novelleonline Chapter 435: Chiyo Captured|Dojutsu: Sukunahikona
Chapter 435: Chiyo Captured|Dojutsu: Sukunahikona
Two days later, the Fourth Division of Ninja Forces smoothly arrived in the Land of Rivers.
Under Kabuto's instructions, Kakashi, Kurenai, and the others began setting up camp.
Before long, a temporary base capable of housing five thousand people rose from the ground.
Around the perimeter, Kabuto had already led the Summoning Beast Ninja Unit to lay down traps.
In addition, he arranged for venomous snakes and White Zetsu to act as hidden sentries.
Any Konoha Ninja approaching the temporary base would be discovered immediately.
In fact, during the two days before Kitazawa and the others arrived, Kabuto had already captured three Konoha Ninja squads.
They were all Konoha ANBU Ninjas sent by Rasa to gather intelligence.
"Teacher Kitazawa." Kabuto stepped into the tent prepared for Kitazawa and went straight to the point. "What should we do with Baki?"
"Keep him detained for now." Kitazawa considered briefly before answering.
Baki was Gaara's teacher. Gaara had already joined the Genius Class, so killing Baki would not be appropriate.
Besides, Kitazawa also intended to form a Ninja team composed of Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari—the three siblings.
"Understood." Kabuto paused, then asked, "Will Teacher Kitazawa attend the upcoming strategy meeting?"
"No." Kitazawa shook his head. "As I said before, I am merely an observer."
"I understand, Teacher Kitazawa." Kabuto felt slightly reassured.
This situation was precisely what he wanted. It was not that he feared Kitazawa would take credit.
After all, Kitazawa was already the Hokage; additional merit meant little to him. What Kabuto feared was that once Kitazawa acted personally, the war would end instantly.
As a battlefield commander, he would lose his opportunity to prove himself.
Kabuto bowed slightly and turned to leave.
"White Zetsu." Kitazawa thought for a moment and called out.
"Hokage-sama." White Zetsu entered from outside the tent.
"How are the other three Ninja divisions?" Kitazawa asked casually.
"They have all reached their designated positions." White Zetsu replied, "For now, there have been no clashes with the other three great Ninja villages."
The designated positions referred to the smaller nations bordering the Five Great Nations—battlefields chosen for this conflict.
For example, the battlefield between the Fourth Division and the Hidden Sand Village was set in the Land of Rivers.
This was an unspoken understanding among the Five Great Villages.
They used the smaller border nations as battlegrounds to avoid damaging their own territories.
"Inform me immediately if anything happens." Kitazawa waved his hand.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." White Zetsu sank into the ground and vanished.
Kitazawa stretched lazily and lay back on the carpet.
At that moment, three lines of text suddenly appeared before him.
[Current Mission: Incite the Fourth Great Ninja War, become the hidden mastermind of the Ninja World.]
[Mission Reward: Ōtsutsuki Clan bloodline purity increased by 30%.]
[Host has completed the mission. Reward issued.]
Kitazawa immediately straightened and sat upright.
This system mission had finally been completed. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Because the reward was the purity of the Ōtsutsuki Clan bloodline.
Kitazawa's Ōtsutsuki bloodline had already reached 100%.
With the completion of this mission, its purity also reached 100%.
[Congratulations. Host has become a true Ōtsutsuki. Acquired Dōjutsu: Origami Replacement Technique.]
[Origami Replacement Technique: At the moment of being attacked, transform into a red paper crane to evade, then reappear anywhere.]
[Note: All Ōtsutsuki Clan Dōjutsu can be obtained through future system missions.]
Kitazawa thought to himself, as expected.
Now that both had reached 100%, he was comparable to the Ōtsutsuki Clan of the universe—not merely the branch on the moon.
The Origami Replacement Technique originated from Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's blue Rinnegan, a Dōjutsu unique to him.
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki had been sent to the Ninja World to hunt down Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
[Current Mission: Help Kurenai's Team Gain Fame.]
[Mission Reward: Sukunahikona.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa narrowed his eyes slightly.
Sukunahikona was a Dōjutsu unique to Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
Its ability was to shrink anything, though only inanimate objects. As for living beings, one could only shrink oneself.
This Dōjutsu was extremely useful for defense and escape.
If Kitazawa had possessed it during his battle with Uchiha Madara, he could have shrunk the meteor Madara summoned.
Escaping would have been even simpler. He could shrink himself to the size of an ant, becoming nearly impossible to notice.
However, the Chakra consumption was enormous.
And it merely reduced size—it did not weaken the target.
As for Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, he had come to the Ninja World alongside Ōtsutsuki Kaguya to plant the Divine Tree.
Yet he was ambushed by Kaguya and turned into nourishment for the Divine Tree. Even so, he did not die and now parasitizes a monk named Jigen.
