151-155

Chapter 151: Dark Release – Yoshishirou  

The attack on the daimyo’s port served multiple purposes. Causing chaos was just the surface-level goal.  

The mid-level objective was to exploit that chaos—specifically, to force the Finance Minister, bound by the ransom agreement, to leave the capital and head for Yachimata Town to rescue his son while the daimyo convened his council.  

By refusing the daimyo’s summons and defying his will, the Finance Minister would sow distrust between them.  

And with that rift, the daimyo himself would eliminate the Finance Minister—depriving his own side of a key player. After all, the Minister was one of the masterminds behind dividing up the Lightning Country’s trade ports. Removing him was no loss.  

But the deeper purpose? The chaos would allow Kirigakure’s infiltrators to slip into the capital unnoticed.  

Unfortunately, the mid-level plan failed. Turns out, these ministers were more united than expected.  

"No matter. The next move is yours. Oppose Yoru-sama, and even the daimyo will pay the price."  

Disguised as one of the ministers, the agent blended into the crowd and left. Of course, this wasn’t his real identity—the actual noble was currently detained somewhere, unharmed but inconveniently absent.  

Meanwhile, in Kirigakure...  

"Has the Finance Minister set out yet? Guide him to Yachimata Town. It’s time for the show to begin."  

Yoru addressed a masked ANBU behind him. Next to the operative stood a young man with a face swollen like a pig’s—the Finance Minister’s son.  

The once-arrogant noble heir now trembled in silence, too terrified to even whimper. After Yoru removed one of his fingers without hesitation, he’d learned his place.  

Yoru spared him a glance before leading his team toward Yachimata.  

Behind him, Mei Terumī watched with unease. Her instincts screamed that something monumental would unfold—but she knew better than to try stopping him. All she could do was sigh.  

Yachimata Town  

"The Bounty Guild is quite the formidable force. No wonder the daimyo acts so boldly with such an army at his disposal."  

Yoru stepped inside, unfazed by the hostile glares around him. If anything, his smirk widened.  

"A ruler with true strength could wield this power wisely. But a mediocre one? Especially when five daimyos jointly control it? That’s a disaster waiting to happen."  

"Ordering a hit on the Water Country’s daimyo here would be suicide. But outsourcing the job to the Akatsuki? Now that’s a loophole."  

He took a seat, instructing his ANBU to locate the Finance Minister.  

Thug: "Hey, brat. That’s my seat. Your filthy body’s tarnishing it. So—how do you plan to make this right?"  

A hulking man loomed over Yoru, cracking his knuckles.  

"Unless you wanna die today, you’d better answer me."  

The crowd erupted in jeers.  

"Hah! Yoshishirou’s picking fights again!" 

"Kid, you’re in trouble now. Bet you’re shaking in those boots!"  

But Yoru didn’t react—no fear, no agitation. Just icy calm, as if they were beneath his notice.  

Yoshishirou: "You ignoring me, punk?!"  

Enraged, he swung a fist at Yoru’s head.  

"DIE for your disrespect!"  

Finally, Yoru moved.  

A flicker of steel—  

A severed hand hit the floor.  

Silence.  

Then Yoshishirou’s scream.  

The crowd froze.  

"What the hell just happened?!" 

"Didn’t even see him draw…"  

Murmurs of alarm spread.  

But Yoshishirou wasn’t done.  

"YOU LITTLE SH—! I’M AN A-RANK HUNTER! I’VE SLAUGHTERED COUNTLESS A-RANK NINJA LIKE YOU!"  

Retreating, he unleashed Dark Release chakra—a swirling void that devoured the ANBU’s water blades mid-air.  

ANBU: "Impossible! Chakra-based attacks don’t work?!"  

Yoshishirou (grinning): "That’s right! My Dark Release nullifies all chakra! That’s how I earned my rank!"  

The inky darkness morphed into a massive claw, lunging at Yoru with crushing force—  

Chapter 152: So You Want to Start Trouble, Huh?  

