Good Magpie's Nest

Using the name of the Fuma Clan carries a certain risk, but Yuzhen felt that this risk was entirely manageable.

After the two sides formed an alliance, Yuzhen had asked Fūma Kotarō the reason for their dire situation, but the answer he received was vague, as they themselves couldn't clearly explain what had happened.

It was as if their home had fallen for no reason.

In short, within a few months, the Fuma Clan had a conflict with another Ninja Clan, they were defeated, and suffered a certain degree of losses.

Subsequently, while in a weakened state, they were attacked by a second Ninja Clan.

Then, this process repeated itself over and over, and under this relentless pressure, the Fuma Clan was brought to the brink of ruin.

To be honest, Fūma Kotarō couldn't even clearly identify who their enemies were. The process of them becoming stray dogs was so natural and logical.

After hearing about this, Yuzhen felt that the Fuma Clan was even more unlucky than the Hagane Clan. Compared to the latter's obscurity, a Ninja Clan like the Fuma Clan, with some reputation but not strong overall strength, was destined to become a stepping stone for other Ninja Clans once they showed any weakness.

It's human nature to praise the strong and trample the weak.

With both fame and a revealed weakness, others would certainly be willing to kick them while they're down.

Overall, the Fuma Clan wasn't defeated by any formidable enemy. Rather, they were squeezed to this point by the harsh environment of the Ninja World at this time. This both made Yuzhen feel that using the Fuma Clan's name was not a big problem, and in a way, it gave him some inspiration.

Furthermore, Yuzhen was too young and easily underestimated. In terms of age, Fūma Kotarō was more suitable to handle negotiations.

Yuzhen just needed to play the role of the one pulling the strings from the sidelines.

Currently, the average lifespan of a ninja is less than thirty years. Fūma Kotarō's age was basically equivalent to being seasoned and steady.

Thus, led by Fūma Kotarō, Yuzhen and a few others followed behind him, and they quickly approached the palanquin.

"Lord Kamaya, I am Fūma Kotarō, the Clan Leader of the Fuma Clan. We heard that your side is recruiting ninjas, so we have come to apply." Fūma Kotarō said. His words were dry and stiff, as Fūma Kotarō had no similar "job application experience."

Although the Fuma Clan had survived by taking on missions in the past, they often accepted orders for Ninja Tools from other ninjas, rather than missions from civilians.

The person in the palanquin waved their hand, and a person in a black robe on the side leaned towards the window.

The person inside asked in a low voice, "The Fuma Clan?"

"They are a well-known Ninja Clan in the Ninja World. In certain aspects, this clan can even be considered quite famous. I heard some time ago that the Fuma Clan was scattered due to a conflict with another Ninja Clan, but it seems they still retain some strength." The person in the black robe seemed to be diligently explaining the information they knew.

But in reality, his words were evasive and lacked specific content.

So, in what aspect was the Fuma Clan famous? The answer was "blacksmithing." The Fuma Clan excelled at crafting various Ninja Tools, and their Ninja Tools were considered a renowned brand in the Ninja World, an exemption product for major Ninja Clans.

The person in the palanquin wasn't interested in understanding the Fuma Clan's situation in detail. Having ninjas with some reputation was enough to satisfy him.

The palanquin door finally opened, and this "flashily dressed" Kikyo Castle noble finally stepped out of the palanquin, his exquisite wooden clogs stepping onto the worthless muddy ground.

Yuzhen clearly saw the other person's face. It was the same person he had seen when delivering the letter last night.

"I've heard of you."

Date Kamaya mentally added, although he had only just heard about them. After scanning the group, he continued, "Lord Daimyo does indeed want to hire a group of ninjas, but... can you prove your strength?"

This was the practical demonstration phase. Fūma Kotarō signaled Yuzhen with his eyes. Upon receiving the signal, Yuzhen "casually" glanced at Uchiha Nanami.

If they wanted to make a spectacle, having a Uchiha ninja make a move would be the most appropriate.

Although not every Uchiha ninja was inclined to show off, every Uchiha ninja's Ninjutsu could steal the show.

Uchiha Nanami sighed inwardly, took a few steps to the side, and then formed hand seals:

Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!

A large amount of Chakra gathered in her chest and abdomen, and scorching heat erupted from her mouth. The deep orange flames curled the surrounding air, condensing into the shape of a giant dragon's head before charging directly towards a distant abandoned stone house.

Besides its massive scale and attack range, what was even more commendable about this Fire Style was its projectile speed, which far surpassed that of ordinary Fire Style techniques. It hit the stone house almost instantly.

BOOM!

With a violent explosion, under the sudden impact, the orange-red flames struck the stone walls. The building was instantly destroyed, and the residual flames of the Ninjutsu scattered like an erupting volcano.

The stone house, which could have still stood, was instantly reduced to a pile of rubble.

Judging by the impact force, what Uchiha Nanami unleashed seemed not to be mere flames, but a meteor wrapped in flames. Although the Uchiha Clan did not seem to be known for their Chakra reserves, this Ninjutsu showed the extent to which Uchiha Nanami's Chakra could condense.

