sonovelo Chapter 442: Hidden Mist Surrenders
Chapter 442: Hidden Mist Surrenders
The moon hung high in the sky.
Anko led the Cursed Seal Squad as they moved swiftly across the sea.
Although the ocean belonged to the Hidden Mist Village, its vast expanse meant there were always areas beyond their surveillance.
With the route map provided by White Zetsu, Anko's group successfully reached the vicinity of the Hidden Mist's main camp.
"That island is the Hidden Mist's main camp." Anko raised her hand and pointed toward a nearby island.
Under the cover of night, the island appeared exceptionally quiet, without a single light.
Normally, unless one stepped onto the island, it would be difficult to detect the Hidden Mist's temporary base.
But as everyone knew, White Zetsu was nearly invincible on the battlefield.
"There aren't many people at the Hidden Mist's main camp—only about two thousand ninja," Anko continued, "but the ninja stationed there are quite formidable."
The Hidden Mist Village had deployed nearly ten thousand ninja for this operation. However, they were scattered across different islands.
"Even though we have fewer than two hundred people, it's enough to handle two thousand Hidden Mist ninja," Asuma said confidently.
"Exactly!" Anko laughed. "This is the first battle for our Cursed Seal Squad. We'll definitely give them a big surprise!"
Asuma nodded.
His understanding of Cursed Seals came from Kimimaro and the others. It was a special method that temporarily enhanced strength.
In his view, however, the ones who would determine the outcome were Ino and Kimimaro, the two Jinchuriki.
"Everyone, get ready!" Anko shouted.
The members of the Cursed Seal Squad activated Cursed Seal of Earth: Stage Two one after another.
The intense Chakra fluctuations immediately drew the attention of the Hidden Mist ninja at the main camp.
"Move out!" Anko waved her hand.
The group rushed toward the island at high speed.
"Enemy attack!" The Hidden Mist ninja spotted them and sounded the alarm.
The quiet camp instantly descended into chaos. The Cursed Seal Squad quickly landed on the island and engaged in battle with the Hidden Mist ninja.
Asuma raised an eyebrow.
He noticed that the Hidden Mist ninja were completely at a disadvantage against the Cursed Seal Squad.
The two hundred members of the Cursed Seal Squad were like tigers descending a mountain, charging straight through the Hidden Mist's main camp.
Screams echoed in the night.
Wherever the Cursed Seal Squad passed, Hidden Mist ninja fell one after another.
At the very front was Kimimaro.
His Shikotsumyaku excelled in both offense and defense, allowing him to move freely through the chaotic battlefield.
Meanwhile, inside the main tent—
Terumī Mei, who should have gone out to assist, was staring nervously at Kitazawa.
"The ones launching this surprise attack are Konoha's Cursed Seal Squad. There are only two hundred of them." Kitazawa smiled faintly. "Shall we make a bet?"
"What kind of bet?" Mei asked.
Even though there were only two hundred enemies, Terumī Mei could not relax. After all, three people from Konoha had defeated the Hidden Cloud Village.
"Two hundred against two thousand. Who do you think will win?" Kitazawa spoke calmly. "If Konoha wins, you will surrender voluntarily."
"And if the Hidden Mist wins?" Terumī Mei asked after a brief silence.
"Konoha will withdraw its troops immediately," Kitazawa replied with a smile. "And we won't take the initiative to attack you again."
"Fine. I'll bet with you." Terumī Mei took a deep breath. In truth, she had no other choice.
If she refused, the Hidden Mist would still lose. Since that was the case, she might as well gamble.
Kitazawa nodded. He casually picked up a cup of tea, sat down, and began to wait.
Terumī Mei, sitting opposite him, was far less calm. The sounds of slaughter outside made her heart tighten.
Soon, however, her expression changed to shock.
She sensed two immense Chakras. Only Jinchuriki could possess Chakra of that magnitude.
Konoha had sent two Jinchuriki? Terumī Mei's mouth fell open. What chance did the Hidden Mist have left?
Outside the main tent, the battlefield was divided into two fronts.
One was the Cursed Seal Squad led by Anko and Kimimaro.
The other was the Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
Akimichi Choji activated the Multi-Size Jutsu, transforming into a giant over thirty meters tall.
But what unsettled the Hidden Mist ninja even more was Ino. Her body was enveloped in blood-red Chakra, and two tails extended behind her.
The menacing aura radiating from her Chakra sent chills down their spines.
Shikamaru sighed helplessly. He felt he had no opportunity to display his strategies. What happened to the Ino–Shika–Chō teamwork?
"Choji!" Ino shouted as she formed hand seals.
Nirvana Temple Jutsu!
