Chapter 119: Heart-Tiring Teammates, Likable Opponents
Deep in the Forest of Death.
Sunagakure's (Village Hidden by Sand) Gaara, Kankurō, and Temari were advancing quickly. Ordinary ninjas were no match for them, and besides, Gaara didn't want to encounter Uehara Naraka.
Temari vaguely knew in her heart that Gaara might be afraid of that fellow Uehara Naraka, but she didn't dare ask in detail, fearing it would provoke Gaara's anger.
While searching through the Forest of Death, they encountered a squad of Takigakure (Village Hidden by a Waterfall) ninjas. Gaara directly went on a killing spree, "Sand Waterfall Funeral!"
Clumps of yellow sand mixed with bloody rain flew about!
Once enveloped by Gaara's yellow sand, there was absolutely no chance to counterattack. This squad of Takigakure ninjas thus lost their lives.
Clap clap clap...
A sound of applause appeared in the forest.
Uehara Naraka appeared in the sight of Gaara's trio, clapping his hands, a light smile on his lips, "Ha, still so weak, Gaara..."
"What are you doing here!"
Gaara's expression instantly turned colder. He manipulated the yellow sand to appear beneath his feet and said coldly, "Are you perhaps trying to seize the scroll in our hands?"
Gaara knew very well in his heart that his current chances of winning against Uehara Naraka were very low. Even if he summoned the One-Tail, the possibility of defeating Uehara Naraka was minuscule!
Some enemies couldn't be dealt with just by being bloodthirsty and violent.
Gaara was sometimes very rational; he knew in his heart who he could provoke and who he couldn't. This guy Uehara was a ruthless person who had killed the Fourth Kazekage!
"I've already collected the scrolls."
Uehara Naraka shook his head, his gaze slowly moving, glancing at Kankurō, then at Temari, "I'm just very interested in your older brother and sister... How about I give you a chance? In ten seconds, I will launch an attack. Let's see who you can protect?"
"Hmph, if you want them, feel free!"
Gaara snorted coldly, unconcerned, "Anyway, you've already killed Rasa. If you want to kill them too, it doesn't matter."
"What did you say?"
Temari looked at her younger brother in disbelief. She pointed her hand towards Uehara Naraka, "Gaara, is this person father's killer?"
"Hmph, yeah!"
Gaara looked unhappily at Temari, "Baki kept telling me not to tell you. Now you've seen him. If you want revenge, go kill that man! Anyway, I have no interest in avenging Rasa!"
"Truly cold and heartless!"
Uehara Naraka sighed in admiration, then his palm suddenly thrust out towards Temari and Kankurō, "Come forth, Sand Soldiers!"
A Sand Soldier abruptly appeared behind Temari!
Just as the Sand Soldier's spear extended, Temari fiercely unslung the Three Stars Fan from her back, blocked the Sand Soldier's attack, and shattered the soldier with another strike!
Unfortunately, Kankurō wasn't so lucky. A Sand Soldier's spear directly pierced his Crow puppet from behind, wounding his abdomen.
Uehara Naraka's figure used Shunshin (Body Flicker) to appear behind Kankurō, delivering a whip kick that sent him flying to the side. These Genin's speeds were pitifully slow!
Kankurō did almost nothing and directly fainted.
"Kankurō!"
Temari's face instantly filled with anxiety. She fiercely opened her giant Three Stars Fan, "Wind Release: Sickle Weasel Technique!"
"Too slow, too little power."
Uehara Naraka leaped into the air, dodging the Wind Release ninjutsu. He looked down at the tense Temari on the ground and fiercely extended his palm, "Secret Technique! Twilight Blade!"
A purple chakra broadsword appeared in Uehara Naraka's hand!
Temari, completely disregarding how strong Uehara Naraka was, just looked up at Uehara Naraka in the air, a trace of madness flashing in her eyes, and once again swung the Three Stars Fan in her hand!
Boom!
Uehara Naraka's speed was clearly faster!
The purple broadsword in Uehara's hand, using its downward momentum, slashed towards Temari's Three Stars Fan, sending the fifteen-year-old Suna kunoichi flying with one blow.
Just as Uehara Naraka was walking step by step towards Temari, a stream of yellow sand suddenly wrapped around Uehara Naraka's ankle!
"That's about enough!"
Gaara looked coldly at Uehara Naraka, stopping Uehara Naraka's intention to continue attacking Temari, "You can go kill Kankurō. This woman Temari still has value in living!"
