Chapter 2: Remember, Don't Hurt These Guards!

Chapter 2: Remember, Don't Hurt These Guards!

"According to the intelligence, this should be the Dragon Vein up ahead, but why does it look like this?"

Sakura murmured, her eyes fixed on the massive steel fortress before her, her expression numb.

Outside the fortress, guards donned in green windbreakers stood vigil, accompanied by groups of steel puppets that patrolled incessantly.

The area exuded an aura that screamed "Unauthorized personnel keep out."

"The security here is indeed tight. It would be impossible for ordinary people to get in.

But we must verify our hypothesis!"

Yamato's expression turned solemn.

"Just by looking at them, I can tell they won't let us in easily! What should we do now? Do we force our way in?"

Naruto rubbed his head, a headache brewing.

"There's no need to force our way in. My Super Beast Scroll Painting can lure them out, and then we can enter."

Sai stated calmly, his confidence evident.

"Are you sure this is okay? Won't that be too much?" Sakura voiced her concern.

"To uncover the truth, we have no other choice. I'll trouble you, Sai, but remember... don't hurt those guards.

Our goal is only to uncover the truth."

Yamato emphasized seriously.

"I understand."

Sai nodded.

The group of four reached a secluded spot.

They immediately sprang into action.

Sai unfurled a large scroll and swiftly began to paint.

Before long, huge crows, rats, cats, dogs, tigers, and leopards made of ink appeared. They first scurried into other alleys and then suddenly rushed toward the steel fortress.

Naruto and the others quietly observed from their hidden spot, waiting for the right moment.

Outside the Steel Fortress.

A group of guards faced the incoming ink beasts, their faces devoid of panic. Instead, they scoffed:

"So it's the Super Beast Scroll Painting again. Are these the remnants of the rebellious ninja villages? Do they really think that by doing this, they can deal a blow to the Empire? They're just seeking their own demise."

"Remember, don't use ninjutsu to cause unnecessary destruction, and be quick about it!"

A guard beside him reminded.

"Do we even need ninjutsu to deal with these things? Here, take this!"

The guard who had been speaking raised his right hand, aimed at the incoming ink beasts, and flicked his thumb forcefully.

Bang!!!

The air friction caused a loud blast!

A pale white gas suddenly shot out from the guard's thumb and, with incredible speed, slammed into one of the ink beasts!

Boom!

The ink beast exploded into nothingness.

And then...

Bang, bang, bang! Rumble, rumble!

Successive air bombs were fired, causing the nearby ink beasts to explode one after another.

Countless droplets of black ink splattered!

These ink beasts couldn't even get close, let alone cause any disruption!

Hidden in the shadows, Naruto and his companions stared at the scene before them, dumbfounded.

"What kind of ninjutsu is this? It's so powerful..."

Naruto was left speechless.

"I don't sense any chakra flow. This might not even be ninjutsu..."

Sai murmured softly, his voice betraying a hint of unrest.

His secret technique, one of his proudest skills, had just been broken so easily?

These guards were stronger than expected!

"If it's not ninjutsu, then what is it?"

Naruto asked, confused.

"I don't know." Sai replied.

"Found them! You pathetic little mice hiding over there!"

Just as Naruto and Sai were talking.

Beside the guard who had just attacked, a long-haired man suddenly roared. He then pushed off the ground with his legs and, like a bolt of lightning, rushed toward the alley where the four of them were hiding!

"Damn, we've been found! These guys have sharp senses! Run, you guys! I'll use a clone to hold them back!"

Yamato growled.

A wooden clone quickly detached itself from his body and jumped out of the alley.

Facing the incoming guard, the clone performed a series of hand seals!

Wood Release: Silent Killing Binding Technique!

From the ground, a thick wooden pole shot out, flying toward the charging guard.

The guards were taken aback, a glint of surprise flashing across their faces. One of them exclaimed, "Is that Wood Release? Only the Senju clan can use such ninjutsu. Could there be a Senju among these rebels? Damn! I can somewhat understand the others' rebellion, but why is there a Senju among them? They could have been close to our great God-Emperor, basking in His Divine Radiance! How could you, you wretch, not cherish that opportunity? You deserve to die!"

The guard roared in anger, his right fist glowing with chakra as he unleashed a powerful punch toward the wooden pole.

A thunderous explosion reverberated as the wooden pole was struck, exploding into splinters.

"What?! Is this Tsunade's monstrous strength?!" the wood clone exclaimed in shock.

"Chakra! Storm Kick!" the guard who had destroyed the wooden clone shouted, his right leg lashing out with incredible force.

In the next moment, a visible air blade sliced through the air, cutting the wood clone in half! The force of the attack didn't diminish, and it continued for dozens of meters before disappearing.

Even the ground was left with a long gash from the air blade's path.

"So... so strong!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief as he watched the guard effortlessly defeat Yamato's wood clone. He could feel his stomach churn as he witnessed the air blade the guard had drawn with his kick.

Why were these guards of the God-Emperor Empire so powerful? This kind of strength would undoubtedly make them top-tier shinobi even in Konoha.

"Rebels! You won't get away! Stay right there!" the other guards shouted as they closed in.

One of them had already reached Sakura, and he threw a powerful punch at her.

"Who's afraid of whom?! Monster Strength!" Sakura shouted back, her fist colliding with the guard's.

The impact caused the ground to shake, and while the guard stumbled back a few steps, Sakura cried out in pain, her arm bruised from the clash, and she crashed into a wall behind her.

Boom!!! Dust and debris filled the air as a building was reduced to rubble.

Sakura's fate hung in the balance.

"Sakura!" Naruto screamed, his heart filled with anxiety.

"Rebels! Die!" another guard shouted as he approached Naruto, firing needle-like wind chakra projectiles from a distance.

Naruto quickly dodged and created multiple shadow clones.

In an instant, a group of Narutos appeared, rushing toward the guard who had attacked Sakura and the one in front of him.

Facing the onslaught of Narutos, the two guards merely smirked.

"Chakra! Paper Charm!" they chanted, their bodies glowing with a pale white aura.

The Narutos punched and kicked, but the guards' bodies moved with the wind, dodging the attacks with inhuman agility and counterattacking with devastating punches that exploded the shadow clones.

These shadow clones were no match for the guards.

In the blink of an eye, one of the guards lunged at Naruto's real body, throwing a powerful punch.

"Chakra! Binding!"

Boom!!! Naruto crossed his arms in front of him, blocking the punch but was still slammed into a nearby building.

He struggled to get up, his arms throbbing in pain, but he found his limbs unresponsive, leaving him unable to move. He could only lie on the ground and watch as the guard slowly approached.

"So... so strong... Why are these guards so powerful, one after another?... They feel even stronger than Kakashi-sensei..." Naruto muttered, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He had trained with Jiraiya for three years, and the Sannin had always affirmed his strength, saying he could become an elite shinobi of Konoha.

But now... he had been defeated so easily?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end