A ship sailed into Kumoyagō Port.
The sea was not calm, with wind and waves crashing against the bow, as if trying to block the ship's advance.
"What's wrong, Lord Ryūjin?"
Several Kumo-nin saw Ryūjin quickly walk to the bow, gazing at Kumoyagō Port beyond the wind and waves.
Ryūjin had golden hair and wore a form-fitting mesh suit that accentuated her curves, over which was a blue short skirt.
She looked at the port and said, "I feel my heart racing. The big cat inside me is warning me about something."
The Kumo-nin guards were secretly pleased. Lord Ryūjin's control over the Tailed Beast was getting stronger and stronger; the Tailed Beast could even provide early warning now.
Who would come to a port in the northeast of the Land of Lightning to attack Lord Ryūjin?
The port opposite was calm, with dockworkers carrying bags of cargo.
Samurai hired by the captain whipped the dockworkers; everything looked normal.
Ryūjin jumped onto the railing.
The sea wind whipped against her blue skirt, making it flutter noisily.
She murmured, "I believe you, big cat..."
With that, Ryūjin jumped down from the bow, landing on the undulating sea surface and sprinting forward.
Seeing this, the four Kumo-nin guards quickly followed, jumping onto the sea surface.
On the shore, Yamashiro-dera said, "Sakumo, they've discovered us!"
"Ryūjin seems to have a peculiar sensing ability." Hatake Sakumo said:
"The Two-Tails is a Tailed Beast that controls special flames. Fighting on the sea surface is advantageous for us. Let's go, meet the Two-Tails Jinchūriki."
Hayama asked, "Lord Sakumo, what about the Anbu and Root ninja?"
"Don't mind them."
Throughout the journey, Fox had not contacted him. To protect Fox, he wouldn't take the risk in front of the Root ninja.
The five members of Sakumo's team left the warehouse where they were hiding and, facing the white waves, jumped onto the sea surface.
On the mountain peak to the side of the port, Yōkō and Otsu simultaneously took out scrolls and began recording intelligence on the Two-Tails Jinchūriki.
The higher-ups were especially cautious. To avoid being deceived, special missions were always executed by two people for an extra layer of insurance.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't trust Hatake Sakumo's investigation, so he sent the Anbu.
Danzo didn't trust the Anbu's investigation of Hatake Sakumo, so he sent Root to investigate the Anbu.
This was how organizations gradually became bloated. Like the Imperial Guard, the Eastern Depot, the Western Depot... they kept multiplying.
Seeing the five people charging from the shore, Ryūjin formed hand seals and spat out a mouse wrapped in blue flames from her mouth.
Yōkō immediately recorded: Fire Rat Jutsu, a special Fire Release of the Two-Tails Jinchūriki that appeared even during the First Shinobi World War.
The Fire Rat Jutsu split into over twenty smaller fire rats in the air, automatically seeking targets and charging toward Sakumo and the other five.
Yamashiro-dera stepped forward, formed hand seals, and used a large-scale Water Release: Water Formation Wall, blocking the over twenty fire rats.
Yōkō recorded on the scroll: Apart from its automatic tracking ability, the Fire Rat Jutsu's power isn't much stronger than ordinary Fire Release; it can be blocked by a Water Formation Wall.
When the Water Formation Wall fell, Ryūjin was shocked to find one person missing from in front of her.
Konoha's White Fang was gone, leaving only his four subordinates!
Ryūjin quickly looked up; a figure descended from the sky, a brilliant white blade aura radiating a scorching heat.
The surrounding air seemed to solidify, and the Two-Tails inside her transmitted waves of palpitations.
If struck by this blade, she would absolutely die!
The White Fang blade aura, crescent-shaped, instantly slashed down onto the sea surface.
Hatake Sakumo was stunned.
A translucent Chakra Cloak appeared on Ryūjin's body, tails emerged behind her, and in the last moment, a Chakra tail slapped the sea surface, pushing Ryūjin away.