"How will he handle this? It’s not gonna be easy!" 

"Ninjutsu doesn’t work on him, and taijutsu is useless if you can’t even get close." 

"That Dark Release is insane—offense and defense in one!" 

"Even a Kiri jōnin once got wrecked by him!" 

"The only way to hurt Yoshirō is by catching him off guard." 

"That guy acts like a clown, but damn, he’s strong."  

The crowd watched, their thoughts a mix of awe and tension.  

Yoshirō smirked, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Hah! What’s wrong? Scared stiff?"  

Seeing Yoru stand motionless, his confidence swelled.  

"Sir, watch out!" A masked ANBU behind Yoru tensed—their leader hadn’t budged, even as Yoshirō closed in.  

Then, Yoru’s voice cut through the air, calm as ever. "Dark Release? That’s supposed to be strong?"  

A flash of steel—  

For a split second, the air itself seemed to split. The sheer force of the slash sent shockwaves through the crowd, slicing fabric and skin alike.  

Gasps erupted as everyone stumbled back. Finally, they saw it—the trajectory of a single sword strike, clean enough to cleave through Yoshirō’s Dark Release like paper.  

Then, blood.  

A crimson line tore across Yoshirō’s chest. He collapsed to his knees with a scream, his body drenched in red.  

"Get that treated if you wanna live," Yoru said, his tone icy. "Next time, my blade won’t stop at your ribs."  

No emotion. No hesitation. Like swatting a fly.  

The crowd shuddered. Yoru just one-shot Yoshirō?!  

"Who the hell is this guy?!" 

"Wait… is he the Yondaime Mizukage, Yagura?" 

"No way. Yagura’s dead. And since when was his kenjutsu this insane?"  

Whispers spiraled into wild theories—until a voice rang out from the entrance.  

"Lord Yoru, he’s here."  

The ANBU from earlier had returned, dragging a panicked, overweight man behind him.  

"Father!" The bruised, swollen-faced boy—Izumi—lit up like a drowning man spotting land.  

"Izumi!" The man’s relief was palpable.  

Yoru rose, flashing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Ah, Finance Minister. A pleasure."  

Izumi flinched. That smile never meant anything good.  

"Did you bring what I asked for?" Yoru’s voice was all business. "Things get messy otherwise."  

The minister scowled. "Every last ryō. But lay a hand on my son again, and I’ll bury you!" His roar echoed through the silent bounty hall.  

"Finance Minister?!" 

"Why’s he here?" 

"Oh, this’ll be good…"  

Murmurs turned to grins as the crowd leaned in.  

Then—  

"I know who he is!" A voice burst out. "That’s Yoru! The Sword Demon of Kiri!"  

"Wait, seriously?!" 

"The guy whose blade’s faster than sight? The one who took down the Yondaime Raikage?!" 

"That’s the bastard who humiliated the Eight-Tails?!"  

Recognition hit like a tidal wave.  

"That brat Izumi—wasn’t he the Daimyō’s envoy who bragged about making the Godaime Mizukage his concubine?!" 

"No wonder Yoru wrecked him!"  

Yoshirō’s blood ran cold. He’d just challenged Yoru and lived.  

Meanwhile, the minister’s face darkened. "Take the money. Now release my son." He shoved a massive case forward.  

Yoru didn’t blink. "Count it."  

The ANBU flipped the lid open—  

—and the room stopped breathing.  

Stacks upon stacks of ryō gleamed under the light.  

Gulps. Heavy breathing. The sound of a hundred eyes turning greedy.  

Chapter 153: Reckless Audacity  

That much money—who wouldn’t be tempted?  

But out of fear for Yoru’s infamous reputation, no one dared entertain the thought.  

Let’s be real: Yoru might be called the "Prodigy of the Shinobi World," but he also bears another title—"The God of Slaughter."  

