Discovering a Vortex Xiangling

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After a few years of missions, Naraku is no longer a rookie who treats enemies with a soft heart and a gentle hand!

Even when Naraku was five years old—long before he began taking on missions—he could calmly and effortlessly slay Kumogakure ninjas. Needless to say, now he has endured countless bloody trials from various assignments!

Those who are kind‑hearted and hesitant have long perished on the battlefield; the only survivors are the ones who can kill without a second thought!

That's why Naraku can cut down hundreds of ninjas with a completely unchanged expression!

There's nothing more to it—winner or loser, that's all there is!

When it comes to life and death, to killing, Naraku has long become indifferent!

As long as he follows his own heart and doesn't become a wanton murderer who harms ordinary people, the enemy is a different story. It's a matter of life or death—if I don't kill you, you'll kill me. So if I'm stronger, I can kill you without any psychological burden!

"Gulu…"

The rebel leader winced through the pain and swallowed.

"What do you want to know?"

His voice trembled as he asked.

"Hmm, nothing much, just… do you have any other locations besides this stronghold?"

"I told you, can you just leave me alone?"

The rebel leader still clung to a sliver of hope.

"What do you think?"

Naraku smiled at him and said.

But Naraku's smile, seen through his eyes, was as terrifying as a midnight demon!

Obviously, he knew Naraku would never spare his life. The only difference was that if he confessed honestly, he would die a quick death; otherwise, who knew what kind of torture awaited him!

"There's another place, but it's sparsely populated—only a dozen or so people. It's our emergency refuge."

He lowered his head, gave a bitter smile, and finally spoke.

"Very well, take me there. Don't think about pulling any tricks; you know you can't escape."

"Don't worry. After seeing your methods, I've given up any illusion. All I want now is a quick death!"

Clearly, he had accepted reality.

Naraku activated Bakudō, binding the rebel leader with rope, then lifted him and sprinted in the direction he pointed.

After a while, having crossed three or four large mountains, Naraku finally arrived at another stronghold.

This stronghold was built inside a mining tunnel at the foot of the mountain, guarded at the entrance by two ninjas.

Naraku threw the rebel leader to the ground and kicked him awake with a swift foot.

"Wake up—here?"

The rebel leader, weakened by excessive blood loss, sluggishly regained consciousness.

In fact, if Naraku hadn't used Kaidō earlier on the road to give him a quick treatment, the man would have already died.

The rebel leader strained to lift his head, glanced around, and upon seeing the cave, whispered weakly, "Not bad, this is it!"

"Good!"

Naraku hoisted him, then with force hurled his whole body into the cave!

BOOM

The rebel leader crashed straight into the two guarding ninjas, producing a dull thud!

"Who's there?"

"What… a leader?"

The two were startled, but the next instant realized it was their own leader!

"Leader, who injured you like this?"

"Enemy attack! Brothers, prepare yourselves!"

Hearing the commotion outside, a crowd burst out from within.

At that moment, Naraku slowly emerged from the darkness and stood before the group.

"Is the enemy just this one, or are there others hidden in the shadows?"

Seeing Naraku, blood‑stained from head to toe, the others stared in disbelief—after all, he looked far too young!

"You… run! I'm sorry for you all…"

Now the rebel leader, perhaps struck by conscience, urged them to flee.

"Stop it, boss. It must be this kid using some dirty trick to wound you. Hang on, we'll get you medicine right away!"

"Quick, don't just stand there! You—take care of that kid, and you—go inside and fetch the medicine for the boss's wounds!"

A subordinate, seemingly a minor leader, shouted orders to the newcomers.

The rebels emerging from the cave surrounded Naraku, while two of them turned back into the tunnel to retrieve the so‑called medicine!

new line.Outside the cave, the rogue ninjas surrounded Nairaku, grinning wickedly as they stared at him!

"Tch, where did this little brat come from, showing up at midnight to get himself killed!"

"Look at him standing there all dazed—he probably peed himself from fear, huh? Hahaha"

"This kid, he still hasn't figured out what method they used to turn the boss into this mess."

"Don't say it, this kid is still soft‑skinned, we'll catch him alive later, don't kill him; I'll finish him off when I'm bored!"

"Hey, you, your taste is as uniquely twisted as ever!"

The crowd laughed and jeered, as if Nairaku were just a piece of meat on their chopping board!

Nairaku gave them no response; in his eyes they were nothing but dead men.

However, he gave a sharp glance at the one who'd suggested some kind of friendly interaction, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The rogue ninja leader lying on the ground had already turned his head and closed his eyes.

"Sigh, I've already warned you, you keep courting death—I'm done watching!"

On the battlefield, Nairaku finally acted; his Zanpakutō sprang from its sheath, instantly unleashing thousands of blade flashes!

It was the sight of Nairaku darting across the field, swinging his long sword, the firelight reflecting off the countless blades.

"Whoosh"

After only a few breaths, Nairaku sheathed his sword and stood tall.

The ninjas surrounding Nairaku began to ooze thin streams of blood from their bodies.

"Huff..."

A night wind swept through the forest, and the people who had been standing moments before collapsed, turned into scattered piles of broken corpses!

The insolent man was sliced from head to toe into hundreds of pieces, impossible to reassemble.

"Boss, we brought the medicine for you!"

At that moment, the two who had gone into the cave to fetch medicine emerged, leading a little girl.

However, when they stepped out of the cave, all they saw were piles of shredded bodies and blood.

"What... what's happening?"

The two shouted in terror.

"Ugh..."

The little girl they had pulled out, upon seeing the gruesome scene, couldn't help but vomit.

Without a word, Nairaku raised his hand and performed a "Hadō: One Strike", piercing both men's foreheads and ending their lives.

Then, curious, Nairaku stared at the little girl. Weren't they supposed to fetch medicine? Why bring a girl? And that red hair—doesn't that mark the Uzumaki clan?

Wait, could this person be...

Red hair, a girl, called "medicine", and her exposed arms were covered in countless bite marks—Nairaku instantly formed a hypothesis.

This must be Uzumaki Kōrin, right?