Chapter 182: An Surprise Attack on all Parties

For every 30 POWER STONES there will be an extra chapter!

4 Chapters today (included the extra chapter earned)!!

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To secure victory, Minato infiltrated deep into enemy territory alone, avoiding the main forces of Iwagakure and slipping in from the flanks, undetected by Iwagakure.

His goal was clear: to destroy the supply route. Along the way, he encountered many Iwagakure squads but chose to let them pass. Normally, he would take the approach of killing any enemy he encountered, but this time, he couldn't afford the delay.

Most of the Land of Earth is a barren, rocky region dominated by mountains. Even forests are scarce, and one critical supply route crosses a bridge deep in one of the few forests—the Kannabi Bridge.

Minato's target was this bridge. Destroying it would make it difficult for Iwagakure to rebuild quickly, and cutting off their supply line would greatly hinder their frontline forces.

While destroying the supply line wouldn't guarantee Konoha's victory, it would create an opportunity for one.

Iwagakure had no idea that Minato had reached their weak point. However, as a vital supply route, the bridge was guarded by over thirty elite Iwagakure ninja.

Minato hid in the shadows, observing the Iwagakure forces around the bridge. He could see seventeen of them, but he didn't know how many more were hiding.

"I'll need to plant explosive tags evenly beneath the bridge. But before that, I have to deal with these Iwagakure ninja."

Minato's gaze slowly shifted to the massive stone bridge spanning the river, a faint sense of regret passing through him. Such a bridge must have taken a great deal of effort to construct.

That fleeting regret quickly vanished.

He slowly drew out his special kunai, his expression turning cold and emotionless like the biting wind. There wasn't time to thoroughly scout how many Iwagakure ninja were hiding around the bridge. He needed to take the risk and complete the mission as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The kunai sliced through the air, whistling as it flew.

The Iwagakure ninja guarding Kannabi Bridge heard the familiar sound of kunai cutting through the air and, relying on their combat experience, immediately leaped away from their positions without even looking to see where the kunai had come from.

Eight kunai scattered, some striking the bridge, others landing near the river below or sticking into trees, but none hitting the Iwagakure ninja.

Although the primary purpose of throwing the kunai was to set up the Flying Thunder God technique, Minato had also intended to kill some enemies. Yet, he hadn't managed to hit any of them, proving that these Iwagakure ninja were no amateurs.

Eight kunai weren't enough to fully utilize the power of the Flying Thunder God technique, so Minato threw two more volleys. These weren't aimed at enemies but instead collided midair, ricocheting off each other and scattering in all directions. As soon as he released them, Minato's figure vanished.

At that moment, the ground where Minato had been standing turned into a mud pit, and dozens of stone spears plunged into it.

The Iwagakure ninja hidden around the bridge had quickly pinpointed Minato's position and launched an attack, but Minato had already sensed it and dodged.

"It's Konoha's Yellow Flash!" one of the Iwagakure ninja said, his expression tightening as he recognized the special kunai.

The surrounding Iwagakure ninja grew tense upon hearing the words of their comrade. Many had heard of the Yellow Flash and instinctively tried to distance themselves from the kunai they could see.

The hidden Iwagakure ninja revealed themselves, though their exact numbers were still unclear.

Minato scanned the battlefield quickly, holding a kunai in his hand.

"Well then..."

His figure vanished again, reappearing several meters behind an Iwagakure ninja. With a flick of his wrist, his kunai pierced the ninja's heart before they could even react, and they collapsed dead.

The nearby Iwagakure ninja noticed something was wrong, but before they could even turn their heads, Minato had already appeared by the body. With a quick motion, he threw two more kunai in opposite directions, targeting two more Iwagakure ninja.

One of the ninja, who was close, couldn't avoid the attack in time and fell with a kunai in his chest. The other managed to dodge, but a moment later, Minato appeared next to the kunai, just an arm's length away.

The Iwagakure ninja was already on guard, but not fast enough to avoid Minato's kunai slashing across his throat.

Blood sprayed, and the Iwagakure ninja collapsed, clutching his neck.

After killing several Iwagakure ninja in an instant, Minato didn't stop and charged into the midst of the Iwagakure forces, continuing his assault.

When Ye Zi and White Zetsu arrived, most of the thirty-plus Iwagakure ninja guarding the bridge were already dead, and Minato had not a single scratch on him.

"He really is a terrifying guy," White Zetsu said, once again marveling at the efficiency with which Minato had cut down the Iwagakure forces.

"If he wants to escape, there's no way you can stop him," White Zetsu added.

Ye Zi remained silent, observing Minato's technique. As White Zetsu said, if he wanted to leave, there was no way to catch him. Finding a weakness in his technique was not going to be easy.

If Minato had been leading a team, there might have been a chance to catch him by using his teammates as leverage.

"Maybe... there will only be one chance," Ye Zi thought, looking at the stone bridge. To stop Minato, he would have to ambush him, and there would only be one chance to do so—the moment when Minato finished killing the Iwagakure forces and destroyed the Kannabi Bridge.

In that brief moment, Minato would surely let his guard down…

"Do you need my help?" White Zetsu asked.

Ye Zi shook his head. "You won't be of much use."

As he spoke, Ye Zi drew a sharp blade—an ideal weapon for assassinations. Unfortunately, to maintain the element of surprise, he couldn't use his Lightning Release technique.

Thinking about it, he felt a slight pang of regret. He wished he had learned the Eight Gates technique from Guy; if he had, his chances of a successful ambush would be much higher.

On the bridge, Minato dealt with the last Iwagakure ninja. Among the thirty or so dead Iwagakure ninja, many had been quite strong, but they had stood no chance against Minato's Flying Thunder God technique.

Minato exhaled slightly, the fight having drained some of his stamina. He didn't immediately place the explosive tags. Instead, he collected his special kunai and sealed them into a scroll. Only then did he move under the bridge to place the explosive tags.

While building a bridge was difficult, destroying one was much easier. Using explosive tags to destroy the bridge would conserve chakra.

After placing the tags, Minato moved a safe distance from the bridge, then turned to look at it, pausing for a moment before forming a hand sign.

The explosive tags beneath the bridge ignited simultaneously. Moments later, a thunderous explosion shook the area, and the bridge shattered, sending smoke and debris flying into the sky.

The bridge collapsed into the river below, scattering rocks and raising countless splashes of water.

Watching the ruined bridge, Minato relaxed slightly. The mission was complete...

But just then!

A shadow, armed with a sharp weapon, rushed toward him.

The weapon, named Eihō, was aimed directly at Minato's heart.

The faint sound of wind, carried by the force of the explosion, reached Minato's ears. His eyes narrowed in that instant, pupils contracting sharply.

Time seemed to slow as the razor-sharp blade pierced Minato's clothing and began to sink into his skin...

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Currently on Chapter 234 - Ye Zi's Arrival and the Trapped Snake