Don't Hire Rogue Ninjas!!

"There are quite a few in the Takayama Tokugawa family who covet the position of Patriarch. They certainly wouldn't want to see my youngest son safely return to Kusagakure. I concealed the escort mission, thinking that the fewer people who knew, the safer it would be. I didn't expect the news to leak out anyway."

Takayama Tokugawa sighed helplessly, filled with lingering fear.

He survived this time due to sheer luck.

If he hadn't hired a powerful ninja squad, let alone his youngest son, even he himself might have died at the hands of the rogue ninja.

"So that's how it is."

Yugito nodded slowly. She first pulled Neji aside to discuss something, then found Takayama Tokugawa and said.

"Mr. Takayama, I'll give you two choices. One, we terminate the mission and go our separate ways. We return to Kumogakure, and you return to Kusagakure. Two, you add another two hundred thousand ryo in payment, and we'll continue escorting you to Kusagakure."

Takayama Tokugawa pondered for a moment, then nodded with a pained expression. "Alright, I'll trouble you, esteemed ninja."

The original payment was seventy thousand ryo, and with this additional two hundred thousand, it totaled two hundred and seventy thousand ryo.

This sum was no small amount.

The annual profit from the Takayama Tokugawa family's trade was less than two million ryo.

However, money could be earned again if lost.

No matter what, he had to ensure his youngest son reached Kusagakure safely.

After finalizing the escort mission, everyone began gathering the scattered horses and cleaning up the battlefield.

More than fifty guards had been killed or injured in the recent battle.

Takayama Tokugawa looked at the corpses on the ground as if he had lost his parents.

It wasn't that he felt sorry for the compensation for the fallen.

These guards were retainers cultivated with great resources by the Takayama Tokugawa family and were loyal to them. Losing one meant one less.

Neji walked over and said, "Mr. Takayama, after this fierce battle, everyone is exhausted, both physically and mentally. Let them rest for a while longer and depart tomorrow at noon."

"Oh, my goodness, look at me. I was so caught up in my losses. I'll give the order right away."

Takayama Tokugawa slapped his forehead and quickly instructed the supply team to slaughter the injured horses to improve their meals.

Late at night.

A dark figure emerged from a tent and walked into the nearby dense forest. He took out a carrier pigeon from his bosom and released it.

The pigeon flapped its wings and flew towards the sky.

However, as soon as it reached the treetops, it let out a miserable cry and fell to the ground.

The dark figure suddenly thought of something, his expression changing.

He dared not return to the supply team and instead ran frantically into the depths of the forest.

But after only a few meters, his legs were severed by steel wires hidden in the grass. Two kunai shot out from the dense forest. With a "thud," the dark figure fell to the ground and died instantly.

Neji and Takayama Tokugawa emerged from the shadows at this moment.

Takayama Tokugawa looked at the corpse on the ground, his eyes filled with surprise. "Little Neji, was he the mole within the team?"

The rogue ninja who attacked earlier had gone straight for Madam Takayama and his youngest son's carriage. Only with detailed prior intelligence could they have done that.

"If he wasn't the mole, then who was?"

Neji said nonchalantly as he collected the traps he had set.

By the time Neji finished packing up the traps, Takayama Tokugawa had already examined the body, his face turning ashen.

Neji looked at him and said, "You must have figured out who the employer behind those rogue ninja was."

"He is my..." Takayama Tokugawa broke out in a cold sweat.

Neji waved his hand, interrupting Takayama Tokugawa, uninterested in hearing him continue.

The infighting within the Takayama Tokugawa family was nothing more than a struggle for power and money. The mastermind must be one of the Takayama Tokugawa family's leaders.

"Mr. Takayama, you'll probably need to prepare another two hundred thousand ryo."

"Little Neji, what do you mean by that?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Takayama Tokugawa suddenly heard hurried footsteps nearby.

Another Neji ran out from the dense forest, carrying a sack on his shoulder.

Neji smiled at the Lightning Release Clone. "Good work."

The Lightning Release Clone gave him a thumbs-up. "You can count on me."

Neji dispelled the Lightning Release Clone, and a flood of memories surged into his mind.

After absorbing the memories, Neji rubbed his temples, then emptied the body from the sack.

"Mr. Takayama, do you think this fellow's life is worth two hundred thousand ryo?"

"It really was him?!"

Hours earlier, in a hidden valley in the Land of Frost.

After the rogue ninja from Iwagakure led the attack on the supply convoy, the employer did not leave but waited at the scene.

The employer was no outsider; he was Masaharu Tokugawa, the cousin of Takayama Tokugawa.

Takayama Tokugawa was nearing fifty. With his youngest son dead, the family elders would force him to abdicate, and Masaharu Tokugawa would naturally become the Patriarch.

As the sky grew darker, Masaharu Tokugawa's impatience grew. He kept glancing towards the valley entrance, hoping to see the rogue ninja from Iwagakure return victorious.

After an unknown amount of waiting, hurried footsteps echoed, and someone was rushing towards them at extreme speed.

Masaharu Tokugawa was overjoyed and quickly ran out of the valley.

The rogue ninja from Iwagakure appeared in Masaharu Tokugawa's sight, but to his surprise, only the leader of the ten rogue ninja returned alive.

Masaharu Tokugawa's heart sank. He pressed, "Why are you the only one back?"

"Hmph." The rogue ninja from Iwagakure sneered, "Everyone else is dead. You bastard, you've really screwed me over."

"All dead?"

Masaharu Tokugawa's face turned grim. Seeing the rogue ninja captain flee back in such a sorry state, he knew the mission had failed without a doubt.

"Damn it, a C-rank mission actually had two Jonin."

The rogue ninja from Iwagakure grumbled, casting an unfriendly gaze at Masaharu Tokugawa until the latter felt a chill run down his spine.

"Wh-what do you want?" Masaharu Tokugawa stammered.

Swish!

A cold glint flashed as the short blade in the rogue ninja's hand plunged fiercely into Masaharu Tokugawa's chest.

"You, you..."

Masaharu Tokugawa clutched his bloody chest, stammering incoherently for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence.

The rogue ninja from Iwagakure stabbed two more holes into Masaharu Tokugawa's chest. "A word of advice: don't hire rogue ninja in your next life."

Clap! Clap!

Neji's clone clapped his hands, saying cheerfully, "You speak the truth."

"?"

The rogue ninja from Iwagakure's expression darkened slightly as he turned his head towards the valley entrance. Neji was emerging from the shadows, a kunai in his hand glinting sharply.

This brat actually followed him?!

A ruthless glint appeared in the rogue ninja's eyes.

Since he was being relentlessly pursued, he had no choice but to fight to the death.

At this moment, any further words were meaningless. In an instant, both men charged at each other.

The Lightning Release Clone quickly formed hand seals with his left hand while gripping his kunai tightly with his right, slashing at the rogue ninja from Iwagakure.

The kunai collided with a rocky fist, emitting a sharp screech.

Azure lightning scattered.

Lightning Release: Chidori Blade.

This Lightning Release Clone's chakra reserves were comparable to the rogue ninja from Iwagakure's.

However, lightning overcomes earth, giving Neji the advantage.

As the sound of crackling electricity filled the air, a few seconds later, the lightning shattered the rogue ninja's rocky fist and rapidly spread along his arm.

"Sss!!"

The pain of his body being corroded by electricity contorted the rogue ninja's face. His paralyzed body prevented him from making a sound.

All his strength vanished in an instant, and the fear of death surged into his heart.

The Lightning Release Clone didn't give the rogue ninja much time to fear. With a sidestep, he moved quickly to the side, his kunai easily slicing through the opponent's throat.