29: The Terror of Jugend Mountain! Are you plotting against me? I'm overthinking it! Tang Du Di Shi.

Maki's figure finally disappeared at the end of the sandstorm, leaving behind a single phrase: "Survive."

His retreating back carried a hint of solemnity and haste, as if Tang Yan's assertion, "This is a trap," had stirred up a tempest in his heart.

Dead silence.

Even the wind seemed to be frozen.

"He just left like that?" Zi Luo stared incredulously at the empty dune, then turned to look at Tang Yan, his voice a little shaky. "Just because of a single sentence from you? Teacher Maki is a Jonin; he actually... believed it?"

Tang Yan didn't answer, merely unhurriedly rolled up the scroll marked with Mt. Kikyo's terrain, tucked it back into his Ninja tool pouch. His movements were meticulous, as if he were packing the most ordinary luggage.

Beside him, Qian silently tightened the lid of his water bottle, his gaze shifting from Tang Yan's calm profile to the distant horizon.

Tang Yan finally turned around, his sight sweeping past the two of them, casting towards the deeper desert.

"Let's go. Our mission truly begins now."

The Fifth Squad set off again, their destination: Mt. Kikyo.

The scorching sun baked the earth; the sand beneath their feet was hot enough to cook meat. In the shimmering air, Mt. Kikyo in the distance twisted and distorted, like an unreal mirage.

"I say, Yan," Zi Luo trudged along, his steps uneven, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Are you sure we really need to go? Didn't you say it was a Konoha trap? The three of us, rushing into a trap that even a Jonin found tricky—isn't that a bit... overestimating ourselves?"

He felt his throat was about to smoke. "And, with Teacher Maki gone, what are we considered? Disobeying orders or acting on our own?"

Tang Yan's steps didn't falter in the slightest. His voice, somewhat ethereal in the wind, was exceptionally clear: "I've seen Konoha's mission briefing. The supply line indeed passes through Mt. Kikyo."

"Then what?" Zi Luo pressed.

"Then we go and get what's ours."

"What? What thing?" Zi Luo felt his brain was about to be cooked into mush. "Konoha's supplies? Isn't that bait?"

Tang Yan suddenly stopped.

Without turning his head, he casually kicked to the side.

An inconspicuous patch of sand suddenly exploded, and a fist-sized black venomous scorpion was expertly flipped from beneath the sand, arcing through the air to land far on the other side of the dune, twitching futilely.

The entire movement was fluid and swift, so fast that Zi Luo only saw an afterimage.

Only then did Tang Yan turn his head, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, a smile with an indescribable meaning.

"A trap?" he softly echoed. "That depends on whose trap it is."

Watching his smile, Qian's constantly anxious heart finally settled.

He even felt that the scorching hot wind had become a bit cooler.

Zi Luo stood frozen, looking at the still-convulsing scorpion in the distance, then at Tang Yan's back. His mouth opened, but all his complaints were stuck in his throat.

Fear and doubt, like the scorpion just kicked away, flew to who knows where. In their place was a chilling excitement.

He quickly caught up, chuckling, "Alright, I'll listen to you. But I'm telling you now, when we get back, you have to treat me to three months of barbecue, not a single day less!"

From his understanding of Tang Yan, that curve at the corner of his mouth was a signal that he had everything in his grasp.

This time, the atmosphere of the team was entirely different from before.

Despite the scorching sun, Zi Luo no longer felt the heat, or rather, he no longer had the capacity to feel that burning sensation.

He put away his boisterous nature, and even the thought of complaining about thirst vanished without a trace, his face bearing a solemnity he himself hadn't noticed.

Qian, on the other hand, followed silently half a step behind Tang Yan, which was the most suitable distance for support and coordination. His hand, gripping the white velvet iron fan, was slightly white-knuckled, indicating his extreme focus.

They both knew that Tang Yan's judgment had never been wrong.

If he said there was a trap ahead, then what awaited them would undoubtedly be a danger far exceeding what the mission briefing described.

The wind howled in their ears.

