyzing the opponent’s force generation method, center of gravity shift, muscle coordination… Every detail was disassembled, analyzed, and stored.
He turned his gaze to the other side, where a Chunin was instructing several Genin to practice the Three Body Technique.
“The key to substitution techniques lies in timing and precise chakra guidance! Using a wooden stake or other object to instantly replace oneself…”
“Transformation techniques not only require changing one’s appearance, but also mimicking one’s aura and voice! Chakra must evenly cover the entire body…”
“The Clone Technique creates a disembodied illusion to confuse the enemy…”
The explanations of the Chunins, combined with the actual demonstrations of the Genins, and even the chakra disorders when they failed, all became the best materials for Ye Feng’s [Extreme Analysis]!
Seal!
Although the distance was too far and he couldn’t see clearly, he still vaguely captured the hand seals of those basic ninjutsu techniques, and deduced and completed them at high speed in his brain!
Chakra flow patterns…the subtle requirements of chakra properties in different ninjutsu…
A flood of information poured into Ye Feng’s brain like a torrent. If it were an ordinary child, he would have been dizzy or even had a mental breakdown. But Ye Feng, relying on the resilience of an adult’s soul and the help of [Extreme Analysis], forcibly digested and absorbed this information!
After just one morning’s observation, his understanding of the Three Body Technique may have surpassed even those Genin who had practiced for weeks or even months!
Of course, understanding is one thing, but to actually perform it, you also need sufficient chakra and precise control.
“Chakra… is still too little…” Ye Feng frowned.
At this moment, Mina, the Genin in charge of the orphans, walked over. She immediately saw Ye Feng standing alone in a corner, observing the training ground with sharp eyes.
This child didn’t return to the tent again all night?
Mina was a little surprised. She walked up to Ye Feng and saw the gleam in his eyes, which made her heart skip a beat.
After just one night, this child gave people a different feeling… again! That vague sense of energy seemed to have become… a lot stronger?
Is it an illusion?
“Yefeng, why are you here? Have you gone to get breakfast?” Mina tried to make her tone softer.
“I’ve eaten.” Ye Feng answered concisely, his eyes still fixed on the training ground in the distance.
Mina followed his gaze and saw the ninjas practicing ninjutsu, and she understood. This child’s desire for power was naked.
She felt a stir in her heart and wanted to try it again.
“Follow me.” Mina said.
She brought Ye Feng to a relatively open area behind the tent and took out a leaf from her ninja tool bag.
“Yesterday I taught you how to feel chakra. Today I’ll teach you a basic chakra control exercise.” Mina handed the leaf to Yefeng, “Concentrate your chakra on your forehead, and then try to use your chakra to absorb this leaf so that it won’t fall off.”
This is one of the most basic chakra control exercises, and usually even students in ninja schools need to practice for a while to master it.
Ye Feng took the leaf and closed his eyes without asking any questions.
The brain instantly simulates the optimal path for chakra to flow from the dantian to the forehead meridians, as well as the minimum and most stable chakra output power required to maintain absorption!
He took a deep breath, mobilized the stream of chakra in his body, and accurately guided it to flow to his forehead…
The next second, he gently placed the leaf on his forehead.
The leaves…stuck there firmly, not moving at all!
Mina: “!!!”
Her eyes widened instantly, and she could hardly believe what she saw!
Success at once?!
And looking at Ye Feng, it seems effortless?! His chakra output is terrifyingly stable!
This… is this really something a child who just came into contact with chakra yesterday can do?!
Even the genius children of those big families can’t be this fast, right? !
monster!
This word came to Mina’s mind again.
Ye Feng slowly opened his eyes, the leaves still firmly pressed against his forehead. He looked at Mina’s shocked expression, his heart remaining calm.
For him, this was just a small test of his [Extreme Analysis] ability.
“Is there… anything more difficult?” Ye Feng asked calmly.
Mina opened her mouth and took a long time to find her voice. Her tone was dry and unbelievable: “You…you really have never been exposed to chakra before?”
“No.”
Mina took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
This child… is definitely a super genius! Maybe… he’s the awakened one of some special bloodline?
In any case, such a talent must not be buried in an orphanage, especially during wartime!
“Follow me!” Mina’s tone became serious. She took Ye Feng’s hand and walked towards a tent in the center of the camp that looked more heavily guarded.
Ye Feng did not resist. His [battlefield intuition] told him that this was an opportunity for him!
Mui Ne’s target was the temporary command post of the camp.
Just as they were about to approach the command post, a rapid alarm suddenly sounded in the camp!
Woo-woo-woo!
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack! The Sand Ninja broke through the western defense line!” A ninja shouted at the top of his lungs, and the entire camp fell into chaos in an instant!
The ninjas put down what they were doing, picked up their weapons, and rushed towards the west!
The sounds of explosions, shouts, and the roar of ninjutsu collisions resounded through the sky again!
Mina’s face changed, and she subconsciously protected Ye Feng behind her, looking to the west vigilantly.
A cold light flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes!
Chaos! Chaos again!
Chaos often means danger, but it also means… opportunity!
He calmly observed his surroundings, [Extreme Analysis] running frantically, analyzing battlefield information.
The Sand Ninja…broke through the defenses…their number is unknown…their strength is unknown…
Our ninjas are gathering quickly… but their formation is somewhat disorganized…
Suddenly, a strong throbbing came from [Battlefield Intuition]!
Danger! From the side and rear!
Ye Feng turned his head suddenly and saw a figure like a ghost, using the cover of the camp tent to quietly circle around them from the side and rear!
He was a ninja wearing the uniform of the Sunagakure Anbu, with a mask on his face and a short sword flashing with cold light in his hand. His target was… the Genin Mina who looked a little panicked!
Sneak attack! Assassination!
The Anbu of Sand Village actually took advantage of the chaos to sneak here!
“Be careful!” Ye Feng shouted almost instinctively, and his body reacted at the same time!
He did not choose to dodge, but suddenly took out a kunai from his arms and threw it at the face of the Sand Village Anbu with all his strength!
The angle, speed, and timing of this throw were all perfectly executed! It was the perfect combination of [Battlefield Intuition] and [Extreme Analysis] for the optimal solution!
The Sand Village Anbu obviously didn’t expect that an inconspicuous kid next to him could actually discover him and make such a precise counterattack!
He was slightly startled and subconsciously turned his head to avoid it.
The kunai flew past his mask and nailed to the tent behind him!
Although he failed to hurt the opponent, he successfully bought Mina precious reaction time!
Mina was a Genin after all, and although her combat experience wasn’t extensive, her instincts were still there. Upon hearing Ye Feng’s warning and sensing the murderous intent behind her, she immediately rolled over in a panic, dodging the ANBU ninja’s fatal blow!
“Tsk!” The Sand Village Anbu let out a dissatisfied sound. After failing to hit him with one strike, he did not want to continue fighting. He just shook his body and tried to hide in the shadows again.
But at this moment, something strange happened!
While Ye Feng was throwing the kunai, his hands had already quickly formed several extremely clumsy yet extremely standard hand seals!
It was exactly the transformation technique that he had just forcibly learned and imitated through [Extreme Analysis]!
Although his chakra was severely insufficient and his control was far from perfect, he still succeeded!
“Bang!”
A puff of white smoke rose, and Ye Feng’s figure disappeared in an instant. In his place, a kunai that was exactly the same as the one he had just thrown out… fell to the ground.
The Sand Village Anbu member who was about to retreat paused, subconsciously looked down at the “extra” kunai on the ground, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.
It’s just this delay of a few tenths of a second!
Mina, who had already reacted, seized the opportunity!
“Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Technique!”
Several balls of scorching fire spewed out of Mina’s mouth like scattered fireworks, blocking all the retreat routes of the Sand Village Anbu!
The Sand Village Anbu’s face changed slightly. He obviously didn’t expect that this seemingly ordinary Konoha Genin would react so quickly. He immediately formed a hand seal.
“Earth Escape·Earth Flow Wall!”
A wall of earth rose hastily, blocking most of the fireballs, but a few still flew past his body and burned the corners of his clothes.
And at the moment when he was dragged by Mina, the “kunai” that had just fallen to the ground – that is, the one transformed by Ye Feng, suddenly exploded with a ball of white smoke and returned to its original shape!
Ye Feng’s small figure appeared at the feet of the Sand Village Anbu like a ghost. He had a kunai in his hand at some point, and without hesitation, he stabbed the opponent’s calf, which had relatively weak defense, with all his strength!
Phew!
The bitterness cannot penetrate the flesh!
“Ah!” The Sand Village Anbu groaned in pain and staggered!
He never dreamed that he would be hurt by a Konoha brat in this way! And he even tricked him with a transformation technique right under his nose!
What a shame and humiliation!
He turned around and wanted to kill Ye Feng with a slash of his sword!
But Ye Feng succeeded in his attack and without any hesitation, he rolled on the ground and hid behind Mina!
The whole process was smooth and eerily calm! His timing, tactical execution, and ruthlessness were completely unlike those of a child!
“Looking for death!” The Sunagakure Anbu was furious and wanted to kill Ye Feng at all costs.
But at this time, the surrounding Konoha ninjas had been attracted by the movement here, and several figures were rushing over!
The Sand Village Anbu’s eyes became fierce, knowing that he had lost the best opportunity and would not be able to escape if he didn’t leave now. He glared at Ye Feng and Mina fiercely, especially Ye Feng, with a look that seemed to want to eat him alive!
He endured the severe pain in his leg and quickly disappeared in the chaotic camp in a few flashes.
The crisis is resolved.
Minai finally breathed a sigh of relief, leaning against the tent somewhat exhausted, her forehead covered in sweat. She looked at Ye Feng, who remained calm, though breathing a little faster, with a look as if she were looking at a monster.
Just now…if Ye Feng hadn’t reminded her in time and delayed it in that incredible way, she might have died!
A child who had only been exposed to chakra yesterday had not only mastered chakra control, but had also managed to forcibly learn and successfully perform a transformation technique based on observation?! And he even used it so skillfully and ruthlessly in actual combat?!
This can no longer be described as genius!
It’s simply… a monster born for battle!
“You…” Mina opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say.
Ye Feng ignored her shock. He bent down and picked up the kunai stained with the blood of the Sunagakure Anbu on the ground, wiped it clean carefully, and then put it back in his arms.
He looked towards the increasingly fierce battlefield on the west side of the camp, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.
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Chapter 4: Disguise Fangs, Wait for the Right Time (Old Version)
[Second Shinobi World War – Temporary Camp on the Fire Country Border, After the Enemy Attack and Chaos]The alarms gradually subsided, but the tense atmosphere in the camp was like a fully drawn bowstring, and it never relaxed at all.
Although the Sand Village’s surprise attack was repelled, it had caused considerable damage and panic to the already shaky makeshift camp. Casualties were mounting, the number of patrolling ninjas had increased several times, and the air was filled with an even more solemn and murderous atmosphere.
Mina leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, and looked at the boy beside her who still had a calm expression, but there seemed to be something hidden in the depths of his eyes. She felt mixed emotions.
Shock, fear, disbelief… and a sense of dependence that she herself didn’t even notice?
Just now, if it wasn’t for Night Breeze…
She shook her head, forcing herself to calm down. Now was not the time to think about this.
“Yefeng, come with me!” Mina’s tone was more serious than ever. She no longer regarded Yefeng as just an orphan who needed care, but as a “special discovery” that must be reported as soon as possible.
She pulled Ye Feng, no longer hesitating, and walked straight towards the center of the camp, the command tent where there were obviously more guards and a more tense atmosphere.
Ye Feng followed obediently, with a hint of “fear” and “confusion” showing just the right amount on his little face, as if he had not yet fully recovered from the thrilling experience just now.
But his heart was as calm as a cold pond.
[Extreme Analysis] has already clearly analyzed Mina’s emotional changes, the surrounding ninjas’ implicit attention to him, and the guard deployment of the command post.
He knew his impressive performance would inevitably draw attention. Concealing one’s strength was not necessarily a good thing in a battlefield where human life was worthless. Being discarded as waste, or dying silently in the next conflict, would be the worst outcome.
Only by appropriately demonstrating “value” and packaging this value as “loyalty to Konoha” and “controllable potential” can we obtain better survival resources and development opportunities.
As for the Sunagakure Anbu…it’s just a stepping stone for him to demonstrate his value.
“Report!” Mina stood at attention and saluted the guarding Chunin at the entrance of the command tent. Her voice trembled with nervousness. “Mina, the Genin of Yamaguchi, has an emergency to report! It’s related to the invasion of the Sunagakure Anbu!”
The guarding Chunin obviously knew Mina and was aware of the commotion that had just occurred. Seeing Ye Feng behind her, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, but he still said in a deep voice: “Go in, Captain Fujita is inside.”
Mina took a deep breath, opened the tent curtain, and walked in with the night breeze.
The tent was dimly lit, illuminated only by a few lanterns. A crude marching map lay spread out on the central table. A middle-aged jonin, with a lean build, hawk-like eyes, and several scars on his face, examined it with a frown. He exuded the aura of a seasoned warrior; he was clearly Captain Fujita, one of the camp’s leaders.
“What’s the matter?” Captain Fujita said in a low and majestic voice without raising his head.
“Report to Captain Fujita!” Mina saluted again and reported in a hurried tone everything that had just happened, especially Ye Feng’s performance.
She emphasized Ye Feng’s timely warning, his incredible chakra control ability (he could absorb leaves after just one day of learning it), his successful use of the transformation technique he had just “sneaked a peek” at in the moment of crisis, and his brave attack on the Sand Village Anbu, which ultimately bought her time to counterattack.
“…Captain, Ye Feng…he just came into contact with chakra yesterday! I’m sure of it!” Mina’s voice was filled with incredible excitement, “He is definitely a genius! Moreover, he did that just now to protect me…to protect the ninjas of Konoha!”
When reporting, Mina subconsciously beautified Ye Feng’s motives, attributing his actions to “protecting his companions” and “hatred of the enemy.”
Ye Feng lowered his head, clenched his fists at the right time, and his body trembled slightly, perfectly portraying the image of a child who was “both scared and yet mustered the courage to fight back.”
Captain Fujita finally raised his head, and his sharp eyes fell on Ye Feng as if he wanted to see through him from inside out.
Ye Feng’s heart trembled, but he knew that the more it was at this moment, the more he couldn’t reveal any flaws. He raised his head and met Fujita’s gaze. There was a “fear” in his eyes that was in line with his age, but deep inside, there was a hint of “stubbornness” and “hatred.”
“Your name is Yefeng?” Fujita’s voice was emotionless.
“Yes… yes, Captain.” Ye Feng’s voice was trembling slightly, just right.
“Is what Mina said true? You only came into contact with chakra yesterday? Did you learn the transformation technique by watching others use it?”
“I… I don’t know…” Ye Feng lowered his head and spoke even softer. “I saw that bad guy trying to hurt Sister Mina… Sister Mina is very good to me… I don’t want anything to happen to her… Then… Then I thought about turning into something else and hiding… I don’t know how…”
He attributed his behavior to “instinct in a desperate situation” and “gratitude to Mui Ne”, perfectly avoiding the sensitive point of “gifted talent” while creating an image of “grateful” and “hating the enemy”.
[Extreme Analysis] Tell him that veterans like Fujita value loyalty and controllability more. A genius who is too extraordinary may cause unnecessary vigilance and trouble.
Captain Fujita looked at Ye Feng silently, his eyes flickering.
It’s truly remarkable that a child of seven or eight could display such calmness, wit, and…potential in a life-or-death situation.
Mina’s report, coupled with the child’s “true feelings” at this moment…
If all this is true, then this child is indeed a gem in the rough! Moreover, it seems that he is a gem in the rough who “has his heart set on Konoha”!
In times of war, such talents are so precious!
Especially since he was a war orphan with no ties, it was easier for him to be trained as a loyal blade to the village.
After a full half-minute of silence, Fujita slowly spoke, “You did a great job, Yefeng. Protecting your companions is the duty of a Konoha ninja. Your courage deserves recognition.”
He changed the subject: “However, the battlefield is no joke. Your current strength is not enough to face real danger. Acting recklessly will only lead to your death.”
“I know…” Ye Feng lowered his head, his voice filled with frustration, “But… I don’t want to see people close to me die in front of me anymore… I want to become stronger! I want… to avenge my parents! Fight for Konoha!”
These words were spoken with “heartfelt emotion”, and the interweaving of “youthful passion” and “national hatred and family feuds” was extremely contagious.
A barely perceptible glint of satisfaction flashed across Fujita’s eyes.
Very good, with potential, loyalty, and a clear (and directed) drive to become stronger.
“Since you want to become stronger and fight for Konoha, you have to work hard.” Fujita’s tone softened a little. “Potential is one thing, and which path is suitable for you is another. Mina, get a chakra test paper.”
“Yes!” Mina quickly took out a thin, special-looking piece of paper from her ninja tool bag (or Fujita signaled to take it from the side).
“Yefeng,” Fujita looked at him, “inject your chakra into this test paper.”
Ye Feng understood this was the process of testing chakra properties. Previously, when he had used [Extreme Analysis] to sense the flow of his own chakra, he had vaguely felt that his chakra had a light, sharp feeling, somewhat similar to the image of wind, but he hadn’t been sure. Now was the perfect time to verify it.
He followed his instructions, stretched out his finger, and according to the chakra concentration method he had just learned yesterday, carefully injected a trace of chakra into the test paper.
The next second, under the gaze of Mina and Captain Fujita, the thin test paper—
Swish!
It was cut neatly in half from the middle!
Wind attribute!
Mina couldn’t help but let out a low cry, her eyes filled with shock once again. Not only was her chakra control amazing, but her chakra attribute was also the relatively rare and highly aggressive wind attribute! This child’s talent was simply…
Captain Fujita’s eyes flashed. Wind attribute, excellent! Combined with this child’s calmness and precision, he’s perfect for training as an assassin or assault-type ninja!
“Very good, it’s the wind attribute.” Fujita nodded, and had a clearer plan in his mind about the direction of Ye Feng’s training.
He then said, “From today on, you don’t have to stay in the orphan tent anymore.”
He looked at Mina and said, “Mina, arrange a separate tent for him. Also, allow him to enter the third training ground for basic training, but only during non-regular training hours.”
He looked at Ye Feng again and took out the two documents and a scroll from a box on the table.
“This is ‘Detailed Explanation of Konoha’s Basic Taijutsu’ and ‘Experiences in Precise Chakra Control.’ As for this…” He picked up the scroll, “Since you have the wind attribute, this one suits you. ‘Wind Style: Small Breakthrough’, a D-rank ninjutsu. Study it well.”
In this way, giving the Wind Style Scroll seems to be a natural thing to do, as it is targeted training based on the test results rather than guesswork.
“Thank… Thank you, Captain!” Ye Feng took the scroll and the information with great excitement, bowed deeply, and said with a choked voice, “I… I will definitely work hard to practice! I will never let you down! For Konoha!”
The performance is more realistic and believable.
Fujita nodded with satisfaction: “Go ahead. Remember, keep a low profile when practicing, and don’t take risks easily before you have sufficient strength.”
Mina also hurriedly thanked him, and then left the command post with the “very excited” Ye Feng.
…(The subsequent part where Ye Feng returns to the tent and begins to analyze and practice is basically the same as the original, but he is now practicing Wind Style based on known attributes, which makes him more confident.)
Ye Feng was the only one left in the tent.
He immediately sat down cross-legged and spread out the three documents.
“Detailed Explanation of Konoha’s Basic Physical Techniques”, “Experiences in Precise Chakra Control”, and “Wind Style: Small Breakthrough”.
【Extreme Analysis】Full force launch!
…(Parsing process)…
Especially the “Wind Style: Small Breakthrough” scroll. Now that I know I’m truly a wind-attribute, practicing it is even easier! [Extreme Analysis] thoroughly analyzes the changes in the properties of wind-attribute chakra and its compression techniques!
“Wind-attribute chakra… As expected, it matches the characteristics I vaguely sensed before! Cutting, sharp, and flowing at high speed…”
“A small breakthrough… compressing the wind attribute chakra to the extreme, and bursting out instantly…”
“Seal: Si-Wei-Shen-Mao-Xu…”
…(Cultivation Process)…
“Wind Style: Small Breakthrough!”
call out!
A stream of highly compressed light blue air, almost invisible to the naked eye, shot out from his palm in an instant like an arrow!
puff!
The airflow precisely struck a wooden practice target stacked in the corner of the tent! Silently, a finger-thick, impossibly smooth hole suddenly appeared in the center of the target!
Done!
D-level wind-style ninjutsu, “Wind-style Small Breakthrough”, learned!
Less than half a day has passed since I got the scroll!
Ye Feng looked at the hole on the wooden target, his face without any joy, only cold calmness.
“The power… is still too weak. The quantity and quality of chakra need to be improved. The proficiency is also far from enough.”
He stood up and quietly hid the wooden target, not wanting others to easily discover his progress in cultivation.
Disguise, always keep it in mind.
He walked out of the tent, looked up at the waning moon in the night sky, and listened to the faint sounds of fighting coming from afar.
The war continues.
Feilu novels, Feilu will make you look good!
Chapter 5: Hard Training and Disguise, Gradually Revealing One’s True Strength (Old Version)
At four o’clock in the morning, the sky was still as dark as ink. The cold wind howled in the open space of the camp, blowing up sand and dust, and making sounds like ghosts crying.
After a day of fighting or heavy tasks, most ninjas fell into a short but precious sleep. The wounded groaned in pain in the medical tent, and the logistics personnel were already exhausted.
But at the edge of the camp, on the designated third training ground, a thin figure was practicing far beyond his capacity like a tireless machine.
This was the most rudimentary and remote training ground in the camp, consisting of only a few worn wooden stakes and a relatively flat open space. According to Captain Fujita’s orders, he could only use it during non-regular training hours, which meant now—when everyone was resting.
This is exactly what he wants.
At this moment, he was practicing the moves from “Detailed Explanation of Konoha Basic Physical Techniques”.
Ordinary ninja apprentices practice physical skills by imitating, memorizing, and then forming muscle memory through hundreds or thousands of repetitions.
But the night wind is different.
[Extreme Analysis] has already disassembled that thin and detailed book thoroughly!
Every move and every form was broken down into countless data points in his brain: the order in which muscles activated, the angles of the bones, the trajectory of the center of gravity shift, the rhythm of breathing, even down to the vibration frequency of each muscle fiber…
He is not just imitating, but also reconstructing these basic moves in the most optimized way!
His moves are far more concise, efficient, and deadly than the detailed diagrams! With the same straight punch, he delivers it faster, with more concentrated force, and with fewer holes! With the same block, he releases the force at a more precise angle, and his counterattacks flow more smoothly!
His body was like a taut bow, and every punch, kick, and dodge he threw was carried out with a precision beyond his age and… murderous intent!
Sweat had already soaked through his thin clothes, and his muscles ached from the excessive exercise, but he didn’t care. His cold eyes only showed the ultimate pursuit of strength.
After practicing a set of basic physical skills, he did not stop and immediately began to practice chakra control.
The “leaf suction” that he had just mastered yesterday was no longer challenging for him.
He aimed at a relatively smooth earth wall at the edge of the training ground.
Take a deep breath, mobilize the chakra flowing in your body, and accurately gather it to the soles of your feet according to the path optimized by [Extreme Analysis].
Output power…maintained at the critical point just enough to overcome gravity…
He carefully placed one foot onto the vertical earth wall!
It’s stuck!
As if stuck by super glue, his feet were firmly attached to the wall!
Then the other foot!
Success!
Even though he could only barely stand, his body was still a little shaky, and his chakra consumption was very high, this was undoubtedly a huge improvement!
Treading water, climbing trees, and scaling walls are essential ninja skills, requiring precise chakra output and continuous control. Even the average ninja apprentice would need a long time to practice just “leaf suction,” let alone scaling walls.
And Ye Feng has only been exposed to chakra for two days!
“It’s not stable enough… the chakra output fluctuates too much… the duration is too short…” Ye Feng calmly analyzed the shortcomings and jumped down from the wall, sweat already on his forehead.
But he was not discouraged. After a short rest, he started a new round of attempts.
Next, it was time to practice wind-style ninjutsu.
“Wind Style: Small Breakthrough”!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Streams of light blue air continuously shot out from his palms, accurately hitting the wooden stakes in the distance.
From being able to barely penetrate a finger hole at first, the airflow he shot out could now leave fist-sized wounds on the wooden stake! And it was even faster and more concealed!
[Extreme Analysis] not only allowed him to quickly master ninjutsu, but also continuously optimized the efficiency of chakra’s property changes, compression ratio, and release accuracy!
Before I knew it, the sky gradually brightened.
When the first ray of morning light pierced the darkness and illuminated the camp, Ye Feng finally stopped practicing.
He was soaked, as if he had just been pulled out of the water. His face looked a little pale due to the huge consumption of chakra and physical strength, but his eyes were surprisingly bright!
After a night of hard training, his strength has improved visibly!
The total amount of chakra increased by about 20%, the control ability was greatly improved, the basic physical skills became more proficient, and the power of Wind Style: Small Breakthrough was also improved to a higher level.
If this rocket-like upgrade speed were to get out, it would be enough to shock the entire Konoha!
But he knew he had to hide!
He quickly tidied up the somewhat messy training ground, erased the overly obvious traces of training, then put on a slightly tired but determined expression and walked towards the center of the camp.
On the way, he met a ninja team that was patrolling early in the morning. He would lower his head at the right time and respectfully step aside, like a junior who knew the rules.
He also encountered other orphans who had gotten up early. Some of them still had the same fear in their eyes when they saw him. Ye Feng ignored them and walked straight to the place where they could get food.
The person in charge of distributing food today happened to be Mui Ne.
Seeing that Ye Feng showed up on time and looked in good spirits (Ye Feng deliberately used chakra to nourish his body to cover up his extreme fatigue), Mina smiled with relief.
“Yefeng, you’re up so early? Did you sleep well last night?” Mina handed him a meal that was slightly better than yesterday’s—a piece of white bread and a bowl of thick broth. This was the result of Captain Fujita’s special care.
“Thank you, Sister Mina. I had a good rest.” Ye Feng took the food with a shy smile on his face. “The tent is very warm.”
“That’s good.” Mina looked at him. “How’s your training going? Is there anything you don’t understand?”
“Basic taijutsu and chakra control, I feel… like I’ve made some progress.” Ye Feng scratched his head, pretending to be a little embarrassed, “But that wind-style ninjutsu… is so difficult. I never have enough chakra, and I always make mistakes in the hand seals.”
He cleverly concealed his true progress, showing only “slight progress” and “encountering difficulties”, fitting the image of a “talented but inexperienced” beginner.
Mina, hearing this, wasn’t skeptical; instead, she thought it was perfectly normal. Ninjutsu isn’t something you can learn overnight, especially for beginners. Ye Feng’s ability to sense chakra and master its control techniques in such a short time was truly remarkable.
“Don’t worry, take your time.” Mina encouraged, “Chakra needs to be accumulated, and practice makes perfect. You are very talented, you will definitely learn it!”
“Yes! I will try my best!” Ye Feng nodded heavily with a “determined” look in his eyes.
He then casually asked, “Sister Mina, I saw some powerful ninjas yesterday who seemed to be able to walk on water. Is that also difficult to learn?”
He was trying to gain information and learn about higher-level skills and cultivation paths.
“You mean ‘treading water,’ right?” Mina smiled. “That’s an advanced application of chakra control. It requires constant and precise concentration of chakra on the soles of your feet. It’s much more difficult than sucking leaves or climbing walls. Once you become more proficient in chakra control and have enough chakra, you’ll naturally be able to learn it.”
“Oh…” Ye Feng nodded thoughtfully and kept the goal of “treading water” in mind.
After chatting with Mina for a few more words, Ye Feng took the food and did not return to his tent immediately. Instead, he walked to the place where the scarred boy and several other orphans gathered yesterday.
The scarred boy saw Ye Feng coming and subconsciously shrank his neck and avoided his gaze. Ye Feng’s clean and ruthless method yesterday left a deep shadow on him.
Ye Feng didn’t look at him, but gave the only larger piece of meat in his bowl to the little girl next to him who looked the smallest and had a timid look.
“Here you go.” Ye Feng’s tone remained calm, but his movements seemed very natural.
The little girl was stunned. She stared blankly at the pieces of meat in the bowl, then looked at Ye Feng, somewhat unable to believe it.
The other orphans around, including the scarred boy, were also stunned.
They didn’t expect that this “evil star” who was so ferocious yesterday would take the initiative to share his precious food today, and gave it to the weakest little girl.
Ye Feng didn’t explain anything. He silently took the remaining soup and bread, walked to the side and started eating quietly.
But he knew that this small piece of meat had a greater purpose than just filling his stomach.
To win people’s hearts, or to improve one’s image, sometimes all it takes is a tiny bit of insignificant “goodwill”.
He needed these orphans, at least on the surface, to stop being hostile to him, and even… develop a little “goodwill” and “respect” for him. This would save him a lot of unnecessary trouble and allow him to hide himself better.
Sure enough, after that, the other orphans’ eyes changed noticeably when they looked at him. The fear was still there, but with a hint of curiosity and… acceptance? The scarred boy didn’t dare to cause trouble again.
After breakfast, Ye Feng did not return to the tent to practice immediately, but “wandered” around the camp.
He did not approach sensitive areas, but only moved around the logistics area, the outskirts of the wounded camp, and the edges of different training grounds.
His goal was clear: to observe and gather information.
[Extreme Analysis] Like an invisible radar, it scans everything he sees and hears.
The types of supplies and their frequency of delivery… The number of wounded soldiers and the types of their injuries… The composition and equipment of the various ninja teams… The various ninjutsu and taijutsu taught at the training grounds (even if only a fleeting glimpse…)… The battlefield information that the ninjas inadvertently revealed in their conversations…
He captured, stored, analyzed and integrated all these fragmented information one by one.
He even noticed that Captain Fujita would occasionally appear in a corner, seemingly observing him casually. Ye Feng would immediately switch to a state of “studying hard,” “training diligently,” or “being helpful” (such as helping the logistics staff carry some light miscellaneous items).
Disguise has become his instinct.
Throughout the entire day, except for the fixed training time, he was using this method to quietly absorb the “nutrients” of the camp.
When night fell again and he returned to his own small, independent tent, he had already formed a clearer and more detailed picture of the camp in his mind.
He took out the few remaining ration pills, hesitated for a moment, and finally broke off a small half and stuffed it into his mouth to replenish his energy. The rest had to be saved for emergency use.
Then he sat cross-legged again and began a new round of ascetic training.
Taijutsu, control of Chak, Wind Style·Small Breakthrough… and also, deeper analysis and deduction of the various information collected during the day.
In the darkness, the boy closed his eyes with a calm expression, but only he himself knew how fiercely the fire in his heart burned.
“Strength…intelligence…resources…”
“It’s not enough, not even close!”
“When will the next opportunity be?”
His fingers unconsciously stroked the kunai in his arms that was stained with the blood of the Sunagakure Anbu. The cold touch made him more sober.
Lying dormant is to better attack.
He is a hungry wolf in sheep’s clothing, patiently waiting for the next opportunity to hunt.
Chapter 6: The Ultimate Price, The Edge of the Wind (Old Version)
Three more days passed.
The atmosphere in the camp remained tense. The fighting on the front line was intermittent, the wounded were constantly being sent back, and the consumption of supplies was increasing.
Ye Feng’s life has entered an almost harsh regular cycle.
In the early morning, when the chill was at its thickest and all was still, he would arrive at the third training ground, straining every ounce of his strength to hone his basic physical skills and practice chakra control. During the day, he would collect food like the other orphans, occasionally wandering the camp to gather information, or retreating to his small tent to meditate and refine his chakra. At night, when exhaustion gripped the camp, he would quietly return to his tent to continue studying basic materials or attempt to delve deeper into chakra perception.
He was like a sponge thrown into a furnace, greedily absorbing all the knowledge and power he could come into contact with.
However, this almost self-abuse practice is not without cost.
That evening, Ye Feng ended his daytime “disguise” and returned to his small tent. Instead of meditating immediately as usual, he felt a wave of intense dizziness.
His vision went dark, and his temples felt like they were being repeatedly pierced by steel needles. The intense pain made him groan, and his body swayed and he almost fell down.
“Damn it… Am I mentally overdrawn?” Ye Feng held onto the tent’s support poles, his face as pale as paper, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.
In the past few days, he not only had to devote his energy to observation, information collection, and maintaining disguise during the day, but also pushed [Extreme Analysis] to the extreme at night and in the early morning to analyze every detail of the physical skills, the flow pattern of chakra, and even tried to analyze the deeper mysteries of wind attribute chakra.
This intensity far exceeds the limit that a seven or eight-year-old child, or even an adult’s soul can withstand.
[Extreme Analysis] This cheat isn’t without cost. It burns mental energy, the power of the soul! Prolonged, intense use will inevitably lead to overdraft and backlash!
In the past few days, he had been holding on with his willpower, but today, his body finally issued the strongest warning.
“This can’t go on any longer…” Ye Feng gritted his teeth and forced himself to calm down.
He knew that if he continued to forcefully activate [Extreme Analysis], it would likely lead to a mental breakdown or damage to his soul, with disastrous consequences.
You must rest. At least, you need to recover your mental strength to a certain extent.
He struggled to walk to the simple bed and fell on it. He fell into a deep sleep without even taking off his coat.
This sleep was extremely restless.
All kinds of bizarre dreams flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope of memories, the fear of the original owner of this body, the blood and bloodshed on the battlefield… and even more, countless distorted data streams and analytical models, impacting his consciousness like a tide.
He seemed to be drowning, struggling and floating in the boundless ocean of information.
…
I don’t know how long it was before Ye Feng suddenly woke me up.
Outside the tent, it was already bright and the sound of noise could be heard faintly.
He sat up and felt that his headache had eased a lot, but he was still a little drowsy and listless.
“It seems I must be more cautious when using [Extreme Analysis]…” Ye Feng rubbed his brows, a warning bell ringing in his heart. While the golden finger is powerful, it can’t be squandered recklessly. From now on, I must rationally plan the duration and intensity of its use to avoid overdrawing my mental strength again.
This fainting also made him more aware of his own limitations.
After all, the growth rate of chakra in a child’s body is limited. He had been training hard these past few days, and his total chakra volume had indeed increased, but it was still far from enough to support him in performing more powerful ninjutsu or maintaining a combat state for a long time.
“More haste, less speed… The foundation is the key.” Ye Feng whispered to himself.
He opened the curtain and walked out. The sunlight was a bit dazzling, making him squint slightly.
He had missed breakfast, but he didn’t have much of an appetite now. Mental fatigue was far more painful than physical hunger.
He did not go to the training ground, nor did he go “hanging out”. Instead, he found a secluded corner, sat cross-legged again, and began to perform the most basic chakra refining.
This time, he did not activate [Extreme Analysis] to pursue efficiency, but completely relaxed his mind, followed the guidance of the basic refining technique, calmly felt the fusion of physical energy and spiritual energy, and felt the chakra flowing slowly in his body like a gentle stream.
The loss of mental power takes time to recover, but basic chakra refinement is actually beneficial to mental stability.
He sat in silence like this for the entire morning.
When the midday sun became scorching, he slowly opened his eyes. Although his spirits had not fully recovered, he felt much better, and the headache had basically disappeared.
The total amount of chakra didn’t increase noticeably, but it seemed to become more…pure and stable?
Ye Feng stood up and stretched his body. He decided to go to the third training ground to do some basic physical training and recovery. He would no longer pursue extremes, but focus on the standard of movement and body coordination.
When he arrived at the training ground, he found that there were people there today.
It was Mina, along with two other older orphaned boys. Mina appeared to be coaching them in shuriken throwing exercises.
Seeing Ye Feng coming, Mina was a little surprised: “Ye Feng? Why did you come at this time today? You don’t look well, are you sick?” she asked with concern.
“It’s nothing, Sister Mina, I just didn’t get enough rest last night.” Ye Feng showed a slightly weak smile, perfectly concealing the real reason.
He couldn’t let others know that he fainted due to excessive practice, as that would reveal the true intensity of his practice.
“Then don’t train too hard today and take care of yourself,” Mina warned.
“Okay, I understand.” Ye Feng nodded, walked to the other side of the training ground, and began to practice basic physical skills slowly.
His movements seemed a little “slow” and even a little “clumsy”, completely lacking the sharpness and precision he had when he practiced in the early morning a few days ago.
Minai watched, and though she felt a little puzzled (could the outburst a few days ago have been a flash in the pan?), she was mostly relieved. This was how she should behave like a normal child, progressing step by step, balancing work and rest.
The two young men practicing shuriken saw Ye Feng’s “ordinary” appearance, and their eyes lost some of their previous awe and gained a hint of contempt. Genius? It seems that he is just so-so.
Ye Feng paid no attention to their gazes and continued to concentrate on punching.
But his seemingly “slow” movements contain precise control of every bit of his body’s strength. He is using this restorative training to further consolidate and familiarize himself with his body, and to make up for the basic details that he may have neglected due to his previous rapid improvement.
[Extreme Analysis] Although not running at full power, it is still running in the background at low power consumption, analyzing every slight deviation in its own movements and making adjustments.
After practicing physical skills for a while, he walked aside to rest, his eyes casually sweeping over Mina and the two boys.
They were practicing shuriken.
Ye Feng’s eyes fell on the shuriken thrown by one of the boys.
The angle was too high, the force was dispersed, and there was not enough rotation…it missed the target.
[Extreme Analysis] gives an assessment instantly.
He looked at Mina’s demonstration again.
Wrist force, body coordination, eye lock, chakra assistance…hit the bull’s eye.
A very standard throwing technique, but… it seems there is still room for improvement?
Ye Feng couldn’t help but start to deduce in his mind.
What if, at the moment of throwing the shuriken, there is a slight change in the nature of… wind attribute chakra?
Just like “Wind Style: Small Breakthrough”, pursuing the ultimate cutting and penetrating power?
There is no need to form a complete ninjutsu, just give the “sharp” characteristics of the wind to the shuriken itself?
Once this thought came to mind, it was like a raging fire that could no longer be contained!
He walked to the target, picked up a few fallen shurikens, and weighed them.
Then he walked behind the throwing line and took a deep breath.
Instead of immediately imitating Mina’s actions, he closed his eyes.
[Extreme Analysis] Operating at low power, it simulates the sharpness of wind-attribute chakra, steadily attaching it to the edge of the shuriken with minimal energy consumption…
My mental strength is still a little insufficient, so I can’t perform too complex an analysis… so let’s simplify it! I’ll only pursue the most core “sharp” effect!
After a few seconds, Ye Feng opened his eyes.
He held a shuriken in his right hand and quickly formed a few seemingly simplified seals with his left hand – these were not seals from any known ninjutsu, but auxiliary gestures that he deduced based on [Extreme Analysis] and were most suitable for guiding wind-attribute chakra for micro-manipulation!
A barely perceptible trace of light blue chakra, like a living thing, wrapped around the cold edge of the shuriken!
The next second, Ye Feng’s wrist shook violently!
The shuriken turned into a streak of cold light, with almost no rotation, as if pushed by an invisible force, and shot towards the wooden target in the distance at an astonishing speed and in a straight trajectory!
A slight but clear muffled sound!
The shuriken was completely embedded in the hard wooden target, leaving only a slightly trembling tail handle!
Its penetrating power far exceeds that of the shuriken Mina threw just now!
silence!
The training ground was suddenly silent!
Mina opened her mouth in astonishment, looking at the shuriken deeply embedded in the wooden target, almost unable to believe her eyes!
The two young men were even more stunned, and the shurikens in their hands fell to the ground!
How…how did they do this?!
Ye Feng’s movements just now seemed ordinary, even a little strange (those strange hand seals), but the power of the shuriken he threw was so terrifying?!
Ye Feng looked at his masterpiece with a frown on his face.
“The chakra consumption is greater than expected… The attachment is unstable and can only last for a moment… The accuracy needs to be improved…” He muttered to himself, calmly analyzing his previous attempt.
This is not a ninjutsu, nor even a technique. It is just an extremely superficial and primitive application of the changes in the nature of wind-attribute chakra.
It is a “temporary solution” deduced by [Extreme Analysis] based on its own understanding of “sharpness”.
He called it – The Edge of the Wind (tentative, internal name, not disclosed to the public).
“Ye…Yefeng…” Mina finally found her voice, her tone trembling with disbelief, “You just…that was…”
Ye Feng turned his head, a look of confusion and surprise flashing across his face: “I… I don’t know… I was just wondering if I could make the shuriken sharper… like the wind… and then…”
He started his performance again, attributing this “outburst” to a “flash of inspiration” and “the perception of the wind.”
Mina: “…”
She no longer knew what expression to use to face this “monster”.
A flash of inspiration? A feeling about the wind?
Is this human language?!
The application of chakra property changes requires extremely precise control and talent! Many Chunin and even Jonin may not be able to apply such exquisite and low-cost property changes to ordinary weapons!
This kid… who is he?!
She looked at Ye Feng’s “ignorant” eyes and suddenly felt powerless.
Perhaps… the world of geniuses is really not something that ordinary people like her can understand.
Chapter 7: Hidden Claws, Every Step Counts (Old Version)
The ripples caused by the “Wind’s Edge” incident were even bigger than Ye Feng had expected.
Although he tried his best to explain it as a “coincidence” and “perception of the wind”, the amazing performance that was almost a change in nature still caused quite a stir in a small area.
The most direct impact is Mui Ne.
The young Genin, who was responsible for caring for the orphans, now looked at Ye Feng with eyes that were almost like looking at some rare and protected animal, full of wonder, inquiry, and a hint of… awe. She also became more cautious in her attitude towards Ye Feng, even proactively asking him if he had any “new insights” in his cultivation, forcing Ye Feng to spend more time “playing” the role of a naive genius.
Next were the two young men who were practicing shuriken at the same time as him. They had completely put aside their contempt for Ye Feng and would walk around him whenever they saw him. The occasional glances they gave him were filled with complex emotions.
Even some of the other ninjas in the camp looked at him with a hint of inquiry. Apparently, rumors about “the genius orphan who could attach chakra to shuriken” had spread privately among a small circle.
The night breeze keenly captured these changes.
He knew that he had temporarily become the focus of attention, which was both an opportunity and a risk.
On the one hand, his displayed “potential” earned him more attention and resources (for example, food rations were indeed better, and no one dared to mess with him anymore). But on the other hand, exposing his potential too early could also lead to unnecessary trouble, or even… scrutiny from higher-ups and deeper levels, such as someone like Danzo.
“I must be more cautious… There must not be any flaws in my disguise.” Ye Feng warned himself in his heart.
The aftereffects of mental overdraft are still continuing. Although not as severe as the day before, the ability of [Extreme Analysis] has been significantly affected and can no longer operate at the same high intensity as before.
This in turn forced him to devote more energy to the most basic training.
The third training ground in the early morning is still his exclusive training time.
But this time, he did not frantically push his body to its limits, but instead focused on the stability and continuity of chakra control.
Wall climbing exercises.
He tried again and again to output chakra steadily to the soles of his feet and stick to the vertical earth wall.
Failure, slipping.
He tried again, barely able to stand on one step, but his chakra was unbalanced and he slipped again.
Keep trying…
Sweat trickled down his forehead, his face pale from intense concentration. He didn’t use [Extreme Analysis] to analyze the optimal path, but instead relied on his instincts and the experience accumulated through repeated attempts, slowly figuring out the trick.
This is undoubtedly much slower and more difficult than before.
But Ye Feng remained undeterred. He understood that the golden finger could accelerate understanding and optimization, but it couldn’t replace the body’s own adaptation and the formation of muscle memory. The foundation must be laid firmly.
When the eastern sky turned pale again, he was finally able to take three shaky steps on the earth wall!
Although it is still far from the real “flying over eaves and walking on walls” and the chakra consumption is still huge, it is undoubtedly a real progress!
