Third-Class Divine Punishment

As they watched the young figure gradually disappear into the distance, the younger members of the Tsuchigumo Clan fell into a prolonged silence.

Before arriving in this coastal nation, they had never known that the future of the clan their leader spoke of did not mean joining one of the traditional Five Great Shinobi Villages, but rather devoting themselves to the newly risen Demon Hidden Village—a force led by a young man roughly their own age.

Though in their isolated lives, they had all heard, more or less, of the Uchiha Clan's renown and the title "Asura of Blood."

But when it truly came time to place their own lives, as well as their clan's fate and future, in the hands of this force at the center of the storm and its young leader...

They still felt some resistance in their hearts. Some even began to regret leaving their clan grounds so easily.

"Clan Leader,"

"Isn't the title of Kage reserved for the leaders of the Five Great Shinobi Villages?"

"Lord Arata's name and the Uchiha Clan's reputation are indeed formidable."

"But aren't we being a little too humble?"

Once the young leader, who was about their age, had completely vanished from sight, several emotionally stirred Tsuchigumo Clan descendants exchanged glances before voicing the knot in their hearts.

And when Yu Zhi recalled how their clan leader had just bowed slightly and addressed the other party as Lord Demon Kage, a burning flush of shame rose to his face.

After all, because of the terrifying power unleashed by their clan's secret technique, [Heavenly Fury], even Konoha's Third Hokage had been regarded as their equal.

"Master never insisted that the Tsuchigumo Clan join."

Hearing the doubt concealed in her clansmen's question, the first to answer was not En no Gyōja, but