Yōkō looked at that translucent red and blue dual-colored Chakra Cloak and recorded:
The Two-Tails' Chakra Cloak is different from other Jinchūrikis'; it's not dark red but red and blue. Judging from the water vapor steaming at her feet, the Two-Tails' Chakra Cloak has a high temperature, carrying some special flame attribute;
Furthermore, Ryūjin's Chakra Cloak can materialize; the tail struck the sea surface, helping Ryūjin dodge the White Fang's slash;
This proves the Two-Tails' reaction speed is faster than the Jinchūriki Ryūjin's.
Ryūjin's four guards charged forward. Even though they knew the person before them was Konoha's White Fang from the intelligence reports, a top-tier combatant of Konoha, they still fearlessly created an opportunity for Ryūjin.
And Yamashiro-dera and the others also charged forward.
Yamashiro-dera's Fire and Water Releases, Gekkō Sō's Crescent Moon Dance, Hayama's one-handed seal Vacuum Sword, Shinma's fire-blade nin-taijutsu—the four were extremely powerful, instantly forcing back Ryūjin's guards.
If Ryūjin didn't lend assistance, her guards would all be dead within ten seconds.
Seeing this, Ryūjin no longer dared to test the waters. She pressed her hands on the sea surface, her entire chakra aura majestic, impacting the surrounding sea in waves, even flattening the rolling waves.
Seeing this, Hatake Sakumo charged forward.
The translucent Chakra Cloak on Ryūjin's body condensed, transforming into a solid dark red Tailed Beast Cloak.
Two solid Chakra tails swayed behind her, and her figure became like a slender mountain cat.
Halfway through his charge, Hatake Sakumo had to stop.
Ryūjin, in her Two-Tails Tailed Beast Cloak form, actually directly used a Tailed Beast Ball.
The Tailed Beast Ball shot toward Hatake Sakumo, who quickly dodged.
Not just one; a second, then a third Tailed Beast Ball flew out consecutively.
Yōkō looked at the direction the Tailed Beast Balls were aimed and immediately recorded:
Ryūjin entered the two-tailed Tailed Beast Cloak form. Her control over Tailed Beast chakra is very mature, able to instantly condense multiple Tailed Beast Balls;
Moreover, she is conscious. None of the Tailed Beast Ball attacks is directed toward the port; she also knows to avoid the ships anchored offshore.
Comprehensive judgment: Ryūjin, under the Tailed Beast Cloak, is fully conscious.
The Tailed Beast Balls exploded in the distant, empty sea, creating terrifying, explosive water mushroom clouds.
The power of the Tailed Beast Balls was immense. If such a Tailed Beast Ball exploded within Konoha, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Amid the chaos, one of the Tailed Beast Balls headed straight for Gekkō Sō's back!
Gekkō Sō was completely unaware; he had just killed one of Ryūjin's guards.
At that moment, a brilliant white blade aura swept across the sea surface.
The Tailed Beast Ball was struck by the White Fang blade aura!
After an explosion, the Tailed Beast Ball was slashed apart and detonated!
Hatake Sakumo's figure was pushed back by the shockwave but ultimately stood steadily on the sea surface.
Yōkō hurriedly recorded:
Hatake Sakumo possesses the strength to confront a Tailed Beast Ball head-on. A Tailed Beast Ball the size of a human head is useless against Hatake Sakumo.
I wonder what the higher-ups will think when they see this record.
Too strong. Slicing a Tailed Beast Ball with a blade—is that something a human can do?
Hatake Sakumo's Lightning Release Crystallized Blade Aura's destructive power is too strong.
Coupled with his top-tier taijutsu and Body Flicker Technique, he is not weak even among Kage-level ninja.
Just then, Otsu, who had been very quiet until now, suddenly jumped up and charged toward the sea surface.
What was he trying to do?
Yōkō turned to look toward the shore.
Kumo-nin from the port, Kumo-nin from Kumoyagō Port city, were organized by Jonin and charged onto the sea surface.
With the arrival of large numbers of Kumo-nin, the time for intelligence gathering was running out. Hatake Sakumo's team had to retreat as soon as possible.
Looking at Otsu's actions, it seemed he had some other orders, not just simply recording the battle between the Two-Tails Ryūjin and Hatake Sakumo.
Soon, Yōkō understood what Otsu was trying to do.
***
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(Chapter End)