https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-89-The-Year-s-Best-Assist-Danzo-/12832089/
Chapter 88: The Eighty-Eighth Forced Retreat of a Shadow-Level Stronger!
Chapter 88: The Eighty-Eighth Forced Retreat of a Shadow-Level Stronger!
"Fire Release: Zhu Rong's Serpent Slash!"
Tang Ping extended his right index finger toward the golden cube in the sky.
The Zhu Rong form enveloping him responded in kind, shooting a pure white flame from his fingertip.
Whoosh!
The tiny flame expanded into a massive wave of white fire, as if it were about to engulf the falling golden cube.
The white fire ascended, while the golden sand descended. The two collided with a thunderous crash.
Boom!
The flames and the golden sand devoured each other.
The terrifying heat from the Serpent Slash melted the magnetic properties of the golden sand, causing it to rain down like golden droplets.
However, even with the immense power of the Serpent Slash, it was impossible to melt the entire golden cube in a short time. The cube continued to plummet, still intact.
If it struck, the several thousand tons of weight would crush anything in its path, whether it be flesh and blood or steel.
Yet, despite this, Tang Ping, still under the protection of his Zhu Rong form, did not move an inch.
It wasn't that he didn't know how to dodge; it was that he didn't need to.
Divine Sky Strike!
A whistling sound came from the side.
A translucent, powerful punch soared through the air, striking the building-sized golden cube.
While the Divine Sky Strike might not be great in terms of sustained damage or area of effect, its single-point explosive power was truly astonishing.
One hit was enough to shatter the golden cube, which was already weakened by the Serpent Slash, turning it into a shower of sand.
Although in the desert, where he held the home-field advantage, Rosha was undoubtedly a Shadow-level powerhouse.
But he couldn't withstand the combined efforts of Tang Ping and Hyuga Aoi.
Zhu Rong!
This S-rank Fire Release technique provided a significant boost to Tang Ping's capabilities.
Without it, he would have to summon Taiichi and Chube Maru to stand a chance against Rosha. With it, he was on par with elite jonin, and even a Shadow-level opponent wasn't out of reach.
The best part was that it could synergize with his Flame Cloak, leading to a qualitative transformation.
Now, with this core technique in his arsenal, he was at least an elite jonin, and a Shadow-level opponent was no longer an insurmountable challenge.
Soon, the golden sand fell to the ground, and the flames gradually dissipated.
"Swoosh!"
"Swoosh!"
Hyuga Aoi and Yamakawa Koji flanked Tang Ping, forming a triangular formation that subtly surrounded Rosha in the sky.
The meaning was clear: the next battle would be a team effort to overwhelm their opponent.
Rosha's expression remained calm.
His chakra was more than halfway depleted, but his combat strength was still intact.
However, he had to consider whether an injury here would affect the front lines.
While the Hidden Sand Village was one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, it had few top-tier strongers. Among the younger generation, only he and Yura were at that level.
If he were seriously injured, it would definitely impact the village's strategy.
Of course, if he had the confidence to kill them, he would be willing to pay the price.
The problem was that he didn't have that confidence.
With the Hyuga clan's young girl present, achieving a kill was incredibly difficult. Her last attack had already posed a significant threat to him.
After thinking it through, Rosha called out:
"Konoha truly is blessed, always producing an endless stream of geniuses. In the name of Rosha, I bestow upon you…!"
Since he had no confidence in killing them, he decided to praise them.
The higher their reputation, the less impact this failure would have.
After all, failing a mission against a team of geniuses would be considered normal, right?
Consider the example of the 'Semi-Deity' Hanzo the Salamander.
By bestowing the name 'Konoha's Three Ninja' on his opponents, Hanzo's failure to kill them later became a source of pride rather than a blemish on his record.
A name given by an enemy powerhouse carries more weight than praise from one's own village, as it is a testament to their reputation.
But… Tang Ping didn't want a name bestowed upon him, so he interrupted.
“This confrontation is just the beginning. If you can still gain the upper hand next time, we'll talk then!”
Titles can be good, but unwanted titles are a different story. The word "bestow" already indicates who had the upper hand during the fight. If he had been the one to emerge victorious, no one would have "bestowed" him a title.
He still had the Sage Mode in his arsenal, and Hyuga Aotsuki hadn't unleashed her full power. In this situation, he couldn't accept the humiliation of being bestowed a title, even if it was from the future "Fourth Kazekage."
"Is that so...!"
His gaze swept over the three, and Roshi caught the implication in Tohira's words. They had hidden techniques, and he hadn't truly defeated them, which was why they refused to accept his bestowed title.
Whoosh!
Without another word, Roshi turned and left. The mission had already failed, and there was no point in lingering to argue. It was better to leave.
"He left so quickly!"
Hyuga Aotsuki was somewhat annoyed. If the opponent had stayed, she might have tried to take down this Kage-level ninja.
"Forget it, there will be other opportunities!"
Tohira shook his head, calming the eager Hyuga Aotsuki, who seemed ready to chase after Roshi.
Don't be fooled by her petite face and innocent demeanor—she was actually quite dark and cold-blooded. This was her true nature, though it was completely hidden from view. Without this acting skill, she wouldn't have survived in the Hyuga clan.
Fortunately, Tohira had saved her from falling into the abyss. Unlike the Sharingan, the Byakugan wouldn't activate due to emotional fluctuations, so the Hyuga clan wouldn't have been wiped out before the Uchiha.
"Let's leave the Land of Wind!"
Tohira led the two away. They were still in the Land of Wind, and if they didn't leave soon, more Sand shinobi would arrive, putting them in danger. They were in no condition to fight.
"Yes, sir!" 2
The two followed him, and the only thing left behind was the desolate, scorched earth ravaged by various jutsu.
Meanwhile!
After returning, Roshi immediately placed Tohira's team on high alert. Both Tohira and Hyuga Aotsuki were incredibly powerful, and their young age made them even more noteworthy.
However, that was a concern for later. At the moment, Tohira and his team were looking at the group in front of them with complex expressions.
"Looks like you managed to escape from Roshi. This makes things much easier for me!"
Mitsurugi Shizukao greeted them, and behind him stood dozens of fully equipped Konoha shinobi. Clearly, they were there to "rescue" Team 404.
"Did Orochimaru-sama know Roshi would attack?"
Tohira frowned, his question not accusatory but seeking information that would affect his future dealings with Orochimaru.
"No, Orochimaru only used the cargo to lure out the spies in the camp. He didn't know who the Sand shinobi would send to pursue you. As long as you could hold out until we arrived, you would be safe!"
Mitsurugi Shizukao explained earnestly. Using the valuable cargo as bait was true, but there was no intention to put them in harm's way. If there had been, he wouldn't have been sent to rescue them.
In other words, Roshi's pursuit was an unexpected event. The mission was challenging, but it wasn't beyond Tohira's capabilities. Roshi's appearance was the unexpected factor.
"I see!"
After some thought, Tohira nodded, accepting the explanation. Their successful escape from Roshi had changed their status. Previously, would Mitsurugi Shizukao have explained so seriously to him?
After the teams reunited, they returned to camp smoothly. It was then that Tohira learned what the cargo was.
(End of Chapter)
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