The identity of the leader seemed to be on par with Ian, as he spoke very casually.
"Ian, what happened to make you so disheveled?"
Ian spat out another mouthful of blood and said grimly, "Enough nonsense, kill him quickly and take me away from Konoha. I need treatment!"
"Oh? Is it this watermelon head who beat you up like this?"
The leader in black glanced at Might Guy and sneered, "He looks like a fool."
"No... don't be careless, his strength is very high, he calls himself Konoha's Azure Beast!"
The man in black glanced at Might Guy, who was wrapped in green energy, and disdainfully said, "Azure Beast? I think he's more like a green caterpillar."
"Ian, you're too timid. We have more than twenty people here to support your retreat. How did it go? Did you succeed?"
"Cough, cough, it should be done. As long as we leave Konoha and go to the designated location to rendezvous, the mission will be completed."
"Well done!"
Might Guy's brow furrowed at this moment. These were all Chunin and Jonin. The leader, from his senses, was at least an elite Jonin. This was going to be difficult.
"Alright, you've heard enough. It's time to send you on your way!"
Upon hearing the man in black's words, the surrounding Cloud Ninjas revealed their kunai and shuriken.
"Wait a moment, I still have a question to ask."
Ian struggled and leaned against a tree, his expression grim and mocking. "I still want to see how ferocious Konoha's Azure Beast is. Can you show me?"
"As you wish!"
Might Guy took a deep breath, the veins on his face gradually bulging, and he let out a low roar, "The Seventh Gate - Gate of Wonder! Open!"
Boom!
Layers of airwaves spread out from Might Guy as the center, and the surging aura caught Kakashi's attention from afar.
Kakashi's heart tightened: "How could even the Gate of Wonder be opened? Are the enemies that powerful?"
Kakashi couldn't help but regret his own slowness and quickly rushed towards Might Guy's direction.
At this moment, Might Guy's appearance was completely different from before. The green energy was replaced by blue steam evaporated by sweat, his veins bulged all over his body, and his face became even more ferocious than before.
Might Guy knew that he couldn't maintain this state for long. The longer he maintained it, the greater the side effects would be after it ended. Without further hesitation, he unleashed his ultimate technique.
Might Guy crossed his hands in front of his chest and roared forward, "Morning Tiger!"
A super high-speed punch was thrown out, resembling a tiger made of compressed air, roaring as it pounced towards the Cloud Ninjas.
"What in the world is this thing!"
Before Morning Tiger even arrived, the strong shockwave had already instilled fear in the Cloud Ninjas, making them lose even the will to resist.
"Damn it! Defend quickly!"
Running was no longer an option. Under such pressure, their bodies could barely move, let alone escape.
The leader in black struggled to form hand seals: "Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
The remaining Cloud Ninjas also formed defensive ninjutsu.
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
"Earth Style: Earth Prison!"
Boom!
These ordinary defensive ninjutsu were as fragile as paper before Morning Tiger. It passed through them without obstruction, the fierce tiger instantly tore apart their ninjutsu and roared as it swallowed all the Cloud Ninjas!
Ian let out a wry smile. If he had another chance, he would never have been so glib. In fact, green... looked quite nice!
Boom!
The shockwave swept through more than half of the Forest of Death, toppling countless trees. It seemed that the Forest of Death, which had only recently been repaired, would have to be re-cultivated.
"Guy! Are you alright!"
Support always arrived last. Kakashi landed beside Might Guy, who was lying on the ground. Just as he was about to help him up, Might Guy interrupted him.
"Don't! Don't touch me, Kakashi!"
Kakashi: "..."
Might Guy turned his head with difficulty, revealing a bitter smile. "This is a side effect of opening the Gate of Wonder. Just a slight touch is extremely painful, as if I've been beaten up."
"Is it that serious? What should we do?"
"Just let me lie here for a while."
Kakashi nodded and looked at the unobstructed "wide path" ahead, helplessly clutching his forehead. "You... are there any survivors?"
"Probably... none. I'm sorry, I didn't consider this thoroughly."
Kakashi quickly waved his hand. "No, no, no. The opponent actually had so many reinforcements, which was beyond our expectations. Guy, your choice was right!"
Kakashi was very surprised in his heart. Guy's strength was actually so outrageous. Was he, Kakashi, the one at the bottom?
Kakashi thought of Obito, whose strength was unfathomably deep, and then looked at Might Guy, who possessed the power of a single punch. He sighed helplessly.
It seemed he still had to work harder, striving to catch up to their pace.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side, three Cloud Ninjas, guarding the tied-up Sasuke, were waiting at the agreed-upon location.
"Why aren't they here yet? Lord Ian is taking too long. Something must have happened."
"Don't jinx it! How could those cowards in Konoha stop Lord Ian?"
One of the Cloud Ninjas seemed impatient. He took out a kunai and pressed it against Sasuke's neck, saying fiercely, "Kid! You're not completely unconscious, and you've left marks along the way. Truly worthy of the Uchiha clan."
"But do you really think we're that easy to fool?"
Sasuke turned his head, feigning composure. "I advise you to release me immediately! My brother will definitely come to save me!"
"Oh? Is your brother very strong?"
"Nonsense! My brother is the strongest!"
"Hahaha!" The Cloud Ninja almost burst into tears laughing. A ninja who hadn't even reached Chunin could claim to be the strongest? It was too funny!
"Even if your brother is strong, how would he know you're here? You'd better obediently come back to the Hidden Cloud Village with us to sow the seeds!"
Sasuke's expression became panicked. "Did that idiot Naruto inform my brother?!"
Sasuke didn't expect Naruto to save him at all. He only hoped that after Naruto discovered he was missing, he would notify his brother, Itachi Uchiha. He believed his Onii-san would definitely find the mark he left and come to save him.
But even as others reached the agreed-upon location, no one came to save him. Sasuke felt a sense of despair.
Sasuke didn't know what "sow the seeds" meant. If he did... he might have taken his good friend Naruto with him!
"Sasuke! I'm here to save you!"
A childish figure appeared in Sasuke's field of vision. Naruto's dirty little face poked out from the bushes, showing Sasuke a standard foolish grin.
"Naruto! You're finally here! Did my brother bring you to save me? Where is my brother?!"
Sasuke's gaze was fixed on Naruto's back, longing to see that figure in his heart.
Naruto scratched his head and said apologetically, "Sorry, Sasuke, I didn't inform your brother."
"Naruto, you idiot! What's the use of you coming alone?! This is like sending a sheep into the tiger's mouth! You're such an idiot!"
Sasuke furiously roared at Naruto, spitting a stream of saliva onto the Cloud Ninja in front of him, completely ignoring their angry expressions.
"Naruto? Uzumaki Naruto? Son of the Fourth Hokage!"
"Hehehe! It seems he's an idiot too, actually finding his way here alone."
"Capturing the son of the Fourth Hokage would be a great contribution!"
The three Cloud Ninjas looked at Naruto as if he were a moving treasure chest. Their wealth and honor for the rest of their lives were all on him!
Naruto took a step back, a little scared, then puffed out his chest and said to Sasuke, "I didn't bring your brother, but I brought him!"
"This big brother here, is he also from your Uchiha clan?"
A black-robed figure wearing a spiral mask emerged from the shadows behind Naruto, his two eyeholes revealing a three-tomoe Sharingan with a cold killing intent.