81-85

*Chapter 81: Forming an Alliance*

The members of the Taochi family turned to face Yagura.

Shiro, however, was enjoying the break and ran back to Shuiwu Yuecheng.

Shuiwu Yuecheng looked at Shiro helplessly. "Was that necessary? You just went down and now you're back. But your Water Clone and Water Dragon Bullet Technique just now was so cool! Can you teach me?"

"You better forget about it."

It wasn’t that Shiro was unwilling to teach Shuiwu Yuecheng, but the technique required a huge amount of chakra.

Moreover, the results wouldn’t be as significant.

Shiro possessed the Sage Body, which gave his ninjutsu a hint of sage energy.

And the reason he killed so many earlier was that the enemy was numerous and clustered together.

"You’re really not cute at all. You'll never find a girlfriend!" Shuiwu Yuecheng snorted, crossed his arms, and turned his head away from Shiro on purpose.

Shiro was more than happy to take it easy.

In the battle, the Taochi family gradually began to lose. After all, it was unrealistic for a single family to challenge an entire nation.

The fact that the Taochi family had lasted this long proved just how powerful they were.

"Let's go. We can't beat Yagura."

"Leave? Is it really that easy? Kill them all! Leave no survivors!"

Yagura had long wanted to take action against the Taochi family but had been waiting for a reason.

Although this approach was direct, it still achieved the desired result.

The Taochi family was completely defeated, and Yagura came face-to-face with Shiro, glaring at him.

"Why are you here? Do you realize how much trouble you've caused us?"

"Yeah, otherwise, we could've resolved this peacefully!" Songgang also took this opportunity to vent his dissatisfaction.

"Isn't this better? What do you think, Lord Mizukage?"

Yagura's body shuddered slightly, and a wicked smile appeared on his face.

"I’ll let it go this time. But I’m giving you a task: pursue the remnants of the Taochi family!"

Shiro quickly shook his head and said, "I don't recommend pursuing them."

Shiro’s initial goal was to corner the Taochi family and force them to join Mei Terumi.

Not to completely destroy them.

Now, Shiro needed to buy Mei Terumi some time!

"Why not? Are you sympathetic to the Taochi family?" Songgang said mockingly.

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'Don’t chase a desperate enemy'? If we pursue them now, the Taochi family will fight us to the death. The losses will be significant—who will take responsibility for that? Besides, there's no telling if the Taochi family has some kind of secret weapon. If I lead the team, I can only say I can’t do it."

Yagura stroked his chin in thought, then nodded slightly.

"You're right. But we must act today! Songgang will assist you!"

Shiro nodded slightly.

If Mei Terumi couldn’t bring the Taochi family over to her side within half a day, then she wasn’t fit to be the Fifth Mizukage.

Shiro wouldn’t bother following the plot to support a fool.

"Fine. But what if Songgang doesn’t listen to me?"

Yagura slowly turned his head, his sharp eyes locking onto Songgang.

Songgang trembled inside.

He was puzzled. Why, after following Yagura for so long, was Taochi Liren, who had just appeared, so favored?

And several times, they could’ve avoided war by handing over Taochi Liren. But Yagura chose war instead.

"Damn it! Damn it! Yagura wants our Taochi family dead!" Taochi Liren slammed his hand on the table in frustration after returning to his family.

The entire table instantly shattered into pieces.

"Chief, we need to think about what to do next. Yagura won’t spare us. It's time to consider moving!" Taochi Guiren said as he slumped into a chair, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

"First, send the seeds out. Split them into four groups and send them to different countries. As long as the seeds survive, the Taochi family won’t be extinct!"

"And what about the rest of us?"

"The rest of us..." Taochi Guiren fell silent.

If the entire clan tried to move, Yagura would surely intercept them, and no one would make it out alive.

Just as Taochi Guiren was frowning, unsure of what to say, someone suddenly burst in, shouting, "Chief, someone’s outside asking for you!"

"For me? Who dares come looking for Taochi Guiren now? I’d like to see who it is!"

Taochi Guiren flicked his sleeves and strode outside.

"A woman? Mei Terumi? Why are you here?"

Mei Terumi smiled slightly, looking confidently at Taochi Guiren.

"I’m here to save your Taochi family."

