The Water Wall fell.
Atop the cofferdam, more than ten Hidden Leaf Anbu appeared.
On the surface of the water before the cofferdam stood over twenty Hidden Stone ninja.
Yagami gave the order: "Fox squad, combined ninjutsu! Begin!"
Four ninja each used Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
Four fire dragons surged forth.
Yagami stood in the center, with two ninja standing on either side of the Fire Style Anbu, simultaneously using Wind Style.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
The biggest problem with Fire Style is its slow speed, making it difficult to hit targets.
But at this moment, the flames utilized the strong wind, causing both power and speed to jump to another level.
Under the combined ninjutsu, the four fire dragons instantly covered a surface of water dozens of meters wide.
With the blessing of the Wind Style, the attack range of the Fire Style also extended, instantly swallowing many Hidden Stone ninja.
The stronger Hidden Stone ninja leapt up to dodge the flames, but eight or nine of them were buried directly in the sea of fire.
The Fox squad's combination ninjutsu had achieved its initial effect.
Yagami thought to himself, who says Fire Style ninjutsu can't kill anyone? Quite a few died right here.
The Hidden Stone ninja leaping in the air looked in horror at the Hidden Leaf Anbu's combined ninjutsu.
Within this narrow canyon, the power of Fire Style ninjutsu was magnified.
Purple Cat struck at this moment, using the Mind Transfer jutsu to control the Hidden Stone captain.
The Hidden Stone captain was controlled and took several seconds to break free. By the time he regained control of his body, his heart was filled with terror as the second Hidden Leaf ninjutsu arrived!
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
A violent and slender line of water spewed from Yagami's mouth.
The canyon rock wall to the side was first sliced, a large chunk falling off with a neat cross-section as the stone crashed into the water, kicking up a burst of white waves.
After the Water Severing Wave swept across quickly, the ten or so Hidden Stone ninja in the air were cut in half at the waist.
Some Hidden Stone ninja had even covered their bodies with rocks, hoping to increase their defensive power.
Unfortunately, before Yagami's Water Severing Wave, it was completely useless.
This way of dying was even more stimulating to the nerves than being swallowed by Fire Style.
The halved corpses fell into the water, and the scent of blood quickly attracted mindless fish.
The fish probably thought some fisherman had cast bait.
The Hidden Stone captain also died under the Water Severing Wave. For the remaining few Hidden Stone ninja, Yagami let White Sheep handle the cleanup while he himself leapt onto the shore above the Yoshimizu River canyon.
Koi Chisa remained where she was, her long, willow-leaf eyes staring intently at the Fox Anbu.
That movement of adjusting her glasses just now was too natural, too comfortable; Koi Chisa suspected she had met this Fox Anbu before.
After Yagami reached the shore, his subordinates went to deal with their respective Hidden Stone targets while Yagami quickly searched the surroundings.
Soon, he found a secret signal, a code carved into a carriage.
The Hidden Leaf also kept many spies hidden in the Hidden Stone Village. The Land of Fire placed great importance on the hydroelectric station, and thus the Anbu had activated a spy planted within the Hidden Stone Village.
Many carriages were parked next to the hydroelectric station; those were the residents of the capital who had come to watch the completion of the dam's foundation.
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
A line of water rushed past, slicing off the roof of a carriage.
Yagami stood on the roof of the carriage, looking down at the president inside, and spoke the intelligence the spy had passed in advance:
"President Jinshi from the Land of Earth, your true identity is a retainer of the Minister of the Treasury of the Land of Earth.
The Hidden Stone infiltration unit is doomed. The Minister of the Treasury of the Land of Fire has also arrived at the capital of the Land of Rivers and wishes to speak with you."
Jinshi's eyes showed fear. It wasn't just because of this Hidden Leaf Anbu's great strength, but because the Hidden Leaf Anbu had accurately stated his identity. He had thought he was hidden quite well in the Land of Rivers.
Yagami leapt into the carriage cabin and kicked open the door, signaling for him to follow.
