Dark Moon

The Hyuga Clan jonin's words made the Jaeger family feel as though they had fallen into an icy abyss. Even Doctor Nakku, curled up in the corner, felt pity for them.

They were clearly such an ordinary family.

Yet they had been dragged into the very center of the vortex.

Nonō wore an expressionless face, but a storm raged within her. She carefully considered her escape route, gripping a kunai tightly in her right hand as she planned to rescue the child she had healed the night before.

Alone, facing four Konoha Jonin and a ninja hound, she had no way to save this family.

"Dean, I advise you not to act rashly. Otherwise, we'll deal with you like a rogue ninja!"

Asuma cast the other party a sidelong glance, removed the cigarette butt from his mouth, and casually tossed it aside. Then he pulled out another cigarette and lit it.

"Fine, I'll be honest. They're intelligence informants planted at the border by the Root Organization. If you touch them, you'd better consider how you'll answer to Lord Danzo!"

Seeing that her actions had been exposed, Nonō tried a different method to intimidate them.

The four men's expressions suddenly changed noticeably. Nonō's heart leaped with joy. As expected, this works. There isn't a Konoha Ninja who isn't afraid of Danzo's vicious reputation.

"Haha... The Root Organization? Lord Danzo? Don't make me laugh!" The Hyuga Branch Family jonin could not hold back his laughter and shook his head.

Asuma exhaled a cloud of smoke, wearing the same contemptuous, mocking smile.

Nonō furrowed her brows slightly, confused and perplexed by their expressions.

No one paid any further attention to the bewildered Nonō.

"Asuma, give me an explanation!!"

A woman's magnetic voice came from outside the door, reaching the ears of everyone inside the house.

Asuma turned to look.

Kurenai Yuhi walked into the wooden house at an unhurried pace. She surveyed everyone inside, her gaze cold as it settled on Asuma.

According to plan, she had split up from her teammates.

Alone, she had searched Kikyo Mountain for traces of the Uchiha Squad. Only then had she realized that Asuma and the others had suggested splitting up because they clearly wanted to shake her off.

By the time Kurenai Yuhi reached this mountain stronghold,

she was astonished to discover

that Asuma and the others had massacred the entire stronghold, which was made up of refugees.

"Red, listen to my explanation. They're just refugees from a small country. If they cause trouble, it will have a severe impact on the Land of Fire's borders, so..."

Asuma hurriedly put on a fawning smile.

"Release this mother and child. They're innocent!" Kurenai Yuhi said coldly.

Her red pupils held no emotion whatsoever, leaving the other party no room for negotiation.

Asuma thought for a moment, then looked toward the Hyuga Clan jonin. The latter clicked his tongue and reluctantly lowered his kunai.

"Heh..."

The Hyuga Clan jonin let out a cold laugh and said nothing. He walked over to Jaeger and pressed his kunai against Jaeger's neck.

Jaeger instead breathed a sigh of relief. His gaze turned toward his wife, his eyes gentle yet filled with complicated emotions.

Kurenai Yuhi shielded the mother and child beside her, glaring angrily at Asuma as she rebuked him:

"Asuma... You keep saying that you don't approve of the Third Hokage's methods in certain matters, but in the end, what you and your father have done is exactly the same.

"For the sake of preserving the bigger picture, he could disgracefully abandon Hizashi Hyuga of the Hyuga Clan.

"And for the sake of making these people follow you without worry, you can let them slaughter refugees and pretend to be missing-nin in exchange for achievements."

Seeing that his intentions had been completely seen through,

Asuma's expressionless face turned toward the companions watching him.

The Inuzuka Clan jonin waved his hand and laughed.

"Haha, Captain Asuma, relax. This is your family matter. We didn't hear anything. We won't say anything reckless when we get back."

Kurenai Yuhi had insulted the Third Hokage?

Nonō stared at this brave kunoichi. She was relieved that not all Konoha Ninja trampled on human lives, while also letting out a sigh of relief for Jaeger's wife.

