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Naruto Peerless Flying Dagger (48)
🕑 Added 2025-05-18 17:00:15 +0000 UTCChapter 48 - Ninja Way
"The spirit of the Little Li Flying Dagger, in the ninja world, should be what they call the 'Ninja Way,' right?"
Li Anshi stroked his chin.
Whether it was the "spirit" of the Little Li Flying Dagger or the so-called "Ninja Way" of this world, both were spiritual realms achieved by adhering to one's inner thoughts and beliefs and consistently acting upon them.
"Before I mastered the Little Li Flying Dagger, I wanted the power to protect myself."
"After mastering the Little Li Flying Dagger, I couldn't stand seeing the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, send children onto the battlefield, and wanted to cultivate Tsunade and push her to take power..."
Li Anshi sat cross-legged by the small river, dissecting his own heart, trying to understand what his "spirit," or rather, his "Ninja Way," truly was.
One thought after another surfaced in his mind, only to be rejected.
After a long while, Li Anshi suddenly paused.
"Freedom!"
"Not just physical freedom, but freedom of the mind as well!"
Li Anshi stood up and stretched lazily.
"I remember seeing a saying in my past life."
"Freedom is not about doing whatever you want. It's about not having to do what you don't want to do."
"I think I quite like that kind of freedom."
"Then, let this 'freedom' be my own 'Ninja Way'!"
Having figured it out, Li Anshi no longer wasted mental energy on this.
After realizing his "Ninja Way," Li Anshi had an epiphany.
Knowing one's "Ninja Way" still required "practice." Only by repeatedly "practicing" one's Ninja Way, engraving it into one's soul until it became one's "will," could one truly "attain the Way."
At that time, a ninja's strength would also experience a massive improvement.
...
"Sarutobi, what are you looking at?"
On the Land of Earth battlefield, Danzo Shimura lifted the tent flap and saw Hiruzen Sarutobi frowning at a piece of paper in his hand.
"Is it more bad news?"
Although Konoha's high-end combat power was no less than the Stone ninjas' since Hiruzen Sarutobi had arrived on the Land of Earth battlefield with Sasuke Sarutobi and Kagami Uchiha, there was still some disparity in their top-tier strength.
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, had fought Hiruzen Sarutobi once. The Kekkei Tota "Dust Release" had given Hiruzen considerable trouble.
If Onoki hadn't exposed Dust Release in a previous battle, Hiruzen might have been "killed on first encounter."
But even knowing some information about Dust Release, Hiruzen couldn't defend against its power and could only focus on evasion.
Fortunately, while Onoki's Dust Release was powerful, its consumption was too great; Onoki couldn't use it many times in a single battle.
As for Kagami Uchiha, due to the recent period of overloaded combat, his eyes were already nearing blindness. Hiruzen estimated that after another one or two high-intensity battles, Kagami's eyes would completely lose their light.
Therefore, it was no wonder Hiruzen Sarutobi's mood was foul.
"No, I'm not sure if this news counts as good news, but it certainly isn't bad news."
Gently placing the paper down, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his old friend.
The bandaged left eye and the right arm hanging limply at his chest made it clear how severe Danzo Shimura's injuries were.
If Danzo Shimura's arm hadn't been injured, with his strength, he could have assisted Kagami Uchiha, reducing his pressure.
But unfortunately, Danzo Shimura was currently trying to master "one-handed seals."
If he could successfully complete this training, Danzo's strength might recover somewhat.
Forcing Danzo to return to the battlefield before he completed his one-handed seal training was tantamount to sending him to his death.
Therefore, during this period, combat missions were led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Danzo Shimura remained in the rear, formulating battle strategies against the Stone ninjas.
"Let me see."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Danzo Shimura also became curious, approaching Hiruzen and picking up the paper.
"Oh? It's news from Nara Shikafuku?"
Danzo Shimura's heart skipped a beat.
Nara Shikafuku – was this news from the Cloud ninja front?
"Supply intelligence leaked. After the Cloud side learned we were transporting three thousand of Lord Anshi's daggers, their entire army withdrew from the Land of Grass?"
"No truce agreement signed?"
After Danzo Shimura finished reading the intelligence, he was secretly shocked.
Although he had previously heard about Li Anshi from Hiruzen Sarutobi, and knew this civilian ninja had been promoted to Jonin by Hiruzen for killing the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and severely injuring the Third Raikage, and had become the commander against the Cloud ninjas.
But Danzo Shimura had never expected Li Anshi's deterrent power against the Cloud ninjas to be so immense.
Just knowing that Li Anshi's weapons were being transported to the front line had scared them into retreating.
Such news was definitely good news for Konoha.
However, for Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, it wasn't entirely good news.
This was why Hiruzen had said earlier that it was good news, but not entirely good news.
The contrast made their own side seem even more incompetent.
At such a time, to prevent others from seeing this, they needed to find a flaw on the Cloud ninja front.
Therefore, after a moment of silence, Danzo Shimura slammed his hand on the table.
"Damn it, what are Li Anshi and the others doing?"
"Why didn't they press their advantage and force the Cloud ninjas to surrender directly?"
"Are they doing this intentionally?"
"Do they want more of our people to die here to highlight their own prowess?"
It had to be said, when it came to shifting blame, Danzo Shimura was a professional.
These few sentences not only negated Li Anshi's achievements but also painted him as a ruthless individual who disregarded the lives of Konoha ninjas for the sake of prestige.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo Shimura in shock.
As Hokage, Hiruzen still possessed some magnanimity.
After Li Anshi had confronted him about his mistakes, although Hiruzen hadn't made the children return their forehead protectors and go back to the Ninja Academy, he had kept all the children on the Cloud ninja front.
On one hand, Hiruzen also wanted to see if Li Anshi could truly manage not to send children to war.
On the other hand, Hiruzen knew that the Cloud ninja front was much less dangerous than the Stone ninja front.
Leaving those children under Li Anshi's command meant more of them would survive.
If they were all brought here to fight the Stone ninjas, perhaps none would survive.
The ninjas on the Stone front mostly used Earth Release ninjutsu, often causing landslides and earth-shattering destruction. Genin here could only be consumables.
