Among the five basic nature transformations, the power of Lightning Release ninjutsu may not necessarily be the strongest, but its speed is undoubtedly the fastest.
Whether it's the various lightning techniques of the ninjutsu category or the Lightning Armor used by the Raikage, they are all far faster than ninjutsu of other natures, making it their most distinctive hallmark.
Since Darui was a ninja from Kumogakure, he was naturally highly proficient in Lightning Release ninjutsu. However, as a full-time intelligence ninja, what Darui excelled at wasn't combat but all kinds of techniques beneficial for covert operations.
For example, the "Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion" he was currently using.
Similar to the Lightning Armor used by the Fourth Raikage, Darui's "Lightning Illusion" also utilized the power of lightning to stimulate the body and activate muscle cells, thereby increasing the body's maximum speed and flexibility. It was a ninjutsu very suitable for intelligence personnel.
So fast! But we can't just let him escape.
Almost the moment Darui used "Lightning Illusion," Yuki, who was carried over his shoulder, felt like he was on a roller coaster, beginning to move at high speed. However, this wasn't what Yuki wanted.
"Princess Kaguya! Stop him!"
Instantly, Yuki immediately issued an order to his Stand, "Princess Kaguya," and the small figure floating behind him after smashing the eaves immediately sprang into action!
Although Princess Kaguya's current Speed attribute was only "C," logically speaking, she shouldn't be able to catch up with Darui's current speed. However, because her master, Yuki, was being carried by Darui, it was equivalent to "Princess Kaguya" catching a ride, allowing her to fly right in front of Darui in no time!
Although Princess Kaguya's attack power wasn't weak, Yuki didn't intend for her to attack Darui directly. Instead, he had her target the corridor in front of Darui.
As "Princess Kaguya's" small palm swept across, the neat, clean wooden floor was directly pierced with many small holes, each almost perfectly sized for a foot to step into!
What?! Because Darui's speed was too fast and he needed to stay alert to his surroundings, by the time the floor in front of him began to crack, the Kumogakure ninja couldn't react in time and could only step right into them!
Loss of footing! For an enemy moving at high speed, this was actually quite a fatal situation.
Even though ninjas were accustomed to running at high speeds, it would be difficult for even the fastest among them to react properly in this scenario.
Crack! Accompanied by a gut-wrenching sound, Darui felt a sharp pain in his right foot the moment he stepped into the hole! His entire body violently crashed toward the ground!
It must be said, this guy Yuki was also very cunning. He didn't intend for "Princess Kaguya" to directly lift or break the entire section of floor in front of him, but specifically created a bunch of holes just the right size for a person's foot to get stuck in.
If you step into a hole while running at high speed, the inertia of the body's forward motion can't be stopped. Naturally, the ankle bears a huge force, resulting in a sprain or even a break.
The faster the speed, the harder the fall. At this moment, Darui could be said to be fully demonstrating this truth with his own flesh and blood.
Whoosh! The moment Darui fell face-first onto the street, Yuki, who was on his shoulder, was also thrown flying from the impact!
But the moment Yuki's entire body was sent flying through the air, "Princess Kaguya" immediately appeared beside her master and stretched out her short, thin arms to firmly catch him.
Because Yuki had already made preparations, his series of movements were extremely swift. From being thrown to landing, it looked incredibly smooth, and he touched down lightly.
"First two-person cooperation, full marks."
After successfully escaping danger, Yuki turned his head and smiled at "Princess Kaguya," then reached out and patted that white head, casually stroking the rabbit-ear-like thing on the left side along the way.
"Coo—"
Although "Princess Kaguya" couldn't speak yet, when touched by her master, she made a cooing sound like a little rabbit, and her face flushed slightly, as if she was enjoying it very much.
"Over here! Ah! Isn't that the young master!"
"Wait! Who is this guy? Why did he fall to the ground?"
Just as Yuki successfully landed, the Hyuga clan's Anbu guards also happened to arrive at the scene, but what they saw was their young master standing there, calmly observing the situation.
Of course, besides their young master, Hyuga Yuki, there was also Darui, who was standing up in a "Golden Rooster Independent" posture, the expression on his face extremely grim.
With one leg broken and the Anbu guards already after him, for Darui, most of his mission had basically failed.
"Hey! State your name! Or we won't be polite!"
Seeing Darui standing still and not answering, the Anbu guards, dressed in black and only revealing the Hyuga clan's iconic Byakugan eyes, finally couldn't hold back and questioned the man in a harsh tone.
At this moment, Darui remembered the absolute order given to him by Rasa, the elder advisor of Kumogakure, before he set off.
"If the mission is exposed, even if you die, you must die at the Hyuga residence. You are absolutely not permitted to retreat, understand?"
"Yes!"
As for the meaning behind the elder advisor's order, Darui naturally understood it perfectly. The elder advisor, who monopolized power in the current Kumogakure, wanted to obtain the power of the "Byakugan" at any cost.
It would be best if Darui could kidnap the Hyuga young master and bring him back to the village. If not, then Darui was to die at the Hyuga residence so that they could use his status as an "envoy" to make a big fuss during this critical period.
Under normal circumstances, Konoha's higher-ups might not necessarily fall for this trick, but it was crucial to remember that this was an urgent juncture where "Konohagakure" and "Kumogakure" were discussing an armistice agreement.
At a time like this, if a Kumogakure envoy died at the Hyuga residence, then the latter would have to pay a price to settle the matter. Even Konoha's top brass wouldn't have too many objections to this, because in their eyes, these two lives were truly too insignificant compared to the entire war.
Thinking of this, Darui took a deep breath, reached out, and wiped his face. The original face of the young Hyuga clan member vanished without a trace.
Darui's real face looked very rough, and his dark brown skin indicated that he came from the "Land of Lightning" in the northeast, which was equivalent to announcing his identity to the several Anbu guards surrounding him.
Ninjas obey orders first, even if those orders require their own lives.
I, Darui, was born in Kumogakure, and I will die as a ghost of Kumogakure. So let me use my life to make one final contribution to the village! At this moment, Darui's heart seemed filled with tragic heroism.
"People from Kumogakure? Damn it! They actually intended to harm the young master! Surround him! We must capture him alive!"
When they saw Darui reveal his true face, the expressions of the surrounding Anbu guards changed instantly. They were, after all, ninjas who had experienced many battles, so they naturally understood what it meant for a Kumogakure ninja to appear carrying their young master.
"Hmph! I am the envoy sent here by Kumogakure! If you have the guts, just try it."
"Wait, don't misunderstand. He's not from Kumogakure; he's just a traitor. I heard him talking to himself earlier."
However, just as Darui was about to reveal his identity, fight his final battle, and die a glorious death, a very childish-sounding voice came from the side.
Huh? Young Master Yuki?
Instantly, the Anbu guards and Darui looked in the direction of the voice. They saw Hyuga Yuki had come to the courtyard at some point, looking at them with the leisurely expression of someone enjoying the scenery.
"Young Master? What are you talking about?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said this guy is just a traitor from Kumogakure. He took advantage of Kumogakure's visit today, murdered one of the envoys, and then came here disguised as that envoy to cause trouble. It has nothing to do with Kumogakure, understand?"
Under the bright moonlight, Hyuga Yuki's figure seemed to carry a vaguely sacred aura. When he spoke these words, he was clear and fluent, not at all like an ignorant three-year-old child.