Taochi Guiren's body shook. His greatest concern right now was the survival of his clan, and Mei Terumi's words made him unable to refuse.

"You’ve come to save me? And how exactly are you going to do that?"

Mei Terumi smiled again, having anticipated this response.

"How about this?"

Before Taochi Guiren could react, Mei Terumi appeared behind him, pressing a kunai to his throat.

Taochi Guiren was shocked. Although part of it was due to his carelessness, Mei Terumi’s speed was truly exceptional!

"Your strength is indeed impressive, but how useful is it against the Mizukage?"

Mei Terumi smiled again, putting the kunai back into her weapon pouch and clapping her hands.

Suddenly, numerous ninjas appeared.

Taochi Guiren’s face briefly lit up with joy, but he quickly hid it, maintaining a calm expression as he looked at Mei Terumi.

"So, what do I have to give up?"

What Taochi Guiren cared about most now was this. If Mei Terumi wanted to absorb the Taochi family, turning them into her subordinates, he would rather die in battle for even the slightest chance.

"My request is simple. When we’ve gathered enough power, we’ll overthrow Yagura’s tyranny together."

"That’s it?"

Taochi Guiren looked at Mei Terumi in disbelief. To him, this request was practically nothing!

After all, he and Yagura were already locked in a life-or-death struggle. Defeating Yagura was exactly what he wanted.

"What else? I want allies, not subordinates. So, what’s your decision?" Mei Terumi asked with a seductive smile, waiting for his response.

"Fine, I agree. As long as we survive this, my Taochi family will follow your lead!"

"Good!"

The two clapped hands, sealing their alliance.

Suddenly, a voice rang out. Everyone turned to see the treetops filled with Anbu ninjas!

"Good? Did you get our permission?"

"So, you won’t let us go? But I have an ally now, Taochi Liren. Today, you will die here!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 82: A Stumbling Block*

Shiro gave a helpless smile.

However, since they were on opposing sides now, Shiro couldn't show it too openly. Otherwise, the members of the Anbu (Black Ops) around him might immediately turn their guns on him and kill him.

"Leave none alive! Kill them all!"

In an instant, dozens of Anbu members charged at the Oni from the Peach Land.

Terumi Mei smiled slightly at Shiro and then joined the battle.

“Damn it, this is all your idea! Now Terumi Mei and the Oni from Peach Land have teamed up, and our losses are even greater!”

Shiro glanced at Songgang indifferently and said dismissively while pulling out a kunai, "If you have time to complain, why don't you start fighting instead?"

“Damn it!”

Songgang glared at Shiro.

At this moment, Shiro was charging forward, so Songgang had no reason to blame him. With gritted teeth, he followed suit.

"I'll take on Terumi Mei, and you handle the Oni."

Before Songgang could respond, Shiro had already rushed toward Terumi Mei.

Seeing Shiro coming, Terumi Mei nodded knowingly and began forming hand signs.

"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"

A thick mist spewed from Terumi Mei’s mouth, blocking Shiro’s path.

“Come on! You don’t need to be so serious! Touching this stuff could cost me several lives!”

Shiro was well aware of how dangerous the Boil Release was.

Just a slight touch would burn off a layer of skin.

While it wasn’t as deadly as Amaterasu, the damage was still considerable.

However, Shiro understood Terumi Mei’s intention.

She wanted to make the fight seem as real as possible, to deceive everyone and avoid suspicion.

"Water Release: Water Clone Technique!"

Water clones lunged into the mist one by one, dissolving into water upon contact.

The water evaporated, creating an even thicker mist.

The mist lingered for several seconds before gradually dissipating. But when it cleared, Shiro had vanished from his original position.

“Oh? This kid has gotten a lot stronger since last time. Seems like I’ll have to get more serious!” Terumi Mei smiled slightly, a look of admiration crossing her face.

But her hands didn't stop moving; she continued forming hand signs, making the surrounding mist even denser.

"Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!"

Since she couldn’t find Shiro, she decided to hide herself as well.

Moreover, this Hiding in Mist Technique wasn’t just effective for Terumi Mei; it hid everyone in the thick mist.

The Peach Land family specialized in close-quarters combat with large swords.

With the cover of the mist, they could better hide themselves and approach their enemies unnoticed!

