Asura Is Here

The bandits searching inside the cave failed to find Uchiha Zhuang. Frantic and furious, they clamored within the cavern; some suggested taking the loot and scattering, others shouted about killing that detestable "rat," while some headed toward the escape tunnel. Just then, a voice rang out: "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" The temperature inside the cave soared instantly. The bandits near the entrance ran straight into the giant fireball flying stealthily toward them, turning into human torches in a heartbeat. The men behind them fell into utter chaos, followed by a Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique that struck the rear ranks, throwing the entire crowd into disarray. The layer of lamp oil spread across the ground ignited at the perfect moment, and combined with the burning branches and leaves, the cave transformed into a smelting furnace. After cutting down a few bandits who rushed forward, Uchiha Zhuang waited for the cave to burn thoroughly, ensuring no one would be spared, before sprinting from outside toward the escape exit. The caltrops and steel wires he had set up earlier proved effective; several bandits were limping from the traps. Uchiha Zhuang arrived late, ambushing them from behind. The enemy failed to dodge, caught off guard by their own carelessness. With a flick of his wrist and a flash of his blade, he finished off the last few bandits attempting to flee. With that, the bandits were completely wiped out. Only a dozen or so regular foot soldiers remained, but to him, these people who slaughtered the innocent—whether foot soldiers or bandits—all had to die.

His killing intent surging, Uchiha Zhuang did not notice his eyes quietly awakening a single tomoe. He turned and sprinted toward the clearing in front of the cave entrance. Sure enough, the dozen foot soldiers, led by their captain, had entered the trap. "Stay alert! There are too many thickets here. Everyone, grip your weapons and move back-to-back." Following the order, the squad tightened their formation, everyone scanning their surroundings. Uchiha Zhuang observed them, carefully contemplating how to eliminate this group of foot soldiers, when suddenly, he spotted a towering tree nearby and formed a plan. Uchiha Zhuang climbed halfway up the tree, his feet clinging to the trunk. "Water Style: Water Needle Technique!" The dense lines of water shooting down from above easily pierced their unprotected skin. Though rapid, it only caused injuries that severely restricted movement, unable to kill outright. Next came the "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique." Facing the massive fireball pressing down from above, the dozen foot soldiers dragged their bodies, injured by the water needles, and scrambled to dodge. In the end, seven or eight were struck by the fireball and cremated on the spot. The remaining six huddled back-to-back, gasping for air. Hmm, as expected, trained soldiers have higher quality. If that group of bandits had faced that fireball, at least twenty out of thirty would have died. After a quick mental calculation, Uchiha Zhuang took a deep breath. His chakra and stamina were running low. He flung a wave of shuriken from the tree before leaping into the tall grass and vanishing. "Damn it!" the foot soldier captain cursed, just as a man behind him collapsed with a thud. "Everyone, stay close! Do not scatter!" Relying on his superior dynamic vision and anticipation, Uchiha Zhuang utilized the heavy cover to harvest them one by one. The last few could take no more and began swinging their blades wildly, making it impossible for Uchiha Zhuang to approach for a moment. I cannot waste time here; they might have reinforcements. Uchiha Zhuang pulled out his remaining smoke bombs and threw them hard at their feet, then unleashed all his hidden weapons. The men struggled helplessly against the flying projectiles amidst the layers of smoke. The outcome was sealed. In the brief gaps while the men leaned on their blades, gasping for air, Uchiha Zhuang delivered two diagonal slashes, sending them to their deaths. The final captain looked at the figure shrouded in black mist before him. "To think it was just a child... I was careless after all." No sooner had he muttered this than his vision darkened, and he lost consciousness.

Uchiha Zhuang forced his exhausted body to search the foot soldiers, taking all their paper money, rations, a water canteen, and a stack of letters. Looking at the gruesome battlefield, with flames still flickering inside the cave, Uchiha Zhuang's face was covered in blood and fatigue, his body marked by a dozen blade wounds and large stains. With heavy eyelids, he slung his katana and pack over his shoulder and slowly departed.

