Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

With no certainty about the strength of the ten Anbu guards supporting Yagura, Ye Zi could only assume they were formidable. He had no choice but to entrust Kotoe and Shin with handling them and to proceed without hesitation.

Summoning Technique!

Ye Zi slammed his hand onto the tree branch below him, initiating the summoning technique.

"Scatter!" Yagura, cautious, swung his weapon to the right and quickly moved away, waiting to assess the situation before making his next move.

Following Yagura's order, the ten Anbu instantly leaped away in response.

At almost the same time, a familiar white mist arose as Ye Zi's summoning took effect, and a massive figure burst forward, knocking down several trees in its path. Out of the dissipating smoke appeared the proud form of Manda, the enormous serpent.

"That's... Orochimaru's summoning beast." The watching shinobi were visibly taken aback, noting the iconic snake towering above the forest. As a sign of affiliation, this confirmed a close connection between Ye Zi and Orochimaru.

Standing atop Manda's head, Ye Zi spread his sensing abilities to locate the eleven targets. Despite their rapid retreat, they maintained a calm, coordinated formation—an indication of their discipline and skill.

"Ye Zi... sama." Manda spoke the title reluctantly, unused to addressing him in such a way.

"Manda, assist my two subordinates," Ye Zi commanded, his tone turning cold. "And no indiscriminate attacks."

Summoning such a powerful beast required substantial chakra, usually reserved for battles against multiple enemies or powerful individuals. But Ye Zi's decision to summon Manda stemmed from his concern that Kotoe and Shin might struggle to hold off the ten Anbu alone.

"Understood…" Though disgruntled, Manda nodded, obeying. He hated fighting while minding the safety of allies.

Kotoe, Shin, start the separation." Perched high above on Manda's head, Ye Zi gazed down through the layers of branches, his eyes set on Yagura. Capturing him alive would be far more challenging than killing.

Upon seeing Manda's intimidating presence, Kotoe and Shin briefly froze before snapping to attention at Ye Zi's orders.

"Manda, scatter them," Ye Zi commanded, then jumped down from the snake's head.

"Understood." A cold glint flashed in Manda's eyes as he moved toward Yagura's group, leaving crushed trees and a powerful shockwave in his wake.

"Shark-man, create favorable terrain for us," Yagura ordered, glancing at Kisame on his right. "The rest of you, take out the summoning beast as soon as possible."

"Understood." Kisame grinned and moved forward, looking up at Manda's looming form.

"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

Kisame removed his mask, performed a rapid series of hand signs, and expanded his chest. He then exhaled, releasing an enormous torrent of water. Within seconds, the wave grew to rival Manda's size, uprooting trees as it surged toward the giant snake.

As the massive wave formed, Yagura and his team used it as a cover, prepared to exploit any weaknesses.

Seeing the tidal wave approach, Manda's expression shifted, but he advanced fearlessly, charging into the towering water.

Recognizing the technique, Shin's eyes flashed with understanding; it was indeed the Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave, though on a much grander scale than he could manage.

"Focus, Shin!" Kotoe reminded him sharply as she moved to her designated position on the right.

Following her lead, Shin took his place on the left, trusting Ye Zi would create the opportunity they needed to divide their opponents.

Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!

Ye Zi unleashed a massive fireball, roughly ten meters in diameter, that flew over Manda's head and collided with the oncoming wave.

As water met fire, vast clouds of steam rose, hissing and obscuring the battlefield. For Ye Zi, who could sense the enemy's chakra, the steam was no hindrance and even offered a strategic advantage. If he could exploit the resulting cover, he'd be able to isolate Yagura from his team.

The massive fireball impacted the tidal wave, rapidly evaporating the water, creating a thick cloud of steam that enveloped the entire area.

Hidden within the steam, Yagura's team was momentarily disoriented. On both sides, water cascaded down, forming small rivers where the force of the technique had weakened. Kisame's face darkened as his water technique was countered so abruptly. Preparing to unleash the same technique once more, he resolved to create an advantageous terrain at any cost.

