A Chaotic Night

Masato suddenly stood up, pushed aside the maid beside him, and rushed to the second-floor railing to look down.

The hall was in complete chaos. Hiroyama's men poured in through the main entrance like a tide, their sticks and Iron Hooks gleaming coldly in the lantern light.

Several casino guards who tried to stop them were knocked to the ground one by one with a stick, while the gamblers ran around in panic, clutching their heads, with Chips and Dice scattered all over the ground.

"Stop them!" Masato shouted to the guards behind him, then turned and ran towards the hidden staircase on the other side of the second floor.

Several trusted men immediately drew their swords and rushed towards the stairwell, but a bodyguard grabbed Masato's sleeve, his voice urgent. "Sir, the back door! Hiroyama's men came in through the front door, the back door shouldn't have been... yet..."

"Nonsense!" Masato shook off his hand and retreated towards the hidden staircase. "You guys hold them off, I'll go get people from the Shipyard!"

He turned and disappeared into the shadows at the end of the dark staircase, his footsteps echoing hurriedly on the narrow wooden steps.

The guard watched his retreating figure, his lips twitching slightly. Then he drew his sword and, along with the other guards, faced the men of Hiroyama who were surging up the stairs.

Masato descended the hidden staircase to the back alley on the first floor, pushed open the small door hidden behind a pile of clutter, and ducked out.

The back alley was narrow, with towering wooden walls on both sides, and only a sliver of skylight pierced through overhead. The air was filled with the smell of swill and moldy straw.

This is the most hidden exit of the gambling den, usually only used by people who take out chamber pots. Even most of his men don't know this door exists.

He walked quickly along the wall, his boots making a soft clattering sound on the wet, slippery stone slabs.

After turning two corners, you can see the old Stone Lantern at the entrance of the alley, and a dozen or so steps further ahead is the fork in the road leading to the dock.

Once he reaches the dock, he can call in people from the Shipyard to provide support, and then there will still be room for maneuver.

Just then, a woman slowly walked out from the side.

She wore an elegant light purple kimono with a few small white flowers embroidered on the cuffs, and her long hair was loosely tied back with a silver hairpin. Her posture was as leisurely as if she were admiring the moon in her own courtyard.

"Oh dear, isn't this Master Masato? What are you doing in a place like this at this hour?"

Tamamo-no-Mae!

Masato abruptly stopped, his back teeth grinding together.

Seeing this, Tamamo-no-Mae chuckled, and a group of people quickly surrounded her. "Oh dear, are you trying to run away? Isn't it incredibly rude of me to just block your way like this?"

Without thinking, he turned to run back, but a tall, thin figure Earth Flow from the shadows in the alley behind him.

The crooked, mottled face looked particularly eerie in the lantern light, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth as it grinned.

Masato had only taken two steps when Tamaro grabbed him by the back of his collar.

That hand was incredibly strong, gripping his neck like an iron clamp, lifting him up, and slamming him heavily against the alley wall.

The back of his head slammed against the rough wooden wall, making him see stars.

He struggled to reach for the Short Sword hidden in his sleeve, but Tamaro's other hand had already gripped his wrist. With a gentle twist, Masato let out a muffled groan, and the Short Sword clattered to the ground.

At the very moment he was subdued, two short screams came from the alleyway.

Masato turned his head with difficulty and saw the guard who had escaped with him disappear around the corner of the alley without looking back. His clothes fluttered in the night wind and he was gone.

He didn't hesitate for a moment, nor did he even look back at him.

"Tsk." Tamamo-no-Mae withdrew her gaze, lifted the hem of her kimono, and gracefully walked forward, squatting down in front of Masato.

She lightly tapped her chin with her fan, her tone light and cheerful, "Master Masato, your people run faster than rabbits. Weren't you quite the big shot in Tamamoya just now? You were going to compensate me with the shop, you were going to shut me up with silk. How come you don't even have anyone to take a knife for you now?"

