Spy

They shared intelligence regarding personnel and ninjutsu, assigned the opponents each needed to resolve, and finalized the plan.

The plan was simple: a purge within the village.

The time was set for four days later, when a high-level meeting would take place. The old fogies of the four clans would all be in attendance. Mochizuki Gen would be responsible for the frontal assault, Kakuzu would make an appearance, and Yura would carry out the assassination and liquidation of the four clans' leadership.

"I will arrange for my own people to be moved; everyone else remaining in the Hero Clan will be killed," Huan said in a low voice.

Yura nodded. When the final curtain call arrived, it would be Huan acting as the hero, leading people to repel the crazed Kakuzu. Yura would remain hidden in the shadows throughout the entire process. For Yura, the greatest benefit was avoiding being placed on the ninja village's wanted list, making it much easier to join other ninja villages later.

Mochizuki Gen hesitated, then said, "This Humble One will complete the mission."

"In that case, I will not see you out. Prepare for the operation as soon as possible," Yura said, dismissing them.

Taking a deep look at Yura, then at Huan, who seemed unaware of the situation as she fell into Yura's hands, he felt a bit worried about Huan's safety...

Mochizuki Gen turned and left.

"Call over all the representatives of the moles you've recruited," Yura said, looking at Huan. "I need three people familiar with the internal affairs of the three clans to lead the way."

"Understood." Huan released her summoning animal. An hour later, the whistling sound of body flicker techniques tearing through the air echoed in the moonlit forest. Almost simultaneously, three figures landed on the tree trunks, looking down at Huan in the forest clearing.

"You weren't supposed to be on a mission, Miss Huan?" The speaker was a fair-skinned young man with blonde hair, delicate features, and a gentle expression; he looked to be in his twenties.

The Uji Clan was mostly composed of handsome men and beautiful women, resembling the people from the Land of Lightning with their blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Shuichi, shut up." The speaker was a black-haired woman in her twenties. Unlike the seductive nature of the women of the Qian Gui Clan, the woman's features were plain, but her temperament was highly capable. Crouching on the tree, she said to Huan, "Didn't I tell you not to contact me easily?"

"Aoi." Huan shook her head and said, "The time has come."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the three tightened.

Yura, meanwhile, was sizing up one of the youths among the three. He was excessively pale, with long, smooth black hair, purple eyeshadow, and golden slit pupils. In a sense, he was quite handsome. Although his temperament seemed cold on the surface, he always wore a gentle smile, appearing to be a sunny and cheerful boy.

The Kusanagi Clan...

Yura had seen him before, in the Kusanagi Clan's orphanage training camp; he was a year older than Yura.

"Wait, Huan." Standing on the tree, the Kusanagi youth said in a deep voice, "Aren't you going to introduce the ninja behind you?"

Hearing this, Shuichi and Aoi were startled. There was someone else?

Huan also looked at him in surprise.

And his gaze was fixed directly on Yura, who was suspended in mid-air.

"No need for introductions." Yura raised a hand in greeting and smiled, "Long time no see, Shin-getsu."

"So it really is you..." A trace of gravity appeared in his eyes as Shin-getsu said, "I thought I was mistaken. Long time no see."

Unlike Yura, although Shin-getsu was also an orphan, he possessed the bloodline of the Kusanagi Clan.

"Shin-getsu, you don't seem like a warm and kind fellow."

The Kusanagi Clan was a rather cold-blooded group; even among kin of the same clan, there was little warmth. Back when they were hacking at each other with lethal intent within the clan, this guy hadn't been smiling like this.

"Forget it. It's rare to run into an old acquaintance, so I won't bother guessing what your ambitions or motives are," Yura said with a faint smile.

"Hehehe..." The smile on his face shifted slightly, his gaze turning cold. In front of someone who knew his true colors, he revealed his hidden fangs. Without taking his eyes off Yura, Shin-getsu said to Huan, "Miss Huan, don't let this guy's harmless appearance fool you. Deep down, she is a very cruel and heartless woman. You should be careful."