Temari, dazed, lifted her head, suppressing the instinct to vomit blood after the severe injury, and looked at her younger brother with complex eyes, "Gaara..."
Although seeing Gaara willing to protect her at a life-or-death moment was somewhat gratifying, to support the enemy in killing his older brother Kankurō like this...
Wasn't that a bit too much?
"Can I interpret this as you trying to obstruct me?"
Uehara Naraka smiled, narrowing his eyes. The next second, his figure abruptly disappeared from the spot, using Shadow Dash to charge before Gaara, punching Gaara and sending him flying, "Who gave you the courage, or who do you think you are?"
"...Cough!"
The Armor of Sand on Gaara's body instantly shattered. He forcefully spat out a mouthful of blood. A thought flashed through his mind: this guy Uehara Naraka's strength was even greater than before!
Gaara had no memory and didn't know that Uehara's charge could directly knock down Shukaku!
After knocking down Gaara, Uehara Naraka grabbed Temari's collar, knocked the woman out with a punch, then slowly turned and left the scene.
Gaara watched his retreating figure, gritted his teeth, and manipulated the yellow sand to move himself beside Temari, checking her injuries.
Ascertaining his sister was in no mortal danger, Gaara barely managed a sigh of relief. After a while, he pulled Kankurō over too, cleaning out the yellow sand left in Kankurō's body after being pierced by the Sand Soldier.
Fortunately, no one in their squad had died.
It's just that Gaara didn't quite understand what Uehara Naraka was up to. Was he purely here to beat them up and display his strength?
Unfortunately, Gaara would never guess the answer.
Right now, Uehara Naraka was checking his gains again.
Side Quest: Defeat Temari (1/1). Mission Complete. Reward Skill: Howling Gale.
Howling Gale: Release a hurricane by accumulating chakra energy, destroying everything in the hurricane's path. Minimum skill cost 60 Chakra. Cooldown 6 seconds.
Side Quest: Defeat Kankurō (1/1). Mission Complete. Reward: 100 Gold Coins.
Uehara Naraka's brow instantly furrowed. Previously, defeating Gaara rewarded Arise! (Sand Soldiers Appear), which was a very useful AoE skill. Just now, defeating Temari rewarded Howling Gale. How come when it came to Kankurō, it was just 100 gold coins?
The difference between these three siblings was too great!
"Seems quite normal too. After all, this guy Kankurō's strength is too weak."
Uehara Naraka clicked his tongue in admiration, activated the newly obtained Thrill of the Hunt, and his figure quietly disappeared from the spot, "This next squad is also very weak. It won't also just reward 100 gold coins, will it?"
In the bushes of the Forest of Death.
Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Chōji Akimichi were hiding here.
Whether based on their attitude towards handling matters or their way of thinking, the three of them believed they should hide first. After the dangerous people had left, they would then plan to find a squad weaker than themselves.
After a while, Shikamaru Nara confirmed it was safe outside, turned his head towards the expectant Chōji Akimichi, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and nodded at him.
Chōji Akimichi instantly relaxed, contentedly picked up his potato chips, and began eating happily; his stomach was hungry.
A young adult ninja suddenly appeared from the air, stood beside Chōji Akimichi, and asked softly, "These chips of yours, are they tasty?"
"Mhm mhm mhm... Crunch crunch..."
Chōji Akimichi nodded while desperately stuffing chips into his mouth. The next moment, he abruptly reacted—this voice was somewhat unfamiliar!
"Shikamaru, there's an enemy!"
"Hey hey hey, I know, quiet down!"
Shikamaru Nara grabbed Chōji Akimichi, lest they lose a combatant before the fight even officially began. He then patted the frightened Ino Yamanaka to calm her down.
Honestly, having such teammates, Shikamaru Nara felt a bit heart-tired.
Unfortunately, Ino-Shika-Chō never split up; this was a tradition passed down since the Warring States Period. Because their secret techniques complemented each other very well, it absolutely wasn't something he could easily change.
Otherwise, Shikamaru Nara somewhat wanted their good friend Naruto Uzumaki to replace the 'Boar' [Chōji] in the formation; after all, this woman Ino was very troublesome.
"Compared to the other Genin I've encountered, your performance is very rational."
The young ninja extended his palm towards Shikamaru Nara, appearing polite and courteous. He looked at Shikamaru with an appreciative gaze, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Uehara Naraka, and I am your next opponent."
Uehara Naraka quite liked opponents like the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.
(End of Chapter)
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