That reputation was built on mountains of corpses. No one questioned its validity.  

Time passed as the ANBU team counted the cash.  

Thirty minutes later—  

"Sir, not a single ryo short. It’s the full amount. He kept his word."  

The ANBU operative closed the briefcase, drawing reluctant, longing glances from the crowd. Even if they knew they’d never lay hands on that fortune, just seeing it was enough.  

Hell, most of them wouldn’t earn even a tenth of that sum in their entire lives.  

"Good. You’ve honored the deal. Here’s your son."  

Yoru smiled, signaling the ANBU behind him to release Toi Izumi.  

The moment he was free, the boy practically teleported to his father’s side, his face twisted with venomous spite.  

"You bastard… How dare you treat me like this?! I’ll make you pay!"  

Of course, he didn’t say it loud enough for Yoru to hear—or so he thought.  

But Yoru wasn’t just anyone. To him, those words might as well have been screamed.  

Even the Finance Minister paled, clamping a hand over his son’s mouth.  

"Shut your mouth!" he hissed before dragging the boy away like they were fleeing a warzone.  

"Is the Akatsuki here?"  

Yoru casually dropped the briefcase onto the bounty office’s counter.  

A man in a black cloak adorned with crimson clouds stood.  

"Right here. Is that our payment?"  

"Indeed. Should be enough to hire your entire organization for one mission, no?"  

Yoru’s smile was disarmingly pleasant—yet something about it sent chills down spines.  

"Gulp… He’s spending that much just to hire the whole Akatsuki?!"  

"What’s he planning? Rumor says they’re all elite missing-nin!"  

"Who’s his target? Some hidden village?!"  

The onlookers exchanged uneasy glances. Whatever Yoru was scheming, it wouldn’t be small.  

"Still… five billion ryo? Insane."  

"Even if it’s extorted money, that’s next-level extravagance."  

"Wish I got hired like that…"  

"Rich people really live in another world."  

They could only sigh. The gap between them and Yoru was unbridgeable.  

"Payment’s delivered. The mission’s in your hands now. Don’t waste my investment."  

With that, Yoru left—quietly, effortlessly, like a passing shadow.  

On the Road  

"Lord Yoru… are you sure this won’t backfire?"  

The ANBU to his left spoke up, voice thick with unease.  

It wasn’t unwarranted. Acting against a nation under the village’s name? That was unprecedented.  

No previous Mizukage had ever dared cross the Daimyō. To them, the man was untouchable.  

Even grievances were swallowed silently.  

"Relax. What’s the worst that could happen? The Daimyō holds no higher authority than the Kage."  

"You’d rebel against the Mizukage, yet fear the Daimyō? You overestimate him."  

"Besides, we’re just accepting his ‘donation.’ We’re not his subordinates."  

"If he threatens our interests, we’ll remind him of his place."  

"Honestly, you’re all capable shinobi. The Daimyō’s forces are strong, but this fear is ridiculous."  

"He’s not your superior. Hell, you don’t even respect the Mizukage this much."  

Yoru shot them an exasperated look.  

Maybe it’s true what they say—once you’ve knelt too long, your knees forget how to stand.  

"Just sit back and enjoy the show. I’m very much looking forward to it."  

His eyes gleamed with anticipation, his cloak fluttering like a celestial being’s robes.  

At that moment, the two ANBU felt small beside him.  

No wonder he’s the one giving orders…  

Our hesitation alone seals our fate.  

One Day Later – Akatsuki Hideout  

"That ‘White Flash’… what a madman. Five billion to hire all of us?!"  

"Heh. I kinda like his style."  

"A terrifying guy. You think he’s planning to throw the Land of Water into chaos?"  

"Kidnapping the Daimyō himself… Now that’s audacity!"  

"Even Hashirama Senju never tried this. This brat’s got guts."  

Hidan, Zetsu, and Kakuzu grinned, discussing the mission Yoru had posted through the bounty office.  