The next morning, the forest was still shrouded in mist, with dew clinging to the leaves, when a rhythmic sound of marching boots echoed. A commander clad in armor and wearing a demon mask approached. Looking at the carnage, he sighed, "What a hellish Asura!" He then ordered his soldiers to strip the foot soldier corpses of anything useful before digging a pit to bury them. On the way back, a young officer asked the demon-masked commander, "General Kamakura, why not continue pursuing this vicious man? Based on our reconnaissance and intelligence along the way, he is merely a wandering ninja. Why not hunt him down and capture him?" General Kamakura, riding his horse, replied, "This is an elite ninja, certainly not some wandering ronin. Continuing to hunt him will surely bring us unexpected trouble. Ignore him. What matters now is the domestic turmoil; the Daimyo has been terrified by the ninjas of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. We must preserve the Daimyo's power and never let that bumpkin Shibata Takeo collude with foreigners to swallow our wealth!" "Hai!" The young officer's expression turned solemn, and he immediately mounted his horse to command the troops forward.

After leaving the scene of the incident, Uchiha Zhuang moved slowly, checking and listening for pursuers behind him. Past midnight, nearing dawn, he picked up his pace toward the Land of Fire, searching for the three women along the way. By noon, Uchiha Zhuang reasoned that the women could not have traveled far, so he searched the surrounding caves and ravines to see if they were hiding. After searching for a long time without success, he couldn't help but feel anxious; most importantly, the pack contained vital intelligence that could, to some extent, sway the future fate of the Land of Rivers. Uchiha Zhuang calmed down and thought carefully. A weak woman with two children could not possibly travel at night, as long-term hunger would lead to night blindness. Furthermore, they could not travel at noon when the sun was most lethal and visibility in the forest was at its peak; they would never risk being spotted by predators lurking in the shadows. Therefore, they must be hiding somewhere. They could not travel where there were no paths, and the small trails were mostly guarded by highwaymen and bandits, leaving only the most dangerous—yet, for them, the safest—main road. Having made up his mind, Uchiha Zhuang set off toward the main road leading from the Land of Rivers to the Land of Fire. After ten minutes of travel, relying on his keen vision and hearing, he finally discovered the three in a small hole by the side of the road. It had to be said that this woman was very sharp-witted to be able to consider their predicament and struggle forward. Looking at the three ragged figures before him, Uchiha Zhuang took two portions of dry rations from his pack and handed them to the woman. She knelt on the ground to receive the food, distributing it to the children. She ate half herself and hid the other half in her clothes. Uchiha Zhuang sat against a rock, and once they had finished eating, he spoke softly: "Fujiwara Kobayashi is dead. He died at the hands of the Land of Rivers army." The woman's eyes turned red instantly, but she did not shed a tear; perhaps she understood that for commoners, survival in these chaotic times was a mere fantasy. Giving her enough time to adjust, Uchiha Zhuang asked, "What are your plans now?" The woman kept her head down, and after a long while, she replied, "I am your private property; it is entirely up to you, Master." Uchiha Zhuang looked at the two little girls huddled together blankly. The woman ignored the children tugging at her; tears welled up in the little girls' eyes, dripping down like broken strings of pearls. Uchiha Zhuang walked over and placed his hands on them, carefully checking their entire bodies to ensure they had no weapons. In the process, he learned their physical condition: it was dire. Long-term malnutrition had left their bones protruding, and they suffered from tooth decay and hair loss. Most pitifully, their private areas were a blurred mess, with blood scabs matted together with urine, having received no medical or pharmaceutical treatment. Perhaps it was Uchiha Zhuang's gentle touch that caused the two trembling girls to slowly calm down. They stared at him with curious eyes. In that moment, his face—resolute yet still retaining a hint of youth—was imprinted in their hearts. His brow, initially furrowed with worry, soon smoothed out, revealing a look of confidence. Uchiha Zhuang turned and ran his hands over the woman. Her trembling body betrayed her words; she was nervous, not knowing how her master would treat her, or if he would find her dirty and weak and kill her. After all, the journey was too dangerous, and there was no way they could have made it to the Land of Fire alive. Uchiha Zhuang did not know the woman's inner thoughts, but she was in the same state, suffering from various complications caused by hunger, and her hygiene was a grave concern. Uchiha Zhuang recalled a famous international medical journal he had once read, which held the view that a woman's intimate health determined her longevity and overall well-being. What nonsense. Shaking the cluttered thoughts from his mind, Uchiha Zhuang said, "We leave now. Follow me. Do not worry about your safety. Also, you must take good care of these two children. You belong to me now; you are not allowed to get hurt again."