Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 131 The Battle of the Ino-Shika-Cho Three Families against Naoto

The three remained silent, but for the sake of the mission, they ultimately chose to continue.

At the same time, on the border of the Land of Waterfall.

Naoto stood on a low hillside, with a mixed force of eight hundred Takigakure ninjas and swordsmen behind him.

Three hundred Takigakure ninjas, dressed in dark green vests, formed a square formation, wielding kunai, shuriken, and exquisite bows and crossbows, keeping a close watch on the hunters ahead.

The five hundred swordsmen were dressed in uniform gray outfits, covered with Warring States period samurai armor, with long swords at their waists and crossbows or longbows on their backs. Dozens of them also pushed simple cannons, their dark muzzles pointing forward.

Further away, the 107 members of the Swordsmen led by Nan Shi spread out in a fan shape. Several kilometers in front of them was a dark mass of Konoha ninja.

As for why the previous reconnaissance ninjas didn't discover them, we have to mention the disguise bugs that Shisei Aburame gave them.

This insect is quite insignificant in Aburame Shisei's hands, possessing neither offensive nor defensive capabilities.

Its sole purpose is to transform and disguise. We can cling tightly to a person's body, concealing their chakra aura, their personal energy, and even blending into their environment by changing our body color. The only drawback is that we cannot move; any movement will expose us.

They had been standing there motionless for several days, and if they weren't all superhumans, they probably wouldn't have been able to stand it for long.

As for the origin, we have to mention the first two White Zetsu, and the disguised surveillance bugs that followed were a variant of this bug.

"They're getting close, prepare to attack!"

Naoto kept his eyes fixed ahead, and as the main force entered the attack range, they all attacked together.

In an instant, all sorts of ninja weapons flew around, among which ordinary cannons combined with explosive tags had enormous destructive power.

"boom!"

With a series of loud bangs, the area in front of the formation suddenly exploded, sending dozens of ninjas flying and hundreds of others being hit by the blast.

Immediately afterwards, countless figures emerged from the hillsides on both sides; they were not ninjas, but samurai wielding strange weapons.

Holding short, tubular instruments, they pulled the triggers, and fireballs roared out, landing precisely in the ranks of the Konoha ninja.

Homemade firearms, regardless of their range, are plentiful and satisfying.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique?" a ninja exclaimed, but then realized something was wrong. The power of those fireballs was far less than that of a real fire release technique, but they were numerous and launched quickly.

"It's a firearm!" Nara Shikagawa reacted instantly. "Scatter! Don't gather together!"

Before he could finish speaking, a second volley of arrows came, this time accompanied by a dense barrage of crossbow bolts, accompanied by screams of agony.

"Ino-Shika-Cho, form a battle formation!" The fat man from the Akimichi clan shouted, his body suddenly expanding as he swung his giant blade to block the front of the formation.

Nara Shikato and Yamanaka Kawase quickly closed in, the three of them back to back, ready to unleash their Shadow Imitation Technique and Mind Transfer Technique.

But the enemy did not give them the chance.

A dark shadow descended from the sky and landed heavily in front of the three people.

The newcomer was dressed in a black robe, with eight crimson-yellow tentacles on his back that had hardened into spears. It was a Grim Reaper, but a Grim Reaper completely different from Kakuzu's black Grim Reaper.

"Takigakure Naoto," he said calmly. "I have long admired the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and have come today to learn from them."

Nara Shika was also surprised that they had set up an ambush so close by, and that their reconnaissance troops had not seen it. What kind of concealment was this?

His mind raced, and he immediately thought of a way to defuse the conflict: "Gentlemen of Takigakure! We are here to investigate your country's alliance with Ameonna and Kusanagi! The Hokage has ordered that if your country is willing to dissolve the alliance and withdraw from the Three Kingdoms Coalition, Konoha can guarantee Takigakure's independence and security! Why collude with those rebellious nations and invite your own destruction?"

But Naoto didn't want to give him a chance to speak at all.

"Enough with the nonsense."

Naoto raised his hand, and the tendrils that had formed the spear instantly grew longer, transforming into countless sharp arrows that shot out.

Akimichi parried with his blade, and the tentacle clashed with the giant blade, producing a metallic clang. He was startled; the tentacle's hardness far exceeded his expectations.

"Multiply Technique: Giant Arm!"

Akimichi's left arm suddenly swelled up, and he slapped Naoto with his palm.

The palm strike whistled, cracking the ground, but Zhiren's figure flashed and he instantly disappeared from the spot.

"Earth Release: Heart-Slaying Decapitation Technique!"

Suddenly, the ground beneath Akimichi's feet collapsed, and a white tentacle emerged from the soil, wrapping around his ankle and pulling him downwards.

He reacted extremely quickly, stomping his other foot hard, using the Expansion Technique to shatter the surrounding ground, and leaping into the air with the force.

However, just as he leaped into the air, Naoto appeared behind him.

"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"

A high-pressure water jet shot out from the straight man's mouth, sweeping across like a sharp blade.

The fat man from the Akimichi clan barely managed to turn to the side, his left arm slashed by the water line, blood splattering everywhere. His arm, under the Expansion Technique, was easily cut open.

In just a brief exchange, he lost an arm!

"Fatty!"

Shan Zhonghe hurriedly used the Mind Turning Technique, his spiritual energy rushing straight to the person.

However, as soon as his consciousness entered the straight man's body, he felt a terrifying will.

Despite his outwardly sunny and calm demeanor, a violent and chaotic inner world, rife with all sorts of negative emotions, was revealed once broken through. He seemed utterly inhuman.

His mental energy plunged headlong into this environment, only to be violently bounced back after a scream.

puff!

Yamanaka Kawase bled from all seven orifices, but fortunately he was far away and was quickly dragged away by his clansmen. However, his mental strength was damaged and he was unable to use ninjutsu for a short period of time.

"What kind of monster are you?"

Naoto, his face cold, said, "I am not a monster. I am the guardian of the Land of Waterfalls. Any enemy who wants to invade our land will have to step over my dead body."

Nara Shika was shocked. He thought that the three of them working together would be on par with their opponent, but he didn't expect the gap to be so big.

As he spoke, he unleashed his Shadow Imitation Technique at full power, instantly lengthening his own shadow and wrapping it around Naoto's shadow.

Naoto looked down and saw that his expression had not changed. He did not dodge, but instead took a step forward.

Shadow Imitation Technique – Success!

Nara Shika was overjoyed, but his expression changed drastically. He had indeed controlled Naoto's body, but the other's strength was too great. He could even use the pull of the shadow to move forward step by step.

"How is that possible..."

"Your shadow imitation technique is indeed exquisite," Naoto said as he walked forward. "Unfortunately, my chakra quantity is dozens of times that of yours, and its quality is several times greater. As the master once said, in the face of absolute quantity and quality, unless you have mastered the rules of the technique, even the most exquisite thing is just a paper tiger."