Infiltration. Abduction. The Daimyō himself.  

"After this, we’ll be public enemies. No more working in the shadows."  

"You think he’s trying to trigger a war?" Sasori muttered.  

"Doesn’t matter. We’d have faced the world eventually."  

"Besides, the other villages would love to see the Land of Water collapse. Free real estate."  

"Move out. Let’s use Yoru’s money to grow stronger—then turn on him. Poetic, isn’t it?"  

"Hope he doesn’t regret this decision later."  

With Pain’s order, the group set off for the Land of Water.  

(Though if Kakuzu ever learned Yoru was the one who’d scammed him before… well, he’d have words for him.)  

Chapter 154: Do You Think I Can’t Handle You?  

Kirigakure Village  

“You’re back? Good. It seems everything went smoothly without causing any major upheaval.”  

When Terumi Mei saw Yoru’s return and no news of chaos spreading across the shinobi world, she let out a sigh of relief.  

However, the two ANBU members who had accompanied Yoru exchanged awkward glances.  

Sure, things went smoothly… but Mizukage-sama, are you really sure there were no waves?  

“How’s the progress with the merchant council? Did you find a representative? Has Zabuza’s team returned yet?” Yoru asked about the ongoing matters.  

Mei replied, “Zabuza and the others are almost back to the village!”  

“As for the merchant council’s representative, we’ve sent someone to negotiate—Wandering Ninja Village’s Hamagorō-dono is handling it personally. We should hear back soon.”  

Hearing this, Yoru relaxed slightly, his eyes shining with determination. “Let’s keep steadily building Kirigakure’s prosperity.”  

“It’ll be great… I can’t wait to see that day come.”  

“Well then, Nee-san, I’ll get back to work.” With that, he left.  

Watching him go, Mei couldn’t help but smile. “So diligent. If he’s working this hard, I can’t fall behind either.”  

She quickly returned to her duties, burying herself in paperwork.  

Meanwhile, in the Land of Water… 

“Finance Minister, I heard you took five billion to Yashiro Town to make a deal with that Yoru?”  

“Five billion… How generous. As expected of the Finance Minister—no wonder you had the confidence to ignore my summons.”  

“Seems your personal wealth is even greater than I imagined.”  

The Daimyō of the Land of Water spoke with exaggerated praise, his tone dripping with sarcasm.  

But the Finance Minister felt no joy—only a bone-chilling dread.  

“My lord, please let me explain! I only did it to save my son—”  

The Daimyō cut him off. “Oh, I know. A father’s love for his son, right? How could I blame you?”  

“After all, what could be more important than family? Certainly not your loyalty to me, your Daimyō. Isn’t that right?”  

The accusation was clear.  

Sweat poured down the Finance Minister’s face as he stammered, “M-My lord, I would never dare defy you! This was a one-time exception, I swear!”  

“I live and die by your command! How could I ever act on my own? Without you, I’m nothing! You know that!”  

He kowtowed frantically, his voice oozing desperation.  

The Daimyō scoffed. “Oh? You still remember that without me, you’re worthless?”  

“Then why didn’t you consult me before making such a huge decision? Did you think I wouldn’t lift a finger to save your son?”  

“Did you truly believe your Daimyō would sit back while his own Finance Minister was threatened by some shinobi?”  

His rage boiled over.  

How dare Yoru—a mere Kirigakure ninja—challenge his authority and openly extort his minister?  

Did that brat think the Daimyō couldn’t punish him?  

This was the Land of Water, not Yoru’s personal fiefdom.  

The Daimyō was still in power. He wouldn’t let some upstart shinobi run wild.  

“Get up. If this happens again, don’t expect mercy.”  

The Finance Minister nearly wept with relief, scrambling to his feet after another round of groveling.  

The Daimyō’s eyes darkened.  

“Seems Kirigakure still doesn’t fear me enough to defy my will.”  

“They’re nothing more than dogs I feed. And now they dare bite their master?”  