Kitazawa nodded in satisfaction.
That earlier note was indeed true.
He quickly fell into contemplation. How could he help Kurenai's Team gain fame?
In terms of strength, it was not difficult. Kurenai's Team consisted of Kurama Yakumo, Karin, and Kiba.
With his assistance, Kurenai herself already possessed the strength of an Elite Jonin.
Yakumo needed no further explanation. Karin was now the One-Tails Jinchuriki. Kiba was somewhat weaker, but still at the level of a Jonin.
The only issue was providing them with a stage to earn their reputation.
"Kitazawa, I'm back!" Kurenai's smiling face appeared before him.
"Is your strategy meeting finished?" Kitazawa patted the carpet beside him and asked.
"It's finished. There wasn't much to it. Kabuto just assigned tasks."
Kurenai sat beside him, took out a mission scroll, and said, "Our team's mission is to rescue various outposts."
Ninja wars generally take two forms.
One is large-scale, head-on melee combat. But that form is rare. It does not allow Ninjas to fully utilize their strengths.
Ninjas excel at infiltration and assassination.
The second form allows them to display those strengths.
It involves small-scale skirmishes—contesting outposts, conducting rescues, or launching ambushes.
The rescue mission assigned to Kurenai's Team was undoubtedly S-rank—the most dangerous category.
Because they would need to traverse the entire battlefield to execute rescues.
"What is Konoha's war strategy?" Kitazawa asked after a moment of thought.
"It's positional warfare." Kurenai replied, "According to Kabuto, Sunagakure has established many outposts."
Positional warfare meant Sunagakure intended to prolong the conflict. They aimed to turn it into a war of attrition.
Kitazawa immediately understood.
This strategy was most likely devised by Chiyo.
He pondered briefly and came up with an idea. That idea was to leak Kurenai's Team's movements to Sunagakure.
Under normal circumstances, such an act would be an outright betrayal.
But Kitazawa understood the strength of Kurenai's Team, and he intended to protect them secretly.
Thus, what seemed like betrayal would instead become a trap. Especially since Kurenai's relationship with him was widely known.
"When does your team depart?" Kitazawa returned to his senses and asked.
"We depart after resting for two hours." Kurenai replied, "Our first target is the outpost at the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire."
"Then don't waste time resting." Kitazawa lay down and patted the carpet.
"Come, rest here." Kurenai smiled and lay down beside him.
---
Time passed slowly.
Two hours later, Kurenai gathered Yakumo, Karin, and Kiba and departed from the temporary base.
Not only them, but also other Ninja teams set out after receiving their respective missions.
"White Zetsu." Kitazawa sat up and called out.
"Hokage-sama." White Zetsu walked in.
"Leak Kurenai's Team's location to Sunagakure the day after tomorrow," Kitazawa instructed.
The reason for waiting two days was primarily to avoid arousing suspicion from Sunagakure's side.
After Kurenai's Team had been active on the battlefield for two days, White Zetsu's delivery of their location would appear far more credible.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." White Zetsu responded.
Transmitting intelligence was a simple matter for it.
It possessed not only the ability to burrow underground, but also mastery of Transformation Jutsu.
After White Zetsu left, Kitazawa found himself with nothing to do.
If not for the system mission, he would have personally fought the four villages and ended the Fourth Great Ninja War in an instant.
But from the current perspective, his decision had clearly been correct.
After all, three system missions related to the Fourth Great Ninja War had already been triggered.
"Konan." Kitazawa smiled and called out.
Since there was nothing to do, he might as well find something to do.
Konan appeared before him and was promptly pulled into the bedding.
---
Time advanced to the third day.
Sunagakure's temporary base.
"Kazekage-sama." An ANBU Ninja hurried into the main tent.
"What is it?" Rasa asked calmly.
"We have discovered the whereabouts of Kurenai's Team." The ANBU Ninja spoke in a low voice.
"Kurenai?" Rasa raised an eyebrow. "Kitazawa's girlfriend?"
"That's her." The ANBU Ninja confirmed.
"Where are they?" Rasa narrowed his eyes.
"At an outpost on the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire." The ANBU Ninja explained.
He also recounted the earlier events.
Their Sand Ninja team had attacked a Konoha outpost and encountered Kurenai's Team there.
"So they're still stationed at that outpost?" Rasa paced twice unconsciously.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama." The ANBU Ninja lowered his voice.
"Go invite Chiyo." Rasa decided after a brief pause.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama." The ANBU Ninja turned and left.
Soon after, Chiyo entered the tent.
"Chiyo, what do you think?" Rasa explained the situation regarding Kurenai's Team and asked.
"This is indeed a rare opportunity." Chiyo pondered for a moment.
"If we capture Kurenai, we will certainly be able to retrieve Gaara," she said thoughtfully.
