261-265

Chapter 261: Too Weak – Crushing Through Like a Hot Knife Through Butter  

"Kid, you’d better surrender now! At your age, it’d be a shame to die here!"  

Retto, the First Kazekage, stood at the head of four hundred Sand shinobi, his voice brimming with confidence. The sealing barrier around them pulsed ominously, trapping both them and their target inside.  

Yoru merely chuckled, the deep-blue lightning around him condensing further, almost taking physical form. "Surrender? That won’t do. I still need that Blood Sunflower. Besides… you haven’t even seen what I’m capable of yet."  

"Arrogant brat!"  

"You’re digging your own grave!"  

The Sand ninjas behind Retto sneered, their killing intent thickening the air.  

"Since you refuse my mercy, don’t blame me for what comes next." Retto’s eyes hardened. "Capture him!"  

With that order, the swarm surged forward—Retto at the forefront.  

Ten puppets shot out from his sleeves, their movements erratic, sealing off every possible escape route.  

"Taste the might of Retto-sama’s puppet arts! Even Hashirama Senju praised this technique!"  

Yoru smirked. "Oh?"  

Then—  

Flash!  

He vanished.  

Before anyone could react, he was already in front of Retto, his blade a streak of light.  

Retto’s instincts screamed.  

"Kikō Fūton!" (Machine Light Seal Shield)  

A puppet marked with the character "Ni" (贰) snapped back, unfolding a reinforced shield just in time.  

CRACK!  

The blade met the shield—and split it clean in two.  

Retto’s breath hitched as the puppet behind it was bisected like paper.  

"Impossible!"  

The Sand shinobi paled. "That shield can withstand a Tailed Beast Bomb! How—?!"  

"Quit gawking! Attack!" Retto roared, his remaining puppets whirling into action.  

"Wind Style: Thousand Cutting Winds!"  

"Fire Style: Divine Flame Technique!"  

"Wind Style: Pressure Damage!"  

The combined assault shook the earth, the barrier itself trembling under the force.  

Yoru exhaled. "Fine. I’ll show you what real power looks like." His voice dropped, icy. "You didn’t trap me in this barrier—you trapped yourselves. And since you kindly kept those 20,000 chunin out of my way… I’ll make this quick."  

"Storm Release: Storm Dragon!"  

The deep-blue lightning around him erupted, the sheer pressure cracking the ground beneath his feet. A massive dragon’s head formed from the chakra—so large it occupied a full twentieth of the 300-meter barrier.  

"ROAR!"  

The dragon surged forward, obliterating every jutsu in its path like they were nothing.  

Retto’s puppets shattered on contact—three gone in an instant. Desperate, he barked, "Sanbō Kyūketsu!" (Three Treasures Suction Crush)  

Three special puppets—marked "Butsu" (仏), "Hō" (法), and "Sō" (僧)—formed a triangle, a black vortex spinning between them. A force capable of swallowing even a Tailed Beast’s attack bore down on the dragon.  

"Suck it in!" Retto snarled.  

For the first time in his life, he felt doubt. Not even against Shukaku had he been this unnerved.  

BOOM!  

The dragon clashed with the vortex—but unlike the earth being torn apart around it, the dragon didn’t budge.  

"Now! While he’s pinned down!"  

"Take him out!"  

The Sand ninjas seized the chance, launching their strongest attacks.  

"Magnet Style: Gold Dust Funeral!"  

"Secret Technique: Black Corrosion Needle Rain!"  

"Wind Style: Sickle Weasel Technique!"  

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!"  

But—  

"ROOOOAR!"  

The Storm Dragon ripped free of the vortex, its tail lashing out like a whip of lightning.  

"Move!" Retto barely had time to shout before the shockwave sent everyone flying. Bodies slammed into the barrier hard enough to crack it.  

"Kazekage… your focus is lacking."  

Retto’s blood turned to ice as Yoru’s voice whispered behind him. Two blade-wielding puppets lunged to intercept—  

CLANG!  

The impact sent Retto skidding back. "Sanbō Kyū—"  

"ROAR!"  

The dragon’s cry shook the heavens. The three treasure puppets? Pulverized.  

The dragon’s tail, moving faster than light itself, snapped toward Retto.  

"Barrier Jutsu: Sankō Saijin!" (Three Lights Talisman Array)  

Retto’s strongest defense—a barrier capable of withstanding a Tailed Beast Bomb—flared to life.  

CRUNCH!  

The dragon smashed through it like glass.  

Retto was sent hurtling backward, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed into the barrier’s edge.  

Chapter 262: The Kazekage's Frustration  

"Lord Kazekage!" 