Amidst the swirling steam, Ao's Byakugan allowed him to maintain visibility. His gaze darted quickly through the area, tracking the positions of his allies. He locked onto Yagura and spotted Ye Zi moving rapidly in their direction.

Just then, one of the Anbu members used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, sending a powerful gust that cleared much of the steam, revealing Manda's massive form. The giant snake crushed trees under its weight, swinging its enormous tail toward Yagura's group with deadly force.

Ao kept his eyes on Ye Zi, who was closing in fast. Recognizing the danger, Ao shouted, "Mizukage-sama, watch out for Ye Zi!"

His warning was barely heard over the roaring water.

Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!

Once more, Kisame unleashed his powerful water technique, striking Manda and knocking his tail away.

At that moment, the giant wave split, and Ye Zi surged through, having sliced a path with his sword, Chijin. Surrounded by lightning-infused chakra that crackled along his skin, Ye Zi's speed reached a new level, appearing directly in front of Yagura before Ao could react.

Ye Zi swung down with Chijin, and Yagura raised his weapon to block the strike. But as their weapons met, lightning flowed from Ye Zi's sword into Yagura, numbing his arms slightly.

With his free hand, Ye Zi quickly formed a seal.

Wind Release: Violent Whirlwind!

Centered around him and Yagura, powerful gusts exploded outward, throwing the surrounding Anbu back and further isolating the Mizukage.

In mere moments, Ye Zi had used Fire Release, Lightning Release, and Wind Release, engaging Yagura in close combat while scattering the Anbu.

Manda, who had been swept back by the water, was still regrouping. Kotoe and Shin managed to dodge the blast of water and quickly made their way around the wave.

As Ye Zi isolated the Anbu with his Wind Release, Kotoe and Shin each moved to intercept groups of shinobi, intending to keep them occupied and create a one-on-one situation for Ye Zi.

The lightning streaming from Ye Zi's sword seeped into Yagura, briefly stunning him.

Ye Zi increased his chakra output.

"Hmph."

....

Yagura sneered, letting the chakra of the Three-Tails flow from his body to form a cloak that enveloped him. At the same time, an intense wave of water surged outward from his feet, intending to blast Ye Zi away.

Without even forming hand seals, this wave was a pure manifestation of the Tailed Beast chakra's elemental transformation. The suddenness of the attack caught Ye Zi off guard, propelling him backward. If not for his Lightning Release protection, the impact could have shifted his organs from the sheer force.

As he flew backward through the air, Ye Zi's eyes darted around, quickly assessing the battlefield.

Two hundred meters to his left stood the Mist Anbu who had launched two large-scale Water Release techniques. Three hundred meters to his right was the Mist Anbu with the Byakugan, with a female Mist ninja nearby.

Kotoe and Shin were each occupied with a few Mist Anbu, leaving these three separated from the rest.

In that split second, Ye Zi's mind raced—should he trust Kotoe and Shin's abilities, focus on Yagura directly to drive him away from the area, or expend chakra to create Wood Clones to restrain the three remaining Mist shinobi?

Creating Wood Clones would drain his chakra significantly, putting him at a disadvantage against Yagura, who controlled the Three-Tails' immense power.

It wasn't an ideal choice, but leaving it to Kotoe and Shin's abilities also carried some risk.

The decision hesitated for a fraction of a second.

At that moment, a familiar chakra wave came from his right.

A glance from the corner of his eye confirmed it was Kotoe's Wood Release—thorns-covered branches, spreading wildly and striking toward the cluster of Mist shinobi, including Mei Terumi and Ao.

With this single glance, Ye Zi made his decision: he would trust Kotoe and Shin.

The thorns of her unique Wood Release carried a deadly poison. While low in direct attack power, it could seep into the enemy's body if it broke their skin, killing them within a minute.

Lightning Prison!

Bolts of lightning the width of three fingers crackled around Ye Zi's body like dancing snakes. In an instant, he vanished from sight.

"Head-on? Or…?" Yagura's expression tensed.

It was head-on!

Ye Zi reappeared in mid-air, bringing his sword down in a powerful slash.

Yagura's eyes widened, hurriedly raising his weapon to block.

