He Convinced Himself

Konan and Shiba Seika's timely arrival gave the Akatsuki members a huge sigh of relief.

After landing, Shiba Seika only cast a quick glance back. Seeing the red-haired older woman cowering behind the group, and the equally red-haired Nagato radiating killing intent, he pieced together most of what had happened.

It seemed the Land of Grass's ninja were as inhuman as ever, even forcing Nagato's killing intent to surface.

But on the surface, he still had to keep up his act.

In the gap between releasing jutsu, he feigned surprise and demanded, "What's going on here? What happened? Didn't I just send you to scout? How did this escalate into such a big conflict?"

Faced with the question, Nagato had no idea this was a scheme orchestrated by Shiba Seika. Instead, he looked guilty and took the initiative to apologize, "I'm sorry."

A nearby Akatsuki member quickly explained, "It's not Lord Nagato's fault. We acted impulsively, but these Grass ninja are beyond despicable! They've been keeping Nagato's blood relative penned up like livestock or property!"

Konan was stunned upon hearing this. She was probably the only one present who still didn't understand the situation.

"This older sister is Nagato's blood relative?"

The Akatsuki member nodded eagerly, "Yes!"

Neither Nagato nor Xiangye objected at the moment.

Nagato believed it to be true, while Xiangye simply couldn't find an opportunity to speak.

Konan let out an "oh," and her gaze instantly turned resolute. "Then it's not your fault. Protect her!"

With that, the misunderstanding was further cemented!

Shiba Seika chose this moment to chime in, "Then I'll let this mission failure slide this time. Cover Nagato's blood relative and get her out first! Konan, take the slower ones and evacuate from the air!"

In that instant, Nagato's eyes toward Shiba Seika held even more gratitude and shame.

Shiba Seika took it all in, the corner of his mouth lifting imperceptibly.

It seemed he wouldn't even need to fall back on a backup plan.

Nagato's goodwill was coming in stronger than anticipated.

All that was left was to withstand the Grass ninja's counterattack, and tonight's plan would be perfect!

The scheming was over; now came the "fight and have fun" part.

A Grass ninja was the first to break through the Lightning Strike and Paper Dance, charging at Shiba Seika with a large scythe-like weapon.

Shiba Seika dodged the first strike and countered by slashing at the opponent's ribs.

Strangely, the enemy facing him seemed to lose his mind, holding his scythe horizontally in front of his forehead, as if guarding against a nonexistent overhead chop.

Only when Shiba Seika's short blade cut cleanly into his abdomen did the Grass ninja snap out of it, realizing, "Genjutsu?!"

Shiba Seika didn't answer immediately. He coldly followed up with another slash, this one across the Grass ninja's throat.

Only after confirming the enemy had stopped breathing did he leisurely mutter a quiet reply, "That's right, Genjutsu."

Always answering questions only after ensuring the enemy was dead—that was the ninja way he consistently upheld.

As for Genjutsu, he had just learned it recently, in a dream, from a system reward: the Uchiha clan's insights into Genjutsu countermeasures.

Unfortunately, without the Sharingan, this kind of Genjutsu could only catch opponents off guard if he prepared it beforehand at the start of a fight.

Soon, a second and third Grass ninja charged in, and he no longer had the luxury to set up another Genjutsu.

The two Grass ninja came one after the other—one rushing at him, the other hurling a barrage of thrown ninja tools.

Shiba Seika quickly hopped back, dodging the first wave of needles and Shuriken.

Then he moved swiftly, spinning his short blade in front of him into a fan shape, clanging as he deflected the subsequent Shuriken.

Only after slipping into the forest, shaking off the line of fire that had been tracking him, did he engage the Grass ninja who had closed in.

This newcomer seemed to hold some status in Kusagakure. After only a few exchanges, he spoke arrogantly.

"Kid, you're Rain ninja, right? That old geezer Hanzo the Salamander has lost his spirit. Do you really think you lot can stir up trouble in the Land of Grass? You think Kusagakure has no one?!"

Shiba Seika couldn't help but grumble internally: The Rain Country's external intelligence work was terrible—how did everyone nearby know that Hanzo had been slacking off in recent years?

He stayed silent, coldly swinging his blade.

First strike: The Grass ninja blocked with a Kunai, a mocking smile on his lips, as if watching a cornered beast struggle.

Second strike: The Grass ninja struggled to block; the tricky angle caught him off guard, and his smug expression froze slightly.

Third strike: The Kunai's length began to feel inadequate, unable to fend off the relentless blade light, let alone counterattack. Sweat beaded on the Grass ninja's forehead.

Fourth strike: The blade light broke through the Kunai's defense, grazing the Grass ninja's arm. He grew agitated, desperate, recklessly trying to create distance to use a jutsu.

But then the fifth and sixth strikes followed in succession. The Grass ninja couldn't find an opening to break free. Without the ability to perform hand seals with one hand, he was suppressed and helpless, his Chakra useless.

Seventh strike: The Grass ninja turned his head, barely avoiding the blade tip piercing his eye, but a long gash was carved across his temple!

Blood blurred one eye!

The Grass ninja had completely lost the composure he'd shown before the fight.

He started to panic, to rage that his teammates hadn't caught up yet! He began to regret recklessly charging in first!

But the blade light before him kept coming, steady and relentless, like sharp fangs that clamped onto prey and never let go—only stopping when the prey stopped breathing or the jaw muscles snapped!

Eighth strike: The Grass ninja's Kunai was knocked away, and three of his fingers were broken!

The ninth slash—his chest was split open, and hot blood even splattered onto the Grass Ninja's own face!

He hadn't even lasted ten exchanges; without unleashing a single jutsu, he met his end at the hands of a Rain Ninja brat at least ten years his junior.

The Grass Ninja's dying regret was extraordinary. Losing to a shinobi from the Five Great Shinobi Countries was one thing, but why could a Rain Ninja kill him too?! Why?!

With reddened eyes, he mustered his last strength to demand, "What... sword technique is that?"

Certain that the man was as good as dead, Shiba Seika kindly answered him this time.

"This is Konoha's White Fang Kenjutsu."

Though Shiba Seika's practice was still far from polished, this was indeed the sword art inherited from the White Fang, personally verified and taught by the system.

In that moment, the Grass Ninja, in a final flicker of clarity, let out a relieved smile. He silently composed himself, much like Cao Cao scraping the scattered grains of rice back onto the table after finishing his meal.

"That... explains it. That explains it."

The one who killed him was the famed Konoha White Fang's sword technique!

Regardless of the truth, at that moment, he convinced himself...