The Anbu members, familiar with the Hiding in Mist Technique, quickly reacted by grouping into threes to stay close and watch each other’s backs.

But there was one person who was completely confused by the technique: Shiro.

“Damn, it’s that annoying mist technique again!”

As Shiro was searching for someone in the thick fog, a hand suddenly wrapped around his neck.

"Didn’t expect you to be this good, taking down the Peach Land family so quickly!"

Shiro breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t need to guess; just by hearing the voice, he knew it was Terumi Mei.

“Be careful not to get caught!”

Terumi Mei quickly released him, crossing her arms in frustration.

"I secretly set up a barrier here. No sound can escape."

As she spoke, Terumi Mei pointed around them, where a transparent membrane enclosed the two of them within a one-meter radius.

"Why are you suddenly looking for me? My identity can’t be revealed right now!"

Since they were within the barrier, Shiro dropped the act and glared at Terumi Mei.

“Why did Cheng join the Anbu? Are you trying to threaten us?”

For a moment, Terumi Mei became serious.

Shiro let out an awkward laugh. He couldn’t do anything about Shui Wuyue Cheng joining the Anbu, but he didn’t feel like explaining it either.

After all, sometimes explanations go unheard.

“Instead of asking me that, you should make sure not to accidentally hurt Cheng! Sure, her figure’s easy to spot, but who can see anything in this thick fog?”

Shiro’s words left Terumi Mei speechless, and she glared at him.

“You little brat! Is this payback for my earlier test? Fine, we’re even now. I hope we can work well together going forward.”

As she spoke, Terumi Mei clapped her hands, and the surrounding barrier popped like a bubble.

Then, she shouted to the others, “The Oni from Peach Land is over here! Everyone, come help!”

No sooner had she spoken than several figures appeared in front of Shiro.

In the mist, only their silhouettes were visible.

But judging from their shadows, each of them wielded a large sword, clearly from the Peach Land family!

Shiro smirked.

He hadn’t expected Terumi Mei to be so petty, seeking revenge so quickly.

But since they were in the mist, Shiro could secretly use other jutsu.

“Terumi Mei did a great job. They’ve all come over!”

As he spoke, Shiro began forming hand signs. A water clone emerged from the ground beside him and quickly swelled in size!

Boom!

A massive explosion blew several members of the Peach Land family into the air, leaving their fate uncertain.

Terumi Mei heard the explosion and shook her head helplessly.

“You’ve got quite the vengeful streak, kid. Once you complete your mission, I might just consider my options.” A hint of shyness flashed across her face as she spoke.

The battle had reached a stalemate, with neither side gaining an advantage.

But a stalemate in group combat was different from one-on-one combat.

In a single battle, both fighters could wait for the perfect moment to strike and deliver a fatal blow.

But in group combat, even during a stalemate, people were dying every second.

It was these types of battles that often resulted in massive casualties!

“Damn it! We can’t keep this up. Songgang, what do you think we should do?”

Songgang spat out a mouthful of blood.

Shiro had given the order to fight, and now that they were losing, he was asking for Songgang’s advice.

It was obvious he wanted to blame the mission’s failure on him.

If Songgang could see Shiro’s face behind the mask, he would surely find a wicked smile there.

No one else would care, but Songgang would certainly give the order to retreat!

Songgang was genuinely devoted to the village, wholeheartedly assisting Yagura, hoping to make the Mist Village a better place.

But what Songgang didn’t know was that the Yagura he served was no longer the same Yagura.

Yagura had long since fallen under the control of Uchiha Obito.

The objective was simple: revenge!

When the leadership is corrupt, no matter how much work is done below, it’s all in vain.

“Retreat. We can’t wipe out the Peach Land family today,” Songgang said reluctantly.

“Did you hear that, everyone? Lord Songgang says we’re retreating! Stop fighting and run!”

Songgang may have been loyal to the village, but he had chosen the wrong person to follow.

Now, he had become a stumbling block in Shiro’s mission!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 83: The Next Target – Haku*

Back at the Mizukage’s office, Yagura’s face turned dark.

Dozens of Anbu had died, yet the Momochi clan survived. He had also heard about Terumi Mei forming an alliance with them.

At this point, Yagura could barely stand the sight of Shiro. If he had a reason, he would've killed him already!