Masato was pinned against the wall by Tamaro, his face contorted in pain, but his eyes remained fixed on Tamamo-no-Mae, a twisted, cold smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "You think... capturing me is all it takes? Our people aren't pushovers. They'll make their move tonight, and then this street..."

"The people in the Shipyard?" Tamamo-no-Mae closed her fan and gently tapped Masato on the head, interrupting him. "You mean those Ninjas from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water?"

She stood up, looking down at him, her smile fading slightly. "What do you think has allowed the Land of Hot Water to survive this long? You're not the only formidable figure here who fled here. Are you sure your small force hidden in the Shipyard can hold out?"

Masato's pupils contracted sharply.

A final, dull thud echoed from the direction of the gambling den, followed by loud shouts from Hiroyama's men and a sparse chorus of cheers.

The main entrance and the side entrances were completely blocked; none of his men could stand.

Tamaro lifted him off the ground, tied his hands behind his back, and the thick hemp rope dug into his wrists, causing him to gasp in pain.

"Bring him over." Hiroyama's voice came from the alley entrance.

He still carried the heat of the gambling den, and there were a few dark red bloodstains splattered on his sleeves.

He glanced at Masato, then waved his hand expressionlessly. "Take him to the dock first, let him see with his own eyes how his Shipyard is taken down."

Tamaro responded and, dragging Masato along like a stray dog, followed Hiroyama toward the dock.

Tamamo-no-Mae walked at the very back. As she passed the Short Sword that Masato had just dropped, she picked it up, raised an eyebrow at the exquisite lacquer patterns on the hilt, and then tucked it into her sleeve.

Of course, Mokushō was not aware of these details.

He overheard a bit of the feud between the Hiroyama Family and that so-called rich group, and when he heard that Masato had been arrested, he just felt happy and relieved.

Justice was served; it's a great story.

Mokushō watched the group march away with great momentum, he silently lit a candle for Masato in his heart.

He started walking to find Izuna, but as soon as he turned the corner, another group of people rushed towards him.

Leading the group was a man he had never seen before, who was running wildly. Behind him was a group of merchants Fine-Clothed, each with an expression of either panic or excitement.

Judging by the direction, they're heading towards the dock.

Immediately afterwards, noises were heard from the side road closer to the forest.

A group of Shipyard workers dressed in coarse cloth jackets surged into the street, wielding oars, hammers, and scrolls, with the old mechanic leading the way.

They were marching to the Merchants' Association to petition as planned, and were currently shouting that the docks belonged to the workers.

As Mokushō watched three streams of people converge on the same street from different directions, he couldn't help but slowly scratch his head:?

Meanwhile, after Hashirama and Madara finished their squid balls, they decided to go to the docks again.

They just saw the Tsuchigumo Clan crawling out of cargo containers at the Shipyard and overheard their conversations about the blockade plan. They need to find some local dockworkers and ask them if they know that their workplace has been infiltrated by outsiders.

If they are unaware, then find a way to get them out; if they are accomplices...

Then they'll have to help Settlement this place before they leave this Hot Springs Sanctuary.

In the open space of the dock, people from the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning gathered to listen to the little girl from the Tsuchigumo Clan report in her still-frightened voice that footprints had been found in the forest.

As soon as she finished speaking, several people around her spoke up at the same time.

"An infiltrator? To get this far, they're no ordinary spy. To be able to move in and out right under the noses of patrols without alerting anyone? They're definitely a master."

"No need to guess. Those four people from Konoha just arrived in the Land of Hot Water today, including Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. Who else could it be but them?"

"We didn't provoke them, so why are they investigating us?"

"Nonsense, the Land of Whirlpools is their ally, and we've been making quite a bit of noise in the Land of Hot Water. They noticed some of us as early as when we were at the docks."

Beside him, a burly, dark-skinned, blond-haired man leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He listened to the increasingly noisy discussions around him, but his heart was surprisingly calm.

It was Yotsuki A.

Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. If it really is them, and if they really came to the Land of Hot Water, does that mean Konoha has noticed what's happening in the Land of Whirlpools? If they have noticed, will they try to stop it?

