Okiki Fujida

After Tanaka Iko left, Neji picked up the materials Zuo Mu and Duanlong had prepared on the basic situation of Spring City's major factions and found the information on the Okiki Family, which he read carefully.

The Okiki Family was somewhat similar to Konoha's Nara Clan. Both were families that had engaged in the cultivation, processing, and sale of medicinal herbs for generations.

The difference was that, aside from ordinary medicinal herbs, the Okiki Family also cultivated "drugs." This was an industry far more profitable than conventional medicine, and there was never any shortage of buyers.

Thus, the more peaceful things were and the higher the public's spending power became, the greater the proportion of "drugs" they cultivated.

More than ten years had passed since the Shinobi World's ceasefire in the Third Shinobi World War. The major shinobi villages, organizations, and factions had largely recovered, to the point that income from the Okiki Family's "drugs" now accounted for nearly half of the family's total revenue.

Many clan members had repeatedly proposed expanding the scale of "drug" cultivation during meetings.

However, the Okiki Family's Clan Head, Okiki Fujida, had not lost his mind. He knew full well that producing too many "drugs" would disrupt society's balance. Once too many people in Spring City, or even the Land of Hot Water, became addicted and neglected production, his family would be finished!

There would be no need for other factions to act. The daimyo would likely be the first to jump out and destroy his family.

Therefore, no matter how high the profits or how great the benefits, Okiki Fujida strictly controlled the annual output of "drugs" and regulated their factory price, never taking a single coin of profit he should not take.

As a result, many competitors found that after painstakingly growing "drugs" for a year, the profits they earned were not worth the effort and costs compared with simply buying finished products directly from the Okiki Family.

Once this idea took hold, fewer and fewer people cultivated "drugs." In the end, only the Okiki Family remained. Even after monopolizing "drug" cultivation, the Okiki Family still refused to raise prices. This practice earned the family an excellent reputation and lasting development.

But in Neji's eyes, growing "drugs" was still growing "drugs." No matter how sterling their reputation was, it was stained with blood, built upon heaps of bleached bones.

Still, Neji knew that when one lacked the power to change the entire world, it was best not to rashly alter part of it, because one might find that doing so only made the world worse!

For example, if he wiped out the Okiki Family now, it would only drive other organizations or families to begin cultivating "drugs." That might end up even worse than before.

The Okiki Family was not weak in terms of strength either. Under Okiki Fujida's leadership, the family had nearly twenty Jonin, more than fifty Chunin, and three to four hundred Genin. It was quite a formidable force.

It was also said that Clan Head Okiki Fujida possessed strength close to Kage-level. Even ordinary Elite Jonin were no match for him. He could be considered a Clan Head blessed with both wisdom and courage.

And Neji's plan was to pay this supposedly wise and courageous "good Clan Head" a visit tonight.

He could not show himself openly, so he would communicate with others in the shadows!

If the other side was willing to communicate properly, and they could reach an understanding, then both sides would benefit and develop together.

If they were unwilling to communicate properly, refused to talk, or failed to reach an agreement, then he would act in secret and kill them until they were willing to communicate! Neji now had absolutely no scruples. And a powerful person without scruples was the most terrifying kind of person.

Having set his objective, Neji rested briefly to conserve his energy for that night's operation!

Late that night, Neji changed into black clothes and headed toward the Okiki Family's territory.

The Okiki Family's grounds were not particularly far from Neji's base. After infiltrating for roughly twenty minutes, he arrived at the Okiki Family's territory without incident.

Because it was already very late, most of the Okiki clansmen had gone to sleep. The entire compound was quiet, with only scattered chirps of insects

breaking the silence. Neji activated his Byakugan and encompassed the entire Okiki Family within his sight. This was why he dared come alone to negotiate. Once the Byakugan was activated, it was practically the same as revealing the whole map.

Those being observed had no secrets before him. During wartime, any force that encountered a squad possessing the Byakugan must have felt just as helpless. Every trap and ambush became meaningless.

After carefully scanning the area, he found that five Jonin were stationed in the Okiki Family grounds tonight, along with around a dozen Chunin, more than a hundred Genin, and several servants.

Two Jonin had yet to rest. One was the Jonin on duty, leading some Chunin and Genin on patrol. Judging by the other's appearance, he was Neji's target this time—Okiki Fujida.

Okiki Fujida was still reading scrolls in his study. There was no one else nearby. It was a perfect opportunity!

Neji did not hesitate. He vaulted over the courtyard wall, activated his Byakugan, avoided the patrols, and easily approached the study where Okiki Fujida was located.

Without concealing himself, Neji knocked directly on Okiki Fujida's door, openly announcing his presence.

Okiki Fujida was rather surprised. He had just seemed to sense someone infiltrating, but before he could go out and confirm it, someone knocked on his door. Judging from the other party's aura, Okiki Fujida was certain he did not know him. This person had most likely infiltrated his family grounds.

Perhaps he was confident in his own strength. Besides, the other party had knocked so openly, clearly indicating that he did not intend to resolve matters through force—at least not before negotiations broke down.

Thus, Okiki Fujida was not afraid. He calmly said, "Unknown friend, come in!"

Hearing Okiki Fujida's response, Neji was delighted. If they could communicate, then half the battle was already won. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and entered.

The study was not large. As soon as Neji entered, he faced Okiki Fujida directly—a middle-aged man in his forties with an imposing presence, carrying the air of someone long accustomed to authority. An ordinary person might truly have been intimidated or become timid before him.

Neji could sense that Okiki Fujida had used something similar to a mental intimidation technique, intending to give him a show of force.

Neji did not indulge Okiki Fujida. He directly spread out his Eight Trigrams Formation. Because they were so close, his nearly tangible chakra formed an Eight Trigrams Formation, already taking the initial shape of a domain.

Okiki Fujida's intimidation failed, and he was immediately enveloped by the quasi-domain. An invisible force field suppressed him from every direction, while an unknown power disrupted his senses!

Okiki Fujida inwardly cried that things were bad! Just as he was about to erupt with all his chakra and break free of the restraints, Neji had already withdrawn his chakra and dispersed the Eight Trigrams Formation. The pressure on Okiki Fujida's entire body suddenly eased, leaving him with an indescribably awful feeling.

He could only withdraw the chakra he had raised, his face flushing bright red!

In the first exchange, Okiki Fujida suffered a complete defeat.