"From what I understand, the most troublesome members of Kurenai's Team are Kurenai herself and Yakumo. Their Genjutsu is exceptionally advanced."
"But, Elder Chiyo, your puppets should be completely immune to Genjutsu." Rasa paused before continuing.
Puppets were inanimate objects. They could not be affected by illusions.
As long as Chiyo herself did not fall under Yakumo's Genjutsu, there would be no issue.
As for Karin and Kiba, they were not particularly threatening.
One was a Medical Ninja. The other was from the Inuzuka Clan. At most, they were standard Jonin-level.
"Then I will make the trip." Chiyo understood Rasa's meaning immediately.
He wanted her to capture Kurenai's Team.
Indeed, sending her was the safest course. Rasa, as Kazekage, needed to remain at headquarters.
"Thank you for your efforts, Elder Chiyo," Rasa said solemnly.
"I will depart at once." Chiyo immediately set out with three Hidden Sand Jonin.
---
Meanwhile, at the southeastern outpost.
Kurenai and her team were waiting for the Konoha Ninja squad that would replace them.
Suddenly, Karin's eyes snapped open.
"Enemies?" Kurenai asked immediately.
After becoming the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Karin had awakened the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
Although Kiba also possessed sensory abilities, the Mind's Eye of the Kagura far surpassed his.
During their prior missions, this ability had allowed them to avoid Hidden Sand Ninja multiple times.
"Yes." Karin nodded. "Four Hidden Sand Jonin."
"A four-Jonin squad is unusual unless they are on a high-priority mission," Kurenai frowned slightly. "Are they coming for us?"
"Judging by their trajectory, they are heading directly here," Karin confirmed.
"The replacement team hasn't arrived yet." Kurenai considered briefly. "Prepare for battle."
They could retreat. But there was no need.
"Yes!" Yakumo, Karin, and Inuzuka Kiba responded in unison.
Kurenai moved to a high vantage point and looked into the distance.
Soon, four figures came into view.
"Chiyo?" Kurenai felt a flicker of surprise. "Something isn't right."
Yakumo analyzed calmly. "For Elder Chiyo, a high-ranking official of the Hidden Sand, to appear here…"
"Unless she already knew we were here."
"She's most likely here to capture us." Kurenai let out a light snort.
Given her relationship with Kitazawa, capturing her would be of immense value to the Hidden Sand Village.
"Then they've made a grave mistake!" Kiba's eyes lit up with excitement. "If our team captures Chiyo, it'll be a tremendous achievement!"
"It would indeed be a tremendous achievement." Kurenai paused briefly before smiling.
"Teacher Kurenai, should we capture her?" Kiba asked eagerly.
"Karin, you hold off Chiyo. We'll deal with the other Sand Jonin first, then come support you." Kurenai made her decision swiftly.
Chiyo was a legendary Puppeteer in the Ninja World. And puppets were immune to Genjutsu.
Whether it was Kurenai or Yakumo, facing Chiyo directly would be difficult.
Kiba lacked the raw strength to contend with her. Only Karin—the One-Tail Jinchuriki—could hold her back.
At that moment, Chiyo and the three Jonin halted.
She looked up toward the outpost.
"Kurenai. If you surrender, I will spare your three students." Chiyo's voice rang out clearly.
"Do you truly believe that's possible, Elder Chiyo?" Kurenai replied with a faint smile.
"Knowing it's me, you're still this confident?" Chiyo immediately produced a scroll. "Then let me see how much strength you truly possess."
Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu!
In an instant, ten white-robed puppets materialized around her.
Seeing this, Karin moved first.
"…?" Chiyo couldn't help but reveal a puzzled expression. What was happening?
She had expected her opponent to be Kurenai or Yakumo. Instead, it was the Medical Ninja, Karin.
Chiyo contemplated briefly and flicked her fingers.
A cold gleam flashed.
All ten puppets surged forward. A rain of ninja tools shot out from them, aimed directly at Karin.
Tailed Beast Chakra Mode! Karin formed hand seals.
Dark Chakra erupted, forming a Tailed Beast cloak around her body. At the same time, a single tail extended behind her.
"One-Tail Jinchuriki!" Chiyo's expression darkened instantly.
Shock and Anger intertwined in her gaze.
Shock—because she had never expected a Jinchuriki to be in Kurenai's team.
Anger—because the One-Tail, once the Hidden Sand Village's Tailed Beast, was now being wielded against her.
Chakra Enhanced Strength!
Unaware of Chiyo's thoughts, Karin clenched her fist. She shattered the incoming tools and charged straight at Chiyo.
Mechanical Light Shield Block!
Chiyo reacted instantly.
Three puppets moved to shield her. They raised their arms, forming a Chakra barrier.
Boom!
The three puppets were blasted backward by Karin's punch.