A massive amount of Chakra transformed into feathers that drifted down from the sky.
Many Hidden Mist ninja who saw them began to feel drowsy.
"It's Genjutsu!" Ao immediately shouted, "Quickly, release it!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, a massive shadow loomed overhead. Two colossal hands slammed down from the sky.
"Defend!" Ao hurriedly formed hand seals.
The Hidden Mist ninja who could still move followed suit.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Walls of water rose one after another. But they had little effect.
Choji's enormous hands crushed the water walls effortlessly and continued downward toward the Hidden Mist ninja.
Boom!
Those who had just dispelled the genjutsu—or had not yet managed to—were flattened instantly.
"Damn it!" Ao barely avoided the strike.
Gritting his teeth, he formed hand seals again. Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!
He poured all his Chakra into the technique, creating a torrent like a roaring waterfall aimed at Akimichi Choji and Ino.
Human Bullet Tank!
Choji charged straight into the torrent. His massive body blocked most of the water flow.
Super Beast Imitating Drawing!
Ino unrolled a blank scroll.
A surge of Chakra transformed into ink, and countless beasts—tigers, eagles, snakes—burst forth and attacked in all directions.
At that moment, Ino resembled a summoner.
She stood calmly as the swarm of ink beasts tore through the surrounding Hidden Mist ninja. Blood mixed with screams.
"The younger generation is truly formidable!" Anko glanced over and praised them.
Kimimaro frowned slightly. As a fellow Jinchuriki, he could not allow himself to be overshadowed by Ino.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Seedling Fern!
Kimimaro leaped forward into the midst of the Hidden Mist ninja.
In an instant, with him at the center, bones erupted from the ground like towering trees. A forest of white bone spikes covered the battlefield.
The Hidden Mist ninja within were impaled one after another, blood spraying everywhere.
The battlefield fell silent.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Seedling Fern was the ultimate dance of the Shikotsumyaku.
It caused bone spikes to burst from the ground across a vast area, covering the entire terrain.
Because of this, it traditionally required the user's life. However, all ninjutsu, including Bloodline Limits, were fueled by Chakra.
The reason the Dance of the Seedling Fern consumed one's life was ultimately due to insufficient Chakra.
Now that Kimimaro was a Jinchuriki, his Chakra was nearly limitless. He could ignore that cost.
Moreover, the Dance of the Seedling Fern he unleashed was even more powerful.
"There is actually such a powerful Shikotsumyaku?" Ao's face was filled with shock.
Beyond shock, however, was regret. The Shikotsumyaku had once been a Bloodline Limit of the Hidden Mist Village.
Yet during the era of the Bloody Mist, the village itself had exterminated the Kaguya Clan.
The sole survivor had joined Konoha and was now fighting against the Hidden Mist. Fate was truly ironic.
"Well done!" Anko said immediately. "I'm a teacher too. I can't let my students steal all the glory."
After speaking, she bit her thumb and performed the Summoning Technique.
The ground trembled violently. A colossal snake appeared—it was Manda of Ryūchi Cave.
Manda's arrival pushed the Hidden Mist ninja further into despair.
"Where is Mizukage-sama?" Ao suddenly realized that Terumī Mei had not appeared on the battlefield.
But he had no chance to search for her.
Against the Cursed Seal Squad and the new generation of Ino–Shika–Chō, the two thousand Hidden Mist ninja were completely overwhelmed.
In less than half an hour, the battle was nearly over.
"It seems there's a result." Kitazawa set down his teacup.
Terumī Mei stood silently and walked out of the main tent. What greeted her was a field covered in corpses.
Judging by their uniforms, they were all Hidden Mist ninja.
She soon spotted the Konoha ninja. They were clearing the battlefield, capturing the surviving Hidden Mist ninja one by one.
"The Hidden Mist… surrenders."
Terumī Mei returned to the main tent, looked directly at Kitazawa, and spoke those words.
Things had already reached this stage. She had no power left to change the outcome. There was no other path remaining but surrender.
Looking at it from another angle, the Hidden Mist Village had not suffered devastating losses in this Ninja World War.
At the very least, compared to the Hidden Sand and the Hidden Cloud, they had preserved the majority of their core strength.
Perhaps, in the distant future, there might still be an opportunity to break away from Konoha's control.
"A very wise choice." Kitazawa smiled faintly as he replied.
"…" Terumī Mei hesitated, her lips parting slightly, but in the end she chose silence.
Kitazawa stood up calmly and walked out of the main tent.
Terumī Mei let out a quiet sigh in her heart and followed behind him.
"Hokage-sama!" Anko and the others were visibly surprised to see him appear and immediately stepped forward.
