Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 157: "That's It?"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of violent explosions instantly engulfed one corner of the inner courtyard.

The deafening noise shattered the stillness of the night, drawing the attention of patrolling soldiers throughout the capital.

"Enemy attack!"

The guards on night duty rushed toward the source of the explosions, their faces pale with fear. This was the residence of the Minister of Finance—if anything happened to him, none of them would escape severe punishment.

The soldiers stationed closer to the mansion were even more panicked. Feeling the tremors from the explosion, their faces turned ashen.

---

Inside the mansion, the explosions jolted the sleeping Minister of Finance awake. He scrambled out of bed, his rotund belly jiggling as he clumsily dressed.

"Someone! Quickly, someone get in here!" he shouted, his voice tinged with panic.

Two figures appeared in the room shortly after.

Though their eyes betrayed a flicker of disdain for the minister's greasy appearance, they spoke with measured calm:

"Don't panic. It's just two infiltrators. Our people have already discovered them; there's nothing to worry about."

The speaker, a man clad in white with the Kirigakure headband on his forehead, appeared indifferent. "Two disguised shinobi, both quite young. Their strength can't be significant."

"You'd better be able to handle this. I've spent a fortune hiring you. If you can't protect me, what good are you?" the Minister retorted nervously, his words laced with urgency.

The two shinobi were jōnin, hired at a high cost by the Minister of Finance himself. The man in white was named Setsugo, and his companion, Nanami, deferred to him as the leader.

"Relax," Setsugo said with icy confidence. "They're just kids. Even if they're prodigies, they won't pose much of a threat. Nanami, take care of them. I'll stay here to ensure the Minister's safety."

"Understood."

Nanami, dressed in a black combat uniform and mask, nodded before disappearing from the room.

---

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, the lingering smoke from the explosions began to dissipate.

The two chūnin guards and the elite soldiers stood at attention, their eyes fixed on the scorched ground where the intruders had presumably been struck. Yet, no bodies lay there—nor any sign of injury.

The water-drenched soil mixed with ash, leaving behind nothing but muddy, charred earth.

"Did we miss them?" one of the chūnin muttered, his expression grim.

---

Outside the inner courtyard, Tonari and Minato remained unharmed.

The unexpected ambush had disrupted their assassination plan, forcing them to reevaluate.

The two exchanged a glance. They had two options: retreat to regroup or press forward with a direct assault.

Suddenly, more shuriken whistled through the air, aimed at their position.

"Doton: Earth-Style Wall!"

Tonari summoned another earthen barrier, deflecting the incoming projectiles.

But before they could decide their next move, their earthen defense trembled violently before splitting apart with a loud crack.

---

From the crumbling wall emerged a figure clad in black, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

"Jōnin..." Tonari muttered, his voice tinged with disdain.

"Two brats. I don't know who sent you, but neither of you will leave here alive," Nanami declared icily, his gaze fixed on the two young shinobi.

Tonari chuckled.

The sharp chirping of electricity filled the courtyard as sparks of lightning danced across Tonari's blade.

"Minato," he said simply, his tone calm but firm, "kill."

As the word left his lips, the blade erupted in brilliant arcs of lightning, instantly incapacitating the nearby soldiers.

"Understood." Minato nodded, his confidence unwavering as he prepared for battle.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!"

A flurry of wind blades slashed through the air, cutting down the remaining soldiers in the courtyard.

"Tonari, leave this to me. You handle the target," Minato said, brandishing a kunai with a smile.

"Got it."

Without hesitation, Tonari leapt toward the inner mansion.

---

Nanami frowned. He hadn't expected the two intruders to counterattack instead of retreating.

But as Tonari made his move, Nanami rushed to intercept him, only to find himself stopped by Minato.

"Jōnin? Is that supposed to be impressive?" Minato quipped, a playful smirk on his face.

"Such speed!" Nanami's expression darkened, realizing the boy was no ordinary shinobi.

"Stop him!" Nanami barked.

Two chūnin immediately moved to block Tonari's path, summoning water techniques to flood his landing zone.

Tonari weaved hand seals, countering swiftly.

The resulting clash left the ground a soggy mess, but Tonari emerged unscathed. With a flash of steel, he dispatched one chūnin, leaving the other paralyzed with fear.

The surviving chūnin trembled, clutching a kunai but daring not to approach.

Tonari spared him a brief, dismissive glance before resuming his advance.

---

Within the mansion, Setsugo watched the chaos unfold through the icy reflection of his technique.

"Impressive," he muttered. "A shame it won't be enough."

As Tonari approached, Setsugo activated his signature jutsu:

"Ice Style: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

Mirror-like ice walls sprang up around Tonari, enclosing him in a shimmering prison.

---

"You won't leave this circle alive," Setsugo's voice echoed from within the ice.

His body dissolved into the reflective surfaces, moving between them with impossible speed.

"Ice Style: Thousand Killing Water Needles!"

Dozens of water needles materialized from the mirrors, converging on Tonari with deadly precision.

Tonari activated his Lightning Cloak, his body enveloped in crackling energy.

The needles struck the cloak, sizzling as they disintegrated on contact.

"What?!" Setsugo's calm demeanor faltered.

Tonari turned slowly, his expression cold as the lightning around him intensified.

"That's it?" he said mockingly, his voice dripping with disdain.

---

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