After having Shiki use Earth release to dig a few traps along the escape route, both he and Shinka left to get into position while Inori and Mei held their group, hiding in the trapped area.
Shinka was a rather conspicuous figure if not for her general lack of presence, a trait shared by many Aburame.
However, with multiple shinobi on alert, a general lack of presence would not save her from detection.
As such, the girl did not actually enter the city.
She creeped up to its perimeter and unleashed a very small swarm of Kochu that stealthily flew all the way to the target's accommodations.
The allotted time for the deal between the target and the client was coming up so now was the time to act, before it actually started.
Unlike that major forest battle during the caravan mission, where Shinka Kochu were detected and stopped, there were no special measures in place this time around.
And so, the deadly, near undetectable insects easily made their way to the target . . .
"Hahaha! I truly can't thank your Kumogakure enough for the patronage!" The greasy man laughed as he downed a cup of sake, fatter than the last time Team 6 met him.
"Of course. We always treat those who know who they should support well." A kumo guard in front of him calmly responded.
"True that! Drink! Drink! This is a celebration to a successful deal under your blessing after all." The man jovially continued.
"I'm afraid we can't drink on duty." The Kumo guard lightly refused.
"Suit yourself." Was the response he got, along with another full cup of sake down the drain.
Naturally, the Kumo guards were not so easy going as they were fully expecting someone to come for the client.
That said, they did not look that kindly upon him either.
Although they protected and rewarded the man for his betrayal of Konoha and the Land of Fire, that was just to protect their own reputation as reneging would make it far harder to turn anyone in the future.
In truth, the operation that started with that betrayal was a total disaster for Kumo and though the man was certainly not to blame, rewarding him for that debacle was the last thing they wanted to do but alas, life is not often about what one wants.
Unbeknownst to all of them however, in the middle of all the drinking and talking, a tiny insect had already pricked the man before smoothly flying away.
None of them knew it yet, but the traitor's death was already determined.
*
'It is time.' Shiki thought to himself, carefully watching everything above ground with Kukyo - Seven Senses while Hiding beneath the earth using Earth Release.
In actuality, the boy had never learned specific Earth Release Jutsu to move underground, he had a much better alternative in Kukyoshin which let him slip through the earth, leaving it undisturbed.
This time though, acting as a proper Earth Release specialist, he dug his way around using Earth Nature chakra, even without a proper jutsu, utilizing Kukyoshin only to hide his presence.
And now, with the main target's death ensured by means of poison, it was time to launch his thunderous strike and make a flashy getaway.
Shiki positioned himself directly underneath the target's location and molded a large amount of Earth Chakra.
'Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide'
The ground split open and the whole building collapsed into the gaping maw of the earth under its own weight.
Still, there was more than enough time for the three Kumo guards surrounding the target to react.
The one conversing with the man immediately grabbed him and jumped out of a window before the collapse while the other two burst directly through the roof, landing on the collapsed wreck.
'Earth Release: Earth Flow Spear'
WIth another jutsu, hardened earthen lances burst from the ground piercing the wreckage of the building and one of the Kumo shinobi.
His companion, far more perceptive, detected the underground surge of chakra before the attack and jumped into the air.
But now mid air, he left himself open to attack.
Shiki emerged from the ground and unleashed a third jutsu.
'Earth Release: Rock Gun'
A high velocity rock was spit from the boy's mouth, enlarging into a huge boulder mid aura and pulverizing the Kumo shinobi.
The sequence of events played out extremely fast and a small distance away, the main Kumo guard saw both his companions being packed up.
He looked towards the culprit, noting his features.
'Tanned, middle aged, relatively short, stocky, short black hair, red hair scarf, unaffiliated shinobi flak jacket.' The Kumo shinobi instantly memorized.
Shiki had used a Transformation Jutsu masked with Kukyoshin to show an undetectable fake appearance.
'Earth Release: Rock Scattergun'
The boy's changed form spat a cloud of earthen shrapnel and the target and the man protecting him.
Hoping he could hold out for reinforcements, the man drew a sword and slashed out at the ninjutsu.
'Kumo Style: Crescent Moon Beheading'
A bright arc of sword light managed to destroy most of the oncoming rocks but-
*Ping!*
With a bright metallic sound, the mass and force of the ninjutsu knocked the blade out of the shinobi's hands and three pieces of rock shrapnel passed through unimpeded.
The first one luckily only grazed his cheek as it whizzed by but the second one struck his gut, fragmenting into more pieces as it pierced his body.
As for the last one, it bypassed the Kumo shinobi and mangled the leg of his protection target, nearly blowing it off entirely.
'Good enough. Kumo reinforcements are closing in so it's time to make myself scarce.'
Using a regular but perfected Body Flicker, the transformed boy vanished just as the Kumo reinforcements began to arrive.
"Where is he?" The leader of the arriving Kumo shinobi, a tanned bald man wearing sunglasses with Elite Jonin strength, asked his second in command, a white skinned, light grey haired woman with piercing green eyes.
The woman closed her eyes, using her Sensory Jutsu.
As per the plan, Shiki did not conceal his chakra signature, merely faked it to look like an earth release specialist.
"He's heading towards the south gate and he's fast!" She warned.
"Tell the others along his route to slow him down, I'll give chase." The man commanded and body flickered away.
Stealthily sensing Kumo's shifting movements, Shiki knew they took the bait and were giving chase.
'Some of them are trying to cut me off.' He noticed and, right on cue, a squad of Kumo shinobi body flickered onto his path and threw kunai with explosive tags at him, trying to slow him down by forcing a dodge.
However . . .
'Earth Release: Earth Spear'
Hardening his form with Earth Release, Shiki's tanned skin from the transformation darkened further as he fiercely charged into the explosive kunai.
They bounded off his hardened body with a ping but then . . .
A thunderous explosion filled the air with black smoke.
"He charged straight in! Did we get him?" One of the younger Kumo shinobi turned to his team and asked.
"Don't take your eyes off th-" His squad leader did not get a chance to finish his warning.
His transformed self emerged from the explosion cloud, his entire body smoking but unharmed.
Before the Kumo shinobi could even register the warning, he was swatted aside like a fly as the boy broke through and kept on running.
+++++
Hey, Author here!
To promote the novel I will be releasing BONUS CHAPTERS on SUNDAYS based on the previous week's power stone count.
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
500 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters
1000 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Every earned BONUS CHAPTER on Webnovel will also be posted on Scribble.
Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.
I'm trying to become a full time Author now and I'm not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.
Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -