276-280

*Chapter 276: Shinji – Oh? Isn’t That Lord Sasori!?*

As Yuyashiro Homura dispersed the red-haired boy’s sand clone with Water Release: Water Hail,

the finely crafted flintlock pistol fell to the ground with a clatter.

Uchiha Shinji immediately scampered over, eager to pick up the exquisitely designed gun.

However, just as he was about to reach for it,

a vision from his *Mind’s Eye* made him pause slightly.

At this moment—

The guy who had just ambushed Yuyashiro Homura was now sneaking up behind Uchiha Shinji,

using Earth Release: Reflection in the Depths.

Just one look told Shinji that this was no upstanding person.

But instead of reacting, Uchiha Shinji simply curled his lips into a smirk and ignored the would-be attacker.

He then continued picking up the delicate firearm from the pile of sand.

His eyes lit up with amazement as he examined the gun, touching it here and there.

After all—

This was a *gun*!

How rare!

In his previous life, Uchiha Shinji had only seen such weapons in movies and TV shows.

This was his first time actually holding one—

and in the Shinobi World, no less!

He was as excited as a child,

his gaze lingering on the intricate components of the gun:

the sandalwood stock, the fine steel trigger, the flintlock mechanism, the hammer,

the dark and ominous barrel—

and the lingering scent of sulfur from the recently fired shot.

It was exhilarating!

But then—

Swish!  

The ground beside him suddenly cracked open!

Out leaped *Sasori*—

And the first thing he saw was—

Uchiha Shinji holding the gun he had crafted,

fondling it like a treasured artifact, his face brimming with awe.

In that instant, Sasori experienced a strange hallucination.

The blindfolded brat before him—who couldn’t see a thing—

Somehow overlapped with the image of his childhood friend *Little Bug*,

who had once held his handcrafted puppet arm with the exact same expression of wonder.

Sasori’s eyes darkened as painful memories resurfaced.

*Little Bug*—

His best friend from childhood,

a boy who idolized Sasori as the village’s genius,

a boy who was always by his side,

a boy who loved the puppet arm Sasori had made.

But Sasori’s way of showing friendship was… unsettling.

Through a carefully orchestrated "accident,"

he had caused Little Bug to lose an arm—

so he could replace it with the puppet arm Little Bug adored.

Later, in another staged "accident,"

Little Bug overused the puppet arm, leading to severe poisoning and infection.

In the end, he had no choice but to undergo *Sasori’s surgery*.

And so, to keep his friend by his side—

and to perfect his craft—

Sasori finally got what he wanted.

He turned *Little Bug into a human puppet*.

Even now, Sasori recalled the jealousy he once felt toward Little Bug’s complete family,

a jealousy that led him down his dark path.

His actions had created a masterpiece of art—

but cost him his best friend.

Sasori never regretted it.

But there were moments, like this one, when a faint loneliness crept in.

At this moment—

The swirling emotions within him solidified into reality.

The brat before him admired his craftsmanship,

just as Little Bug once had.

But Sasori was no longer that lost boy.

Now—

He had fully embraced the path of eternal artistry.

He had *no need* for such weakness!

He drew the twin pistols from his waist,

his gaze turning ice-cold with resolve.

Pointing both barrels at the boy’s head,

Sasori sneered.

*"Kid, times have changed."*

His words were aimed at Uchiha Shinji,

but also at the boy who once idolized him,

and at the wavering emotions in his own heart—

This was his *final answer*.

*BANG! BANG!*

Gunfire roared through the air!

These bullets weren’t ordinary.

They were *armor-piercing jutsu bullets*,

forged by fusing Wind Release and Earth Release chakra!

At close range, their speed was *unimaginable*!

Once fired, they would penetrate their target instantly.

Upon impact, the bullets would explode from within,

unleashing razor-sharp *earth spikes*,

turning the victim’s body into a grotesque pincushion!

The kid’s head would first be pierced by *wind blades*,

before the bullet’s core of *solid stone* burst open—

shattering his skull like a cracked watermelon!

However—

*"Clang! Clang!"*

White smoke erupted from the gun barrels, obscuring everything.

The sound of bullets striking steel echoed sharply through the air.

From within the smoke, sparks burst forth—

the chakra bullets clashing against something unseen.

Then—

Whoosh! Whoosh!  

The very same *earth-spike bullets* whizzed past Sasori’s face,

tracing an arc through the air.

Sasori froze.

And then—

A *blazing light* illuminated everything!

It burned like the *sun*,

a fiery inferno rising before his eyes!

In the next instant—

*"Whooosh—!!"*

A fierce heatstorm roared head-on, scattering and dissipating the smoke trailing from the gun barrel!

A massive skeletal hand, formed from blazing bones of flowing flames, swept through the smoke with an ear-splitting sonic boom—grabbing Sasori tightly in its grasp!

Sasori's pupils shrank in an instant as he saw—

A gigantic, fiery skeleton made of what appeared to be human ribs burning with intense flames, suddenly materializing around that blind brat.

His two bullets struck the fiery skeleton shielding the brat’s forehead,

but only managed to leave shallow dents in its surface!

And those dents were visibly regenerating at an alarming speed!

Staring at the terrifying entity before him, Sasori froze, his face filled with shock. He muttered dazedly:

“What... is this?”

At that moment,

Uchiha Shinji, unharmed and completely intact within the skeleton's protection, bent down to pick up his handgun.

He turned to face the attacker,

raising the barrel to aim it squarely between Sasori’s brows.

Using his "Mind’s Eye" to observe his assailant’s appearance, Shinji noted the attacker’s striking red hair and a face that was just shy of rivaling his own good looks.

