256-260

*Chapter 256: Prelude to Turmoil*

Arasaka Rokuro felt like he had stepped into an inescapable mire. How did he get himself caught up in the struggle between the envoy and the deputy envoy? But in a way, it simplified things for him. The pain from Lord Kazuma’s kunai against his chest still lingered, a reminder he couldn't shake.

He had no choice but to do as Lord Kazuma commanded.

Otherwise... both he and his family were done for.

As for offending the Hirano family, that was something to worry about later. If he couldn’t get through this crisis, what future could there possibly be?

When he arrived at the main entrance of the envoy's residence, Rokuro saw three people standing there. Uchiha Torajiro and Yakushi Kabuto were both dressed in police uniforms, making their roles clear. As for the girl in a light purple casual outfit beside them, she looked like a lower-ranked ninja. From his understanding, the vest uniforms were issued to middle-ranked ninjas.

“Ah! You’ve finally arrived. I apologize, I’ve been tied up with work and couldn’t get away, so I had to trouble you to come here!” Rokuro quickly put on an exaggerated, enthusiastic smile and, with a quick step, moved forward to greet Uchiha Torajiro, extending his hand to shake.

“Here’s the situation: a friend of mine opened a parlor in the new district. Lately, someone’s been causing trouble every night. I was going to handle it myself, but it turns out some of the troublemakers seem to be ninjas. I had no choice but to ask you for help. Please, I’ll make sure the reward is substantial.”

Uchiha Torajiro noticed the note tucked between Rokuro’s fingers, raised an eyebrow, and shook his hand, taking the note discreetly. He cleared his throat and said, “We’ll investigate. I can’t promise anything yet, but we’ll do our best.”

“I’m very grateful!” Rokuro bowed repeatedly.

“No need; it’s our job. Oh, by the way, we met your father on the way here. The old man is worried about you. He said you're the only one left among the six siblings, so don’t let him worry too much. Kabuto, Izumi, let’s get going.”

As they turned to leave, Uchiha Torajiro waved a hand in farewell.

“Already leaving...?” Izumi started, before Kabuto interrupted her with a meaningful look that made her shiver, swallowing her question and mumbling softly, “It’s my first time here. I heard the gardens are beautiful!”

The three figures gradually disappeared from view.

Rokuro stood there, staring at their departing backs, emotions swirling within him. They had visited his house first? His father... was really worried?

Not far from the entrance, on an old pine tree behind the white walls of the envoy’s residence, Kazuma stood silently on a branch, observing everything.

...

“Alright, let’s stop here.”

Uchiha Torajiro activated his Sharingan, carefully scanning the surroundings to confirm there were no followers, then called for the others to stop. They halted on a deserted rooftop, a great place for conversation, with an open view in all directions.

“Can we talk now?” Izumi asked impatiently.

“Izumi, patience. I know what you want to ask, and you’ll soon understand why we left,” Uchiha Torajiro’s words made Izumi pout; she wanted to know why they’d left when they were supposed to be investigating Rokuro.

Instead, Rokuro had tricked them into leaving.

“Rokuro slipped this to me during the handshake.”

Uchiha Torajiro pulled out the small folded note. It was about two fingers wide and six centimeters long, with hastily scrawled words: Hotai Bathhouse, Ito Meat Shop, 6 a.m. daily delivery of fresh meat for the envoy and Ogawara Head Guard.

“Hotai Bathhouse? Is that the one that worships Hotei Buddha?” Izumi asked. Uchiha Torajiro knew of it, a bathhouse in their jurisdiction near the parlor.

“And the Ito Meat Shop isn’t far from Hotai Bathhouse. Could this be...?”

Izumi wasn’t clueless, and the note was pretty straightforward.

“If I’m right, it’s similar to the parlor – another hunting ground for the envoy,” Kabuto said, adjusting his glasses. “The bathhouse likely selects victims, then uses secret passages to transfer them to the meat shop, where they are hidden among daily fresh meat deliveries to the envoy’s residence. The envoy and Head Guard Ogawara are probably the masterminds behind these disappearances. Same tactics as before!”

“Although, there’s one odd thing – Rokuro’s attitude. I was worried he might commit suicide or be silenced, cutting off our lead. But he seems to want us to catch them red-handed,” Kabuto mused.

“I can’t explain that,” Uchiha Torajiro said, shaking his head. “Maybe he had a change of heart?”

“Maybe, but that’s unlikely. Don’t let his humble home fool you; the bonsai in his father’s yard alone could fetch seven or eight million outside. They couldn’t support such an expensive hobby by honest means.”

Kabuto frowned.

Rokuro’s cooperation puzzled him. Normally, people like Rokuro who lurk in gray areas would deny everything and only confess when forced. Turning informant rarely ends well; even if they escape punishment temporarily, the retribution they’d face later is daunting – especially without assurances of completely uprooting the ones they betray.

And if, as the note suggested, envoy Hirano Seikei is the mastermind, dismantling the powerful Hirano family is practically impossible. Kabuto’s investigation revealed that the Hiranos were a top-tier noble family and major supporters of the Fire Daimyo. Going after Hirano Seikei might be feasible, but uprooting the entire family? A pipe dream. This left Kabuto uneasy about Rokuro’s cooperation. A sudden change of heart seemed highly unlikely.

“Alright, Kabuto, don’t dwell on it. Why Rokuro’s cooperating isn’t important; what matters is if the information is true. If it is, we can solve the case. If it’s false... we’ll deal with him then,” Uchiha Torajiro said. He shared Kabuto’s doubts but was more concerned with the truth of the intel.

“We’ll know tonight if it’s true.”

Kabuto set aside his suspicions for the moment. They could confront Rokuro later, after closing the case.

“Captain, should we call for backup? If we’re planning to catch them in the act... we should consider possible resistance. If there are strong fighters at the envoy’s residence, our squad alone might not be enough,” Kabuto said quietly.

Uchiha Kojiro glared at him and held his breath. Did this mean he was being looked down upon as a Special Jōnin? Unbelievable... How irritating. But come to think of it, maybe being a Special Jōnin wasn’t that impressive after all. The Uchiha clan had always had plenty of Jōnin, and Special Jōnin weren’t exactly rare either.

“Captain, um… am I slowing us down?”

