A Small Clap

Tsunade's whole body shuddered, and the Chakra coursing through her instantly drove away every trace of alcohol.

The pale purple Yin Seal between her brows suddenly lit up, casting an eerie glow.

At the same time, the casino's front door was suddenly slammed open with a bang.

A blood-soaked man staggered inside, then slammed his back against the door and barred it shut.

"Put out the lights!"

He roared, blood dripping from his temple and winding across the wooden floor.

The casino erupted into chaos. Several maids screamed and knocked over the candelabras.

At the sight of the blood covering the man, Tsunade suddenly felt dizzy, and the mark between her brows began to fade.

"Lady Tsunade, are you all right?"

Seeing her sway, Shizune hurriedly helped her sit down.

"I'm fine... damn it!"

Tsunade shook her head and muttered a curse.

Up ahead, several gamblers had already surrounded the bloodied man, anxiously asking, "Harada, what on earth is happening outside?"

The man called Harada slumped to the ground, his face deathly pale as he spoke with lingering fear. "I don't know either. It looked like a mutiny. A lot of people died!"

Everyone gasped.

"Lady Tsunade, what should we do?"

Holding Tonton, Shizune looked at Tsunade uneasily.

Tsunade closed her eyes, forced down the wave of dizziness, and took a deep breath. Her voice was low and restrained. "Let's go upstairs to our rooms first. This isn't something we should get involved in."

"Kill!"

The Magistrate Office, once a place of lavish indulgence, had now become a slaughterhouse. Towering flames stained the night sky blood-red, while cries of battle echoed through the courtyard like thunder.

In the courtyard, Dongfang Mao strode forward in blood-soaked black armor, the long blade in his hand flashing like silver lightning.

His blade flashed. Several guards were beheaded before they could even raise their weapons, their blood tracing gruesome arcs through the firelight.

Behind him, the New Martial Army surged forward like a raging tide.

These warriors, who had come from among the displaced, had bloodshot eyes and gleaming weapons in their hands.

The shrill clash of spears piercing armor and the dull thud of blades cleaving flesh and bone intertwined into a dirge of death across the courtyard.

Though the Magistrate Office's guards outnumbered them, they were driven back step by step by the New Martial Army, a force that had endured two and a half months of grueling training.

At last, they were forced back to the vermilion palace doors. With nowhere left to retreat, the guards stood with their backs against the doors, their trembling hands barely able to hold their weapons.

"Drop your weapons! Anyone who resists will die!"

Dongfang Mao, drenched in blood, stepped forward. Blood slid from his black armor with every movement.

His piercing gaze made the guards feel as though an icy blade were tracing their spines, leaving them nearly breathless under the pressure.

Clang!

At last, one long blade hit the ground. Then a second, a third... The clatter of metal rang out in a continuous chorus.

The guards' faces were deathly pale. They scattered to either side, clearing a path to the vermilion doors behind them, then fell to their knees one after another.

Dongfang Mao raised a hand, and the New Martial Army immediately stepped forward to disarm and detain the surrendered troops.

He himself strode forward, stepping over the weapons scattered across the ground, and paused briefly before the vermilion doors.

Creak!

The palace doors swung open with a crash, revealing a scene of utter disarray. Tables and chairs lay scattered across the floor, and fine food and delicacies were strewn everywhere.

In a corner, several dancers huddled together, trembling uncontrollably.

Dongfang Mao gave a meaningful glance. Several soldiers beside him immediately went forward and dragged one of the dancers out.

"Tell me, where is the acting governor?"

The dancer's face was as pale as paper, her eyes filled with terror. Trembling, she pointed behind the curtains.

Dongfang Mao was just about to nod when a powerful sense of danger surged through him. Without a second thought, he threw himself to the side.

The instant he hit the ground, two deafening booms rang out. Two water bullets slammed into the spot where he had just been standing.

The dancer was caught in the blast and instantly blown apart, leaving a gruesome puddle of blood.

Dongfang Mao glanced at the blood on the ground and furrowed his brow. Then he looked up and saw two men in ninja combat gear crouching on the rafters.

They wore Forehead Protectors bearing Kirigakure's symbol, but a Kunai slash ran through the center of each one.

"Kirigakure missing-nin? The acting governor was sheltering and supporting you?"

Dongfang Mao wondered. Judging by the Chakra in the two Water Release Ninjutsu they had just used, both ninjas were probably Chunin. His expression grew solemn.

At the same time, the New Martial Army spread out in a fan formation at his side, long blades in hand and ready for battle.

"Why don't you two just leave? I can offer you the same things the acting governor can."

Dongfang Mao was a ninja himself now, so he was naturally no longer as wary of ninjas as he had once been. Still, he didn't want to invite more trouble, so he sounded them out.

"Heh heh, we're paid to do a job. We—"

The scar-faced ninja, his features twisted and a long scar crossing his face, bared a row of neat shark-like teeth. But before he could finish, a huge fireball swept toward him.

"Damn it, I wasn't finished talking!"

The scar-faced ninja's expression changed. He cursed and hurriedly leaped off the crossbeam.

But just before he landed, a thick earthen wall rose from the ground. Caught off guard, the scar-faced ninja was launched into the air.

Seeing this, his companion reacted at once, leaping down from the rafters and lunging straight at Dongfang Mao with a Kunai gleaming in his hand.

"Go hold off the scar-faced one. I'll deal with this one first!"

Dongfang Mao shouted to the New Martial Army behind him. He dodged sideways, then brought his blade down in a counterattack. The Kunai clashed against the blade with a sharp ring that made the air vibrate.

The tremendous strength granted by the Senju Clan's physique surged along the blade. The Mist Ninja felt his thumb and forefinger jolt, and his Kunai nearly flew out of his hand.

"You're a Taijutsu ninja too?"

The red-haired Mist Ninja stared at him in disbelief. But Dongfang Mao's only reply was a lightning-fast kick.

Bang!

Dongfang Mao's boot slammed into the red-haired Mist Ninja's abdomen.

The powerful impact sent the Mist Ninja flying like a kite with its string cut. He crashed through the folding screen behind him, then slammed into the scattered food and dishes, curling up in pain.

Just as Dongfang Mao was about to finish him off, a powerful surge of Chakra suddenly swept in from the side.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

The scar-faced ninja had managed to break free of the New Martial Army's harassment and seize the chance to use a jutsu against him.

It seemed unrealistic to expect the New Martial Army as it was now to hold off even a single Chunin.

The ninjas' speed alone was beyond what these clumsy, armor-clad soldiers could keep up with.

Dongfang Mao turned to dodge the enormous water dragon rushing toward him, but it was already too late.

At this point, taking the blow head-on seemed like his only option. Though the power of this B-rank jutsu was not to be underestimated, his physique and healing abilities might still let him withstand it.

But just as the water dragon was about to crash down, with the intense sense of danger surging through him, the Chakra within Dongfang Mao suddenly began to flow rapidly, like a rushing river.

In the blink of an eye, his temples throbbed. It was as if a bolt of lightning had split apart the chaos in his mind. His hands moved of their own accord, clapping together hard in front of his chest.

The instant his palms met, the Chakra that normally required a complicated sequence of hand seals gathered in an instant.

Hot fire-natured Chakra, infused with powerful Yang Power, coiled and surged between his palms.

"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"

Dongfang Mao roared. His cheeks ballooned as a massive fireball packed with destructive power surged forth, wrapped in waves of scorching heat. Everywhere it passed, the air crackled and popped.