Raising a brow slightly, Uchiha Shinji gazed at the red-haired figure caught in the skeleton’s Susano’o grip.

He immediately recognized him:

"Well, if it isn’t Sasori of the Red Sand! The guy who took out the Third Kazekage! What a legend!"

Shinji couldn’t help but grin as he added,

"Yo~ What brings you here, Lord Sasori?"

Hearing this, and staring at the kid holding a gun—his own creation—right against his forehead,

Sasori suddenly found himself in a reversed situation.

Moments ago, he was the hunter, but now he was nothing more than prey.

As he snapped back to his senses,

an inexplicable pang of shame burned across Sasori’s face,

as though his own artistry had slapped him squarely.

“You—”

“Don’t you dare touch my art with your filthy hands!”

But just as Sasori fumed in rage, Uchiha Shinji burst into laughter.

Bang!

A shot rang out as Shinji pulled the trigger without hesitation!

Sasori instinctively swallowed his words and glanced sidelong at the barrel near his ear,

his bravado vanishing in an instant.

Meanwhile, Shinji studied the handgun in his hand with an eager, satisfied look.

He couldn’t resist sneaking another glance at Sasori—now silent, his curses forcefully swallowed back—and remarked,

"Man, this thing really works like a charm!"

With a grin stretching across his face, Uchiha Shinji continued,

"But, buddy, I’m not looking for a puppet-making artist right now.

What I need is a cooperative guide."

As he spoke, he slightly lifted the black cloth covering his closed eyes,

then suddenly opened them to reveal a pair of Sharingan: three pitch-black tomoe circling in each eye.

Even through the black cloth,

the crimson gaze locked onto Sasori’s true form,

forcing direct eye contact.

Then—

*Genjutsu: Sharingan!*

It activated instantly!

“Huh?!”

“Genjutsu? Where did—”

Before Sasori could finish, his face twisted in alarm as if struck by an invisible hammer. His head tilted, and he lost consciousness.

Uchiha Shinji turned his head to the side,

looking at Yuyashiro En, who was still angrily cursing him as "despicable."

"Hey, old man," Shinji called out casually.

"Look at that—a ready-made guide just fell into our lap!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 277: Sasori: "I’m going to kill Shinji!" Shinji: "Huh???"

The sound of seabirds flapping their wings echoed in his ears,

A mesmerizing aroma, so enticing it could seemingly steal one’s soul, lingered around his nose.

Awoken by the grumble of his stomach,

Sasori suddenly regained consciousness!

At that moment, he felt as if his head had been struck hard, like he was under the influence of some kind of sensory-distorting genjutsu.

“Not a visual jutsu? A genjutsu that distorts the five senses?”

He couldn’t help but wonder, his body instinctively tensing up.

However, upon further perception, he realized—

The throbbing pain on his forehead was real, not an illusion!

And then, while still pretending to be unconscious with his eyes closed, Sasori suddenly overheard a conversation between two people nearby.

At that moment,

Yuyashiro En, staring at the large bump on Sasori’s forehead, clicked his tongue in amazement.

“Kid, you didn’t accidentally kill him, did you?”

Shinji looked exasperated.

“Wrongfully accused! How was I supposed to know genjutsu wouldn’t work on him? What else could I do but physically knock him out?”

“Your eyes are better than mine. Why didn’t you use genjutsu?”

Yuyashiro En turned his head, playing with his daughter with his fingers as he shrugged dismissively.

“Why should I? I have to take care of my daughter!”

Shinji shook his head, explaining while urging,

“His brain’s been modified with Sand Puppet Neuro-Control. I can’t control it. He’s about to wake up—hurry up and put him to sleep again!”

Even though Shinji’s eyes had evolved, his genjutsu abilities were still the same as before. Moreover, the fusion of his eyes was incomplete, so he couldn’t yet use Sage Technique: Sharingan – Light Pulse.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had to resort to giving the guy a forehead flick (Skeleton Susanoo version).

Hearing Shinji’s explanation, Yuyashiro En glanced at the seemingly unconscious Sasori on the ground and said nonchalantly,

“See? He’s already awake.”

“Besides, it’s not that big of a deal. We’re just trying to ask for directions.”

Shinji raised an eyebrow, looking at Yuyashiro En in surprise.

“Wow, now you’re all magnanimous and easygoing, huh?”

Wasn’t this the same guy who wiped out his entire clan? Why did he suddenly look like a mellow, no-nonsense family man obsessed with his daughter?

But on second thought, Shinji understood.

Yuyashiro En really was a straightforward guy—he’d just been driven to his breaking point by the clan’s endless nonsense. In the end, his silent suffering exploded into rage, and he wiped out everyone in the clan in one fell swoop.

If Shinji put himself in Yuyashiro’s shoes, he figured he’d have done far worse.

Looking at it that way, the guy wasn’t all that bad.

While Shinji was lost in thought,

Sasori, lying on the ground, realized there was no point in pretending to be dead anymore.

Moreover, the two people in front of him didn’t seem hostile.

So, he gave up the act, opened his eyes, sat up straight,

and coldly glared at Shinji, who was wearing a black cloth over his eyes. In a frosty voice, he questioned,

“You can see?”

Hearing the accusation, Shinji raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“Of course I can see. I’m not blind!”

Sasori: "..."

“If you’re not blind, why are you covering your eyes with a black cloth?”

Shinji immediately retorted,

“This is called fashion—fashion! What do you know, you ignorant fool?”

In reality, though, the black cloth was to shield his eyes since the fusion of his Blood Dragon Eyes and Sharingan wasn’t complete yet, and they were sensitive to light.