Uchiha Izumi, the only Genin in the squad, felt a bit embarrassed.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not just you; even Kabuto and I are slowing us down a bit,” Kojiro replied with a hint of annoyance.

Yakushi Kabuto chuckled quietly without retorting. His combat skills were fine, but for a spy, fighting ability was just a bonus, not a primary factor. Kabuto was confident he could keep up with Captain Uchiha Kojiro for a few exchanges, but he wasn’t too sure when it came to the more skilled Jōnin.

“Let’s head back and file a report. Maybe we can request some backup to help anchor us.”

With that decision, the squad quickly returned to the Police Department and submitted a report of their findings. After some processing, the report ended up on Sōgen’s desk. Sōgen, just back from the Hokage’s office, was feeling a bit overwhelmed.

His grand plans were in jeopardy!

It was likely that the culprit behind the recent disappearances was none other than the Konoha envoy from the Daimyo’s residence. If that was true... then the plan to request funds from the Fire Daimyo would have to be put on hold for now. After all, if they got rid of the Fire Daimyo’s envoy today, only to stir up chaos at the Ministry of Finance tomorrow, how could they expect the Daimyo to sleep at ease?

Thinking from the Daimyo’s perspective, if Sōgen were the Fire Daimyo, he’d certainly worry that Konoha might be planning to control him, and by extension, the Daimyo’s residence and all of the Land of Fire.

“Pingyao Keiki… What could that old guy be after with all this kidnapping? It’s not like the Pingyao family is involved in slave trading… it’s just causing trouble.” Sōgen muttered. The Pingyao family was one of the wealthiest noble families in the Land of Fire, so what was he doing stirring up trouble in Konoha? Wouldn’t it be better to just enjoy his status and power on his own lands?

And it wasn’t like he was kidnapping young women or anything; it was all sturdy construction workers or other men in physically demanding jobs.

It was utterly baffling.

However—

Baffling as it was, there was still work to be done. Sōgen signed off on the request for backup with a swift stroke of his pen, then handed it to his secretary, Uchiha Soya. “Soya, make a copy of this and deliver it to Uchiha Kojiro’s squad. Tell them their requested support will arrive when needed, and they shouldn’t worry about safety.”

“Yes, Clan Leader!”

Soya responded immediately and dashed off like a shadow.

Not long after Soya left, Uchiha Arashiyama rushed in and asked straight away, “Sōgen, are we sure the culprit behind the disappearances is that envoy?”

“It’s not confirmed yet, but if we’re not mistaken, there’s a high chance it’s that old man. Even back when the Fifth Hokage hosted a banquet to welcome him, I sensed something off. His cologne couldn’t quite mask the smell of blood. At the time, I thought whatever twisted habits he had were none of my concern. But look at this… it’s ended up on my plate anyway.”

Uchiha Arashiyama was silent for a couple of seconds before saying, “So we’re not moving forward with the funding request after all?”

“...Let’s put it on hold. The Hokage’s office already agreed to provide some funds, so we should be fine for the first half of the year. But just in case, we should also prepare a plan to hunt down some rogue ninjas.”

It wasn’t clear exactly how much the Hokage’s office would give, so relying solely on that was risky. Better to be prepared with a backup plan.

“You’re really good at delegating, Clan Leader. Do you know how hard it is to come up with reasons for those funding applications?”

Arashiyama grumbled but was already considering which of his assistants to assign the task to. Now that the Police Department had expanded, he didn’t have to handle everything personally. As the de facto Deputy Director in charge of daily operations, he had six assistants to assign such tasks to.

“I trust you’ll handle it well,” Sōgen replied with a smile.

Arashiyama took his leave, and Sōgen continued signing the documents that needed his approval, transforming into a relentless signing machine as the minutes ticked by. Outside, the sky gradually darkened.

Nightfall was approaching quickly.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 257: Cult of the Evil God*

"…How much longer will it take to finish this entirely?"

"…It’s hard to say right now. It’ll probably still take a while…"

"Can’t we delay a few days? Doing this in Konoha is too risky. If we’re caught by Konoha’s shinobi, we’re done for. If we wait another week, the goods I ordered will arrive, and we won’t have to keep taking these chances."

"…It’s impossible to stop. If we stop now, all our efforts will be wasted, and we risk angering the Evil God, which could lead to sudden death. It’s all documented in the materials, and you’ve seen it yourself."

"…Damn it…"

Late at night, deep in the underground chambers of the embassy, tension filled a spacious, hidden room. Kiyotsugu Hiramiya, the daimyo’s emissary to Konoha, glared angrily at his head guard, Uemon Ogata. Uemon, for his part, showed no fear, matching his lord’s gaze without hesitation.

The tension stemmed from a disagreement over their shared secret. Kiyotsugu was growing uneasy after a warning from a man named Hama, feeling fearful that their ongoing secret ritual, nearly a year in progress, might go awry. He wanted to pause the ritual, but Uemon, the one who had taught him this forbidden practice, insisted it wasn’t possible.

The ritual? Its nature was clear from the scene in the underground chamber: pale, emaciated corpses were piled haphazardly in a corner, their bodies shriveled as if drained of blood. At the room's center stood a round stone altar. In its middle was a triangular pit, roughly thirty centimeters deep, with each side about two and a half meters long. Around the triangle lay a shallow groove forming an unbroken circle.

An outer circle and inner triangle formed a symbol—a symbol of the Evil God, representing the cult altar and serving as a place where followers could receive the god’s blessing.

Above this symbol hung a steel hook holding an inverted man, his wrists slashed so that blood trickled down into the triangular pit. The ritual involved offering fresh blood to the Evil God, who, in turn, granted followers an immortal body and endless life.

But—

The ritual couldn’t be completed in a single night. It required patience and continual devotion. Even Uemon, who had stolen the ritual information, didn’t know exactly how long it would take.

Uemon Ogata was a large man, towering over six feet, with a fierce appearance and wolf-like eyes that exuded ruthlessness. Originally a warrior from the Land of Iron, he had fled after killing someone in a drunken rage. Later, he wandered into the Land of Hot Water, where he unwittingly joined the Evil God Cult. His impressive combat skills and brutal past earned him favor within the cult, allowing him to witness their ultimate secret.

