Yū * Chinoike Clan

Just as Madara Suggestion, Takahara Yū arrived at the Rear Grove of Benzaiten Shrine at night.

When she came to her senses and found herself standing in the pitch-black night, she was startled and immediately looked around.

The moonlight was blocked by the tree canopy, with only a few streaks of silver light leaking through the branches and leaves and falling to the ground.

"This is..." she murmured.

"Takahara Yū, right?" Ban stepped out from behind her, his voice so calm it was devoid of emotion. "Tell me, why did you come to find me?"

Yu subconsciously took a step back, but then quickly regained her composure.

She forced a slight smile, revealing a perfectly timed expression. "I'm just an ordinary woman who happened to bump into you at the book market. How did it all turn out like this...?"

"I don't care what your purpose is," Ban interrupted her. "To me, you're just a suspicious person. Rather than leaving you here and creating a potential problem, I'd rather eliminate the threat completely."

Yu's smile froze. She looked at Ban, her lips slightly pursed, her face pale and tense.

Even at times like this, she was still beautiful, Ban thought, but he didn't quite like what she was doing.

"Speak," Madara said calmly.

Yu didn't move. She stared at Ban for a moment, then suddenly gave a wicked smile. The next instant, she was swept backward like a piece of paper being tossed about by the wind, her toes barely touching the fallen leaves before she was several feet away.

Ban sighed and chased after him, "I'm only asking you to tell me your background, and you're really that unwilling?"

"Men who cling too tightly will be disliked, you know." Yu's voice drifted from ahead, sounding even a little amused. She turned around in mid-air, and with a wave of her hand, several Kunai shot out, aiming straight for Madara's throat and heart.

Ban didn't even bother to dodge. A blue skeleton materialized in front of him, deflecting all the Kunai. After a few clanging sounds, he manipulated the skeleton's hand to grab at Yu.

With a twist of his body, Yu used the side of his skeletal arm to push off, actually taking a few steps closer to Ban.

She slithered along the edge of Susanoo like a boneless snake.

Madara lowered his gaze and saw several Kunai slipping off Susanoo.

This woman is a master.

Just as Madara was about to get serious and take down Yu, a bolt of Lightning Release shot out from the side.

He turned his head, and the Lightning Release grazed his hair and struck the ground, scorching a patch of grass black.

A red-haired man emerged from the forest, carrying two long swords crackling with Lightning Release; it was Ringo Hayato.

He still had that nonchalant smile on his face, the tip of the knife dragging on the ground, sparks flying everywhere.

"I got tricked," Madara said, though there was no anger in his voice.

Yu had already retreated behind Ringo, and upon hearing this, she covered her mouth and smiled, "How can you say that? I just want to live. If your Genjutsu weren't so troublesome, I wouldn't have asked this person to come and keep me company."

Ringo glanced at her sideways and said with displeasure, "Hey, you said I was a handsome guy before."

Yu scrutinized him for a moment, then glanced at Madara opposite her, and sighed softly, "Compared to Lord Madara, you can only be considered handsome."

"Hey!" Ringo called out.

Ban had no interest in listening to their flirting.

He moved swiftly, closing in on the two of them.

Not wanting to cause too much damage, he refrained from using large-scale Ninjutsu, relying solely on Taijutsu to fight the two.

Ringo's blade was incredibly fast, Lightning Release flashing and tearing through the night with arcs of light. Yu was equally impressive, her movements light and her attacks cunning.

What's more troublesome is that these two don't fight him head-on at all; they just want to find a chance to escape, and they deliberately avoid his sight. Madara wants to keep them here, but he has to admit that it's indeed a bit tricky without going all out.

But if we go all out, this forest will definitely suffer...

Madara stood there, hesitated for only two seconds, and then said indifferently, "Whatever."

Anyway, we can just let Hashirama plant the trees when the time comes.

When he looked up again, blue Chakra surged around him.

Skeleton, muscles, and armor materialized layer by layer in the night, and in a moment, a colossal Susanoo stood amidst the mountains and forests. Tree canopies were pushed outwards, flocks of birds scattered in fright, and the entire Rear Mountain seemed to have been split open from the middle by something, even the wind changed direction.

Meanwhile, Benzaiten was inside the Shrine, watching a young girl who was Miko practice the ritual dance.

The little girl was dancing with great concentration when suddenly a huge roar came from behind the Shrine, making the wind chimes under the corridor ring. Benzaiten- wielding and quickly got up and went outside.

As soon as she stepped out the back door, she saw that the backyard of her family's Shrine had been ravaged. Several old trees were leaning to one side, and a deep ditch stretched from the woods all the way to the wall.

Under the moonlight, the tall, blue Giant stood silently, seemingly holding two people in his hands.

