Late at night.
A lone moon hung high in the sky. Its usually gentle light filtered through the hazy clouds and fell upon Uzushiogakure, where faint smoke still rose, lending the village an air of grim desolation.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At that moment, three armored elders appeared atop the Uzushiogakure building. Each surveyed the area under his responsibility while exchanging intelligence.
Chihana was the first to ask, "How are things on your ends?"
"Not bad."
Yuanhai casually flicked out several kunai, killing a Genin trying to slip away.
"I've handled ninety percent of them over here. What about you, Longya?"
"About the same as you. Aside from a few diehards, everyone else has been restrained with sealing ninjutsu." Longya looked at the smoke below, a trace of reluctance flashing through his eyes.
After all, they were members of the same clan. Going back three generations or more, most of them were related in some way.
"How do you plan to deal with these people?" Chihana let out a breath and sat on the eaves.
She had just received word that the area under her command had been completely secured.
The resistance on Yuanhai's side seemed fiercer. In just this short while, four or five Chunin and Genin had already tried to escape.
That made his killing intent grow heavier. "We'll give them one more chance afterward and see whether they're willing to join us and contribute to rebuilding Uzushiogakure."
"If they refuse... kill them!"
"No!"
Longya immediately stepped forward in opposition. "Uzushiogakure has suffered enough losses these past few years. If we slaughter any more clansmen, we might collapse from within before the other ninja villages even attack us."
"Then what do you suggest?!"
Yuanhai shot Longya an annoyed sidelong glance, then looked toward their other ally.
"Chihana, what do