Naruto Card King

It wasn't that Haruto Saito was slow to react, but rather that he realized the sensory technique far too late. A sensory-type ninja of elite jōnin level naturally possessed an extremely powerful passive awareness ability. If such a ninja actively used a specialized sensory technique, the effect would be terrifying.

Without a second thought, Haruto Saito transformed into black smoke and disappeared, reappearing in the forest over a hundred meters away from the mansion. However, it was futile. Inui's sensory range was expanding outward in an explosive manner. The Black Armor Flash required him to construct a thought in his mind before executing it. While he could do it instantly, it still took time.

Inui's sensory energy swept over Haruto Saito once again.

There was no escape. Inui's sensory technique had already enveloped an area spanning several kilometers in mere moments, covering the entire White Stone encampment. Even if Haruto Saito used all five of his Black Armor Flash abilities in succession, he still wouldn't be able to escape the range of this sensory technique.

In truth, some secret techniques could evade detection from sensory ninjutsu. Even if one remained within its range, they wouldn't be discovered. Mental-type sensory techniques were the most common, but their effectiveness paled in comparison to physical sensory techniques. For instance, in the original chronicles, Gaara's sand could perform physical detection, even sensing the presence of the Second Tsuchikage Mu, who was capable of invisibility.

However, Haruto Saito had not mastered any superior anti-sensory techniques.

"Damn it!" Haruto Saito cursed, glancing back toward the mansion.

His Byakugan was still active. His gaze penetrated the walls and locked onto Inui.

If Inui decided to pursue him, he would have to flee immediately!

But then, he saw Inui maintaining a hand seal, his eyes now closed. The fluctuating aura of his mental-type sensory technique blanketed the entire White Stone encampment. He remained still for a while before suddenly opening his eyes.

It seemed… he hadn't noticed anything?!

Inui's expression remained unchanged. He altered his hand seal, and the sensory range began to rapidly shrink. Within two breaths, it had condensed into a sphere about thirty meters in diameter, completely covering the three-story wooden building at the center of the courtyard.

"He didn't detect me?" Haruto Saito blinked in disbelief.

The sensory energy had clearly swept over him, yet Inui appeared to have noticed nothing. This couldn't be due to a lapse in Inui's abilities—he wouldn't make such a mistake. Then…

"He… really didn't sense me…" Haruto Saito muttered, lowering his gaze to inspect his surroundings.

Thick black mist continuously enveloped his body.

Haruto Saito was constantly emitting auras—he had no way of suppressing them completely. The cursed seal energy from the Black Armor was always present. Unless he stopped using the Black Armor's abilities, the seal's transformation into black mist would inevitably generate an aura.

Moreover, maintaining the Byakugan in an active state also emitted a presence.

Haruto Saito could sense these auras clearly.

But…

"Could it be… the black mist is concealing my aura?" Haruto Saito widened his eyes in realization.

Whether or not the black mist was truly blocking his aura, he had no way of confirming. The mist surrounded him externally, meaning he was enveloped within it. He could sense his own aura, naturally, but what about others?

"The Black Warrior… the Grim Reaper of the Night… elusive, ghostly in his movements…" Haruto Saito recalled how Jiraiya had once described the Black Warrior.

It was entirely possible!

The black mist might not only obscure the Black Warrior's body but also completely suppress his aura, making it undetectable by mental sensory techniques!

Still, Haruto Saito couldn't be certain.

Although Inui seemed to have missed him, what if he was only pretending? He could be feigning ignorance, waiting for Haruto Saito to approach before launching a sudden strike to eliminate the need for a chase.

It was a possibility, albeit a small one.

Inside the wooden mansion's inner courtyard—

Inui had left the corridor and entered the room adjacent to Tanaka Teiji's quarters. It seemed he intended to sleep next door. Given his sensory capabilities, even with just a wooden wall separating them, he would immediately detect any disturbance near Tanaka Teiji.

Haruto Saito watched as Inui lay on the wooden bed, fully dressed, while in the adjacent room, Tanaka Teiji changed into his nightwear and prepared for rest.

"Time to test it!"

Haruto Saito made his decision. He scanned the inner courtyard of the mansion, where a Suna jōnin named Miyamoto Rei stood under a tree near the pavilion, arms crossed, his sword held against his chest, unmoving.

He was standing guard.

Haruto Saito observed carefully, noting the patrol routes and the positions of those still moving within the mansion. Suddenly, he turned into black smoke.

In an instant, Haruto Saito appeared within the courtyard, directly behind Miyamoto Rei.

The two were very close. The black mist had already begun to seep around Miyamoto Rei's back.

Haruto Saito watched Miyamoto Rei intently. If he showed any sign of turning around, he would vanish immediately. At such close range, even though Miyamoto Rei wasn't a sensory ninja, he should still be able to detect any shifts in aura. After all, Haruto Saito was emitting multiple sources of energy.

But he didn't move!

Haruto Saito's Byakugan aura and the cursed seal aura of his armor—Miyamoto Rei sensed none of it!

So he remained still!

He had no idea someone was standing right behind him.

"It's true!" Haruto Saito confirmed. The black mist truly did suppress all traces of the Black Warrior's aura. Even the sound of raindrops hitting his body, which normally would be audible, seemed to be muffled by the mist.

"So…" Haruto Saito turned his gaze toward the wooden building.

Inui's sensory energy still enveloped the entire structure. It appeared that he intended to maintain his sensory technique even while sleeping—a level of protection for Tanaka Teiji that was almost excessive. Maintaining such a technique for an extended period would consume an immense amount of chakra. Who knew how long Inui could keep it up?

This was strange.

Previously, Amegakure had never offered Tanaka Teiji such protection. Why had so many powerful individuals suddenly gathered around him? Even an elite sensory jōnin had been dispatched.

Something was off. But Haruto Saito wasn't about to overthink it. He wouldn't abandon his mission due to such doubts.

Inui's room remained dark.

The firelight in Tanaka Teiji's room had also been extinguished.

Haruto Saito narrowed his eyes. His body blurred into black smoke and vanished.

Inside Tanaka Teiji's dimly lit bedroom—

A wisp of black smoke suddenly rose beside the bed, coalescing into a thick black mist. Cold, eerie eyes locked onto the wooden wall behind the bed. Haruto Saito had arrived, but he didn't strike immediately. Instead, he remained tense, his vision piercing through the wall to observe Inui in the adjacent room.

He couldn't be certain whether Inui would sense anything at this close distance. As an elite sensory jōnin, he likely possessed multiple sensory techniques, and his innate perception was already formidable.

If Inui reacted, Haruto Saito would have to escape. However, in this scenario, as long as he created distance, he could flee.

He had used Black Armor Flash three times already—two more remained.

But Inui didn't move. He lay motionless on the wooden bed, eyes closed.

The black mist's aura-suppressing effect was unbelievably powerful.

At last, Haruto Saito was certain. He looked down at the sleeping Tanaka Teiji. Though over fifty, the man appeared younger due to good care—plump, pale, and pampered.

Staring at Tanaka Teiji, Haruto Saito drew "Black Fang" from his waist.

A swift strike!

Slick—

The whisper of a blade piercing flesh. The blade sank into Tanaka Teiji's forehead. He didn't even stir before his life ended.

A-rank assassination mission: complete!

But at that very moment, Inui's eyes snapped open. A terrifying aura erupted from his body.

His blade unsheathed.

Boom!

A devastating slash tore through the wooden wall, streaking toward Haruto Saito!