The End

The woman changed tactics, no longer attacking from a distance. She put away her blowpipe and drew a short blade, closing in to fight. She followed the ancient traditions of the ninja, relying on speed and precision to kill her enemies. According to her clan's training, when facing chakra users, she was to fight at close range. Ordinary chakra-using ninja would certainly die at the hands of a traditional ninja like her, because their bodies were full of openings: while forming Hand Seals, in the instant they released a jutsu, after using the Body Flicker Technique or the Substitution Technique, and whenever they were poisoned and couldn't neutralize it. This man was a bit troublesome, but in the end, he would still die by her blade.

The woman made no effort to hide her approach. Relying on her speed, she charged straight at him, her short blade nearing Uchiha Zhuang before even the wind could catch up. Uchiha Zhuang knew that in this environment, ninjutsu wouldn't do much against her; he would only leave himself open to a fatal strike. He barely managed to draw his short blade and hold it before his chest. The woman's thrusting blade vanished with a whoosh, and she disappeared from sight. This trick again? Uchiha Zhuang instantly used Water Style: Water Formation Wall, but there was no one behind him. Just then, the floor beneath his feet seemed to turn over, and the woman appeared in an instant, short blade in hand. This woman had rigged the floorboards in this room ahead of time. What a cunning ninja. Uchiha Zhuang's eyes could follow her ordinary movements, but his body couldn't react in time. In the end, her short blade still cut his chin. After landing her strike, the woman quickly retreated beyond his reach and stood at a distance, blade in hand. The wound on his chin began to grow numb, and his tongue slowly swelled. Thin black streaks appeared in the blood oozing from the wound. Uchiha Zhuang took it all in. What a formidable woman. He might not make it out of here alive today!

Faced with this desperate situation, Uchiha Zhuang's mind instead grew calm. He was no longer angry or hesitant; he began thinking about how to defeat her. His greatest advantage was ninjutsu, while the woman's was her peerless speed. How could he use force to limit her speed? Uchiha Zhuang pondered as the woman across from him took out her blowpipe and began harassing him from a distance again. Uchiha Zhuang smiled, having figured it out. Just you wait. As she blew through the pipe, Uchiha Zhuang flung a smoke bomb. Smoke filled the room, thick enough to seriously obstruct her vision. She quickly pulled out a scarf to cover her nose and mouth, then crouched in a corner, on guard. Uchiha Zhuang charged through the smoke and threw a volley of shuriken, blocking her escape. Trapped in the corner, the woman charged again. Holding her blade in reverse grip, she used her other hand to press against the hilt, then leapt lightly and kicked hard off the wall. Like an arrow loosed from its bow, she shot toward Uchiha Zhuang at tremendous speed. He didn't dodge or evade, taking the thrust head-on. The woman's blade sank all the way into his body, but at that very moment, he locked her in a tight embrace. She couldn't break free. Water Release: Water Prison Technique. A voice rang out. Before the clone burst into smoke, Uchiha Zhuang had already completed the jutsu. Using the frontal view of his clone to conceal himself, he had cast the Water Prison Technique with his real body the instant the clone restrained the woman.

Trapped in the water, the woman stared at Uchiha Zhuang with wide eyes. Those watery eyes seemed to be calling him despicable and shameless. But Uchiha Zhuang was already used to such praise. He took out a Senzu Bean and ate it. Of the two Senzu Beans he had left, only one remained now. But faced with an unknown, deadly poison, Uchiha Zhuang didn't begrudge it. He created another clone to maintain the water prison, then slowly walked toward the middle-aged man. With the threat eliminated, he could take a good look at the man hailed as the pillar of the Land of Water: Mado Tadamori.

He had a receding hairline, a shiny, round face, and a large belly. His limbs looked somewhat muscular, but he had too much body fat, and the fat on his chest and belly sagged. While Uchiha Zhuang and the others had been fighting for their lives, these people hadn't even gotten dressed and were still watching. Uchiha Zhuang stared at them, speechless. Just then, a man's voice suddenly sounded beyond the sliding door to the terrace. "Lord Mado, are you all right? An assassin broke in just now. Do you need us to come in and protect you?" Uchiha Zhuang sensed that it was the jōnin from the roof. With Uchiha Zhuang frowning and the tip of his short blade angled slightly toward him, Mado Tadamori chose to be sensible. "I'm fine. Don't disturb me. No one is to set foot in this room again tonight, or I'll have you killed!"

After sending away the jōnin, he turned and looked at Uchiha Zhuang in terror. Uchiha Zhuang studied him with interest, then asked, "Which one of you is the finance minister's daughter?" The naked women all shifted away, leaving an isolated young woman with fair skin and striking looks. Uchiha Zhuang saw the specks of blood on the bedsheet and nodded. He turned back to Mado Tadamori and asked, "When are you planning to return the country to the Daimyo?" The man forced himself to stay calm. "I've already decided to return the Land of Water to the Daimyo. After all, I'm only handling state affairs on his behalf for the time being." Uchiha Zhuang didn't react and continued, "The common people can't even afford food. Did you know that? And you're still indulging in wine and women?"

Mado Tadamori explained, "I've been stepping up grain purchases from several neighboring countries, but the distance makes it difficult to transport, and countless bandits and brigands rob the shipments along the way!" At this, Uchiha Zhuang couldn't help recalling the bandit stronghold he had first wiped out in the Land of Rivers, along with the dozens of women who hadn't even had enough clothes to cover themselves. "Besides, the opposition keeps suppressing me, trying to drive me out of the Land of Rain. I've devoted myself to the Daimyo and the Land of Rain, only to be subjected to such humiliation in my old age!" Mado Tadamori pretended to wipe away a tear and glanced sidelong at Uchiha Zhuang. Seeing no reaction, he continued to complain. "I've spent my whole life on the battlefield. To repay the late Daimyo for entrusting me with his final charge, I've always been cautious, serving my country and its people without the slightest slackening. Faced with the schemes of political enemies, the abuse of commoners, and assassins coming day and night, I never backed down. I swear to live and die with my country! I will never let filthy politicians corrupt our nation! Warrior, you're from the Land of Water too, aren't you? I hope we can resolve our own country's affairs ourselves. Will you lend a hand to a poor old man like me? Help me clear out the trash and parasites at the top, and give the common people a wonderful country! Will you join me?" Mado Tadamori grew more and more impassioned as he spoke, until at last he stood straight and delivered his speech with theatrical fervor.

Uchiha Zhuang watched the Land of Rain's pillar perform with keen interest and couldn't help silently applauding. "Actually, I'm not interested in power. I'd like to know: if I join you, what's in it for me?" Mado Tadamori had completely recovered by now, seeming to have returned to his usual state of comfort and authority. He replied calmly, "You can take anything below me: money, women, land, houses, shops, or even the position of general in the country. That could be arranged. You've already shown me your bravery, and you should know I've always liked brave young men. I like you, young man. I'll let what happened today slide. Go wait downstairs, and I'll have someone notify you tomorrow." He ignored Uchiha Zhuang, turned back to the women, and tried to pick up where he'd left off.

"Lord Mado Tadamori, sorry, but I've accepted a commission to take your life, so I have no choice but to kill you." "Oh!?" Mado Tadamori turned around, one hand still gripping a woman's hair. "Then how much is the bounty? Five hundred million ryō or a billion?" "Heh." Uchiha Zhuang let out a dry laugh. "Thirty million ryō."