After dawn, he went to collect food as usual.
Mina saw that he looked a little tired but his eyes were still bright, so she asked with concern, “Yefeng, did you go to the training ground again last night? Don’t push yourself too hard, increasing chakra doesn’t happen overnight.”
“I know, Sister Mina.” Ye Feng showed a “well-behaved” smile, “I’m just practicing chakra control. Captain Fujita said the basics are very important.” He cleverly led the topic to Fujita, implying that his efforts were “taught” by his superiors.
“Yes, Captain Fujita is right.” Mina stopped trying to persuade him, and instead felt relieved. “With a solid foundation, you will be able to learn ninjutsu faster in the future. By the way, did you try that… shuriken technique you used yesterday again?” She couldn’t help but ask curiously.
“I tried… I tried.” Ye Feng scratched his head, a perfect look of “distress” on his face, “but… it didn’t work once. There’s no way I could attach the chakra like yesterday. It seems… I was really lucky yesterday.”
His “truth” actually dispelled the last bit of doubt in Mina’s heart.
Yeah, how could applying property change be that easy? I guess he was just lucky yesterday, or perhaps his potential was unleashed at a critical moment. This kid is still a child after all, and his foundation isn’t solid yet. It’s impossible for him to use that kind of technique at will.
“It’s okay, don’t lose heart,” Mina consoled him. “Practice chakra control first. Once you’re adept at climbing trees and treading water, it won’t be too late to return to studying nature transformation.”
“Yes! Thank you, Sister Mina!” Ye Feng nodded as if his fighting spirit had been rekindled.
In the next few days, Ye Feng thoroughly implemented the strategy of “steady and steady progress”.
He reduced the frequency of using [Extreme Analysis], only activating it for short periods of time and at low power when encountering a critical bottleneck or needing to quickly analyze some important information. Most of the time, he was engaged in boring basic training.
Physical training involves refining basic techniques over and over again, pursuing standard movements and body coordination.
Chakra control, repeated practice of climbing the wall, from the initial three steps, slowly increasing to five steps, seven steps… Although still shaky and consuming huge energy, the progress is clearly visible.
Chakra refinement no longer pursues speed, but focuses on quality and stability, making the stream-like chakra in the body more condensed and pure.
He even took the initiative to ask Mina some questions about the basic theory of chakra, such as the characteristics of chakras of different attributes, the meridians through which chakras flow, etc., and portrayed the image of a “studious and motivated” person vividly.
Of course, the secret exploration never stops.
In the dead of night, in his little tent, he would carefully try to understand and control the so-called “edge of the wind.”
He no longer pursued power, but instead focused on “perception” and “control”.
He used [Extreme Analysis] on the blade – analyzing the essential characteristics of wind attribute chakra.
“The wind…cuts, penetrates, flows, is invisible…”
He tried to use extremely weak chakra to simulate the flow of wind and feel the sharp feeling of cutting everything.
He placed a leaf on his fingertips and tried to “cut” it with wind-attribute chakra, instead of just “attaching” or “pushing” it like ordinary chakra.
fail.
Fail again.
A slight consumption of mental energy brings waves of fatigue.
But he didn’t give up. Every failure was a data accumulation, allowing Extreme Analysis to better refine the model.
Finally, late one night, when he once again guided a trace of wind attribute chakra to his fingertips——
laugh!
The emerald green leaf was like being cut by the sharpest blade, silently splitting a tiny crack in the middle!
Although it was only the most insignificant result, not even as good as a slash with a kunai, it caused a huge wave of shock in Ye Feng’s heart!
He successfully reproduced the “cutting” characteristics of wind-attribute chakra in a controllable state!
This was completely different from the day he accidentally attached chakra to a shuriken! That time was an outburst, an instinct, an unrepeatable “accident.” This time, however, was understanding, control, the first step towards truly applying nature-changing techniques!
“I see… the key lies in the extreme compression and high-speed vibration of the chakra form…” Ye Feng’s eyes flashed, and [Extreme Analysis] instantly recorded and analyzed the key data of the success just now.
Although his current chakra capacity and control were far from being able to stably apply it to weapons and form an effective means of attack, the door to theory had already been opened to him!
He suppressed the urge to continue his research, and feeling the fatigue coming from his mental power again, he decisively stopped trying.
“Hold steady…don’t rush…”
He collected his thoughts and began to meditate to recover.
A few days later, Captain Fujita sent someone to call Ye Feng to the command post.
Ye Feng understood in his heart that his deliberate display of “slow progress” and “focus on the basics” in the past few days must have been reported.
When I walked into the tent, Captain Fujita was still looking at the map without raising his head.
“Yefeng, I heard that you’ve been training very hard recently. Have you made progress in basic taijutsu and chakra control?”
“Yes, Captain! I have been working hard!” Ye Feng immediately stood at attention with a “sincere” tone.
“Hmm.” Fujita put down the map and looked at him. “Not bad. There are no shortcuts on the road to becoming a ninja, only hard work. The potential you showed that day was amazing, but it was ultimately luck and a burst of energy, and it can’t be the norm. It’s good that you can calm down and lay the foundation.”
He was warning and also affirming Ye Feng’s recent “peace and quiet”.
“How are you doing with the ‘Detailed Explanation of Basic Taijutsu’ and ‘Tips on Precise Chakra Control’ that I gave you last time?”
“Captain! I’ve basically mastered the physical techniques, and I can even cling to the wall and walk a few steps with my chakra!” Ye Feng reported his progress honestly. Of course, this was discounted.
Fujita nodded, seemingly satisfied with the progress. For a child who had only been exposed to chakra for less than ten days, this was already a good talent.
“Very good. Now that you have some grasp of the basics, it’s time to get some practical applications.” Fujita said, picking up a small package from the side and throwing it to Ye Feng.
Ye Feng took it and opened it. Inside were ten brand new standard shurikens and a small roll of steel wire for practice.
“Starting tomorrow, in addition to basic training, go to the third training ground every afternoon to practice shuriken throwing and trap setting. Mina will guide you. Remember, on the battlefield, any insignificant skill may save your life.”
Shuriken? Trap setting?
Ye Feng’s heart moved slightly. This reward was indeed very basic, but… also very practical! Especially the trap setting, which often played an unexpected role on the battlefield.
Moreover, this also seems to mean that he is one step closer to actually completing the mission?
“Yes! Thank you, Captain! I will definitely study hard!” Ye Feng promised “excitedly”.
“Go ahead.” Fujita waved his hand.
Ye Feng took the package and respectfully left the tent.
As he walked out of the command post, the excitement on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by his usual coldness.
Shuriken throwing… can be used to practice the addition of “Wind Edge”. Although it cannot be exposed, it can be used as a secret research direction.
Setting traps… requires careful observation, meticulous thinking, and precise techniques, which is very much in line with the scope of [Extreme Analysis].
Fujita’s arrangement, though seemingly basic, perfectly suited his needs and abilities at this stage.
Was it a coincidence? Or… was this seemingly rough jonin actually a thoughtful person who had already seen through some of his characteristics?
Ye Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.
Regardless, new training content had arrived. This meant that he was one step closer to possessing true self-protection power.
He tightened the package in his hand and walked towards his small tent.
Night falls again.
Chapter 8: Calculating everything, hiding the edge (old version)
The next afternoon, at the third training ground.
The sun was quite scorching, making the ground scorching hot.
Ye Feng, Mina, and two other orphan boys who were allowed to participate in basic combat training (the two before) were standing in a corner of the training ground.
Captain Fujita’s new order has been issued. Starting today, they will learn shuriken throwing and basic trap setting.
As the instructor, Mina’s expression was much more serious than usual. She knew very well the importance of these two skills on the battlefield, especially for them, the “reserve forces” who might soon be deployed to the battlefield.
“Shuriken is one of the most basic and commonly used weapons for ninjas.” Mina picked up a shuriken and began to explain. “Its power lies not only in the accuracy and force of the throw, but also in the timing, angle, and… coordination with other ninjutsu or tactics.”
She demonstrated the standard grip, force generation, and aiming method. Her movements were smooth and standard, clearly a result of systematic training.
“Did you see clearly? The key lies in the instantaneous explosive power of the wrist and the coordination of the body. Chakra can help increase power and accuracy, but it is not recommended to rely on it too much in the early stages. Practice the basic movements first.”
Ye Feng listened attentively, while [Extreme Analysis] was running at low power in the background, recording every detail of Mina’s movements, the way she exerted her strength, and even the subtle flow of chakra, and comparing and analyzing them with other ninjas he had observed before.
“Okay, try it yourself first, aim at the target over there.” Mina pointed to the wooden target fifty meters away.
Ye Feng and the other two teenagers picked up the practice shurikens that were distributed and began to try.
The two young men seemed a little eager to succeed, and imitated Mina’s way of throwing the shuriken with force, but the shuriken flew out crookedly, not only missing the target, but also the direction was ridiculously off.
Ye Feng was much more cautious. He didn’t exert force immediately, but first carefully recalled and imitated Mina’s grip, then tentatively threw the first shuriken with little effort.
call out–
The shuriken flew out in a rotation. Although its speed was not fast and its power was not strong, its direction was surprisingly accurate and it landed firmly on the edge of the target!
“Huh?” Mina’s eyes flashed with surprise. Even though it was only the edge of the target, this accuracy was quite good for a first throw!
The two young men also stopped their actions and looked at Ye Feng with some jealousy. This guy is really a bit weird!
Ye Feng’s face showed “just the right amount of surprise” and “a hint of pride”, as if he hadn’t expected that he could throw it so accurately.
“It seems you do have some talent in this area.” Mina encouraged, and then instructed the other two teenagers, “Don’t just use brute force, pay attention to the movement of your wrists…”
Ye Feng ignored the noise around him and continued to practice slowly.
He deliberately controlled his “speed of progress,” sometimes hitting the bull’s eye, and sometimes missing it by a wide margin, maintaining his performance at the level of a “talented, but unstable” beginner.
But each of his throws was actually aided by [Extreme Analysis], with subtle adjustments and experiments in force, angle, and rotation. A precise throwing model had already been established in his brain, but he simply couldn’t express it.
After an hour of shuriken practice, Mina began explaining the basic trap placement.
“Traps are an important means for the weak to confront the strong, for the few to defeat the many.” Mina’s expression grew more serious. “On the battlefield, a clever trap can be the difference between life and death, even more so than a powerful ninjutsu.”
She pulled out some basic tools from the bag she had brought: wire, sharpened wooden spikes, a simple trigger mechanism, leaves and dirt for camouflage.
“Today we’ll start with the two simplest ones: tripwire traps and simple spike pits.”
Mui Ne explained in detail how to choose a suitable location, how to use the terrain, how to set the trigger mechanism, how to camouflage… Every step was explained in great detail.
Ye Feng listened attentively. Compared to shuriken-style skills, which required a certain level of talent and extensive practice, trap-laying, which focused more on thinking, observation, and calculation, was practically tailor-made for [Extreme Analysis]!
He understood the principles that Mina explained almost instantly, and even deduced dozens of more covert and deadly improvement plans in his mind!
But on the surface, he still appeared to be “listening carefully and trying hard to understand,” and from time to time he would raise some “just right” “questions,” such as: “Mina-sister, what if the enemy has sensory ninjas?” or “Will this camouflage fail on rainy days?”
These questions not only show his “intelligence” and “carefulness” but also do not appear to be too advanced, perfectly fitting the image of an apprentice who “learns quickly but lacks experience”.
Mina patiently answered his questions, and her opinion of Ye Feng rose even higher. This kid was not only talented in combat, but also had a sharp mind. He was a promising talent.
It’s time for the practical phase.
Mina asked them to each choose a location and try to set up the simplest tripwire trap.
The two teenagers were in a panic. Either the wire was not tied tightly enough, or their disguises were full of loopholes.
Night Breeze, on the other hand, was methodical. He carefully observed the surrounding terrain and chose a narrow, dimly lit passage covered in weeds. Then, with a slightly clumsy yet meticulous hand, he secured the wire between two small trees, setting it at a height that would easily trip someone’s ankles. Finally, he meticulously camouflaged the wire and its anchor point with leaves and loose soil, creating a not-perfect, but passable, camouflage.
Throughout the entire process, he deliberately slowed down and even “hesitated” at several key steps, as if he was trying hard to recall the key points of Mina’s explanation.
But in fact, [Extreme Analysis] has already planned every action, even the placement angle of the leaves used for camouflage has been calculated, striving to achieve the best concealment effect while “looking ordinary”.
Mina checked around and shook her head at the work of the two boys. When she saw the trap set by Ye Feng, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes again.
While the technique may seem a bit naive and the disguise could use some improvement, the choice of location, the height of the tripwire, and the overall concept are all very sophisticated! Even better than some less experienced Genin!
“Yefeng, you… did a great job.” Mina couldn’t help but praise him. “Your thinking was clear, and your disguise was… okay. It seems you’re very good at this kind of thing that requires patience and meticulousness.”
“Hehe…” Ye Feng smiled “embarrassedly”, “I just think that if you want to deceive others, you have to think more about how they walk and what they pay attention to…” He once again attributed his “talent” to “putting yourself in other people’s shoes”.
Mina nodded, not giving it any further thought. Perhaps this child really was quite thoughtful.
After the afternoon training, Ye Feng did not return to the tent immediately as usual, but “wandered” around the camp and collected some inconspicuous “garbage” – a few short pieces of discarded steel wire, a few smooth pebbles, and even some tough grass stems.
After returning to his small tent, he did not start practicing immediately, but first carefully hid the “junk”.
Learning how to set traps opened a new door for him.
He began to think about how to combine these basic trap techniques with his limited strength to form an effective means of saving his life or even counterattack.
[Extreme Analysis] Operating at low power, various possibilities are deduced.
Use steel wire and “Wind Edge” to cut the enemy?
Use stones and precise throwing to attract attention?
Using grass stems to create a more concealed trigger mechanism?
There are many possibilities, but they all require a lot of experimentation and…chakra.
His eyes fell on the brand new shurikens.
During daytime practice, he had been suppressing the urge to try to add the “Wind Edge”. Now, in his own territory, he could finally let go.
He picked up a shuriken, closed his eyes, slowly extended his mental power, and carefully guided the wind attribute chakra in his body.
This time, he did not pursue power, but rather “stability” and “lastingness”.
He tried to change the property representing “sharpness” and evenly cover the edge of the shuriken like a coating, instead of “attaching” it roughly as before.
laugh……
As soon as the chakra touched the blade, it dissipated due to unstable control.
Ye Feng frowned, and a hint of fatigue came from his mental strength.
He was not discouraged. He took a short break and tried again.
Once…twice…ten times…
Sweat trickled down his cheeks; the consumption of his mental energy was far greater than simply refining chakra. However, his eyes were focused, as if he had fallen into some mysterious state.
[Extreme Analysis] Although the power is not high, it is still constantly collecting failure data and correcting the stable model of chakra output mode and property changes.
After an unknown amount of time, when he tried again—
Buzz!
An extremely slight, almost inaudible buzzing sound!
The edge of the shuriken in his hand seemed to be covered with a faint, almost transparent blue halo!
Although the halo was extremely weak and dissipated within a few breaths, the chakra consumption was considerable.
But this time, he successfully attached the “sharp” nature of the wind-attribute chakra to the shuriken in a relatively stable state!
This is fundamentally different from the previous one-time, explosive addition!
This means that, in theory, he can have a shuriken that is temporarily blessed with a “sharp” effect!
An astonishing light burst out from Ye Feng’s eyes!
Although with his current chakra amount, this attachment can only last for a few seconds at most, and the power increase is limited, the consumption is huge, and it is far from meeting the requirements of actual combat.
But this is undoubtedly a huge breakthrough! It is a key step for him to transform theory into practical application!
He suppressed the excitement in his heart, felt the mental exhaustion coming again, and decisively stopped his research.
The road ahead for “Wind’s Edge” is still long, but the direction is clear.
He put away the shuriken, sat cross-legged, and began to meditate to recover.
Tonight, he did not do any other training, but only focused on recovering his mental strength and refining his chakra.
Take steady steps and advance cautiously.
He needs to accumulate more strength and sharpen his claws.
Because he knew that in this cruel battlefield, the next crisis might come tomorrow, and he had to be fully prepared.
Chapter 9: Undercurrents, the First Test of Sharpness (Old Version)
As the days passed, the fighting on the border seemed to have no end.
The atmosphere in the camp was sometimes tense and sometimes depressing. The list of wounded and dead was constantly updated, and the consumption of supplies was increasing.
Ye Feng still maintains his regular and almost rigid life.
In the early morning, he sweated profusely in the third training ground, honing his increasingly advanced basic physical skills and practicing his chakra control, which had already allowed him to barely walk a dozen steps on the wall.
During the day, he collects food, occasionally helps with logistics by carrying miscellaneous items, or sits in a corner, seemingly in a daze, but actually silently observing everything around him.
In the afternoon, he followed Mina in learning shuriken throwing and trap setting. His shuriken throwing skills were still a bit inconsistent, but his talent for trap setting was becoming more and more apparent. He could always find tricky angles and concealed camouflage methods, which amazed Mina and she said he was born for this job.
At night, when he returns to his little tent, it is the moment when he truly takes off his disguise and releases himself.
He would spend a lot of time refining chakra. The child’s physical limitations still existed, and the total amount of chakra increased slowly, but he could clearly feel that the chakra in his body was becoming more and more condensed and pure, like polished steel.
More importantly, it is the study of the “edge of the wind”.
After countless attempts and failures, and with crucial guidance from [Limit Analysis], he was now able to more stably attach the “sharp” properties of wind chakra to his shuriken, extending its duration from a few seconds to over ten. While the chakra consumption was still enormous and the power increase was limited, at least it was a “backup” trump card.
He never showed this achievement to anyone, including Mui Ne.
That afternoon, after the shuriken training ended, Mina clapped her hands and signaled everyone to stop.
“Okay, that’s all for today’s shuriken practice.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, “Captain Fujita has new instructions. Starting tomorrow, the three of you will begin participating in some security missions outside the camp.”
Alert mission?!
The two young men’s faces suddenly showed a mixture of excitement and nervousness. This meant that they were one step closer to the real battlefield!
Ye Feng’s heart also moved slightly, but his face revealed a hint of “worry” and “a hint of imperceptible expectation” at the right time.
“Sister Mina, is the security mission… dangerous?” he asked in a slightly “childish” voice.
“Don’t worry, we’re only in the outer areas, still far from the main battlefield,” Mina reassured. “Your main task is to observe. If you find anything unusual, signal immediately. Don’t act on your own. An experienced Chunin will lead the team, so you just need to follow orders.”
She paused and looked at Ye Feng: “Especially you, Ye Feng. Although you learn things quickly, you are the youngest after all and have zero practical experience. When the time comes, you must stay close to the team and protect yourself. Do you understand?”
“Okay! I understand, Sister Mina! I will be careful!” Ye Feng nodded vigorously, his eyes “sincere” and “full of gratitude”.
Seeing Ye Feng’s “well-behaved and obedient” appearance, Mina felt relieved. Although this child was gifted, fortunately he was neither arrogant nor impatient, and he also knew how to listen to advice. He should not do anything reckless.
After the group disbanded, Ye Feng did not leave immediately as usual, but stayed to help Mina pick up the practice shurikens scattered on the ground.
“Sister Mina, which Chunin is leading the team?” He asked casually while picking up the shuriken.
“It’s Captain Morino Date,” Mina replied casually. “Captain Date is very experienced and steady. You can rest assured following him.”
Morinoida?
Ye Feng paused slightly. He seemed to have some recollection of this name… perhaps the father of a future Konoha ninja? He couldn’t remember exactly, but for Fujita to have entrusted him with the important task of leading the new recruits on patrol, he must have possessed both exceptional strength and character.
He asked curiously, “Then… do we need to prepare anything?”
“Pack your ninja tool bags and bring your shurikens and kunai. Oh, by the way, Captain Fujita asked me to give these to you.” Mina pulled out three small flares from her ninja tool bag. “These are emergency flares. Red means you’ve encountered a strong enemy and need immediate support; yellow means you’ve spotted a suspicious target and need reconnaissance. Remember, don’t use them unless absolutely necessary.”
Ye Feng took the flare, looked at it carefully, and put it away solemnly.
“Thank you, Sister Mina. I’ll remember that.”
After helping Mina pack up her things, Ye Feng left the training ground.
Instead of returning to the tent immediately, he walked around the camp.
He noticed that the atmosphere in the camp seemed more tense than usual today. The number of patrolling ninjas had increased, and even the security around the command post was tightened. Occasionally, he could hear ninjas whispering, seemingly mentioning terms like “Sagakure,” “infiltration,” and “decapitation.”
[Extreme Analysis] Operating at low power, capturing these fragmented information.
“It seems that the situation on the front line is not optimistic… The Sand Village’s offensive is very fierce, and there may even be a small group of elite troops infiltrating the rear?” Ye Feng thought to himself.
This made him more cautious about tomorrow’s security mission.
Peripheral alert sounds safe, but in a battlefield where both sides are infiltrating each other and undercurrents are surging, deadly dangers can exist anywhere.
After returning to the tent, he did not start practicing immediately as usual.
Instead, he carefully checked and sorted out all his belongings first.
Five brand new standard shurikens (given by Fujita), plus ten practice shurikens that he had collected before and given by Mina.
Three kunai.
A small roll of wire.
A few smoke bombs.
A small medical kit (the medicines in it he always used sparingly).
The last two ration pills are hidden in the closest place to the body.
Detailed explanation of basic chakra extraction techniques, detailed explanation of basic physical techniques, and experience in precise chakra control (he had already memorized these three documents, but they were still well preserved).
Finally, there are the two flares.
He reclassified all the items and placed them in the most convenient and accessible places in the ninja tool bag. Every detail was carefully considered.
Then he took out the brand new shurikens and gently brushed his fingers over the cold blades.
Tonight, he needs to adjust the state of “Wind Edge” to the best.
The recovery of mental strength has almost been completed, and [Extreme Analysis] can be used for short periods of medium-intensity operation.
He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to carefully guide the wind attribute chakra.
This time, he was no longer satisfied with simply attaching the “sharp” characteristic to it, but tried… to perform more subtle manipulation.
For example, the attached chakra can produce extremely slight, high-frequency vibrations to simulate the effect of a wind blade cutting.
For example, try changing the shape of the chakra so that it fits the curve of the shuriken better and reduces dispersion.
This is an extremely delicate and mentally taxing process.
Inside the tent, there was only the boy’s steady breathing, and… the occasional imperceptible, sharp chakra fluctuation coming from his fingertips.
Time passes by little by little.
When he opened his eyes again, a glimmer of light appeared in the east.
His face was a little pale and he looked a little tired, but his eyes were unusually bright.
He picked up a shuriken and once again gathered the light blue chakra halo at his fingertips.
This time, the halo seemed to be more solid, and it had a faint sense of…sharpness like cutting through the air!
He snapped his fingers!
The shuriken flew out of his hand, not shooting towards any target, but drawing an extremely strange arc in the air, and then fell to the ground due to the loss of chakra blessing!
Arc Slash? !
Although it was extremely difficult and the trajectory was very unstable, it was undoubtedly a huge improvement in his ability to control wind-attribute chakra!
Not only can it penetrate in a straight line, it can also produce a cutting-like arc trajectory!
The corner of Ye Feng’s mouth curled up in a cold arc.
Although this technique was still immature and almost impossible to use in actual combat, it meant that his understanding of wind had deepened.
He carefully put the shuriken, which had been adjusted to its best condition, back into the ninja tool bag, feeling the chakra in his body, which was growing slowly but becoming more and more refined, and his body, which was well-balanced and full of explosive power.
Preparation is complete.
Tomorrow’s alert mission is dangerous, but also… an opportunity.
An opportunity to test one’s own strength, gain practical experience, and even… gain some “benefits” while ensuring one’s own safety.
As for Captain Morinoida… and the two young men who were traveling with him…
A hint of indifference flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes.
They are temporary “teammates”, but at critical moments, they may also become “chess pieces” that can be used, or… “burdens” that must be abandoned.
Everything depends on the specific circumstances and whether it is in his interest.
He stood up, walked out of the tent, and greeted the new day.
The dim morning light stretched his thin figure. His young face still held a hint of ignorance and anticipation, like a young boy about to embark on an adventure.
Chapter 10: First Danger, Undercurrents Surge (Old Version)
[Second Shinobi World War – Fire Country Border, Konoha Camp Outer Security Area]The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, carrying with it the coolness of dew and the fishy smell of earth.
The fence gate on the west side of the camp was slowly opened, and a team of five people filed out and quickly merged into the wilderness under the dim light of dawn.
Walking in front was a chuunin of medium build and stern features. It was none other than Morino Ida. His steps were steady, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s, constantly scanning his surroundings vigilantly, and he exuded the calm aura of a veteran of many battles.
Following closely behind were Ye Feng and two other orphaned teenagers, Kenta and Yong. All three children wore ill-fitting, worn-out Konoha uniforms, carried ninja tool bags on their backs, and had complex expressions of nervousness, excitement, and uneasiness on their faces.
Ye Feng walked in the middle and back, with his head slightly lowered, his steps “cautious”, his eyes revealing just the right amount of “nervousness” and “a hint of curiosity”, perfectly playing the role of a child who left the camp for the first time and stepped into an unknown and dangerous place.
But he never stopped observing from the corner of his eye.
Captain Morinoida’s every subtle movement, breathing rhythm, subtle fluctuations of chakra; Kenta and Ayong’s trembling fingers as they subconsciously clenched their kunai, their slightly unsteady steps; the surrounding topography, the distribution of vegetation, the changes in light and shadow, the sound of the wind blowing…
Everything was captured and recorded by him as if by instinct.
[Extreme Analysis] Like a behemoth lurking in the deep sea, he quietly extended his tentacles only when necessary, analyzing key information at a low power level to avoid reaching the warning line of mental overdraft again. Even so, his brain was working at high speed, constructing a dynamic model of the surrounding environment.
“Stay alert! Form groups of three, taking turns to provide cover and advance!” Morinoida’s voice was low and clear, with an unquestionable commanding tone. “Yefeng, you’re responsible for observing the left wing; Kenta, the right wing; Ayong, pay attention to the rear. If you notice anything unusual, report it immediately with hand gestures, and don’t make any noise!”
“Yes! Captain!” The three children answered in unison, their voices a little tense.
Ye Feng immediately adjusted his position, his eyes focused on the dense forest on his left. He chose a position that provided a good view and allowed him to use the trees for cover. His movements were natural and smooth, as if he was subconsciously searching for a sense of security.
Captain Ida glanced at him subtly, nodding slightly inwardly. Though young, this kid’s observation and positioning skills were indeed impressive, far superior to those of the other two impulsive guys.
The team began to advance along the predetermined route, entering the security area outside the camp.
This area was once a village or farmland, but it has long been ravaged by war and remains unrecognizable. Broken walls, charred tree stumps, and abandoned fortifications are everywhere, and the ground is pockmarked with potholes and traces of various battles. A faint smell of decay hangs in the air.
The deeper you go, the more complex the environment becomes and the more potential dangers there are.
After walking for about half an hour, Captain Ida suddenly raised his hand and signaled to stop.
He squatted down and carefully examined an inconspicuous bush on the ground.
“There are traces of a trap here…” Date said solemnly, pointing to a cleverly concealed, almost invisible patch of disturbed earth. “It’s very professionally done, probably left by Sunagakure. However… the triggering mechanism is broken, and it looks like it was left there a few days ago.”
Kenta and Ayong showed fear on their faces. If the captain wasn’t so experienced, they might have stepped on it!
Ye Feng also leaned over, observing with curiosity. His [Extreme Analysis] had already determined something was wrong before Ida had noticed, judging by the softness of the soil and the unusual fractures in the vegetation. But he kept it to himself, believing that this kind of “credit” would be more effective if the captain discovered it.
“It seems that Sunagakure’s infiltration is deeper than we expected.” Ida’s brows furrowed, and his tone became more serious. “Everyone, be extremely alert! Watch your step!”
As the team continued to move forward, the atmosphere became noticeably more tense.
Kenta and Ayong are almost paranoid about everything, and any slight movement can make them nervous for a long time.
Ye Feng still maintained the appearance of “nervous but trying to stay calm”, but his observations were more meticulous.
He was not only observing potential enemies, but also observing…Captain Morinoida.
The captain’s pace, perception range, reaction time to emergencies, and command habits…all of this is valuable intelligence. Understanding your “leader” is even more important than understanding the enemy, especially in an environment where “self-preservation” may be necessary at any time.
Suddenly, Ye Feng’s footsteps paused slightly, and his eyes fell on the trunk of a big tree not far ahead.
There was an extremely fine scratch that almost merged with the bark.
It is not formed naturally.
The shape… is like a weathered feather?
Ye Feng’s heart moved, but he did not report it immediately. Instead, he pretended to observe elsewhere and kept this discovery in mind.
The team passed a pile of rocks and Ida stopped again.
This time, he found several blurry but recognizable footprints on the edge of a muddy depression.
“They’re new footprints!” Ida’s face darkened. “At least three people. Judging by the size and depth of the footprints, they’re ninjas! And… they’re heading towards our camp!”
Kenta and Ayong’s faces turned pale in an instant.
Ninjas?! Towards the camp?!
“Captain, we…” Ayong’s voice trembled a little.
“Shut up!” Ida growled, his eyes scanning the surroundings sharply. “Don’t panic! These are just footprints. We can’t be sure if they’re still nearby.”
He squatted down and carefully studied the details of the footprints.
Ye Feng also came over and watched nervously. His [Extreme Analysis] had already analyzed the footprints’ shape, degree of wear, and the freshness of the soil.
“Three ninjas… their steps were steady, with no signs of injury… judging from the moisture in the soil, it must have been no more than an hour… one of them had unusual wear on the soles of his shoes… they were the standard Sunagakure military boots.” Ye Feng quickly came to a conclusion in his mind.
But he didn’t say it out loud. He knew that Captain Ida would be able to figure it out as well.
“It’s Sunagakure ninjas, and they’re very close.” Date stood up, his face terribly gloomy. “They are probably nearby, or have already bypassed our cordon!”
The situation suddenly became critical!
“Send the yellow signal immediately!” Ida ordered decisively, “Request support from the rear for reconnaissance! We will continue searching along the original route, but be careful to stay hidden!”
Kenta hurriedly took out the yellow flare and was about to pull the string to launch it.
“Wait!” Ida stopped him, “Fire from another position, don’t expose our current position!”
Kenta finally reacted and quickly ran to a slope a few dozen meters to the side and set off a signal flare.
Whoosh—bang!
A yellow firework exploded in the air, particularly eye-catching.
“Let’s go!” Ida shouted softly and took the lead to sneak towards the designated route.
Ye Feng followed closely behind, while at the same time increasing his perception to the extreme.
[Battlefield Intuition] is like an invisible tentacle, detecting every possible trace of danger around.
[Extreme Analysis] is also running quietly, analyzing possible ambush points.
Just then, a breeze blew by, bringing with it a very faint, unusual smell.
It’s not the smell of blood, nor the smell of earth, but a kind of… smell similar to the friction of metal, with a hint of grease?
Ye Feng’s pupils suddenly shrank!
puppet?!
Sunagakure…Puppet Master?!
This thought flashed through my mind like lightning!
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes shooting like sharp arrows towards a dense bush about seventy meters away on the left side of his front!
There… is a problem!
Almost at the same time!
Morinoida, who had been on high alert, seemed to have noticed something. He suddenly stopped and shouted, “Stop! There’s an ambush!”
He hadn’t even finished his words!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh——!
Several poisonous needles flashing with a cold blue light shot out from the bushes like a rainstorm! The target covered all five of them!
The speed and angle are so fast that it is beyond the ability of ordinary ninjas to handle!
“Get down!” Captain Ida roared, and at the same time, he quickly formed seals with his hands!
boom!
A thick earth wall rose from the ground, dangerously blocking the poison needle!
Ding ding ding ding——!
The poison needles hit the earth wall, making a dense crisp sound, and fell one after another. The needle tips flashed a deadly blue light in the sunlight.
Kenta and Ayong were so frightened that they fell to the ground, trembling.
The moment Ida yelled “Get down!”, Ye Feng rolled onto the ground. His movements were swift and fluid, unlike a child facing combat for the first time. He rolled to the side and back of the earthen wall, a relatively safe corner. A shuriken was already in his hand, and his eyes were fixed coldly on the bushes.
Behind the earth wall, Morinoida’s face looked solemn.
The previous wave of poison needle attacks was fast and fierce, and was highly toxic. It was obviously a carefully planned ambush!
The opponent… is a puppeteer from Sunagakure! And he’s quite powerful!
Trouble!
He was alone, with three children who were almost powerless, facing a puppeteer of the Sand Village who was hiding in the dark and whose strength was unknown…
The situation is critical!
Chapter 11: Breaking Out of a Deadly Siege, Bloodshed Begins (Old Version)
“It’s the puppeteer from Sunagakure! Everyone, be careful of his traps and poison!” Morinoida’s face was grim, and his voice was low, yet the solemnity in his tone was clearly audible. He maintained the Earth Flow Wall, continuously consuming chakra, while his sharp eyes scanned the seemingly peaceful bushes ahead.
Puppet Masters are among the most formidable opponents on the battlefield. Their true forms often remain hidden in the shadows, controlling their puppets through chakra lines. Their methods are unpredictable and difficult to defend against, and they are extremely skilled in the use of poison and various mechanical devices.
A puppeteer who can launch such dense and precise poison needle attacks must be at least a Chunin, or maybe even… a Jonin!
On his side, there was only one experienced Chunin (himself), with three children who had almost no actual combat experience and had only recently been exposed to chakra!
“Kenta, Ayong, Yefeng!” Ida made a quick decision. Now was not the time to hesitate. “I’ll hold the puppeteer back! Sunagakure ninjas usually work in small teams. Those two accomplices who left footprints are likely nearby, waiting for an opportunity to launch a surprise attack! The three of you, with yourselves as the priority, find and…detain them! Remember, if you spot an enemy, immediately use a yellow flare to warn them, then look for an opportunity to retreat! Don’t force a fight!”
He knew full well that sending these three children against the Sunagakure ninjas would practically be sending them to their deaths. But now, he was entangled by the puppeteer and had no time to spare. This was the most helpless, yet the only, possible way to secure a glimmer of hope. He could only hope that these three children would be alert enough to at least hold out until reinforcements arrived.
“Yes… yes! Captain!” Kenta and Ayong’s voices were trembling, their faces were full of fear, but they still forced themselves to respond.
“Understood!” Ye Feng’s response was unusually calm, even tinged with a hint of “the ruthlessness of someone cornered.” He knew this was the only way out. Yida had to hold off the strongest puppeteer while they dealt with any potential flanking threats, giving them a chance to survive.
“Very good! Be careful!” Ida said no more and quickly formed seals with his hands again!
“Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!”
Boom!
The earth wall suddenly exploded, and a ferocious earth dragon made of mud roared and rushed towards the bushes! This was a test, but also to create chaos and cover!
Almost at the moment the earth dragon rushed out, Ida’s figure rushed out like a cheetah, rushing in the opposite direction towards a pile of rocks on the flank, trying to find a safer cover and draw the puppeteer’s attention.
At this moment, two black shadows suddenly shot out from the bushes that were hit by the Earth Dragon Bomb!
Instead of rushing towards Ida, he rushed towards Ye Feng and the other two who had just dispersed and were trying to find cover like a poisonous snake coming out of a hole!
There was indeed an ambush! And the target was these “soft persimmons”!
They were two young ninjas wearing the standard uniforms of Sunagakure. They looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, with fierce eyes and swift movements. They were obviously Genin who cooperated with the puppeteer!
“Do it!” One of the Sand Village Genin shouted and quickly formed seals with his hands!
“Wind Style: Wind Cutting Technique!”
The other one drew out a kunai and aimed directly at Yong who looked the most panicked!
“Be careful!” Ye Feng’s pupils shrank, and [Extreme Analysis] instantly analyzed the two Genin’s movements, ninjutsu trajectories, and possible attack routes clearly!
He did not panic, but responded in the best way almost instinctively!
“Ayong, left! Use the trap wire!” He shouted, alerting the enemy who was encircling him.
At the same time, he rolled backwards, narrowly avoiding the sharp wind blade! The wind blade grazed his scalp and cut a small tree behind him in half!
That was close!
Reminded by Ye Feng, although A Yong was frightened to the point of his legs going limp, his instinct for survival made him subconsciously take out the roll of steel wire from his ninja tool bag and throw it to the side randomly!
Although it was not a regular pattern, the steel wire with a gleaming metallic luster did cause the Sand Village Genin who was encircling him to pause slightly and change his route of advance!
On the other side, the Genin who had unleashed the Wind Style saw that his attack had failed, sneered, and formed another seal: “Kid, you’re pretty quick! Let’s see how you dodge this time! Wind Style: Vacuum Ball!”
Several high-speed rotating air bombs shot towards the place where Ye Feng had just rolled!
But Ye Feng didn’t stop at all! The moment he rolled to the ground, his chakra burst out (the application of wall climbing skills, although not proficient, but the short-range burst was enough), and he scurried behind a big tree like a gecko!
Boom! Boom!
The vacuum jade hit the tree trunk, leaving several deep pits!
“Kenta! Use the shuriken to cover the one using wind escape!” Ye Feng hid behind the tree and gave orders in a quick but clear voice.
Kenta also reacted at this time. Although he was afraid, seeing Ye Feng so “calm”, he also plucked up the courage, tremblingly took out a few shurikens, and threw them at the wind-style ninja who was forming hand seals!
Ding ding dang dang!
The shuriken’s accuracy was extremely poor, but it did have a disruptive effect, forcing the Wind Style Genin to interrupt his hand seals and dodge.
Chance!
[Extreme Analysis] The positions, habits, and defense gaps of the two enemies have already been locked!
He did not choose to attack the wind-style Genin who was disturbed by the shuriken, but instead aimed at the melee Genin who slightly changed his route to avoid Ayong’s wire!
This person has even bigger flaws!
The night wind rushed out from behind the tree like a civet cat, at an astonishing speed!
He held a kunai tightly in his hand, but did not rush forward directly!
[Extreme Analysis] Tell him that if he tries to fight with physical skills, his small body will definitely be at a disadvantage!
His brain calculated the best solution in a few tenths of a second!
Use the terrain! Create illusions! Deliver a fatal blow!
He suddenly threw the kunai in his hand towards the melee ninja’s face! The angle was tricky!
The Sand Village Genin snorted coldly and easily dodged to the side. In his opinion, this was just a child’s last-ditch struggle.
But at the moment he turned sideways, Ye Feng’s real killer move had just begun!
After Ye Feng landed on the ground, he pressed his hands hard on the ground in an extremely strange but extremely fast posture!
He didn’t even think about getting close!
His target is – the ground!
An extremely slight sound of breaking through the air!
Just when the Sand Village Genin lost his balance while dodging the kunai, his old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated!
Suddenly, without any warning, a sharpened wooden spike painted in camouflage color shot out from the ground beneath his feet!
It was the simple ground spikes that Ye Feng had secretly practiced before, combining them with trap-laying techniques! While rolling to dodge and throwing kunai, he had already completed the layout with the fastest speed and the smallest movement!
All this happened in a flash!
“Puff!”
The wooden spike pierced the calf of the Sand Village Genin accurately and deeply!
“Ahhh!” The Sand Village Genin groaned in pain, his body staggered suddenly, and his movements were completely distorted!
Now is the time!
Murderous intent flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes!
He pounced again like a hunting cheetah, with a shuriken in his hand!
This time, his fingertips were wrapped in a barely perceptible light blue halo!
The edge of the wind! Low power excitation!
The shuriken flew out! Its target wasn’t the enemy’s vital point, but… the knee joint of his injured calf!
The most vulnerable place, and the one that most affects the ability to act!
The shuriken with the “Edge of Wind” easily cut through the opponent’s hastily defended chakra and deeply embedded into the knee!
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!” The Sand Village Genin let out a shrill scream, completely lost his balance, and fell heavily to the ground!
“The first one!” Ye Feng counted coldly in his heart, his movements never stopping! He knew that the other enemy would never give him a chance to breathe!
As expected! The Wind Style Genin was shocked and furious when he saw his companion being crippled in an instant!
“Kid! Are you looking for death?” He gave up attacking Kenta and quickly formed seals with his hands! Chakra surged wildly!
“Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!”
A gale several times more powerful than the previous small breakthrough swept towards Ye Feng!
Ye Feng’s face changed slightly. The range of this move was too large, and with his current speed, he couldn’t completely avoid it!
“Ye Feng! Be careful!” A Yong, who was standing by, saw that Ye Feng was in danger. He didn’t know where he got the courage from, but he screamed and rushed over, trying to use his body to block Ye Feng!
“Idiot!” Ye Feng cursed in his heart, but his body reacted!
He pulled Ayong suddenly, and they both rolled to the side!
The strong wind blew past their bodies, scraping a deep gully in the ground! A Yong’s back was cut open by the wind blade, and blood gushed out instantly! Ye Feng’s arm was also scratched, and it hurt like crazy!
“Ayong!” Kenta exclaimed.
“Cough cough…Ye Feng…run…” A Yong’s face was pale and his breath was weak. He used his last bit of strength to push Ye Feng.
Ye Feng looked at A Yong’s eyes that were quickly losing their vitality. There was no ripple in his heart, only cold calculation.
Ayong’s sacrifice… bought him a few precious seconds!
After that Wind Style Genin released his great breakthrough, he also experienced a brief period of stiffness and chakra gap!
This is the last chance!
A hint of madness flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes! [Extreme Analysis] Running at an unprecedented speed! His mental power was burning like crazy!
He pounced on the wind-style Genin like a ghost!
Not with ninjutsu! Not with shuriken!
But… physical skills!
He concentrated all of the little chakra left in his body on his feet and fists! [Extreme Analysis] Instantly simulated the opponent’s most likely defensive moves and most vulnerable vital points!
The Sand Village Genin had just recovered from the aftereffects of the major breakthrough when he saw the little brat rushing towards him like a madman!
He subconsciously raised his hand to block!
But Ye Feng’s target was not his arm at all!
Ye Feng’s body slipped under his arm at an extremely tricky angle, like a slippery fish!
Then, an elbow strike that condensed all of Ye Feng’s strength and chakra hit the Sand Village Genin’s heart fiercely and accurately!
That is a relatively fragile part of the human body!
Snap!
A slight sound of bone cracking!
The Sand Village Genin’s eyes bulged out, and his body slumped down as if all the strength had been drained from him. His face was filled with disbelief and astonishment! He had never dreamed that he would be killed instantly by a Konoha brat in such a simple and brutal way… at close range?!
Ye Feng succeeded in his attack and immediately retreated, looking at the fallen enemy vigilantly.
After confirming the other party was completely dead, he felt a wave of intense exhaustion. His chakra was almost depleted, his mental strength was on the verge of exhaustion, and the wound on his arm was burning with pain.
He glanced at Ayong who was dead beside him, and then looked at Kenta who was sitting on the ground and trembling with fear.
He took a deep breath, and his face instantly changed into a complex expression mixed with “sorrow”, “anger” and “survival”.
“Ayong…” He called out in a hoarse voice, his eyes reddened “just right”, and he even squeezed out a few “sad tears”.
Then, he suddenly turned around and rushed towards the direction where Captain Ida was fighting, shouting at the top of his lungs: “Captain! We’ve eliminated the enemy! Ayong… Ayong…”
He did not forget his mission – to support the captain!
He staggered to Captain Ida’s side, only to see Captain Ida fighting fiercely with a hideous puppet with cold light flashing at its joints!
The puppets’ attacks were cunning and brutal, with numerous traps. Although Captain Ida managed to hold on with his rich experience and solid earth-style ninjutsu, he also looked somewhat embarrassed, with several wounds on his body.
