When an Honest Man Lies, It's Truly Terrifying~!

"Such a shame. No Sage Technique Inheritance."

Yamanaka Kei smacked his lips, still dissatisfied, then casually released the Mind Transfer Clone Technique on Hozuki Fuyuki.

According to Hozuki Fuyuki's memories.

Although the Clam Clan was not as numerous as Mount Myōboku or Ryūchi Cave.

It still surpassed most Summoning Beast clans in size.

Some clams possessed abilities no less impressive than the dazzling array of Toads on Mount Myōboku.

Clams that could release special Mirage Gas to create mirages and enhance Genjutsu; clams with absurdly powerful defenses that could serve as shields; clams that could produce superacidic substances capable of dissolving most objects; clams that could use Water Release...

Other than being unable to speak, requiring more complex communication through mirages created by Mirage Gas.

Their only real flaw was the lack of a Sage Technique Inheritance.

"Y-you... just wait... wait for our clan's... pursuit... We won't stop until you're dead!"

Hozuki Fuyuki curled up painfully in the corner.

The pain on the level of his soul made his body twitch and tremble uncontrollably.

His voice was hoarse and grating, as though it had been squeezed out through clenched teeth.

"The Hozuki Clan? Heh, Mist Village hasn't exactly been peaceful lately."

Yamanaka Kei waved a hand dismissively.

Mist Village's internal situation was a complete mess right now.

With the big boss Madara Uchiha manipulating things behind the scenes, the effects of the Bloody Mist Policy were still expanding.

The Militant Faction had collectively gone mad, while everyone in the Conservative Faction was in danger.

The Hozuki Clan, which held considerable influence in Mist Village yet had never openly declared its stance, was caught in the village's vortex and had no time to concern itself with anything else.

Once the Third Shinobi World War began.

Even if the Hozuki Clan learned that he had inherited Gengetsu Hozuki's legacy, they would be forced by the village to deal with the war first.

And once the Third Shinobi World War ended, Mist Village would directly begin implementing a series of measures against Kekkei Genkai Clans amid shifts in power and an even more extreme Bloody Mist Policy.

The Hozuki Clan would be wiped out even earlier than the Uchiha Clan!

Chase him down?

Who was going to chase him down?

Suigetsu Hozuki, the Hozuki Clan's Only Seedling, who would be captured by Orochimaru, used as a Test Subject, then raised as an Ornamental Fish?

Don't make things hard for the kid, okay?

"Y-you'll... regret this..."

Splash~

As his words fell, Hozuki Fuyuki's entire body seemed to fall apart, turning into a puddle of water that scattered and broke apart.

A large amount of Chakra began dispersing into the surroundings.

Within mere seconds, all signs of life had completely vanished.

He had clearly used the Water Transformation Technique to fully dissolve his own life force and commit suicide.

"I'm not fucking Sarutobi Hiruzen. Regret my ass."

Yamanaka Kei folded his arms across his chest and never once tried to stop Hozuki Fuyuki from taking his own life.

Because Hozuki Fuyuki's fate had been decided from the very beginning!

In the shinobi world, no ninja clan wanted its members captured alive by enemies.

That would not only mean village intelligence being leaked—the clan's foundations, secret techniques, and bloodline abilities could also very likely be exposed.

The situation in the shinobi world was already tense.

After wiping out Summoning Island, they could still claim this was Land of Sea territory, and that Konoha had merely destroyed an inhumane evil laboratory built by some unknown force.

Mist Village was already in the wrong over this matter. Even if they were furious, they could only swallow their teeth along with their blood.

But if they captured a Hozuki Clan Jonin alive.

It would be one thing if Mist Village's higher-ups never found out, but once they did, the Militant Faction would immediately drag the Hozuki Clan into making trouble for Konoha.

Other than Shimura Danzo, probably no one wanted to see that sort of chain reaction.

Snake—Ram—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

Yamanaka Kei formed hand seals with both hands and used his half-baked Fire Release Ninjutsu to completely evaporate the water stains on the floor.

Only after ensuring Hozuki Fuyuki had truly left no corpse behind did he turn and leave the laboratory.

Inside the enormous research facility.

The dozen or so researchers who had previously been detained were now nervously dismantling and packing up all sorts of equipment.

Three Shadow Clones of Namikaze Minato were present. Two guarded the research facility's front and rear exits.

The remaining one supervised the work in the corridor.

"Taken care of?"

Seeing Yamanaka Kei emerge, this Shadow Clone of Namikaze Minato took the initiative to ask.

"He killed himself before I could ask anything."

Yamanaka Kei emphasized the words "killed himself."

"Understood."

Namikaze Minato's Shadow Clone wore an expression of understanding.

After being a ninja for so many years, there were some things he could think of as well.

It was just that in daily life, especially when facing Konoha comrades, he did not like to assume the worst of them.

"Have all the Summoning Beasts been transferred back? Where's your original body?"

"Yeah, uh... well..."

"Why are you stammering? Did you go somewhere to make out?"

"Huh? No! Kei, stop teasing me. I just went home with her to sort through documents, really."

Ding~ You have significantly altered an important character's fate trajectory. The World Line's development has shifted. Obtained: Entry Copy opportunity ×1, Entry Stripping opportunity ×1, Blue Entry Shengji opportunity ×1, Entry Downgrade opportunity ×1, Entry Granting opportunity ×1.

The System notification abruptly sounded in Yamanaka Kei's mind.

The reappearing Entry Copy opportunity, along with rare System abilities that had never appeared before, all proved one thing.

Namikaze Minato truly was the undisputed Child of Destiny of this era!

These rewards were absurdly luxurious, weren't they?

But as he looked at Namikaze Minato, who was swearing with utter sincerity.

Yamanaka Kei suddenly felt that when honest people lied, it was fucking terrifying!

Damn it!

That utterly sincere expression.

He had almost believed that this guy had really just gone to accompany Uzumaki Honoka in sorting documents!

Sorting documents, sorting documents?!

If he could talk about the System, he truly wanted to shove the System notification in Namikaze Minato's face and ask him properly: whose fate trajectory could change so drastically just from sorting documents?

If nothing had happened between them.

He, Yamanaka Kei, would write his name backward!

"Minato, don't be so absolute. Otherwise, your original body won't be able to save face."

For the sake of the System rewards, Yamanaka Kei patted the Shadow Clone's shoulder earnestly.

"Sigh... Kei, what will it take for you to believe me?"

Namikaze Minato's Shadow Clone looked full of resentment and helplessness.

Did he not understand himself?

"If your original body can appear beside me within three seconds, I'll believe you."

"Fine!"

Poof~

Namikaze Minato's Shadow Clone left behind a Flying Thunder God Mark on the wall, then dispersed into a puff of Chakra smoke.

Once a Shadow Clone was released, its memories returned to the original body.

If nothing had really happened.

Given Namikaze Minato's personality, he would appear beside Yamanaka Kei in one second, let alone three.

Unfortunately!

Nearly a minute had passed, yet no one appeared.

"Why am I feeling jealous?"

Yamanaka Kei stared at the Flying Thunder God Mark, which remained unresponsive, his expression changing several times.

"Fuck! Why wait until tomorrow? I'm setting off for Konoha tonight!"