Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 193 The Biggest Difference Between Yahiko and Naruto

Whoosh... From the black smoke, twelve kunai shot out again.

In a short moment, Yahiko and the other two were drawn to the kunai that shot out from the black smoke.

Because not all twelve kunai with explosive tags attached were fired at them; some were fired at the village behind them.

From different angles, Yahiko and his two companions, worried about the safety of the village, quickly used their respective methods to intercept the kunai shot from the air. They did not realize that the twelve kunai seemed to be shot out at the same time, as if it were an attack by twelve people, but in fact, it was not. It was just that six people simultaneously threw out the kunai in their hands to form twelve kunai, not that twelve people shot them out together.

The enemy leader was very experienced in combat and immediately thought of taking advantage of Yahiko and the other two's concern for the village. The six of them shot out twelve kunai through the black smoke to confuse Yahiko and the other five.

The other six people, two went around to the left and three went around to the right. While Yahiko and the other two were focused on the twelve kunai, they shot the kunai in their hands at the three of them.

The last remaining leader used earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique in Chinese fantasy novels) to hide underground and approach Yahiko, preparing to deliver a fatal blow.

According to the leader's original plan, Li Yao and Xiao Yezi should have been drawn to the kunai that were being shot at the village, thus being attacked by kunai that were suddenly shot from both sides.

Even if not, it could disrupt the formation of Li Yao and the other five, thus giving him the opportunity to kill one of them first, and then make it easier for them to defeat them one by one.

Unfortunately, they ran into Li Yao and Xiao Yezi.

Both of them possessed chakra sensing abilities, and their attempts to confuse with black smoke and launch sneak attacks were completely detected by their senses.

Facing six kunai with explosive tags attached, which were being shot at him from the right, Li Yao calmly picked up a handful of pebbles from the ground.

Whoosh... Six small pebbles shot out of Li Yao's hand at lightning speed, striking the slanted surface of the kunai that was being shot into the air at a slightly downward angle.

Clang clang clang... In an instant, the six kunai flew back at an even faster speed, landing two meters in front of the three ninjas on the right.

Boom! Boom! At this moment, the six kunai exploded. The three ninjas who were attacking from the side had no time to react and were blown away by the shockwave of the explosion.

Li Yao had timed this distance perfectly, enough to temporarily disable the three men's fighting ability due to internal injuries, but not fatally, and allow them to run back on their own.

On the other side, facing the attack of four kunai with explosive tags from the two ninjas attacking from the left, Xiao Yezi quickly formed hand seals.

"Paper Escape - Flying Paper Explosion Talisman Technique".

In an instant, six rectangular paper explosion talismans, resembling slices of steel, shot out, intercepting and detonating the four kunai halfway through their flight.

The remaining two paper explosive tags were used in the same way as Li Yao's response, and they also exploded on the ground two meters in front of the two ninjas who were attacking.

The two men on the left have also lost the ability to continue fighting unless they fight desperately.

"Oh no, we've been tricked!"

Only then did Yahiko and the other two realize what had happened. Hearing the explosions coming from both sides, they looked over and realized that if it weren't for Li Yao and Xiao Yezi protecting their sides, they would have been hit by the enemy's explosive tags, and the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Luckily, Brother Li and Sister Yezi are here."

Just as Yahiko breathed a sigh of relief, two hands suddenly reached out from the ground behind him and grabbed his ankles.

"Go to hell!"

Underground, the enemy leader, who had infiltrated the area, had a sudden thought and was about to pull Yahiko down into the ground and crush him to death.

"Oh no..." Yahiko's expression changed. Just as the thought of "it's over" flashed through his mind, he heard the sound of a pebble piercing the air.

shhhhh!

clap clap!

"Um!"

A muffled groan came from underground, and two small pebbles struck the hands that were gripping Yahiko's ankles with pinpoint accuracy. The intense pain caused the two hands reaching out from underground to instantly release Yahiko's ankles.

Yahiko quickly jumped back and left.

It's broken!

The enemy leader also emerged from the ground.

The moment he emerged, the enemy leader retreated immediately, without pursuing Yahiko.

"Yahiko, are you alright?"

"Yahiko..."

Nagato and Konan quickly came to Yahiko's side and asked with concern.

"I'm fine." Yahiko shook his head, then looked at Li Yao and Xiao Yezi beside him, scratched his head and laughed a little embarrassedly, "I was careless, luckily Brother Li and Yezi are here."

"Be careful, don't underestimate your opponent," Xiao Nan said, still a little scared.

She was really scared just now. In that instant, she didn't have time to do anything. Fortunately, Brother Li reacted in time.

However, Brother Li couldn't stay by Yahiko's side forever, nor could he watch over Yahiko indefinitely.

Before Konan could think further, Yahiko quickly assured her, "I will definitely be more vigilant in the future and will never underestimate others again."

Actually, this isn't about underestimating them, but rather about lacking the necessary strength, a fact that Yahiko is well aware of.