The cult was researching the “immortal body.” Uemon had witnessed a young fanatic named Hidan successfully achieve it, remaining alive even after suffering fatal injuries.

Uemon coveted this power but didn’t want to wait years within the cult, where many craved immortality. So he stole the experiment’s materials and fled to the Land of Fire. There, he met Kiyotsugu Hiramiya, an official in his sixties nearing the end of his life, who eagerly supported him.

The experiment required substantial manpower and resources. Even the large Evil God Cult had to resort to disguising members as thieves or kidnappers to sustain the experiment.

Kiyotsugu’s status and influence allowed him to avoid suspicion, even when large numbers of bodies were moved from his estate. In the daimyo’s city, the elite cared little for the lives of the lower classes. Instead, they’d idly ask if he was up to new tricks, which Kiyotsugu could brush off.

But—

Unforeseen events in Konoha changed everything. After the Third Hokage retired and died, and with further conflicts involving the Mist and Cloud villages, Konoha’s power structure had shifted. The Sarutobi, Mitokado, and Utatane clans, once influential, had dwindled, while the Uchiha clan had risen again.

The upheaval affected the daimyo’s court as well. Kiyotsugu’s predecessor, a close ally of the Third Hokage, retired, and Kiyotsugu was quickly appointed as the new emissary, due to his family’s control over the largest medicinal supplier in the Land of Fire and its business ties to the Nara clan of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio in Konoha.

The appointment came swiftly, leaving Kiyotsugu little time to gather "materials" for the ritual. Uemon's instructions from the cult stated that the ritual had to continue daily, uninterrupted until completion.

"That should do it. Who’s first tonight?" Uemon asked, eyeing the blood pooled in the triangular pit.

"I’ll go first," Kiyotsugu said, his face grim.

Uemon shrugged. With enough "material," it didn’t matter who went first. In a nearby cage, six captives sat, hungry and bound, numb from days of captivity and terrified by the horrors before them.

"Hama’s just trying to scare us!" Uemon sneered. "You’re the daimyo’s emissary—Konoha wouldn’t touch you over a few worthless commoners. You should worry more about Hama than Konoha. That guy looks at you like he wants you dead. We should strike first, kill Hama, and make him the scapegoat."

Uemon had clashed with Hama and bore a grudge after losing a minor confrontation.

"Don’t be ridiculous!" Kiyotsugu barked. "Hama is the daimyo’s trusted bodyguard. Killing him would be impossible to explain to the daimyo."

However, what he said was interesting. The focus wasn’t really on whether to kill Kazuma , but rather how to explain things to the daimyo. Hiramiya Shikyo had disliked Kazuma for some time as well. Kazuma , being a trusted personal guard of the daimyo, often behaved arrogantly and even took a lecturing tone with him.

Ogasawara Uemon, sensing an opportunity, revealed a cruel smile. “To protect the daimyo’s reputation… how about that as an excuse? We could say Kazuma went on a rampage in Konoha, pillaging and hurting the villagers, and that Konoha’s ninja have come to investigate. To protect the daimyo’s reputation from that idiot’s actions, we had no choice but to silence him.”

“Hmph! Killing Kazuma won’t be so easy,” Hiramiya Shikyo admitted, but he had to concede it was a decent excuse.

Ogasawara Uemon might look like a brute who only relies on force, but anyone who underestimated him would regret it. He had managed to evade the Iron Country’s samurai and colluded with nobles like Hiramiya Shikyo—he wasn’t a simple-minded fool.

“If you’re willing to think it through, there’s always a way.”

Ogasawara Uemon didn’t think killing was particularly difficult; the real challenge was handling the aftermath without issues. He’d had to flee Iron Country because he hadn’t been able to clean up after himself when he killed someone there.

“Let’s see you come up with a feasible plan first,” Hiramiya Shikyo replied.

By then, he had undressed, stepped onto the stone platform, and slowly lay down in the pool of blood.

In the Special Envoy’s Mansion, Hiramiya Shikyo’s study:

By the desk near the window, a one-eyed man in a black robe and mask sat in Hiramiya Shikyo’s chair, reading a stack of documents printed with the symbol of a triangle encircled by a circle in the moonlight streaming through the window.

“An immortal body, huh? This is interesting.”

“Too bad… does one need to worship an evil god?”

As he muttered to himself, a black and white pitcher plant-like figure emerged from the floor. Zetsu glanced at the masked man, and the white half of Zetsu said, “Madara, aren’t you curious to go down and have a look? It’s quite interesting!”

“See what? Those experiments by the Cult of Jashin? I have no interest in that.”

Uchiha Obito, still using the guise of Uchiha Madara, shook his head.

“One must wholeheartedly worship the evil god to receive his favor… this is useless to me. However, I found an interesting target in these files. If luck favors us, perhaps we can add a new member to our organization.”

“You don’t mean that Kazuma guy?”

“No, it’s a Jashin cultist named Hidan. According to these records, he possesses an immortal body and some strange abilities.”

“Hidan? Never heard of him.”

“It’s natural you haven’t. According to these files, Hidan’s immortality has only been recent, and he’s still a young man, so he probably hasn’t made a name for himself. But he seems worth recruiting.”

“That does sound like a good target,” Black Zetsu remarked. White Zetsu chimed in excitedly, “Madara, where can I find this immortal body? Is he really unkillable?”

“There’s no specific location, but... these files say Hidan is a fanatic who eagerly spreads the faith of Jashin, so maybe we can start from there. As for how unkillable he really is, I wouldn’t know without seeing it myself,” Uchiha Obito replied, looking toward the window and murmuring, “Mr. Kazuma , you’ve been eavesdropping for quite a while. Isn’t it time to come out and say hello?”

Two seconds later,

Kazuma slowly rose from the ground outside the window. Standing there, he looked through the open window at Uchiha Obito and asked, “When did you notice me?”

“From the moment you arrived.”

The casual response made Kazuma face twitch, and he subconsciously clenched his fist.

What an annoying show-off!

“Who are you… who are you people, really? Why have you snuck into the Special Envoy’s Mansion?” Kazuma demanded.

“You’ll know once you join us.”

Uchiha Obito toyed with him, dangling the information just out of reach.