Especially when combined with his Susanoo, which shone like a mini sun capable of blinding people,

it was even more overwhelming.

Additionally, his eyes were nurturing a new ocular jutsu, so they needed time to rest.

What’s more, Shinji had a “Mind’s Eye” ability, which allowed him to see even more clearly with his eyes closed.

The black cloth also helped confuse enemies to some extent.

Case in point, the red-haired pretty boy in front of him had clearly been fooled.

“All right, Uchiha, tell him why we’re here!”

At this point, Yuyashiro En noticed his daughter’s face beginning to twist from the commotion and quickly raised his hand to defuse the tension.

Then, looking calmly at Sasori, he began to explain,

“Given that it’s wartime, I can understand why you’d act first against unfamiliar ninjas. But we mean no harm. We just want—”

Before he could finish, Sasori narrowed his eyes and interrupted with a cold snort,

“Oh? From the sound of it,”

“You think you could take me down?”

“If it weren’t for that blindfolded kid, I would’ve killed you already!”

A ninja’s fight is always a battle of information.

Because he had developed a groundbreaking weapon that made him nearly invincible, Sasori chose that particular style of combat. However, he never anticipated that his opponent was a ninja with a dōjutsu-based bloodline limit, nor did he expect Shinji to issue a warning from the sidelines. This miscalculation led to his defeat. Then, deceived by Shinji’s illusion, he fell into the little brat’s trap and was captured!

But in reality, he hadn’t even used his trump card yet!

This battle left Sasori feeling incredibly dissatisfied with his loss!

That tall, ancient-looking young man’s unknown dōjutsu bloodline, and the flaming skeletal form that emerged from the little brat—these were pieces of intel he had never encountered before.

If they were to fight again, facing only Ooyashiro Homura, Sasori was certain he wouldn’t lose!

Hearing such an unrestrained remark, even the usually good-natured Ooyashiro Homura furrowed his brows slightly, his expression darkening instantly.

His gaze toward Sasori gradually turned hostile.

At that moment—

Shinji spoke in an eerily calm voice:

"If you want to die, no one will stop you. But I will help him kill you."

"Besides, we need you as a guide to lead us to the capital of the Land of Lightning—Unmei City."

"If you refuse, you can die here and now."

"Trust me, I’m not joking."

Shinji stared at Sasori with an unsettling gaze.

He knew exactly what Sasori’s trump card was.

The human puppet created from the Third Kazekage—reputedly the strongest Kazekage—was stored in one of the two scrolls Sasori carried on his back.

However, Shinji hadn’t taken it from him after knocking him out, simply because—

It didn’t matter.

Sasori was still human. He hadn’t yet transformed himself into a full puppet, nor had he perfected the Hundred Puppet Performance or incorporated the defensive salamander puppet into his arsenal. Even with the Third Kazekage as a weapon, he was no match for Shinji and Ooyashiro Homura together.

A puppet master’s greatest weakness was their real body. Now that his body was exposed, facing both of their dōjutsu, Sasori had only two options—

Either seize the chance to have the Third Kazekage carry him away in flight—

Or die.

It wasn’t that Shinji’s Sharingan couldn’t hypnotize Sasori; rather, forcefully breaking through the subconscious control he had set up would turn Sasori into a complete idiot.

That would go against his intentions.

Besides, killing Sasori wouldn’t bring any real benefits.

The method for creating the chakra core used in human puppet techniques had long been leaked from the old geezer Chiyo.

Defeating the Third Kazekage puppet—an entity with no self-awareness—probably wouldn’t even trigger his "Steel Resolve," let alone allow him to obtain Magnet Release.

It was meaningless.

Moreover, as Shinji had said earlier, in his current developmental stage, Sasori was nothing more than a puppet craftsman making toys.

That was simply the truth—nothing more.

At this moment—

Hearing Shinji’s words, Sasori fell silent.

That tall, ancient-looking young man—he might still be able to handle him. But if he also had to deal with this unreadable little brat…

And—

Sasori suddenly recalled what Ooyashiro Homura had called him earlier—

“Uchiha.”

His eyes narrowed as he shifted his gaze to Shinji’s tattered clothes. There, on the ragged fabric, he spotted the red-and-white clan emblem.

In a cold voice, he asked,

"You… are from the Uchiha clan?"

"What’s your relationship with the Uchiha clan’s young patriarch, Shinji—the one who supposedly fell off a cliff and went missing in Hell Valley?"

Ooyashiro Homura blinked in surprise and immediately glanced at Shinji.

Falling off a cliff? Missing? The young patriarch of the Uchiha clan?

So, this brat actually had quite the background!

And his real name was Shinji?

For a brief moment, even Shinji himself was a bit dumbfounded.

He hadn’t expected Sasori to stop confronting Ooyashiro Homura and instead turn his focus onto him.

Somewhat puzzled, he asked,

"Why are you looking for Shinji?"

Sasori let out a cold laugh, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Shinji with a dangerous glint.

His hand quietly reached behind him, undoing the fastenings of the second scroll on his back, unrolling it slightly.

A single kanji—"Three"—was revealed.

"Funny you should ask."

"My mission is to go to the Land of Lightning’s capital, Unmei City—"

"To kill Shinji!"

"Huh?"

Shinji’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and he couldn’t help but cough.

"So that’s how it is."

"Looks like we have the same goal!"

Sasori’s gaze flickered with a mix of surprise and doubt. Then, Shinji, with a completely straight face, declared,

"Don’t get the wrong idea—I’m not that guy."

"My name is Uchiha Fugaku!"

"Of course, since this mission is confidential, I also have an alias. You can call me Uchiha Yanzu!"

Sasori’s gaze lingered on Shinji for a few moments. After pondering for a bit, he nodded knowingly.

"Uchiha Yanzu, huh? Heh…"

Uchiha Fugaku…

Sasori knew that name.

He was the unlucky guy who had his position as clan leader stolen by Shinji!

The captain of Konoha’s Police Force, the Uchiha clan’s originally designated next patriarch, who had been overshadowed by Shinji and lost all glory—the Uchiha clan’s eternal second-in-command.

If this guy was heading to Unmei City, he was probably trying to confirm whether the "Shinji" there was truly the one who had gone missing.

And if he wanted to kill Shinji, it was most likely to reclaim the position of patriarch of the greatest clan in the ninja world.

That explained why this guy was so strong.

Realizing this, Sasori let out a cold sneer.

"Hmph!"

"What a ridiculous drama!"

"But fine—it suits me just fine!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 278: All Forces Gather in Yunming City!

*"On the night of the Hell Valley battle, when Shinji disappeared,"*

*"The daimyo of the Land of Lightning, residing in the daimyo’s mansion in the capital, was once again targeted for assassination by the leader of the Undying Cult, ‘Shinji’."*

*"The guardian ninja were slain, and if not for the timely arrival of the Third Raikage’s son, A, the daimyo would have almost certainly perished."*

*"Furthermore, during the Hell Valley battle, Orochimaru launched the ‘Cloud Collapse Plan’ against Kumogakure, causing a massive leak of the Land of Lightning’s defense intelligence."*

*"At this moment, the daimyo of the Land of Lightning is utterly enraged."*

---

*Night.*

In a rundown town within the Land of Frost, around a campfire, Yuyashiro Homura and Shinji listened as Sasori recounted the major events of the past days.

A rough, hand-drawn map was spread out in front of them.

At that moment, Sasori raised his finger, pointing from Kumogakure on the map and tracing a line to Yunming City, located at the heart of the Land of Lightning.

*"In a week, the Third Raikage will travel with his son to Yunming City to formally apologize to the daimyo."*

*"At the same time, they will discuss a new offensive strategy with the daimyo!"*

Hearing this, Yuyashiro Homura frowned in confusion.

*"They suffered such heavy losses. Why would Kumogakure still insist on launching a war? Shouldn't they be guarding against other great nations taking advantage of the situation?"*

*"Foolish thinking!"* Sasori snorted coldly.

*"Although Kumogakure took serious losses, their core combat power—the AB Duo and the Third Raikage—remain intact. Their main forces still have enough strength for another battle."*

*"And in this era, to not fight is to die."*

*"If they fail to use this opportunity to display Kumogakure’s power, then they will truly face destruction as others pile on to crush them!"*

Shinji narrowed his eyes at the map, nodding slightly.

*"So, the most crucial question now is: which direction will Kumogakure choose for its offensive?"*

*"This decision will be finalized after the Raikage and the daimyo reach an agreement."*

*"Therefore,"*

*"The daimyo’s stance becomes the key factor in all of this!"*

Sasori shot Shinji a surprised glance before nodding calmly.

*"Exactly. That’s why so many people will be trying to gauge the daimyo’s attitude at this moment."*

*"And in this process, the so-called 'Undying Cult leader' Shinji, who assassinated the Land of Lightning’s daimyo, has become a bargaining chip—a way for someone to present his head as a tribute to the daimyo."*

As he spoke, Sasori subtly watched Shinji’s expression, hoping to catch any reaction.

This "Uchiha Yanzu" still had too many mysteries surrounding him.

However, Shinji remained composed.

Of course, he wouldn’t tell Sasori that both he and Homura were planning to assassinate the daimyo—each for their own reasons.

Still, something puzzled him. He looked up at Sasori and asked:

*"What exactly is the deal with this 'Undying Cult'? This should be their second attempt on the daimyo’s life, right?"*

*"How did they manage to escape both times?"*

Shinji knew very well that the Undying Cult was a group formed by his little brother Hidan.

However—

Twice attempting to assassinate the Land of Lightning’s daimyo and escaping unscathed? That was absurd.

Shinji was well aware of the combat strength of the Jashinists from the Land of Hot Water—completely inconsistent, to say the least. Their strongest member, Dōgō Hayato, wouldn’t last a single move against A, let alone the Third Raikage.

Any elite jonin from a major village could skewer them like a bunch of candied fruits!

*"Who knows? Maybe someone is secretly helping them."*

Sasori let out a dry chuckle, spreading his hands.

Then, his expression grew serious as he stared into the campfire and asked:

*"Now, the most critical issue is..."*

*"Hmm?"* Shinji and Yuyashiro Homura turned to look at him.

The most critical issue?

What else could be more crucial?

Everything was in place—Sasori just needed to lead them to the daimyo’s residence. Then they would go in, wreak havoc, capture the Third Raikage, execute the daimyo, and stand atop the heads of young A and Killer Bee while making them sing songs of surrender!

The entire ninja world would soon witness the dawn of the Grand Damocles Era!

Under their expectant gazes, Sasori hesitated for a moment, lowered his head, and stared at the map beside him. After a brief silence, he finally asked in a muffled voice:

*"Do either of you... know how to read this map?"*

Yuyashiro Homura and Shinji exchanged glances. Their faces stiffened simultaneously.

Both of them could see the nervous twitches forming at the corners of each other’s mouths.

Wait a minute—

*Dude... you’re also directionally challenged?!*

The three people, just about to set off, sat back down in unison, falling into a deep silence.

Meanwhile,

in the capital of the Land of Lightning, Yunming City:

The overall structure of the capital city resembled Tanzaku Town in the Land of Fire. It was a typical Japanese-style ancient castle with an inner and outer city.

