The Place Where the Sun Rises

"That guy..."

The Rain Shinobi who had retreated into the distance watched Yun Chuan's bizarrely uncanny footwork and movements among the samurai, their scalps crawling as they clasped their hands in seals but had no idea when to strike.

After all, those samurai were the Lord Daimyo's personal guards. If they were killed by mistake, even Lord Hanzo wouldn't be able to shield him.

But by the time he made up his mind—even if it meant wounding those samurai—to kill Yun Chuan, the battle was already over.

"Too fast! I can't track that brat's movements or position at all!" the Rain Shinobi cursed inwardly.

He'd heard that the major nations had a course called "Battlefield Rescue Training," which supposedly taught the structure of human muscles, bones, and internal organs.

But people learned that stuff to save lives.

And that brat...

He was using it to dissect his opponents!

Even in Amegakure, a village skilled in Assassination Arts, even among Rain Shinobi who excelled at poison, they had never seen such brutal methods!

Samurai clad in Layered Armor, wearing Gas Masks, with explosive physical strength—even for them, the Rain Shinobi, were extremely troublesome foes.

But before that guy, they were like fish in a tin can, waiting to be carved up.

Yet before the Rain Shinobi could say anything, Yun Chuan turned his gaze toward him.

That single movement made him feel like he was facing a great enemy, his expression twisted and ugly as he warily watched Yun Chuan's actions.

"Why so serious?"

Yun Chuan looked at him with a faint, almost-smile and said, "Guess why your head is still on your neck?"

Hearing this, the Rain Shinobi's breath caught, and then he felt blood rush to his head.

This damn brat...

"This is the Land of Rain! This is Amegakure!"

The Rain Shinobi's face darkened as he suppressed his fear and anger: "What is your purpose..."

His tone and demeanor vividly embodied what it meant to be "fierce in appearance but weak within."

"I don't really like the way you talk."

Watching the Rain Shinobi's pained face so close, Yun Chuan smiled nonchalantly. "But for now, I'll leave your life on loan with Hanzo."

"Go back and tell Hanzo and Ishibi that those who died were just a little interest."

Hearing this, the Rain Shinobi's eyes flickered.

What does that mean?

Ishibi... no, Lord Daimyo and Lord Hanzo, have a personal grudge against this brat?

As he pondered, his gaze left Yun Chuan for a split second.

In that instant, the hem of a robe in his vision was lifted by the wind, like a black wing, and it slammed toward the Rain Shinobi!

Crack!!

The Rain Shinobi's knee smashed heavily into the ground, producing a crisp, clear sound of bone breaking, and he closed his eyes and passed out cleanly.

"That's also part of the interest."

Rainwater slid down Yun Chuan's calm cheek, dripping onto his hand, which was shaped like a blade.

Those lowered, deep blue eyes were even darker than the gloomy sky behind him.

If a shinobi's assassination relied on ninjutsu and tools, then he relied on godlike, superb skill.

The combination of [Shiki Nanaya] and [Bullseye] gave him a clear understanding of the human body's muscles, bones, and internal structures, knowing which vital points could instantly cause paralysis, shock, or death.

Many of those vital points were obscure and overlooked.

The brain, heart, throat, neck—these were common knowledge to the world, but Yun Chuan could find dozens of strange and unusual weak points on the human body...

And he had ways to reach those "weaknesses."

The actual effect of the [Adamantium Skeleton] was even better than Yun Chuan had expected. He estimated that with his current abilities, he could already match a Special Jonin of Konoha.

Assassination Art, throwing technique, physical strength, recovery ability...

Beneath this harmless-looking exterior lay a killing tool.

"But just this level isn't enough yet."

Yun Chuan sighed and thought to himself, "If I run into a shinobi who's mastered chakra shape transformation and nature transformation, or someone who knows sealing techniques or weird secret arts, I'll still end up in a very passive situation."

For example, that snake-loving guy and that toad-loving guy—their bizarre ninjutsu were each more outlandish than the last.

