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Chapter 135: Rampaging Without Discipline, the Ink-Dyed Beast!
🕑 Added 2025-08-17 13:55:21 +0000 UTCChapter 135: Rampaging Without Discipline, the Ink-Dyed Beast!
The prescient Nara Keisuke was well aware of the talent and strength that the name "Uchiha Shisui" represented. Orochimaru's deliberate targeting would not truly harm Shisui, but would only accelerate his growth. In addition, Hyūga Retsu and Shizune each had their own "professional tasks" and would basically not be on the front lines of the battlefield. Keisuke was very confident in the safety of his three team members.
"From this perspective..." Keisuke's [Shadow Creature] flew towards the northeast of the Land of Grass, which was the direction of the Land of Waterfalls, far from the front lines of the battle between Konoha and Iwagakure. "Orochimaru, he's actually a pretty nice guy!"
For Keisuke, what he currently lacked most was sufficient research time. Limited by his status, he had no choice but to go to the battlefield and carry out missions with his teammates. But it was precisely because he was acting with his team for a long period that he couldn't devote himself wholeheartedly to his own experiments.
Although he could obtain all sorts of [Shinobi Secret Scrolls] through numerous missions, his recent experience had already proved one point very well: as his strength continued to increase, conventional C-rank and B-rank scrolls were basically of little use to him anymore.
No matter how many more Earth Release ninjutsu he got, wasn't it just the difference between a "small clod of dirt" and a "big clod of dirt"?
What Keisuke truly needed were those techniques with special abilities, for example, [Kekkei Genkai Techniques], or the various "flying earth jutsu" of the Third Tsuchikage. But such missions were basically not covered by conventional missions. This made things very troublesome.
Keisuke's original plan was to seize some spare time on the battlefield to slowly advance his own research progress, which was also the reason he was always slacking off during the [Cut Off Supplies] missions. But he hadn't expected that this time, Orochimaru would directly give him a "long vacation"!
[C-rank Mission: Reconnaissance]. "Such a long-term mission, which only requires periodically scouting for intelligence and sending it back... isn't this the best mission for slacking off?"
Keisuke controlled the [Shadow Creature], landing next to a deserted waterfall on the border of the Land of Waterfalls. After confirming that there were very few traces of human activity in the vicinity, he formed hand signs and pressed them against the surrounding ground. "Earth Release: Tectonic Core!"
The earth let out a rumbling sound and subsequently sank down, creating a huge space. Usually, the effects of ninjutsu would not last for a very long time. For example, the flames released by Fire Release or the lightning released by Lightning Release would basically dissipate on the spot after being cast. But while the effects of the ninjutsu would dissipate as the chakra was exhausted, the real-world impact it brought would be preserved.
The most prominent example of this was Senju Hashirama's Wood Release. To this day, no one knew how much of a contribution the First Hokage had made to the afforestation of the Land of Fire. Another example was Earth Release. Earth Release basically interfered with and controlled the earth through earth-nature chakra. Most earth jutsu could maintain their effects for a long time. The crater that Keisuke had just created would continue to exist as long as there was no external influence.
But his goal was clearly not just to create a crater. Keisuke leaped into the underground space and once again formed hand signs. "Earth Release: Rock Shelter Technique!"
Rumble—
With another series of roars, a simple rock house appeared in the crater. Keisuke then arranged some cover on top of the rock house, making it difficult for outsiders to easily notice its existence. In this way, a very simple, temporary underground research base was completed!
"For the next period of time, let's carry out the previous research plan in this underground base..."
Before entering the ground, Keisuke did not forget to create another [Shadow Doppelganger]. "The mission to scout for Iwa's rear intelligence is up to you."
"You really know how to order people around." The [Shadow Doppelganger] looked troubled and unwillingly retreated. "I want to do research in the house too!"
A week passed quickly.
Land of Waterfalls border, underground research institute.
Nara Keisuke tidied up the items in this temporary base. After confirming that nothing was missing, he came out directly from the institute. Standing on the ground, he once again formed hand signs and released a ninjutsu towards the underground base below. "Earth Release: Rock Shelter Collapse!"
BOOM!
The Earth Release chakra easily destroyed the stable structure of this underground rock house that had been built before, completely ruining it in an instant. The earth returned to being flat. Keisuke created a [Shadow Creature] and leisurely left this place, returning to the Konoha camp.
In the Konoha camp.
Keisuke, carrying the mission scroll and the intelligence scroll, walked unhurriedly towards the main command tent.
"This is the location information of the several Iwa gathering points I've scouted out this week," Keisuke said, handing both scrolls to Orochimaru and reporting in a formulaic manner. "Please have a look."
With the flight ability of the [Shadow Creature], one week was enough for Keisuke to tour the entire Land of Grass. But Orochimaru seemed not to have noticed his slacking off at all.
"As expected of Nara-kun." Orochimaru put away the mission scroll, looked through the intelligence scroll again, and then handed it back. "Well then, please go and destroy these few Iwa gathering points now."
'As I thought!'
Keisuke had heard similar mission requests from Uchiha Shisui before and knew that Orochimaru had thought of handing over both the "scouting" and "destroying" tasks to their squad. Hearing the mission arrangement from Orochimaru at this time, he did not feel much surprise. However...