Tang Yan's steps seemed unhurried, yet each one landed precisely on the most solid part of the sand ridge. His Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track movement technique made him glide across the sand sea, silent and raising not a single wisp of dust.

His advancing figure suddenly paused.

Zi Luo, following behind, hadn't expected him to stop and nearly bumped into his back. Just as he was about to complain, he saw Tang Yan looking down at the sand beneath his feet, unmoving.

Deep within his eyes, a layer of purple light, imperceptible to ordinary people, quietly emerged.

Purple Demon Eyes—Micro-observation!

In his vision, the entire world was decomposed. The flow of the wind, the trajectory of the sand, the refraction of light—everything became incredibly clear.

He saw it.

He saw the deeper traces hidden beneath the sand that had been intentionally smoothed by Wind Release. The density and depth of the footprints were definitely not what a supply unit would leave; they were more like the imprints left by a combat unit on a forced march.

They thought they had erased their tracks, but they couldn't erase the most subtle disturbance to this land.

"What's wrong?" Zi Luo asked in a hushed voice, not daring to speak loudly.

"They used Wind Release to clear this area," Tang Yan's voice was flat, as if stating an insignificant fact. "The technique is very professional, but it's not enough."

"Not enough?"

"Hmm," Tang Yan lifted his foot and drew a line on the seemingly flat sand with his toe. A patch of sand sank, revealing a deeper, clearer footprint outline. "A supply team couldn't leave such perfectly uniform military formation footprints."

Zi Luo's pupils suddenly contracted, feeling a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to his head.

"Interesting," the curve of Tang Yan's mouth took on a hint of coldness.

When they finally reached a hidden high ground on the outskirts of Mt. Kikyo, a massive canyon, like a deep gap, lay before them.

The canyon's sides were steep rock walls, and the wind, passing through it, made a wailing sound.

Tang Yan stopped, closing his eyes.

Observe!

Invisible perception emanated from him, silently spreading out to cover the entire canyon ahead. The terrain of the mountains, the flow of the wind, the faint fluctuations of energy—all information converged into his mind, rapidly constructing a precise battlefield sandbox.

He "saw" the trajectory of the wind swirling in the canyon; he "saw" the hidden killing intent behind the rocks.

Zi Luo and Qian, one on the left and one on the right, were fully alert, entrusting their backs completely to their companion who was sensing with closed eyes.

After a long while, Tang Yan opened his eyes.

"How is it?" Zi Luo's voice was a bit dry.

Tang Yan didn't answer directly. Instead, he stretched out a finger and began to count. "Left cliff face, behind the third protruding rock, two. Directly above them, on that natural stone platform, one. In the shadow of the largest Black Rock at the canyon entrance, four are hidden."

With each number he reported, Zi Luo's heart sank a bit further.

"Right side, in the closest bush to us, one. In the wind-eroded cave halfway up the mountain, there are five. And..."

"No more 'and's'!" Zi Luo couldn't help but interrupt him, feeling like he was suffocating. "Just tell me, how many live ones in total?"

Tang Yan looked at him and calmly reported the final number.

"Thirty-six."

Dead silence.

Zi Luo's face fell. He reached up and clutched his hair, his expression near collapse.

"Thirty-six? Is Konoha crazy? To catch three small fish like us, they sent thirty-six Ninja to stake out a pit?!" He suddenly turned to Tang Yan, his voice changing pitch. "My barbecue! The three months of barbecue we agreed on! It's all over now! It's going to be a last meal before execution!"

Qian watched him like this, the corners of his tightly pursed lips twitching uncontrollably.

Tang Yan looked at the huge canyon before him, the cold curve of his mouth having, at some point, transformed into a playful smile.

"Who said they came to catch us?"

Thirty-six.

This number was like a huge stone, smashing into the dead silent air, splashing cold ripples.

Zi Luo's face completely collapsed. He ran his hands through his hair, pulling it back forcefully, his whole body seeming to have been drained of its bones. "Thirty-six... Is Konoha emptying its coffers? Just to catch the three of us? My barbecue! The three months of luxury barbecue buffet we agreed on! Now it's good, it's turned into the last meal before beheading!"

