Mad Wolf: Hatake (1)

"It is of no consequence. My brother has just taken on a major responsibility, and the clan affairs are quite heavy. There are still some matters for which we require the assistance of Lord Tamaza Ryojin this time!"

Mingye nodded, his own plans already forming in his mind, and turned to address him.

"Oh! Might I be informed beforehand?"

The Uchiha clan almost never concerned themselves with the affairs of others, preferring to have their own clansmen complete every task personally. Hearing Mingye suddenly claim that the Uchiha clan had a request, Tamaza Ryojin felt a faint sense of unease and asked him in a low voice.

"Lord Tamaza Ryojin, this young one has yet to eat!"

"Hmm... haha! How thoughtless of me! Quickly, follow me to the ninja village!"

After Mingye and Tamaza Ryojin finished their breakfast and exchanged some idle chatter, the table was cleared. Once the room was empty of others, Mingye spoke to him with a serious expression.

"My brother needs to establish his authority. Recently, rumors have spread that the Senju clan has migrated westward, drawing closer to the Land of Whirlpools. They are surely seeking their so-called distant kin, the Uzumaki clan. Therefore, my brother wishes to eradicate those families that were once under the protection of the Senju clan!"

After listening to Mingye, Tamaza Ryojin pondered for a moment before asking again.

"I have heard some rumors lately that the entire Fuma clan, over three hundred people, died in a single night. Was that the handiwork of the Uchiha clan?"

Mingye nodded without denial. After all, the issue with the Fuma clan was not something he could hide for long, so he simply admitted it.

"Indeed! The Fuma clan attempted to assassinate General Sato several times; it was time to clear out that malignant tumor."

Tamaza Ryojin nodded slowly and fell back into deep thought. Watching Mingye's indifferent expression, he felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to kill him. He did not know why, but for the past two days, he had felt as though his clan was facing a great crisis, yet the peaceful and calm environment left him unable to find any trace of it. He then asked about the targets.

"I see! I wonder which families are on Lord Madara's target list this time!"

"The Kurohabaki, Haguro, and Togakushi clans all reside in the Great River Forest Sea. Since the Senju clan has voluntarily withdrawn from that forest, there is no longer any need for these three families to exist."

Mingye answered him, and Tamaza Ryojin recited the information he had on these three small clans, his heart sinking as he realized the purpose of Mingye's visit.

"The Kurohabaki are skilled in intelligence gathering, disguise, and assassination; their clan numbers over fifty, with three jonin and fewer than ten chunin, and over forty genin. The Haguro clan specializes in Earth Style and the creation of explosive tags; they number only thirty or forty. The Togakushi clan is most skilled in Wind Style, with at most seventy-some ninjas. These three families have fewer than ten jonin between them on the surface. Does the Uchiha clan truly need our help?"

Facing an old fox like Tamaza Ryojin, Mingye knew exactly what the man was thinking. Had it not been for the White Snake Sage's order, his true purpose for coming would indeed have been to use the Wind-Thunder Clan as cannon fodder.

"For three years, you have weathered the storms without issue. The reason the Wind-Thunder Clan has been able to develop so well without anyone laying a hand on you is because of the protection of our Uchiha clan. Do you truly believe this is something you are entitled to?"

The sarcasm in Mingye's words left Tamaza Ryojin feeling deeply troubled. The Uchiha clan could not be offended, but he was unwilling to be used as cannon fodder. He replied tactfully, "Young Master, that is not the way to put it. We only wish to find a peaceful corner in this chaotic world to rest and recuperate. As for the affairs of the world, we truly do not wish to be involved any longer."

"Heh! Lord Tamaza Ryojin, even the Fire Temple could not remain aloof and was forced to submit to the nation. I ask you, what right does your small Wind-Thunder Clan have to make such a choice? I am not one for flowery words; I only know one thing: if one is treated with kindness, one must repay it! How you think about this depends entirely on your own choice, my Lord!"

Mingye's words were beyond dispute, his mind set on forcing the Wind-Thunder Clan. Tamaza Ryojin knew the other party would not give him any room for debate. Desperate to stall, he placed one hand on the wooden floor beside him, summoned the Blood Pact Scroll, and smiled at Mingye.

"May I have a few days to consider this matter?"

Mingye, naturally, did not mind and nodded. This was the answer he had been waiting for, or else his subsequent plans could not be carried out.

"Very well!"

"That is good. In that case, please, Young Master, write your name here! This can also be considered a wish that the Young Master has yet to fulfill."

Tamaza Ryojin, suspecting nothing, opened the scroll and wrote Mingye's name in the blank space before placing it in front of him.

"Good! I shall trouble you for your hospitality these next few days!"

"It is no trouble at all!"

