The Art of Self-Exposure

How is that possible!

Danzo suddenly burst out of the ground and fled into the distance without looking back.

That power!

If it weren't for his sixth sense allowing him to escape in time, he would already be buried underground.

Is this a twelve-year-old ninja?

In that instant, he felt as if he had returned to the Ninja World Season 2, and the feeling of being nearly killed by Kinkaku's punch once again gripped him.

Even though he escaped quickly enough, the aftershock still slammed into his back, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood in mid-air.

Yang Xiang caught up from behind at a leisurely pace.

He had anticipated that someone would try to test him, but he didn't expect them to come so quickly.

Then I'll use you as an example.

Pale blue chakra covered his body, condensing into a thin layer of armor.

He attached his superhuman strength chakra application mode to his calves, and his whole body shot out like lightning, leaving crackling sparks as he chased after them.

A dark figure could be vaguely discerned ahead.

Yang Xiang raised his hand and slapped the other man on the back of the head with a familiar large fist.

Danzo sensed the strong wind behind him and frowned.

That wretched brat, how dare he chase after us!

As a former member of the Second Hokage's Kageshield, he had exceptionally rich experience in escaping.

He clapped his hands, and the Vacuum Jade Blade shot out with a whoosh, while he used the recoil to accelerate forward.

The Vacuum Jade was shattered by Yang Xiang's palm strike halfway through its journey, turning into scattered breezes.

Yang Xiang did not slow down and grabbed Danzo's right arm.

The large jade disc in the vacuum revealed his identity.

Yang Xiang was also somewhat surprised: the first person to test him was Danzo himself.

This old man... is so reckless?

Feeling his arm firmly locked, a ruthless glint flashed in Danzo's eyes.

He exhaled a gust of evil wind, his chakra condensing into a sharp blade that rolled past his shoulder.

A bloody severed arm was cleanly and neatly removed.

Yang Xiang: ? ? ?

I haven't even used my strength yet!

Danzo turned his head, stared at him intently, and memorized that face.

He formed a hand seal, and a blinding flame shone from his severed arm.

...

The land of the Thousand Hands tribe was brightly lit.

Tao Hua was the first to arrive at the scene.

She quickly scanned the traces of the battle, then sped off in the direction Yang Xiang was pursuing.

Behind them, several figures emerged from different directions and silently followed.

Mito Uzumaki sat alone in her room and sighed softly.

...

The joint Chunin Exam delegation from the Land of Wind is passing through the barrier under the guidance of the Konoha Defense Force.

At the front of the group, the brown-haired youth sharply raised his head.

"Luo Sha, there seems to be some fighting activity ahead," his companion whispered.

Luo Sha nodded.

At your fingertips, specks of gold dust flow silently.

Konoha is nothing special.

The fact that fighting could occur even within the village shows that defenses were lax.

The Land of Fire, this fertile land...

If we can take it, our fellow villagers will finally have enough to eat.

The Konoha ninja leading the way seemed to have noticed something amiss and stopped.

"Please wait a moment, everyone. I'll go ahead and scout."

After his figure disappeared into the forest, the Sand Ninja team fell into an eerie silence.

The Land of Wind has long suffered from sandstorms.

Their desire for the land of fire is never concealed.

From the time of the first Kazekage, the village has been actively expanding its military.

The second generation leader was a prodigy; his puppetry and the Sand Gold Magnet Release greatly alleviated the village's predicament.

But that's far from enough.

This only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause.

Only land.

Land where crops can grow.

With this longing in their hearts, they came.

Participate in this game called "Chunin Selection," and incidentally find out Konoha's trump cards, for... that inevitable battle.

Now, it seems that opportunity has presented itself to them the very first moment they stepped into Konoha.

All eyes turned to the front of the line.

Ebizo.

The head of the Sunagakure intelligence department was frowning as he gazed into the depths of the forest.

Will Konoha really expose its weaknesses so easily?

Is it an opportunity or a trap?

His mind was in turmoil.

Years of fishing experience taught him that when you get a bite, you can't hesitate, or you'll go home empty-handed all day.

He slowly raised his hand.

The Sand Ninja team began to advance silently.

Ebizo carefully considered every step he took.

He himself did not want to start a war, but the voices of the pro-war faction in the village... could no longer be suppressed.

That's why he became even more cautious.

Ahead, the Konoha ninja who had left earlier came into view, their backs to them as they probed something.

Ebizo pursed his lips slightly.

He gave a wink to the person next to him.

thump.

The Konoha ninja fell straight down from the tree trunk.

A senbon needle was securely inserted into the back of his neck.

The procession continued forward.

...

A rumbling sound came from ahead.

The Sand Ninja listened intently.

What's that noise?

Maki, following in the group, unconsciously swallowed.

Sneaking into another village to carry out this kind of sneaky operation...it's so exciting.

He couldn't help but glance at Luo Sha beside him.

The other party remained calm, even showing a hint of excitement.

He truly deserves to be called a genius who has mastered the secret art of sand control.

At the same time, Machi was secretly on guard:

Even a village like Konoha could be secretly exploited without anyone noticing...

When I go on missions in the future, I must always pay attention to my surroundings.

The ninja at the front suddenly made a hand gesture.

"There's movement!"

The entire team quickly disappeared into the woods and moved forward silently.

Luo Sha pushed aside the bushes and saw a tall, baby-faced man holding the arm of a masked person behind his back on a tree branch not far away.

He quickly scanned the man's face.

On his forehead, Konoha's headband was clearly visible.

"Are they Konoha ninja... fighting against ANBU from other ninja villages?"

I thought I was going to see a fierce battle, but the masked man didn't hesitate to cut off his own arm and turn to run away.

Luo Sha: ?

Which coward from which ninja village is this?

Then he saw a familiar light shining on the abandoned severed arm.

Detonation tag.

A dense array of detonating tags.

Luo Sha almost developed trypophobia.

I'm wrong.

I take back what I just said.

Brother, you're really brave.

Aside from the puppeteers in the village, this was the first time he had ever seen this tactic on a living person.

Even puppeteers are reluctant to use expensive puppets to self-destruct.

Heroes of the world are indeed as numerous as carp crossing a river.

This Konoha ninja is doomed.

At this dosage, anyone who comes will have to go see their mother.

Without Ebizo giving the order, the Sand Ninja team retreated in unison.

Close-up observation?

Just kidding. What if they throw a severed arm at me?

...

Danzo glanced at the furtive figures moving about below.

Sand Ninja headbands and Sand Ninja attire.

He recognized him at a glance.

A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Ha! Yang Xiang, you're dead today!" he shouted sharply, his voice aimed precisely at the forest below. "Attack! I've already severely wounded him!"

The last sentence was spoken towards the direction of the Sand Village.

Upon hearing this, Ebizo's pupils suddenly contracted.

Shameless scoundrel!

They're actually trying to shift the blame!

But then he realized something was wrong. These Konoha ninjas were about to die, so what was the point of framing them at this time?