He suddenly turned his head to glare at Tang Yan, his voice completely off-key: "This deal is a terrible loss!"

Qian's taut lips uncontrollably twitched when she saw his frantic expression, and the almost solidified tension was forcefully torn open.

Tang Yan's gaze swept over his wailing companions and returned to the massive canyon.

In his perception, the thirty-six life signatures were not chaotic; instead, they were like a meticulously woven net, firmly seizing all critical high ground and ambush positions.

This wasn't a supply line; this was a hunting ground.

A hunting ground meticulously prepared for the Sunagakure's "Sharp Blade" who had eliminated several of their scout squads and caused them immense trouble.

"The supply line is fake," Tang Yan said, opening his eyes, his voice devoid of any ripples, as if confirming the weather. "Luring and killing us, that's the real objective."

As he spoke, his fingers, hidden in his sleeve, moved imperceptibly, transmitting a faint Chakra fluctuation. Under a distant sand dune, a shadow, integrated with the environment, quietly detached itself and slipped into deeper darkness.

This was the first fallback he left, and also the last messenger.

Zi Luo's wailing stopped abruptly. Far from being afraid, he licked his chapped lips, his fists cracking, and his eyes gleamed with excitement: "Heh, these Konoha guys really think highly of us! Tell me, how do we fight? Charge in and kill them seven times over, or run away first?"

Qian's face was a little pale, but her eyes were incredibly clear, only looking at Tang Yan: "Yan, what should we do?"

After several missions, Tang Yan was no longer just an ordinary companion in their hearts, but an absolutely trustworthy commander.

Tang Yan didn't answer immediately. He took out a blank scroll from his Pregnant and spread it on the ground, quickly sketching a simple topographic map of Kikyo Mountain Canyon with charcoal.

His movements were extremely fast, and the lines were precise. In a few strokes, he clearly depicted the complex mountain terrain, wind gaps, and hiding spots.

His finger traced across the map, finally resting on a pocket-shaped area deep within the canyon.

"Let's turn their trick against them."

Tang Yan's voice was soft, yet it carried a reassuring calmness.

"They want to trap us like turtles in a jar; we'll turn this 'jar' into a gas chamber they'll never forget."

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over Zi Luo and Qian: "I've already locked onto seven critical updraft points within the canyon. Whatever is released there will, with the wind, permeate the entire canyon floor in the shortest amount of time."

As he spoke, his hand brushed against the sealing scroll at his waist.

"Dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong!"

Seven inconspicuous coarse pottery jars, like those used for pickles in the countryside, appeared neatly on the sandy ground with seven muffled thuds.

Zi Luo's eyes widened. He leaned forward and poked one of the jars, looking confused: "Pickle jars? What do you want to do with these? Pickle them to death?"

The jar openings were tightly sealed with wax, but Qian and Zi Luo felt an inexplicable chill rise from their spines with just a glance. They knew that whatever was inside was definitely not good.

"This is an enhanced version of 'Soul-Bewitching Powder' that I refined using Mandragora flowers as the main ingredient, mixed with Tripterygium wilfordii toxins," Tang Yan explained calmly. "It's colorless and odorless, but as long as it's inhaled through breathing, it can silently damage their bodily functions…"

The plan was simple and lethal.

"Zi Luo, Qian, later the three of us will 'fall into an ambush' head-on." Tang Yan's gaze fell on them. "Remember, you have to act convincingly, showing panic and being outmatched, then retreat all the way to the pocket formation I designated, luring everyone in."

"No problem! Acting is my forte!" Zi Luo patted his chest, assuring him.

...

Inside the canyon, Oil Girl Qun Yun, the cousin of Aburame Shibi, was resting with his eyes closed, engaging in the deepest level of communication with the parasitic insects within his body.

As the commander of this encirclement operation, he was full of confidence in the inescapable net he had laid.

