Night Raid

At noon the next day, after a long, hard journey, Jiang Feng and Rasa's group finally arrived at Sunagakure.

As the Third Kazekage's personal disciple, Rasa immediately displayed extraordinary competence upon returning to Sunagakure. First, he ordered the entire village locked down under martial law. Then, he dispatched people to guard every water source in the village, preventing Sasori of the Red Sands' "werewolves" from poisoning them. After that, he sent the Konoha group to a courtyard prepared in advance...

Rasa handled matters exactly as the Kazekage had in the past. Unseen, he had already proven that he possessed the ability to succeed the Third Kazekage as the new Kazekage.

Unless one's strength had reached the level of the Ninja World's Twin Heroes, or one had capable assistants, becoming the leader of a village required more than mere strength.

Then again, the Ninja World's Twin Heroes were no slouches in abilities beyond combat either. They were both above average.

Compared to Rasa, Pakura was far less capable. Even after returning to Sunagakure, she still had not figured out what exactly had happened. She could only wait until Rasa finished handling everything before entering the office for a meeting with Rasa, Chiyo, Ebizo, and the other Sunagakure higher-ups in her capacity as an elite Sunagakure Jonin.

The Konoha group obediently remained in the courtyard prepared for them. Even Obito, with his restless personality, could vaguely guess that something major must have happened in Sunagakure, so he did not make a fuss.

Enough water and food for the Konoha group to last three days were gradually delivered by the people of Sunagakure.

Fighting off his drowsiness, Jiang Feng inspected all the water and food, then split off more than ten Shadow Clones to stand guard around the courtyard. He arranged the Konoha group and reminded them of the necessary precautions...

Though lazy by nature, Jiang Feng still fulfilled his duties as the group leader at critical moments. Only after settling everything did he return to his room to sleep.

When he woke again, night had already fallen.

The moon was like silver silk draped over the sleeping dunes. Stars hung low across the wilderness, and heaven and earth were like a lone boat.

Jiang Feng leaned against the headboard, gazing at the nighttime desert beyond the window as he "took stock" of last night's gains.

A [Murong Fu · Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils] template.

Ordinary.

Murong Fu was not particularly old. He was twenty-seven or twenty-eight when he first appeared, and his Internal Energy was not especially profound. Converted into the Bright Jade Technique, it amounted to only a little over ten years' worth—barely reaching the template's average standard.

In terms of physique, Murong Fu was not particularly strong either. He was only about 0.5 of a Ninja World person, likewise barely reaching the template's average standard.

His martial arts, however, were somewhat interesting.

Murong Fu had studied a wide variety of martial arts. He seemed to know every kind of swordsmanship and saber technique, but all of it was broad rather than refined. The only martial art he had mastered was Star Shifting.

It was a martial art capable of freely redirecting the Internal Energy, force, and direction behind an enemy's attack. If used skillfully, not only could the user remain completely unharmed, but they could also turn the attack back on the opponent or a third party.

Very cool.

At least on the surface, Murong Fu was quite the elegant gentleman, and Star Shifting suited Jiang Feng's pursuit of coolness.

Besides Star Shifting, there was another martial art in Murong Fu's template that Murong Fu had never used in the original story, one that particularly caught Jiang Feng's attention: the Joining Finger.

This Finger Technique allowed one to point through the air and subdue enemies from a distance, using Internal Energy to unleash invisible force that struck an opponent's acupoints or vital areas. It was the inherited Finger Technique of the Gusu Murong family.

In the original story of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Murong Bo had used this Finger Technique to easily subdue Duan Zhengchun and Ba Tianshi. Had Murong Bo not shown mercy, two flicks of his finger would have been enough to take both their lives.

Murong Fu both knew and did not know this Finger Technique.

He had practiced it and attained some proficiency, but his Internal Energy was not deep enough to use it effectively. That was why he had never used it in the original story.

Jiang Feng was more interested in this Finger Technique than in Star Shifting. It could be incorporated into the Startling God Finger, or at the very least, serve as a reference for improving it.

Leaning against the headboard, Jiang Feng continuously worked through ideas for improving the Startling God Finger in his mind.

He was still somewhat sleepy. He had always been someone who loved sleep, and after rushing nonstop for forty hours without closing his eyes, an afternoon's rest was nowhere near enough for him.

It was not enough for most Ninja either. Ninja were merely resilient; it was not as though they did not need sleep.

Yet he did not go back to sleep. He was waiting for someone—perhaps a man, perhaps a woman.

Sneaky footsteps sounded in the corridor outside the door. They were very light, yet very familiar. Even that stealthiness was a kind Jiang Feng recognized.

It was not the person he was waiting for.

"Jiang Feng~"

The girl, Kurenai Yuhi, gently pushed open the door and tiptoed inside. She then softly closed it behind her and called out in a hushed voice.

Perhaps she was afraid the others would find out. Or perhaps she was afraid Jiang Feng would fail to notice.

Jiang Feng turned and gave Kurenai Yuhi a look. Wrapped up tightly and clutching a quilt, the girl's cheeks burned like fire, carrying an indescribable shyness.

For a girl, sneaking into someone's room at night was still a bit too forward.

"Why aren't you sleeping in your own room? What are you doing here?"

"I'm scared. The people of Sunagakure are so serious, and you were so stern during the day. I'm afraid something dangerous might happen..."

The girl began to act, her eyes glistening with tears.

Her crimson eyes seemed to hold two pools of water on the verge of overflowing. Her soft voice trembled slightly, just enough to send ripples through the water in her eyes.

Jiang Feng had no idea what the girl could possibly be afraid of.

There were over a dozen of his Shadow Clones in the courtyard, and every one of them possessed Jonin-level strength. Their personalities were like his as well. They might slack off in ordinary times, but they would never be careless at critical moments.

Forget Sasori of the Red Sands' "werewolves"—even if he came personally, he would enter standing and leave lying down.

But upon seeing the fear on the girl's face and hearing the sob in her voice, Jiang Feng's heart instantly softened. Though he had a thousand things to say, they could only turn into a sigh.

Every woman possessed an innate magical weapon whose power could increase without limit alongside her beauty: her tears.

A woman's tears were the sharpest weapon against men. As long as she was beautiful enough, she could use them to accomplish things that should theoretically have been impossible, to conquer fortresses that should theoretically have been unconquerable.

Jiang Feng was helpless when it came to the tears of beautiful women.

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought he was only saying it, but in truth, he really was helpless.

When a beautiful girl who was kind-hearted and liked you came before you with tears in her eyes and said she needed you, could you really bring yourself to push her away?

If you could, then you were no longer human—you were a god.

Jiang Feng was neither a god nor did he want to become one.

The girl, Kurenai Yuhi, giggled and carried her blanket over to the bed.

Jiang Feng shifted farther inward. After the girl climbed onto the bed, he patiently tucked the blanket around her. Sunagakure's nighttime temperatures could drop below zero, so she had to be properly covered.

The girl lay beside him.

The night was cold, the bed was cold, and her hands were cold, but her heart was blazing hot—hot enough to burn. This counted as living together with Big Brother now, right?