Hmph. If they won’t obey… it’s time for a lesson.  

“Effective immediately, cut off all financial support to Kirigakure. Revoke every privilege they have.”  

“Let’s see how long they last without my backing.”  

“Won’t be long before that Mei comes crawling to beg.”  

“And what a delightful sight that’ll be…”  

A lecherous grin spread across his face as he imagined it—Mei, the voluptuous, alluring Mizukage, kneeling before him.  

The Finance Minister eagerly played along.  

“A wise decision, my lord! A woman like Mei should be serving you.”  

“It’d be an honor for her! Without your approval, how could a mere female ever become Mizukage?”  

“A Mizukage unrecognized by you is no Mizukage at all!”  

His sycophantic flattery worked—the Daimyō’s anger faded, replaced by smug satisfaction.  

Mei… Don’t be foolish.  

Hand over Yoru for execution, and maybe I’ll spare Kirigakure.  

And if you… entertain me for a few nights, I might even throw your village a bone.  

Two Days Later, Kirigakure 

“Finally… a moment to breathe. Being Mizukage is exhausting.”  

Mei slumped in her chair, the last of the paperwork finished.  

She couldn’t help but think—if Yoru hadn’t taken over ANBU affairs, she might’ve collapsed from overwork.  

But before she could relax, her advisor, Ao, burst in, his expression grim.  

“Ao? What’s wrong?”  

His face told her everything.  

“Mizukage-sama, there’s news from the Land of Water…”  

He whispered the Daimyō’s threats into her ear.  

Mei’s blood ran cold.  

“What?! This is bad!”  

She shot up. “Does Yoru know yet?”  

Ao gave a pained smile. “The intel came from our own spies. What do you think?”  

“We have to stop him—now! If he acts, the Land of Water will erupt!”  

“He will retaliate. You know nothing terrifies him. Not even the Daimyō.”  

Mei knew Yoru too well. Kirigakure was his line. Cross it, and you died.  

If he’d openly threatened the Finance Minister, he expected the Daimyō’s reaction.  

And with Yoru’s power… who knew what he’d do next?  

Without wasting another second, Mei rushed to the ANBU headquarters.  

Chapter 155: Biting the Hand That Feeds You  

Terumi Mei had expected to find Yoru seething with murderous intent, mobilizing forces and demanding answers from the Land of Water’s Daimyo.  

Instead, what greeted her was Yoru calmly handling administrative duties, managing the Anbu with flawless efficiency.  

He might not hold the official title of Anbu Commander, but he certainly carried out all its responsibilities.  

"Well, well, what brings you here, Mei? Finally have some free time?"  

"All your work’s done? Maybe I should delegate less to you—then I could go out and have some fun myself!"  

Yoru stood up, smirking as he teased her.  

"You’ve heard the Daimyo’s declarations, haven’t you? And yet… you’re not taking any action?"  

Terumi Mei couldn’t believe her eyes. Had the sun risen from the west today?  

"Hah, it’s exactly the reaction I expected. So…"  

Yoru chuckled, and in that instant, Mei understood.  

Then, almost pleadingly, she said, "Yoru, how are you planning to handle this? Just… don’t let things escalate too far, alright?"  

"A small lesson to make the Daimyo regret his actions is enough. Don’t destabilize the Land of Water!"  

After all, chaos in the Land of Water wouldn’t benefit Kirigakure’s development either.  

"Relax, Mei. I know my limits. I won’t let the country fall into disorder."  

Yoru smiled reassuringly, his expression free of any malice.  

But in his heart, he sneered:  

"Arrogance and entitlement are too deeply ingrained in the Daimyo and his court."  

"Without a brutal hammering, they’ll never learn their lesson—never know when to back down."  

"If I’m going to act, I might as well go all the way."  

"I’ll make them understand—Kirigakure isn’t some helpless piece of meat for them to bully as they please!"  

