Iwagakure's rogue ninja

Ōnoki said irritably, "We stopped chasing them a long time ago! When we were almost at the border of the Land of Fire, I noticed they stopped, so they must have chosen to let us go."

"You let us go?" Kitsuchi scratched his head. "Didn't we escape on our own merits?"

"Fool! Rely on your strength? You really think you're strong enough? If we really chase, Tsunade's speed isn't that slow. Even if we both die, you'll at least be finished."

Ōnoki scolded him, exasperated.

"Oh..."

Huang Tu nodded naively.

Three days later.

In a restaurant in the Shinobi World.

Have you heard?

"What did you hear?"

"It's the rumor that's been circulating lately: Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, has joined forces with Akatsuki Organization to attack Konoha."

"Holy crap, Tsuchikage some kind of monster? He actually teamed up with the Akatsuki Organization hated by everyone in the Shinobi World, to attack Konoha?!"

"They'll stop at nothing to become the Number One Ninja Village in the Shinobi World!"

"Yes, that's what I wanted to say!"

"But this is fake, right? I don't think Ōnoki would ever team up with Akatsuki Organization. If he really Akatsuki Organization, wouldn't the Feudal Lord stop him?"

"Hmm, Feudal Lord? Do you know what the first thing Ōnoki did after taking over Cloud Village?"

What is it?

"It means he ousted the Feudal Lord, and now the entire Cloud Village is under his son's control. No, or rather, the entire Land of Lightning is under his son's control; it's like one Kage ruling the whole country."

"Wow... that's amazing!"

"Even so, I still believe this rumor is untrue."

Why me?

"Think about it, if Ōnoki really did that, then why hasn't Konoha Village been affected yet? I suspect that other villages are worried that Ōnoki might attack them, so they spread rumors to confuse the public and prevent Ōnoki from focusing entirely on the Number One Ninja Village in the Shinobi World."

"Are you implying that there's a ninja village you're suspicious of?"

"Of course! Which ninja village is the weakest? It's Mist Village, of course. There were even rumors a few days ago that they were invaded by the Akatsuki Organization, so putting the Akatsuki Organization and Iwagakure together makes it seem more believable!"

"That makes sense!"

Many of the Wandering Ninja or Bounty Hunter in the hotel were chatting about the interesting stories that had been circulating these past few days.

However, just as the previous Ninja, who had doubted the rumors and was feeling smug, suddenly a blade flashed by.

"Puff--"

"Clatter--"

In an instant, his head was severed from his body and rolled to the ground.

The pupils of the Ninja in front of him trembled rapidly!

"Murder... murder!"

He was about to use the Body Flicker Technique to leave the scene, but at that moment, several more Ninja wearing Iwagakure Forehead Protector with a scratch on them appeared at the entrance of the restaurant.

"Is this a rumor? Who told you it's false?"

Those who spread rumors should all die!

One of the Iwagakure Rogue Ninja said viciously at the gate.

"My lord, my lord, I'm just begging for food. I'm a wandering Ninja. And I didn't believe the rumors. I was just afraid he'd be angry, so I was just agreeing with him. Of course, I have my own judgment!"

Realizing he couldn't escape, the Wandering Ninja immediately changed his tune and begged for mercy.

The key to survival lies in your mouth!

"Really? Then tell me your judgment."

"I... I believe it's true! Iwagakure really has joined forces with Akatsuki Organization to attack Konoha!"

"Oh, then tell me why nothing happened to Konoha Village? There wasn't even any damage, and no one in the entire Shinobi World condemned Ōnoki?"

"I..." The Wandering Ninja didn't know how to answer for a moment.

He had noticed the Ninja Forehead Protector on their foreheads earlier, and it was clear that this group of people were rogue ninjas from Iwagakure.

He wasn't sure if speaking ill of Iwagakure would anger them enough to kill him, but he also wasn't sure if flattering Iwagakure would anger them in the same way.

"Speak quickly!"

The rogue ninja from Iwagakure looked displeased and raised his large sword.

"I said! It's because Konoha Village is too strong! Iwagakure simply can't beat Konoha Village, and even when Ōnoki and Akatsuki Organization forces, they were still defeated!"

Seeing that there was no time to think, the Wandering Ninja spoke directly according to his first version of the idea.

Even a dead horse can be brought back to life; something is better than nothing.

Maybe you'll just guess right?

"Hmm, not bad, there's some truth to your answer."

"Thank you, sir. Then I will..."

The Wandering Ninja spoke, about to take a step.

Just then, a knife pierced straight into his abdomen from behind.

"Puff--"

Wandering Ninja:??

"Why... am I not...?"

"Choo--"

As the large sword behind him was drawn, the Wandering Ninja fell to the ground, blood flowing freely.

"Why?"

Another Iwagakure Rogue Ninja behind him coldly wiped the blood from his sword. "You deserve to die. You believed the rumors. If we don't kill you, the rumors will only spread. What we need is someone who can spread the truth."

"And another thing, what's the point of your analysis? Who said our Iwagakure can't beat Konoha Village? If it weren't for that Ōnoki!"

"Pfft--"

With that, the Iwagakure Rogue Ninja viciously plunged the large sword he had just wiped clean into the body of the dead Wandering Ninja.

"If it weren't for that bastard, we wouldn't have been hunted down and killed without doing anything! You understand?! Hunted down and killed!"

"Pfft--Pfft pfft pfft--"

Several sounds rang out as a large sword pierced the body of Wandering Ninja.

"Given this situation, you still dare to say that Ōnoki is right?"

The others around, seeing this, felt as if they had seen hell. They dared not speak and barely ate their food, fearing that they would be targeted by this group and killed with a single blow.

"Let's go, the blood's all over your shoes, what a nuisance."

The Iwagakure Rogue Ninja who had asked the question earlier patted the rogue ninja in front of him who was frantically stabbing the Wandering Ninja.

"Brush--"

The sound of the broadsword being sheathed rang out.

Immediately afterwards, a group of Iwagakure Rogue Ninja left the restaurant.

They didn't even need to warn the rest of the people in the restaurant; they all understood that chatting was fine, but spreading rumors was not.

Otherwise, there's a high probability they'll hunt you down.

After they had completely left, the Ninja in the restaurant started talking again, and the owner finally came out to arrange for people to clean up the two Ninja.

"What a hassle, running into something like this while just having a meal."

"Yeah, those two are really unlucky. They were just eating some melon seeds and ended up killing themselves."

"This might be the consequence of not fully experiencing the whole story!"

"Let's talk about something else. I heard the Akatsuki Organization has fallen apart. Do any of you guys know if it's true or not?"