The Operation Begins

Hidden in the unnaturally quiet village, Kakuzu was a little bewildered.

Something was wrong! Something was wrong! Something was wrong!

The atmosphere in the village was far too strange!

Carefully slipping past the sentries and hidden posts manned by Chunin and Genin, Kakuzu made his way toward the village center. As a Jonin, evading the detection of Chunin and Genin was a little troublesome, but hardly impossible.

Besides, compared to the personnel of the Five Great Villages, the village's lower- and mid-ranking ninja were generally of poor quality.

Even in one of the Five Great Villages, Kakuzu was confident he could move around undetected, approach important figures without anyone noticing, and assassinate them.

Why were there so many ninja gathered here?

Was it a trap?

Wasn't that guy supposed to draw the village's ninja away and create an opening for me to assassinate someone?

Why had things turned out like this?

Honestly, facing a large number of lower- and mid-ranking ninja, along with several elite Jonin of comparable strength, Kakuzu didn't feel nearly that bold.

But he'd already made his promise. For the moment, he was caught in a dilemma. As he drew closer, Kakuzu used the Transformation Technique to disguise himself as a nobody and hid around the perimeter of the leader's building at the village center, quietly waiting for the agreed-upon time to attack.

If things proved impossible, he would retreat for now.

In the village's main building, the village elders—an assembly of old men and women—were growing restless under the tense atmosphere and situation. Their faces were full of anxiety. So far, they hadn't received a single piece of good news. Time passed quietly, and the meeting hall remained silent and heavy with tension. Then, as noon approached...

With a whoosh, a ninja appeared on the ground in a Body Flicker.

His face was pale, and he was covered in blood and wounds. Shin-getsu dropped to one knee and said gravely, "Elder, our clan has been attacked! There are many Konoha ninja, and they're advancing fiercely!"

"Konoha!!!" an old man cried out in alarm!

"How is that possible!!!" another old man shouted in terror. "Is Senju Hashirama going to break the peace with his own hands!!!"

"I told you! That man can't be trusted!!! Uchiha Madara has already gone his separate way, which proves Hashirama is a faithless little man. Besides, Hashirama's promise was made to the Five Great Villages! Not to us!!!"

"Silence!!!"

Everyone turned to look at the First Elder, Taki.

But one person ignored them. Her expression changed abruptly. She grabbed her naginata and was about to climb out the window.

"What are you doing, Jonin Kusanagi Kyoka?" the First Elder said sternly. "Foolish. This is the enemy's strategy to split our forces."

Of course you're not worried when it's not your clan under attack.

Crouched on the windowsill, Kyoka stared at the First Elder with cold, snake-like eyes, her killing intent palpable.

"Calm down, Kyoka," said the Kusanagi elder. "Our clan isn't weak. Hui Shiliu will repel the attackers. Unless the God of Shinobi himself shows up, we still have a fighting chance."

Mochizuki Gen glanced sidelong at Kyoka. What a shame.

Still, given the circumstances, the First Elder had to respond somehow.

The village's elite Jonin couldn't be spared, but there were still plenty of lower- and mid-ranking ninja available.

"Carry out my orders..." He reached a decision after only a moment's thought, rose, and said, "Since the Kusanagi Clan has been attacked, send reinforcements—"

Before he could finish, a sudden scream rang out in the hall.

"Ahhhhh..." The old woman from the Qian-Gui Clan suddenly clutched her head and shrieked, her face twisted in a grimace. "Damn brat! Who are you—what kind of being are you!?"

Everyone stared at her in shock.

"Granny Xun!" The Qian-Gui Jonin behind Xun cried out, unable to understand what was happening.

"Damn it—! My body—!!!"

Before she could say another word, the old woman from the Qian-Gui Clan abruptly crumbled into a heap of dirt.

A dirt clone?

The unexpected turn of events stunned everyone present. Watching the scene, Mochizuki Gen's eyes flickered.

This wasn't part of the plan. With an unexpected complication, Mochizuki Gen's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he made his decision. His figure suddenly blurred. In a flash, one hand pierced through the Kusanagi elder's back, holding a heart that still beat slowly in his palm.

"You bastard—!!!" The Kusanagi elder turned his head and stared at Mochizuki Gen with hatred, vomiting blood.

Kyoka, who had been away from the Kusanagi elder's side as his guard and was too late to save him, watched with pupils suddenly constricted.