The inner city housed the daimyo’s residence—the castle keep. The walls were tall, and the defenses were tight.

The outer city, on the other hand, was bustling with life. The walls were shorter and primarily symbolic rather than functional. The streets were packed with people, a chaotic mix of fish and dragons, with countless carts and stalls lining the roads in a lively, crowded scene.

Cities in the Land of Lightning were all built in open areas surrounded by towering peaks. Architecturally, they resembled flattened onions, featuring platforms built into the mountains, sharp-tipped towers, and living quarters beneath the platforms. The style bore a distinct Byzantine influence.

Merchants and commoners conducted their trade and set up stalls beneath the structures suspended between mountain peaks or in areas resembling Hakka-style buildings built along the mountain slopes, serving as venues for commerce. (As shown in the illustration.)

At this moment,

on a narrow platform outside a mountain outbuilding in the outer city of Yunming,

a hooded Hidan leaned against the railing, his face dark as he gazed down at the street below.

A group of Kumo ninjas was escorting a team of rogue ninjas with headbands marked with the symbol of the Hot Spring Village, leading them to an execution ground recently constructed in the busiest part of the outer city.

"Damn it!"

Watching the comrades who had followed him, one after another, meet their deaths because of him and their so-called "righteous cause,"

Hidan clenched his fists, his hands trembling.

Bang!

He slammed the railing in frustration.

At that moment, he finally understood why that bastard Uchiha Tsui had abandoned him!

After witnessing the vast waterscape of Yuzen City, the capital of the Land of Hot Springs,

he must have felt exactly as Hidan did now, blaming himself for everything,

and ultimately doubting the very oath he had once sworn!

That was why he couldn't face himself, why he had left the Land of Hot Springs,

why he had abandoned their shared vow.

Perhaps... he was even dead by now.

But it didn’t matter—this grudge would be his to settle!

Since the Third Raikage had killed his elder brother,

he would take down the Raikage’s son and their entire nation’s daimyo in return!

Blood for blood!

However, just then,

as the first light of dawn lit the sky,

a graceful figure in a black robe and wide-brimmed straw hat approached Hidan from behind.

A few strands of reddish-brown hair, like the morning sun, peeked out from under the side of the hat.

Beneath the shadow of the brim, a pair of clear, emerald-green eyes that seemed to reflect the depths of one’s soul gazed at him.

The newcomer sighed softly,

“Hidan, I’m helping you this time only because of our old friendship.”

“If your letter asking for my aid was just to save this group of rogue ninjas from the Hot Spring Village, then I’m afraid I can no longer help you.”

“Right now, every faction in this city is watching closely. The Four Great Nations—Fire, Earth, Wind, and Lightning—are all sending envoys. Every organization, every player, wants your head to advance their plans.”

“If you keep acting recklessly, I’ll knock you unconscious and drag you out of this mess myself.”

Hidan shook his head, his youthful eyes showing a hint of defiance.

“Sister-in-law!”

“It’s not like that!”

Gritting his teeth, he pulled a small, transparent vial of blood from his pocket.

“I’ve already obtained the blood of the daimyo of the Land of Lightning!”

“One week from now, if the daimyo’s decision remains to continue waging war and trampling the Land of Hot Springs…”

“I’ll curse him to death at the Five Kage Summit!”

Mei Terumi froze, her pupils contracting sharply. Her face flushed red under the shadow of her hat.

“What did you just say?!”

“I said I’m going to kill the daimyo of the Land of Lightning at the Five Kage Summit!”

“No, the part before that!”

“I’ve obtained the daimyo’s blood.”

“No, before that!”

“… Sister-in-law!?”

Mei Terumi took a deep breath and smiled.

“Alright, I’ll help you kill the daimyo of the Land of Lightning!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 279: Three Days Apart, Growth on Both Sides!

After agreeing to Hidan’s request and promising to help him eliminate the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning, Mei Terumi rested one hand on the railing, swiftly leaped over it, and landed on the edge of a platform. Her gaze was calm as she looked into the distance.

She was watching a group of rogue ninja from the Land of Hot Water, captured by the Kumo shinobi, about to be taken away for execution.

Then, she slightly tilted her head and gave Hidan a gentle smile.

"Well then, you sensible child, let me give you another welcome gift."

"Let’s save those people too."

Hidan was stunned upon hearing this.

His once hopeless and darkened heart suddenly felt as if a beam of light had pierced through it.

But—

Just a moment ago, this woman had been acting as if saving them was impossible, practically telling him to give up and accept death. She might as well have slapped him unconscious and dragged him away.

And now?

What the hell was this?

Could calling her "sister-in-law" really be this powerful?

Thinking of this, Hidan felt a warmth in his chest, a bit moved.

Shinji... Shinji, even in death, you’re still helping me out!

Before Hidan could recover from his daze, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder and yanked him back.

Immediately, he found himself facing a cold expression—a white-haired ninja with a forehead protector bearing the symbol of four wavy lines, a single prominent fang, and an indifferent face that looked as if the whole world owed him money.

Standing tall and straight, the man carried a massive, thick-bladed sword with two handles, wrapped in bandages.

From these distinct features, Hidan instantly recognized him.

This was the genius of Kirigakure, the boy prodigy who had fought his older brother, Shinji, twice, with neither battle reaching a decisive outcome—

Hozuki Mangetsu!

Hidan had heard of him but had never seen him in person.

Until now.

But wasn’t this guy supposed to be on the enemy’s side?

Then, Hidan heard—

"Go to the room below and stay put."

"The upcoming battle isn’t one a piece of trash like you can take part in."