However, the puppeteer’s real body was nowhere to be seen, and it was obvious that he was hiding in the dark and controlling the situation.
“Captain! The enemy’s real body is in the crown of the tallest dead tree behind him on the left!” Ye Feng ran to the edge of the battle circle, not even taking a breath, and used up his last bit of strength to shout out the results of the [Extreme Analysis] that had just analyzed the battlefield traces and the flow of chakra lines!
Ida, who was fighting with the puppet, was startled when he heard this and subconsciously glanced in the direction where Ye Feng shouted!
Just this one glimpse! The puppeteer hiding in the shadows was also shocked! Exposed?!
He wanted to move immediately!
But Ida was incredibly experienced in combat! He instantly seized the opportunity! He ignored the puppet before him and formed hand seals with astonishing speed! The chakra in his body erupted with unprecedented intensity!
“Earth Escape: Earth Splitting Palm!”
A-level ninjutsu! Although Ida is only a Chunin, forcing it to consume a huge amount of energy, but at this moment, he can’t care so much!
Boom——!!
The earth trembled violently! A terrifying force instantly acted upon the area where the dead tree had been! The ground seemed to be torn and turned over by an invisible giant hand!
“puff–!”
A muffled groan echoed from the treetops! Then, a dark figure leaped out of the collapsed treetops in a panic, a trace of blood at the corner of its mouth. It was the Sand Hidden Puppet Master!
He glared at Ye Feng and Ida fiercely, his eyes filled with resentment and murderous intent. But he knew that he had been exposed, the two Genin were dead, and Konoha’s reinforcements might arrive at any time. If he didn’t leave now, he would really be unable to escape!
“The little brats from Konoha… and that Chunin… I will remember you!” He left a harsh remark and stopped fighting. He controlled the only remaining puppet to cover his retreat, and then he flashed a few times and quickly disappeared into the depths of the jungle.
The crisis…is temporarily resolved.
Captain Date looked in the direction the puppeteer had disappeared, but didn’t pursue. He had forcibly performed an A-rank ninjutsu, which had consumed him immensely, and coupled with the previous battle, he had also sustained significant injuries, leaving him at the end of his rope.
He turned around and saw Ye Feng’s pale little face, and… A Yong’s cold body and the distraught Kenta not far away.
A complex light flashed in the eyes of this battle-hardened Chunin, showing relief, regret, and heaviness.
He walked up to Ye Feng, stretched out his rough big hand, and pressed Ye Feng’s shoulder hard. His voice was a little hoarse due to weakness, but it carried a reassuring power:
“Yefeng…you did a great job. Very…good.”
“If it weren’t for you…we might all…”
He glanced at Ayong’s body and sighed: “Ayong… he is also a good man. In order to protect his companions…”
As he looked at Ye Feng’s “forced suppression of grief”, he felt a trace of pity and…admiration in his heart.
This child not only has talent and brains, but also courage far beyond his age and… the will of fire!
After his companion died, he did not collapse, but came to support himself immediately and accurately pointed out the enemy’s position!
This is definitely… the hope for Konoha’s future!
“Don’t be too sad, child.” Ida’s voice softened. “War is cruel. But we can’t let it make us depressed. We must inherit the will of our sacrificed comrades, become stronger, and protect everything we cherish!”
He patted Ye Feng’s shoulder vigorously and said, “You are a good seedling, Ye Feng. This time… you have made a great contribution. After I return, I will report the truth to the Hokage… and to the higher-ups.”
Ye Feng raised his head, looked at Ida with his red eyes, nodded heavily, and his voice was choked:
“Yes! Captain! I…I will definitely become stronger! For Yong! For Konoha!”
His heart, however, was ice-cold.
Ayong’s death was an unexpected accident, but it was not completely worthless. At least, it made his “performance” more real and made Captain Ida more convinced of his “loyalty” and “potential”.
As for merit… the more the better, of course.
He glanced at the devastated battlefield in the distance, feeling the empty chakra in his body and the waves of fatigue that came over him.
Chapter 12: Hidden Claws, Every Step Calculated (Old Version)
[Second Shinobi World War – Fire Country Border, Konoha Camp Outer Security Area, After the Fierce Battle]The smoke had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with the strong smell of blood, the fishy smell of freshly turned earth, and the unique smell of grease and metal from the puppets.
Morinoida leaned against a broken tree trunk, breathing heavily. His face was pale, and his left arm hung limply. It was obvious that he had sustained significant internal injuries in the fight against the puppeteer. The cost of forcing an A-rank ninjutsu was immense. But his eyes remained sharp, and he scanned his surroundings vigilantly, confirming there were no other potential threats.
Ye Feng stood not far away, his small body trembling slightly, his face a mixture of grief, exhaustion, and fear. He looked down at Ayong’s already cold body on the ground, his eyes red, his lips tightly pursed, looking like he was “deeply shocked, trying hard to hold back tears.”
On the other side, Kenta was completely slumped on the ground, his eyes empty and his soul lost. He was obviously frightened by the bloody fight just now and would not be able to recover in a short time.
“Ahem…” Ida coughed twice, a trace of blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. He took out simple medical supplies from his ninja tool bag and began to treat his wounds, his movements skillful but slightly labored.
When Ye Feng saw this scene, he immediately “came to his senses”, with a “worried” look on his face. He quickly ran to Ida and said, “Captain! Are you okay? Are you seriously injured?” He stretched out his little hand, wanting to help, but seemed “at a loss”.
“I’m fine. I won’t die.” Ida forced a smile and patted Ye Feng’s shoulder. “But you… your chakra is exhausted, right? And you’re still injured. Don’t move around. Rest for a while.”
He had just seen clearly that when the child rushed over to report the news, he was already at the end of his strength. Being able to kill two Sand Village Genin as a child who had just been exposed to chakra for a short time was simply a miracle!
“I… I’m fine.” Ye Feng shook his head stubbornly, then turned his gaze to the bodies of the two Sand Village Genin, a hint of hatred flashing in his eyes, “I’ll go see if there are any clues on them.”
He said this and walked towards the two bodies without waiting for Ida to answer.
His movements seemed a bit “staggering,” as if he was unsteady from grief and exhaustion. But only he knew that he was using the last of his mental strength to activate [Extreme Analysis] and quickly scan the two bodies!
Ninja tool bags, hidden weapons, special marks, possibly hidden scrolls… Don’t miss any valuable information!
On the surface, he was just “angrily” turning over the corpse to check if there was any more threat. In fact, [Extreme Analysis] had recorded all the details.
Sure enough, apart from the usual ninja tools and a small amount of military ration pills (which Ye Feng put into his arms without hesitation), nothing particularly valuable was found.
“Captain, there’s nothing special to find.” Ye Feng shook his head in disappointment and walked back to Ida.
At this moment, hurried footsteps and the sound of breaking air were heard in the distance.
It’s Konoha’s support team!
Three Chunins and five Genins rushed to the scene quickly. When they saw the tragic scene, the seriously injured Ida and the almost exhausted Yefeng (as well as the bodies of the frightened Kenta and Ayong), their faces changed.
“Captain Date! How are you?” The leading Chunin hurried forward to support Date.
“I won’t die.” Yida waved his hand and pointed at Ye Feng, “Thanks to this kid… and the sacrifice of Ayong.”
He succinctly recounted the ambush he had just encountered, how he had been entangled by the puppeteer, how Ye Feng and the other two had been attacked by two Genin, and how Ye Feng had ultimately killed the two and pointed out the puppeteer’s location. He didn’t hide Ye Feng’s contribution at all, and even when describing Ye Feng’s battle process, his tone was filled with undisguised admiration.
After hearing this, the ninjas in the support team looked at Ye Feng with changed eyes!
Shocked! Unbelievable!
A seven or eight-year-old child, on his first mission, managed to kill two Sand Village Genin in such a dangerous situation?! And indirectly forced a puppeteer of unknown strength to retreat?!
This… this is simply a fantasy!
But Captain Ida was known for his steadiness and reliability, and there was no way he would lie about something like this! Furthermore, the traces at the scene also supported his statement—the bodies of the two Sand Village Genin, as well as the actual wounds on Ye Feng’s body and his nearly depleted chakra.
For a moment, all eyes looking at Ye Feng were filled with amazement and…admiration.
Ye Feng lowered his head at the right time, with a “sad” and “embarrassed” expression on his face: “I… I’m just lucky… Ayong… wanted to save me…” His voice was “choked”, portraying the image of a young hero who “survived but lost his companions” to the core.
This kind of “humility” and “loyalty” won the favor and respect of all the ninjas present (except the frightened Kenta).
“Well done, kid!” The leading Chunin patted Ye Feng’s shoulder vigorously, “Konoha is lucky to have a junior like you!”
“We will take Ayong’s body back for a proper burial.” Another Chunin said in a deep voice, looking at Ayong’s corpse with regret.
After a simple battlefield cleanup, the support team escorted the wounded and the bodies of the victims back to the camp.
Captain Date was seriously injured and was being supported, while Kenta was still in a state of disarray and needed someone to watch over him.
Ye Feng “stubbornly” refused to be helped by others. He just followed the team silently with a pale face and unsteady steps, and from time to time he looked “sadly” at the body of Ayong being carried.
His mind was racing.
This battle yielded significant gains, but also exposed numerous problems. Chakra levels are a major drawback, and mental strength is easily overdrawn. “Wind Edge” is still unstable… Upon returning, I must rapidly improve my strength! Furthermore, what will Captain Ida’s report bring? A reward? Attention? Or… a prying eye from the shadows?
The road back to the camp seemed particularly long.
When their tired figures appeared at the entrance of the camp, they immediately caused a huge sensation!
Captain Ida was seriously injured! One child died! Another was terrified! And that kid named Ye Feng… actually survived and even performed a great deed?!
The news spread quickly as if it had wings!
Captain Fujita received the news and rushed over with the medical team. When he saw Ida’s injuries and Ayong’s body, his face was so gloomy that water seemed to drip out.
“What’s going on?!” Fujita’s voice was filled with suppressed anger.
The support team leader immediately stepped forward to report.
When he heard that Ye Feng had actually killed two Sand Village Genin and helped Date to repel the powerful enemy at the last moment, Fujita’s sharp eyes suddenly looked at Ye Feng, his eyes full of shock and disbelief!
He looked at Ye Feng carefully, as if trying to find out something from this child.
Ye Feng immediately lowered his head, his body trembling slightly, looking “still in shock, trying hard to suppress his grief.”
Minai also rushed over after hearing the news. When she saw Ayong’s body, her eyes turned red and she almost cried. When she saw Yefeng’s pale face and the wound on his arm, she felt even more distressed and hurried over to check his injuries.
“Yefeng! How are you? Where are you hurt?”
“Sister Mina… I’m fine…” Ye Feng’s voice was “weak” and “hoarse”, “Ayong…”
“I know… I know… Don’t say anymore…” Mina choked and hugged him gently, “You’ve done very well…”
The medical team quickly carried Captain Ida away for emergency treatment. Ayong’s body was also taken away for placement, and Kenta was sent for psychological counseling.
Captain Fujita took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and walked in front of Ye Feng.
“Yefeng.” His voice was low.
“Here! Captain!” Ye Feng stood up straight immediately, although his steps were still a little unsteady.
“Follow me.” Fujita turned around and walked towards the command post without saying anything more.
Ye Feng followed silently. Mina wanted to say something, but was stopped by Fujita’s eyes.
In the command post, Fujita asked Ye Feng to sit down and personally poured him a cup of hot water.
“Tell me, tell me what happened in detail. Don’t leave anything out.” Fujita stared at Ye Feng.
Ye Feng held the hot water, his face still showing “sadness” and “a hint of nervousness”, and began to narrate what had happened “intermittently”.
His narrative is very clever. He prioritizes Captain Date’s bravery and emphasizes the “bravery” of Ayong’s sacrifice, while downplaying his own contributions, describing them simply as “good luck” and “a hasty and reckless response.” However, he also “inadvertently” reveals key details, such as how he discovered the enemy, how he used traps, how he seized opportunities to counterattack, and finally how he discovered the puppeteer’s location.
He portrayed himself as a “lucky guy” and a “forced hero” who, although afraid, burst out with amazing potential under the stimulation of his companions’ sacrifice, and succeeded by chance with the basic knowledge he learned in daily life and a little cleverness.
Captain Fujita listened quietly, his eyes flickering.
Ye Feng’s narration basically matched Ida’s report (although Ida was still being rescued, the support team had already relayed the general idea), but it was more “modest” and “reasonable” (at least on the surface).
This child… not only is his talent amazing, but his mind is also terrifyingly mature! This disguise and language skills are simply…
Fujita’s opinion of Ye Feng rose again, but he didn’t show it.
“I understand.” Fujita nodded. “Although there were some unexpected events during this mission, your performance… truly exceeded everyone’s expectations. We will all remember Ayong’s sacrifice. As for your contributions, I will not forget them either.”
He stood up, walked to the table, and picked up a blank scroll and pen.
“I will report the details of this incident, as well as your outstanding performance, to the Hokage-sama.” Fujita’s tone was solemn. “Rest well and heal your injuries. As for the reward… wait for the approval from above, you will definitely receive it.”
Report to the Hokage? !
Ye Feng’s heart trembled, but his face showed an expression of “flattered” and “fear”: “Captain! I… I just did what I should do! I don’t need any reward…”
“That’s the rule, and it’s what you deserve,” Fujita interrupted. “During wartime, meritorious service is rewarded, and offenses are punished. This time, you not only saved the team (despite the sacrifices), but more importantly, you provided crucial intelligence on the infiltration of the Sunagakure puppeteers, preventing the camp from suffering even greater losses. Your contribution is immense.”
He looked at Ye Feng deeply and said, “Work hard, kid. Konoha’s future may really need hope like yours.”
“Yes! Captain! I will never let you down!” Ye Feng stood up “excitedly” and bowed deeply again.
After leaving the command post, Ye Feng slowly walked back to his small tent.
Along the way, many ninjas looked at him with admiration and curiosity. He maintained his “sad” and “tired” appearance, responding to all the looks with “shy” or “grateful”.
It was not until he crawled into his own independent little tent, isolated from all sights and sounds from the outside world, that all the expressions on Ye Feng’s face disappeared instantly, replaced by extreme coldness and… a hint of deep-hidden fatigue.
He slowly sat down on the simple bed and finally relaxed completely.
The adrenaline faded, and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion washed over me like a tide. My chakra was completely empty, and my mental strength was severely overdrawn. My [Extreme Analysis] had practically fallen into a forced dormant state, and my brain struggled to turn like a rusted gear. The wound on my arm stung with pain.
But he didn’t care about that.
He closed his eyes and began to review the situation calmly.
Killed two Sand Village Genin. Although the process was dangerous, the result was good. Combat Experience +2.
We have a preliminary understanding of the actual combat effect of “Wind’s Edge”. It has decent power, but consumes a lot of energy and has poor stability. It can only be used as a trump card for unexpected attacks.
Trap setting techniques are very effective in actual combat, and research and application in this area need to be strengthened in the future.
The lesson of overdrawing mental strength must be remembered, and [Extreme Analysis] must not be abused.
His characterization… was remarkably successful. Captain Date, Captain Fujita, and perhaps even higher-ups, now viewed him as a “promising talent” with “huge potential, loyal and reliable, and a true heir to the Will of Fire.” This protective hue was priceless.
Ayong’s death was an accident, but… it maximized his usefulness. Three seconds of silence.
Kenta…that loser is nothing to worry about.
The biggest reward was the impending merit and reward. Fujita personally reported the matter to the Hokage, which meant the rewards were definitely going to be substantial! B-rank ninjutsu? More training resources? Access to the Chunin training grounds? Even… an early chance at a promotion?
But… this also means that he will completely enter the sight of Konoha’s top brass.
I must recover my strength as soon as possible, and… I need stronger power!
This time, facing a jonin puppeteer, Captain Date and I nearly died here. What if we faced a stronger foe? For example… the legendary demigod Hanzo? Or those future Kage-level masters?
Ye Feng suddenly opened his eyes, and deep in his dark pupils, burning with an extreme desire for power!
He struggled to sit cross-legged, put aside all distracting thoughts, and began to practice the “Basic Chakra Refining Technique” that he had already memorized.
Now, nothing matters.
Recover, and then… become stronger!
Only by mastering absolute power can you truly control your own destiny in this damn world!
Chapter 13: Merits and Undercurrents (Old Version)
The bustling camp seemed undeterred by a small-scale ambush and the casualties of a few ninjas. The war raged on, the missions were heavy, and separations and deaths had become a common sight in this land.
But in some hidden corners, the discussion about the “genius orphan” named Ye Feng was like a stone thrown into a lake, causing imperceptible ripples.
Inside the small tent in the night breeze.
Three days have passed since the last thrilling ambush.
The scratches on his arms caused by the wind blades had already scabbed over, and his chakra had mostly recovered, but the fatigue caused by the overdraft of his mental strength was like a maggot on his tarsal bone, still aching slightly, reminding him of the price of the double-edged sword of [Extreme Analysis].
During these three days, he behaved extremely “well-behaved”.
Instead of sweating profusely at the training ground, he just performed the most basic chakra refining in the tent, or occasionally went out, silently watching the busy scene in the camp with a look of “some sadness and confusion”.
He needed time to recover, and even more time… to digest the “aftermath” of that battle.
He knew that the report from Captain Ida and the support team would inevitably put him at the center of the storm. It was both an opportunity and a test.
That afternoon, when Ye Feng was sitting cross-legged, calmly refining his chakra, the tent curtain was gently lifted.
Captain Fujita’s weathered and scarred face appeared at the door. His eyes were still sharp, but seemed to have a subtle complexity that was not usually noticeable.
“Captain!” Ye Feng immediately opened his eyes as if startled, quickly stood up and saluted respectfully.
“No need to be so polite, just sit down.” Fujita’s voice was still low, and he casually sat down beside Ye Feng’s simple bed, his movements showing the efficiency unique to a soldier.
The space inside the tent was already small, and the arrival of a Jonin (although Fujita was only one of the camp leaders, his strength and status far exceeded that of an ordinary Chunin) made the atmosphere instantly become a little depressing.
Ye Feng sat down again “uneasily”, lowered his head, and waited for Fujita’s “instructions”.
“How is your injury? Are you feeling better?” Fujita asked in a gentle tone.
“Thank you for your concern, Captain. I’m… much better now.” Ye Feng answered in a low voice.
“Yeah.” Fujita nodded, his eyes sweeping across Ye Feng’s still slightly pale face. “Ida’s injuries have stabilized, although he still needs to rest for a while. As for the sacrificed Ayong… his pension and honor will never be forgotten by the village.”
He paused, then changed the subject: “The report on your matter has been submitted. The Hokage and the Elders are very… concerned about your performance.”
Here we come!
Ye Feng’s heart trembled, but an expression of panic and helplessness appeared on his face at the right time: “Captain… I… I really just got lucky…”
“Luck?” Fujita’s lips curled up in an ambiguous arc. “Luck can’t kill two well-trained Sand Village Genin, and luck can’t point out the puppeteer hiding in the dark.”
He looked at Ye Feng, his eyes becoming deep: “Ye Feng, I know you are very smart, even… calmer than many adults. But in front of me, there is no need to be overly humble.”
Ye Feng’s heart was filled with alarm! What did Fujita see through? Or was he just testing him?
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes full of “grievance” and “a hint of stubbornness”: “Captain! I didn’t! Everything I said is true! If it wasn’t for Ayong… If it weren’t for you, Captain, who held back that terrible puppeteer… I…” As he spoke, his eyes turned red again “just right”.
Fujita looked at him silently for a long time before he slowly sighed, “Maybe… War always forces people to grow up quickly.”
He stopped dwelling on it and took out two things from his arms.
“Your merit points have been recorded. The amount is quite large, enough for you to exchange for a lot of goodies. In the future, you will be given priority in the camp’s supply rations.” Fujita handed Ye Feng a wooden plaque with a special mark on it. “This is your ID card. You will need it when you collect supplies or apply to enter the advanced training ground.”
Ye Feng took the wooden sign with trembling hands and whispered, “Thank you, Captain…”
“Also…” Fujita picked up another small scroll. “This is one of the special rewards granted to you. It explains ‘The Fundamentals of Chakra Nature Transformation (Wind)’ in detail. Since you have a wind attribute, nature transformation is the key to becoming stronger. This scroll is much more systematic and comprehensive than what you learned on your own before, so study it carefully.”
Scroll with detailed explanation of property changes!
Ye Feng’s heart skipped a beat! This was exactly what he needed right now! With this, his research on “Wind Edge” and the future development of stronger wind escape techniques would have a qualitative leap!
“Captain…this…this is too valuable!” Ye Feng’s voice was filled with “unbelievable” and “excited”.
“Take it.” Fujita’s tone was unquestionable. “You paid for this with your life. Remember, only by constantly becoming stronger can you survive better and protect what you want to protect.”
Just as Ye Feng took the scroll and was about to “shed tears of gratitude” again, the corner of his eye seemed to catch a glimpse of an extremely obscure gaze outside the tent!
That gaze… was cold, empty, without any emotion, like a poisonous snake lurking in the dark!
[Battlefield Intuition] and the [Extreme Analysis] that has not yet fully recovered issued a slight alarm at the same time!
Someone is watching! And they are very powerful! They deliberately restrained their presence!
Ye Feng’s heart sank instantly, but there was no change on his face. He still had that “grateful” look on his face, but his hand holding the scroll was trembling slightly because of “excitement”.
“There is one last reward, or rather… permission.” Fujita’s voice brought Ye Feng back to his senses. “In view of your achievements and great potential, the higher-ups have granted you special permission to apply to learn a B-rank Wind Style Ninjutsu once you have enough merits to redeem it and your strength meets the corresponding requirements.”
The right to learn B-rank ninjutsu?!
Ye Feng’s breathing quickened a little. This was more logical and more motivating than just giving him a B-rank scroll!
“For specific ninjutsu, you can go to the Merit Exchange Office to learn about it. Once you’ve chosen one and have gained enough strength, come back to me to apply.” Fujita added, “Remember, you can’t bite off more than you can chew. B-rank ninjutsu requires extremely high chakra volume and control. Don’t aim too high before you have a solid foundation.”
“Yes! Yes! Captain! I understand!” Ye Feng nodded repeatedly, as excited as a child who got candy.
Fujita watched him express his true feelings, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. Although this child was a genius, he seemed to have a kind heart, was grateful, and could listen to advice. That was good.
“Alright, I’ve got the stuff for you. Get some rest and recover quickly.” Fujita stood up. “Starting tomorrow, you can go to the second training ground for training. It’s more suitable for nature transformation exercises. But… keep a low profile and don’t show off too much.”
“Yes! Thank you, Captain!” Ye Feng bowed deeply again.
Fujita nodded, gave him one last look, and turned to leave the tent.
Only when Fujita’s footsteps faded away and the obscure sight outside the tent completely disappeared did Ye Feng slowly straighten up.
All the expressions on his face faded like the tide, leaving only cold calmness and deep thought.
He walked to the door of the tent, opened a small crack, and looked outside vigilantly. After confirming that no one was watching, he returned to the center of the tent and held the scroll with the detailed explanation of “Basics of Chakra Nature Changes (Wind)” tightly in his hand.
The rewards were even more generous than expected. Merit points, priority supplies, access to advanced training grounds, detailed explanations of nature changes, and the qualification to learn B-rank ninjutsu… This was practically treating him as a key training target.
The attention of the Hokage and the Elders… this is both a talisman and a death warrant.
And… that gaze just now…
A cold light flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes.
The Root? Or Danzo himself?
Only they have such covert surveillance methods and such a cold and emotionless aura.
It seems that this “unpolished gem” of mine has been targeted by some guys hiding in the dark.
“Trouble… but it also means… opportunity.” Ye Feng whispered to himself.
The Root possesses Konoha’s darkest and richest resources and intelligence. If one can skillfully maneuver them, one might be able to reap unexpected benefits. Of course, the prerequisite is… not to be devoured by them.
He spread out the scroll that explained the changes in properties in detail, his eyes falling on the complicated pictures and obscure explanations on it.
[Extreme Analysis] Although it has not yet fully recovered, low-intensity analysis is already possible.
“Wind… cutting, penetrating, vibrating, flowing, taking shape…”
New knowledge poured into his mind like sweet spring water, confirming, supplementing and elevating his previous experience.
His understanding of the attributes of wind is deepening at an astonishing rate!
“B-rank ninjutsu authority…” Ye Feng stroked his chin, “It requires a lot of merit… It seems that for the next mission, I can no longer just focus on self-protection like before. I must obtain as much merit as possible while ensuring safety.”
As for which B-rank Wind Style to choose… he would have to wait until he checked the exchange list. But one thing was certain, he would choose the ninjutsu that best suited him and could best utilize the advantages of [Limit Analysis].
There was a cold and excited light in Ye Feng’s eyes.
The road ahead is full of opportunities, but also filled with thorns.
But he was fearless.
He would be like the most cunning hunter, lurking in the shadows, carefully avoiding traps, and at the same time, getting closer to his prey step by step –
Power! And the power to control your own destiny!
He took a deep breath and immersed his whole mind in the scroll.
A new practice has begun.
Chapter 14: The Road to Promotion, Starting from Slightly Small Steps (Old Version)
Instead of sweating profusely at the training grounds, he simply practiced basic chakra refining in his tent, or occasionally ventured out, silently observing the bustling scene in the camp with a look of “a touch of sadness and bewilderment.” He needed time to recover, and even more time… to digest the “aftermath” of that battle.
“According to wartime regulations and your outstanding contributions, you are now eligible to receive fixed rations for a Genin-level ninja. In addition, you can apply to learn a B-rank wind-style ninjutsu.” Fujita’s tone became serious. “This is recognition of your potential from above, and reflects the high hopes they have for your future.”
He first handed Ye Feng a wooden badge with a special marking on it. “This is your new ID badge. You’ll need it to collect supplies or enter specific areas. With this badge, you can go to the logistics department to collect this month’s standard ninja rations, which include some basic ninja tools, military ration pills, and a replenishment of medical supplies.”
Ye Feng took the wooden sign with trembling hands and whispered, “Thank you, Captain… I…”
“Take it.” Fujita’s tone left no room for doubt. “This is what you deserve. Remember, only by becoming stronger can you live better and protect what you want to protect.”
He then took out the small scroll. “Also, this is a detailed explanation of ‘Chak: The Fundamentals of Attribute Transformation (Wind)’, specially approved for you. Since you have the wind attribute, attribute transformation is the key you must master if you want to become stronger. This scroll is much more systematic and comprehensive than what you’ve been able to figure out on your own. Study it carefully.”
“Captain… this… this is too valuable!” Ye Feng’s voice was filled with “unbelievable” and “excited.” He carefully took the scroll, as if holding a rare treasure.
At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of that extremely obscure gaze outside the tent again!
“As for B-rank ninjutsu…” Fujita continued, not mentioning the merit exchange. Instead, he said directly, “Resources are tight during wartime, and the inventory of B-rank wind style scrolls available for Genin to learn is limited. The logistics department currently only has two options for you: ‘Wind Style: Great Breakthrough’ and ‘Wind Style: Wind Blade’.”
He looked at Ye Feng and said, “The Great Breakthrough is powerful and has a wide range, but it consumes a lot of energy and requires a high amount of chakra. The Wind Blade focuses more on form change and cutting power. It is relatively delicate, but requires extremely high chakra control. Think carefully about it. Which one do you want? Once you have chosen, go to the logistics department and register with your ID card to receive the scroll.”
As expected, it was just verbal notification, and then going to the logistics department to pick it up. Ye Feng understood.
Wind Style: Great Breakthrough… The power is indeed tempting, but he knows very well that with his current chakra capacity, it would be difficult for him to fully display it in one go. Even if he uses [Extreme Analysis] to optimize it, it cannot be used as a regular means in the short term.
Wind Style: Wind Blade… Form changes, cutting power, this seems to be more in line with his research direction of “Wind Edge”. High control requirements? This is exactly the strength of [Extreme Analysis]!
but……
Ye Feng’s face showed an expression of “serious thought” and “a hint of embarrassment.” He looked up at Fujita, asking for advice: “Captain… ‘Big Breakthrough’ sounds… more powerful? Although… although I may not be able to use it right now…”
He deliberately chose the option that seemed “stronger” and more in line with his “youthful mentality”, but also pointed out his current “shortcomings”.
A flicker of admiration flashed in Fujita’s eyes. This kid hadn’t let his power go to his head, and he’d recognized his own limitations. That was good.
“‘Big Breakthrough’ is indeed more powerful and is a very practical area-of-effect ninjutsu on the battlefield.” Fujita nodded, “But as you said, with your current chakra level, it’s still too early for you to master it. However, it’s good to have a goal. Since you’ve chosen it, treat it as a long-term goal and work hard for it.”
“Yes! Captain! I will definitely work hard to improve my chakra and master this ninjutsu as soon as possible!” Ye Feng said “firmly”.
“Very good.” Fujita stood up. “Go to the logistics department to get the scroll yourself. Now, there’s one last thing.”
His expression became extremely serious.
“In view of your outstanding performance and the great potential you demonstrated in the last mission, after unanimous recommendation by Ida and I, and with the approval of our superiors, we have decided to grant you the status of Konoha Genin as an exception!”
Genin identity!
Ye Feng’s breathing became a little “rapid”, and his face showed “incredible” “ecstasy” and “excitement”!
Fujita pulled out a brand new, shiny Konoha forehead protector from his arms! The familiar logo shimmered in the dim tent.
“From today on, you are no longer a war orphan, but an official Genin of the Hidden Leaf Village—Yefeng!” Fujita handed the forehead protector to Yefeng, his voice low and powerful, “Wear it and remember the meaning it carries. It represents the trust of the village, the bond of your companions, and even more importantly… the responsibility to protect the will of fire!”
Ye Feng stretched out his hands, trembling, and carefully took the heavy forehead protector. He felt the cool touch of the metal, and tears flashed in his eyes, his voice choking with sobs:
“Yes! Captain! I…I will never betray the village’s trust! I will definitely…protect Konoha! Inherit the Will of Fire!”
His performance was flawless, portraying a passionate young man who was recognized, found a sense of belonging, and was determined to devote everything to the village.
But in his heart, he was calmly calculating the actual benefits of this forehead protector:
Official ninja status meant greater authority and access to more insider information; it meant more rational resource allocation; and… an additional layer of official cover when operating in certain gray areas. As for the so-called “Will of Fire”… it was merely a slogan used by the rulers to constrain and control their pawns. For him, only power and profit mattered.
“Very good.” Fujita looked at Ye Feng’s “genuine expression” and nodded with satisfaction. “Go, go to the logistics department to collect your supplies and ninjutsu scrolls. Starting tomorrow, you will be officially assigned to the reserve combat sequence and be ready to accept new missions at any time.”
“Yes! Captain!” Ye Feng bowed deeply again, then “excitedly” grasped the forehead protector tightly in his hand, turned around and left the command post.
When I walked out of the tent, the afternoon sun was a bit dazzling.
Ye Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling the vague gazes around him.
He did not go to the logistics department immediately, but returned to his small tent first.
He took out the brand new Konoha forehead protector and examined it carefully. Then, instead of wearing it on his forehead like other ninjas, he tied it on his left arm.
This is more low-key and more in line with his personality of not wanting to attract attention.
Feeling the cool touch of the forehead protector, the corners of Ye Feng’s mouth curled up in an icy arc that only he could understand.
Konoha Genin… this is just the starting point.
Wind Style: Major Breakthrough…the future’s trump card.
Change in nature…the key to improvement right now.
And… eyes hidden in the dark…
Chapter 15: New Ninja Joins the Team (Old Version)
Captain Fujita disappeared outside the tent, taking away the heavy attention and…invisible pressure.
Ye Feng stood quietly there, feeling the cold touch of the new Konoha forehead protector on his arm, and the two scrolls in his arms that carried power and the future.
Genin Yakōze.
From this day forward, he was no longer the war orphan who could be discarded at will, ignored by everyone, but was officially incorporated into Konoha’s massive war machine as a cog. Although he was at the bottom of the hierarchy, he finally had an identity and legitimate access to resources and power.
He didn’t immediately indulge in the joy of his increased power, nor was he overwhelmed by the attention of “Hokage-sama and the Elders.” That cold gaze hidden in the darkness was like a sword hanging over his head, constantly reminding him that danger was never far away.
“We must improve our strength as soon as possible… and use more covert and efficient methods.” Ye Feng muttered to himself, his eyes cold and sharp.
Without delay, he straightened his slightly worn but clean clothes, hid his new identity card and the nature change scroll close to his body, and walked towards the camp’s logistics department.
The logistics area of the camp was always one of the busiest and most chaotic. Shinobi hurried back and forth, and the air was thick with the complex aromas of herbs, metal, sweat, and food. In charge of distributing supplies was a somewhat scruffy, one-eyed, scarred veteran chunin, known as “One-Eyed Dragon.” It was said he was once a skilled frontline warrior, but lost an arm and an eye before retiring to the sidelines.
“Kid, what’s up?” Seeing Ye Feng approaching, a hint of subtle surprise flashed across the one-eyed dragon’s cloudy eyes. He had also heard about the deeds of this “genius orphan” who had recently gained fame.
Ye Feng immediately put on a respectful yet slightly shy expression, and handed over his new identity card with both hands: “Report to the senior! I am the newly promoted Genin Ye Feng. Under the orders of Captain Fujita, I have come to collect this month’s standard rations, as well as… the B-rank Wind Release Ninjutsu scroll I requested.”
The one-eyed man took the wooden sign and carefully examined the mark and name on it. He then looked up at Ye Feng for a few more times and grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. “Oh, so it’s you, kid. Okay, wait.”
He turned around and rummaged through a huge shelf, his movements swift and agile, not at all like a one-armed disabled person. Soon, he threw a standard ninja tool refill pack (which contained new kunai, shuriken, steel wire, food pills, and basic medical supplies) to Ye Feng.
“This is your share for this month. Use it sparingly. Supplies are tight on the front lines right now.” The one-eyed man said, and then he carefully took out a scroll from a locked metal box. On it was written “Wind Style: Great Breakthrough” in red pen.
“B-level ninjutsu is not a child’s toy.” The one-eyed dragon handed the scroll to Ye Feng, and a serious look flashed in his turbid one eye. “This thing is powerful, but the energy consumption is also terrifying. Before you master it, don’t use it carelessly on the battlefield, otherwise you won’t know how you died.” He seemed to be giving a kind reminder, but also seemed to be giving a routine warning.
“Yes! Thank you for the reminder, senior! I will definitely use it with caution!” Ye Feng nodded repeatedly as if he had been taught a lesson. He carefully took the scroll of “Wind Escape: Great Breakthrough” and hid it carefully on his body together with the scroll of nature change.
After receiving the supplies, Ye Feng thanked again and left the noisy logistics department.
He did not return to the tent immediately, but followed Fujita’s instructions and walked towards the second training ground inside the camp.
Compared to the third training ground, which consisted of only a few broken wooden stakes, the second training ground was noticeably more organized. It was larger, with a pool specifically for practicing chakra control, taller practice walls, and even obstacles simulating various terrains. Naturally, it was also used by more people, mostly the Genin and some Chunin from the camp.
The arrival of Ye Feng immediately attracted a lot of attention.
After all, he was now considered a “celebrity” in the camp. A “genius” who had been promoted to Genin at the age of eight and had killed two Sand Ninjas in actual combat, would attract attention wherever he went.
Facing those curious, inquiring, and even slightly jealous gazes, Ye Feng remained “low-key,” “modest,” and even “a little shy,” and silently walked to a relatively secluded corner of the training ground.
He was not in a hurry to practice the ninjutsu he had just acquired, nor did he try those difficult wall climbing or water treading techniques.
He simply sat down cross-legged and spread out the scroll with the detailed explanation of “Basics of Chakra Nature Changes (Wind)”.
He needs time to fully grasp the theory.
[Extreme Analysis] Operating at low power, like the most sophisticated scanner, it deeply imprinted every word and picture on the scroll, the descriptions of the wind attribute chakra’s “cutting”, “vibration”, “flow”, and “form”, as well as various basic property change practice methods in the mind, and verified, integrated, and deduced with his previous superficial understanding of the “Edge of Wind”.
Time passed slowly, and the ninjas training around him changed one after another. However, Ye Feng was like an old monk in meditation, immersed in the ocean of knowledge, oblivious to the noise and gazes of the outside world.
It was not until the sun set and the people on the training ground gradually dispersed that he slowly closed the scroll and let out a long breath.
There was a glimmer of enlightenment in his eyes.
This detailed explanation opened a whole new door for him! It elevated his understanding of the wind attribute to a whole new level!
The “Edge of the Wind” he had used before was nothing more than a blind cat catching a dead mouse, forcing the appearance of “cutting”. But now, he understood the principle behind it – through the specific vibration frequency and form compression of chakra, he could give chakra a sharpness beyond the physical limit!
He even drew inferences from one example and deduced several new, low-consumption basic applications of wind-attribute chakra, such as:
Whisper of the Wind (tentative name): Imitates the flow of wind, attaching a trace amount of wind attribute chakra to the soles of the feet, reducing friction, increasing movement speed and dodging ability (the effect is weak, but the consumption is extremely low).
Wind Tremor (tentative name): Make the wind attribute chakra vibrate at a specific frequency. Attaching it to a weapon or fist may produce effects similar to “breaking defense” or “paralysis” (theoretical stage, requires a lot of experiments).
These are much more practical than directly trying to master “Wind Style: Great Breakthrough”!
Of course, theory is theory, and practice is the only criterion for testing truth.
Just as he was about to find a place to try out “Whisper of the Wind”, a figure walked up to him.
It’s Captain Fujita.
“It seems that you have already started your research.” Fujita looked at the scroll in Ye Feng’s hand and nodded.
“Yes, Captain.” Ye Feng quickly stood up.
“Come with me, we will put you into the new team.” Fujita turned around and led the way without any extra words.
Ye Feng was confused, but he followed silently. Along the way, Fujita told him about the team’s affairs.
They came to a small open space near the command post where three people were already waiting.
The leader was a Chunin who looked to be in his mid-twenties, with an ordinary face but a calm look in his eyes. He was none other than Kenji Inoue, who Fujita had mentioned before and who would soon be the captain of their team.
Behind Kenji stood two young boys and girls.
The one on the left is a girl, about ten years old, wearing standard Hyuga tribe clothing, with long princess-style hair, a pretty face, and a slightly cold expression. Her pair of pure white eyes are looking at Ye Feng calmly. It is Hyuga Ren.
The one on the right was a boy, about the same age as Yefeng, about nine years old. He was wearing ordinary ninja clothes, was a little thin, and had a nervous and a hint of curiosity on his face. It was Sato Haru.
“Everyone is here.” Fujita said solemnly, “Let me introduce you.”
He pointed at Kenji, “This is Chunin Inoue Kenji. He’s very experienced. From today on, he will be the captain of your team.”
Then he pointed at Hinata Ren and Sato Haru and said, “Hinata Ren, Sato Haru, like Yokaze, are all promoted to Genin through special wartime regulations. They will be your teammates from now on.”
Finally, he looked at Ye Feng and said, “Ye Feng, I don’t think I need to introduce you any further.”
“Yes!” Ye Feng responded immediately, while his eyes quickly swept over the two new teammates.
Hinata Ren…is that a branch of the Hyuga clan? Byakugan, soft fists…very good for scouting and close combat. However, the Hyuga clan has many rules, and…it seems difficult to get along with.
Sato Haru…seems ordinary, even a bit cowardly. His talent is probably average, and he was promoted to Genin because he has some special skills in supporting roles. Or…is he just filling in the gaps during battle?
[Extreme Analysis] Quickly analyzing the two people’s micro-expressions, chakra fluctuations (all very weak, consistent with the level of Genin) and physical conditions in the background.
“Okay, Kenji, I’ll leave these three guys to you.” Fujita said to Inoue Kenji, “They are all good seedlings, but they are also rookies with little experience. How to bring them out depends on your ability.” His gaze lingered on Ye Feng for a second longer.
“Please rest assured, Lord Fujita.” Inoue Kenji bowed slightly, his tone calm, “I will do my best to complete the task.” His eyes swept over Ye Feng and the other two, his eyes calm, without any special emotions.
“Yes.” Fujita nodded, and then said to Ye Feng and the other two, “From now on, Captain Kenji will be your direct superior. All actions will be under his command. Do you understand?”
“Yes!” the three answered in unison.
Fujita said nothing more and turned and left.
Only four members of the newly formed team were left at the scene.
The atmosphere was silent for a moment.
Inoue Kenji broke the silence. “I’m Inoue Kenji. From today on, we’re Team 7 (tentative, or whatever number we choose). My requirements are simple: obey orders, trust your teammates, and complete the mission. Everyone, please introduce yourselves and tell us what you’re good at.”
Hinata Ren spoke first, her voice cold: “Hinata Ren. Good at… investigation.” She spoke briefly and to the point, without any unnecessary words.
Sato Haru seemed a little nervous and rubbed his hands: “I… my name is Sato Haru. I… I’m not very good at fighting, but… I know some basic medical bandaging and… cleaning the battlefield?” His voice became smaller and smaller as he spoke.
Inoue Kenji nodded without commenting, then turned his gaze to Ye Feng.
Ye Feng had a “serious” expression on his face that was “appropriate for his age”: “My name is Ye Feng. I’m good at… shuriken throwing and trap setting. Wind attribute chakra.” He only said the abilities he was “allowed” to show.
Inoue Kenji gave him a thoughtful look. Shuriken and traps? And that sensational Wind Style? Add to that Fujita-sama’s previous instructions…this Night Breeze wasn’t that simple.
“Very good.” Kenji nodded. “Reconnaissance, support, assault/skill type… the configuration is reasonable. Gather here at 7 o’clock tomorrow morning for the first team training. Everyone go back and prepare well. Disband!”
After Kenji finished speaking, he turned and left without giving them much chance to communicate.
Hinata Ren just glanced at Ye Feng and Sato Haru lightly, then walked away on her own.
Only Yefeng and Sato Haru were left.
“Well… that… Ye Feng… please give me more guidance in the future!” Sato Haru mustered up the courage to speak to Ye Feng, with a look of admiration and fear in his eyes. He had also heard about Ye Feng’s deeds.
“Yeah.” Ye Feng showed a “gentle” smile on his face, “Learn from each other.”
Without stopping for long, he turned and walked towards his tent.
Class 7?
Hinata’s white eyes, Sato’s support, plus his own hidden trump card…
And that captain Kenji who looks calm and experienced…
This team is a new “stage” and also a new “shackle” given to him by the village.
He needs to use this stage to obtain more resources and hone his strength.
At the same time, you must also carefully handle relationships within the team and not reveal your true self too early.
Companions? Bonds?
In his eyes, there are only usable pawns and potential threats.
Chapter 16: New Leaves, Shadows Follow (Old Version)
Time slipped away like sand through fingers, amid the clamor of battle and the oppressive calm of the camp. Nearly a month had passed since that thrilling ambush.
During this month, Ye Feng’s life seemed calm, but in fact, there were undercurrents.
He officially became a Konoha Genin, and the new forehead protector on his arm became his new symbol. He was no longer the orphan who could be easily ignored. Almost everyone in the camp knew him—the “genius boy” who had been promoted to Genin at the tender age of eight and achieved great success on his first mission.
What follows are tangible benefits.
He moved out of the small tent in the remote corner and moved into the collective dormitory area for Genin.
With his new identity card, he could receive a standard genin ration every month—brand new kunai, shurikens, detonating tags (although only a few), military ration pills, and a more comprehensive medical kit. These extremely valuable resources in wartime provided a solid guarantee for his training and survival.
More importantly, he gained access to the second training ground and the precious scroll detailing “Basics of Chakra Nature Changes (Wind)”.
This month, he devoted almost all of his “public” time to basic training and team coordination.