So, stereotypes are not to be trusted. The Uchiha's Chakra was passable, but that was in comparison to the Senju of the Forest.

Date Kamaya was a very qualified audience. As a noble, he rarely had the opportunity to witness Ninjutsu of this power up close, so his eyes were wide and he was momentarily stunned.

Yuzhen quietly moved a few steps closer to Uchiha Nanami and asked in a low voice by her ear, "Is this Madara Uchiha's Ninjutsu?"

Uchiha Nanami glared back at Yuzhen with apparent displeasure and said irritably, "This is my Ninjutsu."

Huh?

Hmm.

Huh?

Yuzhen's thoughts went through a series of twists and turns. Did her words imply something else? But he didn't have time to think about it, and now was not the time to press further.

The person in the black robe coughed lightly, and Date Kamaya snapped back to attention. He clapped his hands and said, "Very good, very good. Your ninja's strength is impressive, but... that's not what we're looking for."

"You are ninjas, and we value the overall strength of the ninja group more. More precisely, we value the ability to complete difficult missions. Can you prove that?"

"This..." Fūma Kotarō hesitated. He thought this was the other party trying to get a free mission, and a very difficult one at that.

Recalling the Fuma Clan's unfortunate experiences, Yuzhen suddenly had a flash of inspiration and began to speak words that many found nonsensical:

"Our Fuma Clan is capable of defeating enemies several times our number, and we are willing to prove it to you..."

"West of the great northern forest, there is a medium-sized Ninja Clan called the Tsugawa Clan. This clan has over a hundred ninja, and at least five times that number in civilians. We are willing to prove our strength by annihilating this clan."

Huh? Isn't that a bit too aggressive? To prove their strength, they want to wipe out an unrelated Ninja Clan? What is this all about?

Date Kamaya found it difficult to understand; his thought process couldn't quite keep up with Yuzhen's. After a moment of stunned silence, he finally realized that the other party was desperately trying to show some sincerity.

Looking at the ordinary members of the "Fuma Clan," at least half of them had shining eyes upon hearing the young ninja's proposal. They seemed mentally unstable, and if they weren't lunatics, they were at least battle-crazed.

Little did Date Kamaya know, this was just someone suddenly remembering a personal vendetta they held. His gaze shifted to Fūma Kotarō, as he considered Fūma Kotarō to be the leader of these ninja.

Yuzhen's words gave Fūma Kotarō a headache, but at this point, he could only nod in agreement.

"Very good, very good."

After careful consideration, Date Kamaya even began to appreciate these ninja. Ninja should bite like mad dogs; otherwise, how could they prove their worth to their masters?

Although a formal employment relationship had not yet been established, since the Fuma Clan wanted to pull off such a grand feat, Kikyo Castle would have to show some gesture.

"Since you wish to prove your abilities in this manner, we have no reason not to support you. I will give you half a month. If you can achieve your goal, you can become our ninja... If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. I can persuade the Daimyo to provide you with temporary support."

A little bit of supplies was nothing to begrudge; after all, one had to buy a ticket to watch a show.

"We need some food, medicine, and winter clothing," Fūma Kotarō said immediately, afraid they would go back on their word if he spoke too late.

In reality, he also wanted some armor, as the ninja village assault proposed by Yuzhen was extremely risky. However, that would seem overly greedy, and if they angered the other party, they might get nothing at all.

Date Kamaya agreed. These were minor matters. After discussing some more details, he prepared to leave.

Before leaving, he smiled and said, "I hope to hear good news."

"We will certainly not disappoint."

Watching his departing figure, Uchiha Nanami approached Yuzhen and said, "Although I don't know what grudge you have with the so-called Tsugawa Clan, I can tell you that the so-called Daimyo is not trustworthy. The support they give will definitely be limited."

Yuzhen understood this, of course. He thought to himself, It's better if they aren't trustworthy. Otherwise, if I plan to stage a 'magpie occupying the nest' operation later, it might seem ungrateful.

Hmm, you know, he actually has quite a moral burden.

Kikyo Castle is a good place, quite suitable for use as a base.

"I understand, but for now, we can only take it one step at a time."

Uchiha Nanami clearly didn't understand the concept of "investing in stocks and becoming a shareholder, working for someone else and starting your own business," so Yuzhen didn't elaborate for the time being.

Kikyo Castle Date Clan, what a wonderful name. It sounds perfectly suited to be the legal representative of the 'Ashes Company'.

Date Kamaya wasn't trying to deceive Yuzhen and his group. The meager supplies they requested were delivered that evening.

When Yuzhen took off the burlap sack and put on the thick winter clothes, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief...

Thank goodness, he had finally ended his predicament of not having a single set of clothes suitable for all seasons.

I've finished writing the transitional chapters these past two days. Next week will mostly be combat scenes.

A new month, please give me your monthly votes.