"Bastard! How dare you injure our Kazekage!"  

The Sand shinobi who had been sent flying earlier scrambled to their feet, their faces twisted in fury.  

"Summoning Jutsu!" 

"Summoning Jutsu!"  

One after another, they bit their thumbs and slammed their palms onto the ground.  

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!  

A swarm of summoned creatures erupted in flashes of smoke—giant armored war dogs, towering falcons with razor-sharp talons, their massive forms filling the barrier’s confines as they lunged at Yoru.  

"Mere pebbles before a storm."  

Standing atop Raijūryū (Storm Dragon), Yoru remained unmoved. With a single thought, the dragon’s tail lashed out—space itself seemed to distort as a shockwave of wind erupted.  

CRACK!  

A streak of lightning. A deafening roar.  

The summoned beasts hurtled backward, crashing into the barrier with enough force to shatter it entirely. The earth trembled violently as gales of wind sent shinobi flying like leaves.  

"Tch!"  

THUD!  

A massive falcon writhed in the dragon’s coiled tail before being slammed into the ground like a ragdoll. Other birds were swatted aside, their colossal bodies smashing through what remained of the barrier.  

POOF! POOF! POOF!  

One by one, the summons vanished in clouds of smoke. The few surviving creatures—war dogs and falcons—shrank back in fear, refusing to move.  

"Well, Lord Kazekage? Still want to test my sincerity?"  

Yoru stood calmly atop Raijūryū’s head, watching as Retto clutched his chest and staggered upright, his expression a mix of rage and disbelief.  

"...Fine. Take the damned Blood Sun Flower. But you swear you’ll leave the moment you have it?"  

Retto’s voice was icy. If he’d known Yoru was this strong, he would’ve mobilized the entire village—jinchūriki included—from the start.  

But now? His pride as Kazekage lay in tatters.  

"Lord Kazekage, NO! This is surrender!" 

"We still have thousands of shinobi outside! Why yield?!" 

"Since when does Suna bow to some brat?!"  

The Sand elites erupted in protest. They’d suffered humiliation before—Uchiha Madara had crushed them—but this stranger? Unacceptable!  

They still had their jinchūriki. They still had numbers.  

No way some random kid could rival Hashirama or Madara—right?  

"Oh? Not satisfied?" Yoru’s hand rested lazily on his sword. "Lord Kazekage, shall we continue? I don’t mind stretching my limbs."  

"ARROGANT—!" 

"Teach him a lesson, Lord Kazekage!"  

The Sand shinobi seethed, weapons drawn, chakra flaring.  

Retto’s jaw clenched.  

He knew the truth.  

This man was Kage-level. Maybe beyond. Fighting further would burn Suna to the ground.  

"...Enough. A single flower isn’t worth our annihilation."  

He silenced his men with a glare.  

"Retrieve the Blood Sun Flower."  

A masked ANBU vanished and returned moments later, handing Yoru a crimson blossom glowing with eerie vitality.  

"My thanks."  

Yoru tossed a scroll at Retto. "A medical research compendium. Consider it payment. Now then—farewell."  

With a crackle of lightning, Raijūryū soared into the sky, leaving Suna behind.  

Retto unsealed the scroll—and stiffened.  

It was genuine. Advanced healing techniques. Detailed. Revolutionary.  

"He… really just wanted the flower?"  

Frustration boiled in his chest.  

Had he known, he could’ve avoided this disaster entirely.  

Now? Pointless losses. A shattered ego.  

*"Silence this incident. No one speaks of it."*  

His order was absolute.  

This humiliation would never reach the outside world.  

Chapter 263: What Kind of Explanation Do You Want?  

It was as if nothing had happened. The entire shinobi world remained unaware of the incident that had taken place near Sunagakure.  

Of course, while Retto ( the First Kazekage) had kept the Sand shinobi from spreading word of the event, he still immediately sent a messenger to inform the Daimyō of the Land of Wind.  

A person of such power appearing within their borders was far too dangerous.  

As allies, it was only natural for him to give a warning—lest some fool from the Land of Wind provoke the man. After all, this was someone even Sunagakure might not be able to handle.  

When the Daimyō received Retto’s message, he was utterly shocked. The mere thought of such a dangerous figure lurking in his country sent a chill down his spine.  

His first move? Strengthening his personal guard. What if Yoru decided to pay him an unexpected visit? Just look at what had happened at Sunagakure—his sudden appearance had caused massive upheaval. The Daimyō couldn’t rule out the possibility of Yoru showing up here.  

Better safe than sorry.  

