Fate—Once Again, the Land of Fire

The captain swept his gaze over everyone present and said, "Today's mission is to capture the B-rank rogue ninja Youta, who has fled to the border of the Land of Fire and is preparing to join a local pirate tribe!"

"Let me make one thing clear beforehand: be prepared for negotiations with the pirates to fail. Also, you'd best not underestimate the pirate tribe there."

"They have quite a few capable ninja among them, along with a considerable armed force and equipment."

"According to information from reliable sources, their leader has an extremely troublesome summoned beast!"

"If you lose your lives through carelessness, don't expect even a shred of pity from me!"

"The weak receive no sympathy in Kumogakure! Understood?!"

Hearing this, the Kumogakure Anbu immediately roared in response, "Of course! Who would lose to some mere pirate tribe?!"

They had not taken the pirates seriously at all!

The Land of Fire again? I really do have a strange connection with it, Ye Liangnai thought.

Not long ago, he had fought ninja from Konoha in the Land of Fire and earned the title White Cold Light.

So what would happen this time? Ye Liangnai was quite looking forward to it!

"Then let's depart! Jinghong, remember, my name is Tenshin!"

At that moment, the Anbu captain spoke to Ye Liangnai.

"Understood, Captain Tenshin!"

Ye Liangnai nodded to show that he understood, then set off with the main force.

"Kid, want to compete and see who kills more people? Fighting among ourselves doesn't count for much!"

On the way to the Land of Fire, Ao Liu Yi sidled up to him again and spoke provocatively.

"Whatever you want, but the winner definitely won't be you."

Ye Liangnai shrugged indifferently.

When it came to killing, he did not think he would lose to a brute like Ao Liu Yi.

Meanwhile, in Kirigakure.

Ye, you should have arrived safely in Kumogakure by now. Please, stay safe! Mei Terumi prayed inwardly.

"Lady Mei Terumi, it is time to depart. The Six-Tails sealing is about to begin!"

Just then, two Anbu appeared beside Mei Terumi and spoke to her.

"Understood!"

Mei Terumi answered, then put on a scarlet mask.

In an instant, she seemed to transform into an asura. Her aura changed completely as she left with the two Anbu.

On an island somewhere around the Land of Water.

"M-Monster, don't... don't come any closer. If you come any closer..."

A man who looked like a pirate stared at the boy before him in terror, stumbling backward in despair.

Before he could finish, however, a white phantom shot straight through his head.

His eyes widened as he fell into a pool of blood, the light in them gradually fading.

"I hate it... when people... call me a monster!" the boy snarled with a savage expression.

His body was covered in bones, with a dot of red at the center of his brow. It was none other than Kimimaro Kaguya.

"Kimimaro, don't get worked up. It is merely the opinion of ordinary people. Why care about it?"

"All we need to do is grow stronger as quickly as possible!"

"Only then can we help Lord Ye Liangnai and become useful tools in his hands!"

A boy who looked remarkably like a girl placed a hand on Kimimaro's shoulder and tried to persuade him.

It was none other than Yuki Haku!

"You're right. Why should I care about their opinions? As long as I can become a useful tool for Lord Ye Liangnai, that is enough!"

Upon hearing this, the scarlet in Kimimaro Kaguya's eyes receded, and his killing intent settled down.

There was not a single survivor around them. Corpses lay everywhere, while the ground was frozen over, giving off a chilling scent of blood.

"Let's go. It is time to find our next target that can make us stronger!"

Kimimaro told Haku before heading toward the ferry dock by the sea.

Not long afterward, a group of Mist Ninja appeared there.

After investigating for a while, their leader said, "The Godslayer Duo? Pursue them! We absolutely cannot allow them to continue their rampage!"

"If I'm not mistaken, they should be remnants of the Kaguya Clan and Yuki Clan from Kirigakure!"

"Yes!"

The Mist Ninja immediately set off in pursuit.

By then, Ye Liangnai, who had already arrived in the Land of Fire, knew nothing of this.

The Kimimaro Kaguya and Yuki Haku he had released had already made a name for themselves around the Land of Water and had even alerted Kirigakure.

"A pirate tribe, huh? What a nice place. If no one told me, I would have thought this was some tourist resort!"

Looking at the vibrant, colorful island before him, Ye Liangnai remarked with emotion.

"No matter how beautiful the exterior, it cannot conceal the filth festering within!"

"If they hand over the rogue ninja, they may yet remain safe. But if they refuse, I would not mind wiping them out!"

Tenshin declared murderously, then sent an Anbu to convey his message.

Ye Liangnai secretly formed Hand Seals and released a sensory barrier that spread outward, lest they be ambushed.

Two minutes later, the Anbu sent to make contact returned covered in wounds.

With a grim expression, he said, "The pirate tribe refuses to hand over Youta. They said that if we dare make a move, we should just try it!"

"They said that others may fear the Five Great Ninja Villages, but they do not!"

At these words, Tenshin's gaze immediately turned cold. "In that case, let us grant their wish!"

"Go all out. Leave no one alive!"

As Tenshin's murderous order rang out, the Anbu immediately drove their ship forward at full speed.

Yet a pirate ship had already appeared on the waters ahead of them.

It was packed with vicious-looking men, each gripping a gleaming blade and wearing cruel smiles as they looked at Ye Liangnai and the others.

"Hehehe, they dare fight us with so few people? As expected of the Five Great Ninja Villages—they really do know how to look down on others!"

"I admit they are indeed strong on land, but sorry, on the sea, we are the true kings!"

"These landlubbers think they can contend with us? They are truly courting death!"

The pirates cackled arrogantly, not taking Ye Liangnai and his group seriously at all.

"Brothers, show them what we're made of! Let them learn who the true overlords of these waters are!"

At that moment, someone at captain level gave the order, and the pirates immediately sprang into action.

Then, one cannon barrel after another emerged from the towering pirate ships, all aimed at the small vessel Ye Liangnai and the others were riding.

Compared to the pirates' massive warships, Ye Liangnai's civilian boat was indeed tiny.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amid thunderous blasts and flashes of fire, Explosive Tag Bullets filled the sky as they came hurtling toward them.

Explosive Tag Bullets were made by wrapping a pile of Explosive Tags around an iron ball until it was roughly bullet-sized, then firing it out. Their power was immense!