The newly formed Team 7, under the leadership of Captain Kenji Inoue, began their daily basic training. Kenji was a typical pragmatic Chunin, a serious and strict trainer who required meticulous attention to detail, from the most basic formations, hand signals, and team coordination formations to simple reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance techniques.
Ye Feng’s performance in training was “remarkable.” He was a “quick learner,” always the first to grasp the key points, yet he would “appropriately” make minor, harmless mistakes, like “occasionally” falling behind during a coordinated drill or “intentionally” omitting a detail during a theoretical question-and-answer session, keeping his performance within the reasonable range of “talented but inexperienced.”
His relationship with his teammates also slowly “progressed” through daily training and simple camp tasks.
He maintained a polite distance from Hinata Ren. This girl from the Hyuga branch family had a personality as cold and reserved as her Byakugan, but her reconnaissance skills and soft fist skills demonstrated during training were not to be underestimated. Ye Feng knew that her Byakugan could see through many things, so he must remain vigilant. He only communicated with her briefly when necessary, such as exchanging observations during reconnaissance drills or simply giving brief instructions during taijutsu sparring.
For Sato Haru, Yefeng served as a gentle and reliable companion. Sato Haru possessed ordinary talent and a timid personality, often falling behind in the rigorous training and becoming frustrated. Yefeng would casually offer him advice, such as, “Captain Kenta just said you need to lower your center of gravity,” or, during breaks, “share” an extra pill from his rations with him, “Good luck next time you train.” These seemingly insignificant gestures instilled in Sato Haru a deep sense of gratitude and dependence on Yefeng, and also impressed Captain Kenji and onlookers with the impression that Yefeng, while “a genius,” was not arrogant and cared for his companions, perfectly embodying the “companion bond” that Konoha advocated.
Of course, all this was just a disguise carefully woven by Ye Feng.
The real practice only took place in the dead of night, on his bed in the small but undisturbed dormitory.
The detailed scroll “Basics of Chakra Property Changes (Wind)” had already been thoroughly dissected by [Extreme Analysis]. His understanding of the wind property had long surpassed the contents of the scroll itself.
“Wind Edge” was no longer a random burst; it had become a mastered technique. He could steadily attach the “cutting” properties of wind chakra to a kunai or shuriken in a matter of seconds. While the duration remained short (half a minute at most) and the chakra consumption was still significant, the power was more than a level higher than it had been at the beginning! He even began to experiment with incorporating this “edge” into his basic physical techniques, and while the results weren’t yet clear, he was heading in the right direction.
Based on the principles of the scroll and the deduction of [Extreme Analysis], he also initially mastered two low-cost techniques of his own creation: “Whisper of the Wind”, which can give his movement speed and dodge ability a slight but crucial boost; “Tremor of the Wind”, through the vibration of chakra of a special frequency, theoretically can interfere with the opponent’s chakra flow or cause mild paralysis, but it is still in the theoretical and extremely superficial experimental stage.
As for the B-rank scroll of “Wind Style: Great Breakthrough,” he also conducted in-depth research using [Extreme Analysis]. He thoroughly understood the principles of the technique, the path of chakra flow, and the reason for its immense power—through specific hand seals and mental guidance, a large amount of wind-attribute chakra was highly compressed, then released instantly like a dam breaking, creating a devastating shockwave.
However, understanding is one thing, and putting it into practice is another.
Ye Feng knew very well that with his current pitiful amount of chakra (after a month of hard training, he was only on the edge of being an elite Genin and barely touched the threshold of an ordinary Chunin, and this was the result of the [Extreme Analysis] optimization and refining technique), let alone a complete breakthrough, I’m afraid that just the initial chakra concentration would be enough to drain him dry!
However, the value of [Extreme Analysis] lies in “analysis,” not “copying.” While he couldn’t use the full Grand Breakthrough, he extracted the core principles of “efficient compression and explosive release of wind-attribute chakra” from it! He skillfully incorporated these principles into his already mastered D-rank ninjutsu, “Wind Style: Small Breakthrough.”
After repeated optimization and experimentation, the small breakthrough he now performs is faster, more penetrating, and consumes slightly less energy than the standard version! Although its power is still in the D-level range, its efficiency and suddenness are enough to give the enemy a big “surprise” at a critical moment!
In summary, after a month of arduous training and accumulation, Ye Feng’s strength has made a qualitative leap. His total chakra output is still a shortcoming, roughly equivalent to that of an ordinary newly promoted Chunin, or even slightly less. However, his chakra control, understanding of the changes in wind properties, and the depth of his application are probably beyond most Chunin in the camp! Add to that the superior analytical and predictive abilities brought by [Extreme Analysis], and the endless stream of low-cost, high-efficiency, self-created techniques and traps…
He was like a poisoned dagger hidden in its sheath. It looked insignificant, but once unsheathed, it unleashed a deadly threat far beyond its weight. His combat prowess could no longer be measured simply by the standards of Genin or Chunin. Under certain circumstances, he was even confident enough to hold his own against less experienced Chunin, even… finding an opportunity to strike back! Of course, facing a Jonin, he still stood no chance; the gap was comprehensive.
On this day, Team 7 finished their regular morning training and Kenji Inoue gathered the three of them together.
“You’ve all made considerable progress during this period of training.” Kenji’s tone remained calm, but there seemed to be a hint of recognition in his eyes. “It’s time to test your actual combat capabilities.”
Sato Haru showed nervousness on his face, Hinata Ren had a blank expression, and Ye Feng showed “expectation” and “a hint of eagerness” at the right time.
“We’ve received a new mission.” Kenji unfolded a simple map. “We’re escorting a shipment of vital medical supplies and food to an outpost thirty miles away. There’s been a lot of fighting there lately, and supplies are being depleted.”
Escort mission?
Ye Feng’s heart trembled slightly. This kind of mission wasn’t far, but it would inevitably pass the edge of the war zone along the way. The danger was much higher than the camp security, but it was within the tolerance of the Genin team. It was indeed suitable for a first official mission.
“I’ll lead this mission, and you three will assist.” Kenji glanced at the three of them. “The journey isn’t far, but we must not let our guard down! The infiltration forces of Sunagakure are very active, and we could encounter the enemy at any time! Hinata Ren, your Byakugan is our eyes, so stay alert at all times! Sato Haru, protect the supplies and pay attention to your own safety! Yefeng…”
He looked at Ye Feng: “You have quick reactions and a flexible mind. Pay attention to your surroundings and assist Lian in reconnaissance. I need your support at this critical moment.”
“Yes! Captain!” the three answered in unison again.
“Very good. Go back and prepare, check your equipment, and gather at the east gate of the camp in an hour to set off!” Kenji gave the final order.
An hour later, the four members of Team 7 appeared at the East Gate. A simple but sturdy wheelbarrow was piled high with supplies wrapped in oilcloth, and Sato Haru was pushing it with some difficulty. Kenji walked in front, with Hinata Ren slightly to his left, behind him, so he could observe with his Byakugan. Ye Feng walked to the right of the team, keeping a distance from the truck that allowed for both support and independent movement.
Leaving the camp and setting foot on the deserted road leading to Blackrock Outpost, the air seemed to be filled with a sense of tension.
The traces of war can be seen everywhere, fallen trees, abandoned trenches, and occasionally debris that has not been cleared.
Hinata Lian closed her eyes slightly, and when she opened them again, the veins around her eye sockets were exposed, and her pure white pupils seemed to be able to see through all illusions.
“Five hundred meters ahead, there is no chakra reaction. Three hundred meters in the dense forest on the left, there are a few hares. On the hillside on the right… everything is normal.” Her voice was cold, and she reported the reconnaissance results like a machine.
Kenji nodded and signaled the team to continue moving forward.
Night Breeze seemed to be walking casually, but in reality, he was keeping his eyes and ears open. [Extreme Analysis] Operating at low power, he analyzed the terrain, wind direction, light and shadow, and even the subtlest changes in the air’s scent. He trusted the Byakugan’s reconnaissance capabilities, but he trusted his own judgment even more.
The atmosphere was somewhat dull as Sato Haru pushed the cart, sweat beads on his forehead, and he looked very tired.
Ye Feng walked over to him and “inadvertently” helped him hold the shaft of the cart: “Take a break, Chun. Captain, should we slow down a bit?”
Kenji looked at the sky and the map and nodded: “Rest here for five minutes.”
Sato Haru looked at Ye Feng gratefully, quickly put down the car, and breathed heavily.
“Here.” Ye Feng took out a water bottle from his ninja tool bag and handed it to Sato Haru.
“Thank you, Yefeng!” Sato Haru took the kettle and took a few big gulps.
Hinata Ren stood aside, watching the scene with a smile, but said nothing. Kenji, on the other hand, observed Ye Feng’s actions calmly, his eyes flickering slightly.
After a short rest, the team set off again.
The rest of the journey remained uneventful. His white eyes didn’t detect anything unusual, and Night Breeze’s [Extreme Analysis] didn’t pick up any danger signals either.
Just when there were only a few miles left to the Black Stone Outpost, everyone (except Ye Feng) subconsciously relaxed their vigilance a little bit –
Mutation! Sudden occurrence!
A dark shadow! Like a ghost! Without any warning! From behind a rock covered in dense vines beside the road!
The speed was so fast that even Hinata Lian’s byakugan could only catch a blurry afterimage!
The target was not Kenji who was walking in front, nor was it Yefeng or Hinata Ren who looked the most threatening!
But… the most vulnerable and defenseless member of the team – Sato Haru! And the truck of supplies behind him!
There was a dull sound of a sharp weapon entering flesh!
The shock and pain on Sato Haru’s face froze instantly. He couldn’t even scream as his body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut! Blood gushed out of his chest like a fountain, instantly staining the ground beneath him red!
The black shadow succeeded in its attack and without stopping, its figure flashed again like a ghost and appeared on the top of a big tree more than ten meters away, looking down at the shocked and angry Konoha team.
He was a middle-aged ninja wearing the uniform of a Sand Village jonin, with a hideous scar on his face and a cold, cruel look in his eyes! He held a kunai that was still dripping with blood in his hand, and a bloodthirsty sneer curled up at the corner of his mouth.
“Tsk, I was hoping to try my luck and see if I could catch some big fish, but I didn’t expect it was just a bunch of small fry and some scraps.” The scarred ninja’s voice was hoarse and raspy. “But, being able to kill a few of Konoha’s youngsters is worth the trip.”
His gaze swept across Kenji and Hinata Ren, and finally landed on Ye Feng. A hint of amusement flashed in his eyes: “Oh? There’s another kid who looks a bit interesting…”
Everything happened so fast!
From the moment the enemy appeared to the moment Sato Haru was killed, it was just a blink of an eye!
Class 7’s first official mission had just begun when they encountered the most brutal and deadly blow!
Chapter 17: Bloody Edge, Survival in Desperate Situation (Old Version)
[Second Shinobi World War – Fire Country Border, near Black Stone Outpost]Time seemed to freeze, and the only thing left in the air was the strong smell of blood and the desperate and empty look in Sato Haru’s eyes as he fell.
Fast! Too fast!
From the enemy appearing like a ghost to instantly killing a Genin, the whole process was smooth and fluid, not even giving anyone time to react! This is the Jonin, the god of death who harvests lives on the battlefield!
“Haru!!” Inoue Kenji roared like a wounded beast, his chest instantly filled with grief and rage. But his battle-hardened instincts allowed him to suppress his surging emotions in the next second, replacing them with ultimate calm and vigilance. He knew that anger wouldn’t solve the problem. They were now facing an elite jonin who could easily kill a genin in an instant. Any slight negligence could lead to annihilation!
“Len! Open your Byakuyan and lock onto the enemy! Yefeng, find cover and observe for support!” Kenji’s orders were concise and swift. He instantly recovered from the shock of losing his teammates and entered combat mode.
Veins bulged around Hinata Ren’s pale face. Her pure white pupils reflected the scarred Sunagakure jonin atop the tree, his bloodthirsty grin on his face, and the immense chakra capacity within him that far surpassed both her own and the captain’s. Fear coiled around her heart like an icy snake, but her fine family training forced her to maintain composure, her hands already in a soft fist defensive stance.
Ye Feng also reacted immediately. He didn’t panic like Kenta, nor did he roar like Kenji. Instead, like a frightened rabbit, he used the moment Kenji’s roar distracted him and, with an extremely nimble roll, dodged behind a rock on the side of the truck, concealing his body in the shadows. His heartbeat accelerated from the surge of adrenaline, but his mind remained remarkably calm. [Extreme Analysis] was operating at an unprecedented efficiency, frantically analyzing everything before him.
“Tsk tsk, their reactions are quite impressive.” On top of the tree, the scarred-faced ninja looked at the three Konoha ninjas below, who were ready to fight, as if they were looking at fish on a chopping board. “A Chunin, a little girl from the Hyuga family, and… a little brat who’s quite quick at hiding. Their eyesight is quite good, but it’s a pity that they’re all going to die here today.”
He licked the blood on the kunai, and his eyes swept across the truck full of supplies. A trace of greed flashed in his eyes: “That’s perfect. If I kill you, these things will belong to me.”
Before he finished speaking, he moved!
Without using any ninjutsu, relying solely on pure speed and physical skills, his figure disappeared from the treetops as if by teleportation, and the next moment he appeared in front of Kenji!
“So fast!” Kenji’s pupils shrank suddenly. He didn’t even see the other party’s movements clearly! His rich combat experience made him subconsciously concentrate his chakra in his arms and cross them to block!
Bang!
There was a dull thud! The scarred ninja’s seemingly casual knife move contained terrifying power! Kenji felt as if his arms were hit by a battering ram. The huge force directly blasted him away, and he slammed hard into the rock, letting out a muffled groan!
“Captain!” Hinata Lian exclaimed, her white eyes fixed on the scarred-faced ninja’s movements, trying to predict his next attack.
“First, get rid of these annoying eyes!” The scarred ninja sneered, not giving Kenji a chance to breathe. He flashed and pounced on Hinata Ren like a ghost! He knew very well how troublesome it would be for a Hyuga ninja with Byakugan in an open area!
Hinata Lian’s face turned pale. She could “see” the flow of chakra in the opponent’s body, the strength of the opponent’s muscles, and the extremely fast attack trajectory! But her body could not keep up with the speed of her eyes!
She could only grit her teeth, concentrate all her chakra in her hands, and barely use the basic defensive moves of the Hyuga style – Soft Fist – Acupressure! Trying to hit the opponent’s key acupuncture points the moment he got close to her!
But this seems so pale and powerless in the face of the absolute speed and strength gap!
The kunai flashing with cold light was about to pierce Hinata Ren’s throat!
In this moment of one thousandth of a second!
A shuriken! Like a meteor in the dark night, with a sharp sound of breaking through the air, it shot towards the wrist of the scar-faced ninja holding the kunai at an extremely tricky and completely unexpected angle!
The one who made the move was Ye Feng who was hiding behind the rocks!
This throw was not based on brute force, but was calculated instantly by [Extreme Analysis], combining the wind direction, blind spots of light, and the tiny gap that would inevitably be exposed by the enemy’s wrist when attacking… a perfect blow!
The scar-faced ninja obviously didn’t expect that the kid who had been hiding would dare to attack at this time, and he grasped the timing so accurately!
A fierce look flashed in his eyes, and his wrist turned slightly reflexively!
clang!
The shuriken was knocked away by the kunai!
But this deviation of a few tenths of a second gave Hinata Ren an almost impossible opportunity!
The fingertips of her soft fist brushed against the opponent’s strong wind and pointed out. Although she failed to hit the vital point, she successfully forced the opponent’s kunai to deviate from its fatal trajectory!
The kunai scratched Hinata Ren’s shoulder, leaving a streak of blood!
Hinata Lian groaned in pain and retreated quickly. Although she was injured, she managed to save her life! She looked towards the direction where Ye Feng was hiding, her eyes filled with disbelief.
“Interesting kid…” The scarred-faced ninja stopped and turned his cold gaze to the rock where Ye Feng was hiding. A cruel arc appeared at the corner of his mouth. “It seems that I have to swat you, this annoying fly, to death first!”
He no longer paid attention to the injured Hinata Ren and Kenji who was struggling to get up. He flashed his body and appeared above the rock as if teleporting, and stomped down hard!
The rock shattered into pieces in an instant!
But Ye Feng was no longer there!
The moment he threw the shuriken, he had already activated “Whisper of the Wind”. Chakra was released from his feet, and he slid silently behind another bush like a weightless leaf!
“Quick reaction!” Scarface Shinobu stepped into the air, his eyes getting even colder. “But, do you think hiding will help?”
He quickly formed seals with his hands!
“Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!”
Crescent-shaped transparent wind blades swept across the bushes where Ye Feng was hiding like sickles! The coverage area was extremely wide!
Ye Feng’s pupils shrank! There was no way to escape!
He did not resist, but made a judgment in an instant!
He suddenly took out two smoke bombs from his ninja tool bag and threw them hard in front of him!
Bang! Bang!
Thick white smoke spread out instantly!
At the same time, he formed seals with his hands to condense the already limited chakra in his body!
He did not choose to use this D-level ninjutsu to attack, but instead shot it in the opposite direction towards the ground!
The light blue airflow hit the ground, generating a reaction force that pushed his body violently to the side and rear!
Hiss, hiss, hiss!
The vacuum wave tore through the bushes and smoke like cutting tofu, but Ye Feng had already rolled to a safe area with the cover of the smoke and the thrust of a small breakthrough in the opposite direction!
“Cough cough…” The smoke choked him and he started coughing. The forced mobilization of chakra just now made his body even weaker.
“Using smoke bombs and clever tricks? Childish!” Scarface sneered disdainfully. He took a deep breath and then blew it out with force!
“Wind Style: Mist and Smoke Dispersion!”
A high-speed rotating ring-shaped airflow was released from its mouth, instantly blowing away the diffuse smoke, revealing Ye Feng’s slightly embarrassed figure!
Just when Scarface Ninja was about to strike again and completely get rid of this troublesome brat——
“It’s not over yet!” Inoue Kenji’s roar came from the side!
He had already circled to the flank of the scar-faced ninja without knowing when, and formed seals with his hands again!
“Earth Escape: Earth Flowing River!”
The ground surged violently, and a raging mudslide swept towards the scar-faced ninja like a violent python!
“Hmph!” Scarface Shinobi had to temporarily give up attacking Ye Feng and turned around to deal with Kenji’s ninjutsu. He nimbly jumped and dodged in the mud and rock flow, while swinging his kunai, constantly smashing the rocks that were flying towards him!
“Len! Now!” Kenji yelled.
Hinata Lian endured the severe pain in her shoulder, her eyes already locked on the scarred-faced ninja who was dodging in the mudslide!
“Soft Fist Technique: Eight Diagrams Empty Palm!”
She slapped out through the air! A concentrated Chuck shockwave accurately shot towards a flaw in Scarface’s lower body! This was a precise strike that could only be achieved with the coordination of the Byakugan!
“What?!” The scarred ninja obviously didn’t expect that this little Hyuga girl could actually attack from a distance, and the timing was so perfect! He was in mid-air, with a raging mudslide below him, and there was no place to gain leverage!
He could only twist his body forcefully to try to avoid the vital points!
The Bagua Kong Zhang fiercely struck the outside of his thigh! Although the chakra defense had weakened most of the force, the unique, penetrating impact of the soft fist still paralyzed his legs and caused his body to momentarily stiffen!
And it was in this thousandth of a second of stiffness!
The night wind is moving!
He didn’t use any ninjutsu!
Like a shadow clinging to the ground, he used the muddy ground created by Kenji just now (the residual effect of the mud flow river) to slide silently to the side of the scar-faced ninja!
What he held tightly in his hand was neither a kunai nor a shuriken!
It was a small roll of… extremely thin, almost transparent steel wire! This was something he had secretly saved while practicing traps!
The moment he approached, an extremely weak but extremely stable “edge of wind” wrapped around his fingertips!
He did not choose to attack, but instead used the steel wire with a “sharp” effect, like a spirit snake, to wrap around the wrist of the scar-faced ninja’s hand holding the kunai at an extremely tricky angle!
This is a surprise attack against enemy weapons, deduced entirely from [Extreme Analysis] combined with trap placement techniques!
The ninja with the scar on his face had just recovered from the numbness of the Bagua Kong Zhang when he felt his wrist tighten and an extremely sharp cutting sensation!
The steel wire, imbued with the “wind edge,” easily sliced through the flesh on his wrist! Blood gushed out instantly! The intense pain caused his grip on the kunai to loosen involuntarily!
I can’t get rid of the kunwu!
“Asshole!!” The scarred ninja was shocked and angry! He never dreamed that he would be disarmed by a little kid in this way!
He wanted to slap Ye Feng who was so close to him to death with a backhand palm!
But Ye Feng succeeded in one strike and didn’t give him any chance at all!
“Whisper of the Wind!”
The chakra under Ye Feng’s feet was slightly released again, and his body slid backwards as if it had no bones, narrowly avoiding the angry palm!
He lost his weapon, his wrist was injured, his legs were paralyzed, and he had just taken the attacks of Kenji and Lian. Even though Scarface was a senior ninja, he looked a little embarrassed at this moment!
“Captain! Final blow!” Ye Feng shouted to Kenji as he slid away! He knew this was their only chance!
Kenji was already ready to go! He mobilized most of the remaining chakra in his body and formed a relatively complex seal with his hands!
It was the same move again! Although its power was much weaker than the last time it forced the puppeteer to retreat due to insufficient chakra, it still carried the same overwhelming momentum!
The target is directly aimed at the scar-faced ninja who has a huge flaw due to losing his weapon and balance!
“Damn it!” A trace of despair and madness flashed in the eyes of the scarred ninja! It was too late for him to dodge!
He could only madly concentrate the remaining chakra in front of him, trying to withstand the attack!
But just then!
He did not choose to escape, nor did he choose to use ninjutsu to provide remote support!
He did something that left both Kenji and Lian dumbfounded!
He actually pounced on the scar-faced ninja again!
His target was the opponent’s side, which was wide open because he was fully defending the front…
The five fingers of his right hand were put together, and on the fingertips, there was not only the sharpness of the “Edge of Wind”, but also an extremely weak, yet high-speed vibrating strange fluctuation!
Wind Tremor! Prototype!
This was the greatest achievement of his recent research into nature change! Although it was extremely unstable, consumed a great deal of energy, and its power was unknown, he decided to… take a gamble!
“Break it… for me!” A hint of madness and coldness beyond his age flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes!
He used this finger, which contained his last bit of chakra and all his mental will, like the fangs of a poisonous snake, to fiercely poke a certain acupuncture point on the side of Scarface’s waist – that was the weakest point in the opponent’s chakra circulation defense as instantly determined by [Extreme Analysis]!
All this happened before the devastating “Earth-Splitting Palm” was about to fall!
Ye Feng’s fingers, like piercing through a layer of tough leather, pierced deeply into the side of Scarface’s waist!
The high-speed vibrating wind-attribute chakra was like the tiniest drill, madly destroying the opponent’s meridians and chakra flow!
“Ugh—!!!”
The scarred ninja let out a shrill, inhuman scream! He felt an indescribable pain and numbness spread from his side to his entire body! The chakra in his body was out of control like a dam bursting! The defense he had gathered in front of him collapsed instantly!
At this moment, Kenji’s “Earth-Splitting Palm” hit his defenseless chest hard!
Snap! Snap!
The sound of bones breaking can be heard clearly!
The ninja with the scar on his face flew backwards like a torn sack, blood spurting out like crazy, and he fell heavily into the mud in the distance, his life or death unknown!
And at the same time that Ye Feng completed that shocking stab, he was also severely swept by the aftermath of the Earth-Splitting Palm!
He felt as if his body was hit by an invisible giant hammer, his internal organs were dislocated, the blood spurting from his mouth dyed his vision red, and his consciousness was like a candle in the wind, which could be extinguished at any time!
But he didn’t fall!
He used his intact right hand to support himself on the ground, forcing himself to half-kneel there. He raised his head and stared at the scarred-faced ninja in the distance with a pair of eyes burning with cold flames, whose life or death was unknown!
His face was covered in blood and dirt, his left shoulder was hunched unnaturally (the fracture was aggravated by the previous kick), and blood was still flowing from the corner of his mouth. He looked extremely miserable.
But he was still smiling.
A cold, creepy laugh.
He slowly raised his right hand, and with great difficulty, he once again condensed a strand of wind-attribute chakra that was so weak that it was almost invisible on his fingertips, which flickered like a will-o’-the-wisp.
This action, in the eyes of the scarred-faced ninja who was struggling to raise his head in the distance, was like the call of the god of death!
This brat… was so badly injured… and yet… he could still gather chakra?! What kind of monster is he?!
Fear! An unprecedented fear gripped Scarface’s heart! He had no doubt that if he didn’t leave, this little devil, who looked like he was going to die at any moment, would definitely rush over without hesitation and hit him again with that strange finger!
“Damn it… cough cough…” He coughed out a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs, and used up his last bit of strength to glare at Ye Feng with great resentment.
“Kid…what’s your name?!”
Ye Feng did not answer, but just looked at him indifferently with those cold eyes.
The man with the scar on his face didn’t dare to stay any longer. He suppressed his injuries and stood up in a miserable state. After a few staggering moments, he fled into the depths of the dense forest like a stray dog.
The enemy… was finally completely defeated.
After confirming that the other party’s breath had completely disappeared, Ye Feng’s tense will finally couldn’t hold on any longer.
The world before my eyes began to spin and blur…
Plop.
He fell heavily into the mud and completely lost consciousness.
Chapter 18: Resurrection from the dead, White Fang appears (old version)
[Second Ninja World War – Fire Country Border, Black Stone Outpost Temporary Medical Center]Consciousness is like driftwood sinking into the deep sea, floating up and down in the darkness.
There was a vague noise in my ears, the sound of hurried footsteps, the clinking of instruments, and suppressed moans and whispers… My body seemed to be wrapped in warm liquid, and as if it was gently pricked by countless tiny needles. I felt dull pain in my left shoulder and chest, and every breath was accompanied by a tearing pain.
Chakra… empty. Mental strength… like a dying candle. [Extreme Analysis] was almost completely silent. Only the most instinctive [Battlefield Intuition] still lingered, emitting a faint warning.
“Palm Immortal Technique… Chakra… Stable…”
“Three broken ribs…comminuted fracture of the left shoulder…severe internal bleeding…”
“How did this little brat survive…”
The intermittent sound entered my ears as if through a thick layer of frosted glass.
Ye Feng’s consciousness gradually became clear. He did not open his eyes immediately, but relied on the remaining instincts and weak perception of this body to greedily collect information about his surroundings.
Safe. At least for now. This should be… a medical center? Blackrock Outpost, or have they been sent back to the rear camp?
Who is treating me? How good are the medical ninjas? Who else is around?
Too little information… [Extreme Analysis] cannot be started…
At this moment, a relatively gentle chakra, imbued with the breath of life, slowly flowed into his body, nourishing the damaged meridians and organs. It was the Palm Immortal Technique.
Ye Feng regained consciousness completely.
He slowly opened his heavy eyelids, the glaring white light making him squint subconsciously. After adjusting to the light, he saw the unfamiliar face of a medical ninja wearing a mask.
“Awake?” The medical ninja asked calmly when he saw him open his eyes, without stopping the palm technique in his hand. “Don’t move, you’re seriously injured.”
Ye Feng didn’t say anything, but nodded slightly to show that he heard it. He rolled his eyes and observed the surrounding environment.
It was a crude, makeshift ward, the air thick with the scent of disinfectant and herbs. Several wounded men, similarly bandaged, lay nearby. Apparently, this was the outpost’s medical center.
His body was tightly wrapped in bandages, his left arm was immobilized, and his chest felt constricted. He could feel the gentle chakra within him slowly repairing the damage, but recovery was still a long way off.
“How long… have I slept?” Ye Feng tried to speak, his voice hoarse and dry, like sandpaper rubbing against his chest.
“One day and one night,” the medical ninja replied succinctly. “Your teammates were barely alive when they brought you here. You’re lucky to be alive.”
One day and one night?…Ye Feng understood. The injury was more serious than expected.
Just then, the curtain of the ward was lifted and two figures walked in.
It was Kenji Inoue and Ren Hinata.
Captain Kenji seemed to have recovered somewhat. Although his face was still pale and his right arm was bandaged, he could at least walk on his own. He looked at Ye Feng with a complicated expression, one of relief, concern, and a hint of indescribable fear?
Hinata Lian’s shoulders were also bandaged, and there was no expression on her cold little face, but her pure white eyes fluctuated noticeably when she saw Ye Feng wake up. She seemed relieved, but also seemed… more confused and alert.
“Yefeng, you’re awake!” Kenji walked quickly to the bedside, his voice filled with suppressed excitement, “How do you feel?”
“Captain…Lian…” Ye Feng’s face immediately changed to a “weak” and “thankful for having survived” expression, “I…I’m fine…Captain, your injury…”
“I’m fine, just a superficial wound.” Kenji waved his hand, his eyes falling on Ye Feng, “You kid… this time you really are…” He seemed to want to say something, but in the end he just sighed heavily.
The brutality of that battle, especially Ye Feng’s frantic counterattack that nearly resulted in both sides perishing, left a deep impression on him. This child was terrifyingly calm and ruthless!
Hinata Ren stood behind Kenji, silent, watching Ye Feng silently. Her Byakugan had captured Ye Feng’s every movement and every subtle expression during that battle. She had witnessed Ye Feng’s uncanny composure after Sato Haru’s death, his meticulous calculations in desperate situations, and the cold, murderous intent in his eyes as he finally lunged at the enemy… It sent a wave of fear through her heart. This teammate was unlike anyone she had ever known.
“Ayong he…” Ye Feng spoke with difficulty, his eyes red again, “he…”
“His body… has been sent back to the camp.” Kenji’s voice deepened. “Don’t worry, the village will give him the honor he deserves.”
Ye Feng closed his eyes in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks. His perfect acting skills perfectly portrayed the image of a young man who had lost his companions.
Kenji and Lian felt bad when they saw him like this. No matter how evil this child was, he was still just a child who had lost his companions… (That’s what they thought)
Just then, there was a slight commotion outside the ward, as if some important figure had arrived. Then, an indescribable, sharp, and condensed aura, like an invisible blade, quietly spread.
The atmosphere in the ward suddenly stagnated!
Kenji and Lian’s expressions changed slightly. They subconsciously stood up straight with awe in their eyes.
Ye Feng’s heart also jumped! [Battlefield Intuition] issued an unprecedented strong alarm! This was not a danger signal, but an instinctive tremor… facing an absolutely powerful person!
He endured the severe pain in his body, turned his head slightly, and looked out through the gap in the door curtain.
I saw a figure walking slowly in the corridor.
His short, silver-white hair, like the first snow of winter, curled unruly across his forehead. A standard Konoha forehead protector was meticulously tied across his forehead. The lines of his profile were cold and sharp, his eyes calm and composed, yet they seemed to penetrate the heart. He wore a standard green jonin vest, lined with a dark blue tights, and behind him… he carried a short sword encased in a white scabbard! The bandage wrapped around the hilt looked slightly worn, yet it exuded a frightening edge!
It’s him!
Konoha White Fang——Hatake Sakumo!
Ye Feng’s pupils suddenly contracted! Although it was just a fleeting glimpse of the silhouette, he instantly recognized this legendary figure! The vague memories of his previous life perfectly overlapped with the figure before him!
That restrained yet tangible murderous aura, that silent aura as if blending into the entire space while walking… This is the Konoha White Fang who is above the level of Kage and even makes the Sannin fear him!
How come he is here?!
Ye Feng’s heart began to beat wildly, but at this moment, [Extreme Analysis] was like a giant beast that was forcibly awakened, and it began to operate frantically despite the backlash of mental exhaustion!
Analyze! Analyze! Analyze!
White Fang’s chakra… is unfathomable! Like the vast ocean! Far more than anyone he’s ever seen! Even that scarred Sunagakure jonin!
White Fang’s steps…seemingly random, but secretly in line with a certain rhythm, every step seems to be able to burst out with deadly speed in an instant!
White Fang’s aura… was restrained to the extreme. If it weren’t for his special [Battlefield Intuition] and [Extreme Analysis], I wouldn’t have been able to detect it! This is a true assassin!
Just a quick observation and analysis made Ye Feng feel suffocated!
Is this Konoha’s top fighter? The gap between him and me is like a firefly and the bright moon!
Hatake Sakumo seemed to be aware of the gazes in the ward, and his footsteps paused slightly. His eyes, as sharp as an eagle, swept over lightly through the door curtain.
Ye Feng felt as if he were instantly locked by an invisible sharp blade! The hairs on his body stood up! He quickly withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and his heart was beating wildly.
What a terrifying look! Just one glance almost made his disguise collapse!
Hatake Sakumo’s gaze lingered in the ward for a moment, and he didn’t seem to find anything unusual. He continued to walk forward and soon disappeared at the end of the corridor.
The suffocating atmosphere also disappeared.
Inside the ward, Kenji and Lian both breathed a sigh of relief subconsciously.
“Yes…it’s Lord White Fang…” Kenji’s voice was filled with awe and…excitement? “I didn’t expect Lord White Fang to be in this war zone!”
“Konoha White Fang…” Hinata Ren whispered softly, a complex light flickering in his pure white pupils. It was a yearning for the strong, and it was also the indescribable emotion that the Hyuga clan felt when facing this legendary figure.
Ye Feng lowered his head, hiding the storm in his eyes.
White Fang’s presence here was no accident! This meant that the situation in this war zone was probably even more serious than the rumors circulating in the camp! The Sand Village offensive might have already threatened Konoha’s core interests, which was why this legendary jonin had to personally take action!
Then… it’s not surprising that he was ambushed by a Jonin.
This also means… greater danger, but it may also… be accompanied by greater opportunities!
“Yefeng, are you okay? Why do you look worse?” Kenji noticed something was wrong with Yefeng and asked with concern.
“No…it’s okay, Captain…” Ye Feng raised his head, with an expression of “weakness” and “fear” on his face again, “Just now…that adult’s aura…was so scary…” He used this reason to perfectly explain his loss of composure.
Upon hearing this, Kenji nodded in understanding: “That is Lord Hatake Sakumo, the pride of our Konoha, the legendary Jonin ‘Konoha White Fang’! With him, we will definitely be able to defeat the Sand Village!” His tone was full of reverence and confidence.
Ye Feng sneered inwardly. Legend? Proud? Perhaps this legend’s life wasn’t as glorious as it appeared… Mission failure, accusations from companions, pressure from the village… He vaguely remembered some fragmented information about White Fang’s ending.
However, none of this has anything to do with him.
What he needs to consider now is how to use the information that White Fang appeared in this war zone.
Should he try to get closer, observe and learn? The risk was too great. If White Fang or anyone around him noticed something was wrong, the consequences would be disastrous.
Or… use this information to plan your next move? For example, predict the direction of the battlefield, avoid certain high-risk areas, or… look for opportunities to fish in troubled waters in certain events that may be related to the White Fang mission?
Ye Feng’s heart, like the most sophisticated instrument, began to calmly calculate again.
Neither physical pain nor mental exhaustion could stop his heart from always pursuing profit and power.
He glanced out the window. The sun was still shining brightly, but the shadow of war hung over the land like a maggot on its tarsus.
Chapter 19: Signs of Nirvana, Undercurrents (Old Version)
Time always seems so long to the injured.
Ye Feng had been lying on the simple yet clean hospital bed for five days.
That desperate battle with the Sunagakure jonin had left him with horrific injuries. His broken ribs ached with every breath, and his shattered left shoulder, immobilized by thick bandages and a splint, was immobile. The turmoil in his chest was gradually calming with the continued treatment of medical ninjutsu, but the weakness brought on by the internal bleeding continued to surge through his consciousness like a tide.
Chakra recovery was even slower. That battle had drained him of nearly every ounce of energy, and his meridians had been damaged by the forced use of immature techniques. Now, his chakra was like a trickle on a dry riverbed, barely keeping his body alive. He was still a long way from being able to sustain a fight.
The most troublesome thing was the overdrawn mental energy. [Extreme Analysis] The backlash from this double-edged sword was incredibly intense. Even now, he still experienced occasional stabbing pains in his head, feeling listless and unable to concentrate. The Gold Finger was almost completely silent, which made Ye Feng, who was used to relying on it for analysis and learning, feel a long-lost sense of… “blindness.”
But he was not completely idle during these five days.
On the surface, he was a quiet and cooperative “model wounded soldier.” He ate his bland meal every day, accepted examinations and treatment from the medical ninjas, and offered a “grateful” yet “weak” smile to Captain Kenji and Hinata Ren who came to visit him. He would occasionally “force himself” to inquire about the situation outside and to show concern for the funeral arrangements for the “sacrificed” Ayong, maintaining a flawless image of a “seriously injured soldier, caring about his comrades and the village.”
His contributions and rewards were quickly recognized and partially implemented.
Captain Fujita personally visited him once, bringing verbal commendations from the Hokage and the Elders, affirming that he “displayed extraordinary courage, wisdom, and unwavering devotion to his companions in times of crisis, making him a role model for the younger generation of Konoha.” Although Ye Feng almost burst out laughing when he heard this, he still maintained that “anxious and grateful” look on the surface.
The actual rewards were even more substantial. Besides the Genin status he already possessed, the right to ration supplies, access to a second training ground, a scroll detailing the nature changes, and the qualification to learn B-rank ninjutsu, the village also awarded him a substantial pension (claiming his partial “responsibility” for Yong’s sacrifice, but in reality, it was a disguised form of compensation for his contributions, which Ye Feng accepted without hesitation) and some special ointments with enhanced healing properties. These resources were crucial for his subsequent recovery and improvement in strength.
Of course, what Ye Feng cared about most was his own changes, especially regarding [Extreme Analysis].
At the moment when his mental strength was extremely exhausted and his consciousness was almost collapsing, he vaguely felt that something in the depths of his soul seemed to be… shattered, and then reassembled in a more resilient and purer way?
In the past few days, as his mental strength slowly recovered, he discovered some wonderful changes.
First, the “upper limit” of his mental strength seemed to have increased ever so slightly. It was like a balloon on the verge of bursting, deflated and then reinflated. Though still fragile, it seemed to be able to hold a tiny bit more air than before. This increase was so minute that, were it not for his extreme control over his own state, he would have been completely unnoticed.
Secondly, the “quality” of his spiritual power seemed to have changed slightly. After recovery, his spiritual power felt more concentrated and pure, less cluttered with the previous life’s soul and more attuned to this body and this world.
“Self-repair and… slight evolution after exhaustion?” Ye Feng lay on the bed, eyes closed, thinking. “Just like the body’s muscles become stronger after excessive training, the mental power… or the soul, under the pressure of the limit, will also produce a similar stress response?”
This discovery made him feel moved.
If this speculation is true, then the potential of [Extreme Analysis], this cheat code, may be far more than this! It is not just a passive analysis tool, but more likely a being that can continuously evolve as one’s soul (mental power) grows!
So, how do you proactively foster this growth?
Relying solely on combat and near-death experiences? The risks are too great and uncontrollable.
Ye Feng thought about some theories from his previous life and the “meditation” of this world. Perhaps, through specific mental training methods, such as deep meditation, extreme concentration training, or even… studying the “spiritual mysticism” of this world, he could proactively and safely improve the total amount and quality of his mental power, thereby feeding back to [Extreme Analysis] and allowing it to continue to evolve?
This idea took root in his heart like a seed.
He tried, after his mental strength recovered a little, not to let it recover naturally as before, but to actively guide it and perform the most basic meditation – emptying his mind, feeling his breathing, and concentrating his consciousness on one point.
The effect was weak, and the growth of mental strength was still slow, but Ye Feng could feel that this active training seemed to make the recovery process of mental strength more “smooth” and the “sense of concentration” more obvious.
“It seems that this path is the right one.” Ye Feng had a plan in mind. In the future training plan, special training for mental strength must be included!
Just as he was immersed in thinking about the future plans of Golden Finger, he felt a faint throbbing coming from [Extreme Analysis].
It seems… to have woken up a little?
Ye Feng’s heart moved, and he tried to recall the contents of the scroll “Basics of Chakra Nature Changes (Wind)” in his mind.
Buzz…
An extremely slight feeling of dizziness came over me, and [Extreme Analysis] slowly started to operate at a state that was more “laborious” than ever before and with pitifully low power.
Ye Feng keenly noticed a difference!
The speed of analysis… didn’t seem to have become completely unacceptable due to the weakening of his mental strength? In fact, when processing certain complex concepts related to “Wind Tremor”, it was even slightly smoother than before?!
“Is it an illusion? Or…” Ye Feng’s heartbeat quickened again. “Has the improvement in the ‘quality’ of mental power also slightly enhanced the efficiency… or ‘precision’ of [Extreme Analysis]?”
He didn’t dare to overdo it and immediately stopped the process. But this discovery undoubtedly filled him with even greater anticipation for the future! [Extreme Analysis] If it could evolve, then his future growth would be limitless! Perhaps one day, it would not only be able to analyze ninjutsu and taijutsu, but also bloodline limits, senjutsu, and even… the deeper laws of this world?
Just as Ye Feng was imagining the future, the curtain of the ward was lifted again.
The one who came this time was Hinata Ren.
She still looked cold and aloof, but she was holding a small food box in her hand.
“Captain Kenji has an urgent mission today, so I came to see you.” Hinata Lian put the lunch box on the bedside table, looking at Ye Feng with pure white eyes, her tone still calm, but seemed less distant than before.
“Thank you, Lian.” Ye Feng showed a “just right” “weak” smile on his face, “I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“Nothing.” Hinata Lian looked away, as if she was not used to such direct thanks. She paused and asked, “Is your injury…better?”
“Well, the medical ninja said he’s recovering well.” Ye Feng replied, then asked curiously, “Did something happen in the camp? Why does Captain Kenji have an urgent mission?”
Hinata Lian was silent for a moment, as if hesitating whether to speak or not. Finally, he whispered, “The situation on the front lines… isn’t good. Sunagakure has launched a new round of fierce attacks, and several outposts have been hit. I heard… even Lord White Fang is under great pressure.”
“Lord White Fang…” Ye Feng’s eyes dimmed for a moment, as if he remembered the oppressive feeling brought by the legendary ninja.
Hinata Ren looked at him and suddenly asked, “That day…how did you end up hurting that Sunagakure jonin? Even with my Byakugan…I couldn’t see your movements clearly.” Her tone was filled with curiosity that was hard to conceal.
Ye Feng thought to himself, knowing this was a problem he was bound to face. A hint of bitterness and fear flashed across his face. “I don’t know… My mind was completely blank at the time. I just wanted to prevent him from hurting the captain and you… And then… I just relied on my instincts and used up all my chakra…”
He cleverly attributed his outburst to “the will to protect his companions” and “the burst of potential”, while hinting at the huge price he paid for it.
Hinata Lian listened quietly, a light flickering in her pure white pupils.
Go by feel? Protect your companions?
Is this really the case?
She recalled Ye Feng’s extremely cold eyes, his terrifyingly precise calculations, and the almost crazy willingness to sacrifice his life in exchange for injury… Could an eight-year-old child really do this?
But…if it wasn’t to protect his companions, why would he rush forward and risk his life?
A huge sense of contradiction and curiosity entwined Hinata Ren’s heart like vines. She found that she was increasingly unable to understand the boy in front of her, who was even younger than herself. He seemed shrouded in a mist, sometimes like a fragile and helpless child, sometimes like a seasoned hunter.
This sense of mystery, and his selfless act that day (at least it seemed so) to save her, quietly stirred a ripple in her once icy heart. Perhaps… he wasn’t as simple as he seemed, but… at least, he wasn’t a bad guy? Or even… a trustworthy companion?
“Anyway…thank you for that day.” Hinata Lian finally said in a low voice, her voice almost inaudible, and then she looked away somewhat unnaturally.
