Attack on the Kaguya Clan

The Kaguya Clan’s territory was not located in the same place as Kirigakure. This was one reason why the Bloodline Clans held such immense power within Kirigakure, but now, that very trait worked to the advantage of Yota and the other two.

Moreover, most members of the Kaguya Clan were bloodthirsty lunatics. Perhaps it was a side effect left behind by the Shikotsumyaku, but among all the Bloodline Clans, their settlement was the farthest from Kirigakure.

The defenses here were nowhere near those of Kirigakure. On top of that, the Kaguya Clan specialized in taijutsu and the Shikotsumyaku, with no aptitude for things like barriers or sensory techniques. The three of them made their way here as easily as if they were taking a stroll.

"So what do we do now? Charge straight in?" Sasori of the Red Sand asked with a stiff face. Though expressionless, his tone carried a trace of eagerness.

"That probably wouldn’t be ideal. It might cause Tobi some trouble," Orochimaru said with feigned concern.

"Then use the Transformation Technique to turn into Mist Ninja and go in," Yota declared decisively. "The Kaguya Clan and Kirigakure have long since become estranged in spirit. We’ll strike once we get inside."

After unleashing a massacre in Kumogakure last time, Yota’s personality had become much more forceful. Besides, the Kaguya Clan’s reputation in the Land of Water was utterly infamous—the sort of name used to stop children from crying at night. So Yota chose the most direct approach.

The three did not put much thought into it. They casually threw on masks, dressed themselves as Kirigakure Anbu, and headed straight over.

"What are Mist Ninja doing at our Kaguya territory?" At the entrance, two Kaguya Clan ninja guarding the gate blocked their path, their faces filled with wariness.

However, it seemed the two Kaguya ninja had not failed to see through their Transformation Technique. Rather, they were simply that wary of Mist Ninja to begin with.

The three exchanged glances. Sasori of the Red Sand sneered first, opening his mouth slightly. With a sharp hiss, a thin needle pierced one Kaguya clansman’s eye. The man did not even have time to cry out before he lost consciousness.

Yota casually seized another Kaguya clansman by the neck and activated the Dark-Dark Fruit. Black mist swept forth and swallowed him whole.

Orochimaru’s mouth twitched slightly. "Aren’t your methods a little too obvious? At least try to cover them up."

The poisoned needles used by Sasori of the Red Sand were one thing. Although Sunagakure was publicly recognized as the master of puppets and poisons, plenty of ninja used poison needles.

But Yota’s Dark-Dark Fruit was unique in the entire ninja world. Even if every Kaguya clansman was a berserker with brains smaller than walnuts, they were not idiots. No matter what, they would be able to recognize his identity, right?

Yota spat in irritation, then closed his eyes slightly and activated the Munch-Munch Fruit. Materials that had been prepared in the Dark Space immediately fused with his body. His entire form twisted and shifted like a puddle of liquid metal, until he became a burly man covered in metallic luster.

Sasori of the Red Sand frowned slightly. Now that he was little more than a lump of flesh, he could not use any concealment ninjutsu. Still, that did not stump him. He pulled out a scroll from behind his back, opened it, and selected from it before releasing seven or eight Human Puppets, each transformed into the appearance of an Anbu.

These Human Puppets even wore Kirigakure forehead protectors. They were probably Mist Ninja Human Puppets Sasori of the Red Sand had collected at some point. With them around, he no longer looked quite so conspicuous.

As for Orochimaru, there was even less need to mention him. Though he usually preferred to fight with summoning techniques, his forbidden techniques, and the combat power of his human modifications, that did not mean his Five Elements Ninjutsu was lacking. At the very least, he far surpassed ordinary jonin. He could impersonate a ninja from any village without the slightest difficulty.

Once the three were ready, they did not linger and barged directly into the Kaguya Clan’s territory.

Sasori of the Red Sand and Yota had acted too quickly. The two guards had not even had time to speak, so the Kaguya Clan had yet to react.

When the Kaguya Clan ninja saw a group of black-clad, masked Mist Ninja suddenly storm into their territory, they were somewhat stunned. The Kaguya Clan was also one of Kirigakure’s members. Although something had felt off lately, they had never imagined the other side would come directly for them.

Only when the three attacked outright did the Kaguya Clan ninja finally realize what was happening, and they immediately flew into a rage.

"Bastard! Is the Mizukage planning to move against our Kaguya Clan?!"

"Kill these Mizukage lapdogs! Kirigakure belongs to the Kaguya Clan!"

The Kaguya Clan had never been known for their brains, and once battle began, they forgot even more. Each of them pulled bone blades from their arms and legs and charged forward.

Off to the side, Orochimaru halfheartedly used taijutsu and Water Release Ninjutsu to fend them off. His Water Release mastery was not poor—far stronger than that of ordinary jonin—but every Kaguya clansman was a heavily armored warrior. Aside from highly destructive ninjutsu such as Hard Vortex Water Blade and Water Severing Wave, ordinary Water Release Ninjutsu that relied on impact force had little effect on them.

Often, a Water Release Ninjutsu would blast a Kaguya clansman far away, only for him to get back up after dusting himself off without a scratch and charge in again.

As for taijutsu, most of Orochimaru’s techniques relied on his modified flexible body. To conceal his identity, he was not using them now. Combined with the fact that every Kaguya clansman was a taijutsu master, he could only barely protect himself.

Sasori of the Red Sand was no better. He controlled seven or eight Human Puppets, yet could not use the various mechanisms and creations of his puppets. The combat power he could display was truly no different from that of ordinary Anbu. At most, their coordination was better, allowing them to hold out longer.

Those two are slacking off far too openly. Yota rolled his eyes inwardly. Looks like I still have to be the main force!

With the high-grade metals absorbed through the Munch-Munch Fruit, Yota’s body had become extraordinarily hard. Any material worthy of catching his eye now had to be at least a Great Grade Sword from the Pirate World or Chakra Metal from the Naruto World. Combined with the body he had tempered to near-indestructibility, the Kaguya Clan’s Shikotsumyaku was simply not worth mentioning in terms of toughness.

It was like how the Mangekyo Sharingan suppressed an ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan—the opponent’s greatest strength was being suppressed.

Yota’s current physical defense was stronger than the Shikotsumyaku, while his strength and speed far surpassed those of the Kaguya Clan. Fighting these Kaguya Clan ninja was like crushing dry weeds and rotten wood. It was a complete, overwhelming rout.