"The Momochi clan can be ignored for now. Most of them are dead anyway. But Terumi Mei openly defying me? That can’t be overlooked!"

Yagura slowly shifted his gaze to Shiro, a slight smirk forming at the corner of his mouth.

"You assassinated Momochi Kenji so quickly before. Now I have another task for you!"

As he mentioned the task, Yagura shot a glare at Matsumoto.

Startled, Matsumoto quickly fetched a scroll from the cabinet and handed it to Shiro.

Shiro was about to open the scroll, but Yagura stopped him.

"Don’t be in such a hurry to read it. Go back and review it with Haku. This mission requires both of you to complete it. If you need support, ask Matsumoto."

Shiro furrowed his brows.

At first, he thought it might be an assassination of Terumi Mei or someone else. But now, it seemed far more complicated! Since Yagura didn’t allow him to see the contents yet, he had to suppress his curiosity.

Shiro returned to the base, and as soon as Haku saw him, she rushed over, clearly worried.

But halfway there, a scroll suddenly flew toward her, smacking her right in the face.

"Shiro, what’s wrong with you? I’ve been so worried about you, and now you come back just to bully me!"

"A ninja can’t even catch such a slow-moving object? If that had been a kunai, you’d be dead!"

"But... but..." Haku stammered but couldn’t finish her sentence.

She knew no matter what she said, Shiro would find a reason to counter it.

"Enough with the 'buts.' Look at our new mission."

Haku’s face brightened. She had thought her previous mistakes would lead to a change in partners, but now they had a new mission together.

Being with someone as skilled as Shiro, no matter how difficult the task, she felt confident.

As the scroll slowly opened, Haku's joyful expression immediately turned pale. The scroll slipped from her hands, rolling across the floor.

Shiro frowned and quickly picked it up.

"So, it’s the Yuki clan! Are they really planning to target this family?"

The Yuki clan had been one of Terumi Mei’s supporters. They were involved in the previous battle with the Momochi clan, so it wasn’t surprising that Yagura would target them.

And Yuki Shu, the clan leader, was none other than Haku’s father.

"My father can’t possibly be a spy! There must be a mistake! I’m going to see the Mizukage right now!"

Haku said, turning to run toward the Mizukage’s office.

Shiro quickly moved to block her path, his brow furrowed.

Haku was in a very sensitive position now.

Refusing to carry out this mission could provoke Yagura into using her as a pawn or even silencing her.

"If you go now, it will only make things worse," Shiro said firmly.

"But... but this is my father! How can you expect me to kill him? Move aside! I need to speak with the Mizukage!"

The usually gentle Haku was now shouting in rage.

Anyone would be distressed when it came to the life of their closest family member.

"You’re staying here today."

"That’s right, little Yuki. You’re not going anywhere!" Matsumoto stepped out, looking like he had been severely punished after Shiro left.

"This is all a misunderstanding! Let me talk to my father! I’m sure it can be resolved..." Haku pleaded.

"Misunderstanding? During the battle with the Momochi clan, we saw your clan's signature Ice Release jutsu. Do you still think there’s anything left to explain?"

Haku's mind went blank, and she stumbled back several steps.

If Shiro hadn’t caught her, she might have collapsed to the ground.

"You should learn from your partner. When he found out about his clan's treachery, he didn’t hesitate. That’s what it means to be a true Anbu!"

Matsumoto left, but more figures appeared outside the base.

From this moment on, every word and action of Shiro and Haku would be reported directly to Yagura.

"Shiro-kun, you must have a way. Let me see my father. If I can talk to him, he’ll change his mind!" Haku begged, her eyes filled with hope.

Shiro looked at her with a pained smile.

Haku was a princess of the Yuki clan. Her father had hidden everything from her to keep her safe.

Shiro didn’t want to kill Yuki Shu either. After all, he was one of Terumi Mei’s followers, and killing him would be of no benefit to Shiro.

It might even weaken Terumi Mei’s position.

But Shiro had no choice.

Terumi Mei had the support of the Momochi and Yuki clans, but once Yagura was dead, the chaos would be uncontrollable.

If Shiro didn’t earn Yagura’s trust, he’d never get a chance to assassinate him.

And he definitely didn’t want to face the power of the Three-Tails.