“We are companions, aren’t we?” Ye Feng showed a “warm” and “sincere” smile on his face, his eyes were clear, as if they could reflect the purest emotions in people’s hearts.
Seeing him smile like that, Hinata Lian’s suspicion and vigilance seemed to dissipate considerably, replaced by a kind of… inexplicable peace of mind. She nodded gently and said nothing more.
Ye Feng’s heart remained calm, even wanting to laugh. The eldest daughter of the Hyuga family was indeed too innocent. However, this innocence was exactly what he needed. A Hyuga clan member who had a fondness for him, possessed the Byakugan’s ability to detect, and possessed immense future potential was invaluable, whether as a teammate or a “tool.” If necessary, he could even develop a closer relationship, allowing for greater control and utilization.
Of course, now is not the time.
He “chatted” with Hinata Lian for a while longer, and indirectly asked for more information about the White Fang and the battle situation on the front line.
Although Hinata Ren didn’t talk much, she seemed to have let down her guard against him and revealed some rumors in the camp. For example, the Sunagakure offensive was unusually fierce, and it seemed that they had deployed new forces. For example, although Lord White Fang was powerful, it seemed that his command was hampered by some criticism from the village, and his situation was not good. Some people even whispered that he might delay the battle for the sake of “frivolous benevolence and righteousness.”
This information gave Ye Feng a clearer understanding of the current situation.
The balance of war seemed to be tilting against Konoha, and White Fang, at the center of the storm, was under tremendous pressure.
What does this mean to him?
It means chaos, it means variables, and it also means… an opportunity to fish in troubled waters!
After seeing Hinata Lian off, Ye Feng lay on the bed and closed his eyes.
The injuries were still severe, but the fire in him burned even brighter.
He began to try to perform deeper chakra refinement without disturbing the wound.
He no longer pursues quantitative increase, but rather qualitative transformation.
[Extreme Analysis] runs at extremely low power in the background, optimizing the path of each chakra cycle, removing impurities in the energy, and polishing the newly born chakra like the purest crystal.
At the same time, he also devoted part of his mind to meditation and training his newly emerging mental power.
He could clearly feel that after the baptism of that life-and-death battle, his control over chakra, his body perception, and even his grasp of the rhythm of battle had been transformed! This kind of improvement was far more valuable than simply increasing the amount of chakra!
Nirvana is often accompanied by severe pain.
Chapter 20: Ripples Rise, Edges Hidden (Old Version)
The days passed by in monotonous treatment and depressing waiting.
The medical clinic at the Black Rock Outpost became Ye Feng’s temporary “home.” His injuries, under the meticulous care of the medical ninjas and nourished by his own chakra (although it was recovering slowly, the refined chakra was becoming increasingly pure), were healing at a speed beyond anyone’s expectation.
The broken ribs had begun to heal, and while deep breaths still stung, they were no longer a problem. The comminuted fracture in his left shoulder was the most troublesome. It was firmly immobilized, preventing strenuous activity for a while, but at least the pain was gradually subsiding. The internal bleeding had also mostly stopped, and a hint of color was gradually returning to his pale face.
Chakra recovery was still slow, and the damage to his meridians was like tiny cracks, requiring painstaking effort to repair. But he wasn’t impatient. Instead, he used this period of “forced rest” to devote more energy to tempering his mental strength and “ruminating” on his existing knowledge.
Every day, he meditated for long periods. Initially, it was simply to accelerate his mental recovery, but gradually, he discovered that this active, focused meditation seemed to actually slightly increase his mental strength and resilience. The “evolutionary” opportunity brought about by his near-death experience was being gradually consolidated and expanded in this clumsy yet effective way.
[Extreme Analysis] While still unable to operate at high intensity, the “accuracy” and “stability” at low power levels had indeed improved noticeably. He could even selectively analyze complex information in a short period of time without incurring severe mental pain, such as the more profound sections of the “Basics of Chakra Nature Transformation (Wind)” scroll.
His understanding of “Wind Edge,” “Wind Whisper,” and “Wind Tremor” deepened. Although his body couldn’t cooperate with actual practice, he used [Extreme Analysis] to conduct countless simulations and deductions in his mind, optimizing the flow of chakra, the efficiency of its nature changes, and its combination with other techniques (taijutsu, traps).
He even began attempting to analyze the core principles of Wind Style: Big Breakthrough, attempting to apply its “efficient compression” techniques to the D-ranked “Small Breakthrough” or even “Wind Edge,” developing a “magic modification” with greater explosive power and relatively controllable energy consumption. This was undoubtedly extremely difficult, like asking a child to swing a giant hammer, but he never tired of it.
During this period, many people came to visit him.
Captain Kenji Inoue would come over almost every day to ask about his injuries, and occasionally reveal some sporadic news from the front line, such as the defense line being tight somewhere, a team having lost contact, etc., with lingering fatigue and worry in his words.
Some ninjas in the camp who knew him or had heard of his deeds would come to visit him when he was “in good shape”, mostly out of curiosity or as encouragement from a senior to a junior. Ye Feng responded to each one of them “politely”, maintaining an image of being “humble”, “strong”, and “worth looking forward to”.
The one who came to see him most frequently was Hinata Ren.
This aloof Hyuga girl came over almost every day or two. Initially, she was just delivering necessities or messages on Captain Kenji’s orders. But gradually, her visits became more frequent, and her stays longer and longer.
She no longer just asked about injuries, but occasionally brought some herbs she had collected herself, which were said to be good for bone healing (Ye Feng had secretly analyzed them using [Extreme Analysis] and found that they did have some effect, although not much), or some food that tasted much better than the injury meals. She explained that they were “extra leftovers from training” or “supplies sent by the family.”
She still didn’t say much, but the way she looked at Ye Feng was no longer scrutinizing and wary as at the beginning. Instead, there was a bit of indescribable gentleness and… curiosity.
“Your chakra… seems to recover faster than that of ordinary people?” That afternoon, Lian came in again with a small lunch box. Seeing that Ye Feng looked better, she couldn’t help but ask.
“Really?” Ye Feng showed a “slightly surprised” smile on his face, “It may be the credit of the medical ninja. Their palm magic is very powerful.” He attributed the reason to external forces in a casual manner.
Lian nodded slightly, not asking further questions. She opened the lunch box, revealing several delicate rice balls and a small dish of pickled vegetables. “Try this! My…my mother sent it to me.” As she spoke, a subtle blush crept across her cheeks, which quickly returned to normal.
“Thank you, Lian.” Ye Feng took the rice ball and took a bite. It tasted really good. He raised his head and looked into Lian’s pure white eyes with a “sincere” smile on his face. “You are so kind to me.”
Lian’s eyes flickered, avoiding Ye Feng’s gaze, and whispered, “We… are teammates.”
“Yes, a teammate.” Ye Feng smiled and nodded, but his heart was cold as ice. Teammate? Just the most convenient identity at this stage. This girl’s favorability seems to be increasing? Very good, keep it up. A member of the Hyuga branch family with Byakugan who has a good impression of him will be of immeasurable value in the future.
While eating rice balls, he “casually” asked: “By the way, Lian, how is your training recently? Have you become more proficient in using the Byakugan?” He showed his concern for the improvement of his “teammates'” strength.
When it came to training, Lian became a bit more talkative. She recounted her recent experience practicing the Gentle Fist and her progress in reconnaissance training under Captain Kenji’s guidance. Ye Feng listened attentively, occasionally asking questions “just in time” or casually offering suggestions based on theories he’d deduced using [Extreme Analysis]. For example, “You said that when using the Gentle Fist, if the chakra is more concentrated and directed from this acupoint, would the effect be better?”
Lian was stunned at first after hearing his suggestion, then fell into deep thought. She simulated it in her mind according to Ye Feng’s description, and a flash of surprise and enlightenment suddenly flashed in her eyes! This detail proposed by Ye Feng actually woke up a bottleneck that had always been in her mind!
“You…” Lian looked at Ye Feng in surprise, “How do you know this?”
“Ah? I… I was just talking casually…” Ye Feng scratched his head with an embarrassed expression on his face, “I read in a book that chakra flow seems to be…” He made up an excuse.
Lian’s curiosity intensified as she watched him like this. This Ye Feng seemed to know far more than he let on… and his advice had been terrifyingly accurate!
She didn’t ask any more questions, but just silently kept Ye Feng’s words in her heart. When she looked at him, the curiosity and inquiry in her eyes seemed to quietly transform into an indescribable…admiration?
Ye Feng keenly caught the change in her eyes and chuckled inwardly. Great, fish, hooked. Appropriately displaying some “unconventional” insights, then covering them up with “good luck” or “extensive reading,” is the easiest way to leave a deep and mysterious impression on a young girl just beginning to fall in love.
Just as the two were talking happily, a suppressed noise was heard again outside the clinic.
A familiar, suffocating, sharp aura descended like a dark cloud.
It’s Hatake Sakumo!
Ye Feng and Lian subconsciously stopped talking.
Through the crack in the window, Ye Feng saw White Fang returning from the front lines. His steps were still steady, but his green jonin vest was stained with blood and even had several rips! His stern face was filled with unconcealable fatigue and… a deep gloom. He ignored the awe and complex glances from the surrounding ninjas and walked straight towards the temporary command post.
“Master White Fang…it seems like he’s been through another tough battle,” Lian said softly, a worry in her tone.
Ye Feng said nothing, silently watching White Fang’s retreating figure. [Extreme Analysis] was operating at low power in the background, analyzing the remaining chakra fluctuations on White Fang’s body and… the extremely faint aura of the enemy.
“Sand Village… Wind Style… and… a very special kind of puppet string chakra residue?” Ye Feng’s heart moved, “What he encountered is probably not just an ordinary Sand Village ninja.”
Considering the rumors Lian mentioned earlier about White Fang’s precarious situation… this Konoha legend seemed to be in real trouble. Accusations and criticisms within the village, coupled with the worsening situation on the front lines and the possibility of a powerful enemy…
A cold glint flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes. This chaotic situation might not be a bad thing for him. The more chaotic it was, the easier it would be to hide, and the more likely it would be to catch a big fish in the muddy waters.
After sending Hinata Lian away, Ye Feng devoted himself to cultivation again.
After nearly a month of recovery and “Nirvana”, although his body has not yet fully recovered, his strength has achieved an all-round breakthrough!
The total amount of chakra has returned to the level before the injury, and due to the improvement of mental strength and the optimization of refining techniques, its “quality” – purity and concentration – has already surpassed that of ordinary junior ninjas! This means that he can exert greater power with less chakra, and his endurance has also been improved in disguise.
His chakra control has improved by leaps and bounds! Although he still can’t perform difficult movements like climbing walls or treading water, his subtle manipulation of chakra has reached an astonishing level! This has laid a solid foundation for him to research and apply more sophisticated techniques.
His understanding of wind-attribute changes has reached a new level! “Wind Edge” can now be maintained relatively stably for nearly a minute, and its energy consumption has been greatly reduced. “Wind Whisper” allows him to burst into near-Chunnin-level speeds for a short period of time. Although “Wind Tremor” is still in its infancy, he can already barely attach it to his fingertips, producing a destructive effect.
[Extreme Analysis] After his mental strength was replenished and slightly evolved, the accuracy and stability of his analysis at low power levels had significantly improved! Although it was still far from peak performance, it was already sufficient to support him in conducting deeper theoretical research and combat simulations.
Although Ye Feng’s total chakra amount is still a weakness and his left arm cannot be used for the time being, with his super chakra control, deep understanding of wind attributes, endless self-created skills, and calm and ruthless brain… his comprehensive combat power has firmly stepped into the level of senior Genin, and even enough to threaten ordinary Chunin under certain circumstances!
Ye Feng felt the renewed strength in his body and the [Extreme Analysis] stirring deep in his soul, his eyes flashing with cold and excited light.
The injury will soon heal.
Chapter 21: Storm is coming, undercurrent is stirring (old version)
[Second Ninja World War – Fire Country Border, Black Stone Outpost]Time is like a taut bowstring, accumulating tension that is ready to explode in the suppressed calm.
Over a month had passed since Ye Feng was seriously injured. The Black Stone Outpost, once a humble border outpost, had become a crucial strategic fulcrum for the Fire Nation’s eastern defenses and a key target for Sand Village’s attacks.
For more than a month, the war has never really stopped.
Ye Feng was lying on the bed in the medical clinic (he was able to walk around later on). Through the sporadic information from Captain Kenji, Hinata Ren and other channels, combined with the screening and deduction of information by [Extreme Analysis], he roughly outlined the current battle situation.
On the Eastern Front (their region): The Sand Village offensive was incredibly fierce, deploying a massive force, including elite puppet units and wind-style users. Konoha, despite the presence of Hatake Sakumo, seemed undermanned, and White Fang’s command was hampered by ongoing criticism and pressure within the village, making the battle extremely difficult. The two sides engaged in a volatile battle over several key strongholds (including the Black Stone Outpost), resulting in heavy casualties. The scarred Sand Village jonin Ye Feng and his companions had previously encountered was merely the tip of the iceberg, with infiltrations and assassinations a constant stream.
The battlefields of the Land of Rain: a veritable meat grinder. The forces of the Three Ninjas of Konoha (Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru) are locked in a protracted and bitter battle with Hanzo, the “demigod” of the Hidden Rain Village. The two sides exchange blows, unleashing a multitude of powerful ninjutsu, a ferocious battle far exceeding that of the Eastern Front. The latest news is that while the Three Ninjas have demonstrated their formidable strength, they have also paid a heavy price, seemingly gaining little advantage, and the two sides have reached a stalemate.
Other Fronts: Friction with Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and other villages also occurred from time to time. Although on a smaller scale, it still took up some of Konoha’s energy. The entire ninja world was shrouded in the shadow of war.
In short, Konoha is currently facing tremendous pressure from fighting on multiple fronts, and the situation is not optimistic. Especially on the eastern front, behind the unusually fierce attack of Sunagakure, there seems to be a greater conspiracy hidden.
Ye Feng wasn’t particularly concerned with these macro-level battles; he was just a Genin, unable to influence the overall situation. He was more concerned with the opportunities and dangers behind this information, and how to maximize his own interests in this chaotic situation.
During this time, his injuries, thanks to the medical ninja’s treatment and the nourishment of his own chakra, had finally fully healed. While his left shoulder still couldn’t bear much weight, he was able to perform daily activities and basic hand seals without any problems. His chakra had also fully recovered, and thanks to continuous refinement, while its total amount was still increasing slowly (roughly equivalent to that of an average early-stage chunin), its “quality” had reached a considerable level, becoming condensed and resilient.
Mental strength recovered the slowest, but with continued meditation, it had completely stabilized, even showing signs of a breakthrough. [Extreme Analysis] While still unable to operate at the same reckless high intensity as before, the accuracy and stability of analysis at low power had recovered, even improving slightly.
He devoted most of his energy to the research of “Basics of Chakra Nature Changes (Wind)” and “Wind Style: Great Breakthrough”.
He honed the technique of “Wind Edge” to become more and more proficient. Now he can maintain it for more than a minute with relative ease, and can also achieve preliminary shape control, such as making the wind blade attached to the kunai produce a slight arc or vibration.
The footwork of “Whisper of the Wind” is also more proficient, and its burst speed and dodging ability in short distances are comparable to those of some speed-specialized Chunins.
“Wind Tremor” is still in the exploratory stage and is not very powerful, but he vaguely feels that this path has great potential and may be able to develop unexpected effects.
After deconstructing the principles of the “Big Breakthrough” technique through [Extreme Analysis], he gained a deeper understanding of the “compression” and “explosion” of wind-attribute chakra. He even attempted to incorporate this principle into the D-rank “Minor Breakthrough,” creating a “magic modification”—still D-rank in power, but with greater speed, stronger penetration, and a more unpredictable trajectory. He internally named it “Wind Style: Instant Stab.” While the cost was slightly higher than a regular Minor Breakthrough, it was exceptionally effective as a means of sneak attacks and breaking defenses.
Of course, he carefully concealed all of this progress. During recovery training at the second training ground, he continued to perform “normally,” occasionally attempting to change his nature, but most of them ended in failure. His shuriken throwing remained at a “hit-or-miss” level. His wall climbing was still shaky, and his treading in water was a “sinking hazard.”
Only in the quiet dormitory late at night would he reveal his true fangs and silently hone his deadly skills.
And his relationship with Hinata Ren continues to “heat up” in this peaceful daily life.
Lian came to see him almost every day. Sometimes she’d bring him homemade snacks (which were surprisingly delicious), sometimes she’d ask him for advice on some cultivation issues (Ye Feng always managed to enlighten her with his “perfect” theories and “casual” suggestions), and sometimes they’d just sit quietly for a while under the shade of a tree by the training ground, each of them thinking about their own things, yet they felt an inexplicable tacit understanding.
Lian’s curiosity about Ye Feng grew stronger and stronger. She could sense that Ye Feng was hiding many secrets. He knew far more than his peers, and his understanding of chakra and ninjutsu was terrifyingly profound. Yet, at the same time, he acted so “harmless,” so “caring” about his companions (at least to her), even getting seriously injured in battle to “protect” her (from her perspective).
This contradictory quality, along with Ye Feng’s eyes, which were sometimes cold and sometimes “warm,” attracted her like a magnet. A naive feeling, perhaps even unconscious of it herself, was quietly growing.
“Yefeng, look…is there still a problem with the chakra flow in my ‘Soft Fist: Guarding the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms’ (basic simplified version)?” That afternoon, in a corner of the second training ground, Lian hesitantly asked Yefeng for advice. She had just finished a set of movements, and beads of sweat were beading on her white forehead.
Ye Feng put down his hand that was “clumsily” practicing seals, and carefully recalled Lian’s actions just now. [Extreme Analysis] was running quickly in the background.
“Hmm…” He pondered for a moment, a look of serious thought on his face. “Lian, the connection between your third and fourth palm strikes seemed… a little sluggish in the chakra. Could you try to slightly change the order in which your forearm muscles activate while guiding them with your mind, so that the chakra flows more smoothly through the ‘Tianquan Point’?”
Once again, he gave precise advice.
Upon hearing this, Lian followed Ye Feng’s instructions and tried again. Sure enough, she felt that the sluggish feeling disappeared, and her palm movements became more rounded and smooth!
She looked at Ye Feng in surprise, with a light flashing in her pure white pupils: “Really! Ye Feng, you are so amazing! How did you know?”
“Ah… I… When I was injured before, I heard the medical ninja talking, and he seemed to have mentioned the relationship between this acupuncture point and the flow of chakra…” Ye Feng scratched his head and used the “hearsay” method again.
Although Lian felt that it was a bit of a coincidence, she did not delve into it. She just admired sincerely: “You have a good memory and a high level of understanding.” Her cheeks were slightly red, and the look in her eyes when she looked at Ye Feng was full of admiration and… dependence, which was almost overflowing.
Ye Feng’s heart was calm, but a “shy” smile appeared on his face: “I’m glad I can help you.”
At this moment, a rapid assembly whistle rang out throughout the entire outpost!
Unlike the previous enemy attack alarms, this time the whistle was more urgent and more solemn!
All the ninjas on the training ground, including Captain Kenji who was instructing other teams, all changed their expressions!
“Emergency assembly! All combatants, gather at the central square immediately!” The ninja in charge of delivering the message shouted at the top of his lungs.
Ye Feng and Lian looked at each other and saw solemnity in each other’s eyes.
Something big happened!
The two of them did not stop and immediately ran towards the central square.
In the central square, nearly all the combat ninjas from the Black Stone Outpost had gathered, from Genin to Chunin, even including several Jonin in charge of important defense areas. The atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Captain Fujita stood on a makeshift platform, his face livid and his eyes sharp as knives as he scanned everyone below.
Beside him stood Captain Ida, whose injuries had not yet healed but whose eyes were equally solemn.
“Quiet!” Fujita’s voice exploded like thunder, suppressing all discussions.
“We’ve just received the highest order from the Hokage through a mystical technique!” Fujita’s voice was cold and heavy. “According to reliable intelligence, the Sand Village has assembled an unprecedented army and is launching a general attack on our eastern defense line of the Fire Nation! Their goal is to completely tear through our defenses and penetrate the heart of the Fire Nation!”
General attack?!
Everyone gasped! Shock and horror appeared on their faces!
“The enemy has deployed almost all of their elite forces, including the puppet troops and wind escape troops! Their vanguard will arrive at the Black Stone Outpost by tomorrow evening at the earliest!”
Fujita’s gaze swept across each person like a knife: “We have only one mission! Defend Blackstone Outpost at all costs! Stop the enemy here! Buy time for the main force in the rear to assemble and counterattack!”
“This will be a decisive battle… that will determine the fate of the Eastern Front! It may even… determine the course of the entire war!”
“There’s no way to retreat! Behind us is our village, our home! All we can do is fight to the death!”
“Do you understand everything?!” Fujita’s voice was like a loud bell, with unquestionable determination!
“Yes!!!” All the ninjas roared in unison, their voices shaking the sky! Fear was replaced by fighting spirit, and the flame of “protection” burned in everyone’s eyes!
Ye Feng stood among the crowd, listening silently. His heart was as cold as ice, without a single ripple.
Final attack? It’s finally here.
He glanced at Hinata Ren, who was trembling slightly with excitement and nervousness, and then looked at Captain Kenji, who also had a firm look in his eyes but clenched fists not far away.
He knew that the next battle would be far more brutal than any previous one. Genin, chunin, and even jonin would be harvested like grass.
He must… survive.
His eyes casually swept over the figures of Fujita and Date on the platform, and seemed to penetrate the crowd and look in an unknown direction – there, perhaps there was another pair of cold eyes, also watching the coming storm.
A war is about to begin, and undercurrents are stirring.
Chapter 22: On the Eve of the Decisive Battle, Undercurrents Surge (Old Version)
Night, like spilled thick ink, enveloped the Black Stone Outpost.
In the past, even during wartime, the camp would still be filled with the cacophony of patrolling ninjas, the groans of wounded soldiers, and the sounds of logistics personnel sorting supplies late at night. But tonight, it was unusually quiet.
A dead silence.
It was as if even the wind had held its breath, and the air was filled with an invisible, suffocating pressure. The shadow of impending war lurked in every corner.
The ninjas didn’t rest.
There was no noise, no complaints, only the soft sound of weapons colliding, the rustling of kunai being sharpened, the whispered conversations of checking equipment, and… in the corner, someone silently wiping their forehead protector or writing letters to their family far away that might never be sent.
The shadow of death has never been so close, and the will to survive has never been so strong.
Ye Feng’s dormitory bed was located in a relatively back area. Unlike many other ninjas, he did not toss and turn, or gather with other companions for comfort.
He sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, breathing steadily and slowly, as if he was completely immersed in meditation.
But beneath that calm exterior, [Extreme Analysis] was operating in an extremely stable, highly efficient low-power mode, like the most sophisticated radar, sorting out all the information in his mind and deducing the impending bloody storm.
The Sand Village general offensive… unprecedented in scale… the goal is to tear through the defenses… Black Stone Outpost is the key blocking point… defend it at all costs…
Captain Fujita’s words still echoed in my ears.
“At any cost?” The corners of Ye Feng’s mouth curved into an icy arc in the darkness where no one could notice.
The price was always paid by the weak, and he would never let himself be the one to pay it.
This decisive battle is a matter of life and death for Konoha, but for him, it is… a grand hunting ground!
Chaos means the collapse of order and the failure of rules. Amidst the sea of blood and corpses, countless opportunities lie hidden: powerful enemies (meaning rich analytical data and potential spoils), lost ninjutsu scrolls, forgotten resource points, and even…promotional opportunities arising from a power reshuffle at the top!
Of course, the premise is… to survive.
He slowly opened his eyes, his dark pupils flashing with a frightening cold light in the dim light.
He began to carefully check his equipment.
His ninja tool bag had been reorganized, each item placed in its most convenient location. Fifteen shurikens, five kunai, three detonating tags, a roll of reinforced special steel wire (which he had made himself from scraps), a few smoke bombs, a small medical kit (the medicines inside had been checked for expiration dates), and… the two ration pills he hadn’t been willing to use, his last resort.
He double-checked and hid the scrolls of “Basics of Chakra Nature Transformation (Wind)” and “Wind Style: Great Breakthrough.” He had already mastered the former, and while he couldn’t use the latter yet, the principles behind it had given him immense inspiration.
He stretched out his right hand, and his fingertips moved slightly. An extremely weak, almost transparent wind-attribute chakra quietly condensed, entwining and trembling like a living thing.
“Wind Edge”… The attachment time can be stable for about one and a half minutes, and its power is enough to cut through the chakra defense of ordinary Chunin.
“Whisper of the Wind”… The footwork is more sophisticated, and combined with physical skills, it is enough to burst out amazing speed and evasion ability in a short distance.
“Wind Tremor”… is still in its infancy, but it can already be barely attached to the fingertips, producing an instantaneous interference effect on the flow of chakra, which may have a miraculous effect if the opponent is caught off guard.
“Wind Style: Instant Stab” (a minor breakthrough in the magic modification)… After being optimized by [Extreme Analysis], its speed and penetration far exceed the original version. It is currently his strongest long-range attack method, but the consumption is still considerable, and it can only be used as a critical strike.
As for his total chakra capacity… it was still his biggest shortcoming, roughly equivalent to that of an average early-stage Chunin. However, thanks to his far superior chakra control and purity, as well as the energy efficiency optimization achieved through [Limit Analysis], his actual combat endurance was not much worse than that of an average Chunin.
Comprehensive assessment… If it were just about assassination and sneak attacks, he was even confident that he could threaten a senior Chunin who wasn’t good at perception. But in a head-on confrontation, he still had little chance of winning against an experienced Chunin, let alone a Jonin.
“Not enough… not enough…” Ye Feng’s eyes were icy. This war was bound to see the emergence of a jonin or even stronger. He had to be even more cautious and cunning to survive this storm and reap the greatest benefits.
He closed his eyes again and began to simulate various battle scenarios in his mind.
How do you exploit the terrain? How do you set traps? How do you guide the enemy? How do you cooperate with your teammates (or rather, leverage them)? What if your team is scattered? How do you escape if you encounter an enemy you can’t defeat? What if… you have a chance to take advantage of an opportunity?
[Extreme Analysis] Deducing countless possibilities and formulating corresponding plans.
Just then, a very light sound of footsteps was heard outside the door.
Ye Feng instantly gathered all his thoughts and returned to his “quiet cultivation” look.
“Yefeng…are you still awake?” The door curtain was gently lifted, and Hinata Lian’s graceful figure appeared at the door. The moonlight shone on her, adding a touch of softness to her cold face. In her hand, she was holding a small bowl, which seemed to contain hot soup.
“Lian?” Ye Feng’s face showed just the right amount of surprise and warmth. “Why are you here so late?”
“I… I can’t sleep.” Lian’s voice was a little low. She walked into the room and handed the small bowl to Ye Feng, “See, the light is still on here… This is the calming soup I just made. Maybe… it can help you sleep well.” Her eyes were a little evasive, and she seemed a little embarrassed.
Calming decoction? Ye Feng sneered inwardly. Sending this on the eve of a war? What a naive little girl. However, he couldn’t refuse this “kindness.”
He took the small bowl, steaming hot and carrying a faint herbal aroma. [Extreme Analysis] A low-power scan confirmed it was non-toxic, and even had some mild effects of calming the mind and replenishing physical strength.
“Thank you, Lian.” Ye Feng showed a “sincere” smile on his face. He blew away the hot air gently and took a small sip. “It tastes very good.”
Lian seemed relieved when she saw him drink it, and she also sat down in the empty seat next to him.
Neither of them spoke for a while, and the atmosphere was a little subtle.
“Tomorrow… will it be very dangerous?” Lian finally broke the silence, her voice trembling with a barely perceptible tremor. Even with the elite upbringing of the Hyuga branch, a ten-year-old girl facing the impending sea of blood and corpses couldn’t be fearless.
“Yeah.” Ye Feng nodded, without saying those hypocritical words of comfort, but just said calmly, “But we are ninjas, aren’t we? Protecting the village is our duty.” He answered in the language that best fits the “Konoha values”, his eyes “firm” and “full of faith”.
Seeing him like this, Lian’s anxiety seemed to ease a lot. Yes, he was Ye Feng, the Ye Feng who could create miracles in desperate situations. With him by her side, maybe… she could really survive?
She looked at Ye Feng’s sharp-edged profile under the oil lamp, and the naive emotions in her heart surged again. She suddenly mustered up the courage and asked softly, “Ye Feng…if…I mean if…we can all survive…after the war, what are your plans?”
Plan? Ye Feng sneered in his heart. Of course, he would continue to become stronger, climb higher, and step on everyone under his feet.
But his face revealed a “trace of confusion” and “longing for the future”: “I… haven’t thought that far yet. Maybe… I will continue to work hard to train and become a powerful ninja like Lord White Fang, protecting Konoha and protecting… companions like you, Ren.” He cleverly led the topic to “protection” and “companions”, and subtly included Ren in it.
When Lian heard the words “protect companions like you,” her cheeks instantly grew hot and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her head to hide her gaffe, but her heart was pounding like a deer.
Ye Feng took in her reaction, feeling no wavering. Very good, her emotions have been mobilized. On the battlefield tomorrow, this girl’s rolling eyes and gentle fists might prove surprisingly effective. If necessary… a sacrifice isn’t out of the question.
He chatted with Lian “gently” for a few more words, mostly about tomorrow’s tactical coordination and some words of “mutual encouragement.” Only when Lian left with a shy and slightly relieved look did the smile on Ye Feng’s face instantly disappear.
He poured out the remaining calming soup in the bowl and sat down cross-legged again.
Waste of time.
But he knew that this kind of “waste” was necessary. Maintaining one’s persona and controlling people’s hearts were also part of one’s power.
He stopped meditating and began to check his condition one last time. Chakra, mental strength, physical function… [Limit Analysis] gave an assessment: In good condition, able to handle high-intensity combat.
He even took out a Bingliang pill, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately didn’t take it immediately. He wanted to save it for when the battle was at its most intense, or when… he needed to escape.
Outside the window, the sky gradually turned pale.
The last tranquility is about to be broken.
Ye Feng stood up and carefully tied the brand new Konoha forehead protector to his left arm again.
He walked out of the dormitory and headed for the meeting place.
The central square was already filled with densely packed ninjas. The atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost suffocating. Captain Fujita stood on the platform, his face grim, as he gave his final pre-battle mobilization.
Ye Feng found the location of Team 7. Captain Kenji and Hinata Ren had already arrived. Captain Kenji was carefully checking his ninja tools, while Hinata Ren seemed a little nervous. When she saw Ye Feng coming, her eyes subconsciously lit up.
Ye Feng nodded to her as a greeting, then stood aside silently, observing his surroundings.
He saw Hatake Sakumo.
White Fang remained at the forefront, yet seemed to maintain an invisible distance from everyone else. He carried his signature white dagger, his figure erect as a pine tree, his eyes piercing the distant horizon. His face was expressionless, only a deep sense of exhaustion and… loneliness. It was as if the entire pressure of the battlefield was concentrated on him alone.
Ye Feng’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, then moved away. This legendary fate had nothing to do with him.
“Team Seven!” Captain Kenji’s voice brought Ye Feng back to his senses. “Our defense area is Hill No. 3 on the west side. The terrain there is dangerous and is one of the weak points where the enemy may launch a surprise attack! Our mission is to cooperate with the other teams and defend the hill to the death. We must not let a single enemy break through!”
“Understood!” Ye Feng and Lian responded in unison.
“Let’s go!” With Captain Fujita’s order, the Konoha ninjas who had been ready for battle rushed towards their respective defense zones like a tide!
The four members of Class 7 (one was missing, but the organization was still there) also acted quickly and, led by Kenji, ran towards Hill No. 3 on the west side.
The dim light of morning stretched their figures very long, and also reflected the determination on their faces to rush to the battlefield.
The prelude to the war has finally… begun.
Chapter 23: Blood and Fire Begin, Wolf Walks the Battlefield (Old Version)
[Second Shinobi World War – Fire Country Border, outside Black Stone Outpost, west side of Hill No. 3]The dawn’s light hadn’t yet completely dispelled the darkness, but on the distant horizon, a rumble like muffled thunder could already be heard! It was the sound of the army’s marching footsteps, the roar of the war machines starting to work!
Hill 3, west of Blackrock Outpost, is a relatively steep hill covered with jagged rocks and low shrubs. It offers a wide view overlooking the vast open area below, making it a key point for blocking enemy flanking advances.
By the time Team 7 arrived, two other Konoha squads had already been deployed on the higher ground, each led by a Chunin, totaling approximately ten ninja. The atmosphere was tense and awe-inspiring, with everyone holding their breath, gripping their weapons tightly, their gaze fixed intently on the Sand Village army, which was gradually becoming clearer in the distance, surging like a black tide!
“Squad Seven, defend the left flank!” Captain Kenji quickly gave the order, pointing to a relatively flat area on the left side of the plateau, covered with gravel and brush. “Use the terrain to set traps! Lian, keep your Byakugan on the fan-shaped area to the left! Yefeng, you’ll be responsible for setting traps and providing patrol support!”
“Yes!” Ye Feng and Lian responded immediately.
Ye Feng didn’t hesitate at all and immediately took action. He didn’t set up pits that needed to be dug (time didn’t allow it and the noise would be too loud), but instead made full use of the existing terrain.
[Extreme Analysis] operates at high speed, instantly scanning the entire area’s terrain features, vegetation distribution, blind spots, and the enemy’s most likely advance routes!
Like the most nimble civet cat, he darted through the gravel and brush with astonishing speed. He cleverly stretched the specially crafted reinforced wire between several boulders, at a height just between his ankles and knees, camouflaged perfectly with loose soil and dead leaves. He also quietly planted several sharpened, mud-coated wooden spikes in narrow passages and resting points where the enemy would inevitably pass, leaving only a barely noticeable tip. He even used a few inconspicuous pebbles and resilient grass stems to create a few extremely simple “warning traps,” virtually harmless but powerful enough to emit a subtle sound.
His technique was extremely skillful and efficient, and his movements were minimal, making almost no unnecessary noise. All of this was due to the precise planning of [Extreme Analysis] and the countless simulations he had conducted in his mind during this period.
Next to her, Hinata Lian opened her Byakugan eyes, observing Ye Feng’s smooth and flowing traps clearly. A flicker of shock flashed across her pure white pupils. She realized that Ye Feng’s trap-laying techniques were even more sophisticated and subtle than anything Captain Kenji had taught him! And their speed was incredibly fast! Just how much more could this guy be hiding?
Captain Kenji also noticed Ye Feng’s movements, and a hint of surprise and… satisfaction flashed in his eyes. It seemed that letting this guy be in charge of setting the trap was the right decision.
Just when Ye Feng had just completed the preliminary arrangements——
“Here it comes!!!” Hinata Lian’s voice suddenly became sharp, with a hint of trembling!
Everyone’s heart trembled, and they looked in the direction she was looking!
On the distant horizon, a black wave finally approached!
Hundreds of Sand Ninjas! As dense as ants, with murderous intent soaring into the sky, they charged towards Hill No. 3!
Rushing in the front are physical ninjas holding various weapons. They are extremely fast, like cannonballs!
Following closely behind were a large number of Wind Style Ninjas, who formed seals with their hands and had begun to condense chakra in their mouths!
Farther away, several gigantic, strangely shaped figures could be vaguely seen moving slowly—puppetry! The Sunagakure puppet army had also joined the battle!
“Get ready for battle!!!” The Konoha Chunin captains on the high ground roared at the same time!
“Team One, Earth Style defense! Team Two, Fire Style suppression! Team Seven, free attack, prioritize eliminating the enemies in the front!” Captain Kenji gave the order calmly, and at the same time, he quickly formed seals with his hands!
Several thick earth walls rose up in front of the high ground, forming the first line of defense!
“Wind Style: Great Scythe Itachi!”
“Wind Style: Wind Killing Formation!”
The overwhelming wind blades and chaotic air currents came like a violent storm, slamming heavily into the earth wall!
The roar, explosion, and splashing of earth and rocks instantly resounded through the sky!
The solid earth wall shook violently under the dense wind attack, and cracks appeared on it!
“Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!”
Konoha’s Fire Style ninjas also began to fight back! Huge fireballs and dense fireballs hit the charging Sand Village crowd like meteors!
Explosions rang out one after another! Screams were heard everywhere! The few Sand Ninjas who rushed to the front were instantly engulfed by the flames and turned into charcoal!
But more Sand Ninjas continued to charge forward fearlessly, stepping on the corpses of their companions! Their eyes were filled with madness and bloodlust!
“The enemy is coming!!” someone exclaimed!
In the first wave of wind-style ninja attacks, Konoha was clearly at a disadvantage! There were too many wind-style ninjas from Sand Village! The earthen wall was crumbling!
“Prepare for close combat!!” Captain Kenji roared, drew out his kunai, and prepared to meet the attack!
Ye Feng hid behind a huge rock, his cold eyes like a scanner, quickly analyzing the situation on the battlefield.
The Sand Village’s offensive is too fierce! Their numerical advantage is enormous! The first line of defense is about to collapse! We must weaken the enemy’s manpower as much as possible before they reach the high ground!
His eyes were fixed on a Sand Village Taijutsu Ninja who was rushing in the front at an extremely fast speed and was about to break through the gap in the earth wall!
It’s you!
Ye Feng took a deep breath, and quietly grasped a shuriken in his right hand. Above his fingertips, the light blue “edge of wind” lit up and disappeared like breathing, stable and restrained!
He did not rush to take action, but waited patiently for the best opportunity!
[Extreme Analysis] Calculate the opponent’s charge speed, possible evasion routes, and the moment when the earth wall completely collapses!
With a loud bang, the first earth wall was finally completely destroyed by the dense wind escape!
The Sand Village Taijutsu Ninja grinned and was the first to rush out from the smoke and dust, waving a kunai and pouncing on the nearest Konoha Genin like a hungry wolf!
But just as his front foot stepped on the soft soil of the highland!
An almost invisible cold light, like the fangs of a venomous snake, shot silently from the side!
The speed is extremely fast! The angle is extremely tricky!
It was the shuriken thrown by Ye Feng, with the “edge of wind” attached to it!
The Sand Village taijutsu ninja only felt a fatal sense of crisis coming, and he subconsciously wanted to turn around and dodge!
But it’s too late!
The shuriken with the “Edge of Wind” easily tore through his hastily condensed chakra defense, and penetrated his throat accurately and deeply like cutting tofu!
“Uh…” The hideous smile on the Sand Village ninja’s face froze instantly, his eyes filled with incredible astonishment and fear. He covered his bleeding throat and fell straight down!
Kill with one blow!
Ye Feng didn’t even look at the corpse. His figure disappeared into the shadow of another rock like a ghost, and at the same time he quickly took out another shuriken from his ninja tool bag.
“Well done! Ye Feng!” Captain Kenji noticed this scene and couldn’t help but praise loudly! Ye Feng’s precise and fatal blow undoubtedly greatly boosted morale!
But more enemies are coming!
“Kill!!”
“For Sunagakure!”
“Kill those bastards from Konoha!”
The Sand Village ninjas surged to the high ground like a tide, and instantly engaged in a fight with the Konoha ninjas who had been ready for battle!
Kunai collided with kunai! Taijutsu clashed with Taijutsu! The lights of various low-level ninjutsu flashed and exploded continuously in the narrow battlefield!
Blood! Screams! Roars! The sharp sound of weapons clashing! It all formed the most primitive and brutal symphony on the battlefield!
Captain Kenji was like a tiger descending from the mountain, brandishing a kunai, constantly using superb physical skills and concise and efficient earth-style ninjutsu (earth-style hardening technique, earth-style earth-style wall, etc.) to deal with the enemy, protecting the Genin behind him.
Hinata Ren opened her Byakugan and used basic soft fists to barely protect herself, while constantly providing information on the enemy’s position and movement to her teammates around her: “Two on the left! Be careful of their combination ninjutsu!” “Behind! The one using wind escape is going to attack by surprise!” Her voice was nervous but clear.
Ye Feng completely transformed into a ghost on the battlefield.
He never confronted the enemy head-on, but instead used the speed advantage brought by “Whisper of the Wind” and the precise judgment of the battlefield from [Extreme Analysis] to shuttle between rocks and bushes like a ghost.
His target was clear – those Sand Village Genin who were alone, injured, or those who were performing ninjutsu and revealed flaws!
A shuriken with the “edge of wind” attached is like an invitation from the god of death. It can always be shot at the most appropriate time, from the most tricky angle, and accurately hit the enemy’s vital points!
The tripwire trap was triggered, and a Sand Ninja who charged too fast fell to the ground, and was immediately hacked to death by the Konoha Ninja who came up next to him!
A wooden spike hidden in the ground suddenly popped out and pierced the foot of a Sand Ninja who was trying to attack from behind, causing him to scream and instantly lose his combat effectiveness!
“Wind Style: Instant Stab!”
Occasionally, when encountering an enemy with strong defenses or positioned further back, Ye Feng would unleash his strongest single-target attack without hesitation! That incredibly fast, light-blue airflow with astonishing penetrating power always managed to deliver a fatal “surprise” to the enemy! Although each use consumed a significant amount of his chakra, he calculated it with extreme precision, always striking when he was most confident and reaping the greatest benefits!
In just a few minutes of combat, at least four Sand Village Genin had died directly or indirectly at the hands of Ye Feng! Yet, he himself remained unscathed, not even the corner of his clothes had been touched by the enemy!
His calmness, efficiency, and elusive attack methods not only frightened the enemy, but also attracted the attention of his teammates!
“That… that brat… is Ye Feng? When did he become so powerful?!” A Konoha Genin stared in amazement as Ye Feng killed another enemy like a ghost.
“Shut up! Focus on the fight!” the leading Konoha Chunin shouted, but his eyes were also filled with shock. He knew Ye Feng had made great contributions before, but he had never expected this kid’s combat abilities to be so strong! How could he be a Genin?! He was simply a natural-born assassin!
Captain Kenji also observed Ye Feng’s performance, and his heart was filled with shock! This kid’s growth rate… was terrifying! How long had it been? His strength was probably no less than his own, right?! Especially his grasp of combat opportunities and his calm and cold judgment…
Hinata Lian’s feelings were even more complicated. She watched Ye Feng roaming the battlefield like the Grim Reaper, each strike precise and deadly, and felt an inexplicable sense of security in her heart.
Ye Feng naturally didn’t know the complicated thoughts of his teammates. All his attention was focused on the battlefield in front of him.
Kill! Efficiency! Survive!
This is his only creed at the moment!
He was like the most sophisticated war machine, calmly analyzing the battlefield situation, looking for every opportunity that could be exploited, reaping the lives of the enemies, while carefully conserving his chakra and physical strength.
However, personal bravery is ultimately insignificant in the face of the huge war machine.
The Sand Village’s offensive was like a tide, wave after wave, fearless and unafraid of death! Although the Konoha ninjas on the high ground fought hard, their numerical disadvantage and continuous attrition gradually made them unable to hold on!
Casualties began to appear!
A Konoha Genin was hit by several kunai at the same time and fell down with a scream!
In order to protect his teammates, the Chunin captain of another team took a wind escape attack and was seriously injured!
The front line is beginning to loosen!
“Hold on! Hold on! Support will be here soon!” Captain Kenji roared angrily. He was covered in blood and most of his chakra was consumed, but he was still fighting on the front line!
Ye Feng’s brow furrowed slightly. The situation was not good. There were too many enemies, and… it seemed that a stronger one was about to appear!
His gaze passed across the chaotic battlefield and turned to the huge puppet figures slowly approaching in the distance!
Chapter 24: The puppet is fierce and powerful (old version)
The roars and wails on the battlefield were like background noise. Ye Feng’s cold gaze penetrated the chaotic crowd and locked onto the approaching huge figures.
puppet!
There were three of them! Each with a different shape, all emitting a disturbing metallic sheen and a strong aura of murder!
