"I'm ****! Damn bastard, you actually robbed my home!"
Under the roar of rage, Gekko Chizan's figure vanished directly from where he stood.
Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Fugaku exchanged a glance, both seeing deep shock in each other's eyes.
Leaving families like the Hyuga and the Uchiha alone, yet daring to make a move against the Gekko clan? What exactly was Kumogakure trying to do?
Flying Thunder God crossing thousands of meters was only an instant, not to mention that Gekko Chizan had left his coordinates at major locations throughout the village.
When he returned home, everything was already in utter chaos.
Traces of weathering and dampness were everywhere.
"Pakura!!"
"Sayo-san?!"
Under the flickering firelight, Pakura's face was full of anger, and she looked rather disheveled.
Several fireballs surrounded Pakura, evaporating the moisture in the air around her.
Faint green light also lingered around her body.
As for her opponent, the Kumogakure leader Dōkaku, he was already nowhere to be seen.
"Chizan, he took Senka!"
"Hehehehehehe! Good guts, Kumogakure really has some nerve—stealing people right under my nose?"
"Where is he? With your strength, you couldn't stop him?"
Gekko Chizan burst into wild laughter, his voice filled with killing intent.
He had guarded against this for so long, yet never expected Kumogakure to dare steal people from him.
He had originally thought the Hyuga would be their target—who would have imagined this?
The doubt in his heart was voiced aloud. Pakura's strength was formidable; he didn't believe a mere minor leader from Kumogakure could contend with her.
"He had a small bracelet in his hand. It should be some kind of ninja tool. That thing released black water, and even my Scorch Release couldn't evaporate it directly."
"It was full of corrosiveness."
A bracelet? Black water? Corrosive?
Gekko Chizan's heart tightened. Impressive—he really pulled out a treasure. Dōkaku, Dōkaku… so you really do have some connection to Kinkaku and Ginkaku?
A ninja tool with such effects? The Six Paths treasures? Weren't there only five of those?
"What about Sayo-san?"
"She was hit by a sleeping incense. When I noticed, he directly snatched Senka and ran."
"While escaping, he released that black water."
Pakura's originally terrified heart had already calmed the moment she saw Gekko Chizan.
This was her trust in Gekko Chizan. As long as her man was here, the sky would never fall.
"Good. Very good!"
"But running away? Not that easy."
"I've been stealing for half my life—hehehe, fine, very fine!"
Gekko Chizan raised his head and let out a cold laugh toward the sky. Immediately after, large amounts of crystal began to condense around him.
"Tagorihime, which way did that bastard run?"
The faint green glow surrounding Pakura was precisely Tagorihime—one of the protective measures Gekko Chizan had left on Pakura and his son, Gekko Dōnin.
Who would've thought that just one lapse would result in Gekko Senka being kidnapped.
"Northeast. Are we going after him?"
"Where are Dōnin and Ichikishimahime?"
"Dōnin is at the Hatake household. He said he wanted to study Hatake swordsmanship, so he went to stay at Lord Sakumo's place."
Hatake swordsmanship? That kid actually likes that?
Forget it—later.
As for now… northeast, huh.
"Crystal Release, Heavenly Dragon!"
The crystals transformed into a gigantic dragon that surged into the sky. Gekko Chizan stood atop the dragon's head, his face filled with ruthless fury.
He was furious. Someone had to die for this, and Kumogakure had to give him an explanation!
"Chizan!"
"Don't worry. He won't escape!"
"Tagitsuhime! Time to work!"
As his voice fell, dense crimson light began to bloom.
...
Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Fugaku also arrived at the Gekko residence. Just as they reached the front, they saw a massive dragon soar into the sky, followed by a crimson radiance bright enough to illuminate the entire village.
"This guy… he's angry."
"This feeling… Sage Arts?"
Uchiha Fugaku revealed a trace of surprise. No one could remain unmoved by a special power like Sage Arts.
As for Namikaze Minato, he was staring in the direction Gekko Chizan had departed.
"Notify the ANBU. Move out toward the northeast!"
"Fugaku, looks like we won't be sleeping tonight. Let's go."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded. Letting Kumogakure cause such a scene inside the village also meant he bore responsibility.
Just as they were about to act, another anomaly appeared in the sky.
"Chizan, he's here!"
"I've sensed him."
"Catch up, kill him, and take my daughter back!"
Tagitsuhime chuckled mischievously and didn't waste words. A massive crimson presence appeared in the sky, then shot fiercely toward the northeast.
In his rage, Gekko Chizan didn't even want to use the Flying Thunder God Technique. Nothing was more direct than flying there himself.
One dragon and one serpent—almost in the blink of an eye, they flew out of the village.
At this moment, Dōkaku, who had already left the village long ago, was sprinting madly. He knew very well that once Gekko Chizan reacted, the pursuit would be thunderous.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help glancing at the bracelet on his right hand. This was his lifeline. It had limited uses, and he wouldn't use it unless absolutely necessary.
But ideals were beautiful—reality was cruel.
While still running, he was suddenly enveloped by a crimson light descending from the sky. An overwhelmingly terrifying pressure and chakra pinned him directly in place.
Dōkaku froze in shock. What was this situation? It was completely different from what he had anticipated!
"Hehehe… Kinkaku, Ginkaku, Dōkaku."
"I don't care what relationship you have with those two."
"But you dared to run onto my territory and steal my daughter."
"Have you figured out how you want to die?"
Gekko Chizan's icy voice slowly entered Dōkaku's ears, making his entire body tremble.
That voice was as cold as a venomous snake hunting its prey.
Wrapped in crimson light, the giant dragon descended. Gekko Chizan looked down at Dōkaku, who was bound in place by Tagitsuhime.
Dōkaku's left hand was still holding his daughter, and that sight made Gekko Chizan's fury explode.
"You're holding my daughter like that??"
"Very good. Later, I'll hold you the same way when I take you to Kumogakure."
"Since you want to do dirty things, they have to bear the consequences."
Leaping down from the dragon's head, Gekko Chizan walked to Dōkaku's side and snatched his daughter back in one motion.
Gekko Senka, affected by the sleeping incense, was still unconscious. Gekko Chizan carefully examined her, afraid this bastard might have harmed his precious daughter.
After confirming there were no injuries, he finally let out a small sigh of relief, then shifted his gaze to Dōkaku's right hand.
"Oh? So this is the bracelet."
"A ninja tool that can block Scorch Release?"
"It's mine now."
He snatched the small jade bracelet away in one grab, causing Dōkaku's eyes to widen instantly.
"That's mine! Bastard!"
"Give my bracelet back!"
Hearing this, Gekko Chizan laughed. He glanced at him with the look one gives an idiot and calmly examined the bracelet in front of him.