If those four people had actually made a move, perhaps his country wouldn't have had to bear the infamy of destroying a nation's destiny, and perhaps this hunt, which he loathed from the bottom of his heart, would still have had a chance to be stopped.

A sudden surge of hope welled up within him, a hope that even he himself found extravagant, but he showed no expression on his face.

He couldn't show any expression.

This is the site of a joint operation prepared by multiple countries. The Tsuchigumo Clan are mercenaries tied to the cause by interests, while the Ninjas from the Land of Water are the vanguard of this blockade plan. They have spent months setting up their operations in this bay and will not stop just because of the appearance of four outsiders.

If he shows the slightest hesitation at this moment, he will be the first to be suspected of leaking information.

However, Ai still added, "Don't provoke them. Those four aren't our targets, nor are they part of the operation plan. The orders from above are to wait until they leave before initiating the blockade. If you act on your own and cause serious consequences, you'll bear the consequences yourself."

"Not to provoke them?" The bald man from the Land of Water sneered, sheathing his Kunai back in its leather sheath at his waist, and stood up. "They've already come to our doorstep, and you're telling us not to provoke them? Even if they're the Hokage, this is the Land of Hot Water, not Konoha. No matter how strong those four are, they can't possibly kill us all, can they?"

"He's right," another Ninja from the Tsuchigumo Clan chimed in. "Those noble lords simply don't understand that to accomplish this, one must be resolute. Even if he's the God of the Shinobi World, he needs to understand that reaching out will result in being cut off."

Ai looked at them and sneered.

He had known this would be the outcome. These people weren't unaware of how strong Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, but they were already bound to the same chariot, and had no choice but to keep charging forward.

The stronger the opponent, the more they feel they have no choice but to strike first.

Therefore, they will definitely do something foolish and provoke those two world-destroying powerhouses.

Just then, a scout strode in from outside, knelt on one knee, and reported, "Report! Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju have returned and are heading towards the docks."

Exposed?!

The man from the Tsuchigumo Clan cursed under his breath, then turned to pack his belongings. "Looks like our plan has been exposed. We Tsuchigumo Clan aren't getting involved in this mess. If you want to fight, fight us yourselves!"

But before he could take two steps, the bald Ninja from the Land of Water flashed in front of him, blocking his way. At the same moment, another Ninja from the Land of Water grabbed the young lady's shoulder from behind, Kunai to her throat.

The female ninja's pupils constricted sharply, and she shouted, "Master Shin!"

The young man's hand was already on his Ninja Tools pouch at his waist. He glared at the people from the Land of Water, "What do you mean?!"

The bald Ninja remained unmoved, simply pressing the Kunai to the young lady's throat, and said coldly, "Since the Tsuchigumo Clan signed the Contract, there's no reason for them to back out halfway. From now on, this young lady will stay with us. Once the operation is over, we will naturally return her to you unharmed."

The members of the Tsuchigumo Clan glared at those people with gritted teeth. In the end, they could only grit their teeth and release their grip on their weapons one by one.

The bald Ninja released the young lady, pushed her to another Ninja from the Land of Water to be guarded, and turned to walk towards the door.

The Tsuchigumo Clan members were caught up in the middle of the group and had no choice but to grit their teeth and keep up.

Footsteps, the clanging of weapons, and suppressed whispers mingled together on the open ground of the dock, disappearing in the night leading to the pier in the blink of an eye.

They made their way to the dock, hiding in the shadows, and crouched behind the piles of cargo containers and cables on both sides of the pier under the cover of darkness, preparing to make their move when Hashirama and Ban approached.

The evening tide lapped against the rocks, the sound of the waves drowning out their suppressed breathing and the slight scraping of sword sheaths. Moonlight slanted down, spreading a layer of cold white across the wet stone path.

Hashirama walked in front, with Madara half a step behind.

They seemed completely unguarded, their steps relaxed, as if they were taking a stroll after a meal.