Seeing his companion's promise, Asuma sighed. He did not care about Kurenai's accusations and continued to wear a fawning smile as he explained, "Red... It's not what you think. I'll explain everything properly when we get back."

Kurenai Yuhi ignored Asuma. What this man had done tonight had crossed her bottom line.

"Stop wasting time here. Extract the information, deal with this man, and continue the pursuit!"

Asuma's eyes seemed unfocused, and he was somewhat irritated as he spoke to everyone.

Naturally, he did not care about Kurenai Yuhi throwing a tantrum. He knew women's temperaments like the back of his hand. It was nothing more than having to coax her a little afterward. He could always appease her.

The Hyuga Branch Family jonin was just about to attack Jaeger when he suddenly stopped, having sensed a powerful hint of danger.

He had experienced this feeling only once in his life. It had been when he had almost been killed during a mission.

Immediately afterward,

within his black-and-white field of vision,

behind him,

at the doorway,

a handsome young man dressed in white, a sword hanging at his waist, entered the room with light steps.

The young man's expression was cold and stern as he stood proudly. His appearance did not disrupt the oppressive atmosphere in the wooden house. Instead, he blended perfectly into it.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on the Hyuga Clan jonin. None of them noticed that another person had appeared behind them.

The Hyuga Branch Family jonin pursed his lips, inhaled deeply, and calmed his emotions. He put away the kunai in his hand, slowly turned around, and raised his head toward the doorway.

At this instant, the atmosphere in the wooden house was like a stone tossed into a calm lake, shattering in an instant.

The baby's crying abruptly stopped.

Everyone whipped around.

They all looked toward the doorway.

"Let him go, and I'll leave your corpses intact!"

Ingetsu drew the ninjatō from his waist.

Clang—

His pupils were as clear as water. His Eight Thousand Spears Kaleidoscope rotated, and his handsome face was flawless. The candlelight generously illuminated his body, casting a painting-like shadow upon the wall.

Side Mission: Heavenly Punishment

Options:

1. Kill everyone present.

2. Kill Sarutobi Asuma, Hyuga Yu, Akimichi Tu, Inuzuka Akiyama, and Yukimaru.

Reward: Weapon—Dark Moon.

Ingetsu raised his brows slightly and sighed inwardly. This mission came far too casually.

A weapon.

Dark Moon.

Is it a blade?

Ingetsu temporarily collected his thoughts. He gripped the ninjatō, whose blade gleamed coldly beneath the candlelight.

He swept his gaze across everyone present and silently counted their number. Four people and one dog. When his gaze passed over Kurenai Yuhi, it paused slightly.

She was not on the mission list.

Is it because

she has no hostility toward me?

Ingetsu immediately felt reassured.

As for Nonō returning, that had also been within Ingetsu's expectations. He had brought his team back this time precisely to lie in wait for Nonō. He had not expected to catch such a generous gift from the Leaf Village.

Sarutobi Asuma and the others' intentions

were written all over their faces.

Good. Let this Konoha Squad stay here forever.

As Ingetsu thought this, the blade-shaped Mangekyo silently released Yin Release Chakra, injecting it into the Hyuga Clan jonin who dared to stare directly at him with his Byakugan.

He had stored away Kotoamatsukami long ago and replaced it with a complete pair of Eight Thousand Spears.

In an instant, the Hyuga Clan jonin's eyes widened. His entire body trembled as his mind and Chakra were completely controlled by Ingetsu.

The Hyuga Clan had no Eye Power capable of resisting Eight Thousand Spears.

The candlelight in the wooden house flickered violently.

Shadows swayed.

The air fell into deathly silence.

"Ingetsu!!!"

Kurenai Yuhi's pupils shook violently. Her red lips parted slightly as she stared at the young man at the doorway in disbelief. Gazing at his cold expression, she stood there in a daze.