Kazuma frowned, scrutinizing Uchiha Obito and Zetsu. After a few moments of hesitation, he said, “I don’t care who you are, just leave. This is the Special Envoy’s Mansion, not a public restroom for you to wander in and out of as you please.” Had he been confident in defeating them, he would have skipped the threats and acted instead.

“We’ll be leaving shortly.”

Uchiha Obito had reached the last few pages of the documents, and in the blink of an eye, his three-tomoe Sharingan scanned through the final pages. He placed the documents back precisely as they were and said to Kazuma , “Until next time, Mr. Kazuma .”

With that, Uchiha Obito and Zetsu each used their techniques to vanish under Kazuma watchful gaze. Kazuma finally confirmed that this so-called “Madara” likely used some sort of time-space jutsu, but as for how the pitcher plant-like creature left, he couldn’t figure it out.

His mind replayed fragments of their conversation as he tried piecing together what he had overheard.

Then—

“Madara… Sharingan, Uchiha… could it be… no, that’s impossible. That man’s been dead for decades.”

Under the moonlight, Kazuma expression was so dark it was as if it could drip water. His own speculations had left him shaken.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 258: Kaguya Kimimaro vs. Samurai Ogawa Uemon*

Just as Kazuma was taken aback by his own deductions, the Uchiha Tora Squad was already at Budaigami, witnessing the entire “hunt” unfold. They saw three solo visitors, one by one, being knocked unconscious by handkerchiefs after finishing their baths, dragged away, bound, and discreetly delivered to Ito Butchers, hidden under the meat delivery truck.

As dawn approached, three ox-drawn carts carrying fresh meat for the embassy set off.

The Uchiha Tora Squad followed closely behind, tracking the carts all the way to the embassy. Arasaka Rokuro emerged, guiding the carts into the gates and into the kitchen, where the meat was offloaded by the kitchen staff. Two men, clearly not from the butcher’s, carried the bound “goods” in sacks, following Rokuro out of the kitchen down a different path.

They crossed several small bridges, walking along a winding corridor until they reached a courtyard entrance, where Arasaka Rokuro turned and said, “Wait here. I’ll go inform the emissary.”

“Yes, Lord Rokuro,” they replied.

This wasn’t their first time, so they were familiar with the routine.

Rokuro entered the courtyard, approached the door, and knocked lightly. “My lord, the goods have arrived.”

“Take them to the usual place.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Oh, Rokuro, I heard some police officials came looking for you yesterday. What was that about?” asked Taira Norinaga casually from inside as Rokuro was about to leave.

“It was an old friend from childhood. He seems to have crossed some out-of-town thugs recently, and I’d hoped using the police force’s influence might scare them off. I didn’t expect to trouble you, my lord. That was a lapse on my part,” Rokuro replied, maintaining his composed and respectful demeanor.

“Oh, I see! Ha! If the police aren’t up to the task, feel free to invoke the embassy’s name. Now, go take care of that delivery.” Norinaga dismissed it, unfazed by the trivial matter. After all, as Ogawa Uemon had mentioned the night before, there was no way Konoha would risk a confrontation over a few nobodies.

The real nuisance was that pesky Kazuma.

After nodding his thanks, Rokuro carefully retreated, leading the two men at the door to the “usual place”—a tearoom in the embassy. Truthfully, Rokuro didn’t know what Taira Norinaga and Ogawa Uemon were up to; his role was merely to deliver the hunted “goods” to the tearoom, where Norinaga’s loyal aide would handle them.

The tearoom was only about a five-minute walk from Norinaga’s residence.

They arrived at the tearoom door without incident.

However, before he could knock—

A voice bellowed from within, “Who’s there?”

Rokuro froze, his face showing a hint of confusion, taken aback by the abrupt outburst. The two men behind him shared the same bewilderment, glancing around nervously.

Suddenly, a flash of blade sliced upward, tearing through the roof, sending a rain of tiles crashing down. Rokuro and his companions scrambled to cover their heads.

“Konoha’s ninjas? What’s your purpose, sneaking into the embassy?” Ogawa Uemon’s face contorted with anger and surprise.

Uchiha Torajiro, barely holding back Uemon’s powerful attack, scowled and leaped back, positioning himself at the rooftop’s edge, maintaining a tense standoff through the hole in the roof. This guy was formidable!

Despite shadowing Rokuro cautiously, Torajiro was fully alert, bracing for any sudden assault.

And yet, even so, he’d almost buckled under Uemon’s probing strike.

“What am I doing here? I’m investigating the recent disappearances. I’d advise you to surrender and spare yourself unnecessary suffering,” said Torajiro, feigning confidence. But internally, he knew he was in deep trouble.

At the mention of “disappearances,” Uemon’s brow twitched, sensing something ominous. Konoha had the nerve to take action within the embassy? Were they not concerned about inciting tension with the Daimyo’s court?

At this point, though, it was too late to worry. The intruders had followed Rokuro’s careless trail to the door, and there was no easy way out.

“Surrender? Apologies, Shinobi, I don’t understand. This is the private territory of the embassy. If you have questions, use the proper channels to contact the emissary. Now, please leave, or…” Ogawa Uemon spoke slowly, each word dripping with hostility. “I will defend this embassy from assassins.”

Ogawa shifted his stance, preparing to attack.

Torajiro frowned, realizing this brawny man was sharper than expected. His response was well-crafted… A weaker-willed individual might actually retreat to pursue “proper channels.”

Unfortunately for Uemon,

He was up against an Uchiha.

Torajiro had no intention of retreating, not until he uncovered the truth behind the disappearances. If he backed down now, by the time he returned through “proper channels,” any evidence would likely be wiped clean. He’d seen that happen too many times before.

“I won’t give you the chance to destroy evidence,” Torajiro stated firmly.

“Then die!” A murderous glint flashed in Uemon’s eyes.

He’d initially planned to let Norinaga handle the issue; killing Torajiro would only invite trouble. However, the Uchiha’s persistence had forced his hand. He’d accumulated enough wealth over the past year to leave Norinaga’s service if things went south.

With that resolve, he struck.

The blade flashed again.

*“Iai Slash.”*

A technique mastered by only a select few Samurai in the Land of Iron, this draw-slash technique struck before an opponent could act. Samurai relied on this blinding speed to neutralize ninjas before they could even complete their hand signs.