Hozuki Mangetsu stared at him coldly, like a butcher eyeing a slab of meat on a chopping board. He casually gestured behind him.

There, two Kiri nin wearing Kumo forehead protectors were holding a set of thick, sturdy ropes, watching Hidan with eerie, silent focus.

Seeing this setup, sweat beaded on Hidan’s forehead.

What the hell was going on now?

Had he escaped the tiger’s den only to fall into the wolf’s lair, just like in those books?

"If you want your people to live, bind your hands and cooperate with us."

Mangetsu’s voice remained cold and indifferent as he continued,

"A ninja should understand the meaning of sacrifice and compromise. Kirigakure is no charity."

"Did you really think that woman would help you just because of a brief acquaintance?"

"That kind of naïve thinking wouldn’t even fool a three-year-old."

"So, without strength, you don’t have a choice. The only thing you can do..."

"Is offer up your own head in exchange for their lives."

"Nothing more."

After hearing these words, Hidan fell silent for a moment and lowered his gaze.

Then, he turned his head to look at the silent figure standing at the edge of the platform, her back facing him.

Yeah...

Sacrifice and compromise.

In this chaotic Third Shinobi World War—

In the brief lull between the battles of Iwagakure and Kirigakure—

In this period where his big brother, Shinji, was nowhere to be found, not seen, not heard from...

Hidan had already experienced it countless times.

Every time he used the Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood, he had to rely on those who trusted him to sacrifice themselves in order to obtain the enemy’s blood.

And with the enemy’s death, far more of his own allies had perished.

One life after another had pushed a mere Genin like Hidan to this point—

To the point where he, a nobody, now stood face to face with the strongest force of the Five Great Nations: the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning!

How could he not understand—

The meaning of sacrifice?

"I understand."

Hidan exhaled deeply.

Then, he raised his head, his lavender eyes gleaming with spirit, and grinned at Hozuki Mangetsu.

"But..."

"You people don’t understand, and you never will!"

"Even if it’s just for a single day!"

"The bonds formed between life and death create a connection that can never be severed. No matter the distance, no matter the opposing sides, such things will always exist in some form!"

"Just wait and see!"

The moment that guy shows up, I’m gonna stomp that smug face of yours into the ground!

Hozuki Mangetsu watched as Hidan, hands bound, brushed past him and walked forward.

His single visible eye flickered slightly.

Then, he snorted coldly.

"Ridiculous."

Soon, only Mei Terumi and Mangetsu Hozuki were left on the platform.

The morning sun gradually rose, illuminating the earth.

The golden sunlight lit up the still-drowsy city of Unari, piercing through the peaks and broad plains, shining on the crowded, noisy execution grounds.

Gazing in that direction,

Mangetsu Hozuki narrowed his eyes and asked the girl sitting on the railing:

"Do you really believe that the blood that kid got is real?"

Mei Terumi shook her head, calmly looking down at the gradually awakening city below.

"Fake."

"A substitution, transformation technique, disguise technique—there are too many ways to avoid having your blood taken."

"Especially when that person happens to be the most honored individual in this country."

"Then why did you help him?" Mangetsu asked in a deep voice.

"Did we come all this way just to witness this farce? Don’t forget the upheaval happening in our village right now!"

"Mei Terumi, even for you, there’s a limit to how willful you can be!"

Without turning her head, Mei placed a hand on the railing, pushing herself up to stand.

She grinned freely in the wind, spreading her arms as if embracing this nation.

"Mangetsu Hozuki, since you chose to trust me, why not keep trusting me a little longer?"

"Assassinating a daimyo is something we were destined to do!"

"And isn’t this precisely what you’ve been longing for and expecting of me since you betrayed your former master?"

Mangetsu took a deep breath, his brows furrowing as a vein bulged faintly on his forehead.

"I admit that the kid’s reasoning made some sense back then."

"But the person I want to eliminate is the wishy-washy, useless daimyo of the Land of Water!"

"And now you’ve brought me here to the Land of Lightning to kill their daimyo—this is completely off track!"

Mei Terumi smiled faintly and lifted her gaze, looking toward the heavily fortified castle tower deep within the city.

"This is an experiment."

"I want to confirm my inner thoughts!"

"To resolve all our disagreements—"

"The disagreements between you and me,"

"The conflicts within the Mist,"

"The divergence over the future direction of war,"

"What would a country without a daimyo look like—a country where everyone is their own master? A new era, an era where ninjas are freed from their chains—"

"What form will it take?"

"What must be done? I need to see it with my own eyes—"

Facing the chilly morning breeze,

Mei’s gaze turned cold, and she spoke calmly:

"Even if it means tearing this country apart!"

Hearing such an audacious motive—

To kill the Land of Lightning’s daimyo as a prelude to killing the Land of Water’s daimyo,

All for the purpose of observing what a daimyo-less country might become and using that insight to govern her own country—

Mangetsu Hozuki couldn’t help but feel a slight chill run down his spine.

Looking at Mei’s back, his gaze was filled with nothing but deep apprehension.

He had once thought this girl, raised in the sheltered environment of the Mist Village, was merely a decorative vase.

Until—

That war, prolonged and reshaped by Uchiha Tsuji, came upon them.

In the extreme situation where Yagura Karatachi’s Kiru Organization, the Third Mizukage, and the elder council all vied for power, each claiming to be the one to lead the Mist Village into the future—

In the midst of this three-way internal strife, with the village teetering on the brink of destruction,

This girl stepped onto the battlefield to resist the invading forces from the Stone Village.

She fought battle after battle, teetering on the edge of life and death.

Then, after facing Han, the jinchuriki of the Five-Tails,

Everything changed.