But just as they passed the first row of cargo boxes, Hashirama paused very slightly.

At the same time, Madara's Sharingan silently activated in the night, the Mitsudomoe slowly rotating, taking in the outlines of all the hiding people in all directions.

"Madara." Hashirama uttered only this one word, his voice lacking tension, sounding more like a sigh.

Ban didn't respond, but simply tilted his head.

In the next instant, several dark figures suddenly sprang up from behind the cargo containers, under the pier, and among the piles of cables. Kunai and blades flashed like silver threads, cutting through the night and slicing towards them from all sides.

Instead of retreating, Hashirama and Madara simultaneously stepped forward.

The two men's actions were completely opposite.

Hashirama's movements were wide and sweeping; with a flick of his arm, he sent two oncoming Ninjas flying, swords and all, crashing into a pile of fishing nets by the roadside.

He also grabbed an ordinary worker who had been caught in the crossfire and threw him onto the sand outside the battle zone.

Madara, like a shadow gliding along the ground, weaved between the attacks, grabbing one person's wrist and twisting it, then slamming his knee into the opponent's abdomen. The person groaned and curled up, Kunai snatching the kunai from their hand and pinning it to the foot of another attacker.

In less than five breaths, the first wave of seven or eight people who rushed up were all rendered unable to fight.

Some lay motionless on the pier, some clutched their dislocated arms and leaned against the cargo containers, panting, and some hung half their bodies from the cable anchors, their postures quite pathetic.

Ai rushed in as well.

Lightning Release Chakra exploded around him, blue lightning ripped through the night, and he struck Madara's flank like a bolt of lightning.

This punch was faster than any of the Ninjas present, even Madara raised an eyebrow slightly.

But just as the fist was about to touch the hem of his clothes, Ban turned to the side, grabbed Ai's wrist with one hand, and used his own momentum to pull him to the side. Ai flew out uncontrollably, like a blue meteor being flung away, and crashed into the cabin of an unmanned fishing boat on the shore.

Wood chips flew everywhere, the boat rocked twice, and then returned to calm.

Ai lay on his back in the cabin, watching the wood chips, illuminated by the moonlight, slowly drift down from above.

I thought to myself, no wonder he can fight that monster, Yi Shi, to Isshiki standstill, he's really awesome.

He lay there, too lazy to get up, waiting for the farce to end.

The remaining Ninjas did not immediately step forward, but slowly closed in from all sides, surrounding the two in the center of the dock.

They held weapons in their hands, their eyes both wary and fierce, like a pack of wolves cornered.

Hashirama stood in the center of the encirclement, back to back with Madara.

He looked around at the Ninjas who dared not advance nor retreat, and then at the workers who were wandering around outside, confused about the situation, and couldn't help but sigh.

He turned to Madara and said, "Killing them now would be tantamount to declaring war on the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water, but if we don't deal with them, these people will cause trouble for the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Whirlpools in the future."

"Let's beat them all down first, and we'll deal with the rest later."

"Okay, let's do it that way."

"Then hurry up." Ban raised his hand. "I haven't had dinner yet."

But just as they were about to take action, the ordinary workers who had gathered around realized what was happening.

The workers surrounded them, brandishing sticks and torches, their shouts growing louder and louder.

The lead veteran technician stood at the front, his face flushed red, and shouted with all his might, "You ill-intentioned bastards! Get out of our Land of Whirlpools!"

"Get out! You Ninjas! You're not welcome here!"

"You two sirs over there!"

Hashirama looked at the leading old technician, "Ah, yes!"

"Please help us get rid of these unwelcome cancers!" he shouted. "We'll pay!"

Hashirama and Madara exchanged a glance.

Well, now I have a reason to make a move.

Just as they were about to make their second move, a commotion arose from the direction of the town entrance.

Then, a large group of people surged over.

It was a huge group of people, I'd estimate there were a couple thousand of them, and they just rushed to the dock like that.

Hashirama and Madara looked at these people.

He slowly typed out a:?