Starting with Wood Release, he survives in Konoha Hospital and becomes a big shot.

Just as Orochimaru unleashed his ninjutsu, the clone on the other side immediately unleashed an equivalent fire-style ninjutsu.

Flames erupted everywhere, colliding and turning the entire sky crimson, making the night sky as bright as day.

"It can directly copy my ninjutsu!"

Orochimaru's pupils contracted sharply; Yagura's ninjutsu was far more powerful than he had imagined.

Yao Xingji was also surprised when he saw this scene.

"Is this Water Mirror Technique really that powerful?" Yao Xingji wondered to himself.

This technique seems to be able to copy all of an enemy's ninjutsu as long as there is enough chakra, which is terrifying.

"However, it's highly unlikely that bloodline limits can be copied, otherwise Yagura's status in Naruto would be at least two levels higher," Yao Xingji said in a dark tone.

At the same time that Orochimaru was fighting Yagura, in the Konoha military camp.

"Captain Hatake, there's a strong chakra fluctuation over the lake. We've detected a battle taking place, and the fighters are very strong," an ANBU ninja reported respectfully.

"There's a battle?" Sakumo Hatake's expression immediately changed.

Although he had promised Yagura not to interfere with his capture of the Three-Tails, it didn't mean that Sakumo Hatake didn't care about the Three-Tails' fate. Dispatching ANBU ninja to closely monitor the situation across the lake was something Sakumo Hatake would inevitably do.

"Have you found out who's fighting?" Sakumo Hatake asked.

"One side is a Kirigakure ninja, and the other side is unclear. According to intelligence from the front, it seems to be a person wearing a black trench coat and cloak," the ANBU ninja continued.

"A black trench coat and cloak..." Sakumo Hatake thought for a moment, but couldn't recall any ninja dressed like that.

After a moment's hesitation, Sakumo Hatake decided to go and take a look.

"Send a team over here, come with me to take a look," Sakumo Hatake ordered directly.

"Yes."

The ANBU ninja vanished in an instant, and Hatake Sakumo stepped out of his tent, looking towards the lake.

"Father."

Kakashi sped over from a distance and stopped beside Sakumo Hatake.

"I heard something happened at the front; is war about to break out?"

"It's not certain yet." Sakumo Hatake shook his head, looking at Kakashi's excited face.

"You want to go?"

"Yes!" Kakashi nodded immediately.

Although war is dangerous, it can help him grow rapidly, and even just watching it can be very beneficial.

“This time, there won’t be any star-level treatment for you,” Sakumo Hatake said.

"It's alright, let him rest well. I won't act rashly," Kakashi said somewhat awkwardly.

He did get carried away earlier, charging ahead too aggressively and ending up in a crisis.

The operation of the entire military camp immediately attracted the attention of many people, and more and more ninjas were awakened from their sleep, including Uchiha Shisui, Yamato and others.

"You guys want to go too?"

Upon seeing the group appear, Sakumo Hatake stroked his chin and asked calmly.

"Is this... alright?" Yamato asked cautiously.

They already knew that both sides in the battle were very strong, and they all wanted to go and see the specific situation and the process of the battle.

“Alright, I’ll take you all with me.” Hatake Sakumo nodded, and then ordered again, “Except for the first team, bring all the younger generation ninjas in the team.”

This trip to check the situation wasn't about the battle; Hatake Sakumo was more interested in figuring out who Yagura was fighting.

So overall, the danger is not great, and mentoring these young people also serves to train them.

The future of Konoha will ultimately be entrusted to these young people. What he needs to do is to give them enough experience when he has the ability to protect them.

Soon, the team was assembled. In addition to the first Anbu team, Rin Nohara, Obito Uchiha, and others were also brought along.

"set off!"

At Sakumo Hatake's command, the group of over sixty people immediately set off, heading straight for the lake.

Meanwhile, on a mountain not far from the lake, a team of about fifty Iwa ninja gathered.

"Sir, we've discovered traces of Kirigakure ninjas at a lake about 30 kilometers away. There are about a hundred of them, and they seem to be fighting with some kind of ninja," a member of the Iwa ninja ANBU reported.

"Oh? People from Kirigakure?" The leader of the Iwa ninja was a young man who looked to be in his twenties, but his eyes were very sharp.

His name is Dong Siren.

"That lake isn't far from Konoha's camp. Are they fighting with Konoha's people?" Suma asked, standing not far from Higashi no Shijin.

"Our reconnaissance ninjas have not found any trace of Konoha ninjas," said the Iwa ninja ANBU member.