"Tsunade's Chakra Enhanced Strength?" Chiyo felt the battle turning unfavorable.
A One-Tail Jinchuriki combined with Chakra Enhanced Strength was no less troublesome than facing Tsunade herself.
For a fleeting moment, Chiyo considered retreating. But at that instant, Kurenai, Yakumo, and Kiba surrounded her.
"How is this possible?" Chiyo instinctively glanced at the three fallen Sand Jonin, disbelief flashing across her face.
Had they been defeated so quickly?
Although Yakumo's Genjutsu had been exceptional during her graduation exam, the Hidden Sand Village had never obtained detailed intelligence.
Especially the fact that she possessed Mangekyō-level illusions—they had no knowledge of it.
They only knew Yakumo's illusions were powerful. They had no concept of just how powerful.
"Elder Chiyo, surrender now, and you may avoid unnecessary suffering." Kurenai returned Chiyo's earlier words to her with a calm smile.
Chiyo's expression wavered.
In the next second, her fingers danced. All ten puppets rushed toward Kurenai and the others.
Meanwhile, she retreated rapidly.
"Karin and Kiba, handle the ten puppets!" Kurenai ordered immediately. "Yakumo, with me! Don't let her escape!"
Chakra Enhanced Strength! Karin clenched her fist once more.
Surging Chakra burst forth, making her fist blaze with intensity, as if stained with blood. She struck the nearest puppet.
The puppet instinctively raised its arms. Rotating blades extended from them.
Crack!
Karin's punch shattered the blades and struck the puppet's torso.
It exploded into fragments instantly.
Human Beast Mixture Transformation — Three-Headed Wolf!
Kiba merged with Akamaru, transforming into a massive Three-Headed Wolf.
The beast lunged forward. Its three jaws snapped down on three separate puppets at once.
Chiyo, retreating swiftly, flicked her fingers again.
Three Jewels Suction Crushing!
Three puppets formed a triangular formation. A violent whirlwind erupted outward.
Kurenai and Yakumo felt a tremendous suction force dragging them toward the formation.
The closer they drew, the greater the crushing pressure became. If they remained within it, they would be torn apart.
Genjutsu: Creation!
Yakumo threw three scrolls. In the next instant, three earthen walls rose before them.
The suction weakened.
Kurenai stepped against the wall and leapt into the air.
Yin Release: Rasengan! She descended swiftly.
A high-speed rotating Chakra sphere formed before her, aimed directly at the three puppets.
Chiyo's eyes sharpened. She forced the puppets to retreat while launching a flurry of Kunai.
Puppet Technique: Manipulating Attack Blades!
Threads trailed from the Kunai. If they struck Kurenai, she would be entangled instantly.
Super Beast Imitating Drawing! Yakumo unfurled a blank scroll.
With a casual motion of her hand, countless birds emerged, intercepting the Kunai mid-air.
Boom!
The Yin Release: Rasengan struck. Two of the three puppets were too slow and were blasted away.
Super Beast Imitating Drawing!
A giant eagle burst forth from Yakumo's scroll. She grasped its talon.
The eagle soared upward before hurling Yakumo forward with force. Yakumo landed directly before Chiyo.
Terrifying Illusion!
Illusion of Five Senses!
Chiyo's body stiffened.
A dazed look clouded her face.
Though she attempted to dispel the Genjutsu consciously, the combination of Terrifying Illusion and Illusion of Five Senses Technique overwhelmed her entirely.
She forgot even the thought of resistance.
"We won!"
Seeing the puppets cease their attacks, Kiba immediately separated from Akamaru, excitement evident in his voice.
"Everyone did well." Kurenai praised calmly. "Especially Yakumo."
"It was Karin's contribution." Yakumo smiled faintly.
"Everyone contributed." Kurenai reflected briefly.
"To prevent Sand Ninjas from arriving as reinforcements, Yakumo and Kiba—take Chiyo and withdraw immediately."
With Yakumo present, unless they encountered Rasa himself, the two would remain safe.
As for herself and Karin remaining at the outpost, it followed the same reasoning.
With the One-Tail Jinchuriki present, they could hold their ground until the replacement squad arrived.
"Yes, Teacher Kurenai." Yakumo and Kiba answered in unison.
Akamaru enlarged instantly, carrying the unconscious Chiyo away.
Meanwhile, high above in the sky, Kitazawa—his Byakugan activated—had witnessed everything.
[Current Task: Help Kurenai's Team Gain Fame.]
[Task Reward: Sukunahikona.]
[Host has completed the task. Reward issued.]
That very afternoon, through Kitazawa's deliberate promotion, the system task was smoothly completed, and he obtained Sukunahikona.
When news of Chiyo's capture reached the Hidden Sand Village, Rasa and Ebizo remained speechless for a long while.