Ringo Hayato craned his neck, staring at the enormous object that almost obscured the moon, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

He turned to Takahara Yū and yelled, "Didn't you say Madara wouldn't go all out?! Seriously, this 'all-out' is way too much! How the hell are we supposed to fight like this?!"

Yu, held in Susanoo's giant hand, her hair disheveled and a blade of grass still clinging to her cheek, laughed so hard she almost fell over, "Yeah, what am I going to do? This guy's got a really bad temper, I guess I should just kick him out of my fiancée selection."

Ringo looked utterly bewildered. "Is this the time to say something like that?!"

After subduing the two, Madara released Susanoo.

The blue light receded like the tide, leaving only broken branches and leaves scattered on the ground and a deep ditch that stretched from the woods all the way to the back wall.

Ban stood in the middle of the mess, found a rope, and tied up Takahara Yū and Ringo Hayato.

Ringo Hayato and Takahara Yū sat back-to-back on the ground. Ringo's sword had long been confiscated, and her red hair hung down in a mess, covering half of her face. Takahara Yū, on the other hand, was still able to smile, looking completely unconcerned.

Benzaiten trotted in through the back door carrying a lantern, his Geta clogs rustling on the fallen leaves.

She first looked at the furrow that looked like it had been plowed out, then at the few old trees that had fallen askew, and finally her gaze settled on Ban.

Ban nodded slightly to her. "I'm so sorry for disturbing your peace so late at night. I'll come to apologize for the damage to these trees and your courtyard wall another day."

Benzaiten took a deep breath and replied calmly, "Compensation is of course required. Also, please keep your distance next time you fight; you've almost scared my little Miko to tears."

"There won't be a next time," Madara said.

Benzaiten snorted, took two steps forward holding the lantern, and said, "Who are these two...?"

"I'll handle it." Madara didn't explain further, only extending his hand to her. "I'll use the backyard for a moment; I'll leave before dawn."

Benzaiten frowned as he handed over the lamp.

"Please leave as soon as possible after you have dealt with these people."

Ban took the lamp, thanked her, and watched her walk back to the back door, lifting the hem of her coat.

He turned around and looked at the two people on the ground.

Ringo turned her head away and pretended to be dead.

You looked up at him and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

The man with the spotted face squatted down towards them and placed the lamp at his feet.

"Can we talk now?"

Takahara Yū sighed and said bluntly, "I was hired by a very powerful family in the Land of Lightning to come to the Land of Hot Water for the Summer Festival. My task is to take advantage of the festivities and send them away."

Ban didn't reply, only looking at You.

Yu continued, "Ringo Hayato, he's similar to me, from the Land of Water, sent here by their nobles. He's also here for assassination."

Ringo Hayato gave a low "tsk".

Madara asked, "Whom are you trying to assassinate?"

You tilted her head slightly, a half-smile playing on her lips, "Quite a few people. You might be shocked when I tell you, your name is on the list."

Ban raised an eyebrow, as if he had heard something extremely interesting. "Seriously?"

"Would I lie to you about something like this?" Yu Chaoban raised his chin, revealing that faint smile again. "You're the grand finale. We're not stupid either; we don't plan to fight you head-on. If we can get close, we will; if not, we'll find another way."

Ban sneered, "That's why you used such clumsy methods to get close to me."

"How can you say it was clumsy?" Yu's eyes widened, looking hurt. "I've never put in this much effort before. That day I genuinely wanted to get to know you, and of course, I also wanted to try and seduce you."

Ringo Hayato suddenly turned around and glared at her. "You fucking tried to seduce him?"

Yu shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not give it a try? It won't hurt. If it works, we won't have to use knives. If it doesn't, it's just a good opportunity to scout the location and get closer to the mission target. It's a win-win situation."

Ringo Hayato muttered under his breath, "What a wanton woman!"

Ban ignored Ringo and stared at Yu: "Hand over the list, and I'll consider giving you a quick death."

"That won't do." You shook her head, her expression turning serious. "I'm doing this kind of business because, to put it bluntly, I'm risking my life for money. If I lose my life, it'll be a huge loss. My condition is simple: keep me alive, and I'll tell you everything I know."

Ban raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You mean, you want to betray us?"

Yu chuckled. "Who would actually listen to those nobles? We've already stopped fighting, and they still want to use us to reignite the conflict? Bah! Do they really think we Ninjas are killing machines? What are they anyway?"

After she finished speaking, she gestured towards Ringo with her lip. "You can just get rid of this guy. He's just a brute, and his skills in bed are terrible. There's no point in keeping him around."

"Hey!" Ringo Hayato shouted, his face flushed red. "What do you mean! I wasn't serious!"

"See?" You sighed, her tone full of disdain. "What's the point of him worrying about this at a time like this?"

Ban's temples throbbed from the noise of the two of them. He raised his hand and pressed his forehead.