This formidable skill was why the Samurai as a group hadn’t been entirely erased from history, managing to retain neutral territory among the Five Great Nations.

As that brilliant flash crossed Torajiro’s vision, his mind blanked, realizing in an instant that he’d severely underestimated his opponent. He thought he could withstand a few strikes, but this—

This was a real tiger!

Such a deadly move—

Not even many Uchiha Jonin could perform a strike so swift and fierce!

“Wait… something isn’t right! Can I still think after being cut down? And why isn’t there any pain?” Perplexed, Uchiha Tora-jiro gathered his wits. He’d been certain he was done for but, now that his attention refocused, he noticed a small figure standing in front of him.

“…Itachi?”

That build, that look, those tear troughs, and an expression eerily similar to Elder Fugaku’s—serious, intense. It was the clan’s latest prodigy, Uchiha Itachi.

“Tora-jiro-senpai, watch out, I can’t hold on much longer!”

The words had barely left Itachi’s mouth before he was sent flying back like a broken kite, crashing straight into Tora-jiro’s chest. The impact knocked the wind out of him and forced him back several steps, his feet shattering the glazed roof tiles beneath him as he managed to stop himself and catch Itachi.

“Cough, cough!”

Itachi coughed twice, flexing his numb arm.

“Sorry, Tora-jiro-senpai. That guy’s blade is not only fast but his strength is unbelievable. I couldn’t hold my ground just now, but it was unavoidable. I won’t let it happen again.”

“So… you’re the backup the captain sent to help us out in case things went south?” Tora-jiro responded quickly.

He immediately realized Itachi’s presence at the embassy couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Right. Kimimaro and I have been tailing you since yesterday.”

“You’ve been following since yesterday? And Kimimaro’s here too… huh?”

Tora-jiro saw Kimimaro with spikes of bone protruding from his body like a white porcupine, engaged in a fierce battle with Ogasawara Uemon. His question turned into a statement mid-sentence.

“Tora-jiro-senpai, go help your men! There are still some tough enemies down below, and you have a mission to complete. Don’t forget that if we can’t obtain concrete evidence, we’ll be accused of attacking the envoy ourselves… Leave this guy to Kimimaro and me!”

Itachi spoke quickly, leaving Tora-jiro no chance to argue.

Without further delay, he dashed toward Ogasawara Uemon, weaving seals with one hand mid-run.

The second he opened his mouth, a Phoenix Flower Jutsu emerged, scattering small fireballs that forced Uemon to halt his pursuit of Kimimaro. It must be said that Ogasawara Uemon, a former samurai from the Land of Iron, was indeed formidable. His swordsmanship was lightning-fast, his strikes brutally forceful, and his attacks exceptionally aggressive.

Earlier, Kimimaro had been at a disadvantage in their clash. Due to his young age and still-developing body, he couldn’t quite match Uemon in strength, resulting in his being knocked back.

Yet—

This only ignited Kimimaro’s resolve.

“Itachi, don’t use genjutsu. This guy’s a worthy opponent! Let me take him on! I may not find another taijutsu specialist of his caliber anytime soon.” Swordsmanship, as the ninja classified it, could fall under taijutsu, where Kimimaro excelled—though he preferred weaponry over hand-to-hand techniques.

Uniquely, however, his “weapon” wasn’t a standard blade or staff—it was his bones.

He could control his bones in real-time to adjust them as needed, transforming them into swords, staves, whips, and other weaponry. Thus, he studied various sword, staff, spear, and whip techniques from the Uchiha archives, merging these methods through actual combat to form his own style.

“Don’t underestimate him!” Itachi’s crimson Sharingan eyes calmed as he refrained from ending the fight with a quick genjutsu. Since Kimimaro was intent on honing his skills against this opponent, he’d let him be, so long as the fight remained under control. From his observations, he’d concluded that their adversary’s threat level was manageable.

While Uemon’s swift draw-slash technique was indeed formidable—

It could take out most elite jonin before they even had a chance to cast jutsu. But swordsmanship alone was unlikely to surpass Kimimaro, an expert in taijutsu, who could likely meet Uemon head-to-head or even gain the upper hand. After all, genjutsu was often the Achilles’ heel of taijutsu experts, and the Uchiha clan’s genjutsu was the nightmare of all nightmares—a veritable emperor among nightmares.

Most ninja lacked the skill to counter Uchiha illusions. Soloing one in battle was generally avoided; taking them on two-to-one was considered standard.

“Don’t worry! His technique isn’t that much better than mine.”

Kimimaro spoke with unwavering confidence.

This clearly riled Uemon. Despite fleeing from the Land of Iron, his dedication to swordsmanship was genuine. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have mastered the draw-slash technique that only 95% of the Land of Iron’s samurai could ever hope to achieve. Hearing the little brat insult his swordsmanship—and the other kid disregarding him entirely—brought a rare surge of fury to his heart.

“You brats are too cocky!”

With a roar, his massive blade sliced through the air.

With a clang, the blade struck the bone Kimimaro wielded. Already knowing his strength was no match, Kimimaro skillfully avoided a full-force clash, instead utilizing a counter-force technique he’d learned from the Uchiha library to deflect much of Uemon’s strike.

Deflecting Uemon’s blow, Kimimaro sprang into a counterattack, driving his knee up toward Uemon’s thigh. A sharp white bone jutted from his knee, piercing his pants like a spear and pricking Uemon’s leg.

At the last moment, Uemon used a step-shift technique derived from the ninja body flicker, narrowly avoiding Kimimaro’s lethal strike. He was left with only a minor graze, hardly bleeding at all.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 259: The Distress Signal Raised at the Special Envoy’s Residence*

The rooftop battle erupted suddenly, yet it was inevitable. The police department officers wanted to enter the tea room and access the underground chamber via a hidden passage. However, Ogasawara Uemon and his subordinates were guarding the tea room, determined to let no one through. When compromise was impossible, conflict was bound to happen.

Unfortunately, the outcome of this clash was sealed from the very start.

“This is Konoha, after all.”

Uchiha Obito sighed softly under the shadow of the gabled roof near the tea room, watching the battle unfold on the rooftop.

“You sound pretty certain that Ogasawara is going to lose.”

