"I'll kill you all! I'll kill you all!"
A hysterical roar shattered the tranquility of the small village.
The one roaring was a demon, surrounded by Tsunade's team, bound by several iron chains and covered in Shibi Aburame's parasitic insects.
Tsunade, Gai, Yakumo, and Uchiha Shinji each held one end of the chains, trapping the demon in place. Meanwhile, Shibi's insects seized the opportunity to inject a large dose of insect venom into the demon, rendering it temporarily powerless.
"Everyone, stay sharp!" After the warning, Tsunade called out to Shizune, who stood at a distance. "Aren't you ready yet?"
"I'm ready!"
Shizune finally unsealed a massive sealing scroll and shook it open with a flourish.
Under the activation of Shizune's sealing technique, the scroll flew toward the chained demon as if alive, wrapping it layer by layer.
"Got it!"
Shizune completed the final hand seals and let out a relieved breath.
As the sealing scroll fully enveloped the demon, its roars gradually subsided, and the quiet village under the night sky returned to its serene state.
"That went smoother than expected…"
Yakumo exhaled softly.
Gai and Shibi Aburame also broke into smiles.
The mission had been unexpectedly straightforward. After pinpointing the demon's location, the team had easily restrained and sealed it.
Watching Shizune roll up the sealing scroll and sling it over her back, Tsunade sighed, "It's just a pity the target wasn't a true 'Upper Moon.'"
Shinji remarked casually, "There aren't many true 'Upper Moons' to begin with. Not encountering one is pretty normal."
Tsunade nodded. "True. The highest recorded 'Upper Moon' number so far is the 'Upper Moon Six' you and Yakumo took down last time. That means there are likely only five true 'Upper Moons' left!"
Shinji gave a slight smile, choosing not to correct her.
In reality, there were only four 'Upper Moon' demons left in the shinobi world: the demonized Tanjiro as 'Upper Moon One,' Kokushibo as 'Upper Moon Two,' Nakime, who controlled the 'Infinite Castle' with an unspecified number, and the later-added 'Upper Moon Five' giant demon.
Yakumo asked curiously, "Teacher Tsunade, what rank is this mission? Is it S-rank?"
Tsunade chuckled. "In your dreams!"
"It's not?"
Yakumo looked a bit disappointed.
Shizune explained, "A mission's rank is determined by its importance. Only major missions that impact the safety of a nation or village are classified as S-rank. While this mission does affect the village's safety, the target is relatively weak, so it can't be considered S-rank."
Tsunade nodded. "Exactly. This mission is A-rank at most. It would only be S-rank if we encountered a true 'Upper Moon.'"
Yakumo thought for a moment. Most academy students didn't even have mission records, and she had just completed another one. She said, "A-rank's pretty good too!"
Tsunade, of course, knew Yakumo's little ambitions.
She brought Yakumo on every mission, her intent to nurture her obvious. She would never think Yakumo had too many missions under her belt.
Compared to true mission maniacs, Yakumo's handful of mission records were nothing.
Take Kakashi, for example. He had completed over thirty S-rank missions and more than two hundred A-rank missions.
His titles like 'Hidden Leaf's Greatest Technician' and 'Copy Ninja' were earned through these countless missions!
Buzz, buzz, buzz…
Suddenly, a parasitic insect circled around Shibi Aburame, frantically vibrating its wings.
"Hm?"
Shibi let out a soft sound of surprise.
Tsunade asked, "What's going on?"
Boom, boom, boom…
Before Shibi could respond, a series of loud explosions echoed from the distant forest, followed by roars.
The team turned their gazes toward the sound.
Shibi reported, "My parasitic insects detected another target hiding in the forest!"
Tsunade didn't hesitate. "Let's go check it out!"
Without delay, the team followed Tsunade, racing toward the forest where the booming sounds originated.
Soon, Tsunade's team came face-to-face with a demon fleeing from the forest.
The demon looked battered, as if escaping in a panic, but the team didn't dare underestimate it. In its massive eyes, the words 'Upper Moon Five' were clearly etched.
"Upper Moon Five?"
"A true 'Upper Moon'!"
"Everyone, be on guard!"
Recognizing the demon as an 'Upper Moon,' the team immediately went on high alert.
Without a word, Tsunade charged forward, aiming to buy time for the others to prepare. Shibi unleashed his parasitic insects to scout the forest behind 'Upper Moon Five,' trying to determine who was pursuing this powerful demon.
Gai shielded Yakumo and Shinji behind him, while Shizune began preparing another sealing scroll.
Aside from Yakumo and Shinji, the other four team members were seasoned shinobi. Without needing much communication, they instantly executed their tactical roles, covering every aspect of the battlefield.
Thud.
Soon, with a dull thud, the 'Upper Moon Five,' fresh from escaping the forest, was struck head-on by Tsunade's monstrous strength fist and sent flying.
Not slowing down, Tsunade leaped into the air and threw several chains, intending to restrain 'Upper Moon Five' as they had the previous demon.
The chains swiftly wrapped around 'Upper Moon Five,' with Gai, Yakumo, and Shinji each grabbing an end, assisting Tsunade in binding it.
As Tsunade's side succeeded, Shibi raised his left hand, and countless parasitic insects swarmed forward, rushing toward the chained 'Upper Moon Five.'
This formidable 'Upper Moon' demon was, in a single exchange, utterly overwhelmed by Tsunade's team.
"Shizune, hurry!"
Tsunade tightened the chains while urging her.
Shizune quickly replied, "Almost done!"
But at that moment, the 'Upper Moon Five,' bound by chains and restrained by parasitic insects, finally reacted. With a furious roar, it yanked hard, and the chains binding it snapped instantly!
"What!?"
The team members holding the chains stumbled, nearly falling.
They then realized that the diamond-forged chains were barely stronger than hemp ropes against 'Upper Moon Five.'
Freed, 'Upper Moon Five' saw that its attackers weren't the Akatsuki members from earlier. It instantly grew arrogant. "You're all going to die!"