Sleep, everyone

Everything was over. Having slaughtered the ninjas and confirmed that the scroll in hand was the forbidden technique Earth Grudge Fear, Yura nodded with satisfaction; this trip could be considered a complete success.

Meanwhile, in the village, the fighting continued. Sensing the negative emotions churning and entangling over there, Yura smiled faintly.

Having no interest in looking again, the strife within the village no longer concerned Yura, regardless of how it turned out.

Turning around, Yura left with Aoi, the last remaining seedling of the Qian Gui Clan.

"Do you have any plans? Do you still intend to stay in the village?"

On the road, Yura asked.

"Eh..." Aoi thought for a moment and said, "I don't know."

"Then, are you interested in becoming my subordinate?" Yura asked casually.

"Yes, Lord Yura." Aoi bowed submissively. Having witnessed Yura effortlessly and decisively slaughter a monster like the clan head, along with a host of other clansmen, Aoi had fully grasped Yura's power.

"Then go to Sunagakure and lie low," Yura said. "If there is a need, I will summon you."

"Yes, Lord Yura," Aoi said.

"Come to think of it, are you interested in Earth Grudge Fear?" Yura asked.

Eh, is he being this generous?

Not knowing how to answer, Aoi remained silent.

Seeing this, Yura did not bring it up again.

The Qian-Gui Princess he had just killed reminded Yura of a female ninja, Fū, who hailed from Sunagakure before defecting to the Land of Fire to serve as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja. She was a special ninja who had abandoned her human form, using her hair as her true body—a monster of sorts—possessing five elemental chakras and an immortal body. In many respects, she was like a carbon copy of another Kakuzu.

The Shinobi World was not very large. The Senju and Uchiha were one family a thousand years ago, and most ninja clans in the Shinobi World were related to some degree, all tracing their origins back to the same ancestor.

If there was a connection between their ninjutsu, then whether it was Kakuzu or Fū, what they had obtained were merely parts of the forbidden Earth Grudge Fear technique.

The fact that a high-ranking old man carried a forbidden scroll on his person was quite strange, and it being coincidentally picked up by Kakuzu made Yura wonder what exactly he had been busy with all this time.

"Lord Yura?" Aoi hesitated.

"Go," Yura said, casually dangling a carrot. "I'll judge by your performance."

"Ha! Lord Yura!" Aoi immediately perked up; she craved power.

Parting ways with Aoi outside the village, Yura took one last look at Takigakure behind the waterfall and walked toward Lucy.

So, where to next?

Yura pondered this question.

"Hey! Big monster!" Having waited for nearly a day, Lucy saw Yura and excitedly stood up, waving repeatedly. "Are you done with your business?"

"Mm," Yura nodded, smiling faintly. "Let's go, Little Monster~ Next stop, the Land of Earth."

Yura wanted to learn a flight-based technique, and he looked at the freely soaring Lucy with a touch of envy. The only place that could satisfy his requirements was Iwagakure; joining them might not be a bad idea.

Facing the afternoon sun, Yura left with Lucy.

In Takigakure, the fighting continued; the entire village was in civil war, split into two factions tearing each other apart.

Kakuzu sided with no one, but he was no fool; he specifically targeted the soft targets, especially the old men and women. Toward these stupid and incompetent village leaders, his hatred was higher than the sky and deeper than the sea. Relying on his massive chakra reserves, he unleashed large-scale ninjutsu without hesitation. With his body hardened by the Earth Spear technique, he rampaged through the fleeing elders, unable to stop himself from letting out wild, gratified laughter that drew many eyes.

But at this moment, the village's top combatants had no time to deal with him.

Two jonin, one in black and one in blue, were locked in a fierce duel, the battle scene incredibly intense; the nearby mid-to-low-level ninjas dared not intervene.

After dealing with the Qian Gui Clan's jonin, Mochizuki Gen, having cleared his position, began a slaughter, turning a blind eye to Kakuzu's existence.

In the midst of this delicate situation, Kakuzu paused, staring at a scroll that had burst out from an old man who had just been killed.

With quick eyes and nimble hands, he snatched it up and stuffed it into his pocket, then continued to fight with abandon.

At some unknown point, the outcome was decided.

The final Uji jonin collapsed in a spread-eagle position on the rooftop of a building, coughing up blood, his gaze clear as he looked at the black-clad, masked ninja.

"You won, Hayabusa. You brat, you actually had an ace up your sleeve..."

Half-kneeling on the ground, Hayabusa panted heavily.

"It's over, Masato."

"Hayabusa, I saw it. The light of the God Tree is so warm... so warm..." Masato, answering a question that wasn't asked, looked up at the cliff wall of the village above, his eyes gradually losing focus. "I'm tired, Hayabusa... are you tired?"

"The village still has a future; now is not the time to call yourself tired, Masato."

"Then I wish you... good fortune in battle... Hayabusa..." His eyes completely lost focus. Hayabusa stepped forward and gently closed them for him.

The killing was mostly done. Mochizuki Gen scanned his surroundings.

The high-ranking officials had been slaughtered to the last, and the ninjas of the four clans were mostly dead as well. It was time to end it.

Come, Huan!

Mochizuki Gen looked at the village ninjas who were watching him in terror, and a signal flare exploded in the sky.

For a moment, his mind felt dazed, as if he heard the cry of an infant—that was his child, born in Takigakure, and would grow up in Takigakure.

Kakuzu ceased his movements, looking at this man with a strange expression.