After the two finished their discussion, a puff of smoke suddenly appeared beside Mingye, and Ara manifested before them.

"You finally wrote your name down, kid!"

Mingye knew what Ara meant and nodded slightly without speaking. Tamaza Ryojin, however, asked with a respectful tone toward the suddenly appearing Ara.

"I wonder what instructions Lord Ara has for us this time?"

"Nothing major. It's just that the Matriarch sensed this kid signed the blood pact, so she told me to come and take a look, and incidentally bring him back to Ryuchi Cave; she has something to tell him!"

Ara answered casually and then slithered onto Mingye's arm. Tamaza Ryojin, preoccupied with his own concerns, rose to take his leave.

"If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave!"

"Go, go! It's not like you have anything to do anyway!"

Ara replied with his usual impatience, and Mingye nodded slightly to show he understood.

"Then I shall withdraw."

Tamaza Ryojin turned and walked quickly out of the room. Ara watched him close the door and leave, then scanned the surroundings to ensure no ninjas were lurking before mocking Mingye.

"I thought you would stick to your guns, but I didn't expect you to compromise so quickly."

Facing Ara's mockery, Mingye remained expressionless, his tone devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"I act according to my own heart. I do not believe what I am doing is wrong, nor do I consider myself a kind or benevolent person. This, too, has its own reasons! I need you of Ryuchi Cave more than I need the Wind-Thunder Clan, so I choose the more important of the two!" "You have already wiped out the Fuma clan, so wiping out the Wind-Thunder Clan is no great matter. Besides, isn't there a saying among you humans: to kill one is a crime, to kill millions is a hero; those who achieve great things do not fuss over trifles. Mingye, kid, come with me to Manda Cave."

Ara found Mingye agreeable and offered some guidance, to which Mingye chuckled and replied.

"I stopped caring about that long ago! For now, let us be on our way."

When the snake and the human returned to Ryuchi Cave, what appeared before them was no longer rolling mountains, but a massive pit. Within the pit, countless black snakes of various sizes writhed and intertwined like a sea of serpents. Without a second thought, Mingye leaped into the pit.

Solidified wind wrapped around Mingye, simultaneously crushing the snakes in the pit. In the pit, which was nearly five meters deep and ten meters in radius, Mingye forcibly carved a path through the sea of snakes that stood over three meters high. Ara slithered out from Mingye's collar and offered a reminder.

"Kid, you'd better be careful. These snakes are highly venomous, mindless beasts. If your chakra runs out, you'll die a miserable death!"

Moonlight shone upon the earth like a layer of frost, making the woods appear exceptionally eerie and terrifying. The occasional cry of an owl in the silent forest only made the woods look all the more horrifying.

A man with silver hair and black-and-white patterned armor stepped out from the shadows of the trees. As the moonlight hit him, he tilted his head back and closed his eyes, as if the moonlight could bring him warmth. Soon, the silhouette of a giant white wolf gradually emerged from the woods. When the giant wolf walked out and lay down beside the man, its three-meter height and over five-meter length, combined with its lazy yawn, exuded an invisible killing intent that spread in all directions.

Caw... caw... caw...

A chorus of crow calls echoed through the tranquil village. The master of a household stepped out of his home, seemingly looking for the latrine. Dazed, he stared at the ground, only to suddenly notice a human-like shadow cast upon the house by the moonlight. Just as he lifted his head, he felt a chill on his neck and a coldness spreading through his body. He tried to scream, but no matter what, he could not force a sound from his throat. At the same time, his body became uncontrollable, and he collapsed onto the ground.

A pool of blood appeared before the man. Only then did the man, lying on the ground unable to move, realize it was his own blood. He closed his eyes in despair and breathed his last.

Awoo... awoo... awoo-awoo...

Still the same silver hair and the same black-and-white patterned armor, though this man was younger than the one enjoying the moonlight by the woods. He covered his mouth with one hand and let out a wolf howl, as if declaring to the entire forest that the night's festivities had just begun.

Following the silver-haired man's howl, echoes began to erupt throughout the woods surrounding the village. Countless wolf cries crashed against the peaceful village like wave after wave of a giant tide. Before long, the entire village was lit up. All the villagers stepped out of their warm homes, cautious and trembling with fear, looking outward to find the source of their terror.

A flash of silver light streaked across the sky, followed by a series of screams that finally shattered the night's tranquility. Like birds startled by the bow, the villagers finally realized who the intruders were. Expressions of horror and despair filled every inch of their faces before they scattered in all directions, desperate to flee the home and village that had suddenly become a place of nightmares.

"Ninjas of the Hatake Clan! Why have you come to attack us!"

The village chief, the only elder still able to maintain his composure, stood before the man—who stood expressionless with eyes so heavy it seemed he might fall asleep at any moment—and demanded an answer.