Nagato understood this as well, and he secretly resolved to become stronger.

"Who are you people?"

"Hanzo's subordinates?"

At this moment, the retreating enemy leader had received the battle intelligence from his subordinates. He looked at Li Yao and his group of five, especially Li Yao.

The other three are alright; they're obviously newcomers with plenty of ninjutsu and chakra, but lacking in combat experience.

Only Li Yao and Xiao Yezi, especially Li Yao, were able to react to the sudden attack he launched from underground.

This level of reaction speed is something that most people don't possess.

Moreover, Li Yao only used childish attacks like "throwing pebbles" from beginning to end, without using any other methods.

This ability startled the enemy leader, who couldn't help but ask about the identities of Li Yao and the others.

"Although I'm carrying..." Yahiko subconsciously launched into his verbal attack.

"Retreat!" The enemy leader suddenly gave the order, and everyone coordinated perfectly, dropping smoke grenades for cover and immediately turning to leave.

Boom boom boom... Yahiko looked at the huge plume of white smoke that enveloped the entire village entrance, opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything in the end.

"???"

Yahiko was taken aback. The enemy was not playing by the rules. They had just seemed to want to know their identities, but as soon as he opened his mouth, they left behind a smoke bomb and left, showing no intention of listening to him.

Ha ha!

Li Yao shook his head, a smile playing on his lips.

This is the kind of thinking a normal person should have. Those who realize they are no enemy and that staying behind only leads to death, yet still act as if they really want to know who defeated them and keep asking until they get to the bottom of it, are pure idiots.

A truly normal ninja's mindset is like that of the enemy leader who just attacked.

Sensing the difference in strength between the two sides for a moment, they immediately used Li Yao and Xiao Yezi's earlier restraint to judge that Yahiko would not attack them easily. Then, they used words to distract Yahiko and his group. Finally, the moment Yahiko opened his mouth, they decisively dropped a smoke bomb and withdrew.

They had no idea why Li Yao and the others had held back in their attack just now.

Is there some hidden story?

They don't want to know.

They just wanted to escape from here, from the group of five led by Li Yao who could kill them.

Only after they survive will they consider why Li Yao and the others didn't kill them.

Perhaps... they won't even consider it.

This is the real and cruel world of ninjas.

Yahiko didn't understand these people's choices, but Li Yao and Xiao Yezi did.

Why?

Yahiko turned around, somewhat bewildered, and asked Li Yao, "Brother Li, why don't they have any intention of communicating at all?"

With a clatter, the small pebble slipped from Li Yao's hand and fell to the ground. Hearing Yahiko's question, he laughed and said, "Because your strength is not strong enough."

In fact, the reason why the enemy leader suddenly withdrew was largely because he judged that he, the strongest among them, had not spoken, and that it was Yahiko, whom he had almost killed, who had spoken.

In an instant, the enemy leader realized that among Li Yao's group of five, it was Yahiko who made the decision, not the strongest Li Yao and Xiao Yezi.

Given this, judging from Yahiko's attitude, the enemy leader instantly deduced that he intended to escape and that Yahiko would not pursue him. Since Yahiko, who made the decision, would not chase them, Li Yao, who was the strongest and most likely to leave them with no escape, would also not pursue them.

In this way, if they flee immediately, their chances of survival are the greatest. If they stay behind and negotiations fail, they will only face death.

Therefore, the enemy leader decisively ordered a retreat.

But what if Li Yao had been the first to speak?

The enemy leader had no choice but to stay and obey.

He knew that with Li Yao's reaction speed and attack range, even if they threw out smoke grenades, they wouldn't be able to confuse him.

Otherwise, the black smoke would have fooled Li Yao and Xiao Yezi.

The enemy leader knew he couldn't escape Li Yao's grasp. As long as Li Yao spoke first, he would have no choice but to stay and obey.

Otherwise... you'll die.

Yahiko didn't quite understand this logic. He said, "I understand. He must think I'm too weak and that what I say is unreliable."

No, as long as you don't kill anyone, no one will take your words to heart.

Li Yao shook his head again in his heart.

The biggest difference between Yahiko and Naruto is that Yahiko doesn't kill.

He truly would never kill someone, whether they were an enemy or a foe.

Such a person, even if powerful, will not be feared by anyone.

Without fear and a sense of awe, who will listen to you?

But the cheerful and optimistic Naruto is capable of killing.

Therefore, Naruto's talk-no-jutsu is intimidating.

Yahiko's persuasive skills truly relied on mutual understanding and his own personal charisma.

However, personal charm is something that can't be sustained; sooner or later it will become tiresome and lose its appeal.

At that time, the decisive factor will still be the powerful force that controls the life and death of others, which will be able to compel others to continue to act according to your rules.

This is reality.

Yahiko hasn't grasped this principle yet, and is destined to continue suffering.

(End of this chapter)