It was Hama who spoke, their third encounter. Hama, no longer reacting as strongly, thought the man, possibly Uchiha Madara, might not be trustworthy but wasn’t an enemy of Konoha or the Daimyo—for now, anyway.

As long as that condition held, Hama wouldn’t clash with the masked man. Though, whether he was Madara or not, Hama admitted he wasn’t confident about defeating this elusive figure. Instinct told him it wouldn’t end well.

“What’s this? Do you think that guy actually stands a chance?” Obito asked with interest.

“Ogasawara and Hiramiya are researching something, and they may not be done, but it’s possible they’ve discovered something significant. Ogasawara feels dangerous. If I were sure I could eliminate him quietly, I’d have already dealt with the nuisance tarnishing the Daimyo’s image.”

“Well, true enough… but, Hama, you’re underestimating the Sharingan.”

Clashing with Konoha and its ninjas, even with the upper hand initially, was unsustainable unless one was of Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara's caliber. Moreover, Ogasawara’s youthful opponents included Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi had once been a prospect Obito held in high regard, hoping to use his talent to weaken the Uchiha clan and prevent certain outcomes. However, Uchiha Zongxuan’s sudden rise to power disrupted his plans, leaving Itachi firmly in Zongxuan’s service. A mere Ogasawara Uemon, with all his tricks, was no match for the young Uchiha prodigy. The Sharingan’s illusions were the bane of reckless fighters—though there were rare exceptions who could overcome it by focusing solely on their enemy's feet.

“How about a wager, Hama? I bet Ogasawara loses. If I win, we’ll cooperate against Konoha. If I lose, I’ll fulfill one request within my power.”

Obito made his offer, to which Hama responded coldly.

“Not interested.”

“I see. Shame. I suppose we’re not yet meant to work together.”

“I already told you: I have zero interest in working with someone who hides behind a mask.”

“Everyone has a right to privacy. I don’t intend to share all my secrets. Still, I believe we’ll join forces eventually. Reject me as much as you like now, but you’ll come to see it’s the only way to realize your aspirations.”

Hama’s wary gaze drilled into Obito as he listened.

“By the way, Hama, care to share how you intend to wrap up today’s drama? I didn’t expect you to call the police on Arasaka Rokuro instead of handling him yourself. What’s your plan?”

“I don’t owe you an explanation.”

“…Alright, then. I’ll enjoy watching.”

Obito wasn’t discouraged. Hama’s actions would eventually reveal his intentions. For now, Hama only watched the rooftop battle silently.

***

Meanwhile, beneath the tea room, Uchiha Tora acted on Itachi’s instructions. Though being led by someone over a decade his junior, he had no objections. At twenty-something, he was still only a special Jonin, while Itachi had been promoted to Jonin during the last war.

In the Uchiha clan, authority was tied to strength. Unless there was a significant age or rank difference, or orders from higher-ranking clan members, the strong naturally led the weaker.

Tora descended into a tunnel exposed by a broken floor. It was a rough passage, seemingly carved hastily with ninjutsu. As he reached the bottom, he entered the crude underground chamber, consistent with the quick and crude style above.

It wasn’t surprising. Envoy Hiramiya had only been in Konoha for less than a month. Creating such a spacious chamber on short notice was an impressive feat, with no time for refinement. Along the stairs, Tora saw two lifeless bodies frothing at the mouth. At the bottom, he met two comrades and called out:

“Kabuto, Izumi, are you alright?”

“Ah, Captain, you’re here! Is the enemy above taken care of?” Uchiha Izumi turned to Tora, a faint smile on her pale face. “We’re fine. Kabuto-san took care of the enemies in no time.”

Izumi animatedly gestured to emphasize Kabuto’s skill, though her pallor hinted otherwise. Despite her cheerful voice, her appearance suggested she wasn’t completely unscathed.

When Tora took in the chamber, his stomach turned. Piles of bodies lay scattered like garbage, bloodstains marred an eerie altar, and hooks stained with dried blood swung above. The air reeked of a nauseating, thick stench.

“Captain, there are a few survivors over here.”

Kabuto approached the iron cage in the corner, finding that the six or seven people tied up inside were still alive.

“Izumi, you go—actually, never mind, I’ll have my shadow clone do it.”

Hearing that there were survivors, Toraji Uchiha snapped out of his anger and revulsion, immediately realizing he needed to send a signal for backup. This hidden room itself was ironclad evidence; there was no need for further investigation. They only had to guard the place and wait for reinforcements.

Initially, he thought of having Izumi go up to send the signal. However, he reconsidered, as Izumi was only a junior shinobi, and this situation would have undoubtedly caught the attention of powerful figures in the embassy. It was likely the embassy's skilled fighters were already on their way here.

Best to leave it to his shadow clone!

He quickly formed the hand signs, summoned a clone, and equipped it with a signal flare specially made by the Police Force, sending it up the stairs at a fast pace.

Once the shadow clone reached the surface, it found that, apart from the tearoom, which had collapsed due to the intense battle between Ogawara Yoemon, Kimimaro, and Itachi Uchiha, nothing else seemed to have changed. The three people from the Arasaka family were hiding even farther away, and there was no sign of embassy guards coming over.

How strange!

The shadow clone muttered to itself. Nonetheless, no interference was a good thing, so it wasted no time, pulling out the signal flare and launching it into the sky. A brilliant firework exploded, forming a shuriken wrapped in a fan—clearly the symbol of the Police Force.

Even though it was still early morning, the massive signal was hard to miss. Many people saw it, from office workers just stepping outside to students heading to the Ninja Academy, elderly folks returning from morning exercise, and, of course, members of the Police Force patrolling the area.

Now, just seeing a Police Force distress signal flare wasn’t usually a huge deal.

But for those who realized it was coming from the embassy’s location, the situation immediately felt far more serious.

Word began to ripple outward in waves.

Police Force members patrolling nearby, following new department protocols, started converging on the distress signal’s origin. The message quickly reached Police Force headquarters, but due to the early hour, Chief Sugihiko had yet to arrive for the day, and Vice Chief Arayama was also absent.

The responsibility fell on the highest-ranking officer currently in the Police Force, Uchiha Yasukui, the Deputy Director of Public Safety.

“The distress signal is from the embassy?”

“Yes, Deputy Director.”