Walking in the front was a puppet that looked like a giant scorpion. The stinger on its tail flashed with a cold blue light, and its multiple mechanical limbs were waving like sickles. Wherever it passed, whether it was the Konoha ninja or the Sand Village’s own people, they were easily torn apart!
In the middle is a humanoid puppet with a sturdy build. Its arms are equipped with heavy shields and machine guns that can fire hidden weapons. It advances like a mobile fortress!
At the very end, and what made Ye Feng most wary, was a relatively “slender”-looking, spider-like puppet. Its eight slender limbs moved silently and ghostly, and there seemed to be some kind of launch device hidden in its abdomen!
The puppeteer controlling these puppets was undoubtedly the Sunagakure puppeteer hiding in the background! Furthermore, being able to simultaneously control three such sophisticated combat puppets meant his strength was definitely not to be underestimated. He was at least an elite Chunin, perhaps even… a Jonin!
“It’s a puppet army! Everyone, be careful of the traps and poison!” Captain Kenji also noticed the approaching threat, and his face became even uglier. While blocking the enemy in front of him, he shouted a warning!
But his reminder seemed a little late!
The humanoid fortress puppet had already rushed to the front of the line, and the machine guns on its arms were aimed at the area where Konoha ninjas were most concentrated!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh——!
The dense, poison-infused Senbon swept out like a metallic storm, covering a vast area!
“Ah!” “Ugh!”
Screams rang out instantly! Several Konoha Genin who were unable to dodge were instantly shot into hedgehogs, their bodies quickly turning black, and they fell to the ground dead!
“Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!” Captain Kenji’s eyes were bloodshot, and he once again forcibly condensed his chakra and raised an earth wall to try to block it!
But this time, the scorpion-like puppet moved!
Its huge tail stinger shot out like lightning and pierced the newly risen earth wall!
With a crisp sound, the terrifying power and chakra contained in the tail stinger actually pierced through the thick earth wall and shattered it! Immediately afterwards, the humanoid puppet’s poisonous needle attacked again!
Puff puff puff!
Two more Konoha ninjas fell in a pool of blood!
The defense line… was completely torn open with a huge gap!
“Bastard!” Captain Kenji roared, ignoring his own exhaustion, and rushed towards the humanoid puppet, trying to entangle it!
The scorpion puppet, waving its sickle-like limbs, rushed into Konoha’s position like a meat grinder. Every time it swung, blood and flesh flew everywhere!
Hinata Lian opened her Byakugan and dodged the scorpion puppet’s attacks with a pale face. At the same time, she kept trying to attack its joints with her soft fists, but the puppet’s shell was extremely hard and her attacks had little effect!
As for the strangest spider puppet, it climbed up a huge rock silently, its eight compound eyes flashing with cold light, as if looking for its next prey!
Ye Feng hid behind a shelter, taking in all of this, his brain working at full speed!
The situation is extremely unfavorable! The addition of the puppets has completely disrupted the balance between the two sides! Ordinary Genin are almost powerless in the face of these war machines! Captain Kenji is pinned down, and Ren is also in danger! The high ground… is about to be lost!
Once the high ground is lost, all of them will be trapped! By then, let alone making any profit, even survival will be a problem!
Something must be done!
Ye Feng’s gaze finally fell on the silent spider puppet that posed the greatest threat to him!
Capture the leader first! Killing the puppeteer controlling the puppets is the best solution, but that’s obviously unrealistic. So, as a second best option, prioritize eliminating the puppets that pose the greatest threat or are relatively easy to destroy!
The scorpion and humanoid puppets were thick-skinned and tough, so a head-on confrontation wouldn’t be wise. But this spider puppet… seemed more agile, perhaps with relatively weaker defenses? And it seemed more adept at long-range sneak attacks?
It’s you!
A cold light flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes, and he made up his mind!
But he didn’t rush out immediately. He knew that with his limited chakra, even if he used all his trump cards, he might not be able to inflict fatal damage on a jonin-level puppet. He had to… create an opportunity! And… he needed external help!
His gaze swept across the chaotic battlefield, finally landing on the Chunin captain of another Konoha team, who was being besieged by two Sand Village Genin not far away and in danger! That Chunin seemed to be good at Lightning Release!
Got it!
Ye Feng took a deep breath, and [Extreme Analysis] instantly simulated an extremely bold and extremely dangerous battle plan!
He no longer hides his strength!
Chakra burst out from his feet, and his speed instantly increased to the extreme! Like an arrow from a string, he rushed towards the direction of the spider puppet!
“Hmm?” The spider puppet’s compound eyes immediately locked onto the little devil who suddenly jumped up, and the launch device on its abdomen began to emit a dangerous buzzing sound!
But Ye Feng’s target was not it at all!
As he sprinted, he quickly formed seals with his hands!
A stream of light blue air that was compressed to the extreme and moved at an extremely fast speed was not shot at the spider puppet, but… shot at the back of one of the Sand Village Genin who was besieging the Lightning Release Chunin!
The Sand Village Genin had no time to react before his back was pierced! He screamed and died instantly!
“What?!” The other Sand Village Genin and the Konoha Lightning Style Chunin were both shocked!
“Now is the time! Senior Lightning Style Chunin! Use your strongest Lightning Style to attack that spider! Its defense is not strong!” Ye Feng continued to charge while roaring with all his might!
Although the Lightning Release Chunin didn’t understand why, he saw Ye Feng kill an enemy in an instant, and after hearing his reminder, his survival instinct made him react immediately! He also noticed the strange spider puppet!
“Thunder Release: Earth Walk!”
He pressed his hands on the ground, and violent lightning rushed towards the spider puppet along the ground like a blue python!
The spider puppet obviously didn’t expect the attack to come from this direction, and it immediately raised its limbs to try to dodge!
But its movement was slowed down by half a beat because of Ye Feng’s earth-shattering “Instant Stab” just now! ——Ye Feng’s goal, from the very beginning, was not only to kill the Sand Village Genin, but also to attract the attention of the spider puppet and create an attack opportunity for the Lightning Style Chunin!
Sizzle——!
The violent lightning hit several limbs of the spider puppet hard!
The puppet was, after all, a dead object. Although made of special materials, it wasn’t very resistant to lightning! The struck limbs instantly turned black, and their movements became noticeably slowed!
“Good opportunity!” Ye Feng’s eyes flashed! He had already rushed under the spider puppet!
He did not raise his head to attack the puppet itself, but instead aimed at… the chakra line connecting the puppet and the puppeteer!
Although he is not able to see the chakra lines directly with his strength, [Extreme Analysis] has roughly deduced the possible locations of several key chakra lines by analyzing the puppet’s movement patterns, residual chakra traces and energy flow direction!
“The edge of the wind! Tremor!”
Ye Feng concentrated most of the remaining chakra in his body into his right hand without reservation! Above his fingertips, a pale blue light was brighter than ever before, and it was accompanied by an extremely subtle, yet terrifyingly destructive, high-speed vibration!
Like a gecko, he used the protrusions of the rock to suddenly jump up!
The five fingers of his right hand were put together, like the sharpest blade, and he swung it fiercely towards the area where the core chakra harness was most likely to be deduced by [Extreme Analysis] – a connection point under the abdomen of the spider puppet!
Chichichichi——!!
A sound like cutting rotten leather was heard!
The fingers that were endowed with the embryonic power of “Wind Edge” and “Wind Tremor” actually cut off several extremely tough chakra lines that were almost invisible to the naked eye!
Creak——!
The spider puppet, once agile and nimble, froze in place, as if its soul had been drained out. The light in its eight compound eyes quickly dimmed! Without the puppeteer’s control, it became a pile of scrap metal!
Ye Feng was delighted, but then he was hit by a strong sense of exhaustion and severe pain! Forcibly activating the immature “Wind Tremor” had put a considerable strain on his meridians! His chakra was almost depleted!
But he didn’t dare to stop! He knew that destroying a puppet would inevitably lead to crazy revenge from the puppeteer himself!
He was just about to use the momentum to fall down and find new cover—
“Little brat…you’ve completely pissed me off!!!”
A bone-chilling voice filled with endless murderous intent, like a cold wind from the underworld, suddenly rang in his ears!
Ye Feng’s pupils instantly contracted to the extreme! [Battlefield Intuition] let out a dying wail!
He turned his head suddenly!
Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared behind him like a ghost! Less than half a meter away from him!
Was it the puppeteer’s true self?! He actually took action himself?! And his speed was so fast?!
He was a middle-aged man with a pale face and sinister eyes, wearing a custom-made Sand Hidden Clan uniform! His hands stretched out like eagle claws, his fingertips gleaming with a strange purple light, clearly imbued with a deadly poison! His target was directly at Ye Feng’s back!
It’s over!
The distance was too close! There was no time to dodge! Chakra was exhausted! The body was also stiff from the forced use of the technique!
The shadow of death has never been so clear!
Chapter 25: A ray of hope, the might of the White Fang (old version)
The cold murderous intent pierced through his back like a substance, and the shadow of death instantly enveloped Ye Feng completely!
The pair of poisonous claws behind him were only inches away from his heart! The speed was so fast and the angle was so tricky that he didn’t have any chance to dodge or defend himself!
Chakra depleted! Body stiffened! Mental energy was on the verge of exhaustion from the forced analysis and execution of techniques just now!
This is… a truly desperate situation!
Could it be that I, a time traveler, had just shown a glimmer of my potential, and was about to die so miserably at the hands of an unknown Sand Village puppeteer?!
Not reconciled!
The strong desire to survive erupted in Ye Feng’s heart like a volcano!
His brain raced furiously for a fraction of a second! [Extreme Analysis] Like a last ray of light, he drained away every last bit of his mental energy, frantically scanning everything around him!
The terrain! The enemies! The teammates! Even… the lingering chakra fluctuations in the air!
We must find a glimmer of hope!
Just when the poisoned claws were about to touch his back!
Ye Feng made an incredible move!
He didn’t try to turn around to block, nor did he try to dodge in vain!
He suddenly lowered his body’s center of gravity! At the same time, he used his intact right hand to fiercely grab a cold metal limb of the spider puppet that had just lost control and was sliding down!
Leverage!
He used up his last bit of strength and swung the heavy spider puppet behind him! It was like throwing out a huge shield!
“Um?!”
The puppeteer who launched the sneak attack from Sand Village obviously didn’t expect Ye Feng to do this! He thought the kid was doomed!
Faced with the heavy puppet that suddenly fell on him, he had to subconsciously change his moves. The poisonous claws that were originally piercing Ye Feng’s back suddenly moved upwards to block!
BANG!!
A dull thud!
The puppeteer’s poisonous claws slammed hard on the spider puppet’s hard shell. The huge force knocked the puppet backwards and also caused his own attack to pause for a moment!
It’s this moment!
Ye Feng was like a gecko. He used the reaction force of sinking and throwing out the puppet just now, and slid forward to escape the deadly attack range with his body sticking to the ground in an extremely awkward but effective posture!
The puppeteer’s other poisonous claw slashed across his back, tearing his clothes and leaving several bloody marks deep enough to see the bone! He felt a sharp pain, but Ye Feng gritted his teeth and refused to utter a single sound!
Survived!
At least… I survived for now!
Ye Feng ignored the severe pain in his back, turned over and stood up, staggering backwards, his eyes fixed on the puppeteer!
“Little bastard! You’re not dead yet!” The puppeteer’s attack failed, and instead was hindered. The murderous intent in his eyes grew even stronger! He casually kicked the out-of-control spider puppet away, treating it like trash.
“You can destroy my Eight-Eyed Spider and dodge my fatal blow… You are indeed quite interesting, little brat.” The puppeteer licked his lips and smiled cruelly, “But, that’s it! Your chakra has been exhausted, right? Let’s see how you can struggle!”
As he spoke, he shook his hands, and ten extremely thin chakra threads that flashed with cold light popped out from his fingertips and coiled towards Ye Feng like living things!
This is the puppeteer’s basic attack method, using chakra lines to directly bind or even cut the enemy! For a ninja who has lost chakra, this is almost impossible to resist!
Ye Feng’s face turned pale. He really had no chakra left! He couldn’t even maintain the “Whisper of the Wind”! Facing this spiderweb-like chakra line, he seemed… really helpless!
“Yefeng! Be careful!”
At this moment, an anxious shout was heard!
It’s Hinata Ren!
She had gotten rid of the scorpion puppet’s entanglement at some point (perhaps the pressure on Captain Kenji was reduced, attracting firepower), and was now rushing towards Ye Feng!
Her Byakugan clearly saw those deadly chakra lines, and she quickly formed seals with her hands!
“Soft Fist Technique: Protect the Eight Diagrams!”
A light blue hemispherical shield formed by high-density chakra instantly appeared in front of her, trying to block those chakra lines! This is one of the most powerful defensive moves of the Hyuga style!
“Hmph! You’re overestimating yourself!” A trace of disdain flashed in the puppeteer’s eyes. A mere Genin’s defensive ninjutsu, you thought you could block his chakra line?
He moved his fingers slightly, and those chakra lines seemed to have life, instantly becoming more condensed and sharper!
The protective shield formed by the Guardian Bagua was torn apart in an instant like paper under the cutting of the sharp chakra lines!
The chakra line continued to move forward without slowing down, heading towards Ye Feng and the rushing Hinata Lianzhao!
“Lian! Get out of the way!” Ye Feng screamed. He knew this defense was no match for him! He tried to push Lian away, but his body was sluggish from exhaustion and injuries.
Hinata Ren looked at the chakra line that was coming at her like the Grim Reaper’s scythe, and a trace of despair flashed in her eyes. She knew she couldn’t escape… Was she going to die here?
She subconsciously closed her eyes…
However, the expected severe pain did not come.
All I heard was an extremely harsh sound, like the sound of metal friction and breaking!
And… a roar filled with astonishment and rage!
“What?! My chakra lines?!”
Hinata Lian suddenly opened her eyes!
I saw a silver-white figure, like a flash of lightning, appearing in front of her and Ye Feng at some point!
The figure had his back to them, his posture was as straight as a pine tree, his short silver-white hair fluttered slightly in the wind, and the blood-stained green vest on his body was particularly eye-catching!
The most eye-catching thing was the white dagger in his hand that had been unsheathed at some point!
The blade was long and narrow, radiating a cold, moonlit sheen! At that moment, the tip of the blade trembled slightly, and those indestructible chakra strands that had been attacking them were… all neatly severed! Scattered on the ground, they lay like lifeless silver threads!
Just one strike! He severed the chakra line that the jonin puppeteer had exerted with all his might?!
This… What a terrifying sword technique! What precise control!
“Hatake… Sakumo?!” The moment the Sunagakure puppeteer saw who was coming, his face changed drastically! His eyes were filled with disbelief and horror… deep-seated fear! “Konoha White Fang?! How… how did you get here?!”
His voice was trembling!
Konoha White Fang! This name, in the hearts of the Sand Village, especially those active in the border ninja, is simply synonymous with the god of death! Countless Sand Village elites have fallen under his sword! Even the puppet troops that their village is so proud of have been defeated by this white fang!
Hatake Sakumo didn’t turn around, not even glancing at the puppeteer. His hawk-like eyes simply glanced at the broken chakra strands on the ground, and… the severely injured, pale-faced kid not far away, still struggling to stand, his eyes as cold as a pool of ice.
Ye Feng was also looking at Bai Ya’s back.
There were also huge waves in my heart!
He knew White Fang was nearby, but he hadn’t expected this legendary jonin to actually… appear here at such a critical moment?! And… even seem to have rescued them?!
That strike just now… [Extreme Analysis] couldn’t even fully capture its trajectory! It only analyzed the instantaneous burst of speed, power, and the precision of the chakra line cutting… It was completely beyond his current understanding!
Is this… Konoha’s sharpest fang?
“roll.”
Hatake Sakumo finally spoke, his voice calm, yet filled with unquestionable majesty and… cold murderous intent.
Just one word made the Sand Village puppeteer, who was so arrogant just now, feel like he was struck by lightning!
He had no doubt that if he dared to stay still for even a moment, the white dagger would appear at his neck in the next second! He could even feel an invisible, terrifying, and tangible sword intent locking onto him!
Run! You must run now!
The puppeteer didn’t dare to utter a single harsh word, nor did he even bother to retrieve the humanoid puppet and scorpion puppet that had been severely damaged by Kenji. He turned around like a stray dog, running as fast as he could without looking back, and fled deep into the dense forest! Even his figure was in a state of panic and embarrassment!
Deterrence! Just a look, a word, scared away a powerful Sand Village jonin!
This is the reputation of Konoha White Fang!
Only when the puppeteer’s aura completely disappeared did Sakumo slowly withdraw his gaze.
He turned around and looked at Ye Feng and Hinata Lian.
Hinata Lian was already intimidated by the aura of the legendary figure in front of her. She was so nervous that she couldn’t even speak, and just bowed subconsciously.
Ye Feng also endured the severe pain in his body and the shock in his heart, struggling to salute.
“No need to be so polite.” Shuomao’s voice remained calm. “You did a good job.” His gaze lingered on Ye Feng for a moment, as if assessing his injuries, or exploring something.
Ye Feng met his gaze, his face showing “weakness”, “gratitude” and “a hint of excitement of seeing his idol” at the right time, but deep in his eyes, he remained absolutely calm.
“Thank you…thank you Lord White Fang…for saving my life!” Ye Feng said in a hoarse voice.
Sakumo nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned his gaze to Captain Kenji who was fighting hard with the last few Sunagakure Genin.
He did not intervene immediately, but just watched quietly.
But his appearance itself is an invisible deterrent!
Those Sand Village Genin who were still fighting desperately, saw their own Jonin being scared away, and saw the legendary Konoha White Fang coming like a god, and their last will to fight collapsed in an instant!
“White Fang! It’s Konoha White Fang!”
“Run!”
They tried to escape in panic, but were already tightly entangled by the Konoha ninjas (especially Captain Kenji) who were crazy with killing intent!
Soon, the last few enemies were completely wiped out.
Hill No. 3… was finally held.
But the price was heavy. Of the three original Konoha teams, less than half were still standing. Over half were killed or wounded!
Captain Kenji dragged his severely injured body to Sakumo and saluted respectfully: “Master White Fang! Thank you for your support!”
Sakumo nodded. “You held this place, and you completed your mission well. What are the casualties?”
Kenji gave a brief report.
After hearing this, Shuo Mao frowned slightly, as if he was not satisfied with the casualty figures, but he did not say anything more. His eyes fell on Ye Feng, who was almost collapsing.
“This kid…” Sakumo looked at Kenji.
“Report to Lord White Fang! He is the Genin Yefeng! He played a great role in defending the high ground and forcing back the Sunagakure Jonin this time!” Kenji attributed the credit to Yefeng without hesitation, his tone full of appreciation.
Shuomao looked at Yefeng’s pale little face and his eyes that remained calm (at least on the surface) despite the severe pain, and was silent for a moment.
He spoke slowly, his voice still calm:
“Medical team! Give priority to treating this child.”
Chapter 26: The aftermath has not yet subsided, and the waves are rising again (old version)
Hatake Sakumo’s calm yet powerful words were like a stabilizing force, instantly making the chaotic battlefield much quieter.
Soon, the medical ninjas who arrived later first carried the most seriously injured, almost dying Ye Feng, onto a stretcher and gave him emergency treatment. Then they took Captain Kenji, who was also seriously injured, and the other injured.
The moment Ye Feng was carried onto the stretcher, he completely “fell into unconsciousness” at the “right moment”.
He needed time to process everything that had just happened, and even more so, a “reasonable” state of mind to conceal his true inner thoughts and the abnormal recovery speed of his body. It was perfectly normal for a seriously injured and dying genius to faint “at ease” after receiving the rescue and affirmation of a legendary hero.
Coma is the best disguise.
He could feel the medical ninjas busying themselves over him, applying various palm techniques and potions infused with different chakra attributes to his wounds. The fractured left shoulder was reattached, the broken ribs carefully repositioned, and the internal bleeding was slowly being controlled…
He could even vaguely sense an extremely sharp, extremely obscure mental force sweeping across his body like a scan, as if probing something. Was it Hatake Sakumo? Or perhaps the “Root” hidden in the shadows?
Ye Feng’s heart sank to the bottom of the valley, but his consciousness was as solid as a rock, holding the last line of defense, not revealing any abnormality. He disguised his mental fluctuations as the confusion and weakness before death, allowing the mental power to sweep through, and then quietly left.
After an unknown amount of time, when he regained consciousness, he found himself lying in a cleaner and more spacious “single room” ward. Apparently, because of his “merit” and White Fang’s “special care”, he enjoyed better medical treatment.
His body was still weak, and his chakra had only recovered a tiny bit, but at least his life was saved.
“Awake?” A slightly old but powerful voice sounded.
Ye Feng turned his head and saw Captain Fujita sitting beside his bed, with an unconcealable tiredness on his face, but his eyes were unusually bright, even with a hint of… fanaticism?
“Captain…” Ye Feng said in a hoarse voice.
“How do you feel?” Fujita handed over a glass of water.
“Still…alive.” Ye Feng forced a weak smile.
“Hahaha! It’s good to be alive! It’s good to be alive!” Fujita suddenly burst into laughter, his voice filled with excitement and… relief? “You kid… really… really gave us a huge surprise!”
Ye Feng looked at him with some “doubt”.
Fujita took a deep breath, trying to calm his excitement, and then said, “A lot of things happened during the two days you were in a coma.”
Two days?! He had actually been unconscious for two days?! Ye Feng was shocked. It seemed that this injury was more serious than he had expected, and the backlash from overdrawing his mental strength was far greater than he had expected.
“The Sand Village’s general attack… was repelled!” Fujita’s voice was filled with incredible excitement. “Shortly after you held Hill No. 3 and Lord White Fang appeared, the Sand Village’s main force seemed to have suffered a major setback. The offensive suddenly weakened, and then… they actually began to retreat across the board!”
Beaten back?! Ye Feng was equally shocked. Sunagakure had assembled an unprecedented army, so how could they retreat so quickly? Could it be… something White Fang had done?
“It’s Lord White Fang!” Fujita’s eyes were filled with fanatical admiration. “It is said that… Lord White Fang single-handedly raided the Sunagakure’s command center, beheaded their chief commander, and severely damaged the core members of their puppet army! This caused the Sunagakure to be leaderless and their offensive to collapse!”
Alone? Raid the command center? Kill the commander-in-chief?!
Ye Feng’s heart began to beat wildly again! This… is this the strength of Konoha White Fang?! He’s a monster! No wonder he could scare off that jounin puppeteer with just a glance!
“Of course, this is also inseparable from the bloody battles of all the soldiers on the front lines!” Fujita added, a trace of sadness on his face. “Although we held the line, we also paid an extremely heavy price… The Black Stone Outpost was almost completely destroyed, with over 70% casualties…”
Ye Feng was silent. He could only imagine the brutality of the battle. Seventy percent casualties…meaning many faces he knew and had seen were likely gone forever.
“But victory ultimately belongs to us!” Fujita quickly cheered up, “And you, Ye Feng, are one of the great contributors to this victory!”
He looked at Ye Feng with scorching eyes. “Ida has reported your achievements in detail! Not only did you turn the tide when the team was attacked, killing two Genin, but you also destroyed the enemy’s spider puppet at the critical moment, creating an opportunity for Ida. And at the last moment, you used that… unimaginable method to severely damage the Jonin puppeteer! If it weren’t for you, Hill No. 3 might have been lost, and the consequences would be disastrous!”
“Also…” Fujita’s tone was tinged with awe, “Master White Fang… personally attested to your achievements. He said… the calmness, wisdom, and… the determination to complete the mission at all costs (from White Fang’s perspective) you displayed when facing the jonin made him see the Will of Fire at its most dazzling brilliance.”
Will of Fire? Ye Feng almost lost his composure. “Master White Fang, your filter is a bit too strong…” However, this saved him a lot of trouble. With the endorsement of a great god like White Fang, who would doubt his “loyalty”?
“So, the reward from above…will be handed down soon.” Fujita patted Ye Feng’s shoulder (avoiding the wound), “Take good care of your injuries, kid. When you recover, you will have a brand new beginning!”
A brand new beginning?… A barely perceptible cold light flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes. Indeed, it was time to enter the next stage.
After seeing off the excited Captain Fujita, Ye Feng fell into deep thought again.
With the Sand Village’s general attack repelled, White Fang’s reputation has grown even greater… But behind this, there may be a deeper crisis. White Fang’s extraordinary achievements will inevitably attract more jealousy and suspicion, especially from within the village… His fate may be…
However, none of this mattered to him. What he needed to focus on was what he could gain from it.
Great achievements, generous rewards, attention from high-level officials, and even… the “favor” of the White Fang?
These are all excellent opportunities for him to quickly improve his strength and acquire resources!
But it also means that he will be completely exposed under the spotlight, and those eyes hidden in the dark will probably stare even more closely.
“We must improve our strength as soon as possible and have enough trump cards to protect ourselves and even fight back!” Ye Feng’s eyes were firm.
He began to try to mobilize the weak chakra in his body and perform the most basic property change exercises according to the methods detailed in “Basics of Chakra Property Change (Wind)”.
He no longer pursued power, but rather the most subtle control over chakra.
He tried to condense the wind-attribute chakra into an extremely fine, needle-like form at his fingertips, practicing its “penetrating” properties.
He then tried to make the chakra produce “vibrations” of different frequencies, feeling the subtle changes it brought, and exploring the deeper mysteries of the “Wind Vibration”.
[Extreme Analysis] Although still weak, he diligently recorded the data of each attempt, analyzing the subtle differences in the flow of chakra and the changes in its properties.
Restoring his mental strength couldn’t be neglected either. He set aside a significant amount of time each day for meditation, feeling his mental strength slowly but steadily grow and condense at a snail’s pace. He even began to actively “recall” and “analyze” every detail of the battle during meditation, attempting to cultivate the resilience and strength of his mental strength.
This was undoubtedly extremely painful and boring, but Ye Feng was happy to do it. Every tiny progress meant that his hope of surviving in this cruel world increased by one point.
During this period, Hinata Ren would visit him almost every day.
She brought not only food and herbs, but also occasionally some books on the basic theories of ninja, or some of her own notes on practicing soft fist (of course, the basic part).
The way she looked at Ye Feng became increasingly gentle, even tinged with a subtle… dependence and admiration. That battle had left a deep impression on her. The calmness, wisdom, and… courage that the boy, who usually seemed a bit “shy” and “slow”, displayed in a life-or-death situation, even risking his life to “protect” her, completely touched the girl’s heart.
Ye Feng was naturally happy to cooperate. He would “carefully” read the books Lian brought, “discuss” cultivation issues with her (and continue to use “casual” suggestions to benefit her greatly), listen “gently” and “encourage” her when she described the hardships of training, and when she felt lost due to the cruelty of war, he would give her “firm” guidance with words that were in line with the “Will of Fire.”
The relationship between the two quickly warmed up in this delicate interaction. To outsiders, they seemed like a pair of “model teammates” who supported each other in the war and made progress together. There was even a faint feeling that went beyond friendship.
Only Ye Feng himself knew that all this was but a carefully woven drama. Hinata Ren, this innocent and kindhearted girl, had been merely a crucial pawn in his scheme from the beginning to the end. Her Byakugan, her gentle fists, her status as a member of the Hyuga branch family, and her growing affection for him… all were resources to be exploited.
Of course, while taking advantage of it, giving some “warmth” and “hope” in return is also a necessary “investment”.
In this way, more than half a month passed while he was “recuperating”, practicing, and “cultivating feelings” with Hinata Ren.
Ye Feng’s injuries were finally completely healed!
Although his total chakra amount did not see a breakthrough growth and still remained at the early level of an ordinary Chunin, its purity and control had reached an alarming height!
His understanding of the changing nature of wind has far surpassed the scope of basic explanation! He has thoroughly mastered techniques such as “Wind Edge,” “Wind Whisper,” “Wind Tremor,” and “Wind Style: Instant Stab,” and is constantly optimizing and developing them!
More importantly, after this period of dedicated training and the “evolution” following his near-death experience, his mental strength had not only fully recovered, but had even subtly reached a new bottleneck! [Extreme Analysis] had become smoother and more precise! He could even discern a glimpse of deeper “rules” when analyzing certain advanced concepts!
Although his left arm cannot withstand strong bursts of force for the time being due to the sequelae of a bone fracture, his overall combat effectiveness is more than one level higher than before the injury!
Now he has absolute confidence that he can easily defeat ordinary Konoha Chunin without using any trump cards!
And on the day when his injury healed, Captain Fujita found him again.
This time, it brought not only awards and resources, but also… an appointment that was enough to change his destiny!
Chapter 27: Meritorious Service, Undercurrent Rises Again (Old Version)
The morning sun shines through the window and onto Ye Feng’s young yet resolute face.
After over a month of meticulous recuperation and diligent training (primarily focusing on chakra refinement, research on nature transformations, and mental training), he finally completely recovered from his injuries. Although his left arm still occasionally felt a slight soreness and swelling, a reminder of the ferocity of the battle, his physical functions had fully recovered. In fact, thanks to the refinement of his chakra and the growth of his mental strength, he had become more coordinated and sharper than before.
He stood in the center of the simple hospital room, slowly stretching his muscles and bones, feeling the renewed strength within him. Chakra flowed freely through his optimized meridians like a surging stream, ready to burst forth with astonishing energy at any moment. His mental strength was full and concentrated, and [Limit Analysis], like a beast awakened, lurked deep within his soul, emitting a dangerous and powerful aura.
“Finally… recovered.” Ye Feng muttered to himself, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.
This month-long hibernation had benefited him immensely. Not only had his strength been comprehensively consolidated and enhanced, but more importantly, he had a clearer understanding of both his strengths ([Limit Analysis], superior control, and a calm mind) and weaknesses (total chakra capacity and physical strength), and a clearer plan for his future development.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“Yefeng, Captain Fujita wants you to go to the command post.” A familiar voice came from outside the door. It was Captain Inoue Kenji. He seemed to be waiting outside.
“Yes, Captain.” Ye Feng responded immediately, adjusted his ninja uniform (a Genin style, but much more fitting than before, a newly received ration), adjusted the Konoha forehead protector tied to his arm, and then opened the door.
Captain Kenji stood at the doorway, his eyes flickering with a complex glint as he saw Ye Feng, now full of energy and with a sharper gaze than ever before. This kid’s recovery speed is truly astonishing! Furthermore, just by standing here, one could sense the subtle, almost unseen edge of him, like a blade unsheathed.
“Let’s go, Captain Fujita has something important to announce.” Kenji turned around and led the way without saying anything more.
Ye Feng followed silently. He could sense that Captain Kenji’s attitude towards him seemed more… cautious and distant than before. Was it because his own demonstrated strength and intelligence had made him feel pressured and uneasy?
It doesn’t matter. Ye Feng sneered inwardly. As long as they were still useful, it was enough to maintain the superficial relationship.
The two walked, one in front and one behind, through the still bustling but noticeably calmer camp. While the war had temporarily ended, its shadow lingered, and reconstruction and fortification reinforcement were still underway.
Along the way, many ninjas saw Ye Feng and nodded to him, their eyes filled with admiration and curiosity. Ye Feng remained humble and slightly shy, responding to each one.
Arriving at the command post, Captain Fujita was sitting in the main seat, and Captain Date was also there! His injuries seemed to have recovered well, though his face was still a little pale. Seeing Ye Feng coming in, Date’s eyes were immediately filled with undisguised admiration and… gratitude.
“Yefeng, you’re here.” Fujita pointed to the empty seat next to him, “Sit down.”
“Yes, Captain Fujita, Captain Date.” Ye Feng saluted respectfully and sat down as he was told.
“Is your injury completely healed?” Fujita asked.
“Yes, thanks to the medical team and the captain, he has fully recovered.” Ye Feng replied.
“Very good.” Fujita nodded, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. “Your achievements have been clearly recognized.”
He picked up a scroll from the table and spread it out in front of Ye Feng.
That was an official commendation, signed by the Hokage himself!
The above details Ye Feng’s heroic performance in the defense of Hill No. 3: remaining calm in the face of danger, demonstrating both wisdom and courage, he killed two Sand Village Genin, destroyed the enemy puppets at a critical moment, and severely damaged the enemy Jonin puppeteer, making outstanding contributions to defending the hill and forcing back the powerful enemy…
The wording is extremely ornate, almost portraying him as a perfect young hero.
“In recognition of Genin Yakaze’s outstanding contribution and immense potential in this battle, the Hokage and the Elders have decided to award him the title of ‘Konoha’s Rising Star’! Five thousand merit points will be awarded to him! Furthermore, as long as he accumulates sufficient merit points, he will be given priority in exchanging for B-rank and lower ninjutsu scrolls within the village!”
Konoha’s rising star title? Five thousand merit points?! Priority redemption for B-rank ninjutsu and below?!
Even though Ye Feng had a cold heart, his breathing quickened when he saw the reward list!
The title of “Konoha’s Rising Star” held little practical significance, merely a icing on the cake. However, five thousand merit points was a significant sum in wartime! Enough to redeem a vast array of precious training resources or ninjutsu scrolls!
The priority to redeem B-rank and below ninjutsu is priceless! This means he can access more and stronger ninjutsu, greatly enriching his combat skills!
This reward… is truly generous! It can even be said to be… exceptional!
It seemed that the Hokage and the Elders truly intended to cultivate him as a key talent. Of course, this was probably also due to Lord White Fang’s comment about him being the “Will of Fire.”
“Captain… this… this reward is too great! I…” Ye Feng’s face immediately showed an expression of “fear” and “flattered”, and he wanted to refuse.
“You deserve it!” Fujita interrupted him, his tone serious, “Take it! The village will not treat any meritorious official unfairly! Especially a hero like you who stood up at the critical moment!”
Ida next to him also nodded vigorously: “That’s right, Ye Feng! If it weren’t for you, our team… even the entire high ground…” He thought of the sacrifice of Ayong, and a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes, but then it was replaced by gratitude and admiration for Ye Feng.
Ye Feng knew that it would be hypocritical to refuse again. He stood up “excitedly” and bowed deeply: “Yes! Thank you, Hokage! Thank you, the Elders! Thank you, Captain Fujita! Captain Date! I… I will never let the village down!”
He carefully put away the commendation order. As for the merit points and redemption rights, they would be recorded directly on his ID card.
“Okay, sit down. I have something to announce.” Fujita motioned for him to sit down, and then his expression became serious.
“Although Sunagakure has temporarily retreated, the war is not over. According to intelligence, they are merely regrouping and preparing for a more intense attack. Meanwhile, the pressure on us in the Land of Rain and on other fronts has not eased. Therefore…”
Fujita looked at Yefeng and Kenji: “From now on, your team 7’s mission will be more arduous and more dangerous.”
Captain Kenji immediately stood at attention: “Captain, please give the order!”
Fujita nodded. “Taking into account the losses of your team (Sato Haru’s sacrifice) and the special talents displayed by Yokaze (trap placement and battlefield assessment), the higher-ups have decided to supplement the personnel and adjust the missions of Team 7.”
He looked towards the door: “Come in.”
The door curtain opened and a figure walked in.
Ye Feng’s pupils shrank slightly.
The person who came in was a young man who looked about thirteen or fourteen years old, tall, with short black hair, sharp eyes, and a faint, rebellious smile on his lips! He was wearing the standard Konoha Chunin vest!
A Chunin?! The person who was added to their team was actually a Chunin?!
“This is the newly transferred Chunin, Uchiha Homura,” Fujita introduced. His tone was calm, but his eyes seemed to carry a subtle complexity. “From today on, he will join Team 7 as a combat member.”
Uchiha?!
Ye Feng’s heart sank again. He was actually from the Uchiha clan! And a Chunin at that!
The Uchiha clan, Sharingan, Fire Style, arrogance, xenophobia…synonymous with trouble!
What did the village leaders mean by this? Sending an Uchiha chuunin to join their team, which was primarily composed of junior ninjas, with a captain who was only a chuunin? Was it to bolster the team? Or… to keep an eye on them? Specifically, to keep an eye on this “outsider” with “huge potential”?
Ye Feng’s eyes quickly swept over the young man named Uchiha Homura. [Extreme Analysis] Low power operation.
Chakra amount… peak Chunin level! Quite impressive!
His eyes were sharp, with the arrogance that was unique to Uchiha, but it seemed… there was something else hidden?
interesting……
“Uchiha Homura, greetings to Captain Kenji and… my two teammates.” Uchiha Homura’s voice carried a hint of the youthful clarity, but his tone seemed somewhat… nonchalant. He simply glanced casually at Kenji, Lian, and Yefeng, his gaze lingering on Yefeng for a fraction of a second longer, the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth seeming even more pronounced.
Captain Kenji frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the new member’s attitude, but nodded nonetheless: “Welcome to Team 7, Uchiha Homura.”
Hinata Ren just nodded coldly. The relationship between Hinata and Uchiha was not harmonious.
Ye Feng’s face showed a “just right” expression of “surprise” and “a hint of restraint”: “Welcome… Welcome, Uchiha-senpai.”
“You don’t have to call me senior, just call me Homura.” Uchiha Homura waved his hand, his smile unchanged, “From now on, we are teammates who live and die together, so please take good care of me, especially… you, Ye Feng.” His last sentence was meaningful.
Ye Feng sneered inwardly. It looked like this Uchiha was definitely after him. Was he spying? Testing him? Or… was he trying to use this “newcomer” like him to gain power?
“Okay, personnel introductions are complete,” Fujita interrupted the slightly eerie atmosphere. “Next, we’ll adjust our missions. Given Team 7’s Byakugan’s reconnaissance capabilities, Ye Feng’s expertise in traps and surprise attacks, and the addition of Homura, your team’s future missions will focus on infiltration behind enemy lines, intelligence gathering, and small-scale sabotage and assassinations!”
Infiltration behind enemy lines?! Intelligence gathering?! Assassination?!
Captain Kenji and Hinata Ren’s expressions changed! This was more dangerous than the previous defense and escort missions!
A glimmer of excitement flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes! This was exactly what he wanted! Only by going deep behind enemy lines could he gain access to more core intelligence and find more opportunities to gain benefits amidst the chaos!
“Of course, we’ll start with less difficult missions initially to help you gradually acclimate,” Fujita added. “Kenji will brief you on the specific missions. Everyone, go down and prepare. Tomorrow morning, your first mission behind enemy lines will begin.”
“Yes!” Kenji, Lian, and Yefeng responded in unison. Uchiha Homura simply nodded lazily.
After leaving the command post, the four members of the newly formed seventh squad walked on the road. The atmosphere was still somewhat silent and… weird.
Uchiha Homura walked in front with his hands in his pockets, looking nonchalant.
Captain Kenji followed behind him, his brows furrowed, as if he was thinking about something.
Hinata Lian walked beside Ye Feng, her pure white pupils occasionally glancing at Uchiha Homura, her eyes filled with obvious vigilance and… a hint of subtle hostility. She whispered to Ye Feng, “That Uchiha… seems difficult to get along with.”
“Yeah.” Ye Feng nodded, an expression of “agreement” on his face, but he was sneering in his heart. It’s not just difficult to get along with him, he’s probably a big trouble.
However… having an Uchiha Chunin who possesses the Sharingan (most likely already opened) as a “teammate” also means… more exploitable value?
New appointment, new teammates, new tasks…
Chapter 28: The Long Journey, Secret Feelings (Old Version)
[Second Shinobi World War – Fire Country Border, En route to the Eastern Main Battlefield]The hustle and bustle and bloodshed of Blackrock Outpost was gradually left behind.
Squad 7, a special squad that has gone through reductions, additions, and mission adjustments, has set out on its journey to the main battlefield in the east. There, the stage will be broader and more brutal.
The atmosphere in the team was a little subtle.
Captain Kenji Inoue walked at the front, his steps steady but his brow furrowed. The new member, Uchiha Homura, and the high-risk missions the team would soon undertake weighed heavily on his shoulders. He needed to quickly understand the new members and forge this complex team into a cohesive whole.
Uchiha Homura, on the other hand, appeared nonchalant, his hands in his pockets, following behind Kenji, whistling occasionally. His eyes, like a falcon’s, seemingly casually scanned the surroundings, as well as… his teammates behind him. The pride and scrutiny that belonged to the Uchiha were undisguised.
Hinata Ren walked in the middle of the group. Her Byakugan wasn’t always active (it would consume a lot of energy if kept open for a long time), but she remained highly alert. Her gaze would occasionally flicker to Uchiha Homura ahead, with clear wariness and… a hint of disgust, quietly channeled by Night Breeze. Then, her gaze would involuntarily drift to Night Breeze, walking beside her and behind her, her eyes softening and complex.
Ye Feng, still maintaining his usual calm and reliable demeanor, silently followed the team, observing his surroundings calmly, like a dutiful Genin. But only he knew that his [Extreme Analysis] was continuously collecting and analyzing all surrounding information at extremely low power consumption—his teammates’ subtle expressions, chakra fluctuations, potential threats along their path, and even…behind Uchiha Homura’s seemingly casual gaze was a hidden inquiry and…a subtle hint of hostility?
“Hey, little girl from the Hyuga family,” Uchiha Homura, who was walking in front, suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence with a hint of teasing in his tone, “What else can you Hyuga’s Byakugan do besides peeking at other people taking a bath?”
Hinata Lian’s pretty face flushed instantly, not out of shyness, but out of anger! She suddenly raised her head and glared at Uchiha Homura: “Uchiha Homura! Please show some respect!”
“Oh? Are you angry?” Yan turned her head, a playful smile on her lips. “It was just a joke, don’t take it so seriously. But seriously, your Hyuga’s soft fists are so soft, can they really kill people on the battlefield?”
“You!” Lian was so angry that she was shaking all over, but her good upbringing prevented her from getting angry directly. She just snorted coldly and ignored him.
Ye Feng watched all this and sneered inwardly. This Uchiha Yan was indeed a thorn in the flesh. However, this was just right.
As he passed by Lian, he whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Don’t bother with him, Lian. Some people, the more inferior they are, the more they like to elevate themselves by belittling others.” He cleverly attributed Yan’s provocation to “inferiority complex”, which both comforted Lian and gave Yan a negative label in her mind.
Lian was slightly startled when she heard Ye Feng’s words, but then her anger dissipated a lot, replaced by a hint of contempt for Yan. She looked at Ye Feng gratefully and nodded slightly.
Ye Feng responded with a “gentle” smile, his eyes full of “understanding” and “support”.
The team continued to move forward.
As night fell, Captain Kenji chose a relatively secluded valley to camp. After setting up simple defensive traps, the four of them took turns keeping watch.
In the second half of the night, it was Yefeng and Hinata Lian’s turn.
The bonfire had gone out, leaving only the stars and moon in the sky casting a cool glow. Silence reigned, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves in the wind. The air was filled with the unique coolness of night.
The two men leaned against a huge rock, keeping alert.
Lian seemed to still be a little depressed by Bai Tianyan’s provocation. She hugged her knees and stared at the night sky in a daze.
“Are you still angry with him?” Ye Feng’s voice was very soft, with a hint of “concern”.
Lian came back to her senses and shook her head: “No… I just feel that if such a person becomes a teammate, it might be difficult to carry out missions in the future…” She didn’t say anything else, but her meaning was very clear.
“Don’t worry, Captain Kenji is here, he won’t dare to do anything rash.” Ye Feng comforted him, then changed the subject, “Besides, I’m here to protect you.”
He said this extremely “naturally”, as if it was a subconscious promise.
Lian’s heart skipped a beat! She turned and looked at Ye Feng. Under the moonlight, the boy’s slightly childish face looked unusually serious. His dark eyes, like the deepest night sky, reflected the stars and carried a reassuring power.
“Ye Feng…” Lian’s voice trembled slightly, and an inexplicable feeling spread in her heart. She remembered that day on the battlefield, Ye Feng had done the same thing, saving her when she was most desperate, even at the cost of…
“Thank you…for that day.” Lian whispered her thanks again, her voice more sincere than last time.
