Let the Slaughter Begin!

On the other side.

Chinoike Gosho slipped out of Hell Valley.

He performed a simple disguise.

He had intended to head straight toward the location of the Cloud Village.

However, the eyes his clan had planted outside for years suddenly informed him.

A large detachment of Cloud ninja was circling outside Hell Valley.

Chinoike Gosho felt as if heaven were helping him: "Hahaha! I never expected that a pillow would arrive just as I was getting sleepy."

A subordinate at his side looked puzzled and spoke with some hesitation:

"Lord Gosho, that large group of Cloud ninja is quite numerous; they must be carrying out an important mission. I fear they will not become our allies."

Hearing this, Chinoike Gosho waved his hand:

"Do not worry. I have my own methods. Lead the way."

He then let out a cold sneer:

"Hmph! Those Uchiha, who grow more arrogant by the day, cannot keep their mouths shut."

"Every time the Uchiha shift changes, I ask about the preferences of the new leader."

He flicked his Bat Fan, his expression disdainful and arrogant as he continued:

"During the month that Uchiha Genmei was still on the road, they did nothing but boast about the battle achievements of their own genius."

"That new Police Superintendent, they themselves said he was the genius who slew Guihao."

"Heh heh!"

He paused.

His sinister eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Everyone knows the temperament of the famous Third Raikage."

"A Kage who often stays behind to cover his subordinates is not just protective of his own; I do not believe it is a coincidence that this troop is passing by Hell Valley!"

A quarter of an hour later.

Inside a small valley about twenty or thirty kilometers from Hell Valley.

Dodai was holding a war council with the jonin.

They were discussing how to deal with Uchiha Genmei while minimizing casualties.

Watching his companions discussing things with such fervor.

Dodai felt a headache coming on. It was indeed a good thing to have a Kage who protected his own, and everyone knew the nature of this operation.

Everyone's morale was high.

They were comfortable, but he, Dodai, was in a bind. Known for his superior intellect, he had been promoted exceptionally by the Raikage.

After this matter was over, he would definitely be the one left to haggle with the Feudal Lord.

Just then.

A messenger ninja stepped inside.

"My Lords, the Hell Warden requests an audience?"

Interrupted by the sudden news, the jonin looked at one another.

The Hell Warden? Wasn't that the patriarch of the Chinoike clan? How did he get out under the surveillance of the Uchiha?

Furthermore, how dared he come out?

Without a summons from the Feudal Lord, he was not permitted to step a single foot outside of Hell Valley.

Dodai pondered for a moment, his expression composed.

He waved his hand to signal:

"Bring Lord Gosho in."

Before long.

Chinoike Gosho stepped into the temporary meeting room.

He greeted each of the jonin with proper etiquette, and they, not daring to act superior, quickly returned the gesture.

After all.

The status of the Chinoike patriarch was still that of a noble of the Land of Lightning, a potential patron for commissioned missions.

After a few moments of pleasantries.

Dodai got straight to the point:

"Please state your purpose, Lord Gosho. We are in the middle of an important mission."

"Is that so?"

Chinoike Gosho covered his mouth with his Bat Fan, his expression shifting. He spoke: "I will not waste words. You are here to take the life of Uchiha Genmei, are you not?"

Dodai's expression remained unmoved, and the jonin surrounding him held their composure as well.

The professional discipline of a ninja prevented them from revealing any flaws under such a simple probe.

Dodai stated in a flat, expressionless tone, "We are not at liberty to disclose the nature of our mission to you, My Lord. Please state your intentions directly."

This is going to be difficult.

Watching the unmoved Dodai, Chinoike Gosho felt a headache coming on.

It seemed he would have to pay a heavy price.

Leaning forward slightly, he spoke with a solemn expression:

"Since that is the case, I will get straight to the point: I am hiring you to kill all the Uchihas in Hell Valley."

"In exchange, our clan is willing to relinquish our official status and join the Cloud Village as ninjas!"

"We are also willing to contribute our savings accumulated over many years to the Cloud Village!"