"This intelligence scroll contains the location information of a total of four Iwa supply points. I have not yet conducted an in-depth investigation of the strength of the personnel inside," Keisuke said bluntly. "The mission to destroy these supply points cannot be ranked."
"Then let's do this." Orochimaru seemed to have anticipated this and threw out a pre-prepared plan. "In my capacity as the supreme commander of the Iwagakure front, I am issuing an S-rank mission to you, Nara-kun. Please search for the small-scale ninja units that Iwagakure has distributed throughout the Land of Grass on your own and do your best to completely destroy them."
[S-rank Ninja Commissioned Mission Detected!]
[S-rank Mission: Enemy Rear Guerilla Warfare]
[Mission Content: Search for and eliminate the small-scale ninja units of Iwagakure located within the Land of Grass.]
[Mission Reward: One S-rank Shinobi Secret Scroll]
Orochimaru, that guy...
Nara Keisuke pressed his lips together. Orochimaru had no idea how much of a "surprise" he had given him. He only thought that he was deliberately making things difficult for this lazy Nara brat, and at the same time making him feel pain.
"Nara-kun, do you feel this mission is a bit too difficult?" Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth and said with a broad smile. "Do you need me to recall your three teammates from the front lines? To cooperate with you in completing this S-rank mission? Speaking of which, that Shisui-kun in your squad who always listens to your orders has made quite a resounding nickname for himself on the front lines recently. 'Shisui of the Body Flicker'."
"No need," Keisuke refused directly. "I accept this mission. I will periodically transmit intelligence back to the camp from now on, if nothing unexpected happens."
Orochimaru was not concerned in the slightest. "Then I wish you a successful mission in advance, Nara-kun."
Bidding farewell to Orochimaru and resupplying in the camp, Keisuke controlled the [Shadow Creature] and left directly.
In mid-air, he called up his panel.
[C-rank Ninja Commissioned Mission Scroll has been submitted!]
[C-rank Mission [Reconnaissance] has been completed!]
[You have obtained one C-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]
"So that C-rank mission is also considered complete..."
Without any expectation, Keisuke opened the C-rank scroll.
[Opening...]
[Contents of this C-rank Shinobi Secret Scroll: Technique]
[C-rank Technique: Earth Release: Rock Gun Technique]
[Technique Description: A rock spewed from the mouth! As powerful as a cannonball!]
[Technique Effect: Gather earth-nature chakra at the chakra point in the oral cavity, materialize it into a rock and then fire it outwards. The size of the rock is determined by the amount of earth-style chakra invested.]
[Technique Evaluation: A clod of dirt!]
"..." Keisuke was silent for a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching mechanically. "Even so, there's actually a 'Clod of Dirt Technique'!"
He directly closed the panel, out of sight, out of mind.
Keisuke recalled the S-rank mission from just now. "I really don't know how to describe Orochimaru's operation... I always feel that guy is an eyesore, but not as much of an eyesore as I thought."
Controlling the [Shadow Creature], Keisuke went straight to an Iwa gathering point that his [Shadow Doppelganger] had scouted out before. Having researched in the underground institute for so many days, it was time to come out and stretch his legs! A balance of work and rest was the way to improve efficiency.
Not long after, he arrived at a steep river valley. Without any intention of concealing his movements, he generously approached from below. The Iwa ninja stationed at this logistics point immediately noticed this strange and unusual "black beast" and immediately sent out a warning signal.
"A strange ninja is approaching!"
"Be on guard!"
"It seems to be the team led by that Shisui of the Body Flicker!"
Keisuke's originally calm and composed expression stiffened slightly upon hearing this sentence. 'Uchiha Shisui, I'll remember this little score!'
Faced with the group of Iwa ninja stationed here, Keisuke raised his hands, and one after another, lacquer-black bullets shot from his index fingers.
[Spiraling Shadow Imitation Bullet]!
One by one, the lacquer-black bullets were fired. The moment they hit an enemy or touched a shadow, they transformed into the appearance of a [Shadow Doppelganger]. In the blink of an eye, a sizable Black Shadow Army had descended upon this remote river valley. The [Shadow Doppelgangers] each controlled an incomparably sharp shadow blade, as if wielding sharp blades, and quickly reaped the lives of the Iwa ninja at this river valley supply point.
This group of Iwa ninja had no room to resist and were completely wiped out. Not long after, with a roar of explosions, the lacquer-black shadow beast soared into the sky. The Iwa supply point set up here was completely reduced to ruins.
For the next few months, Keisuke maintained this mode of operation. He would routinely set up a temporary research base in some remote corner, methodically advancing his own research plan. When the mood struck, or when he wanted to vent some energy, he would ride the [Shadow Creature], roaming the corners of the battlefield, wantonly reaping the lives of the Iwa ninja he encountered.
Lawless and undisciplined, the Ink-Dyed Beast.
The Iwa ninja had no way of dealing with a ninja who possessed such extremely powerful mobility. An ordinary ninja simply had no means to counter this type of flying ninja. In addition, Keisuke's lawn-mowing speed was simply too fast. Even the Iwa ninja who came to provide support could only see a black beast flapping its wings and flying high after they arrived.
Helpless, the intelligence was passed up layer by layer. The information about this rampaging "black beast" finally landed on the desk of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of Both Scales.
(End of Chapter)