Though Yasukui was a woman, she was no frail reed but as sturdy as a pine tree in winter—undaunted by any challenge, she never shied away from difficulties. Confirming the distress signal’s origin, she immediately stood up, issuing instructions as she headed out: “Send someone to inform the Chief and Vice Chief, and assemble five teams at the training ground to stand by.”

“Yes, Deputy Director!”

The Police Force, still half-asleep, sprang into action.

Similarly, the Hokage’s Office, the Anbu headquarters, and various clan compounds were all stirred by this unexpected event, as waves of scouts surged toward the embassy.

“...They actually made a move?” Fifth Hokage Torifu Akimichi, still at home having breakfast, had grown weary of the Hokage Office’s unrelenting pace after last year’s intense front-line battles and had taken to a more manageable schedule since the war’s end.

However, only halfway through his breakfast, Shikaku Nara burst through the door, bringing news that made it impossible for him to continue eating in peace.

With a lingering glance at his half-finished meal, Torifu sighed.

“Shikaku, let me get ready, and we’ll head to the Hokage Office together.”

“Yes, Lord Hokage.”

Shikaku replied respectfully, patiently waiting by the porch.

...

“Grandpa Jiraiya, that’s the Police Force symbol, right?”

Naruto, just stepping outside after breakfast, saw the firework on his way to the Ninja Academy. He had recently moved to an apartment in Konoha with Jiraiya—after all, Jiraiya was one of the Legendary Sannin, and even though he wandered around most of the time, the village had still left a luxury apartment for him and made sure it was cleaned regularly.

“Ah, it seems so.”

Jiraiya yawned, giving a half-hearted reply.

He ruffled Naruto’s carefully combed hair and said lazily, “Alright, off to school with you! Whatever’s happening over there has nothing to do with little kids like you. Adults will handle it. Just focus on what you need to do.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

Naruto brushed Jiraiya’s hand away, fixing his hair again before heading to school, soon forgetting about the firework.

As Naruto’s figure disappeared down the street, Jiraiya scratched his head, leaning on the railing to look toward the firework's direction. After a while, he turned back inside, closing the door with a click. Whatever was going on, as long as Konoha stayed stable, it wasn’t his place to meddle. He had no desire to get involved in the village’s power struggles.

*Chapter 260: Ambush on a Noble Over Sixty*

The distress signal rising in the village had stirred quite a commotion. As a special envoy, Hiramiya Saikyo couldn't remain in the dark for long. As soon as the tea room had collapsed, he had been alerted by his trusted aides and quickly exited the room to gaze toward the billowing smoke in the distance.

“What on earth is happening?”

“A bunch of useless idiots! Can anyone tell me what’s going on at the tea room?”

“Where’s Ogasawara Uemon? Why hasn’t he made contact yet?”

Saikyo's fury was reaching explosive levels.

The old man’s rage was so intense that it practically lifted his mustache. His subordinates were left scrambling under his verbal barrage. Yet, beneath this fury and arrogance, he felt a gnawing unease. All contact had been lost with the tea room, including any trace of Ogasawara Uemon or the scouts sent to gather intel there.

It seemed…

The tea room had turned into a black hole.

It had swallowed all information, leaving him clueless about what was going on there. However, he knew well enough that if the secret under the tea room were to be exposed, serious trouble would inevitably follow.

Saikyo recalled what Ogasawara had said before: “He looks at you with killing intent.” A shiver shot down his spine. Could it be Hamawari? Did he discover the tea room’s secret and plan to eliminate both Ogasawara and himself?

Once this idea took root in his mind, it became impossible to dismiss.

Even with a clearly visible distress signal floating overhead, Saikyo stubbornly refused his subordinates’ suggestion to seek assistance from Hamawari, the deputy envoy. Instead, after some thought, he commanded them to withdraw from the envoy building and seek help from Konoha’s ninjas.

He understood well enough.

The Konoha ninjas wouldn’t act against him on a whim; even if the secret in the tea room were exposed, Konoha wouldn’t execute him without sanction from the Fire Daimyo. However, Hamawari, a loyal “attack dog” raised by the Daimyo himself, posed a far greater threat.

“Go in the opposite direction from the tea room,” he ordered.

Suppressing his panic, Saikyo tried to clear his mind and quickly made his decision.

“But there’s a wall in that direction…”

One of his subordinates muttered.

“Idiot! Knock the wall down, and it becomes a path! Or are you telling me you can’t even break through a single wall?”

Saikyo was nearly driven mad with anger. These men, now seeming useless, had proven both incompetent and dull. But with Ogasawara Uemon, his chief guard, absent, he had no choice but to rely on these “idiots” to protect him.

Not that nobility was entirely helpless in combat.

But Saikyo had been pampered from childhood. Although he’d dabbled in archery, swordsmanship, and horsemanship, it had been little more than a show. At over sixty years old, he’d lost much of his physical prowess.

Even with the secret ritual enhancements from the cult, he remained unable to fight effectively.

Soon enough, his men had chiseled an opening in the freshly painted wall. As one of the Fire Country’s high nobles, Saikyo had a few capable people under him—rogue ninjas, minor clan shinobi, samurai. Together, breaking through a wall was no challenge.

But—

“Hiramiya-sama, where are you planning to go?” A leisurely voice came from the other side of the opening. Saikyo stiffened as if stung by a scorpion. It was him—it was Hamawari!

The old man quickly regained his composure, took a deep breath, and spoke:

“Hamawari? You’re just in time. The envoy building is under attack, and Ogasawara is under great pressure. Hurry and go help him!”

Indeed, it was Hamawari standing on the other side of the wall.

The instant Konoha’s distress signal rose, Hamawari realized he could delay no longer. Waiting any further would leave him without a chance, especially once Konoha’s elite arrived. So he’d rushed here, blocking Saikyo’s escape.

“Attack?”

Hamawari scoffed at Saikyo. “I just came from the tea room. There’s no enemy there, only Konoha’s law enforcement. Ogasawara doesn’t need any help. He’s only walking to his doom. I want to ask you, Hiramiya-sama: do you realize the trouble your actions will cause the Daimyo if they’re exposed?”

“Hamawari!? What’s that supposed to mean?” Saikyo’s face darkened, his eyes flashing with a vicious glare.

