togophonebook Chapter 176 The wind rises in Konoha, stirring the crimson leaves.
Chapter 176 The wind rises in Konoha, stirring the crimson leaves.
Konoha Village, the main gate.
The setting sun, like blood, burned the clouds on the horizon into a magnificent orange-red.
The evening wind, carrying the desolation unique to autumn, swirled a few withered yellow leaves along the wide dirt road.
In the past, this time would have been when villagers finished their day's work and returned home in twos and threes.
But today, the atmosphere here is completely different.
A somber atmosphere.
A heavy, almost suffocating atmosphere of death permeated the area centered on the west gate.
A group of agile ninjas had already gathered here.
They split into two distinct square formations, standing quietly on the open ground on either side of the city gate, like two silent reefs.
The square formation on the left exudes a rugged and wild atmosphere.
Those were ninjas from the Inuzuka clan.
Each of them had a burly ninja dog crouching beside them.
The ninja dogs had bulging muscles, glossy fur, and warily scanned their surroundings, occasionally letting out low, threatening growls.
Several young Inuzuka clan members were whispering excitedly to their companions.
"Wangcai, you'd better keep up close later, this mission is S-rank!"
"Woof woof!"
"Don't underestimate those guys from the Land of Wind. I've heard their puppetry is quite bizarre."
"What's there to be afraid of! My giant peach can bite those broken frames to pieces in one bite!"
"Let's be careful, the puppets can explode, there are explosive tags and stuff..."
Inuzuka Tsubasa, the head of the Inuzuka clan, stood at the very front of the procession with his arms crossed.
Her long, unruly brown hair danced in the wind, and the red marks on her face resembled burning flames.
He did not restrain the clansmen from whispering, as was the custom of the Inuzuka clan.
Passionate, youthful, impulsive, and unafraid to fight.
In stark contrast is the square formation on the right.
Quiet.
It was very quiet.
Those are ninjas from the Aburame clan.
Most of them wore high-necked trench coats that covered their entire bodies and sunglasses, hiding all their emotions behind that bottomless darkness.
Standing quietly, it seemed to blend into the shadow behind it.
The clan leader of the Aburame clan, Shirin Aburame, stood silently at the very front of the procession.
His presence was extremely faint, as if he might disappear at any moment.
Inuzuka Tsubasa glanced at the group of Aburame tribesmen opposite him, who looked like wooden stakes, and curled his lip.
"Hey, Shirin."
His booming voice sounded particularly abrupt in the quiet twilight.
"You're making me very embarrassed. Can't you act like a normal person?"
Shirin Aburame moved her head slightly in response.
He didn't speak, but a swarm of parasites flew out of his collar, circled in the air, and seemed to be conveying some message.
This image isn't very appealing; it's even a bit too abstract.
"Go! Go! Go."
Tsubasa Inuzuka can understand it, but he doesn't want to.
I've known this old friend for half my life, but I'm still not used to this strange way of communicating.
However, this thing is convenient for transmitting intelligence.
—Affirmation from Inuzuka clan chief, Inuzuka Tsubame.
Just then.
Tsubasa Inuzuka's eyes, which always held a hint of wildness, suddenly sharpened.
He turned his head sharply and looked at the main road that stretched out from the depths of the village.
A figure was walking slowly from the end of the street.
He was a white-haired man.
He was wearing an ordinary green vest, a symbol of his Jonin status, with a dark blue combat uniform underneath.
His steps were steady, each step measured as if it had been precisely and calmly taken.
As the person approached, the Inuzuka clan's formation, which had been somewhat noisy, instantly fell silent.
All the chatter and the growls of the ninja dogs ceased abruptly at that moment.
An invisible pressure enveloped everyone present as the man approached.
That wasn't a deliberately released killing intent.
It is something purer and more essential.
It was the chill of a blade.
It is an aura that has settled deep in one's bones after countless brushes with death.
A young boy named Inuzuka, who had recently become a Chunin, looked at this face and felt that it looked familiar.
He couldn't help but swallow hard and asked the elder beside him in a low voice.
"Senior...who is this person?"
"How terrifying..."
The experienced Inuzuka ninja looked at the approaching figure with a complex expression, his voice filled with awe.
"Hehe, this is the site manager. He's changed a lot from usual, hasn't he?"
"He is the commander-in-chief of this operation."
"The White Fang of the Leaf, the Sakumo Hatake."