Chapter 166: Gentle Fist's Greatest Specialty Is Overcoming Hardness with Softness
Relying on Wood Release: Transformation Technique concealing his aura, combined with Byakugan easily seeing positions and every movement of Cloud ninja sentries hidden in mountain forests, Ritsu quite easily avoided sentries along the way. Moreover, when approaching Cloud ninja camp, he adjusted Wood Release: Transformation Technique—his entire aura instantly transforming identically to one sentry encountered en route.
Then he simply passed through the barrier covering the entire Cloud ninja camp. This sensory barrier layer failed seeing through Ritsu's transformation technique. Therefore, his intrusion proved calm and uneventful, stirring not half a ripple.
Like Konoha's side borrowing Yu no Kuni's constructed mountain fortress, Cloud ninja likewise stationed in Frost Country's constructed mountain fortress. Speaking of these two mountain fortresses—initially when the Five Great Nations' situation stabilized, Yu no Kuni and Frost Country built them to defend against each other. Both could easily accommodate several thousand residents.
However, Yu no Kuni and Frost Country hardly utilized these mountain fortresses. Yu ninja and Frost ninja's combat capability degradation speed proved jaw-droppingly rapid. Conversely, Konoha and Cloud ninja had repeatedly utilized these fortresses for confrontations and clashes. Both mountain fortresses had been destroyed and rebuilt.
Passing through the barrier, what met his eyes was the towering castle wall.
Flames danced atop the wall—Cloud ninja stood guard and watch. Moreover, the wall's perimeter was barren. However, the instant after passing through the barrier, Ritsu used Byakugan to clearly see the situation, promptly adjusting Wood Release: Transformation Technique to completely merge colors with the ground. Guarding Cloud ninja detected no traces whatsoever.
Ritsu's footsteps proved light as a cat's, speed still swift. Moreover, using Byakugan he clearly saw these guarding Cloud ninja's every movement. Utilizing their visual dead zones, he quite easily traversed this not-very-long open ground, reaching below the wall. Then step by step climbing the wall, silently scaling this fully six-plus-meters-high wall, entering the mountain fortress interior.
He didn't rush continuing deeper penetration. Instead, lurking in one tree cluster's shadows, he then opened Byakugan carefully observing the mountain fortress interior situation. Though Byakugan could see most corners within the fortress, his brain couldn't simultaneously process so much information—still requiring concentrated attention observing and processing section by section.
Stepping into Cloud ninja camp, Ritsu stood in one tent's shadows without rash movements, instead using Byakugan carefully observing the situation.
The mountain fortress contained many buildings. Keeps alone numbered three—all layered pagoda-style, tier upon tier like pagodas. Two large, one small. The two smaller ones respectively located at the northwest and southeast corners—both four-stories. The largest located at the northeast corner—fully six stories high.
The largest keep plus portions of the castle interior all bore barrier coverage, making detailed intelligence difficult to glimpse. In the two smaller keeps, he discovered some formidable Cloud ninja—even including renowned Cloud ninja experts Nara Suzaku mentioned. But he didn't see Dodai and others, nor the horned C.
He quickly examined all visible places throughout the fortress without harvest. But he could exclude these places. Remaining barrier-covered locations weren't many—seven total. Ritsu judged C, Dodai and others very likely occupied the large keep. However, he still chose investigating the other six locations.
Relying on Byakugan's perception and Wood Release: Transformation Technique's concealment capabilities, Ritsu truly moved through the fortress as if through uninhabited territory. Six locations total were quickly investigated—four training grounds, two warehouses.
Finally, Ritsu arrived before the large keep. After passing through that barrier layer, Byakugan immediately saw Dodai. This Kumogakure strategist occupied a fourth-floor room, kneeling on tatami mats, holding a teacup while drinking tea and speaking with Xi seated opposite—seemingly discussing some problem.
He merely watched Dodai two glances before shifting attention, beginning detailed examination from bottom to top layers.
The large keep stood six stories high.
The square keep platform progressively receded tier by tier. The entire large keep contained approximately less than one hundred Cloud ninja. This number honestly fell far short of the large keep's accommodation limit. However, this was very normal arrangement—Konoha's side showed identical circumstances.