Next, he issued a new wanted bulletin across the Land of Wind, featuring Yoru’s likeness and a warning for civilians to steer clear. Only after all this did he finally feel slightly more at ease.  

Meanwhile… What Was Yoru Doing?  

His top priority: investigating the awakening time of the Dragon Vein (Ryūmyaku).  

And so, he arrived at *Ryūgamine (楼蘭, "Loulan")*—a hidden paradise, lush with water and vegetation, bustling with merchants and travelers. Blending in was effortless.  

As Yoru immersed himself in the lively atmosphere, he couldn’t help but feel a rare sense of calm.  

How long has it been since I’ve relaxed like this?  

Too long.  

"What a beautiful place."  

He admired the unique architecture and vibrant artwork around him. But just as he settled into a small street-side eatery, ready to enjoy the city’s sights, chaos erupted nearby.  

"Emergency! A murder! The Moon Country’s Crown Prince’s beloved concubine has been killed! Capture the culprit!"  

A shrill voice pierced the air.  

Huh. Sounds like a eunuch. Who else would have such a grating tone?  

Yoru had no intention of getting involved—this had nothing to do with him. He was about to dig into his meal when—  

Fate had other plans.  

A girl suddenly burst into the shop, darting into the room behind him. Moments later, a group of rough-looking men shoved through the crowd, barging in after her.  

Normally, Yoru wouldn’t care.  

But then—  

One of the men, deciding Yoru was in the way, kicked over his table, sending his untouched meal crashing to the ground.  

And as if that weren’t enough, the man stomped right through the ruined food, crushing it underfoot without a second thought.  

To him, it was just a meal—no big deal. In his eyes, obstructing his mission was the real crime. He hadn’t even bothered to confront Yoru—that was mercy.  

If Yoru dared to complain? Well, he’d be happy to teach him a lesson.  

But what this brute didn’t realize was exactly who he was dealing with.  

To him, Yoru was just some scrawny kid.  

He had no idea of the terror standing before him.  

"Hold It Right There." 

Yoru’s voice cut through the noise, freezing the entire shop in place.  

The men paused. The crowd stared.  

What was this guy thinking?  

The leader—the same man who’d ruined Yoru’s meal—turned with a sneer.  

"Got a problem, kid? Interfere with official business, and you’ll regret it."  

Yoru met his gaze, utterly calm.  

"You destroyed my food. Aren’t you going to give me an explanation before leaving?"  

A stunned silence fell over the room.  

Then—laughter.  

The man doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Hah! An explanation? You want me to explain myself?"  

He glanced at his men, grinning. "Hey, boys! Since when do we owe anyone an explanation?"  

"Never!"  

"We don’t answer to nobody!"  

The thugs roared in agreement.  

The leader smirked. "Hear that, brat? You’re nothing. I didn’t punish you for getting in my way—consider that mercy. But now you want compensation? Know your place!"  

He turned to leave.  

But Yoru spoke again, his tone icy.  

"What if I insist on that explanation?"  

The crowd gasped.  

Was this guy insane?  

These men were the Moon Country Crown Prince’s enforcers—untouchable, whether in Ryūgamine or their homeland.  

A civilian picking a fight with them?  

This wasn’t bravery. It was suicide.  

The leader’s grin widened.  

"Fine. You want death? I’ll oblige."  

With a roar, he slammed his fist forward, the force enough to shatter bone—  

He’d crushed giant wolves with a single blow.  

A scrawny kid like Yoru?  

This would be over in one hit.  

Chapter 264: The Daimyō of the Moon Country? What a Joke.  

"Bam!"  

Yoru easily caught the man’s punch mid-air, stopping it dead in its tracks.  

The burly man’s eyes widened in shock. But before he could react, an overwhelming force crushed down on his fist, squeezing his bones with terrifying pressure.  

Crack! 

Crack!  

The crisp sound of shattering bone echoed, followed by the man’s agonized scream. His face twisted in pain, flushing a deep, purplish-red.  

"Get him!" 

"Kill that bastard!"  

He frantically signaled his companions to attack.  

Not that he needed to—they had already sensed something was wrong. Swords flashed coldly as the men lunged forward, their blades gleaming. The surrounding crowd covered their eyes, too afraid to watch. They were certain the scene about to unfold would be nothing short of brutal.  

Thud! 

Crack! 

Agh—!  

But instead of the expected carnage, all they heard were dull impacts, the sickening snap of bones, and pained groans.  

Curious, they peeked—only to freeze in horror.  

Every single thug now lay crumpled on the ground. Only the first man remained, pinned under Yoru’s foot, bloodied and glaring up in defiance.  

