I Don't Plan to Give You a Chance

Lin Qing's anger was not merely because of the death of Xiaotao's mother.

When it came down to it, they had only met once and spent a mere three days together on a boat; there was no talk of any deep-seated affection.

Lin Qing chose to act for two reasons:

From a rational perspective, after slaughtering the six ninja, Lin Qing had found recent "shipping manifests" in the office, which indicated that two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had gone out to deliver and procure goods respectively.

In other words, there was only one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen currently stationed at Mirage City.

In a one-on-one scenario, Lin Qing had the opportunity to take the opponent down and earn a massive amount of soul fragments.

He did not want to let this opportunity slip by.

And from an emotional perspective...

This was simply not something a human being could do!

Locking people in cages where they couldn't even stand straight, using fear and starvation to extinguish the dignity in their hearts, treating people as playthings to be violated and abused...

Even the Nazis were no worse than this!

If Lin Qing had just dusted off his hands, pretended he hadn't seen anything, and walked away, he wouldn't be Lin Qing anymore.

Thump—thump—thump!

Lin Qing's heart beat with a steady, powerful rhythm. As if sensing his resolve, Star Platinum, standing behind him, became more solid and vivid, like a god descended upon the world.

Lin Qing raised a hand and pointed.

"Smash it."

ORA!

Star Platinum grabbed with both hands, tearing through the large sections of cages as if they were noodles.

ORA! ORA! ORA!

In less than ten seconds, all the cages were broken open.

"You are free," Lin Qing said.

Over four hundred captives who had been abducted and seized looked at one another; the longing for freedom and the fear of the Kirigakure ninja wrestled within their hearts.

Finally, someone took a trembling first step—

"Let's see who dares to come out today!"

A thunderous roar came from overhead.

Boom!

The skylight shattered, and a towering figure descended from the sky.

The newcomer had long, frizzy orange hair, green markings painted on his face, bandages wrapped around his neck, and sharp, shark-like teeth. On the back of his massive frame was an even larger blade wrapped in bandages.

Suikazan Fuguki.

He was the member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist left to guard Mirage City, wielder of the ninja sword Samehada, and a supreme powerhouse who had truly made a name for himself on the battlefield.

Suikazan Fuguki raised his hand and threw a kunai, aiming it at the captive who had gathered the courage to take the first step.

Do not be fooled by Suikazan Fuguki's rough, brutish appearance; no one who climbed to this level was simple-minded. He was playing the "kill the chicken to scare the monkey" card, using one life to intimidate the other captives.

Otherwise, if four hundred people swarmed out like mad dogs, even if Suikazan Fuguki were capable of fighting, it would be impossible for him to catch them all.

A hand appeared, steadily catching the thrown kunai.

Lin Qing had saved the man.

However, in the eyes of the four hundred-plus captives, the longing for freedom gradually faded.

They recognized the "master" before them.

They fell silent, and despair sprouted silently in the depths of their hearts.

The captives retreated back into their cages, knelt on the ground, and lowered their heads, not daring to meet Suikazan Fuguki's gaze, as if this would keep them safe and spare them from further inhuman torture.

But just then—

"Stand up. Do not kneel."

The voice, imbued with Ripple energy, touched the hearts of the four hundred captives.

They all looked up, gazing at Lin Qing's slender back as he stood alone against Suikazan Fuguki.

Xiaotao whispered in a daze: "Does... hope really exist?"

Aside from Suikazan Fuguki, four more ninja leaped in through the shattered skylight.

They had been drinking and making merry nearby with Suikazan Fuguki, but upon sensing deaths within the processing plant, they had rushed over. Seeing the destroyed cages, the four Kirigakure ninja broke out in a cold sweat.

If the "goods" actually escaped, Lord Suikazan Fuguki might survive, but they would certainly face the reckoning of the Fourth Mizukage.

They were as good as dead.

Thinking of this, the gazes of the four ninja toward Lin Qing were now filled with killing intent.

"I didn't expect anyone to actually dare to break in, and even less did I expect them to be foolish enough to try and release the prisoners."

Suikazan Fuguki was tall and burly. Standing upon a high platform, he looked down at Lin Qing with lowered brows and emotionless eyes, his deep voice carrying an air of authority.

"Which family do you serve? How could you be so ignorant?"

"Do you think you're the only smart one here? Why do you think no one else has made a move?"

Politics.

Gambits.

Calculations.

And... pros and cons.

"Tell me, who is the master behind you? If you behave, I might let your master send someone to collect your corpse. At the very least... you'll be able to have your name carved onto the village monument."

Utterly arrogant.

Yet, neither the four Kirigakure ninja nor the captives locked in the "cages" felt there was anything wrong with Suikazan Fuguki's words.

In their eyes, this man was a symbol of invincibility.

All eyes fell upon Lin Qing, waiting for his answer.

Language is the advantage that sets humans apart from animals.

Lin Qing liked to use words to negotiate and reach cooperation.

But today, he did not want to speak.

Lin Qing's eyes were calm, like a pool of dark, Stygian water, reflecting Suikazan Fuguki and the four Kirigakure ninja.

Because they were not worthy of being called "human."

Lin Qing took a step forward.

His footfall was light and steady, and a subtle, lightning-like golden glow flickered beneath his feet.

Whoosh—

A gust of wind surged as Lin Qing suddenly appeared before one of the Kirigakure ninja.

With Ripple Breathing erupting at full power, the sound of Lin Qing's heartbeat thundered like war drums in the ninja's ears. He delivered a horizontal hand-blade strike, severing the ninja's throat.