The next day.

Inside the Military Police Force headquarters office.

Uchiha Genmei looked at Gabimaru and instructed:

"I won't say much more. I have taken you on as a retainer, and I will discuss the subsequent handover with Clan Head Gosho."

"Your status within the clan will not be a shackle; you need not worry."

Gabimaru's brow relaxed, and he bowed.

"That is wonderful. Thank you, My Lord."

Hearing this, Genmei smiled slightly: "Gabimaru, you should call me My Lord."

Before he had even lifted his head, Gabimaru responded loudly:

"Yes! My Lord!"

"By the way, take this amulet and have your wife wear it when you get home."

Taking the amulet, Gabimaru asked with some confusion:

"Yui, hasn't she already been completely cured by you, My Lord?"

Uchiha Genmei smiled faintly.

He explained:

"I did indeed pull your wife back from the brink of death. This amulet contains my special secret medicine, which can stabilize her condition and prevent a relapse."

"Thank you, My Lord!"

Moved, Gabimaru tucked the amulet away and walked out of the office toward his home.

Watching Gabimaru leave, Uchiha Yuta, who had been observing for a long time, spoke with some hesitation:

"That amulet—I saw you make it in the office. That is not any so-called secret medicine, Uchiha Genmei."

Uchiha Genmei paced to the window.

He watched the young man walking home outside:

"I said before, didn't I? That fellow Gosho will give Gabimaru a surprise; this is just an insurance policy."

"Enough of that. To yesterday's deployment, add preparations to prevent sudden incursions from external enemies like the Cloud Village!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Yuta's eyes widened.

He said with some shock:

"Are you guessing that Gosho is going to hire the Cloud Village to act against us? That goes against all logic. How would he answer to the Feudal Lord later?"

"When people are pushed to the brink, they are capable of anything, Yuta-san," Genmei replied, glancing at him.

"Go on now. I have some preparations of my own to make."

Late at night.

The Military Police Force stood at their posts, expressions focused.

Suddenly, in a forest near Hell Valley, a thunderous roar shook the heavens.

A hundred massive bolts of lightning merged into one, surging toward the Military Police Force headquarters with the force of a collapsing mountain!

The massive commotion had long since alerted the Uchiha.

Uchiha Yuta faced the situation.

With a calm expression, he issued his command:

"As expected, there are rats! Are you all ready?"

The Uchiha of the Military Police Force replied in unison: "Ready, My Lord!"

He nodded.

Uchiha Yuta said: "Activate it!"

[Uchiha Flame Formation!]

A deep crimson radiance descended upon Hell Valley like an abyss.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

The earth shook and the mountains swayed!!!

That light stood upon the earth like a crimson Wall of Sighs, enveloping the entire Hell Valley!

It was an invincible barrier composed of Asura Hellfire!!

Before it, the massive bolts of lightning crumbled like the feeble fists of an infant upon contact!

"What?!"

"What is that?!"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

The group of Cloud ninja in the forest were struck with immense horror; they knew this was wartime, and that was a combined ninjutsu that required over a hundred people to execute!

To think it was so powerless before this barrier!

"Of course you wouldn't know; that is a barrier composed of hellfire."

"Originally, it only takes one person to activate, but I was worried about mistakes, so I had three jonin activate it together!"

"Who would have thought it would just be you stinking fish and rotten shrimp! I was being too cautious."

"Who goes there!"

The Cloud ninja looked toward the source of the voice.

Standing on a tree branch.

With his back to the moonlight, his expression was unclear.

But those scarlet, bewitching Sharingan.

Were blindingly bright!

"Who am I? Isn't I the very reason you came here?" Uchiha Genmei tilted his head.

"You are Uchiha Genmei?" Dodai looked at the youth before him, feeling only that he was quite troublesome.

What an intense sense of oppression!

"That's right. Let the slaughter begin!"

Genmei curled his lips, revealing a cruel smile.

Under the moonlight, the scarlet demon manifested!