I know that...

Huan had been beaten by Yura twice; she knew that all too well.

Seeing the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere, Aoi sneered from the side, "I knew it. The Kusanagi Clan really are all like this."

"Yura-kun..." Huan tried to mediate, "These three are all like-minded companions of ours."

"So, I really don't know whether to call you smart or stupid," Yura smiled faintly. "You are clearly an excellent socialite, but your judgment of people is not very accurate. You cannot grasp this guy's ambition. However, Shin-getsu, speaking ill of me to my face—your mouth is as annoying as ever."

Seeing this annoying face again, Yura suddenly realized that this guy looked almost exactly like Orochimaru had when he was a youth.

Ryūchi Cave, Kusanagi Sword... So that's how it is...

After stealing the clan's treasure and becoming a missing-nin, he took advantage of the confusion and lack of intelligence during the early days of the village's founding to join Konoha.

So, besides Onikiri, the Kusanagi Clan also possessed a Sky Tachi?

Yura looked at Huan and smiled, "Hand this guy over to me, no problem, right?"

"Wait, Yura-kun..." Huan was startled, realizing that Yura was about to make a move...

Shin-getsu's expression turned cold, and he immediately drew his ninja blade.

"You couldn't beat me during our sparring sessions..." Yura crooked a finger and smiled, "With that sword skill of yours, don't make me laugh, Shin-getsu."

Being selected for the team to assassinate Senju Hashirama meant something—there was no need to elaborate.

"You loser, you bottom-feeder of the Kusanagi Clan—what's the matter, Shin-getsu? Have you forgotten the time I almost hacked you to death?"

I can't move...

Shin-getsu stared at Yura with an ugly expression, not understanding what had triggered the attack. His limbs and body were bound. Although he knew he might not be Yura's match, he never expected to be defeated so quickly and bizarrely.

Not far away, the other two also had ugly expressions, their bodies controlled by Yura.

Well, the move had already been made.

Huan reached out a hand, then pulled it back, hurriedly saying, "Yura-kun, they are merely three ordinary Chunin; everything is under my control."

"Those three are being a bit too arrogant, still unable to grasp the situation," Yura said as she rose, strolling through the air beneath the moonlight, walking step by step across the void until she stood before Shin-getsu.

"Please spare their lives, Yura-kun," Huan pleaded urgently from the ground.

Uji Shuichi was completely bewildered; I haven't been that arrogant.

Qian Gui Aoi, meanwhile, stared stubbornly at Yura, remaining tough and silent.

"To be able to see me at the very first moment—it seems the clan's crude training methods are somewhat wasting your talent and aptitude."

Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation was quite subtle; without a powerful soul, no normal person could play around like Orochimaru did without suffering far worse side effects than just a weakened soul.

Shin-getsu watched Yura with a gloomy expression.

"You are lucky, Shin-getsu; I happen to need an informant and a spy." As she spoke of infiltrating Konoha, Yura reached out and tapped Shin-getsu lightly on the forehead.

Shin-getsu's pupils trembled; what is she trying to do?

In an instant, black strands of hair sprouted from her fingertips, then surged forth, drilling madly into Shin-getsu's face, eye sockets, and mouth.

Suddenly, three synchronized, intense screams of agony rang out through the forest.

The three of them struggled and writhed wildly in the throes of excruciating pain. After a long while, the screams subsided, leaving only the sound of labored, heavy breathing in the clearing.

"I don't quite trust them. To prevent my intelligence from leaking, Huan, I'll help you control them. That's fine, isn't it?" Yura asked with a faint smile.

Huan nodded, swallowed with difficulty, and forced a smile. "No problem at all, Yura-kun."

This Ghost Princess must be made to leave the village!

It is imperative!

It is truly fortunate that she is willing to leave on her own!