In the distance, the constant whoosh of Body Flicker techniques cutting through the air echoed. Leading a group of ninjas, with a red scarf fluttering in the wind, Huan made her entrance. Seeing Mochizuki Gen surrounded by the village ninjas, she bit her lip until it turned white.

Lord Gen...

"Lord Gen, Kakuzu, as high-ranking ninjas of this village, what are you doing?"

Suddenly, Kakuzu's eyes widened.

"Are you trying to betray the village!!!" With crystalline tears shimmering in her eyes, Huan demanded in a deep, stern voice.

The ninjas who had followed Gen in rebellion looked at him, bewildered. Wait, Lord Gen, that's not what we agreed upon beforehand.

"Hahahahahaha!!!" Clutching his forehead in manic laughter, Mochizuki Gen roared, "What village! What betrayal! This Humble One is merely following his own will! I crave the slaughter of ninjas! Huan! A little yellow-haired girl like you! Do you even deserve to know! What a ninja truly is!!!"

A ninja is one who can endure all pain.

Standing in the corner, Kakuzu's expression was ugly and bizarre; he couldn't shake the feeling that he had been set up.

"Wantonly slaughtering our comrades in the village, everyone!" Tears rolled down Huan's cheeks as she shouted, "Mochizuki Gen! Kakuzu! As the leader of the Hero Clan, I will absolutely not allow you! To act so recklessly!!!"

"Enough talk!" Mochizuki Gen looked at Huan and said calmly, "Come! Defeat me! And This Humble One will acknowledge your qualifications as the leader of Takigakure! Only the strongest ninja! Is worthy of being the leader of a village!"

"So that's how it is..." Huan lowered her head, drew her blade, and said, "Then I have no choice but to fight you to the death!"

The air suddenly grew heavy. The ninjas from all directions ceased their fighting, watching this scene unfold.

In the next second, Huan moved. She used the Body Flicker technique to lunge forward with a direct thrust, moving as fast as a phantom. The blade pierced through his chest, and bright red blood dripped from the tip of the sword, splashing onto the ground.

Mochizuki Gen looked down at Huan, who had buried her head against his chest, weeping silently with tears streaming down her face. He struggled and shouted.

"How... is this possible!!! You actually... managed to break This Humble One's ocular technique...!!!"

The ninjas were in an uproar. Everyone had witnessed just how powerful Mochizuki Gen was; no one had been able to even raise a blade before him or mount a decent attack. The moment they harbored the intent to attack, they would instantly perish by their own hand. He was a truly terrifying, powerful, and unsolvable man.

After a long moment, the ninjas erupted into thunderous cheers.

Watching this scene, the corners of Kakuzu's mouth twitched violently, while the ninjas who had followed Gen wore expressions as if the sky had collapsed.

Wait, Boss, you're dead just like that? What about us?!

Was Huan really that strong?

Kakuzu looked at Huan with wariness. He had watched Gen's battles and dared not provoke him, but this woman—she was strong!

The village truly was full of hidden talents!

Huan's body trembled. In the distance, Hayabusa watched this scene quietly. Listening to the thunderous cheers, Gen collapsed forward, leaning against Huan. He spoke in a weak, soft voice: "Huan, hold fast to your path. Build the village into a peaceful sanctuary. Finally, be careful of... Yura..."

"I understand... Lord Gen..."

Leaning against Huan's body, Gen's corpse slumped down powerlessly.

Huan dared not move, could not move, and let him fall. After a long moment, she drew her ninja blade and shouted sharply, "The culprit has been executed! Will you not surrender at once! What! Do you! Want to try dying once!!!"

As her words fell, the sound of weapons hitting the ground rang out one after another. Both sides of the conflict, in a rare moment of consensus, surrendered simultaneously.

Seeing this, both sides looked at each other, feeling somewhat dazed.

Kakuzu silently took a step back.

At this moment, Huan's sharp gaze swept over. "Kakuzu! What are you trying to do!?"

If she could, Huan didn't really want Kakuzu to leave; he was the only high-end combat power the village had left.

Kakuzu said nothing, simply turning and running for his life!

The ninjas stirred, unsure whether to pursue. They looked at Huan with longing, eager to atone for their crimes through merit.

"Kakuzu! You won't get away!" Huan shouted sternly, but her feet didn't move an inch.

Hearing this, Kakuzu ran even faster.

Huan just watched, doing nothing, while crystalline tears shimmered in her eyes.

Everything was over.

Under the warm light of the God Tree, Takigakure welcomed a new beginning. The ground was littered with the corpses of ninjas, lying in every direction. By the window of the main conference room, Kusanagi Kyoka kept her head bowed, appearing to sleep sweetly, unable to move a muscle. On the eaves outside the building, the man from the Qian-Gui Clan lay on the tiles, his body covered in scarred fist marks, sleeping just as soundly.

Gen lay slumped on the ground, a peaceful smile on his lips.

A ghost who should have died long ago in the Warring States period could finally go home; his clansmen were waiting for him.

Sitting on the edge of the eaves, Hayabusa watched this scene. Behind him was Masato, a friend for life and death who had fought him since they were children.

Only in this moment of death had this man finally set aside the facade he had maintained his entire life. The smile on his face was simple and sunny.

Only now did Hayabusa truly understand this unique friend.

"You're tired, sleep now, everyone."

His gaze turned tenderly toward his younger sister, Huan, who stood at the center of the crowd.

"Do you still remember me, Huan..."

Seeing the look Hayabusa cast her way, Huan formed the words silently from afar.

Onii-chan...

Beneath his mask, the corners of Hayabusa's mouth curved upward.