The Suna-nin formed a circle, inwardly marveling at what fool this was, to be taken down so easily.
With that many kunai and three explosive tags, death was certain.
However, from within the thick smoke of the explosive tags, a voice rang out:
"Water Release: Water Cutting Wave!"
A high-speed water jet shot out violently, cutting horizontally through the nearby circle of Suna-nin.
The Water Cutting Wave severed several Suna-nin at the waist, also cutting through the smoke from the explosive tags.
When the thick smoke was blown away by the strong wind, Yōkō had not fallen; he still stood in place.
Yōzaru was greatly shocked. The Squadron Leader's clothes were torn in many places, and he looked somewhat disheveled, but there wasn't the slightest trace of blood on his body.
"What are you standing around for! Hurry up and throw the Poison Gourd!"
Hearing the Squadron Leader's vigorous reminder, Yōzaru quickly threw the Poison Gourd and followed up with a Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
With no Suna-nin guarding the lake shore, the Poison Gourd successfully fell into the lake water and burst open, dispersing the poison.
Yōzaru fled for his life upfront, while Yōkō covered the rear.
Kanojo, maneuvering the glider in the air, saw the Squadron Leader's formidable appearance.
The sharp, poisoned blade of a Suna-nin puppet actually couldn't pierce the Squadron Leader's skin?
The poisoned tip of the blade shattered and flew off.
After flying high into the sky with the Squadron Leader, Kanojo couldn't help but ask: "Squadron Leader, what ability was that?"
Yōkō said casually: "I recently developed a new jutsu. It seems the effect is pretty good now."
As his strength increased, Yōkō had reached the level where he could create his own jutsu.
Creating a jutsu that had never appeared in the shinobi world before was something even the Anbu couldn't control.
Water Attribute Chakra appeared in his hand, but the Crystallization Refinement of the Water Attribute Chakra failed.
There was still a significant difference between a shinobi's primary and secondary nature chakra. The refinement speed and control were different.
Crystallizing Earth Attribute Chakra was completed instantly with the system's help. Developing the Crystallization Refinement for Water Attribute Chakra himself, he didn't know how much time it would take.
If he could crystallize two natures of chakra, one for attack and one for defense, he didn't dare imagine how strong he would be.
The first two oasis lakes were small, and they successfully poisoned them without much effort.
The third oasis lake was very large, guarded by three Suna-nin Battalions.
Yōkō still chose the tactic of diving with the glider, sending a Shadow Clone carrying the Poison Gourd down from the sky.
This time, the Shadow Clone didn't use any other flashy methods, unlike the previous life where it used both the Sharingan and Wind Release to dodge.
The Shadow Clone carried the Poison Gourd on its back and used the Absolute Defense: Copper Light.
All the Suna-nin's attacks, whether explosive tags or puppets, could not break the Shadow Clone's defense.
The Shadow Clone's durability had increased by several levels.
Such formidable defensive power caught the Suna-nin off guard.
One Suna-nin Battalion Commander had seen this kind of technique before and asked doubtfully, "Is that Earth Release: Earth Spear?"
The penetration happened in an instant. The Shadow Clone crashed into the lake water and completed the poisoning.
High in the sky, Yōkō was in an excellent mood. Having an absolute defense felt really good.
The only downside was that his clothes easily became tattered, making him look a bit disheveled.
Lightning Release countered Earth Release. As long as he was wary of Lightning Release users in the future, he could ensure his survival.
If he were to die, it would be like when he challenged Hatake Sakumo, forcing out the enemy's trump card to actively collect special abilities.
After the mission, following the strategy from his previous life, Yōkō met the young girl Pakura by the Crescent Moon Lake.
"You can't drink this water, it's clearly highly poisonous. If you want water, leave this place and find another oasis."
The girl looked at Yōkō's chapped lips and said, "Thank you for the reminder, but don't worry, I have a way. I can get water to drink."
It was the same dialogue as in his previous life. Yōkō felt a sense of dizziness.
Pakura seeing him, and him seeing Pakura, were completely different feelings.