She mastered the ability to adjust the acidity of her Boil Release, learned to manipulate boiling mist from Han, and developed her Boil Release into a technique that could make even the bravest shudder.

Eventually, she perfected *Boil Release: Unmatched Strength!*

A terrifying woman capable of engaging tailed beasts in close combat with her bare hands and rapidly growing stronger.

With chakra and the strength of her Water Release and Lava Release rivaling that of a tailed beast, she had overcome her final weakness in close combat.

In that war, she even outshone Yagura Karatachi!

A genius like Mangetsu Hozuki,

Under the radiance of Mei Terumi’s relentless determination to grow stronger at any cost,

Under her far-reaching vision, shaped by a profound understanding of Uchiha Tsuji’s wild claims—surpassing all others in the Mist Village—

He ultimately chose to bow his head in submission.

After a moment of silence, Mangetsu withdrew his gaze and asked:

"Then, why save those Hot Water ninjas?"

"They’re too weak. In a place like Unari, their strength isn’t worth the risk of exposing yourself."

Mei turned back, a sly glint flashing in her clear green eyes. She smiled faintly.

"Those Hot Water ninjas are the last remaining followers of Hidan’s cult."

"But they’re not just followers of Jashin—they’re also the audacious criminals who attempted to assassinate the Raikage."

"With them around, many people can use their name as a cover to act against the daimyo of the Land of Lightning."

Mangetsu was momentarily stunned.

"Many people?"

"Besides us, are there others aiming to kill the Land of Lightning’s daimyo?"

Mei sighed, then glanced at Mangetsu in mild exasperation.

"Alright, stop nagging,"

"Why are you and Ao always so nosy? It’s annoying. I already have a fiancé, so as a subordinate, you should learn to avoid being inappropriate, got it?"

"Now, get to work!"

"Use a Mist technique at the execution ground. We don’t even need to lift a finger—someone will save them."

Mangetsu raised an eyebrow, glancing at the chaotic scene.

He reached back to grip the hilt of Hiramekarei, the twin-bladed sword.

It’s worth noting that Mangetsu had recently become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, inheriting the Hiramekarei after his uncle, Hozuki Kijin, perished in the war.

Preparing for battle,

Mangetsu looked up at Mei, a grin revealing his shark-like teeth.

"One last question, future Mizukage,"

"Do you think that cocky kid is still alive?"

Hearing the question, Mei fell silent for a moment.

Then, lifting her gaze with determination, she replied:

"He won’t die so easily!"

"And this time, I won’t be powerless like before!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 280: Even Assassinating the Daimyo Requires a Queue?

From the Land of Frost to the capital city of the Land of Lightning, Kumomei,

theoretically, it should take less than half a day for a ninja to cover the distance.

However, that’s only true for normal people—

not for those who are hopelessly bad with directions.

Because they couldn’t even figure out their location on the map, let alone interpret the crude drawing accurately,

Shinji’s peculiar, hastily assembled team sat in silence around a campfire for a long time.

In the end, they had no choice but to resort to the dumbest method possible.

The Land of Frost and the Land of Lightning both border the ocean. By simply following the coastline northward, they were bound to eventually cross into the Land of Lightning.

Although this route meant encountering numerous outposts set up by the Hidden Cloud Village, the team’s exceptional skills made bypassing these outposts a trivial task.

After leaving the desolate, war-torn areas devoid of life and crossing several coastal outposts,

the trio finally stumbled upon a settlement in the Land of Lightning.

Well, not exactly a village. The inhabitants were former fishermen who had turned into bandits.

After interrogating them for detailed route information and looting some money,

the three finally arrived at the largest city in the Land of Lightning by noon the next day.

Kumomei City.

Only—

“What? The city’s under lockdown? Entry and exit are restricted?”

“There’s been chaos caused by a group of undead cultists? They stormed an execution ground? And there’s a team of nearly a hundred of them?”

“Wait a minute—so everyone in the crowd watching the execution was an enemy except for the executioner?”

After asking some of the other people stuck outside the city gates, Shinji learned this outrageous bit of news.

It left him momentarily stunned.

A small cult of the Evil God had managed to gather so many dedicated followers?

Is this the power of religion?!

The previously obscure cult that had been quietly lurking in the Land of Hot Water was now thriving after reaching the Land of Lightning?

Standing under the city gate, Sasori, with his straw hat tilted down, spoke in a calm tone:

“As I expected.”

Shinji scratched his head, glanced at Sasori, and asked,

“What do you mean?”

“At this point in time, there are many people who want the Land of Lightning’s daimyo dead.”

“They’re all trying to stir up trouble for their own benefit.”

Sasori frowned as he looked at a wanted poster pasted on the city wall.

“For countries other than the Land of Fire, it’s most advantageous for the Land of Lightning to continue its offensive against the Land of Fire.”

“But now, due to leaked intelligence, further advancing on Konoha would actually be unfavorable for the Land of Lightning.”

“Currently, the Hidden Cloud has three options:”

“One, take advantage of the other great nations being preoccupied with each other, raid smaller neighboring countries, and build up their strength for the next war.”

“Two, launch a naval assault on the Hidden Mist, which is weakened by internal strife and its recent conflict with the Hidden Rock.”

“And three... Well, it’s probably impossible.”

As if reminded of something, Sasori shook his head.

Shinji glanced at Sasori, who was temporarily serving as the team’s strategist, and muttered,

“Tch, all this cryptic talk.”

“This is the daimyo we’re talking about—the real aristocracy of this world. How could ninja battles, even those fought by hired ninjas, possibly affect the daimyo?”

“Who would dare to commit such a heinous act and assassinate the Land of Lightning’s daimyo?”