"Alright," he said. "If you keep making noise, I'll hang you both up a tree."

Takahashi Yū spoke calmly and slowly, as if he were talking about a business deal that had nothing to do with him.

She first described how the nobles of the Land of Lightning had infiltrated the Land of Hot Water a month before the Summer Festival, and then mentioned how the Land of Water used merchant ships to plant spies in the port.

Then she began reading the assassination list, one name after another, some of which Madara had heard of, and some he hadn't.

After each person was mentioned, she would add details about their identity, which street they lived on, how many people they had with them, and when they arrived in the Land of Hot Water. She spoke slowly and deliberately, as if reciting a sutra.

Ban listened while keeping an eye on the two people in front of him.

Takahashi Yū approached him with a purpose from the very beginning, but not to assassinate him.

She came to pledge her loyalty.

Whether it's seduction or flirting, it's all just a way to find a legitimate opportunity to reveal information.

If someone sent to kill him were to meet him privately, whatever they said would sound like a pretext for being captured.

But she deliberately chose a bustling place like the book market, and deliberately bumped into it in such a flippant and intentional way, all to make this "chance encounter" seem unintentional.

If Madara didn't believe her on the spot and disposed of her as an assassin, she would accept it. But as long as Madara was willing to listen, she could pour out all the information she had.

And the Ringo Hayato, doesn't seem as stupid as he appears.

When Takahashi Yū mentioned the list of nobles from the Land of Lightning, he didn't even lift an eyelid, clearly already knowing it.

When Takahashi Yū teased him about his "poor skills in bed," he fiercely retorted. He acted like a brute being led by the nose by a woman, but what he was really saying was: I'm no longer a threat. You can ask your questions; I won't interrupt.

Both of them are incredibly cunning.

Madara almost laughed. These Ninjas are just like this wherever they go. Even as assassins, tied to the ground, they still try to pave a way for themselves to survive through their words.

While he was distracted, Takahashi Yū had already mentioned the plans of the nobles of the Land of Lightning.

Ban initially listened calmly. But as he listened, his expression gradually became strange, and his brows slowly furrowed.

Upon hearing this, Ban's brow twitched slightly. He looked up at her, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Wait a minute. You mean, you were hired by Rūqí to come and serve me?"

"Yes, that's right." Yu nodded slightly, then added, "But you could say I volunteered."

Her voice was calm and unhurried, as if she had finally let go of her pretentious posture and was beginning to tell the story from the beginning.

It turns out that the daimyo's wife in the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning had long disliked Rūqí. That woman from the Shinobi Clan, who secured a place beside the Daimyo solely based on her looks, had even given birth to a Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.

In the past, before the Shinobi Clan had truly risen to prominence, a woman of such humble origins, no matter how favored she was, would only cause the principal wife some discomfort.

But the establishment of Konoha and the creation of the Special Administrative Region shattered everything.

Women of the Shinobi Clan are not allowed to bear children for Daimyo. Otherwise, the child will be qualified to use their bloodline to seize power, or even usurp the throne, allowing lowly Ninjas to climb into the halls of nobility by virtue of their mother's clan identity.

This is the only thing that absolutely cannot be done.

The problem is that the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning himself is completely unaware of this.

He looked down on the Shinobi Clan, yet felt that Rūqí was harmless.

Unfortunately, the wife was extremely jealous, so the nobles of the Land of Lightning took advantage of the situation and used her to poison the Daimyo with the poison provided by Yu.

After the Daimyo died and before the Chinoike Clan could react, they quickly used noble rules to subdue the entire Wūwū Clan, making them believe that the daimyo had died Daimyo because of this marriage, and that they had brought misfortune upon the Daimyo.

Of course, the medicine Yu gave him at the end only made the Daimyo fake his death.

But what's done is done. The Wūwū Clan has been suppressed by the nobles for too long and has no other choice.

They could only believe that they had to atone for their sins in order to secure a glimmer of hope for the survival of their entire clan.

And that so-called glimmer of hope is sending someone to assassinate you, Madara Uchiha.

Upon hearing this, Ban suddenly scoffed, "They really think they can kill me?"

Yu sighed softly, "The Wūwū Clan, after all, possesses the Ketsuryūgan, which is on par with the Sharingan. Wūwū Liánběi, who has been dispatched this time, is a man who possesses the True Codex Ketsuryūgan. I've never seen him fight at full strength, but I think he's probably going to fail this time."

Madara looked at her and slowly hummed in agreement. It seemed that those people from the Land of Lightning wanted to use the Uchiha clan to wipe out the Chinoike Clan.

"Although I have no connection with that Miss Rūqí, as Ninja I cannot stand by and watch this happen. So I told Rūqí that I was willing to take this risk for her and help the Chinoike Clan."