This was his reunion with Pakura, but it was Pakura's first time meeting him.
His memories contained Pakura, but she saw him as a stranger.
The sense of distance from Pakura made Yōkō feel somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.
If he turned and left in this life, would he never have any intersection with Pakura again?
No matter how familiar Yōkō was with Pakura, in this life he had to pretend to be a stranger and slowly get close to her.
He helped Pakura set up a device to collect transpired water, and later, in the massive sandstorm in the middle of the night, he retrieved the naked Pakura.
After using Earth Release: Earth-Style Rising Spears to reinforce the three children's tent, Pakura's impression of him got better and better.
Yōkō taught Pakura how to efficiently distill drinking water and how to refine chakra.
A few days later, Yōkō admired Pakura's smooth back and said, "Pakura, I'm not worried about your speed in learning ninjutsu, but I am a bit worried about your mindset."
"Mindset?" Pakura looked up, puzzled. "What mindset?"
Yōkō said:
"You wish to change the terrible life in the Land of Wind, and I respect your ideal.
However, after you master ninjutsu, you will come into contact with many shinobi.
You must remember, a shinobi is a violent machine that practices killing techniques and carries out killing missions every day.
You must be careful of shinobi. Assume the worst and be wary of the shinobi around you.
Once you let your guard down, you might be harmed or killed by a shinobi.
Pakura, if you encounter a shinobi named Rasa, be extremely careful."
Pakura grew more and more confused as she listened, but she memorized the name Rasa.
A few days later, Yōkō saw Yōzaru's signal flare. He hugged Pakura and bid her farewell.
Rasa and a Jōnin, leading a squadron, landed on the opposite side of the Crescent Moon Lake.
Yōkō did not engage in a protracted fight and body-flickered away.
Pakura was surprised to discover that a Suna-nin introduced himself as Rasa!
The very Rasa that Kōji had emphasized a few days ago, telling her to be careful of!
This Rasa was the Third Kazekage's student, a rising star of Sunagakure who mastered Magnet Release: Gold Dust.
Pakura suddenly felt very afraid. Entering Sunagakure didn't seem like such a good thing.
Watching Kōji disappear, Pakura put away her usual liveliness; her whole person seemed to have changed.
Kōji had said that a shinobi is a violent machine that practices killing techniques and carries out killing missions every day.
She was no longer a girl wandering the Land of Wind; she would soon be a shinobi of Sunagakure.
Rasa said to Pakura: "Pakura, we will take you back to the village. The Third Hokage-sensei will carefully select a Jōnin-sensei for you to help you master your ability."
Pakura asked: "I saved three children on my journey. Can they come with me to Sunagakure?"
Rasa looked at the three timid children in the distance, thinking that he could use them to control Pakura, and said, "Yes."
After finding the separated Kanojo and Tamo in the desert, Yōkō returned to the frontline camp in the Land of Rivers.
The high command's eyes lit up when they saw Fox.
Just like in the previous life, the poisoning was successful, the Suna camp relocated, and Konoha seized the opportunity to strike a heavy blow against the Suna-nin.
Yōkō presented the glider and took Hatake Sakumo for a flight high in the sky.
Hatake Sakumo experienced maneuvers like changing direction, climbing, and diving, and praised it profusely after landing.
In this life, Yōkō was kind-hearted and did not take action against Hatake Sakumo, sparing his life—he wouldn't let him fall to his death.
Later that night, Hatake Sakumo's assistant entered Yellow Dog's tent.
The assistant relayed Hatake Sakumo's request: regarding the glider, he still had some questions he didn't understand and needed to ask Fox again.
Yellow Dog was slightly puzzled, but said verbally: "I'll send Fox over right away."
After the assistant left, Yellow Dog had someone summon Fox.
"Vice-Commander Hatake Sakumo has summoned you," Yellow Dog said, feigning nonchalance. "Fox, before you joined the Anbu, did you have any dealings with Hatake Sakumo?"
Yōkō was startled. He quickly said, "No, absolutely not. This is only the third time I've met Lord Sakumo."
***
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(End of Chapter)