"The Hidden Mist Village has surrendered," Kitazawa spoke plainly, without any unnecessary words.
Anko and the others were briefly stunned, yet at the same time, they felt that this result was only natural.
After all, since Kitazawa himself had arrived, the Hidden Mist Village never truly had a chance of victory.
"Wait here for a moment." Kitazawa vanished from the spot in an instant.
In the next second, he reappeared, this time bringing Shikaku Nara with him.
"Take the Hidden Mist Jonin back to Konoha Village. As for the Chunin and Genin, allow them to return to the Hidden Mist Village."
Kitazawa repeated the same arrangement he had used for the Hidden Cloud Village.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Shikaku Nara bowed respectfully.
One of the Five Great Ninja Villages had surrendered overnight. For someone like him, who had experienced numerous wars, it felt almost unreal.
He had always hoped that Konoha would grow stronger. But the strength of this overwhelming extent gave him the strange illusion that he was dreaming.
Shikaku Nara quickly began issuing orders.
First, he arranged for the Konoha ninja to gather on this island as quickly as possible.
Second, he accompanied Terumī Mei and the others to reorganize the Hidden Mist ninja stationed across the surrounding islands.
"This was your first time participating in a war. How did it feel?" Kitazawa looked at Ino and the others with a relaxed smile.
"It ended way too fast!" Tayuya snorted lightly.
She felt that she had not even had the chance to unleash her full strength before the battle was already over.
The main reason was simple—her teammates were too powerful, leaving her little opportunity to shine.
"It was fairly easy." Shikamaru chuckled softly.
He barely felt any real involvement in this war.
But given his naturally lazy personality, he did not mind. As long as victory was achieved, that was enough.
Even if he had participated more actively, he would only have played a supporting role.
"I didn't run into any decent opponents." Kimimaro reflected briefly before speaking.
When the Shikotsumyaku reached its peak, it already possessed Kage-level power. Now that he was also a Jinchuriki, his strength had risen to an entirely different tier.
In the battle just now, he had been virtually unstoppable.
"Why do you sound so much like Sasuke?" Ino asked teasingly with a smile.
She had no real interest in fighting and killing, even though her performance had been outstanding.
"I don't like war." Akimichi Choji spoke honestly, wearing a simple smile.
"Don't worry." Kitazawa nodded slightly. "There won't be any more wars in the future."
Although Shikamaru and the others were still young, they understood the deeper meaning behind his words.
With the Hidden Cloud, Hidden Sand, and Hidden Mist already defeated, Iwagakure's fall was only a matter of time.
When that moment came, all five Great Ninja Villages would acknowledge Konoha as their leader.
As long as Kitazawa remained alive, it would be extremely difficult for another large-scale war to erupt.
Unless another figure like Kitazawa appeared in a different village. But such a possibility was practically nonexistent.
"Kitazawa-sensei, after the war ends, what kind of rewards will we receive?" Ino blinked eagerly, her face filled with anticipation.
"How about promoting you to Jonin?" Kitazawa considered for a moment before replying.
"Eh?" Ino's eyes widened in surprise. "But didn't we just graduate?"
"Your current strength is already more than sufficient." Kitazawa paused slightly before continuing.
"As for the specific rewards, we'll discuss them in detail when the time comes."
Once the war truly concluded, these students of his would need proper arrangements.
Allowing them to remain Genin and continue ordinary missions would be an outright waste of talent.
[Current Task: Subduing the enemy without fighting. Force one Ninja village to surrender voluntarily.]
[Task Reward: Yomotsu Hirasaka.]
[Host has completed the task. Reward is being issued.]
Kitazawa stood quietly as the system transmitted the knowledge directly into his mind.
Yomotsu Hirasaka was somewhat similar to Dual Kamui. However, if space-time ninjutsu were divided into levels, its rank clearly surpassed Kamui.
Places that Kamui could not reach, Yomotsu Hirasaka could access without restriction.
Kitazawa then considered another important issue.
After unifying the Five Great Ninja Villages, managing them would not be simple. The distances between the villages were vast and inconvenient.
But what if a transportation system similar to a Teleportation Formation could be established?
Kitazawa nodded faintly to himself.
Establishing Teleportation Formation would be essential. Fortunately, accomplishing this would not be particularly difficult for him.
He could modify the Flying Thunder Formation Technique accordingly.
The Flying Thunder Formation Technique was essentially a simplified version of the Flying Thunder God Technique, requiring three individuals to perform together.
Kitazawa's idea was to construct a fixed sealing formula or mark.
Those using it would only need to channel their Chakra into the formula to activate a designated directional teleportation.