As he spoke, Shinji instinctively excluded himself and Gouya Jouen from such schemes, sneering as he shot a glance at Sasori.

The ninja world’s system had remained unchanged for centuries. Apart from people like him who disregarded it entirely or Gouya Jouen, a direct victim of the system,

most ninjas, accustomed to the separation of military and political power, had no desire to reform it.

Besides, although the original story didn’t go into detail, the daimyo likely had his own armed forces. Coupled with the various political counterbalances,

attacking the daimyo would undoubtedly bring more harm than good.

It was enough to make even the most powerful ninjas hesitant.

“Heh.”

Thinking of the dire situations in the Hidden Sand Village and its leadership, bound by the daimyo yet seething in silence,

Sasori shook his head and let out a mocking laugh.

“People will always grow angry. And when ninjas get angry, it’s like a thunderstorm compared to ordinary people’s rage.”

“The ninja world’s system is built on a delicate balance. Do you think the leaders of ninja villages are content to have their finances controlled by ordinary aristocrats like the daimyo?”

“It’s just that, until now, no one has dared to set a precedent.”

“But now, hasn’t Shinji already started to pave the way?”

“Still, such matters are dreadfully dull.”

“Success or failure—they’re nothing more than fleeting ripples in the river of time. Only eternal things can truly be called—”

“Art!”

Unlike most people, Sasori viewed the world from the perspectives of art, nihilism, and the passage of time. This detachment made him a clearer observer of these events.

However,

he had no interest in changing the system.

When he heard Sasori calling his name, Shinji froze for a moment. It took him a while to realize that Sasori wasn’t talking about him, but rather about "Shinji."

The one who had actually targeted the daimyo wasn’t him but Hidan, who had been influenced by Shinji and subsequently affected others.

The Hot Springs shinobi, as victims of war, had launched a furious counterattack on the Land of Hot Water.

They fired the first shot of a revolution aimed at changing the world and rewriting the shinobi system!

Thinking about this, Shinji couldn’t help but scratch his head.

At first, all he had wanted was to fake an insurance claim.

He hadn’t intended to save the Uchiha clan, nor had he planned to change the world.

But now, what in the world was going on?

"Look,"

At that moment, Sasori tilted his head and glanced toward the official road outside the city, smirking wickedly.

"The ones who really want the daimyo of the Land of Lightning dead have arrived!"

Hearing this, Miyatsuko En, who was standing nearby holding his daughter in silence, suddenly shivered. He thought Sasori had seen through his true intentions.

Was this toy-making brat planning to report him on the spot?

But when he turned around,

he saw—

In the distance, on the official road, a three-person team was approaching slowly.

The elderly woman leading the group was dressed in a loose black robe, with a white sand mask tied around her chest, carrying a yellow scroll bag. Her light purple hair fell to her shoulders, and her face was covered in wrinkles.

On either side of her, there was a young woman with a backless outfit and hair in alternating birch and green colors, and a young man with a goatee wrapped in a headscarf.

Shinji blinked and immediately recognized them.

The leader was none other than the elder of the Sand Village, Chiyo, who had a deep grudge against him.

As for the two beside her, one was Yekura, the Scorch Release ninja who, thanks to Shinji, had survived the betrayal during the Third Shinobi World War.

The other looked like Yura, a Jonin who Sasori had likely manipulated with brainwashing sand and planted as a spy in the Sand Village.

Soon after, the long-closed city gates opened.

A Cloud-nin messenger emerged, dressed in typical Kumogakure attire, and shouted loudly:

"Welcome to the emissaries from the Sand Village and Stone Village! Only the emissaries may enter the city. All others must wait until the gates reopen!"

Hearing this, Shinji craned his neck to look beyond the Sand trio.

He saw that following them were two Iwagakure shinobi.

The leader was a burly man with a round face, dressed in the red uniform and brown vest of the Stone Village, with the Iwa forehead protector on his head.

Beside him was a red-haired man wearing a brown vest over a purple monk’s robe, sporting a full beard.

Shinji recognized them as well.

One was Kitsuchi, the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. Known for his incredible strength, he could punch tailed beasts like Ginkaku and suppress both the Gedo Statue and the Ten-Tails with his Earth Release: Mountain Jutsu.

The other was Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki of the Stone Village, a formidable shinobi who had fused his tailed beast’s power to create his own Kekkei Genkai: Lava Release.

"Hold on… with people like this, it’d be more believable if they were after the Raikage’s life. And you’re saying they’re here to kill the daimyo of the Land of Lightning?"

"What, do they have to wait in line to assassinate the daimyo now?"

Shinji turned to Sasori, his face full of shock.

"Let’s go, Yanzhu. That troublesome old hag is here too,"

Sasori frowned, then turned to lead the way, signaling for Shinji and Yanzhu to follow him.

"The last time I came to Yunming City, I had a place to stay in the city. Follow me there."

Being called "Yanzhu" brought a wave of satisfaction to Shinji, but he quickly caught on to something in Sasori’s words.

"Wait, you’ve been here before?"

"Then how do you not know the way?"

Of course, Sasori couldn’t admit that the last time, he’d simply grabbed someone to guide him, and he’d spent most of the journey working on improving Hiruko, trying to build a puppet for transportation.

Irritated and embarrassed, he glared at Shinji.

"Shut up!"

Miyatsuko En chuckled as he carried his daughter and followed them. He glanced at Sasori curiously.

"Wow, ninjas these days… visiting a place once and still not knowing the way."

Heh, it seemed like he wasn’t completely out of touch with this era.

At least he could remember a route after walking it once.

"You shut up too, you fossil!"

(End of Chapter)