The reason actually proved quite simple—guarding against enemy surprise attacks. Overly dense personnel residence could easily produce massive casualties during enemy raids. Ninja mobility on flat ground rivaled swift horses. Climbing and jumping matched monkeys. Should anything occur, assembly completed easily.
"Found him!"
Ritsu silently murmured.
On the large keep's sixth floor—meaning the highest keep—he saw one middle-aged Cloud ninja seated before a desk. Unlike most Cloud ninja, this one's chakra proved quite massive. Exaggerating slightly—a miniature humanoid tailed beast. This Cloud ninja's head bore a pair of sharp horns. Inside flowed abundant chakra.
Without question, this one was Cloud ninja's front-line supreme commander, nicknamed "Demolition"—C. Or rather, even if not—no matter. Ritsu's risky Cloud ninja camp infiltration goal proved very clear—seeking Gold and Silver Brothers' clansmen, using Chimera Technique to enhance his own strength.
Therefore, whether this Cloud ninja was C didn't matter. What mattered—the opponent definitively was a Gold and Silver Brothers clansman, a descendant inheriting partial Otsutsuki bloodline.
When staring at this Cloud ninja, he could feel body-transmitted waves of hunger. His body craved obtaining this portion of Otsutsuki bloodline.
Ritsu took a deep breath.
Employing Wood Release: Transformation Technique, switching back to tiger-masked Missing-nin Anonymous appearance, he then climbed along the large keep's outer wall upward. Speaking of which, the large keep's defenses proved quite tight. Among less than one hundred Cloud ninja, at minimum sixty people executed defensive work.
But six-story-tall keep wanting sixty people guarding watertight proved fundamentally impossible. Ritsu's Byakugan could still find safe advancement routes. Thus step by step climbing upward—one floor, two floors, three floors... until reaching the fourth floor. Xi—currently speaking with Dodai in a room—suddenly changed expression, frowning.
"Xi? What's wrong?"
Seeing Xi's change, Dodai asked puzzledly.
Xi's brow furrowed tightly. In a low voice: "Dodai-senpai, outside seems somewhat disturbed. For safety's sake, let me investigate." Speaking thus, his hands formed seals, preparing deploying sensory ninjutsu.
On the large keep's outer wall.
Ritsu also saw Xi's actions, immediately realizing his movements were discovered. He didn't feel disappointed. Having reached this step anyway—even if discovered, no matter.
However, since discovered, no need continuing light-footed movement.
Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees.
Standing on the fifth floor's outer wall, Ritsu clapped both hands, using this Wood Release technique. Previously, he'd used this move giving Hokage Building a green hat. This moment counted as repeating old tricks—giving this keep far exceeding Hokage Building's height likewise a green hat.
Trees grew madly. Familiar scenes quickly occupied the entire fifth floor. Even the sixth floor had python-like trees breaking through floorboards, appearing before C. This Cloud ninja front-line supreme commander obviously proved a tough character.
Ritsu saw clearly—instantly lightning flashed brilliantly. C punched through floorboards. After discovering the entire fifth floor occupied by densely packed trees, he quite decisively split aside nearby branches, then charged toward the window. In moments he crashed through walls, reaching the outer balcony.
However, here he saw still layer upon layer of stacked trees.
C's expression grew grave, entire body surrounded by lightning—about to strike through these trees. However, before striking, he stopped. Because Ritsu passed through trees, appearing before C.
C immediately changed strategies. He assumed defensive posture, vigilantly watching Ritsu, shouting demands. "Who are you?" He swept Ritsu one glance before lowering his gaze, merely watching Ritsu's hands and feet.
This reaction stirred Ritsu's heart.
Guarding against Sharingan?
Apparently, the recent attacker who'd assaulted Cloud ninja camp killing Troy and other Cloud ninja truly was that Missing-nin Anonymous—the proxy selected by Black Zetsu and Uchiha Madara.
Ritsu's expression remained completely concealed by the tiger mask. Thoughts raced through his mind. His mouth spoke in a deep voice. "Someone here for your life!"
C's expression remained unchanged, merely coldly stating. "Want my life? Fine. But the prerequisite—you must possess that capability. Don't think hiding your Sharingan lets you scheme against me. This old man isn't that idiot Troy."