The situation set off a chain reaction. Swords rasped from their sheaths all around the room.

"Have you betrayed the village, Lord Mochizuki Gen?" The Uji elder rose, leaning on his cane, his eyes wild.

"Betrayed?" His hand clenched, crushing the old man's heart. Mochizuki Gen said, "I'm merely purging the village of its filthy tumors."

The Kusanagi elder's eyes dimmed, and he gradually fell silent. Mochizuki Gen withdrew his hand.

"Die!!!" Kyoka screamed. Lightning blazed. The naginata in her hands broke apart in the flash, and her thrust shot forward like a venomous snake. As lightning connected the pieces, the weapon's reach extended rapidly, becoming a roaring Chidori that crackled with savage force.

Fast—extremely fast!

It was as quick as a flash of lightning.

Mochizuki Gen made no visible move. A faint light blazed in his eyes.

The Eye of Breaking Writing activated.

The next second, the lightning in midair twisted unnaturally and reversed direction. Kyoka's body jerked by the window. She vomited a mouthful of blood, and blood burst into her vision. Slowly, Kyoka lowered her head and stared at the naginata piercing her chest, her pupils trembling.

Did my own attack kill me?

The broken naginata slipped from its owner's grasp. Its pieces fell to the floor, clattering and rolling away.

"Don't show him any killing intent!!!" the First Elder, Taki, shouted gravely. "This man's technique can reflect all ninjutsu attacks!"

But it was too late. A ninja's body often moved faster than the mind.

With Mochizuki Gen's hypnotic eyes operating at full power, any ninja who showed killing intent toward him or made an attack was affected. Under the powerful hypnosis, their brains sent false signals, forcing their bodies into action.

Several ninja in the hall had drawn their blades. Their faces were filled with terror as they involuntarily pressed their Ninja Blades against their own throats. Panic and despair overwhelmed them...

"No—!!! Help—!!!"

Their arms tensed and dragged the blades down. Sharp edges cut through their throats, and seven bodies with their necks half-severed collapsed together. Blood spread beneath them, gradually flowing across the floor.

This was Mochizuki Gen, from the Mochizuki Clan, the family that led the Koga Ninja Clan.

Everyone present narrowed their eyes in unison.

Elder Taki's lips parted. "Even Taijutsu can be reflected..."

The elite Uji Jonin, clad in light-blue shinobi armor, licked his lips with bloodthirsty excitement. "As expected of Lord Mochizuki Gen, the strongest man in the village. This is so exciting..."

He glanced at the man in a tight black ninja outfit and said, "Hey, Hayabusa, this man isn't someone we can beat on our own. That fool Kyoka is already done for."

Kyoka sat slumped against the wall, her head bowed. Her long black hair had come undone, and she was breathing weakly, barely drawing breath.

Hayabusa folded his arms and silently nodded. Slowly, he drew the Ninja Blade strapped to his back.

The moment he stepped forward, his blade pierced straight through the back of Elder Taki.

A tattered black scarf fluttered in the wind around Hayabusa's neck. He remained silent, his head bowed, his tall frame looking down at the First Elder.

Disbelief filled the First Elder's eyes. He vomited blood and cried out, "Why!? Why have you betrayed me!?"

Mochizuki Gen stared at Hayabusa, uncertain and surprised.

Huan hadn't mentioned this.

"Because..." Hayabusa said solemnly. "I'm her older brother... Protecting my younger sister is only right."

The First Elder's pupils contracted in utter shock. Aren't you an orphan?

"Take your questions to hell with you, Elder Taki." Hayabusa twisted the hilt, completely mangling the heart.

The Hero Clan's head family had always maintained two branches, one in the open and one in the shadows, to ensure the Hero Clan wouldn't die out because of the Hero Water. If the head of the family had to die, another could take over immediately. It was a secret known only to the head of the family.

"Wonderful!" The Uji elder stepped forward, leaning on his cane, his face wild with madness. "Now, in the name of the village elders, I order you, Taki ninja: kill these traitors!!!"

"Hayabusa!!!" the Uji Jonin in light-blue shinobi armor cried excitedly. "Come on! Let's finish the fated duel from the Warring States era!!!"

His hands formed seals rapidly. There were only six.

A roaring Water Dragon Bullet smashed through one side of the main building.

Outside, Kakuzu watched the water dragon flying through the air, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"The operation begins!"