The Land of Rain ranked among the top small nations in terms of national strength.
Though it could not compare to the Five Great Nations, it was still outstanding among the lesser countries.
Amegakure also had Kekkei Genkai ninja.
For example, Ryu, the subordinate assigned to Asuka this time, possessed the "Swift Release" Kekkei Genkai.
Kekkei Genkai ninja usually displayed all sorts of special abilities, even unique physiques.
"Immense strength, extreme speed, and self-healing abilities..."
Hanzo pondered for a moment, then began shaking his head.
Steel Release?
No, Steel Release enhanced defense power.
But according to his granddaughter, Amakawa Mingren's defense power was not particularly extraordinary.
Swift Release?
No, Swift Release only increased speed and did not directly alter physical strength much.
While speed could equal power and make one seem immensely strong, it was ultimately impossible to punch straight through someone's chest with a bare fist.
"Grandfather..."
Asuka's voice pulled Hanzo back from his thoughts.
"The important thing now is that Physician Shennong and Amakawa Mingren took away two corpses..."
Aside from that Senju Clan fellow.
The Hyuga and Transparent Release ninja's bodies had both been taken away.
What they intended to do with corpses in such circumstances and surroundings was already obvious.
1. Conduct human experimentation and research.
2. Sell them for money.
Judging from the medical ethics Physician Shennong displayed in his interactions with the Akatsuki Organization.
The first possibility was unlikely.
Which meant...
They intended to exchange the two Kekkei Genkai corpses for money...
What kind of uproar would that cause?
What reaction would Konoha have?
It was clear with just a little thought.
Hearing this, Hanzo's expression changed slightly as well.
He shook his head faintly and gave a bitter smile. "The Hyuga Clan only recently lost a Byakugan. Konoha takes this matter very seriously, and now..."
Someone had openly taken two Kekkei Genkai corpses and planned to sell them for money?
Kirigakure had obtained a Main Family Byakugan, and every other ninja village was green with envy.
If those two released the news at this time...
Even if a Branch Family Byakugan would be sealed after death, there would always be people unwilling to give up and wanting to try.
Hopefully... they would not make things too big.
"There is an Underground Exchange within the Land of Rain."
After pondering, Hanzo spoke to his granddaughter.
"If I'm not mistaken, they will sell the corpses nearby."
"..."
Asuka nodded slightly.
"Grandfather, I'll go take a look."
"Very well."
It was a good opportunity to let his granddaughter witness the crueler reality of this world—the way this world truly was.
Several hours later...
Konoha's camp.
Danzo emerged from a tent, his expression dark and terrifying.
Minato Namikaze came out afterward.
After his disciple Kakashi returned, he sank into even deeper negative thoughts.
Because he had been delayed handling ANBU procedures.
All three of his companions had died as a result.
Kakashi blamed himself deeply for it.
And Minato Namikaze had not known things would turn out to be such a coincidence.
Merely because of his suggestion, the incident had reached an irreversible conclusion.
If Kakashi had not joined ANBU and dealt with those complicated procedures, things might have developed differently...
The Intelligence Division and Interrogation Division ninja nearby also delivered the autopsy reports for Shinya Senju and several subordinates who had previously been active in the area.
Shinya Senju's right arm had been torn off alive.
His skull had been crushed beneath a single kick.
The other corpses were equally horrific.
Judging from the methods and the wounds left behind.
It was the same culprit as before.
The culprit had been identified as a guard dispatched by Hanzo of the Salamander, perhaps an ANBU operative.
Their duty was to secretly protect his granddaughter and eliminate every enemy who approached her.
Three operations, three instances of the same brutal methods.
It seemed to be a warning to Konoha.
More importantly...
The culprit had left behind five corpses in total, including Shinya Senju's.
Yet the bodies of Hokuto Hyuga and the Gekko Clan member were gone.
Anyone could guess what Kekkei Genkai ninja corpses would be used for.
As Amegakure's battlefield commander.
Danzo possessed nearly all authority.
After some thought, he remembered that Hanzo would give an answer in three days.
But just in case, he still decided to send people to wait at the Underground Exchange within the Land of Rain.
If the bodies of Hokuto Hyuga and the Gekko Clan member appeared there, they could recover them and give their families and companions an answer.
"Shido Akimichi. Kaede Yamanaka."
Danzo summoned two subordinates accompanying the army.
One was a ninja of the Akimichi Clan, skilled in the Expansion Jutsu and brute strength that enhanced the body through Yang Release Ninjutsu.
The other was from the Yamanaka Clan, clear-minded and quick-thinking, highly skilled in perception and Mental Secret Techniques.
The two accepted the mission with nods and immediately departed.
Danzo watched them vanish into the curtain of rain.
Then he turned to the others. "Transport Shinya Senju and the others' bodies back to the village."
Everyone replied, "Yes."
Releasing the News, Openly Auctioning Corpses
A small town in the Land of Rain.
Shennong and Mingren walked side by side along the utterly ruined streets.
War had destroyed many things.
This town had also been burned down by war. Despite its vast area, there was not a single living person left.
Dry corpses lay scattered everywhere.
Mingren swept his gaze over the surroundings, taking in the miserable scene.
"You've seen this many times already, haven't you?"
Shennong did not understand what there was to look at.
Over five years, master and disciple had traveled across the mountains and lands of the Land of Rain.
They had witnessed countless human tragedies along the way.
In theory, no matter how deeply someone was moved, they would eventually become numb to it.
"I will remember these scenes. They will always remind me not to forget to drive out the invaders."
Mingren continued observing as he answered.
Whether he became numb was unimportant.
What mattered were the facts and the outcome.
"I have no right to forgive the invaders on behalf of the dead, but I can at least avenge them!"
The accumulation of experience also meant the accumulation of emotion.
When this emotion, suppressed to its limit, erupted, it would be the moment this world changed completely.
There were too many tragedies in the Ninja World, and they had been suppressed for too long.
It was time to make a change.
"I've hired people to spread the news. Many people will attend this auction."
Shennong nodded and brought up the next matter.
Never mind the corpse of the Transparent Release Kekkei Genkai ninja.
The Hyuga Clan corpse alone was enough to draw the attention of many forces.
Although the Byakugan of a Branch Family member would be sealed after death.
There was no shortage of people in this world unwilling to give up.
They could take the body back to study it. What if they discovered something?
And a Hyuga Clan ninja's corpse was being put up for auction in the Underground Black Market.
To Konoha, such an act was undoubtedly a naked humiliation and slap in the face.
However, to prevent complications and keep matters from spiraling out of control.
Shennong planned to hold the auction within two days of releasing the news.
Two days.
At most, it would give Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Konoha time to react.
The more distant major ninja villages of Kumogakure and Kirigakure would not have enough time to send people over.
In other words, the purpose of this corpse auction was merely a simple declaration.
The Five Great Nations of the Ninja World would learn the news, and the result would be that they watched Konoha make a fool of itself.
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