Jinshi shakily stepped outside the carriage and saw that the Hidden Stone ninja were almost all dead.
The remaining Hidden Stone ninja grew tense upon seeing Jinshi and rushed toward him.
The employer for the Hidden Stone's operation this time was Jinshi; the mission would only be considered over once Jinshi personally saw the hydroelectric station destroyed.
The four surviving Hidden Stone ninja surrounded Jinshi.
Yagami looked at Jinshi and said, "What, do you still intend to struggle?"
Jinshi shook his head and said to the few Hidden Stone ninja:
"The mission is over, do not resist any further. The Hidden Leaf knows my information perfectly well. Resistance is meaningless. Escort me into the capital of the Land of Rivers to see the Minister of the Treasury of the Land of Fire."
The Hidden Stone ninja looked at each other and then at their squad leader.
The squad leader had no choice but to nod.
Yagami scanned the area and was somewhat surprised; a member of the White Sheep squad had died.
Even in an advantageous situation, danger remained everywhere. The death throes of a Hidden Stone ninja had resulted in a mutual kill with a member of the White Sheep squad.
Koi Chisa also walked up from the upper cofferdam at this time.
Purple Cat walked toward Koi Chisa and said, "Miss Koi Chisa, the Minister of the Treasury of the Land of Fire has entered the capital. Please meet with him as soon as possible."
Koi Chisa first looked at Purple Cat's pale gold long hair, then at her petite and well-defined figure, and finally looked into the eye holes of the mask, trying to see the expression in her eyes.
Purple Cat felt it was bizarre; why did this woman have a sense of hostility toward her?
Koi Chisa said, "Fine, we will return to the capital together."
President Jinshi and the Hidden Stone ninja, the Hidden Leaf Anbu, Koi Chisa, and officials of the Land of Rivers all returned to the capital together.
Koi Chisa came to the back of the group and walked side-by-side with the Fox Anbu.
"Hidden Leaf Anbu, have we met before?"
Yagami said directly, "During a mission, please do not strike up a conversation with the Hidden Leaf Anbu."
Koi Chisa met a soft rebuff, yet she felt this Anbu's voice was hauntingly familiar.
The group entered the Tenshu Castle of the capital directly.
Inside the Great Hall.
The Daimyo of the Land of Rivers sat in the main seat, and to his left was the Minister of the Treasury of the Land of Fire, Ida Haneda.
Standing behind Ida Haneda was Yellow Dog.
After Yagami entered the hall, he stood beside Yellow Dog.
Ida Haneda was pot-bellied, wearing a brocade robe and a gold-threaded openwork hat. He was equivalent to the Land of Fire's Minister of Finance and Central Bank Governor, possessing immense power, and was personally escorted into the Land of Rivers by Yellow Dog.
He was one of the major financial backers of the Anbu and Root, not only providing lucrative national missions for the Anbu but also having special dedicated funds.
Ida Haneda had come this time because he had taken a liking to the hydroelectric power station technology and prepared to introduce it to the Land of Fire.
Ida Haneda looked at Jinshi and said, "So it is you, Jinshi. During the last meeting with the Minister of the Treasury of the Land of Earth, you poured wine for me."
Jinshi hurriedly lowered his head. "Lord Haneda, it is I."
The Daimyo of the Land of Rivers signaled for his sister Chisa to sit beside him.
After Koi Chisa sat down, she stared at the Fox Anbu.
The Minister of the Treasury of the Land of Fire, the Anbu Commander—none of these people attracted Koi Chisa's attention. Her mind was entirely occupied with calculating how to test the Fox Anbu's true identity.
Once everyone was seated or standing in place, the Daimyo said:
"Today, the distinguished guest from the Land of Fire, Minister Ida Haneda, has come to the Land of Rivers.
Because of the hydroelectric station, the Land of Rivers has suffered a lot of trouble.
The Hidden Leaf Village and Hidden Sand Village are already fighting in the western part of the Land of Rivers; I do not wish for the capital to be unsettled as well.
Lord Ida Haneda, please speak of the instructions from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.