Clang!

A powerful shockwave erupted.

The moment their weapons clashed, Ye Zi delivered a swift kick to Yagura's abdomen.

Caught off guard by Ye Zi's speed, Yagura had no chance to react and was struck directly.

Boom.

With a muffled sound, Yagura's body bent as his arms and legs straightened out, shooting backward like a cannonball. He crashed through several large trees along the way, his momentum unrelenting, showing the sheer power behind Ye Zi's kick.

"Mizukage-sama!"

Nearby, Mei Terumi and Ao, distracted by the incoming thorny branches, gasped at Yagura's plight.

The thorns loomed closer, and Ao immediately hid behind Mei Terumi—a move lacking chivalry but a practical one, knowing her Bloodline Limit ability.

Lava Release: Acid Slime!

With no further attention to Yagura, Mei Terumi expelled a highly corrosive slime from her mouth. It splashed over the thorns, sizzling as it began to melt them, slowing their growth.

This was her Lava Release, an acid with high viscosity and strong corrosive properties that could also solidify into a hardened form.

Kotoe noted Mei Terumi's presence immediately. She had expended chakra on this technique, primarily intending to restrain the Mist Anbu on the scene, though she hoped to kill one or two in the process.

Though not exceptionally destructive, her Poisoned Thorns technique's lethality lay in the deadly poison coating each thorn.

Taking down everyone would be ideal.

However, reality rarely aligns with expectations.

Her thorns barely grazed one Mist Anbu's knee as the other shinobi dodged and countered the attack despite its intimidating appearance.

Meanwhile, Shin managed to use Genjutsu to immobilize three Mist shinobi briefly. He closed in on Kisame, aiming the blade, Eihō, at Kisame's vital points to draw his attention.

Sure enough, Kisame turned his gaze toward Shin, blocking the stab with his sword and swiftly countering, slashing Jin's throat in one clean motion.

"…?"

Though he'd killed the intruder so easily, Kisame didn't let down his guard, observing the area warily. Jin's severed body suddenly dissolved into water, splashing to the ground.

"Heh, a water clone? Interesting."

Kisame's eyes scanned the area, finally resting on his comrades.

"Over there, huh."

As he looked over, Shin, now sporting the Sharingan, materialized from the air's distortion, thrusting his blade into one of his comrades' hearts.

Sharingan!

The two Mist Anbu nearby reacted, their expressions changing as they quickly wove hand seals, casting dual Water Dragon Bullets. Twin dragons of water lunged toward Jin, paying no heed to their comrade's body.

"Wait… that wasn't a water clone. It was… Genjutsu? Even I…? When did it happen?" Kisame noticed something amiss, his eyes narrowing in realization. The water dragons swallowed Jin and his "victim" without hesitation.

Following Yagura's command, they'd established the terrain; next, they needed to eliminate this Uchiha.

An icy smile crossed Kisame's face as he channeled chakra, breaking free from the Genjutsu.

The illusion faded away.

Instead of Shin stabbing a comrade's heart, the water dragons had actually hit a living ally, who now looked around in confusion.

Without checking on his remaining comrades, Kisame charged toward Jin, his blade drawn, eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

"Now that I know you're an Uchiha, don't expect me to fall for your illusions again," he growled with a vicious smile.

Seeing Kisame's fierce approach, Shin's gaze hardened—Kisame had broken free from his illusion.

Simultaneously, the two other Mist Anbu also snapped out of the Genjutsu.

In a flash, Jin found himself facing a three-way assault.

Meanwhile, Kotoe faced six Mist Anbu. Things were no longer going according to plan.

Luckily, after their initial clashes, Shin had eliminated one of the enemies, and Kotoe's poison had taken down another.

"At least we didn't disappoint Ye Zi," Kotoe thought as she assessed the now-divided battlefield. The next step was to keep these enemies occupied and, above all, be cautious of the woman who could expel corrosive acid.

Her technique was a direct counter to Kotoe's Wood Release.

Check out the patreon and get 50 chapters in advance -> SaintXI

Currently on Chapter 319 - Ye Zi vs Sakumo Hatake