"Keep it up! Hurry up!"
In the depths of what used to be a quiet valley, a camp sits, a remarkable defensive structure for this place.
But now, it is being besieged by thousands of people, and various attacks are hitting it at a frequency that no individual can match.
The ground was now a vast expanse of water, with waves controlled by some unknown force crashing against the exceptionally sturdy wooden wall. In the air, projectiles bound with Explosive Tag fell continuously, creating fiery lotuses like fireworks.
"Unexpectedly strong, huh? When people are in dire straits, their true nature is unfathomable."
Looking at the crudely constructed yet surprisingly sturdy camp before him, the leader who commanded over a thousand tribal troops did not seem to exhibit the typical villainous behavior of someone prone to outbursts of rage.
In reality, there are no inherently good or bad guys in this world. Good people and bad people are all just trying to make a living. At least in the world of people in the same profession, this distinction doesn't exist.
A bandit may be a villain to outsiders, but in the eyes of his relatives and friends, he is still a familiar family member. A person's goodness or evil is not different because of their profession.
If we must make a distinction, it's simply a matter of those who are capable and those who are not, the strong and the weak. The former naturally continue to live, while the latter turn to Kitsuchi.
In the past, Yuki wipe out an entire clan, but today his remaining clan is besieged and being treated the same as those they once destroyed. It's just a matter of the power dynamics shifting, and fortunes changing.
"But leader, they're really good at holding on."
A tribal ninja who had just retired wiped his sweat, walked to his leader's side, and sighed.
"I didn't expect that a group of remnants would still know how to use barriers."
"It's alright, they're just inferior goods. The essence of Yuki's combat techniques are all in the hands of the Ice Release users who were wiped out back then. These people with the surname Yuki have only learned a little bit of the basics."
The leader shook his head.
"Although they are enemies, this clan is remarkably resilient. Despite suffering such a calamity, they have managed to maintain such fighting strength. If an ordinary clan had suffered such a disaster, they would have basically disintegrated within a few years, let alone be able to reunite and maintain the systematic inheritance of Ninjutsu techniques, even if they were just inferior goods that they originally looked down upon."
"It moved! It moved!"
Suddenly, cheers erupted from all around.
"They can't hold on any longer!"
Cracks were beginning to appear in the air above the outer wall of the opposite camp...
With thousands of followers attacking hundreds of remaining members of the clan, this outcome was to be expected. These people were not the same as the Yuki who were skilled in Ice Release.
"Have the brothers prepare to enter the stronghold. Remember, the primary objective is to capture them alive. Do not kill unless absolutely necessary; dead people have no value."
The leader, with a calm expression, gave instructions to his subordinates. The subordinates responded and went to relay his orders.
Being a bandit is also a meticulous job. Once people gather together, without a certain degree of discipline, it's basically impossible to accomplish anything. Bandits also have their own set of procedures; at least, in terms of obeying orders, there's no difference.
Inside the village, the atmosphere was completely different from outside. As cracks began to appear in the air, an overwhelming sense of despair began to spread throughout the village...
"Chieftain, the barrier is about to break!"
A man, panting heavily, climbed down the wooden wall and ran into the largest house in the village, where the older generation of Yuki lived.
"They can't hold on any longer... Well, they've come with great force, so they certainly won't let us go."
The one elected as the clan leader was just a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties, but he looked helpless.
They had no manpower, no advanced ninja skills, and no way to make a living outside. This group of people were huddled here, having long since entrusted their future to the master.
"In that case, prepare for battle. Have your people retreat from the first wall. Those who were supporting the barrier can take a rest."
He waved his hand.
"Tell the other tribesmen that if we cannot stop the bandits, they should enter that mountain path, seal the entrance, and escape from the other side of the valley."
"Chieftain, why don't we seek help from the nearby officials? We are no longer a sinner clan."
Upon hearing this, the messenger asked with dissatisfaction, clearly disliking this passive, defensive approach. Most importantly, even in this passive defense, Yuki might not be able to protect himself in his current state.
"Even if the tribe is powerful, would they dare to take action against the government?"
"Silly child, Feudal Lord of Water's exoneration was just for show. It's already a blessing that the people no longer resent us. Do you really expect the government to stand up for us?"
The clan chief kept shaking his head and sighing.
"Let's face reality. The previous generation of Yuki has been completely wiped out. Even if some of our descendants awaken Ice Release, what can we, the Yuki clan, do? The Yuki lineage has been broken. We are no longer the Yuki Clan."
His eyes turned indifferent.
"There's no need to rely on the hypocrisy of those nobles. These big shots, they'd rather die a quick death than expect us to surrender. They're dreaming!"
The chieftain shifted his gaze towards the camp gate, and a slow smile appeared on his face.
"We spent so much effort building this camp back then, didn't we take this situation into account? Come on, let's use it all, it won't be in vain that we shed so much sweat."
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, the initially disappointed messenger immediately perked up and ran off in a flash.
Soon, the order reached the wooden wall. Upon receiving the order, hundreds of Yuki clan members immediately withdrew. Without the support of Chakra, the barrier surrounding the wooden wall did not last long and shattered with a series of crackling sounds, revealing the true form of the wooden wall.
With water below and fire above, and no protective barrier, the fragile wooden wall was utterly unable to withstand such an attack. Soon, caught between the water and fire, it shattered into countless pieces and collapsed with a deafening roar...
Behind the collapsed wooden wall lay a flat area with numerous wooden houses scattered about. Amidst the flying wood chips, one could see elderly people, women, and children moving frantically in the distance.
"It's fallen! It's fallen!"
The tribal ninjas outside the wall cheered.
"Charge! Forget the elderly, grab everyone else!"
The extremely excited bandits immediately rushed towards the flat ground and numerous wooden houses exposed after the wooden wall collapsed.
"Oh no! Make them stop!"
Behind the tribal army, the chieftain, who had initially wore a smile, suddenly changed his expression drastically.
"Quick..."
Unfortunately, he said it a little too late...
An inconspicuous rocket, launched from who-knows-where, landed right in the midst of the tribal vanguard that had already charged in most of the way.
In an instant, before these people could react, the entire ground erupted in a sea of crimson flames, engulfing all of them in flames!
Ahead, there was no flat land, no wooden houses, no old people, women, or children. Instead, there was a new high wall, and it wasn't made of wood, but of mountain stones!
"Group Genjutsu..."
Looking at his people who were engulfed in flames and screaming in agony, the chieftain's lips trembled uncontrollably, and his face turned a terrifyingly ashen red!
"Well... well, what a remnant of the Yuki clan!"