He took Ritsu as the attacker who'd killed Troy and others.
The Wood Release already displayed before his eyes required no elaboration. Though this attacker before him hadn't revealed those crimson eyes—what normal person wore sunglasses going out late at night? Clearly hiding Sharingan, planning catching him off-guard. Perhaps Troy initially fell for this, thus easily losing his life.
Hearing C's answer, Ritsu showed strange expression beneath his mask. So wearing sunglasses out brought such benefits—actually mistaken for possessing Sharingan... This was good!
The opponent not daring directly meeting his eyes—this undoubtedly constituted weakening suppression. Even if top-tier ninja like C could fight merely watching enemy hands and feet, doing so would inevitably create impact—unable to one hundred percent display their own strength.
Ritsu laughed lightly, clapping both hands.
Wood Release: Adamantine Recruiting Timber.
Square timber posts rose from the ground, striking toward C.
Ritsu had firmly decided—unless truly encountering lethal crisis or possessing victory-seizing opportunity, this operation wouldn't use Gentle Fist, Dead Bone Pulse, or other methods possibly exposing his true identity. Throughout, he'd prepare using only Wood Release and Wind Release for combat.
Doing so admittedly limited his performance. But Ritsu confidently believed using only Wood Release sufficed exchanging blows with these Cloud ninja. His Wood Release bloodline limit development degree already proved quite high. Though not yet reaching First Hokage's heights, even possessing only half First Hokage's skill still sufficed making most enemies properly suffer.
Look—C was tasting Ritsu's Wood Release prowess.
Those square timbers possessed shocking impact force. Moreover, their hardness rivaled steel. He relied on thousand-times-tempered formidable flesh barely breaking these timbers. Pain transmitted from his arms made him involuntarily grimace.
And this was merely a beginning.
Wood Release: Adamantine Recruiting Timber.
Wood Release: Adamantine Recruiting Timber.
Ritsu also didn't use other techniques. Repeatedly just this single move continuously firing. Moreover, square timbers didn't merely emerge underfoot—surrounding trees and even overhead ceiling could all sprout them.
Seemingly plain-and-simple single technique played masterfully by Ritsu. These timbers themselves possessed extremely high hardness. Emergence speed proved especially fast. Generated impact force likewise extraordinarily powerful. In less than one minute, they beat C into frantic confusion.
His brow furrowed tightly.
Continuing passive defense proved problematic. The saying goes—long defense invites loss. The best defense was offense!
Combativeness constituted habit permeating Cloud ninja to the bone. Even high-ranking officials like C could rationally approach village overall situations. But falling into such face-to-face slaughter, when hot blood stirred this nature—it proved somewhat uncontainable!
Moreover, he'd also observed—discovering Ritsu from beginning to end showed no intention approaching him. Even when utilizing these square timbers attacking him, he'd stacked layer upon layer defenses before himself. Seemingly... the attacker wasn't skilled at close combat?
C also considered whether this was deliberately left openings. But his greatest specialty was close combat. Having trained Lightning Release Ninja Taijutsu, he possessed extremely fierce close-combat capabilities. Years ago, examining the entire village, only Third Raikage could steadily surpass him in single combat.
Moreover, if this was a trap, then the opponent plotted waiting for his approach, then using Sharingan genjutsu to control him.
Such schemes proved shallow yet sufficiently effective.
Because choices before C presently weren't many. Either passive defense, firmly holding awaiting reinforcements. Or proactive offense, attempting utilizing close combat to achieve victory. Logically, choosing the former proved more stable—because this was Cloud ninja camp. Camp's thousands of Cloud ninja would all come support him.
But still that statement—combativeness permeated Cloud ninja bones. Passive defense filled C's heart with anxious impatience. Moreover, he possessed tremendous confidence in his thousand-times-tempered formidable flesh. He wasn't that fragile Troy. His flesh—ordinary ninjutsu couldn't break it.
However—just before C completely couldn't suppress combative emotions, Ritsu moved first. This round of testing gave him sufficient understanding of C. C apparently walked the identical path as deceased Third Raikage—forging near-invincible formidable flesh.
But Ritsu feared least this so-called formidable flesh.
After all, his clan's Gentle Fist specialized precisely in overcoming hardness with softness!
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