"You still don’t get it, do you? If you leave today, you’ll die!" Shiro said harshly.

Haku went pale, collapsing to the ground in tears.

Seeing that she had stopped struggling, Shiro sat back down. He had said all he could.

If Haku still decided to act recklessly, it would be out of his hands.

Now Shiro had to figure out how to avoid killing Yuki Shu without angering Yagura.

Haku cried through the night, while Shiro spent the night deep in thought.

The next morning, Yagura walked in.

With a sinister smile, he asked, "How’s it going? Do you need any help with the mission?"

As soon as Haku heard Yagura’s voice, she perked up and ran toward him.

But before she could speak, a large hand reached out and covered her mouth.

"Mizukage-sama, we do need your assistance with this mission!" Shiro said.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 84: Taken Advantage Of*

"Do you need me to take action?"

Kyoukitsu Yagura couldn't help but furrow his brow, but after a moment, he understood.

Mizunotsuki Hajime, with his mastery of Ice Release, possessed strength nearly at the Kage level. Meanwhile, Momochi Ritsu and Mizunotsuki Oren had just graduated from the Ninja Academy. No matter how well-planned their assassination attempt was, the chances of success wouldn't be high.

"Alright, I agree to your condition."

The reason Kyoukitsu Yagura agreed was simple—he genuinely wanted Mizunotsuki Hajime dead.

Terumi Mei's influence was gradually increasing, and after absorbing the Momochi family, her power was nearly on par with Yagura's.

At this point, Yagura was desperate to reduce the top-tier strength on Terumi Mei's side.

Additionally, if Yagura took part in the operation himself, it would be easier to monitor the loyalty of both Momochi Ritsu and Mizunotsuki Oren. If anything seemed amiss, he'd kill them on the spot.

Upon hearing Yagura agree, Shiro couldn't help but smile faintly.

If he wanted the assassination to fail without arousing Yagura's suspicion, the best approach was to involve him directly.

As for how to ensure Mizunotsuki Hajime would survive, Shiro knew he'd have to take a risky gamble!

"Tonight, our target is the Mizunotsuki clan!"

"Alright! I'll find you when the time comes. Until then, don't go anywhere and rest up."

"Yes, Lord Mizukage!"

After Yagura left, Shiro finally removed his hand from covering Mizunotsuki Oren's mouth.

By now, there were two deep bite marks on his hand, and blood was still dripping from them.

"Why did you stop me? I just need to explain things to Lord Mizukage, and he'll surely understand," Mizunotsuki Oren said anxiously, turning to chase after Yagura.

Shiro blocked her path again.

Considering it was about her own kin, Shiro could understand Mizunotsuki Oren's urgency. However, going out now would only cause more trouble and achieve nothing.

Shiro grabbed Oren's face, bringing it close to his. From the side, it almost looked like they were kissing.

Though they weren't physically touching, Shiro's warm breath made the inexperienced Oren's heart race.

"Trust me!"

Shiro knew that speaking quietly this close was the only way to avoid being overheard by the Anbu outside.

But even so, he didn't dare say too much.

Oren, not being the sharpest, might reveal something just by her facial expression.

"What do you mean, you can—mmph!"

A few seconds later, Shiro gave Oren a dissatisfied look.

If he had let her keep talking, he feared he'd end up on Yagura's blacklist, unsure of how he'd even die.

Fortunately, he was quick-witted, but Oren had unintentionally taken advantage of him.

"You just stay put here, and Lord Mizukage will deliver a fair judgment!"

With that, Shiro sat down heavily on a chair.

Oren, meanwhile, covered her mouth with her hands, looking dazed like a zombie.

Her eyes inadvertently glanced at Shiro, and her face immediately flushed. She hurriedly sat down in a corner, facing away from him.

Shiro appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but his right index finger was tapping rhythmically on his left hand, silently counting in his mind.

Last night, Shiro had been busy.

Through observation, he had discovered that the Anbu guards outside changed shifts every four hours.

And during this shift change, there were a few seconds of unmonitored time.

3!

2!

1!

Suddenly, Shiro's eyes snapped open. The Anbu, who had been standing behind the tree, turned away.

Quickly forming hand seals, Shiro summoned a Water Clone.

He continued forming seals, and the kunai in his hand began to glow with a golden hue.

