Naruto: Forbidden Arts and an Immortal Agenda

Dasha Valley was so desolate that even the autumn winds couldn't lift more than a few fallen leaves. 

On this barren mountaintop, everything was exposed to view. The actions of all eight individuals were clearly visible to one another—and to Akai as well. 

Akai was Iwagakure's commander for this mission. 

After the ambush began with an explosion, he did not immediately engage. 

For one thing, he didn't believe his personal involvement was necessary. 

Six Jonin—if they couldn't even annihilate a mere escort team, then they were unworthy of being called Iwagakure's elite Jonin. 

Additionally, he needed to ensure complete annihilation of this squad. Not a soul must survive; not a whisper of this must reach enemy ears. 

His mission was to intensify Hidden Cloud (Kumo) and Konoha's war—not drag Iwagakure into conflict. 

His gaze remained locked on the battling octet, especially Shuichi. 

Although Shuichi had listened to Aozora's grand philosophy, he still hadn't learned discretion or restraint. 

The intensity of his presence immediately drew everyone's attention. 

And his speed in combat was just too fast. 

While Aozora exchanged words with an Iwa ninja, Shuichi had already drawn his blade and attacked. 

His opponent wasn't one to fear death either—earth-natured chakra surged forth, hardening into rocky armor over both arms. In an instant, the two clashed together. 

Blades flashed rapidly while punches created gusting winds. 

Close-range combat was where true warriors proved themselves. 

Their fierce battle drew every eye—even Akai found himself watching, drawn in by the raw intensity. 

In contrast, Aozora's fight with the Iwa ninja seemed rather mundane. 

One side cautiously threw kunai forward while the other responded by casting jutsu. 

This was the most common opening in Ninja World conflicts. 

No one expected, however, that the beginning would immediately mark the end—that their probe would become an instant killing blow. 

In just a single exchange, an Iwagakure Jonin who'd grown through three wars fell permanently. 

"Boom!" 

The Jonin lightly hit the ground. 

Though soft in sound, it instantly seized everyone's attention—including Shuichi and his opponent, who simultaneously exchanged blows before breaking apart. 

The mountaintop suddenly turned silent as every pair of eyes focused on Aozora—the slender youth still growing into his body. 

Only shock remained—pure and absolute! 

Even those three Uchihas who'd previously heard how Aozora decapitated a Jonin in one strike, or witnessed him snipe down rogue ninja within seconds, felt stunned. 

They'd only exchanged blows with their respective opponents briefly—at least aside from Shuichi, none had gained any advantage. 

Yet such a formidable enemy had been cut down without surviving a single strike from Aozora. 

None could imagine how Aozora had managed this feat! 

First one, then another—slaying Jonin with a single strike. Was this genius? 

No—it was mastery. A very high level of mastery indeed. 

The Uchiha trio recognized Aozora's strength—and so did the other Iwagakure shinobi. 

Under everyone's gaze, Aozora slowly stepped forward and picked up his throwing knife. 

He gave it a light blow—sending droplets of blood flying from the blade. 

From afar, Shuichi observed Aozora's action with quiet admiration. 

The throwing knife was too small—the bloodstains barely enough to make a splash. 

The remaining Iwa ninjas sat uneasily now, hairs standing upright with dread. 

They didn't dare rush him again—not without knowing how to dodge head-on attacks.

Luckily, their concern lasted only a second. The next moment, Akai had already positioned himself in front of Aozora.

Akai's towering figure completely shielded Aozora from view.

Staring at Akai's broad shoulders, the Iwa ninja regained his composure and resumed facing off against the Konoha ninja before him.

Aozora looked up at his opponent, who stood several heads taller than himself, and sighed, "You people from Iwagakure are really strange—either you suffer from gigantism or dwarfism."

Suddenly, he asked, "Do dwarfs in Iwagakure give birth to giants?"

Akai remained silent.

"I heard your Third Tsuchikage was short, but his children are all abnormally tall."

Akai still said nothing.

"So, could it be that the Tsuchikage's wife… hehehe…"

Aozora chuckled, hoping to provoke even the slightest emotional reaction from the other man. However, all his words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

This was a life-or-death battle, and the enemy was a powerful ninja whose strength was unknown.

Akai didn't like testing limits; he preferred unleashing powerful techniques right at the start—using ultimate moves.

But he wasn't reckless. Even ultimate moves required the right opportunity.

That opportunity might be a fleeting distraction or a mistake made during an emotional moment…

Aozora was confident he could seize that moment—one slash and the fight would end.

But the enemy allowed him no opening whatsoever.

Aozora was starting to struggle.

Jonin react quickly, and under full alertness, even [Slaying the Immortal!] couldn't deliver a fatal blow in one strike.

If this became a drawn-out battle, facing a seasoned Jonin with diverse skills, Aozora might not have the upper hand.

"You mean this is how you distracted Hikaru? No wonder he's useless!" A voice as cold and hard as stone came from the giant before him.

Aozora replied, "Yeah! I told him he's too short—he hasn't even reached your knees!"

"He simply lacked inner strength, thus giving you an opening," Akai responded. "However, though I hate to admit it, your abilities are genuinely impressive. Konoha truly has too many geniuses—it's enviable!"

"Thank you for the compliment!"

Aozora bowed respectfully, deliberately exposing an opening.

Yet instead of advancing, Akai actually stepped back.

"Your throwing knives are too fast. I'm not confident I can dodge them, so I won't get close to you."

Aozora smiled bitterly, "You sure aren't giving me any chances!"

Akai stated solemnly, "I won't give you any chances!"

Aozora's demeanor reminded him of someone—an individual equally skilled at instantly killing Jonin.

That individual was long dead, yet the scars he left behind were permanently etched into Iwagakure.

This boy's throwing knife techniques weren't quite unbeatable yet; he still needed a tiny opening to pull off a swift kill on a Jonin.

But what if he continued growing stronger?

Right now, he appeared no older than seventeen or eighteen years old. How brilliant would he become once he matured fully?

Would he then become another Golden Flash, slicing through Jonin like stray dogs?

He couldn't afford to take that risk.

He'd made his decision—no matter the cost to the mission or how many Konoha ninjas escaped, this boy would not leave this place alive.

Aozora saw the look in his eyes.

This was the first enemy who had taken him so seriously.

His previous victories had all relied on his enemies' underestimation of him.

Now, under such intense focus from his enemies, did Aozora still have a chance?

He didn't know.

He slipped his throwing knife into his sleeve.

Without a chance, even drawing the blade would be pointless.

Seeing Aozora slip his throwing knife into his sleeve, Akai instead stepped back another hundred meters.

"Your projectile is sharp, but it's too small!"

With a surge of powerful earth chakra, he smashed his fist into the ground and ripped up a massive boulder the size of a wagon.

[Earth Release – Earth Sphere Dumpling!]

Lifting the giant rock over his head with one hand, Akai shouted, "Try something bigger!"

As soon as he finished shouting, the boulder—huge by normal standards—flew straight at Aozora!

The speed of this boulder was naturally slower compared to Aozora's throwing knife, but in terms of regular human throws, it wasn't that slow.

Given its sheer weight, anyone struck by this rock would either die or be seriously injured.

The best solution was to dodge using speed.

That's exactly what Aozora thought, and exactly how he acted.

The huge rock whistled past him but didn't even graze a single piece of clothing.

After dodging the first boulder, Aozora barely had time to breathe before the second and third came flying.

He dodged the second and third.

Then came the fourth, fifth, and sixth.

Aozora's expression turned serious.

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