“We are teammates, aren’t we?” Ye Feng repeated what he said last time, but this time, he leaned forward slightly, closer to Lian, and lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret, “And, Lian, you are different from the others.”
“Hmm?” Lian looked at him with some confusion.
“You are very strong and work very hard.” Ye Feng looked into her eyes “sincerely”. “Your Byakugan and your soft fist are both very powerful. But… you don’t seem to be very confident. Don’t be influenced by that Uchiha. In my heart, you are much more reliable than him.”
These words, like a warm stream, instantly broke through the last line of defense in Lian’s heart. Being recognized and affirmed, especially after being belittled by Uchiha Yan, the praise and trust from Ye Feng made her feel an unprecedented warmth and…throbbing.
Her cheeks became hot again, her heartbeat accelerated, and she didn’t even dare to look directly into Ye Feng’s eyes that seemed to be able to see through people’s hearts. She subconsciously wanted to look away, but her body seemed to be unable to obey her.
Ye Feng looked at her innocent appearance, his sneer in his heart getting worse, but his expression became more “gentle”. He reached out and gently brushed away a strand of hair from Lian’s forehead, his fingertips “accidentally” touching her smooth forehead.
Lian’s body suddenly stiffened! A tingling sensation like an electric current instantly spread throughout her body! She had never had such close contact with the opposite sex before!
Ye Feng’s fingers did not move away immediately. Instead, they slid down and gently stroked her cheek, his movements as gentle as a feather brushing.
“Lian…” His voice was magnetic and full of temptation, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
His face looked exceptionally handsome in the moonlight (although he only had an eight-year-old body, his soul was that of an adult, and the aura he deliberately created was very intimidating). His deep eyes seemed to have magical powers that completely disorientated Lian.
Her breathing became rapid, her mind went blank, and she could only stare blankly at Ye Feng’s face getting closer and closer… closer and closer…
Just when the tips of their noses were about to touch and the atmosphere was ambiguous to the extreme!
Ye Feng’s movements suddenly stopped!
A hint of “struggle” and “clarity” flashed in his eyes, and then he suddenly stepped back, with an expression of “regret” and “panic” on his face: “I… I’m sorry! Lian! I… I just…”
His sudden awakening only made Lian even more flustered! The contact that almost happened just now, the ambiguous atmosphere, was like a brand engraved on her heart! She could even feel the warmth of Ye Feng’s fingertips lingering on her face!
“Nothing… nothing…” Lian lowered her head in panic, her heart beating wildly and her cheeks so red that blood seemed to be dripping out.
Ye Feng watched her like this, sneering inwardly. Very good, the effect had been achieved. Playing hard to get, stopping just enough, leaving enough room for imagination, only then could the hook be sunk deeper. A real kiss? It was too early now, and too easy to reveal one’s purpose. This kind of ambiguous, almost-there feeling was the most effective in captivating people.
He rubbed his hair in annoyance: “It’s all my fault… Maybe I’ve been under too much pressure recently… Lian, don’t get me wrong…”
“I…I didn’t misunderstand.” Lian’s voice was as thin as a mosquito’s.
The two of them fell into an extremely subtle silence during the rest of the night watch. Lian’s heart was beating like a rabbit in her chest, and the ambiguous scene just now kept replaying in her mind. The look she gave Ye Feng also changed completely, filled with shyness, dependence, and a deeper feeling.
Ye Feng, on the other hand, calmly assessed the results of this “performance” in his mind. Very good, the chess piece, Hinata Ren, was already basically under his control. In the future, her Byakugan, her soft fists, and even her identity as a member of the Hyuga branch family would all be used to his advantage.
Of course, we still have to continue to work on the surface.
In the next few days of the journey, Ye Feng continued to play the role of “reliable teammate” and “potential newcomer”.
He was even more “caring” towards Lian. He would hand her a water bottle when she was tired from training, give her “just right” advice when she encountered difficulties, and defend her “calmly” when Yan spoke rudely.
At the same time, he also continued to guide Lian’s dislike for Yan. For example, when Yan once again nearly messed up a simulated trap due to his pride, Ye Feng would say to Lian with “concern”: “Yan may be strong, but he’s too impulsive. If he continues like this, he might get us into trouble during a real mission behind enemy lines…”
Lian agreed with this, and her vigilance and disgust towards Yan grew day by day.
As for the unruly Uchiha Homura, Ye Feng adopted a “respectful distance” attitude. On the surface, he respectfully called him “Senior Homura” (even though Homura asked him to call him by his first name), never competing with him during training, and even showing “just the right amount” of “shock” and “envy” when he occasionally displayed powerful fire escape techniques or the Sharingan (basic one or two magatama).
This “low profile” made the conceited Uchiha Homura relax his vigilance towards Ye Feng. He only regarded him as a little smart, lucky, but mediocre Genin kid, and occasionally spoke to him in a “guiding” tone.
Ye Feng was delighted. Hiding behind the mask of “weakness,” he could better observe and… calculate. He quietly used [Extreme Analysis] to record Homura’s combat habits, ninjutsu characteristics, and even the subtle uses of his Sharingan. This data might prove of great use in the future.
Of course, one’s own cultivation never stops.
During the march, he would use his rest time to meditate and strengthen his mental strength. At night, when camping, he would practice the subtle manipulation of chakra in a corner where no one was paying attention, such as making a leaf spin silently on his fingertips or condensing the “edge of wind” into a thin thread that was almost invisible to the naked eye.
His analysis of the principles of “Wind Style: Great Breakthrough” became more and more in-depth. Although he was still far from being able to perform it, he was able to more skillfully integrate the “compression burst” technique into “Wind Style: Instant Stab”, increasing its power again!
In this way, Team 7 moves forward with delicate team relationships, secret strength improvement, and calm planning for the future.
As they got closer to the main battlefield, the smell of gunpowder in the air became thicker and thicker. Occasionally, ninja hawks could be seen flying in the sky, conveying urgent military information. In the distance, one could even faintly hear the roar of large-scale ninjutsu collisions!
They can see more Konoha ninja teams moving in a hurry with solemn expressions, see the destroyed villages and simple fortifications along the way, and feel the huge pressure of impending storm!
Finally, at dusk, a gigantic temporary fortress, far larger than the Blackrock Outpost, heavily guarded and filled with busy figures, appeared at the end of their sight.
This is where the main force of the Fire Nation’s eastern front is gathering, and it is also the forefront where the final decisive battle is about to break out!
Looking at the fortress that was crawling on the ground like a giant steel beast, and feeling the countless powerful ninja auras emanating from it, a cold and excited light flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes.
The real stage has finally arrived!
Chapter 29: Fortress Storm, Undercurrent Stealth (Old Version)
[Second Shinobi World War – Fire Country Eastern Front, Konoha Main Fortress]Stepping into this huge temporary fortress is like instantly walking from the wilderness into the interior of a high-speed war machine.
The towering earth and stone walls were filled with vigilant ninjas and heavy crossbows. The interior of the fortress resembled a vast beehive, with countless ninjas hurrying about, faces stern or exhausted. The air was thick with the stench of gunpowder, blood, herbs, and the pungent smell of metal rubbing against each other, blending into a suffocating atmosphere unique to a battlefield.
Everywhere one could see fortifications being reinforced, mountains of supplies, and makeshift medical tents with a constant stream of wounded soldiers flowing in and out. From the distant training grounds came the roar of ninjutsu and shouts, signaling the intense preparations for the impending battle.
The arrival of Team 7 didn’t attract much attention. Here, a team like theirs, led by a Chunin and composed of Genin, was simply too common. Every day, countless such teams arrived from the rear, or… retreated from the front lines battered with wounds, or even disappeared forever.
Captain Kenji Inoue was obviously not here for the first time. He took the three people to the designated reporting office with familiarity.
The registration office was equally overcrowded, and the ninja in charge of registration was overwhelmed. Kenji handed over the squad’s transfer order and briefly reported on the personnel situation (including the fallen Satou Haru and the newly joined Uchiha Homura). The registration ninja simply recorded the information and assigned them a new squad number and temporary quarters.
“Team 73 is responsible for patrolling and guarding West District 3. Specific instructions await further notification.” The registration ninja said without looking up. “The dormitory is in the T-shaped camp. Find it yourself.”
The 73rd Squad… Ye Feng silently memorized the number. It seemed they were just a tiny part of this massive war machine.
“West Third District… that’s close to the defense zone under Lord White Fang’s charge.” Captain Kenji whispered to the team members, frowning slightly. “It seems the next mission will not be easy.”
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Homura curled up his lips into a defiant smile: “Oh? It’s not bad to be able to observe the style of the ‘Konoha White Fang’ up close.” There was a subtle hint of… competition in his tone?
Hinata Lian seemed a little nervous. She still remembered White Fang’s reputation and suffocating aura.
Ye Feng’s face remained expressionless, but his mind was rapidly calculating. Closer to the White Fang’s defense zone? This meant… a greater chance of encountering a powerful enemy, but it also meant… perhaps more opportunities to come into contact with high-end combat power, or even… pick up a bargain?
The four of them walked through the crowded streets of the fortress and found a T-shaped camp in the corner. The conditions here were even more rudimentary than the collective dormitory at Blackrock Outpost, with small compartments separated by thick canvas, barely enough to accommodate two people.
Captain Kenji, a Chunin, was assigned a separate cell. Yofu, Homura, and Ren were placed in adjacent cells. Considering the gender gap and previous conflicts, Kenji wisely assigned Ren to a separate cell and Yofu and Homura to another.
“Hey, kid, don’t expect me to take care of you.” As soon as he entered the compartment, Uchiha Yan threw his backpack casually on the bed, glanced at Ye Feng, and said in a bad tone, “On the battlefield, I will not show mercy to those who hold us back.”
This is a naked show of force and also a test.
Ye Feng’s face showed a “just right” “trace of nervousness” and “stubbornness”: “Senior Yan, don’t worry, I… I will try my best not to hold you back.” He acted like a junior who was “bullied” by his senior but did not dare to resist.
“Hmph.” Yan snorted coldly, ignored him, and started packing his things.
Ye Feng quietly placed his backpack on another simple camp bed and began to tidy up. His movements were very gentle and quiet, as if he was afraid to disturb this “difficult to get along with” Uchiha senior.
But out of the corner of his eye, he never left Uchiha Homura. [Extreme Analysis] Operating at low power, he recorded every subtle movement, placement of objects, and even… the subtle fluctuations of chakra that slipped through his mind.
This Uchiha Homura was indeed quite powerful, his chakra output was definitely among the best among Chunin, and…Yefeng had caught a hint of the subtle, special chakra fluctuations of the Sharingan. Although he had hidden it well, he still couldn’t completely escape the detection of [Extreme Analysis].
Two magatama? Or… has it reached three magatama?
Ye Feng pondered inwardly. The Uchiha clan was indeed blessed with natural advantages. However, the Sharingan’s power also meant enormous consumption and… potential weaknesses.
After settling down, Captain Kenji called the three of them together for a brief meeting.
“We have just arrived at the fortress and the situation is unclear. The first two days will be mainly spent on familiarizing ourselves with the environment and performing basic patrol tasks.” Captain Kenji spread out a fortress defense map. “The terrain in the West Third District is complex, with many abandoned buildings and fortifications. It is one of the areas that the enemy likes to infiltrate the most. Be sure to remain vigilant during patrols! Lian, your Byakugan is the key! Yan, your Fire Style and Sharingan are the main forces in encounters! Ye Feng, your trap setting and perception ability (this was the only way he could understand Ye Feng’s previous performance) must be fully utilized! Remember, we are a team! No unauthorized action is allowed!” He glanced at Uchiha Yan deliberately.
Yan curled his lips and said nothing.
“Understood!” Ye Feng and Lian responded seriously.
For the next two days, Team 73 began a boring and stressful patrol mission.
The West Third District they were responsible for was indeed as Kenji had described: a complex terrain, littered with broken walls and dark corners, like a vast war maze. An ominous aura hung in the air.
During patrols, Uchiha Homura continued to do his own thing. Although he didn’t overtly disobey orders, his inherent pride and disdain for his teammates (especially Yefeng and Lian) were evident. He often rushed ahead to explore alone, or made a fuss when he found some insignificant traces, trying to show off his “ability.” However, under the control of Captain Kenji, he didn’t cause any major trouble.
Hinata Ren diligently used her Byakugan to conduct reconnaissance, reporting any nearby movements promptly. After the previous incident and Ye Feng’s “enlightenment,” she became wary of Yan and rarely interacted with him. Instead, during breaks, she would approach Ye Feng, whispering questions about training or sharing details she had observed.
Ye Feng continued to play the role of “silent and reliable junior”. He strictly followed Kenji’s orders, carefully observing during patrols, practicing silently during rest, and responding to Yan’s provocations or disregard with a “forbearing” and “not caring” attitude, and giving a “gentle” response to Lian’s closeness.
But his secret actions never stopped.
While on patrol, he would use [Extreme Analysis] to quietly record the detailed terrain of West District 3, defense deployments, secret passage entrances, and even the patrol patterns of other teams. This information could be the key to saving his life in the future.
During his rest periods, he would secretly observe the training and fighting styles of other ninjas, especially those who excelled in special ninjutsu or taijutsu. Any valuable information would be greedily absorbed and analyzed by him.
He also used his newly acquired merit points to purchase bits of intelligence from intelligence dealers within the fortress—in wartime, such gray areas always existed—about the current war situation, the movements of Sunagakure, and even… bits of information about Hatake Sakumo and the Uchiha clan. While the information was expensive and difficult to verify, [Extreme Analysis] could still yield valuable clues.
For example, the Sand Village has invested a lot of money in this general offensive. In addition to the large army in public, there seems to be an extremely elite “special force” operating in secret, whose goals are unknown.
For example, although Hatake Sakumo was very famous, there were indeed many voices of opposition and doubt among the fortress’s top brass, accusing him of being “too conservative” or “ignoring the overall situation” in some of his previous decisions, and even implicitly blaming him for the unfavorable situation on the eastern front.
For example, the Uchiha clan was active in this war, but it seemed… their relationship with the village leaders remained delicate. Uchiha Homura was assigned to their team, perhaps… for more than just surveillance?
These fragmented pieces of information were gradually pieced together and integrated in Ye Feng’s mind, forming a more complex and more dangerous picture of war.
He sensed a greater storm brewing beneath this seemingly impregnable fortress. The Sand Village’s general offensive, White Fang’s predicament, the Uchiha’s unusual movements… all of this intertwined, foreshadowing that the upcoming battle would be far from simple.
And he must make full preparations before this storm comes.
That evening, after finishing a day’s patrol mission, Ye Feng came to the second training ground alone.
He needed to test the results of his “closed-door development” during this period, and he also needed to… release the murderous intent that had accumulated in his heart.
He chose a secluded corner, and after confirming that there was no one around, his eyes instantly became cold and sharp.
He took a deep breath, and the pure chakra in his body began to flow like a rushing river!
Three streams of pale blue air shot out in the shape of a character! Their speed was so fast that it was almost indistinguishable to the naked eye! They accurately hit the same spot on the target a hundred meters away!
The hard wooden target was instantly pierced, leaving behind a smooth hole! The combined effects of the three attacks were as powerful as some weakened C-rank ninjutsu! Yet, the energy consumption was only less than 20% higher than a normal minor breakthrough!
Ye Feng nodded with satisfaction. His understanding of chakra compression and explosion had indeed advanced a step further.
Then, he began to practice taijutsu.
He did not use Konoha’s basic physical skills, but instead used a set of physical skills that was more suitable for his own physical characteristics, which was deduced from [Extreme Analysis], combining the “Whisper of the Wind” footwork and some soft fist force-relieving techniques (obtained by observing Lian and analyzing the data), and mainly based on speed and strange steps!
His figure flashed on the training ground like a ghost, sometimes as swift as the wind, sometimes retreating as light as a floating leaf. His steps were unpredictable and difficult to grasp!
Although many movements requiring coordination of both arms cannot be completed due to the fact that his left arm injury has just healed, this rudimentary set of physical skills has already demonstrated amazing potential!
Finally, he took out a kunai, clenched it in his right hand, and above his fingertips, the “edge of wind” quietly lit up, and… began to produce extremely subtle, high-frequency vibrations!
The edge of the kunai seemed to come alive, emitting a more dangerous and sharper aura!
Ye Feng’s eyes focused and he swung forward suddenly!
The air seemed to be cut apart by an invisible force, making an extremely slight tearing sound! A faint, almost invisible white mark was left in the air before him!
Although the power is still limited, this sharp edge with the added “tremor” effect is undoubtedly more destructive than simple “cutting”!
“Very good…” Ye Feng put away his kunai, feeling the remaining chakra in his body (nearly half of it was consumed), and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
His strength had improved a lot. Although he was still far from being a truly powerful person, at least he had a little more capital to protect himself in the coming storm.
Just as he was about to leave, a teasing voice suddenly came from behind him.
“Hey, you’re secretly training? You’re really working hard, ‘Newcomer of Konoha’.”
Ye Feng’s body stiffened and he turned around suddenly!
Uchiha Homura appeared at the edge of the training ground at some point, his arms folded across his chest, leaning against a tree, with that signature, unpleasant smile on his lips, his eyes full of inquiry and… a hint of barely perceptible surprise.
How much did he see?
Chapter 30: Two people confront each other, and win by clever means (old version)
[Second Shinobi World War – Fire Country Eastern Front, Konoha Main Fortress, Second Training Ground]The night was as dark as ink, and the training ground was deserted. Only the flickering lights on the high walls of the fortress in the distance and the faint sounds of patrolling footsteps made the place even quieter.
Uchiha Yan’s teasing voice sounded particularly harsh in the silence.
Ye Feng’s heart skipped a beat, but his face didn’t betray a trace of panic. He slowly turned around and looked at the Uchiha boy leaning against the tree with a playful smile on his face. His eyes had returned to their usual calmness and a hint of restraint.
“Senior… Yan?” Ye Feng’s voice was filled with just the right amount of surprise and a hint of embarrassment at having his secret exposed. “You… why are you here?”
“Can’t we take a walk?” Uchiha Homura raised an eyebrow and walked over slowly. His sharp eyes swept over the place where Ye Feng had just practiced, as well as the kunai in Ye Feng’s hand that had just been put away and seemed to still have a trace of unusual chakra fluctuations. “But you, the ‘Newcomer of Konoha’, are you fighting so hard right after your injury? It seems that the rumors outside are not entirely false.”
His tone was full of sarcasm, but deep in his eyes, there was a hint of surprise and…fear that was hard to conceal.
The strange acrobatic moves Ye Feng had just performed, and the wind-attributed chakra attached to the kunai at the end, which carried a strange trembling power… was definitely not something an ordinary Genin could master! Even… even he, a genius Chunin of the Uchiha clan, felt a hint of threat!
This kid… he really has hidden his strength! And he’s hiding it very well!
Captain Fujita and Captain Date’s evaluation of him is probably… an underestimate!
Ye Feng’s heart was filled with alarm. He’d been seen! Although he didn’t know how much the other party had seen, the “Wind Tremor” he had just practiced and the rudimentary set of physical techniques clearly exceeded the scope of an “ordinary genius ninja”!
It must be remedied immediately!
His brain was working at high speed in an instant, [Extreme Analysis] analyzing Uchiha Homura’s micro-expressions, tone, and chakra fluctuations, judging the other party’s true intentions.
A test? A provocation? Or… just pure curiosity?
“Senior Yan, you’re joking.” Ye Feng lowered his head, a bitter smile on his face, “I just… I just feel that my strength is too poor, and I’m afraid of dragging everyone down… So I want to practice the basics more. As for what happened just now…”
He scratched his head, a look of confusion and a hint of luck on his face. “Maybe… I’ve gained some experience studying that property change scroll recently? I just tried it randomly, and it seems… I was lucky enough to succeed a little bit?”
He once again attributed his “abnormality” to “luck” and “a blind cat catching a dead mouse”, and deliberately emphasized “basics” and “random attempts” in an attempt to downplay the skills he had just demonstrated.
“Lucky?” Uchiha Homura sneered, clearly unconvinced. “Lucky enough to make the chakra vibrate like that? Lucky enough to perform steps that even I can’t understand?”
He pressed on, his eyes as sharp as a hawk’s: “Ye Feng, don’t treat me as a fool. How much strength have you hidden? The last time you were able to severely injure that Sand Village jonin, I’m afraid… it wasn’t all luck, was it?”
Ye Feng’s heart sank. It seemed the other party was determined to test his true intentions. Simply denying and showing weakness would only arouse suspicion.
He raised his head and met Uchiha Homura’s gaze. His eyes were no longer “restrained” as before, but instead had a hint of “stubbornness” and “anger from being cornered” that suited his age: “Senior Homura! I don’t know what you’re talking about! This is my strength! I was able to survive last time because of the help of the captain and Lian, and…Ayong’s sacrifice!”
He deliberately raised his voice and turned the topic to “companions” and “sacrifice”, trying to suppress the other party with “morality”.
“Hmph, stop trying to pressure me with those high-minded principles!” Uchiha Homura clearly wasn’t buying it. A hint of impatience and… a fighting spirit flashed in his eyes! “We’ll know whether he’s a mule or a horse after taking him out for a walk! Boy, do you dare to fight me for a few moves? Let’s see how much weight you, the ‘new star of Konoha’, really have!”
He actually… directly proposed a competition?!
Ye Feng sneered in his heart. As expected, the Uchiha’s arrogance and bellicosity were ingrained in their bones. Since probing him failed, he was going to use force to force him to reveal his strength?
But…fight him?
Ye Feng quickly assessed the difference in strength between the two sides.
Uchiha Homura, a chuunin with peak chakra capacity, possesses a Sharingan (at least two magatama), and is skilled in Fire Style and Uchiha Fluid Techniques. I, on the other hand, am an early chuunin in terms of chakra capacity, and my left arm is still injured, preventing me from fully utilizing it. My strengths lie in speed, technique, and the analytical foresight of [Limit Analysis].
The chances of winning in a head-on confrontation are extremely low! You might even be seen through by your opponent with the insight of the Sharingan!
No fighting! At least, not here, not in this way!
“Senior Yan, I…” Ye Feng’s face showed “embarrassment” and “a hint of fear”, “I have just recovered from my injuries, and my chakra has not yet fully recovered… Besides, the captain said that private…”
“Stop talking nonsense!” Uchiha Yan interrupted him rudely, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes, “If you’re scared, just say it! What a bullshit newcomer, I think he’s just a coward!”
Is this a provocation? Ye Feng’s sneer deepened. This despicable method…
But he knew that if he simply retreated, it would only confirm his opponent’s suspicions and make him think he was guilty. He had to find a way… to refuse the fight without appearing too cowardly, or even… to turn the tables!
His eyes quickly scanned the surrounding environment, and [Extreme Analysis] instantly gave a solution.
“I’m not afraid!” Ye Feng suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with “the blood of an enraged young man”, “It’s just… the captain doesn’t allow private fighting! Besides, Senior Yan is a Chunin, and I’m a Genin. This kind of competition… is unfair!”
“Oh? Not fair?” Uchiha Homura seemed to have heard something funny. “Then what do you want? How about… I give you a hand?”
“No need!” Ye Feng flatly refused, then took a deep breath, with a “serious” yet “slightly cunning” expression on his face, “Since Senior wants to ‘guide’ me, why don’t we try another way?”
“What method?” Uchiha Yan looked at him with interest.
Ye Feng pointed to the complex area at the edge of the training ground, which was filled with various obstacles and simulated traps. “Let’s… compete in stealth and reconnaissance skills. Let’s each enter that area and see who can find the other first without being discovered by the other, and… take a token from the other person?”
He paused, then added, “Of course, to be fair, Senior Homura…can’t use the Sharingan. How about we just rely on our basic perception abilities and stealth skills?”
A stealth and reconnaissance contest? And you’re even restricting yourself from using your Sharingan?!
Uchiha Homura was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: “Hahahaha! Interesting! Boy, are you trying to compete with me in your area of expertise? Do you think you can beat me this way?”
A hint of contempt flashed in his eyes, but more of it was a desire to win. In his opinion, even without using the Sharingan, with his Chunin strength and Uchiha heritage, wouldn’t it be easy to deal with the stealth skills of a Genin brat?
“Okay! I promise you!” Uchiha Homura agreed without hesitation, “But just taking the token is too boring. How about adding some stakes?”
“Bet?” Ye Feng looked at him with “pretended vigilance”.
“It’s very simple.” Uchiha Homura smiled playfully, “If I win, you will have to obey me from now on and tell me all your hidden ‘tricks’. If you win by chance…”
He paused, as if he felt that Ye Feng had no chance of winning, and said casually: “If you win… in the future, I will listen to your command in the team for once, how about it?”
Listen to his command for once? A gleam flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes! This bet… is quite interesting!
Although it was just a verbal agreement, and the other party was likely to go back on their word, if we could win… at least we could suppress this Uchiha in name, making subsequent operations easier.
As for losing… just obey him? Tell him your “little trick”? Dream on! The worst that can happen is that he’ll cheat or complain to Captain Kenji.
“Okay! It’s a deal!” Ye Feng’s face showed an expression of “being forced to take action and determined to give it a try”, and he nodded heavily!
“Great!” Uchiha Homura laughed, “Let’s start! I’ll let you go in for a minute first!” He looked like he was sure of winning.
“Thank you, Senior Yan!” Ye Feng was not polite and immediately turned around. Like a civet cat, he quietly sneaked into the obstacle area with complex terrain. His figure quickly disappeared behind the shadows and obstacles.
Uchiha Yan looked at Ye Feng’s disappearing back, the smile on his lips gradually faded, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.
“Hmph, brat, do you really think you can win by restricting my Sharingan? How naive! I’ll take this opportunity to see how powerful you are!”
He flexed his wrist, feeling the abundant chakra in his body, and felt confident. In his opinion, the outcome of this game of “cat and mouse” was already determined.
A minute later, Uchiha Homura also flashed and rushed into the obstacle area like a cheetah and began “hunting”.
However, he didn’t know that what he was about to face was not a panicked mouse at all.
It was a poisonous spider that had already laid a web and was calmly waiting for its prey to fall into it…
The moment Ye Feng entered the obstacle area, [Extreme Analysis] was already turned on at full power (although it was still a bit of a stretch, but it was enough for a short burst)!
The terrain of the entire area, the distribution of obstacles, the changes in light and shadow, and even the subtle trajectories of air flow… were all taken into account in his calculations!
He did not run around like a headless fly, nor did he deliberately hide his tracks.
On the contrary, he deliberately left some “flaws” – such as a small broken branch, a slightly messy patch of grass, and even… an extremely weak trace of his own chakra residue!
These “flaws” were carefully calculated and arranged by [Extreme Analysis]. Like bait, they guided Uchiha Yan towards the “trap area” he had preset!
At the same time, he used the “Whisper of the Wind” and made the most of the terrain, and like a real ghost, he quietly lurked in an extremely tricky, wide-viewed, and reverse escape route-filled commanding height – the shadow of an abandoned arrow tower.
He waited patiently like the most experienced hunter.
He knew that with Uchiha Homura’s pride and confidence, he would definitely follow those “flaws” and would most likely let down his guard because he underestimated the enemy.
Sure enough, not long after, Ye Feng used [Extreme Analysis] to capture subtle changes in the surrounding environment (such as the sound of stones being stepped on in the distance and abnormal air flow) and sensed that Uchiha Yan was approaching quickly!
Moreover, the other party did not seem to have opened the Sharingan, but was only searching with basic perception and tracking skills.
“Here it comes…” A cold light flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes. He held his breath and restrained his aura to the extreme.
Uchiha Yan’s figure appeared in the open area not far below. He was looking down to check the messy grass on the ground that was “intentionally” left by the night breeze.
“Hmph, the kid’s hiding skills are only at this level…” Yan muttered disdainfully and was about to continue tracking.
Just then!
He didn’t launch any attacks!
Instead, he quietly took out… a small stone from his arms!
He used his intact right hand to attach an extremely weak, almost imperceptible trace of chakra to the stone, and then gently flicked it towards a pile of empty oil drums about ten meters to the right behind Uchiha Yan!
The stone flew through the air silently.
There was a very slight, but remarkably clear, sound in the silent night! The stone accurately hit an empty oil barrel!
“who?!”
Uchiha Homura’s reaction was incredibly fast! Almost the instant the sound rang out, he spun around, his eyes darting towards the source of the sound! At the same time, his body subconsciously dodged to the left, assuming a defensive stance!
This is the ninja’s instinctive reaction when facing an unknown threat!
However, there was nothing there.
And just at the moment when he turned around, his attention was drawn and his body stiffened briefly!
The real killer move that Ye Feng had been waiting for for a long time… was launched!
He didn’t choose to attack! Instead…
He slid down from the shadow of the arrow tower like a ghost! His speed was extremely fast!
His target was the token of loyalty on Uchiha Homura’s waist…the decorative tassel on the ninja tool bag!
I’m going to kill you while you’re sick! Oh no, I’m going to kill you!
Night Breeze’s speed was too fast! Coupled with the previous deception and diversionary tactics, Uchiha Yan had no time to react!
When he realized there was movement behind him and turned around suddenly!
I only saw a shadow passing by my waist!
Then, he felt a lightness around his waist!
The tassel that he regarded as a token of love…has disappeared!
Ye Feng’s figure had already appeared more than ten meters away, playing with the small tassel in his hand, with a “pure and harmless” smile on his face:
“Senior Yan, thank you for letting me.”
Uchiha Homura: “!!!”
He froze in place, his face a vibrant palette of expressions! Shock, disbelief, shame, anger… In the end, all of it dissolved into a humiliation that threatened to erupt!
He’d actually… been tricked?! A little Genin had easily taken the token right under his nose, using such a humiliating method?! And he… hadn’t even seen how it was done?!
This is simply… a great shame and humiliation!
Chapter 31: Playful Humiliation, Hidden Murder (Old Version)
The night was still dark, but the atmosphere in the obstacle area of the training ground was like frozen ice.
Uchiha Yan stood stiffly in place, his face turning pale and blue, and his eyes, which originally contained arrogance and contempt, were now filled with incredible shock and… burning anger!
He looked down at the empty space around his waist; the decorative tassel he had kept as a keepsake was indeed gone. Then he looked up a dozen meters away, and saw the kid playing with the tassel in his hand, with a “pure and harmless” smile on his face…
A strong sense of humiliation erupted like a volcano!
He, the genius of the Uchiha clan! A dignified Chunin! And yet… he had his token stolen from him right under his nose by a little-known Genin, in such a playful way?!
Moreover, he didn’t even see how the other party did it! That speed… that ghostly stealth skill… and that feint to the east and attack in the west just now…
Is this something an eight-year-old could actually do?!
“You…what did you do?!” Uchiha Yan’s voice trembled slightly because of extreme anger. He stared at Ye Feng, his eyes seemed to be spewing fire!
Ye Feng still had that harmless smile on his face. He gently tossed the tassel in his hand and said in an innocent tone, “I didn’t do anything, Senior Yan. I just found you as agreed, and then… took the token.”
He paused, a hint of confusion showing just the right amount on his face: “Senior… seemed to be a little distracted just now? You didn’t even notice when I came over.”
Distracted?!
Uchiha Yan almost vomited blood!
This brat… not only did he win, he even dared to mock him?!
“You’re looking for death!” Uchiha Yan was completely enraged! He threw all the bets and restrictions behind him! A cold light flashed in his eyes, and his chakra suddenly exploded!
A burning breath instantly spread out!
He quickly formed seals with his hands, and without any hesitation, he blasted a huge fireball directly towards Ye Feng! The scorching flames burned and distorted the surrounding air!
This was a furious attack, and the power was even stronger than usual! He wanted to burn this brat who dared to humiliate him to ashes!
Ye Feng’s pupils suddenly shrank! [Extreme Analysis] He instantly determined that the power of this attack was far beyond what he could withstand!
But there was no panic on his face. Instead, there was an extremely subtle sneer at the corner of his mouth.
Are you angry out of shame? Just right!
He did not choose to take it head-on, nor did he use any ninjutsu!
The chakra under his feet burst out again, and his figure drifted away to the side and back like a ghost! His speed was extremely fast!
At the same time, he shouted in panic: “Senior Yan! What are you doing?! We agreed not to use force! Captain! Help!”
His shout was shrill and loud enough to be heard across most of the training ground!
boom!!
The huge fireball brushed past the afterimage of the night breeze and slammed fiercely into the obstacle behind him, erupting with a deafening roar! Flames splashed everywhere, igniting the surrounding bushes!
Uchiha Homura watched Ye Feng dodge once again, his anger growing even stronger! This brat’s speed… was actually this fast?! He could even dodge his fireball?!
But before he could give chase, several figures rushed in from outside the training ground like lightning!
Leading the charge was none other than Captain Kenji Inoue, who had rushed over after hearing the noise! Behind him were several ninjas from other squads who had been alarmed!
“What’s going on?! What happened?!” Captain Kenji’s face instantly became extremely ugly when he saw the mess in the training ground, Uchiha Homura emitting burning chakra, and Ye Feng who was “still in shock”!
“Captain! Help!” Ye Feng immediately “rolled and crawled” to Captain Kenji’s back, his face full of “fear” and “grievance”. “Senior Yan, he…he lost the competition, so he…he is going to kill me to silence me!”
He was the first to complain, putting himself in the position of the victim, and directly pointed out the fact that Uchiha Yan “could not afford to lose” and “was angry out of shame”!
“You’re talking nonsense!” Uchiha Yan was shocked and angry! He didn’t expect this brat to be so despicable and shameless! “It was obviously you who cheated! You attacked me by surprise!”
“How did I cheat?” Ye Feng poked his head out from behind Kenji, looking innocent. “We agreed to compete in stealth and reconnaissance, and you couldn’t use the Sharingan. I followed the rules and found you and took the token. It was you who didn’t notice me, how can you blame me?”
He shook the tassel in his hand: “The token is here, everyone can testify! Besides, my chakra is almost exhausted, how could I possibly sneak attack a Chunin senior like you? But you, senior, refused to admit defeat and even used fire jutsu to attack me! If I hadn’t run fast, I would be a charred corpse now!”
His words were clear and logical (although he concealed key details), coupled with his “weak, pitiful and helpless” appearance at the moment, as well as Uchiha Homura’s unconcealable anger and the traces of destruction caused by the huge fireball around him…
Anyone with a discerning eye can tell who is right and who is wrong!
“Uchiha Homura!” Captain Kenji’s face darkened completely, his tone icy, “What the hell is going on?! Didn’t I say private fights are forbidden?! You actually killed your own teammates?!”
The other ninjas around him looked at Uchiha Homura with disdain and contempt. It’s bad enough he couldn’t stand losing, but he actually tried to kill a little Genin? How shameful! The Uchiha clan is really like this!
Uchiha Yan felt the strange looks from the people around him, and listened to Ye Feng’s “confusing right and wrong” words. He was so angry that he was shaking all over, and his face turned the color of liver!
He wanted to refute and explain, but found that he was speechless!
The fact was, he had agreed to the bet, restricted himself from using the Sharingan, and then… Ye Feng had actually taken away his token in a way he couldn’t understand! Afterwards, he was so angry and embarrassed that he actually wanted to kill Ye Feng, and he was caught in the act!
“I… I…” Uchiha Yan was speechless and couldn’t say a word. He just felt a surge of unvented anger and humiliation in his chest, which was almost about to explode!
“Enough!” Captain Kenji shouted coldly, “Uchiha Homura! You violated the rules and attacked your teammates. I will report the truth to Master Fujita! Now, return to the dormitory and reflect on your actions!”
Uchiha Yan stared at Ye Feng intently, his eyes looking as if he wanted to eat him alive! But he knew that it was useless to say anything now. He was… doomed today! And he had been doomed by the brat he despised the most!
“Ye Feng…just wait for me!” He squeezed out these words from between his teeth, then suddenly threw his sleeves, turned around and left angrily! His back was full of resentment and resentment!
Watching Uchiha Yan’s embarrassed back, Ye Feng sneered inwardly. “Want to fight me? You’re still a little naive!”
But his face still had that “lingering fear” and “wronged” look, and he said to Captain Kenji: “Captain… I’m sorry… I… I shouldn’t have made a bet with him…”
Captain Kenji’s anger faded considerably as he watched him like this. After all, Ye Feng was the “victim.” Furthermore, this kid’s performance… truly exceeded his expectations once again. He actually managed to defeat Uchiha Homura under these constraints? While the process might have been tricky, it was still a testament to his intelligence and… his uncanny stealth abilities!
“Sigh…” Kenji sighed and patted Ye Feng’s shoulder, “I don’t blame you. Yan was too impulsive. But don’t take such risks in the future. The people of the Uchiha clan are arrogant and vindictive. You offended him this time, so you have to be more careful in the future.” He couldn’t help but remind him.
“Yes…I understand, Captain.” Ye Feng nodded obediently.
“Okay, it’s okay. You should go back and rest early.” Kenji waved his hand, signaling the other ninjas who were watching to disperse.
Ye Feng thanked him again before turning and leaving.
He did not return to the dormitory immediately, but walked around the fortress and made sure that no one was following him before returning to his cubicle.
Close the door and isolate yourself from the outside world.
All expressions on Ye Feng’s face disappeared in an instant, replaced by a cold indifference.
He casually threw the tassel he had “won” from Uchiha Homura into a corner. To him, the only value of this thing was that it was used to disgust and frame Uchiha Homura.
“Uchiha Homura…” Ye Feng murmured softly, with a dangerous light flashing in his eyes.
Although this time, they had successfully tricked him and made him suffer a loss, they had also completely broken off relations. Given the character of the Uchiha clan, this guy would definitely not let this go. In the future, within the team, or even on the battlefield, he would likely secretly trip us up, or even… do something shady!
This undoubtedly increases the risks of one’s future actions.
But… risks are often accompanied by opportunities!
An Uchiha Chunin who is hostile to him, eager to prove himself, and possesses the Sharingan… isn’t he just a perfect… “tool”?
For example, in certain dangerous missions, can we “cleverly” use his impulsiveness and competitive spirit to make him a cannon fodder and attract firepower?
For example, when he uses the Sharingan, can he use [Extreme Analysis] to analyze the mystery of the Sharingan more deeply from a close distance?
Even… if the time is right, on some chaotic battlefield, after his “unfortunate” sacrifice, I would “overwhelmed with grief” take away those precious eyes and use them for research… It is not impossible?
The corner of Ye Feng’s mouth curled up into a sinister arc.
Uchiha Homura, you’d better…don’t give me a chance.
He collected his thoughts and stopped thinking about the self-righteous Uchiha. The most urgent task was to improve his strength.
After tonight’s “actual combat exercise,” he had a clearer understanding of his current strength. Speed and skill were advantages, but in the face of absolute strength and chakra, they were still not enough.
I must use those 5,000 merit points as soon as possible! Exchange them for more training resources and increase my total chakra capacity! Or… exchange them for a B-rank ninjutsu with sufficient power and affordable consumption?
He thought of the scroll “Wind Style: Great Breakthrough.” While it wasn’t usable at the moment, its principles had already been mastered by [Extreme Analysis]. Perhaps… he could try exchanging it for another B-rank Wind Style that was easier to master and more technically oriented? For example… “Wind Style: Vacuum Wave”? Or “Wind Style: Beast Wave Palm”?
You need to go to the Merit Exchange Office to take a closer look.
The desire for power burned again in Ye Feng’s eyes.
Tonight’s confrontation with Uchiha Homura was just a small episode.
The real storm is yet to come.
He must sharpen his claws as quickly as possible in order to survive this bloody feast and… get the biggest piece of the cake!
Chapter 32: Merit Exchange, Multiple Skills (Old Version)
The unpleasant “competition” with Uchiha Homura was finally resolved with the intervention of Captain Fujita.
Uchiha Yan was severely warned and symbolically put in solitary confinement for three days. After he came out, he looked at Ye Feng with an even colder look, but at least on the surface he had restrained himself a lot and no longer took the initiative to provoke.
Ye Feng, with the halo of “victim” and “generous junior”, not only did not receive any punishment, but because of the “potential” and “calmness” he showed, his evaluation was even higher in the hearts of Captain Kenji and some other ninjas who knew the situation.
Of course, all of this was within Ye Feng’s calculations. He took advantage of the rare peace of the past few days to continue his mental training and in-depth research on the changes in the nature of wind escape, while patiently waiting for the huge amount of merit that would change his current situation to officially arrive.
Finally, three days later, the number representing his merits on his identity plaque suddenly jumped from almost zero to “five thousand”!
Five thousand merit points! In wartime, this is definitely a huge sum of money that would make countless Genin and even Chunin jealous!
Ye Feng’s heart couldn’t help but beat faster. With this achievement, his plan to improve his strength could finally be officially launched!
Without any hesitation, after finishing his training that afternoon, he went straight to the merit exchange office inside the fortress alone.
The merit exchange office is set up in a huge, heavily guarded tent, which is filled with rows of shelves displaying various items that can be exchanged for merits – from basic ninja tools, medicines, and military rations, to ninjutsu scrolls of various levels, training experiences, and even some rare materials and information.
The people in charge of the exchange were several middle-aged ninjas who looked quite powerful and had serious expressions.
Ye Feng took out his identity card and handed it over: “Senior, I want to exchange some things.”
The ninja in charge took the wooden sign and saw the name and merit number on it. His eyes visibly fluctuated. He looked up at Ye Feng a few more times and said, “Ye Feng? Five thousand merits… well, what do you want to exchange for it?” His tone was quite polite. Obviously, Ye Feng’s “deeds” and “background” (being noticed by the top leaders) were no secret here.
Ye Feng took a deep breath and told the exchange list he had already planned:
“First, I need a copy of ‘Introduction to Medical Ninjutsu’ and the corresponding basic medical equipment.”
Medical Ninjutsu?!
The ninja in charge was stunned for a moment, looking at Ye Feng in surprise: “Boy, you want to learn medical ninjutsu? This is not easy, it requires extremely precise chakra control and… talent. Moreover, medical ninjas on the battlefield…” He didn’t say anything else, but the meaning was very clear. Although medical ninjas are important, they often have weak combat capabilities and are more likely to become targets of attack.
“I know it’s difficult, senior.” Ye Feng showed a “serious” expression on his face, “But… on the last mission, if I could know some medical ninjutsu, maybe… Ayong wouldn’t have…” He showed “sadness” and “self-blame” just right, and attributed the motivation for learning medical ninjutsu to the guilt for sacrificing teammates and the determination to protect his companions.
These words are reasonable and consistent with the image of “loyalty and righteousness” that he has always portrayed.
The ninja in charge’s eyes softened upon hearing this, and he nodded. “It’s a good idea. A detailed introduction to medical ninjutsu, 300 merits. A set of basic medical equipment, 50 merits.”
“Thank you, Senior.” Ye Feng nodded and continued, “Secondly, I need a copy of ‘The Principles and Applications of Basic Sealing Techniques’.”
Sealing technique?!
The ninja in charge was surprised again: “Sealing technique? This thing is more niche and extremely profound. It requires extremely high talent and understanding. Many jonin may not be proficient in it. You, a genin, learning this…”
“I’m just… very interested in those strange runes and spells.” Ye Feng scratched his head, with a “curious” and “embarrassed” expression on his face. “I want to… understand the principles, maybe… it can give me some inspiration for setting my trap?” He once again found a reasonable excuse.
The basic principles of sealing techniques do share some similarities with the triggering mechanisms and energy guidance used in trap placement. This reasoning makes sense.
The ninja in charge frowned, but still said, “Basic Sealing Technique Principles and Applications, 500 Merits. Just a reminder, this is just for viewing, don’t practice it blindly, if you go astray, no one will save you.”