"All this could’ve been avoided with a simple apology," Yoru said coldly. "But instead, you ruined my meal, refused to take responsibility, and then had the audacity to attack me when I demanded an answer. Truly, your arrogance knows no bounds."  

He sighed. "Well, if words won’t work, I’ll just have to teach you a lesson. You see, I hate it when someone interrupts my meal—and wasting food? That just makes it worse. Right now, I’m in a very bad mood."  

Picking up a fallen blade, he aimed it at the man’s right leg. "If I recall, you used this foot to flip my table. Perfect. Let’s make sure you remember this lesson."  

"You—you dare?!" the man spat, still defiant. "Think carefully, brat! If you do this, you’ll never set foot in Ryōran—no, the entire Moon Country—again! We serve the Moon Country’s Crown Prince! You’re signing your own death warrant! Now kneel and beg for forgiveness!"  

Despite the threat, Yoru only smirked.  

"Oh? The Crown Prince, huh? Sounds impressive." He rubbed his chin mockingly.  

The man sneered. "Damn right! So you’d better—AAAGH!"  

A blade flashed.  

The man’s severed right calf hit the ground with a wet thud. His scream pierced the air like a dying animal’s.  

Yoru grinned down at him. "So scary~. The Moon Country’s Crown Prince, was it?"  

Planting his foot on the man’s chest, Yoru leaned in, his voice dripping with icy amusement.  

"Let me make this clear—I don’t care if you serve the Crown Prince. I don’t care if you serve the Moon Daimyō himself. I’d kill him just the same."  

His eyes darkened. "I’ve imprisoned the Mizukage of the Land of Water before. What the hell is some Moon Country prince to me?"  

A shudder ran down the man’s spine.  

There wasn’t a hint of bluff in Yoru’s gaze—only cold, unshakable certainty.  

The crowd, however, nearly fainted from shock.  

He imprisoned the Mizukage?! What kind of monster is this?!  

It had to be a lie… right?  

But his expression said otherwise.  

Could someone that terrifying really exist?  

And if so… why was he still alive after such an act?  

"YOU’RE DEAD! ABSOLUTELY DEAD!!"  

A shrill voice screeched from the street.  

A flamboyantly dressed, androgynous man stormed in, pointing at Yoru with a trembling finger.  

"How dare you attack the Crown Prince’s men! You’re finished! You’ll—SMACK!"  

Yoru backhanded him mid-sentence, sending him crashing into a wall.  

"Spare me the theatrics," Yoru scoffed. "Your pathetic Moon Country means nothing to me. If you’re stupid enough to seek revenge? Fine. But be ready to lose your entire nation over it."  

He turned away, shoving past the stunned crowd.  

"I’ll be right here in Ryōran. Come at me if you dare. And trust me—I always keep my word."  

The onlookers could only gape.  

Who is this guy?!  

To openly challenge the Moon Country in their own territory…  

Even Hashirama Senju wasn’t this bold!  

"YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS!!"  

The androgynous man scrambled up, his voice shriller than ever.  

"You filthy brat! I’ll make sure you suffer! Mark my words—if I don’t destroy you, my name isn’t Harano Soku!"  

Harano Soku had spent years basking in the Crown Prince’s favor—bullying citizens, selling titles, living like royalty. No one dared defy him, let alone strike him.  

This humiliation would not stand. He swore he’d make Yoru regret this.  

Meanwhile, in the Royal Palace… 

News of the incident reached Ryōran’s ruler, Queen Mura, almost instantly.  

"What?!" She shot up from her throne. "Find out who that man is—now! And send word to the Moon Daimyō that Ryōran had nothing to do with this!"  

Her mind raced. "Also, dispatch our forces to surround that man. Monitor his every move. It doesn’t matter if we can actually stop him—what matters is that we show the Moon Country we’re not on his side!"  

Queen Mura was nothing if not shrewd. In seconds, she’d issued three critical orders to minimize Ryōran’s risk.  

What else could she do?  

Her kingdom was weak.  

Compared to the Five Great Nations, they were nothing.  

Even a third-rate minor country like the Moon Country could crush them effortlessly.  

With a mere 640 square kilometers of land, a population barely over 100,000, and scarce resources, Ryōran was the kind of place any power could bully at will.  

The Standoff 

Soon, Ryōran’s citizens were ordered indoors, prepped for evacuation at a moment’s notice.  

Meanwhile, a battalion of 500 soldiers—Ryōran’s entire military force—surrounded Yoru’s location.  

Harano Soku, still fuming, smirked at the general in charge.  

"Good. Keep him trapped here until the Moon Country’s army arrives. Do this right, and you’ll be rewarded."  