“You want to know what it means?” Hamawari snarled. “Did you not consider the impact on the Daimyo when you were running amok in Konoha? How much trouble will it bring him?”

“As a special envoy, you represent the Daimyo’s face here in Konoha. Every action of yours reflects his will. Yet instead of acting with propriety, you disgrace him. It’s sickening!”

After this outburst, Hamawari calmed himself, his gaze piercing as he looked at the trembling, enraged Saikyo.

“It’s pointless to talk to someone like you, selfish and disloyal. For the Daimyo’s sake… it’s best if you stay put!”

With that, a kunai slipped from Hamawari’s sleeve into his hand.

Now, Saikyo finally understood what Ogasawara had meant by “killing intent.” Hamawari was here to kill him. Just the look in his eyes said it all—nothing else mattered now, except the blade.

“Stop him!” Saikyo shouted.

Though his guards were hardly formidable, they were loyal. Even knowing they were no match for Hamawari, they charged forward, giving Saikyo the chance to turn and run—toward the tea room.

At this point, going to the Konoha ninjas was out of the question. Ogasawara was his only hope. Even if the tea room had become a death trap, any chance was better than none.

As he aged, feeling his strength wane, Hiramiya Saikyo realized how precious life was and how terrifying death could be.

He didn’t want to die!

So when Ogasawara had presented him with a path to immortality, Saikyo had accepted without a second thought. Even knowing the man’s questionable past, he had agreed to every one of his demands.

To survive, he had devotedly worshiped a dark god and hadn’t hesitated to sacrifice others to pave his way to eternal life.

And now—

Saikyo, at over sixty years old, ran with surprising speed.

His swift stride betrayed none of his usual pampered lifestyle, almost rivaling a ninja capable of racing against steam trains. Even Hamawari was taken aback by the sight.

Such a struggle is ultimately futile.

The difference in power is far too vast; words like "heaven and earth" could aptly describe it.

Hama wiped the blood off his kunai and began to pursue Heigu . Behind him, the warm corpse lay face down on the ground, completely still, as large patches of blood gradually soaked into the soil beneath them.

“Lord Heigu, stop this pointless struggle! All you're doing is adding to your suffering!”

A kunai flew like a meteor, accompanied by a soft sigh, striking Heigu directly in the back with brutal force, embedding itself deeply into his body. The sixty-something nobleman stumbled, his left foot tripping over his right, and collapsed with a thud. Enraged, he glared back at Hama.

“A twenty-something-year-old ninja ambushing a sixty-year-old noble? So much for honor!”

And also—

This hurts!

It hurts like hell! But Heigu knew he had no time for complaints or curses. Enduring the pain of his pierced heart, he struggled back up and continued running, the kunai lodged in his back swaying with every step.

“What… the hell?”

Hama was stunned by the sight of the kunai swaying up and down, left and right.

Well, would you look at that. Is this what they call immortality? A pierced heart, yet he’s still alive?

After a second’s pause, Hama flicked his hand, sending two shurikens spinning toward Heigu , embedding them precisely in his right leg’s calf and thigh. If piercing the heart wasn’t enough to kill him, then it was best to immobilize him first and figure out the rest afterward.

Heigu fell again.

This time, though, the shurikens lodged in his leg muscles hampered his movement. He reached to pull them out, but even in that short span, Hama had caught up, and there was still a little way to go before reaching the tea room.

Heigu had just managed to remove the shurikens from his calf and thigh.

Then another kunai penetrated his right wrist.

“Hama, do you know what you’re doing? Killing me is declaring war against the Heigu family— not even the daimyo could protect you,” Heigu warned. Though he knew it was a slim chance, he still tried to persuade Hama with words.

“Don’t worry, Lord Heigu; the one who killed you is Ogatahara. I have nothing to do with it. As for whether your family might hold a grudge… do you really think they’d take the time for that? Your disappointing heirs will be too busy scrambling for the family headship to stir up trouble with the daimyo’s guard.”

Hama’s response made Heigu pause, a look of terror flickering in his eyes. He raised his wounded right hand, as if to shield himself from Hama’s strike, but he was too slow, far too slow.

With his fingers clenched tightly, Hama’s hand, hardened like iron, fell like a lightning-quick blade, slicing through Heigu ’s neck with ease.

Blood,

gushed from his severed neck.

This time, Heigu truly lost all possibility of rising again. The lifeless look in his eyes confirmed his death. Yet to be certain, Hama removed Heigu ’s brain and heart and sealed them in a scroll. This would not only prevent Heigu from reviving but also keep his secrets safe from the Konoha ninjas.

“Even the brain’s been taken out? Brutal!”

Uchiha Obito appeared silently, gazing down at the corpse.

“Well… so this is immortality, huh? Interesting. A pierced heart, yet no harm done— but decapitation proves fatal. Seems the head is the weakness… or maybe his immortality isn’t quite complete yet.”

“Interested in immortality too?”

Hama stored the scroll containing Heigu ’s brain and heart.

“Only mildly curious; I’m not into worshipping evil gods,” Obito replied coolly. “Anyway, aren’t you framing this on Ogatahara? Better get rid of any loose ends.”

“No need. It’s just a pretext to deter Heigu’s family from revenge. With Heigu dead, his family will be busy fighting over the head position. Challenging the daimyo’s guard would be the last thing on their minds.”

The noble world is equally blood-soaked and ruthless!

Every change in family head or clan leader often brings another wave of bloodshed. For centuries, many families and organizations have ultimately fallen due to endless internal conflict. Whether the Heigu family can make it through this crisis is another story!

“The details of Heigu ’s death… don’t matter. As long as there’s no direct evidence linking me to the act.” Hama spoke indifferently. Killing Heigu hadn’t been a rash decision but rather a well-thought-out plan.

The Konoha ninjas had already set their sights on the consulate, and killing Arasaka Rokuro wouldn’t solve the root issue.

As long as Heigu and Ogatahara Yoemon continued their secret rituals, they’d inevitably need strong, healthy people’s blood, drawing Konoha ninjas again sooner or later. So rather than covering for Heigu …

it was more straightforward to eliminate the source, placing all blame on Ogatahara Yoemon. That way, Heigu would appear as a misled victim, saving the daimyo’s reputation and sparing the Heigu family some disgrace as well!

(End of Chapter)