“Yes, I’ve got it.” Ye Feng was secretly delighted. Sealing techniques! This is an extremely powerful system of power in the Naruto world! While the basic scrolls certainly don’t involve any advanced techniques, as long as you master the principles and combine them with [Extreme Analysis], the future potential is endless! More importantly, sealing techniques are the key to preserving certain special “trophies” (such as the Sharingan)!
“Then, I need ten blank sealing scrolls,” Ye Feng added.
“Blank Sealing Scroll? What do you want this for?” The ninja in charge was even more confused. This thing is usually used to seal objects or ninjutsu. Why would a novice genin need so many?
“I… I want to try and see if I can seal some of the… small traps I set up in scrolls in advance so that they can be carried easily and set up quickly?” Ye Feng once again used his “cleverness” to connect the sealing scroll with the trap.
This idea is… a bit novel. The responsible ninja thought about it and, although he felt it was unreliable, he didn’t ask any more questions. “Blank Sealing Scrolls, the lowest level ones, one is worth twenty merits, so ten of them is worth two hundred merits.”
“Next, it’s ninjutsu.” Ye Feng took a deep breath, “I want to exchange for a B-level wind-style ninjutsu.”
“B-rank Wind Style?” The ninja in charge perked up. “Captain Fujita granted you permission last time. Which one do you want to redeem? Didn’t you already claim the scroll for Wind Style: Great Breakthrough?”
“Yes, Senior.” Ye Feng showed a “distressed” expression on his face. “Although the “Great Breakthrough” is powerful, my current chakra level… is really not enough. I want to… switch to a technique that is more suitable for my current stage, preferably… a wind jutsu with concentrated power, small range, high chakra control requirements, but relatively low chakra consumption.”
He described his needs very clearly.
The ninja in charge heard this, pondered for a moment, and walked to another shelf to search.
“Concentrated power, small range, high control requirements, relatively low energy consumption…” He muttered as he flipped through the pages, “A B-rank Wind Style that meets your requirements… Hmm… Got it!”
He took down a somewhat old-looking scroll and handed it to Ye Feng: “Wind Style: Vacuum Jade. This technique highly compresses wind-attribute chakra into an air bullet and launches it. It has decent power and strong penetration on a single target. Theoretically, the energy consumption is much lower than that of a major breakthrough. However, it requires extremely high chakra compression accuracy and control during launch. The slightest mistake can greatly reduce the power or even prevent the attack from forming. It’s very suitable for people like you who… um… have good chakra control.”
Wind Style: Vacuum Ball! One of Danzo’s signature ninjutsu!
Ye Feng’s mind raced! This technique truly met his requirements! Single-target, penetrating, and requiring high control! It was practically tailor-made for [Extreme Analysis]! Moreover, if he learned this, perhaps it would be even more effective against that old man Danzo in the future?
“That’s it! Senior!” Ye Feng showed a “surprised” expression on his face, “How many merits are required for this?”
“The standard exchange price for a B-rank ninjutsu is 2,000 merit points. Since you have priority, you can get a 20% discount, 1,600 merit points.”
“Okay! I’ll change!” Ye Feng said without hesitation.
“Finally…” Ye Feng licked his lips and said the last item on his list, which was also an extremely important one, “I… I want to apply to learn… the Shadow Clone Technique.”
“Shadow Clone Technique?!” The ninja in charge’s eyes widened instantly, looking at Ye Feng as if he were a monster, “Boy! Do you know what level of ninjutsu Shadow Clone Technique is?! It’s a B-level forbidden technique! Although it’s not very powerful, the chakra consumption and distribution requirements are extremely terrifying! And it requires an extremely large amount of chakra to support it! With this little chakra you have… it’s hard to even split one! And you still want to learn this?!”
The Shadow Clone Technique, a forbidden technique developed by the Second Hokage, may seem commonplace in later generations, but in its early days, especially for Genin, it was absolutely unattainable. Its greatest feature is the ability to create physical clones, whose experience feeds back to the original, making it a powerful technique for training and gathering intelligence. However, its drawback is also significant: it divides chakra! Using it on those with insufficient chakra can result in exhaustion at best, and even life-threatening consequences at worst!
“I… I know it’s difficult, senior.” Ye Feng’s face showed an expression of “persistence” and “a hint of desire”, “But… I heard that shadow clones can help with cultivation… I want… I want to become stronger faster! Make more contributions to the village!” He once again brought out a “plausible” reason.
He certainly knew the limitations of Shadow Clone. With his current chakra level, creating even one was difficult, and wouldn’t last long. However, the greatest value of Shadow Clone lies in its “experience feedback” feature!
This means he can use his shadow clones to conduct high-risk training attempts (such as nature transformations, developing new techniques), or to perform simple intelligence gathering missions, while his original body can focus on safer training! Even if the shadow clone disappears due to chakra depletion, the valuable experience and data will be fed back!
This is a perfect match for him, who possesses [Extreme Analysis] and needs massive amounts of data for analysis and optimization! Even if he can only create one shadow clone at a time, which lasts for a few minutes, its value is immeasurable!
The ninja in charge looked at Ye Feng’s “persistent” eyes, frowned, and fell into deep thought.
Logically speaking, the Shadow Clone Technique was a forbidden technique, and its chakra requirements were extremely high, so a Genin shouldn’t be allowed to perform it. But… this kid was “Konoha’s rising star,” had made great contributions, and was being watched by the higher-ups… And the reasons he offered sounded… noble, didn’t they?
“That… I can’t make the decision.” The ninja in charge finally shook his head. “The Shadow Clone Technique is too special. You need a special order from Captain Fujita or a higher-ranking officer to redeem it.”
Does it require special approval… Ye Feng understood in his heart, and this was also within his expectations.
“Okay… I understand, thank you, senior.” Ye Feng showed a “trace of disappointment” on his face, but did not force it.
He calculated that he had spent 2,650 merit points on the Medical Ninjutsu Explanation and Instruments (350 merit points), the Basic Sealing Technique Principles (500 merit points), the Blank Sealing Scroll (200 merit points), and the Wind Style: Vacuum Jade (1,600 merit points). He still had 2,350 merit points left.
“Senior, I’d like to exchange the remaining merits for some…special ration pills or potions that can quickly replenish chakra, as well as some high-intensity weight training props,” Ye Feng said. The total amount of chakra is still a shortcoming, and we must find a way to make up for it.
The ninja in charge nodded. This was a normal request. “Specially made Chakra Ration Pills, each worth 100 Merit Points. They’re three times as effective as regular ration pills, but they have side effects and shouldn’t be taken continuously. A set of high-intensity weighted sandbags, worth 300 Merit Points…”
Ye Feng calculated carefully, and finally used the remaining merits to exchange for five special chakra ration pills, a set of high-strength weight-bearing sandbags with adjustable weight, and some spare high-quality steel wires and special kunai.
When he walked out of the Merit Exchange Office, carrying a large pile of things, his five thousand Merit Points were almost all gone. But his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction!
Introduction to medicine, basic sealing techniques, B-rank Wind Style: Vacuum Jade, Shadow Clone (to be determined), a large amount of training resources… his plan to increase his strength is ready!
The next step is to transform these theories and resources into real power!
He did not return to the dormitory immediately, but went to the second training ground and found a more secluded corner.
The first thing he took out was the “Introduction to Medical Ninjutsu”.
[Extreme Analysis] is on! He began to greedily absorb knowledge about the human body structure, meridian points, chakra healing principles, and the most basic “healing techniques” and “palm magic” (entry-level)!
The complexity and sophistication of medical ninjutsu far surpassed ordinary ninjutsu! But for him, who possessed [Extreme Analysis], this was actually an advantage!
He even discovered that the requirements for the precise manipulation of chakra in medical ninjutsu were similar to the “Wind Tremor” he was researching! Perhaps the two could learn from each other and promote each other!
Next is “Principles and Applications of Basic Sealing Techniques”.
Those ancient and mysterious runes, ritual compositions, and energy circuits… it was like opening the door to a new world! Sealing techniques weren’t just about sealing objects; they involved the transformation of energy, the utilization of space, and even… the binding of souls?!
Although this basic scroll only involves the most basic principles, such as how to make simple item sealing scrolls, how to arrange basic barriers, etc., but with the deductive ability of [Extreme Analysis], Ye Feng has already vaguely touched the tip of the iceberg of this system!
“Sealing technique… is definitely an important direction for the future!” Ye Feng’s eyes were fiery.
Finally, there is the “Wind Style: Vacuum Ball”.
With the previous experience of analyzing “The Great Breakthrough” and a deeper understanding of the changes in the properties of wind attributes, he was able to analyze “Vacuum Jade” with ease!
[Extreme Analysis] It worked at breakneck speed, meticulously analyzing every detail of chakra compression, shaping, and firing. It even began to automatically deduce potential optimizations! For example, how could compression efficiency be improved to reduce chakra consumption? How could the air bullet’s rotational speed be increased to enhance penetration? How could continuous firing be achieved?
Ye Feng was completely immersed in the ocean of knowledge, forgetting time and fatigue.
It was not until night fell and the people on the training ground dispersed again that he closed the scroll with a sense of reluctance.
He could feel that his strength had invisibly increased significantly! Although his chakra capacity had not changed, his knowledge reserves, theoretical foundation, and planning for the future power system had far surpassed his peers, even surpassing most of the Chunin in the camp!
He stood up, stretched his muscles, and felt the chakra surging in his body and the mental power stirring.
It’s time… for a real combat exercise!
He glanced in the direction of the dormitory, and then looked at the dark fortress in the distance, which seemed to be lurking with countless dangers.
The shadow of the war is getting closer and closer.
Chapter 33: The Eve of the War (Old Version)
Konoha’s main fortress was now plunged into a suffocating silence.
The hustle and bustle of the past was gone, the shouts on the training grounds were gone, and even the groans in the wounded camp seemed to be stifled by some invisible pressure. The air was filled with the thick smell of blood, herbs, and… fear.
The storm is coming!
During the day, Captain Fujita’s brief yet poignant pre-war mobilization resonated like thunder in the hearts of every ninja—the Sand Village had assembled an unprecedented army and launched a general offensive! Their target was the eastern defense line!
The decisive battle has arrived!
Dormitory area, Dingying.
Ye Feng sat cross-legged on his simple camp bed, his eyes closed, breathing steadily and long, as if he had completely blocked out the extremely depressing atmosphere in the outside world.
But his superhuman perception clearly captured everything around him. The restless fumes of Uchiha Homura next door, tossing and turning, unable to sleep; the subtle patter of the patrol team crunching gravel in the distance; even… the faint, intangible presence in the air belonging to Hatake Sakumo, as reserved and yet sharp as an iceberg (although distant, Ye Feng’s [Battlefield Intuition] had become unusually sharp after his near-death experience).
Various battle reports came in like snowflakes from the front line and were gathered in this fortress through various channels.
The main force of Sand Village came out in full force, and the puppet troops and wind-style troops were like two sharp knives, piercing directly into Konoha’s defense line!
The battlefield in the Land of Rain is still a meat grinder. The fierce battle between the Three Ninjas and Hanzo has reached a stalemate, with heavy casualties on both sides!
Konoha was fighting on multiple fronts, and the pressure was immense! And their Eastern Front was bearing the brunt of the attack!
[Extreme Analysis] runs in the background with extremely low power consumption, integrating, analyzing and deducing these fragmented information.
Chaos…means opportunity.
The corners of Ye Feng’s mouth curved into an almost imperceptible, cold arc in the darkness. The promises made by the higher-ups were a feast for the strong, but a helpless tragedy for the weak. For him, survival and reaping the greatest benefits were the only truth.
For him, this decisive battle, which will determine the course of the war, is a hunting ground teeming with dangers yet overflowing with “gold”! Intelligence, merits, resources, powerful enemies (meaning analytical data and possible spoils), and even… the bloodline of some powerful warriors who fell in the chaos?
Of course, the premise is… to survive and have enough strength to pick it up.
He slowly opened his eyes, his dark pupils in the dim light, like the calmest predator.
He began to check his equipment one last time.
Fifteen shurikens, five kunai, three detonating tags, a roll of special steel wire, several smoke bombs, a small medical kit, two final life-saving ration pills… Each item was placed in the most convenient position in the ninja tool bag.
He had already mastered the “Basics of Chakra Transformation (Wind)” and had fully deciphered the principles of “Wind Style: Vacuum Ball.” While his current chakra level (that of an average early-stage Chunin) meant he could only perform it once, and it was extremely taxing on his body, it was sufficient as a trump card. He couldn’t perform “Wind Style: Great Breakthrough” for the time being, but he had incorporated the compression principle of it into “Wind Style: Instant Stab,” doubling its power.
“Wind Edge” can remain attached to a weapon for a minute and a half. “Wind Whisper” possesses uncanny footwork, approaching the speed of a Chunin. “Wind Tremor” has already taken shape, showing immense potential.
The theories of medical ninjutsu and sealing techniques have also been initially mastered. Although they are still far from being used in actual combat, they may come in handy at critical moments.
My strength…is steadily improving, but it’s still not enough! Facing the coming sea of blood and corpses, it’s still far from enough!
Just then, a very light and hesitant sound of footsteps stopped outside his door.
Ye Feng instantly gathered all his thoughts and breath, returning to his “calm and quiet” appearance.
“Knock knock.” There was a knock on the door.
“Please come in.” Ye Feng said.
The door curtain was gently lifted, and Hinata Ren’s graceful figure appeared in the doorway. She seemed to have just bathed, with a faint scent of soapberry on her body, and her long hair, still slightly damp, fell loose on her shoulders. In her hand, she held a small tray with a cup of steaming tea on it.
“Yefeng…are you still awake?” Lian’s voice was soft, with a barely perceptible hint of nervousness. Moonlight streamed through the window onto her, softening her cold face. Her pure white pupils seemed to be tinged with a hazy mist in the dim light.
“It’s Lian.” Ye Feng’s face showed just the right amount of surprise and warmth. “I was just about to take a break. Why are you here?”
“I… I can’t sleep.” Lian’s eyes were a little evasive, not daring to look directly at Ye Feng. “I made some hot tea and wanted to… bring you a cup.” She put the tray on the low table in front of Ye Feng.
Ye Feng saw her like this and understood. Fear and anxiety were normal on the eve of a war. Especially for a girl like her, who came from a prominent family but yearned to break free, these emotions were probably even more intense.
“Thank you, Lian.” Ye Feng picked up the teacup. It was steaming and had a light fragrance. He took a sip and found the temperature was just right. “At this time, I feel much better to be able to drink a cup of hot tea.”
Lian seemed to relax a little when she saw him drink it, and sat down on the small stool opposite him.
The two were silent for a moment, with only the sound of the wind outside the window and the faint sounds of preparations for battle in the distance.
“Are we really going to launch a full-scale attack tomorrow?” Lian finally couldn’t help but ask, her voice filled with undisguised worry. “Will we… hold on?”
“I will.” Ye Feng put down the teacup, his tone calm but with a strange and convincing power, “We are Konoha ninjas, this is our line of defense, we have no way to retreat.”
He paused, looking at Lian, his eyes becoming “gentle” and “firm”: “Besides, Lian, have you forgotten last time? Didn’t we defeat that Jonin together? Believe in yourself, and believe in… your teammates.”
Lian met Ye Feng’s gaze. Those dark eyes seemed to possess some kind of magic that could dispel the fear and anxiety in her heart. She remembered the thrilling last battle, Ye Feng’s calm figure and his final selfless “protection”… An inexplicable courage and warmth rose in her heart.
“Hmm…” She nodded gently, her cheeks slightly red, and subconsciously avoided Ye Feng’s sight.
At this moment, Lian seemed to have thought of something, hesitated for a moment, and then, as if she had made up her mind, she raised her head, looked at Ye Feng seriously, and said softly: “Ye Feng…there is something I have always wanted to tell you.”
“Hmm? What’s the matter?” Ye Feng showed a “curious” expression on his face, but he already had a guess in his mind.
“I… I’m from the Hyuga branch family.” Lian’s voice was low, carrying a hint of indescribable bitterness and… relief. “We, the branch family… our fate was sealed from birth. We must be loyal to the main family and be cursed as a ‘caged bird’, a mark we can never escape…”
She raised her hand, as if wanting to touch her forehead, where the constraints and sorrow of generations of the Hyuga branch family were hidden.
Although Ye Feng had already guessed her identity through the details, but now when he heard her say it in person, he still showed an expression of “shock” and “incredibility”: “Separation of the family? Bird in a cage? What is that?” He pretended to have no idea.
“It’s… a kind of bondage that cannot be resisted.” Lian’s eyes dimmed, and her voice was choked with sobs. “We can only be tools of the Zong family forever. We have no freedom, and even… we can’t choose our own death.”
She looked at Ye Feng, her pure white pupils filled with helplessness and… a hint of hope: “Ye Feng, will you… look down on me?”
Ye Feng looked at her vulnerable and helpless appearance, his sneer growing even wider. Look down on her? How could that be? A member of the Hyuga branch family with white eyes, shackled, and full of affection for him was simply the perfect chess piece! Priceless!
But his face was instantly filled with “anger” and “pity”! He suddenly reached out and tightly grasped Lian’s hand, which was trembling slightly with excitement on her knees!
“How could it be!” Ye Feng’s voice was filled with “unquestionable” “firmness” and “gentleness”, “Lian! In my eyes, you have never been a branch family! You are just you! My teammate! The brave, kind, and strong Hinata Lian!”
His palms were warm and strong, as if they could transfer strength to the other person.
Lian’s body trembled violently! An unprecedented warmth instantly surged through her body! She stared blankly at Ye Feng, seeing the “sincere” “anger” and “undisguised” “protection” in his eyes, her eyes instantly reddened!
From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever said such words to her! In her family, she was just a branch, a tool. In the eyes of her peers, she was a proud Hyuga, unapproachable. Only Ye Feng! Only he saw the real her, understood her pain, and…stood firmly by her side!
“Yefeng…” Lian’s voice choked, and she could no longer hold back her tears, which fell like pearls from a broken string.
“Don’t cry.” Ye Feng’s thumb gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks, his movements gentle, his eyes full of “pity”. His face slowly approached, and the distance between them was once again shortened to the edge of danger.
He could smell the faint fragrance of Lian, like the fragrance of grass after rain, and feel her rapid breathing and hot cheeks.
The atmosphere became ambiguous and charming again.
Lian’s heartbeat was like a drum, her mind was blank, she even forgot to think, she just instinctively raised her head slightly, closed her eyes, and her long eyelashes trembled gently like butterfly wings…
However, just when the soft touch was about to happen.
Ye Feng’s movements paused again.
A hint of “struggle” flashed in his eyes, and finally turned into an inaudible sigh.
He didn’t kiss her.
Instead, he stretched out his other hand and hugged her gently, as if she were his most precious treasure.
An extremely brief hug, yet one full of “restraint” and “cherishing”.
“Lian,” his voice rang in Lian’s ears, low and gentle, “Now is not the time to think about these things. Survival is the most important thing. When the war is over… everything will be fine.”
After saying that, he loosened his hand, took a step back, and distanced himself from her, with a look of helplessness and apology on his face.
Lian suddenly opened her eyes, her cheeks red enough to bleed, her heart pounding wildly. That hug just now, that hug full of “restraint”, made her more excited than a real kiss!
Ye Feng…he cares about me! He’s just…controlling himself!
The girl’s heart was completely lost.
“I…I understand.” Lian nodded in panic, not even daring to look at Ye Feng again. She lowered her head and hurriedly said, “I’ll go back first,” and then fled from Ye Feng’s dormitory like a frightened deer.
Ye Feng looked at her hurriedly leaving back, and the “tenderness” and “apology” on his face disappeared in an instant, replaced by a cold indifference.
Very good, the timing is almost right. This chess piece has been thoroughly branded by him.
He walked to the window and looked out at the land shrouded in darkness and full of murderous intentions.
The last tranquility on the eve of the war.
He needs to seize the last moment and adjust his condition to the best.
As for those illusory emotions and promises? They are nothing more than a tiny, insignificant flame in a dark forest, used by hunters to lure their prey.
Tomorrow, when the sun rises and the killing begins, cold reason and absolute power are the only things worth trusting.
He sat cross-legged and fell into deep meditation again.
The pure chakra in his body flowed slowly, and [Extreme Analysis] was like the most loyal sentinel, guarding the cold flame deep in his soul.
At the same time, in another part of the fortress, Captain Fujita looked at the secret report in his hand with a frown.
“The Sand Village’s general attack… is more intense than expected. Lord White Fang is under a lot of pressure…”
Beside him, Captain Ida sighed, “Yes, those noises in the village…sigh. I hope Lord White Fang can hold his own.”
“I definitely will.” A hint of determination flashed in Fujita’s eyes, “Konoha will never fall here!”
It’s dawn.
The shrill assembly horn resounded through the sky!
The moment of decisive battle has finally arrived!
The 73rd team, Inoue Kenji, Hinata Ren, Uchiha Homura, and Ye Feng, the four of them quickly assembled and followed the main force to the designated battlefield – the West Third District Highlands!
Chapter 34: Highland Defense (Old Version)
Preparations on the eve of a battle are more than just polishing kunai and replenishing detonating tags.
For Ye Feng, the more important thing was to digest and transform the newly acquired resources. Those five thousand merit points brought not only supplies, but also the key to greater power – “Introduction to Medical Ninjutsu”, “Principles and Applications of Basic Sealing Techniques”, and the “Wind Style: Vacuum Jade” that carried B-level power.
The night he received the scroll, he barely slept. After confirming no one was spying, [Extreme Analysis] plunged into analyzing the Wind Style: Vacuum Ball with unprecedented concentration. B-rank ninjutsu were far more complex than D-rank, reaching new heights in chakra compression, the subtlety of its properties, and the required spiritual guidance.
[Extreme Analysis] Like the most sophisticated microscope and the most powerful computer, it peels back the layers of the Vacuum Jade’s principles: how to draw in air with minimal loss, how to inject wind-attribute chakra at a specific frequency and compress it through high-speed rotation, how to stabilize the highly unstable high-pressure cyclone, and ultimately, how to launch it like a cannonball… Every step is disassembled, analyzed, modeled, and deduced. It also points out several “redundant” steps in the standard technique and areas for optimization. For example, through more streamlined hand seals (although requiring greater control) and more optimized chakra flow paths, it is theoretically possible to reduce consumption by approximately 10% and shorten preparation time by a few tenths of a second.
Even so, when Ye Feng first attempted to condense the Vacuum Jade in reality, he still failed. His meager amount of wind-attribute chakra simply couldn’t be perfectly contained. He only managed to condense halfway before it dissipated due to lack of control, even causing a small airflow explosion that nearly injured him! That single attempt drained nearly a third of his chakra!
“B-rank ninjutsu…isn’t that easy to master,” Ye Feng calmly assessed. “[Limit Analysis] can tell me how to do it, and even optimize the process, but the rigid threshold of total chakra volume and control can’t be directly crossed.”
On the eve of the decisive battle, after several cautious attempts and constant corrections using [Limit Analysis], he finally managed a narrow success—condensing and firing a fist-sized, unstable, and less powerful vacuum ball. The price he paid was nearly all his chakra, and he felt physically hollowed out and mentally exhausted.
“Once… twice at most, that’s the limit. And the power is unstable.” Ye Feng came to the conclusion, “It can only be used as a surprise attack, or… to bluff people.”
At this moment, on the high ground of West District 3, a real bloody battle has broken out!
“Boom—!”
The Sand Village ninjas surged onto the high ground like a desperate tide, instantly engaging the Konoha ninjas! The flashes of various ninjutsu exploded on the narrow battlefield like festive fireworks, accompanied by the teeth-grinding sound of bones shattering and shrill screams!
The few Sand Village puppets walking in the front were like steel death gods, easily tearing apart Konoha’s hastily constructed defense line!
The giant scorpion-like puppet was the most ferocious. Its tail stinger, gleaming with a cold blue light, could easily pierce through rocks and ninjas with every swing! Its sickle-like limbs swung, sending blood and flesh flying everywhere, a horrific sight!
The other humanoid fortress puppet continuously poured out poisoned Senbon and small explosives, suppressing the firepower of the Konoha ninjas and causing huge casualties!
“Earth Escape: Earth Flow Wall!” Captain Kenji Inoue’s eyes were bloodshot, his body bathed in blood. He roared and raised the earth wall again, trying to stop the puppets’ advance, but it was quickly ripped apart by the scorpion puppets’ violent attacks! He himself was swept by the puppets’ shockwaves, stumbling back, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth.
“Len! Watch out for the left!” Kenji roared in warning, while waving his kunai to tightly entangle the humanoid puppet, preventing it from continuing to pour out firepower.
Hinata Lian’s face was pale, her Byakugan stretched to its limit, the veins around her eye sockets bulging. She desperately dodged the scorpion puppet’s swift and violent attacks, constantly attacking its joints with her soft fists. But the puppet’s shell was too hard, and her attacks could only barely slow its movements, not cause any substantial damage! Several times, she narrowly escaped being slashed by its scythe-like limbs, and her clothes were already soaked with sweat.
Elsewhere, Uchiha Homura was also locked in a tough fight. Though a chunin and a formidable force, he was hampered by the fearless Sand Village ninja and the incredibly defensive scorpion puppet. His fire escape technique, while powerful, was less effective against the puppet and could easily injure his allies. While his Sharingan could clearly see the enemy’s movements, the chaotic battlefield, with attacks from multiple directions, left him overwhelmed and nearly ambushed several times. His pride and impatience were ruthlessly crushed by the brutality of the battlefield.
The night wind’s figure was like a ghost on the battlefield, constantly moving through the shadows of rocks and bushes.
He did not confront those steel monster-like puppets head-on, but instead targeted the Sand Ninjas who followed the puppets and tried to expand their victory.
A shuriken with the “edge of wind” attached was shot out silently from a sharp angle, accurately hitting the neck of a wind-style ninja who was forming a seal!
A light blue airflow flashed by and pierced through the chest of a Sand Village ninja who was trying to sneak attack Captain Kenji!
The hidden steel wire tripped a charging enemy, who was then hacked to pieces by the Konoha ninja who was standing nearby to fill in the position!
Every strike he made was precise, efficient, and deadly! His timing was impeccable, always striking when the enemy least expected it! Like a calm hunter, he continuously harvested lives on the chaotic battlefield, sharing the pressure on the precarious defense line.
Captain Kenji and Hinata Ren both noticed Ye Feng’s performance and were shocked beyond words! This kid’s strength… has grown too fast! How can he be like a Genin who was promoted less than two months ago?!
Even Uchiha Yan, who had always been dissatisfied and jealous of Ye Feng, had to admit at this moment that this brat… was indeed quite capable! His elusive movements and fierce attacks made him feel a chill!
However, individual bravery is ultimately unable to turn the tide of battle.
The Sand Village’s offensive was intensifying! More puppets joined the battlefield! The spider puppet that had been lurking in the rear finally began to move. It silently climbed onto a huge rock on the flank of the high ground, and its eight cold compound eyes locked onto the struggling Hinata Lian!
“Lian! Be careful!!” Ye Feng’s [Battlefield Intuition] instantly caught the deadly threat! He saw the launcher on the spider puppet’s abdomen emitting a dangerous buzzing sound!
But his reminder was still a step too late!
Several spider-silk-like threads flashing with strange purple light shot out from the spider puppet’s abdomen, aiming directly at Hinata Lian who was briefly stiffened because of avoiding the scorpion puppet’s attack!
The scent emanating from the spider silk allowed Ye Feng to instantly determine that it was a chakra paralysis poison! Once entangled, the consequences would be disastrous!
Hinata Lian’s white eyes also saw the attacking spider silk, but her body had no time to react! Despair instantly gripped her heart!
At this critical moment!
He no longer hesitated! This was the opportunity he had been waiting for, and it was also the moment when he had to reveal his trump card!
He suddenly rushed out from behind the cover, his hands forming seals with an extremely fast and precise rhythm! The chakra in his body was mobilized and compressed with unprecedented intensity!
[Extreme Analysis] Full power operation! Optimization! Correction! Stability!
A powerful wind-attribute chakra gathered, spun, and compressed in his palm… forming a fist-sized, high-speed rotating, light blue air bomb that exuded a destructive aura!
Although it is much smaller than the standard form in theory and seems to be less stable, the terrifying penetrating power contained in it makes the surrounding air emit an unbearable buzzing sound!
“Wind Style: Vacuum Jade!”
With a low roar from Night Breeze, the extremely compressed air bullet, like a cannonball, pierced the air with a sharp sound as it shot towards the deadly spider silk… No! It was aimed at the relatively fragile abdominal launcher of the spider puppet that was currently firing spider silk, with incredible precision!
Even Hinata Lian, who was standing right next to him, only saw a flash of green light!
boom!!!
A dull but penetrating explosion sounded!
The power of the vacuum jade, which was forcibly unleashed by Ye Feng, hit the spider puppet’s abdominal launcher solidly!
The puppet’s hard shell was instantly torn apart! The sophisticated launcher was shattered by the violent vortex! Even half of the puppet’s abdomen was blown open with a large hole!
Squeak——!!
The spider puppet let out a shrill metallic wail, and rolled down from the boulder as if hit by a sledgehammer. It fell heavily to the ground and completely turned into a pile of scrap metal emitting black smoke!
And the deadly spider silk that was originally shot towards Hinata Lian also hung down helplessly because it had lost its source.
Got…saved?
Hinata Lian stared blankly at the scene in front of him, then looked at the young man in front of him whose face was pale and his body was trembling slightly because of the forced use of B-level ninjutsu, but his eyes were still cold. His mind went blank.
Just now…was that…a B-rank Wind Style?! Vacuum Ball?!
Ye Feng…he actually…mastered a B-rank ninjutsu?!
Not only her, but also Captain Kenji and Uchiha Homura who were fighting hard, as well as all the Konoha ninjas around who saw this scene, were all stunned!
“Vacuum Ball?! This kid…” Captain Kenji exclaimed, nearly dropping his kunai! He couldn’t believe his eyes! How long had he only been given the Vacuum Ball scroll?! Not only had he learned it, but he could actually use it in combat?! And the power… seemed quite impressive!
“B…B-rank ninjutsu?! Impossible!” Uchiha Homura leaped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on! Jealousy and disbelief instantly consumed his sanity! He’d painstakingly trained for years, barely mastering a few C-rank Fire Styles. How on earth could this brat, even younger than him, master a B-rank Wind Style?!
The other ninjas around were also in an uproar! They looked at Ye Feng with eyes filled with shock, awe, and… a hint of fear!
What kind of monster is this “New Leaf Rookie”?!
Ye Feng ignored the shocked looks around him. He endured the tearing pain from his body (forcibly performing a ninjutsu beyond his capacity had severely damaged his meridians) and the feeling of weakness from having his chakra almost drained, and coldly looked at the broken spider puppet.
“One… one last chance left.” He whispered to himself. Only he knew that the Vacuum Ball he had just used up nearly 70% of his chakra! The remaining chakra could only barely sustain one more instant thrust, or… another gamble on the Vacuum Ball!
“Well done, kid.”
A cold and hoarse voice, like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, came from the back of the battlefield without any warning!
Ye Feng’s heart was filled with alarm! He suddenly looked up!
I saw a figure slowly walking out from the Sand Village camp in the distance.
He was an old man with a hunched figure, wearing a loose robe and a strange mask on his face, revealing only a pair of eyes that gleamed with madness and cruelty! His hands were extremely unnatural, as if… they were also puppets?!
What was even more frightening was that behind him were two brand new, even more hideous puppets! One was crawling on the ground like a centipede, while the other was like an upright demon holding a giant axe!
The old man just stood there, and a cold, evil, and disgusting aura spread out, making the temperature of the entire battlefield seem to drop a few degrees!
The puppeteer! The one who manipulated that spider puppet! And… definitely a jonin level! Maybe even stronger!
He didn’t hide, but showed up directly!
“You destroyed my ‘Eight-Eyed Spider’… It seems that I can’t get rid of these annoying bugs like you unless I show some real skills…” The masked old man locked his eyes on Ye Feng like a venomous snake, “Especially… you, an interesting little brat…”
An unprecedented terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the entire No. 3 Highland!
Captain Kenji’s face turned pale!
Hinata Lian was trembling all over!
Uchiha Homura also put away all his jealousy and anger, his eyes filled with solemnity and… a hint of fear!
Ye Feng’s heart also sank to the bottom.
The trouble…is big!
Chapter 35: Desperate Situation, Escape from Death (Old Version)
Dead silence!
The shadow of death, as tangible as a substance, hangs over every corner of the West Third District Heights.
The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the cold and teasing voice of the Sunagakure puppeteer and the invisible pressure brought by the two brand new puppets behind him that exuded an ominous aura.
The centipede puppet, its dozens of segments of black, shiny carapace like cast iron, its countless sharp legs scraping against the ground with a tooth-grinding sound, its hideous mouthparts faintly emitting a purple-black poisonous aura. The demon puppet, over two meters tall and covered in thick armor, wielded a massive axe taller than a man, flashing with a bloodthirsty cold light. Simply standing there, it gave off an oppressive, indestructible feeling.
A jonin! He’s definitely a jonin-level puppeteer! And he’s the best among them!
Kenji Inoue’s heart sank to the bottom. He endured the excruciating pain in his chest and the nearly depleted chakra in his body, protecting Hyuga Ren and Uchiha Homura behind him, his eyes fixed solemnly on the old man wearing the strange mask. He knew that today… was likely to be a disaster.
Hinata Ren’s face was as pale as paper, her Byakugan bloodshot from prolonged, intense activity, and the wound on her shoulder ached. She could clearly see the vast chakra within the puppeteer, far surpassing Captain Kenji’s, and the complex and deadly mechanisms within the two puppets. Despair, like an icy tide, slowly eroded her courage.
Uchiha Homura also put aside his previous arrogance and jealousy, his face revealing true solemnity for the first time. As a member of the Uchiha clan, he understood better than anyone the insurmountable gap between jonin and chuunin. The Sharingan could discern movement, but it could not make up for the vast gap in strength and experience.
“Hehehe… Looks like you’re ready to die?” The masked old man let out an unpleasant laugh, seemingly enjoying his prey’s dying fear. “Then… let’s start with that brat who destroyed my ‘Eight-Eyed Spider’!”
His eyes were fixed on Ye Feng like a poisonous snake!
Before he finished speaking, his hands shook violently!
whoosh!
The centipede puppet and the evil ghost puppet moved at the same time!
The centipede puppet shot out like an arrow, darting along the ground, aiming directly at Hinata Lian, who seemed the least threatening and the easiest to control! Its hideous mouth opened, spewing out a purplish poisonous mist!
The evil ghost puppet took heavy steps, like a moving mountain, waving the giant axe in its hand, and chopped down at Captain Kenji and Uchiha Homura with a whistling sound that tore through the air!
Once it strikes, it’s like thunder and lightning, leaving no chance for anyone to breathe!
“Len! Retreat!” Captain Kenji’s eyes were bloodshot, and he wanted to rescue, but the evil ghost puppet’s devastating axe had already fallen on his head! He could only mobilize all the remaining chakra in his body!
“Earth Escape: Hardening Technique!”
He crossed his arms, covered himself with a thick layer of rock armor, and faced the giant axe head-on!
“Flame! Use fire escape to cover!” Kenji roared angrily.
The instinct for survival made Yan react immediately! The Sharingan opened instantly, capturing the trajectory of the falling giant axe!
The huge fireball roared out and slammed into the evil ghost puppet!
The giant axe collided with the rock arm, making a deafening sound! Captain Kenji felt an irresistible and terrifying force coming from him. The rock armor on his arms instantly shattered, and he flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, blood gushing out!
Although Yan’s fireball was incredibly powerful, it only left a charred mark on the thick armor of the evil ghost puppet, causing no substantial damage! The evil ghost puppet didn’t even sway!
Elsewhere, Hinata Lian was also horrified by the rapidly approaching poisonous fog and centipede puppets! She tried her best to dodge, but she couldn’t keep up with the speed!
Immediately afterwards, the centipede puppet’s body, like a long steel whip, lashed Huitian’s defense shield fiercely!
Lian flew backward like a spinning top, landing heavily on the ground. Blood oozed from the corner of her mouth, and her breath instantly faded! She closed her eyes weakly.
After just one encounter, Captain Kenji was severely injured and unable to fight! Hinata Ren was seriously injured and unconscious! Uchiha Homura’s attacks also had little effect!
Team 73…is on the verge of annihilation!
Ye Feng took in all of this, but his heart was as cold as snow.
He didn’t bother with his seriously injured teammates because he knew it would be useless even if he went! The puppeteer’s target had been him from the very beginning!
All his attention was focused on the masked old man who was slowly approaching!
[Extreme Analysis] He worked frantically under the backlash of intense mental pain! Analyzing every subtle movement of his opponent, analyzing the energy cores and transmission weaknesses of the two puppets, analyzing… his own miniscule chances of victory!
“Hehehe…it seems like your teammates can’t hold on any longer, kid.” The masked old man approached step by step, like a cat teasing a mouse. “Now, it’s your turn. Tell me, what you just used…was that the Vacuum Jade? It’s really amazing, at such a young age, you can actually master B-level Wind Style…”
His tone was filled with curiosity.
Ye Feng didn’t answer, but slowly stood up from the ground. His face was pale, with blood still smeared at the corner of his mouth. His left arm hung limply, and his body trembled slightly from exhaustion. He looked extremely miserable.
But his dark eyes were surprisingly bright! Like a will-o’-the-wisp burning in the dark night, filled with cold madness!
“Want to know my secret?” Ye Feng’s voice was hoarse, yet it carried a heart-pounding calmness.
He suddenly raised his right hand, and began to gather the violent wind-attribute chakra in his palm again!
Vacuum Jade?! He actually wants to use it?!
A hint of surprise flashed across the masked old man’s eyes, then turned into deep disdain: “Hmph! You want to use the same trick a second time? Besides, with this little chakra you have… can you still hold on?”
He waved his hands, and the evil ghost puppet raised the giant axe again, while the centipede puppet also raised its ferocious head, ready to launch a fatal blow!
However, what condensed in Ye Feng’s palm was not a complete vacuum jade!
It was a ball of extremely unstable, violent energy, yet it was forcibly restrained by [Extreme Analysis] in an extremely sophisticated manner… a highly compressed wind-attribute chakra! Its form was more like… an amplified version of “Instant Stab,” more than ten times more powerful!
This was a deduction he’d made after analyzing the principles of the Vacuum Jade and the Instant Stab, combined with his own situation… a life-or-death attack! While perhaps not as powerful as the real Vacuum Jade, it was faster, more concentrated in penetration, and… also… more unstable! It could explode in his hands at any moment!
“Let’s take a gamble!” A hint of madness flashed in Ye Feng’s eyes!
He did not target the puppeteer, nor the two puppets!
His target is… Uchiha Homura!
Uchiha Homura, who was stunned and terrified because his attack was ineffective and his teammates were defeated instantly!
“Flame!!” Ye Feng suddenly let out a roar!
This roar contained his last remaining mental strength, exploding in Yan’s mind like thunder!
Uchiha Yan’s whole body trembled, like a trapped beast that was awakened, and he subconsciously looked at Ye Feng!
He saw the green light emitting a destructive aura in Ye Feng’s palm!
He saw the cold and resolute look in Ye Feng’s eyes!
He saw… Night Breeze threw that ball of violent energy towards him… no! It was towards the joint where the axe connected to the arm of the evil ghost puppet beside him that had just knocked Captain Kenji away and was about to attack again!
“Yefeng! What are you doing?!” Yan exclaimed subconsciously!
But Ye Feng ignored him!
call out–!!!
That extremely unstable compressed wind ball cut through the air like a meteor at a speed that surpassed the instant piercing speed!
The masked old man’s pupils suddenly shrank! He wanted to stop it, but it was too late! He had never expected that Ye Feng’s goal would be this!
A loud noise that was duller but more penetrating than the previous vacuum jade explosion!
The compressed wind bomb accurately hit the joint of the evil ghost puppet’s axe-holding arm! That was the relatively weak structural point that [Extreme Analysis] instantly identified!
Violent, highly concentrated wind energy exploded instantly!
Snap——!!!
There was a sound like metal being torn apart!
The demon puppet’s thick arm, holding the giant axe, was actually… blown off! The huge axe flew out of its hand and fell to the ground!
“My ‘Ghost Rock’!!!” the masked old man let out a shrill scream! This evil ghost puppet was his masterpiece, having spent countless efforts to create! And yet… it was actually destroyed by a little ghost?!
And at the moment when everyone’s attention was attracted by this shocking blow!
He endured the excruciating pain in his body and the blurred consciousness, and concentrated the last bit of chakra under his feet!
His figure was like a ghost, heading in the opposite direction of the puppeteer – that is, the cliff at the edge of the high ground, and he rushed away in a staggering but extremely swift posture!
escape!
That’s right! His goal from the beginning was not to kill the enemy, nor to save his teammates!
But… run away!
After analyzing that the gap in strength between the two sides was huge and that a head-on fight would surely lead to death, all his calculations and outbursts were just to create a chance… for himself to escape!
Use the Vacuum Jade to destroy the Spider Puppet and weaken the enemy’s long-range threat!
Using the last bit of strength and the “cooperation” of Flame (although Flame is completely passive) to disable the attack capability of the evil ghost puppet is the way to clear the biggest obstacle on your escape route!
As for the puppeteer and the centipede puppet? Let White Fang or the subsequent support troops deal with that! He has no interest in staying and being buried with them!
“Little bastard! You want to run?!” The masked old man reacted instantly! He looked at Ye Feng’s back as he fled like a stray dog, and he was so angry that his whole body was shaking! The murderous intent gushed out like a substance!
He waved his hands, and the extremely fast centipede puppet immediately turned into a black shadow and chased after Ye Feng! At the same time, he also flashed a few times and followed closely behind!
He would never let this brat who destroyed his two favorite puppets and played a trick on him leave alive!
Ye Feng felt the deadly threat rapidly approaching from behind, and his heart went cold. He knew that with his speed, he could never outrun the jonin and the centipede puppet, which was known for its speed!
But he… still has one last trump card!
Just when he was about to reach the edge of the cliff!
He suddenly took out from his ninja tool bag… the two specially made chakra pills that he had never been willing to use!
Without any hesitation, he stuffed both ration pills into his mouth!
A huge, yet extremely violent, and complex chakra instantly exploded in his body! Like a flood or a beast, it impacted his already damaged meridians!
Severe pain! Unimaginable pain! As if my body was being torn apart!
But at the same time, a powerful force temporarily filled his limbs and bones!
“Ah …!!!”
Ye Feng let out a suppressed roar and injected this violent chakra into his legs without reservation!
His speed… skyrocketed again! Like an arrow shot from a bow, he rushed towards the cliff!
Then…jump!
He actually…jumped off a cliff dozens of meters high!
“What?!” The masked old man and the centipede puppet that were chasing him were both stunned! This kid… wants to commit suicide?!
But they soon discovered something was wrong!
I saw that Ye Feng twisted his body forcefully while falling, and used his intact right hand to fiercely nail a kunai with an explosive tag into the cliff!
A violent explosion sounded! Debris flew everywhere! The shockwave and smoke from the explosion instantly engulfed Ye Feng’s figure! It also obstructed the sight of the puppeteer and the centipede puppet!
“Bastard! Bastard!” The masked old man stood on the edge of the cliff, looking at the billowing smoke and the bottomless darkness below, and screamed in anger! But in the end, he chose not to chase him. God knows if that brat has any other traps! Besides, Konoha’s reinforcements could arrive at any time!
He looked at the bottom of the cliff with great resentment, then looked at the remaining and seriously injured Konoha ninjas on the high ground. Finally, he snorted coldly and retreated unwillingly with the only remaining centipede puppet.
Below the cliff, deep in the forest.
Ye Feng’s figure fell from the sky like a broken sack, breaking countless branches, and finally fell heavily on a thick pile of fallen leaves.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, his vision went black, and he completely lost consciousness.
In the final consciousness, only one cold thought remained:
“I survived…”