The damned Sunagakure scout squad had taken out several of their reconnaissance outposts with ruthless and strange methods, which had drawn the high attention of the Mt. Kikyo command.

The higher-ups had issued a death order: they must be completely annihilated as a warning to others.

He specifically chose this place as an ambush point because he valued its pocket-shaped terrain. Once the enemy entered, they would be trapped.

"Lord Qun Yun, there's movement!" a sensory Ninja suddenly spoke.

Oil Girl Qun Yun snapped his eyes open, a cold sneer playing on his lips.

They're here.

Through the shared vision of his parasitic insects, he clearly saw three figures, two males and one female, rushing into the canyon.

"Hmph, a bunch of courageous but foolish idiots," Oil Girl Qun Yun commented disdainfully. "Do they really think they can penetrate this deep just because of their impressive achievements?"

He saw that the three quickly "discovered" the ambush, showing "shocked" expressions, then turned without hesitation and fled deeper into the canyon.

Everything was exactly as expected.

"All forces, pursue!" Oil Girl Qun Yun issued a cold command, "Don't let any of them escape! I will use their heads to wash away Konoha's shame!"

"Yes!"

More than thirty Leaf Ninja, like tigers unleashed from a cage, surged from all directions, furiously chasing in the direction Zi Luo and Qian were fleeing.

Looking at the increasingly close "prey," Oil Girl Qun Yun's face already showed a triumphant smile.

However, just as all the Leaf Ninja had penetrated deep into the canyon's belly, the deepest part of the pocket formation...

Oil Girl Qun Yun's expression suddenly changed.

An unprecedented sensation, one that made his soul tremble, came from within his body.

It wasn't an enemy attack.

Instead, it was his most trusted companions, the very foundation of his pride—the parasitic insects—that were having problems!

They began to stir and churn uncontrollably within his body, emitting screeches of extreme panic and pain! Immediately after, a weak, decaying aura emanated from every single insect.

He could even clearly "hear" those insects, which were connected to his heart, dying in droves!

What's going on?

Oil Girl Qun Yun's forehead instantly became covered in cold sweat.

This was a situation he had never encountered before! The Aburame Clan's parasitic insects were battle-hardened biological weapons; they could adapt to various environments, devour Chakra, and be cultivated in all aspects, making them the nightmare of all Ninja!

But now, they were like they had met their natural enemy, collapsing before the enemy even showed themselves!

This feeling of powerlessness and fear, as his most prized trump card instantly became ineffective in the face of an unknown force, made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave!

Just then, he saw a figure standing silently on a high rock wall in the distance, like a Shinigami looking down on all living beings.

He was about thirteen years old, dressed in Ninja attire, with an earthy yellow vest that made his lean figure appear even more upright.

A Sunagakure forehead protector was worn on his left arm, and the large scroll on his back was particularly striking, with a large 'Tang' character written on it in thick ink.

He held a Ninja blade, striking a combat pose.

It was the captain of the Sunagakure deep scout squad, Tang Yan, from the intelligence report!

Tang Yan looked at the Konoha people below, who had completely entered the kill zone, and at Oil Girl Qun Yun, whose expression had drastically changed, clearly having realized something was wrong, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.

He subtly gestured to Qian beside him.

Qian and Zi Luo understood.

The next second, six crisp shattering sounds simultaneously echoed through the canyon!

All the pottery jars placed at the updraft points, except for the one that had already been opened earlier, were almost simultaneously shattered by thrown kunai!

Invisible and colorless, yet carrying the breath of death, the poisonous mist instantly erupted from the seven points, and with the precisely calculated airflow, like the sigh of the Shinigami, it instantly permeated the entire valley floor.

Oil Girl Qun Yun only felt his vision suddenly darken, and it seemed as if he had inhaled something unpleasant through his nose and mouth.

"Damn it, is it poison?" Oil Girl Qun Yun's parasitic insects had not been cultivated for poison resistance.

Immediately after, he heard the dull thuds of his subordinates falling to the ground one after another.

And his most trusted swarm of insects was emitting their final, agonizing wails within his body,