"This is interesting. What are the Mist Village doing with over a hundred people gathered over the lake? It doesn't seem like they're planning to attack the Leaf Village camp," Dong Siren said softly, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Just then, an Iwa ninja suddenly emerged from the mountain and said to everyone, "We just received news that Konoha ninjas have moved out, led by Hatake Sakumo, and their target is that lake!"

Dong Siren narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a moment's thought, said directly, "Let's go, let's go take a look too."

------------

Chapter 175 The Collector

Lakeside.

The battle between Orochimaru and Yagura Karatachi continues.

Unlike before, Orochimaru's strength has been greatly enhanced with the Pain Mask. Even when facing his own clone and Yagura Karatachi, he still seems to be handling the situation with ease.

After all, Yagura's Water Mirror Technique cannot replicate the Pain Mask, which means he is destined to be at a disadvantage in the confrontation with Orochimaru.

"Aren't you going to make a move? If this drags on, it might attract other ninjas," Orochimaru whispered.

"It's alright, there are people who are more anxious than us," Yao Xingji said calmly.

"What exactly do you want?" Orochimaru frowned.

He sensed that Yao Xingji's goal wasn't the Three-Tails, otherwise why would he keep avoiding the Three-Tails and instead keep getting entangled with the Hidden Mist ninjas?

"You don't need to worry about that, just try to injure Yagura as much as possible," Yao Xingji said. "Also, Taiyin has arrived."

Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Compared to the unreliable Yao Xingji, Ming Shiyin is clearly more trustworthy. With this bigwig from the Yao Tian organization in charge, there's not much to fear even if ninjas from other countries gather here.

"Oh right, I forgot to tell you that the Pain Mask can only be used for ten minutes in total, so be careful," Yao Xingji transmitted his voice.

"Why didn't you tell me this important information sooner?" Orochimaru said, speechless.

"Sorry, I forgot!" Yao Xingji replied.

"..." Orochimaru.

A rough calculation shows that the Pain Mask has been used for about six or seven minutes, which means that Orochimaru will only be able to use the Pain Mask for three minutes in the subsequent battle.

After assessing the situation, Orochimaru temporarily deactivated the Pain Mask, deciding it was better to save it as a trump card.

On the other side, Yao Xingji stood outside the arena, watching the show with Zabuza.

However, unlike before, Yao Xingji's eyes behind the mask had turned red.

"The Eye of Salvation!"

A barely perceptible dark red ripple spread out, and Yao Xingji's eyes focused on Yagura, healing a small wound on his hand.

[Healing ninja complete, increases own chakra by 3%.]

[Gained Ninjutsu - Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!]

[Gained a small amount of Azure Creation Power.]

"Unfortunately, it's not the Water Mirror Technique yet." Yao Xingji shook his head inwardly, but he was not discouraged. His gaze was already fixed on Yagura Karatachi in the arena.

He's received healing rewards like this dozens of times. Only Yagura Karatachi is a particularly lucky one, still getting a 3% chakra gain from it. If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't have received any rewards by now.

However, Yakuseiji did acquire a number of powerful water-type ninjutsu. As the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure, Yagura Karatachi is already among the strongest in Kirigakure, even though he hasn't taken office yet. The reason Yakuseiji kept making Orochimaru attack is because he was able to keep taking advantage of such a strong person.

"The Eye of Salvation!"

Yao Xingji used his healing ninjutsu again, this time treating a wound on Yagura's abdomen.

This was an injury Orochimaru had inflicted on Yagura Karatachi, even at the cost of his own life.

As the dark red light spread, the wound on Yagura's abdomen began to heal and quickly disappeared.

[Healing ninja complete, increased own chakra by 1%!]

[Gained the ninjutsu—Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!]

[Gained a small amount of Azure Creation Power.]

"Finally got it!" Yao Xingji's face finally showed a hint of joy.

He expended a lot of his eye power to create this ninjutsu.

Swish!

Just as Yao Xingji was feeling excited, a cold light suddenly struck, slashing directly at his waist and abdomen from behind.

This is a large sword over a meter long, with a semi-circular notch on it. The blade radiates a cold, sharp edge that slices through the air.

"Die!"

The ninja wielding the large sword revealed a sinister smirk. He had been waiting for a long time, just waiting for an opportunity.

"It's him!! He's finally made his move!"

The moment Zabuza saw the cold light, he knew it was Juzo Biwa of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist who had made his move.

"I'm finally free!"

Zabuza thought to himself.

Ever since arriving on the battlefield with Yao Xingji and the others, he had been waiting for Biwa Juzo to make his move. He believed that with the strength of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, they could definitely kill the ninja codenamed Ziwei beside him with a single strike if they were to launch a sneak attack.

"What good is illusion magic if you can't fight a greatsword? You'll only die!" Zabuza sneered.