It wasn't until blood sprayed that the group of ninja and captives finally reacted, their eyes fixed on Lin Qing in utter disbelief.

He attacked!

He actually attacked!

Without a shred of hesitation.

"Bastard!"

The Kirigakure ninja roared.

Suikazan Fuguki's eyes widened in fury as he hoisted the massive blade on his back. "Brat! I gave you a chance!"

He leaped high into the air, the bandages wrapped around his blade falling away to reveal the hideous Greatsword, Samehada, as he brought it crashing down toward Lin Qing.

The blade whistled through the air; if it truly struck Lin Qing, he would be flayed alive even if he didn't die.

Lin Qing stood rooted to the spot, motionless, as if paralyzed by fear.

The Kirigakure ninja wore savage expressions, anticipating Lin Qing being hacked into a pulp by Samehada.

The captives closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight, their hearts sinking into the abyss of despair.

A grin spread across Suikazan Fuguki's face, revealing his shark-like teeth.

"Die!"

Just as he was about to cleave Lin Qing in two, he locked eyes with him for a fraction of a second.

Suikazan Fuguki could find no trace of panic in Lin Qing's eyes—and certainly no calm acceptance of death—but rather...

Anger and serenity.

He found it hard to imagine these two contradictory emotions blending together.

Suikazan Fuguki was no stranger to this look; he had seen it before.

Where was it?

Suikazan Fuguki had no time to ponder as he poured even more strength into his blade.

Boom!

Samehada felt as if it had struck a wall.

No, with Suikazan Fuguki's strength, he would have cleaved through a wall.

It was as if he had smashed his blade against a mountain; the edge stopped a step away from Lin Qing, and no matter how much Suikazan Fuguki exerted himself, Samehada could not advance a single inch.

Under the immense strain of the deadlock, Samehada, which possessed certain living characteristics, let out a mournful cry.

Crack—crack—

Cracks appeared on the blade of Samehada, as if an invisible giant hand were gripping it tightly, threatening to crush it to pieces.

"This... what kind of ability is this? Is it a genjutsu?"

Suikazan Fuguki surged the chakra within his body, attempting to break the illusion. When a portion of his chakra gathered in his eyes, he saw...

A massive, malevolent spirit.

"You said you gave me a chance?"

Lin Qing stared at Suikazan Fuguki, who was mere inches away.

"What a pity, I don't intend to return the favor—"

He raised his right hand, pointing at his opponent, the golden radiance deep within his pupils growing increasingly dazzling.

"I won't give you any chances."

Star Platinum yanked Samehada away, pulling Suikazan Fuguki toward him. With one hand, he gripped the man's throat, while his other hand rose high, his five fingers curling into a fist one by one.

ORA!

With just a single punch, Suikazan Fuguki's face was twisted out of shape.

The three Kirigakure ninja stared blankly at the scene, their minds completely blank.

The prisoners, who had closed their eyes, unable and unwilling to watch Lin Qing die, opened them one by one, their mouths hanging agape.

The god-like, powerful Suikazan Fuguki had actually been driven into a disadvantage!

In the past, this was something they wouldn't have even dared to imagine.

Now, Lin Qing was showing them with his actions.

No one is invincible, and besides...

The main event hadn't even begun yet.

"I won't take advantage of you.

There are four hundred people here who have suffered your torture.

For every person, I will strike you once. If you are still alive after I finish, I will leave."

Lin Qing's tone was indifferent, but that very indifference was like rubbing salt into Suikazan Fuguki's wounds. His eyes were bloodshot:

"Don't look down on me! I am Suikazan Fuguki!"

His long orange hair suddenly grew, turning into sharp, porcupine-like needles that lunged toward Lin Qing.

Suikazan Fuguki intended to force Lin Qing back first; after that, whether to fight or retreat would be his choice.

However.

ORA! ORA! ORA!

Star Platinum unleashed dozens of consecutive punches, shattering the incoming hair into pieces.

Then, he wrapped his hands around the man and gave a forceful tug. Accompanied by a hair-raising tearing sound, Suikazan Fuguki's long hair was ripped out by the roots.

His crimson scalp was exposed, and the skull beneath was vaguely visible.

"Ahhhhh!!!!"

Suikazan Fuguki let out a shrill, miserable scream.

"Can't take it when it happens to you?" Lin Qing asked.

"I want you dead!"

Suikazan Fuguki's hands moved in a rapid seal, preparing to unleash a Water Release ninjutsu.

Star Platinum grabbed his mouth, forcing him to swallow the jutsu back down.

He took a deep breath, power accumulating within the respiration, and then—

ORA! ORA! ORA!

ORA! ORA! ORA!

ORA! ORA! ORA!

Four hundred punches in total, delivered in just a few seconds, bombarded Suikazan Fuguki's body.

In this moment, he remembered.

He remembered when he had seen that same look of fury and reason as Lin Qing's.

During the Third Shinobi World War, when that madman named Might Duy, his body burning with a crimson aura, swung his fists at them, he had that exact same look in his eyes.

Back then, he had dodged it, carrying the fear hidden deep in his heart, and survived until now.

Now, the fists from ten years ago...

Had finally landed.

ORA!

Star Platinum threw his final punch, smashing into Suikazan Fuguki's face, which was already unrecognizable. He sent him flying heavily into the wall, where the impact shattered the stone into a human-shaped crater, embedding him deep within.

Like a mural.

Killed Suikazan Fuguki, obtained 450 Soul Shards.