He had to get some more practical "templates" from those with special abilities.

As it happened, if he remembered correctly, there was just such an opportunity coming up soon.

Yun Chuan's eyes flickered, and his figure suddenly appeared behind the girl.

"My name is Tsukimiri Yun Chuan. You can call me Yun Chuan-ge."

Yun Chuan placed his hand on her messy head and said in a gentle tone, "What's your name?"

"..." Feeling the warmth coming from above her head, the girl froze for a moment, then came back to her senses and shook her head. "I don't have a name, but my little brother is called Carp."

Hearing this ugly name, Yun Chuan's eyelids couldn't help twitching.

"Looks like I'll have to name you again?"

Still, he seemed used to it by now. After thinking for a moment, he blinked and said, "Then... from now on, you'll be called Jiyun, and your little brother will be called Jiyu."

"Tsukimiri Jiyun, Tsukimiri Jiyu—how does that sound?"

"Ji" originally meant the rain stopping, specifically the snow stopping and the sky clearing.

Though she couldn't grasp the deeper meaning behind Yun Chuan's words, the girl still nodded without hesitation and gently pressed down on the boy's head.

Seeing this, the smile on Yun Chuan's face grew even warmer.

What use did that bastard Hanzo have for cannon fodder?

Rebellion starts with catching them young!

"Let's go!"

Yun Chuan patted Jiyun's head and walked out with light steps.

Behind him, Jiyun watched his back, paying no mind to the bloodstains around her mouth. She grabbed a piece of bread and shoved it into her mouth, looking as if she were devouring raw human flesh.

Regaining a little strength, under the gaze of the crowd, she fumbled through the Rain Shinobi's clothes and stripped him completely bare.

"Let's go, Carp... Jiyu."

Jiyun stuffed everything into her arms, then, imitating Yun Chuan, patted her little brother's head. "Big sister will take you to live a good life with him."

In the distance, seeing the dazed and foolish Yahiko, Yun Chuan, who had been in a good mood, suddenly felt a bit annoyed.

This brat... still too green.

Smack!

"What are you standing there gaping for?"

Yun Chuan slapped him hard on the back of the head, making him wince in pain. He pointed at the mangled corpse in the distance and sneered, "Or do you want to keep those guys company?"

He then glanced at Konan beside him and muttered to himself as if consoling himself, "Guess I'll take it as buy one, get one free!"

Konan's hearing was fairly sharp, and hearing that, she couldn't help blushing. She quickly trotted to catch up, forgetting even to call for Yahiko.

"Sss—damn it!"

Yahiko rubbed his head, frowning, then looked at the bloody scene in the distance. He couldn't help shuddering and hurriedly called out, "Wait! Don't leave me behind! Yun, Yun Chuan-ge!"

The surrounding refugees looked on with expressions of fear and envy, stepping aside to clear a path and watching them leave.

They feared Yun Chuan's methods, yet envied that Yahiko and the others could attach themselves to him.

Perhaps, in their eyes, Jiyun was lucky—because she was just a "wild dog."

A "mad dog" willing to sell her body, even her soul to the devil, just so she and her brother could survive.

But they never once considered this.

Those who willingly remain weak without striving on their own, who only pray for someone to save them like plants waiting for rain from heaven, who merely beg from the strong—they don't deserve sympathy at all.

But a wild dog, once it bites its prey, will never let go, not even unto death.

"By the way, big brother, where are we going?"

"You're only asking now? And, can you change how you address me?"

"Sure, big brother."

"..."

"Konan, that girl seems like a natural airhead."

"Yahiko! Don't suddenly get so close!"

"Eh~ I've always been like this!"

In the eyes of those refugees, the figures of the group were gradually swallowed by the curtain of rain, until they finally vanished.

Only then did Yun Chuan's barely audible voice drift back from afar.

"I'm taking you to see where the sun rises."

Tomorrow's PK recommendation is coming. If you want to stockpile chapters, make sure to support with a read-through!