Hiding the kunai behind the water clone, he leaped away.

Oren, sensing movement behind her, turned around just in time to see Shiro's face, her cheeks reddening instantly.

Using the Transformation Jutsu, Shiro reverted to his original appearance and suddenly appeared before several Anbu.

From the beginning, Shiro had no intention of fully escaping their sight. All he needed was to create enough confusion.

He figured he might be the first in history to use the Transformation Jutsu to turn into himself.

As soon as Shiro appeared, the Anbu noticed him. But after confirming that Momochi Ritsu was still meditating inside, they relaxed a bit.

One of the Anbu members immediately chased after Shiro.

After all, if a ninja appeared unexpectedly near their base, no matter their intentions, they had to capture them first!

Seeing more and more Anbu pursuing him, Shiro couldn't help but grin.

Reverting to his identity as a Konoha ninja had one perk:

He could now use ninjutsu other than Water Release!

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In an instant, over a dozen shadow clones appeared around Shiro, charging toward the Anbu.

"Shadow clones? You underestimate us!" scoffed an Anbu member, speeding up with a kunai in hand.

Just as they were about to strike the clones, they began to inflate. Before the Anbu could react, cracks formed on the clones.

Boom!

Over a dozen shadow clones exploded simultaneously, engulfing the surrounding area in the blast.

Several Anbu collapsed instantly, while the survivors were left injured.

But when they looked again, Shiro had vanished.

"Hurry! Notify Lord Mizukage, we have an intruder!"

Relying on his memory, Shiro sprinted toward Terumi Mei's base.

He knew that while the Water Clone Jutsu might fool people for a while, it wouldn't deceive everyone.

Especially Matsuga, who would immediately verify Shiro's identity.

If he didn’t return in time, his cover would be blown!

And if that happened, Oren would surely die.

Arriving at a hidden base, Shiro ignored the guards and charged in.

At that moment, Chōjūrō, wrapped in bandages, was struggling to move forward.

Shiro suddenly appeared and crashed into him, sending Chōjūrō flying and crying out in pain.

"Damn it! We're under attack! Enemy invasion!"

Several ninja appeared instantly, ready to capture Shiro, but a voice called out from behind them.

"Stand down!"

"So, you remember me."

"The man who nearly killed me? How could I forget? But you didn't come just to say that, did you?"

Shiro looked around to ensure no one else was listening before his face turned serious.

"Mizunotsuki Hajime!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 85: The Assassination of Chōjūrō

“What? Someone appeared outside the Anbu base!” Matsuga suddenly stood up, a wicked smile creeping across his face.

From the start, Matsuga had been suspicious of Momochi Liren’s true identity.

Even though this kid completed his missions, the results were worse than before.

Several dozen Anbu members had even died because of him!

Now, just after ordering the assassination of Haku's brother, someone appears moving around outside the base? There must be something going on!

Not long after, Matsuga, leading Yagura Kūkitsu, entered Shiro's base. They found Shiro sitting back in a chair with his eyes closed, resting, while Haku sat in the corner, facing away from them.

“Lord Mizukage, this Momochi Liren must be a water clone.”

“Oh? Then why don’t you test it?” Yagura replied with a sinister grin.

Matsuga grinned and slowly walked up to Shiro, kicking his chair.

Shiro opened his eyes reluctantly and glanced impatiently at Matsuga.

“Lord Matsuga, what is it this time?”

Matsuga didn’t respond and instead pulled out a kunai, stabbing directly at Shiro.

Shiro quickly dodged, but Matsuga’s speed was too fast, and the kunai left a shallow cut on Shiro’s body.

Seeing this, Haku immediately rushed over and stood protectively in front of Shiro, glaring at Matsuga like an angry kitten.

“Disappear, you water clone!” Matsuga yelled.

One second...

Two seconds...

Three seconds passed, and Matsuga locked eyes with Shiro.

But the scene of Shiro turning into water didn’t happen. Instead, blood dripped from his wound.

“Matsuga! What’s the meaning of this? If you have a problem, say it directly! What do you mean by attacking us like this?” Before Shiro could say anything, Haku’s sharp retort left Matsuga speechless.

Matsuga looked blankly at Yagura, trying to explain himself, but he found there was nothing he could say.