Yoru had never put much faith in "benevolent rule." If kindness alone could solve everything, why would fists exist?  

This world would always have people who feared power but disdained virtue.  

Talk nicely to them, and they’d only grow bolder—pushing their luck even further.  

Yoru’s philosophy was simple: "Beat them into submission first, then talk reason."  

Only after they were crushed would they listen.  

"...Really?"  

Mei still didn’t buy it.  

Since when was Yoru this reasonable?  

"Of course!"  

He thumped his chest confidently.  

"Don’t lie to me, Yoru. This is serious—no room for mistakes!"  

"I promise!" He nodded repeatedly.  

"Oh, and Mei—hold off on negotiating with the Daimyo. Let me take the first move. If my approach fails, then you step in."  

Mei nodded in agreement before taking her leave.  

The moment she was gone, Yoru’s demeanor shifted instantly.  

A chilling, murderous aura enveloped him.  

"Land of Water’s Daimyo… Hmph. You really think you’re untouchable?"  

"Cutting off financial support? Revoking policy benefits? You think we can’t survive without your money?"  

"Let’s see how long your throne lasts without Kirigakure’s protection."  

Who did the Daimyo and his ministers owe their cushy, secure lives to?  

The Land of Water’s army of 100,000? The elite guards of the capital?  

No—it was the tens of thousands of Kirigakure shinobi who kept their enemies at bay.  

"Since you’ve shown no mercy… I won’t hold back either. Time to break you of your arrogance."  

——  

Outside, the Daimyo’s actions had already sent shockwaves through the political landscape.  

The Land of Water’s Daimyo vs. Kirigakure.  

Now that was a showdown worth watching.  

"What’s gotten into the Daimyo? Cutting off Kirigakure’s funding—is he trying to sever ties?"  

"What does he even gain from this? Kirigakure’s existence ensures the Land of Water’s stability!"  

"If they clash, no one benefits!"  

——  

"Maybe the Daimyo’s found a replacement for Kirigakure. Why else would he move against them now?"  

"I heard they seized 90% of the trade port Kirigakure secured from the Land of Lightning, leaving them with scraps—and even imposed harsh conditions!"  

"The past Daimyos were far wiser than this one."  

"They never antagonized Kirigakure—instead, they offered support. The nation and the village thrived together."  

"The current Daimyo isn’t a fool, but he’s no visionary either. If he’s making a move, he must have some leverage."  

These were the sentiments among the Land of Water’s citizens.  

Frankly, they dreaded the conflict—because in the end, they would suffer the most.  

——  

Outside the Land of Water, opinions varied.  

Take the Land of Fire’s Daimyo, for instance.  

Upon hearing the news, his first reaction was disbelief—followed by gleeful mockery.  

"Is he out of his mind?"  

"Picking a fight with Kirigakure? That’s like smashing your own shield before a battle!"  

If he were in charge, he’d never dare provoke his own shinobi village.  

A nation’s stability relied on balance—the Daimyo controlled wealth, the village controlled force.  

Disrupt that balance, and the entire country would pay the price.  

Weakening Kirigakure only invited disaster.  

The Land of Earth, Lightning, and Wind’s Daimyos shared similar thoughts.  

Of course, if the Land of Water did cripple Kirigakure, they’d be more than happy to swoop in and carve up its territory.  

Without Kirigakure as its shield, the Land of Water would be defenseless.  

——  

Not everyone opposed the Daimyo, however.  

Smaller nations like the Land of Waves and Land of Rainbows saw opportunity in the conflict.  

Not because they agreed with the Daimyo—but because chaos meant profit.  

If Kirigakure and the Land of Water split, why not ally with them instead?  

With Kirigakure’s support, who’s to say they couldn’t rise and replace the Land of Water as a Great Nation?  

After all, what made the Land of Water a powerhouse in the first place?  

Kirigakure’s might.  

Without it, the country would collapse under its enemies’ greed.