The general gritted his teeth but nodded.  

As much as he despised the man, he couldn’t risk angering the Moon Country.  

Harano turned back to Yoru, sneering.  

"Go ahead, brat! Run your mouth all you want! Let’s see if you’re still so cocky when our forces arrive!"  

He would make Yoru pay.  

He would wipe that smug look off his face.  

And he would enjoy every second of it.  

Chapter 265: Your Majesty, Let's Make a Deal  

"Relax, I'm a man of my word—unlike some people who say one thing to your face and another behind your back."  

Yoru slurped a bowl of noodles with utter calm, not a trace of fear on his face. Beside him, the girl who'd caused all this trouble clung to his sleeve, her expression trembling with panic.  

"Hmph! You'd better be. Don't make me regret sparing you," the man sneered, clearly pleased with himself.  

Yoru barely acknowledged the taunt.  

At his current strength, wiping out the Five Great Nations wouldn't even be a challenge—let alone some backwater like the Land of the Moon. If the Five Great Villages couldn’t mobilize in time, no nation could withstand his assault.  

Nightfall – The Queen’s Chambers 

Time flew, and soon night draped over Ryūgamine. Leaving a water clone behind, Yoru infiltrated Queen Mura’s palace with ease.  

Thank you for sending all your guards to spy on me, Your Majesty.  

The "security" around the palace was a joke—just a handful of low-tier shinobi Yoru wouldn’t even bother counting as threats.  

He slipped into the queen’s bedchamber without a sound.  

"Who are you?!"  

Queen Mura gasped as she spotted Yoru perched on her windowsill, watching her with an amused grin. She opened her mouth to scream for guards—  

"Ah-ah."  

In a flash, Yoru materialized before her, a blade resting against her throat. His voice was light, almost playful:  

"I’d stay quiet if I were you, Your Majesty."  

Mura froze. Swallowing hard, she studied him. "...You’re that madman who threatened to annihilate the Land of the Moon’s army—the one waiting for them to arrive."  

Yoru chuckled, sheathing his sword and casually sitting on her bed. "Thanks to your surveillance, I had nowhere else to go. Figured I’d pay you a visit."  

Mura’s eyes sharpened. "Get to the point. Why break into my chambers?"  

No one does something like this without a purpose.  

Yoru leaned in suddenly, tilting her chin up with a finger. "Rumors say Queen Mura is peerless in beauty. Had to see for myself." His gaze swept over her face, lingering. "Not disappointed. In fact... I’m tempted to indulge in less noble thoughts."  

Mura’s breath hitched.  

No man had ever dared touch her—let alone speak to her like this. Yet for a heartbeat, fury warred with something else. Moonlight sculpted Yoru’s features into something dangerously captivating—confidence and power rolled into one.  

Then Yoru pulled back, laughing. "Kidding! Mostly."  

Mura’s cheeks burned. She stiffened, burying the flicker of disappointment. "State your business. What could Ryūgamine possibly offer someone like you?"  

"Oh, but it does." Yoru’s smile turned razor-edged. "The Dragon Vein (龍脈, Ryūmyaku) beneath your feet."  

Mura jolted upright, her composure shattering. "H-How do you know about that?!"  

The Dragon Vein was Ryūgamine’s most guarded secret—one she’d never shared. If this got out, their kingdom would be torn apart by nations clawing for its power.  

Yoru waved a hand. "Relax. As far as I know, only we two are aware."  

"Then why—"  

"I’m here to propose a trade." He leaned forward. "Tell me, Queen Mura... do you want to see Ryūgamine rise?"  

Mura’s pulse spiked. "Explain."  

"Your kingdom borders the Land of the Moon, yes? Yet they control your supply routes, strangle your trade, and bully you at will." (A fact Yoru had dug up from the Land of Water’s archives.)  

Mura’s nails dug into her palms. "And? Can you change that?"  

"If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t be here." Yoru grabbed an apple from her nightstand, polishing it on his sleeve. "The Land of Moon’s army will arrive in two days. When they do... I’ll give you a gift."  

He took a bite. "All I ask is that you keep your soldiers out of my way. If a single Moon soldier escapes, forget this conversation. But if I wipe them out?"  

His grin turned wolfish.  

"You get a clear path to invade the Land of Moon while their forces are gutted. Conquer them. Expand. And if you struggle? I’ll step in again."  

"My price?" He met her eyes. "You take me to the Dragon Vein... and activate it for me."  

"So, Your Majesty..."  

He extended a hand, the offer hanging between them like a blade.  

"Do we have a deal?"