Shiro calmly pulled Haku behind him and spoke evenly, “It’s only natural for Lord Matsuga to be suspicious, but now that I’m injured, it might affect the upcoming mission.”

Matsuga’s face twitched. It was just a minor wound, and yet Shiro was using it as an excuse to shirk responsibility.

But Matsuga didn’t dare argue further, fearing he would anger Yagura even more.

At that moment, an Anbu agent approached Yagura and whispered in his ear.

After about three seconds, Yagura’s expression returned to normal.

“The ninja arrived at Mei Terumi’s base, but no one has come out yet. Matsuga, suspicion is one thing, but was attacking him without any evidence really the right move?”

Matsuga’s heart sank. Yagura’s tone was mild, but the reprimand was unmistakable.

He lowered his head in silence.

“We need to decide now whether to continue the attack on Haku’s brother. The intel might be compromised, and if we proceed, we risk walking into an ambush,” Shiro said.

Upon hearing this, Yagura quickly waved his hand, and the surrounding Anbu agents disappeared.

Matsuga was about to speak but noticed Yagura’s piercing gaze and immediately shut his mouth, lowering his head as he walked out.

Now, only Yagura, Shiro, and the confused Haku were left in the room.

“Liren, do you think we should continue the assassination of Haku's brother?” Yagura asked.

“We should. The traitor might not have overheard our plan, and there’s still a high chance the information hasn’t reached him. The mission is still feasible.”

As Shiro spoke, he suddenly felt something pinch his waist. He turned to see Haku giving him a resentful look.

With a wry smile, Shiro ignored her and continued, “But I have another suggestion: we should turn our attention to assassinating Chōjūrō.”

Yagura’s eyes lit up.

Chōjūrō, the wielder of the Hiramekarei sword, was one of Mei Terumi’s close confidants. Killing him would hurt her even more than killing Haku's brother.

“Oh? Tell me more,” Yagura said.

“The traitor fled to Chōjūrō’s base. If they overheard our plan, they’ll likely divert all their forces to protect Haku's brother. This would leave Chōjūrō’s base poorly defended, creating the perfect opportunity to strike.”

Yagura stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Seeing Yagura hesitate, Shiro pressed on. “Chōjūrō, as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, serves under Mei Terumi. Killing him would send a message to any who waver in their loyalty.”

“Alright, we’ll go with your plan. Tonight, we’ll assassinate Chōjūrō. But to throw them off, we’ll also send some men to harass the Haku clan.”

“Yes, exactly!” Shiro said, a cold smile forming on his lips.

The last time he saved Chōjūrō, it was only because they were working together. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered.

If Chōjūrō died, Shiro would be even happier.

As night fell, the streets grew quiet.

In the woods, shadows darted toward Chōjūrō’s base at high speed.

“Liren, thank you. I don’t know how I would have faced my father if I had to assassinate him myself,” Haku whispered.

“I’ve told you many times, don’t call me by my name during missions! Just focus on completing the task. I may not be able to protect you this time.”

“I’m strong enough now! I can take care of myself!” Haku puffed out her chest, though it wasn’t very impressive.

“Alright, stop talking. The other team will attack in about three minutes. We’ll rush in ten minutes after that. If you see Chōjūrō, intercept him immediately!”

Everyone nodded, their faces serious despite the masks they wore.

As time passed, a ninja suddenly rushed into the base.

Yagura raised his hand, signaling everyone to hold back.

“Our target is Chōjūrō. Don’t engage with anyone else,” he whispered.

About a minute later, several ninja leapt out from the base. At the end of the line, a man wrapped in bandages appeared.

Yagura’s eyes gleamed as he raised his hand slowly.

“Perfect, Chōjūrō is injured. Prepare to attack on my signal!”

Three!

Two!

One!

Yagura’s hand sliced through the air, and all the Anbu members charged toward Chōjūrō.

“Damn it! Yagura’s target is me!” Chōjūrō gritted his teeth and unsheathed Hiramekarei, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

The ninja who had just run out quickly turned back to assist him.

“Hurry! Support Chōjūrō!”

The ninja rushed back, but Yagura was too fast. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of Chōjūrō.

“As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, today will be your end!” Yagura declared coldly.

(End of chapter)