Chapter 26: Yin Release - Sun-Chasing Dire Wolves!

Chapter 26: Yin Release - Sun-Chasing Dire Wolves!

"Thirty kilometers ahead, a team of Iwagakure shinobi is approaching rapidly. Among them, at least three have chakra levels comparable to jōnin, with around thirty chūnin and genin-level shinobi."

Atop Kannabi Bridge, Minato Namikaze knelt, placing his hand on the ground as he spoke with a calm, focused tone.

Chakra Sensory Technique.

The Flying Thunder God technique was an incredibly complex jutsu, far surpassing the difficulty of most S-rank techniques. If Minato had spent the same amount of time developing a kekkei genkai instead of mastering Flying Thunder God, he might have created one by now.

However, Flying Thunder God was far superior to most kekkei genkai. One prerequisite for learning it was having exceptional sensory abilities.

Minato couldn't teach Flying Thunder God directly, but he did teach Kagami the Chakra Sensory Technique. Currently, Kagami's sensory range was limited to ten kilometers—far less than Minato's.

This was simply a difference in innate talent.

"It seems Lord Orochimaru's invasion of the Land of Wind has been exposed," Minato said, his expression grave. "I wonder how the battle is progressing on his side."

"Don't worry, Minato. Lord Orochimaru can handle it," said a masked man wearing dark sunglasses.

This was Shibi Aburame.

In addition to Minato, Kagami, and Fugaku, their team also included four other elite Konoha jōnin and one three-tomoe Uchiha, Genka.

The jōnin included Shibi Aburame, Choza Akimichi, Suzaku Nara, and Inoichi Yamanaka.

Nara Shikaku, being the Eastern Front's commander, was absent, but this group was nearly a full Ino-Shika-Cho formation. These shinobi had volunteered to join this high-risk mission, united by their trust in Minato.

Minato's charisma had already won over much of Konoha's core leadership. This was the same Minato who would later secure overwhelming support in the Hokage election, leaving even Orochimaru in the dust.

"They're only thirty kilometers away and will arrive soon. What should we do?" Fugaku asked, crossing his arms.

"Should we attempt diplomacy?" Suzaku Nara suggested, as he had been handling negotiations during their journey.

Minato frowned slightly, his gaze shifting toward Kagami. As their eyes met, a silent understanding passed between them. They smiled faintly.

"I'll leave it to you, Kagami," Minato said.

"Understood."

With a swift step, Kagami dashed forward, his voice calling back, "Genka, follow me."

"Yes, sir!"

Watching the two figures charge ahead, Fugaku turned to Minato, confused. "Did you just give him specific instructions?"

Though the team had no designated leader, everyone tacitly agreed that Minato held the highest authority due to his ability to coordinate the group effectively.

Minato's warm demeanor disappeared, replaced by an icy determination.

"At this time and place, a unit like this from Iwagakure can only be a vanguard reconnaissance force probing Konoha's defenses."

"They must be eliminated. Delaying them, even briefly, might buy us crucial time."

Choza hesitated but finally asked, "What if they're simply on another mission?"

"Even so," Minato replied coldly, "we cannot let them pass."

"Our Western Front defenses are stretched thin. We can't allow them to confirm this."

"At worst, we must ensure the main battle takes place here, not in the Land of Fire."

During peacetime missions, Minato was known for his kindness, even letting emotions occasionally influence his decisions. But now it was wartime.

Sunagakure had already declared war on Konoha.

Both Orochimaru, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Minato shared the same goal: to conclude the Wind Country campaign as quickly as possible to prepare for the larger conflict ahead.

Minato and Jiraiya, having traveled extensively, understood that the Third Shinobi War was inevitable.

If it had to happen, then let it devastate other lands, not their own.

Minato was kind and approachable toward civilians in Konoha, but outsiders never considered him a "good person."

Clutching his custom kunai tightly, Minato issued his commands.

"Kagami has one of my Flying Thunder God kunai. He'll lead the initial charge while we follow to provide support."

"Shibi, Suzaku, Choza, Fugaku, you'll each take a direction and form a perimeter."

"Let no one escape. Understood?"

"Understood!"

---

As the five dispersed, one question lingered: why was Kagami leading the charge?

It wasn't just Fugaku who was puzzled—even Shibi and the others were curious.

Minato didn't explain. They'd understand soon enough.

---

While sprinting, Kagami quickly formed hand seals, his chakra surging. Genka, running alongside him, mirrored his actions.

Kagami's training under Kamika during his academy years had forged a strong bond between him and Genka, Kamika's son. Their coordination was flawless.

It was during this period that Genka fully pledged his loyalty to Kagami, believing him to be an unparalleled genius destined to lead.

---

The presence of the Iwagakure shinobi grew stronger. Kagami could now faintly sense their location.

Closer.

Just a little closer.

When figures finally appeared on the horizon, Kagami slammed his hands onto the ground.

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

From nearly a kilometer away, the swamp technique transformed the terrain into a treacherous mire. With no Sharingan among them, the Iwagakure shinobi were caught completely off-guard.

The sudden quagmire ensnared most of the group, dragging them down into the earth. Only a few alert individuals managed to leap clear.

"What kind of jutsu is this?!"

"It's the Swamp of the Underworld! Is it Jiraiya?!"

It certainly couldn't be Hiruzen Sarutobi.

While Iwagakure excelled in Earth Release, their large-scale techniques typically reshaped the landscape rather than altering its properties.

This kind of transformation was a hallmark of Konoha's secret techniques.

---

"Stay calm! Don't struggle! I'll get you out! Daishi, Rockhead, be on guard!"

One of the jōnin formed hand seals, creating stone platforms over the swamp to rescue his comrades.

"Earth Release: Quadruple Earth-Style Wall!"

Boom.

Massive earthen walls rose to stabilize the swamp.

"Daishi, smash it!"

"On it!"

A burly Iwagakure shinobi, his arms coated in stone, delivered a shattering punch to one of the walls.

Boom!

Rubble scattered as dust filled the air.

Through the debris, Daishi glimpsed two crimson lights glowing eerily.

"Unlucky for you. A one-in-four chance, and you ran into me."

A smirk played across Kagami's lips.

Whoosh!

Genka leapt into the air, unleashing a torrent of fire.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!"

A roaring inferno surged forward, scorching the very air.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

While Earth Release wasn't inherently superior to Fire, Iwagakure's expertise lay in its versatility. Daishi quickly erected another wall, rebuilding what he had just destroyed.

Fire raged against the stone, but it wasn't enough to break through.

Then, the heat of the battlefield was abruptly chilled by an ominous presence.

Genka felt the freezing aura emanating from his side and couldn't suppress a burning admiration.

This is it!

Such pure, unfathomable darkness!

This is the man I've chosen to follow!

Kagami raised his right hand to his left, as if aiming a weapon.

This wasn't one of the standard twelve hand seals.

"Wait… Could this be…? You brat, have you even stolen techniques from the Ten Shadow Methods?!"

In front of Kagami, a massive shadow coalesced, taking the form of jet-black wolves.

Each wolf was the size of a calf, and they continued multiplying until there were dozens.

Their eyes burned red, each wolf possessing the Sharingan.

Gritting his teeth, Kagami clasped his hands tightly, his face alight with bloodthirsty glee.

"Rip them apart..."

"Yin Release: Sun-Chasing Dire Wolves!"

The pack charged like a howling black tempest, their roars shaking the heavens.

The ground trembled, the air reeked of blood.

Enveloped in flames, they shattered the stone walls.

A shadowy storm engulfed the battlefield.

---

Read up to 20 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin

----------

[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]

*Thank you*