There Was Another Expert

Overbearing and arrogant.

Itachi's gaze sharpened. In the distant bushes, several finely dressed youths atop tall horses watched them with disdain.

With hawks and hounds in tow, along with their spruce-patterned kimono, they could be vaguely identified as members of powerful noble clans even in the darkness.

"A bunch of lowborn scum. So you were the ones who stole the deer from my estate. You sure can run, huh?"

A servant rode around their iron pot, cracking his whip. Then he suddenly lashed one of the villagers directly across the face.

Blood splattered everywhere, yet apart from the crackling of the bonfire, no one dared make a sound in resistance.

A deathly silence fell. Nearly everyone trembled, especially after hearing that the deer Itachi had killed came from this lord's estate. Their faces went pale at once.

"You useless trash really can't be beaten to death, can you? What, you've gotten bold enough to rebel now?"

The armored youth at the head of the group spoke in a rough voice. Though his face still retained a child's innocence, he showed no hesitation when striking others.

Itachi felt a cold numbness spread through his heart.

More terrifying than the one-sided cries of pain—

was the fact that these people had servility carved into their bones. Even while being exploited, they still lowered their heads and believed it was only natural.

"Stop. I did all of this. If you've got something to say, say it to me."

Itachi snapped the bow beside him in half and shouted.

His face darkened as he stepped forward. The other team members were already boiling with anger, but the moment they drew their ninja tools, Itachi stopped them.

If they were enemies, one sword stroke would have been enough to end them. But unfortunately, they weren't.

There were three bowls of noodles hardest to swallow in this world: saving face, personal favors, and public appearances.

Hard.

"Heh, you've finally decided to speak up, have you?"

The burly youth sneered and rode forward. When he suddenly noticed the ninja forehead protectors on Itachi and the others, he was briefly startled before immediately calming down.

But he could no longer take his eyes off Izumi's face.

He had never expected there to be such a beautiful, pure-looking girl among the ninja. Once she grew up, she would likely eclipse every other beauty.

"Even if you're ninja, you should know the consequences of offending nobles. And this elk was an imperial delicacy meant to be presented to the royal family!"

Negishi Hanbei cracked his whip, making it explode through the air. At the sound, the riders around him immediately urged their horses forward and surrounded the several hundred villagers.

The sight was practically a raid for plunder.

But what did human lives amount to in the eyes of these nobles? They were merely property. If a real conflict broke out, Itachi and the others could simply dust themselves off and leave, but what about those villagers? They couldn't possibly abandon their homes and flee.

What awaited them then would likely be savage retaliation.

That was why Itachi had stopped his teammates from showing hostility and provoking a conflict from the very beginning.

"That's true, but we did eat the elk. Name your price."

Itachi spoke calmly, his eyes as black as a curtain in the darkness.

He naturally understood what the other side was implying. If these were mere ants, he would have already tortured them to death in Tsukuyomi's illusory realm.

But in this country, the daimyo was nominally the highest ruler, while their Hokage was merely one of the strongest forces beneath his shogunate.

"What, are you saying that someone who has done wrong doesn't need to be punished? If that's the case, then all of you can stay and atone for your sins."

A cruel glint flashed across Negishi Hanbei's face. He leaned over his horse and stroked its mane, his lustful gaze utterly undisguised. Seeing the look on their leader's face, the surrounding lackeys immediately understood.

Ninja?

Just last month, they had hanged one such spy at their estate.

Yet this month, they had found a female ninja like this to pleasure them beneath their crotches. Perhaps even servants like them could get a taste; it would surely be exquisite.

At that thought, the soldiers who had drawn their blades grew even more impatient.

"Atone? I'd advise you not to spout nonsense. It's only an elk. We'll compensate you according to its value. No matter how expensive an item is, it can be traded with money. I'd advise you not to get too presumptuous."

Hearing this, Itachi still stood with his hands behind his back, while the faces of his teammates darkened completely.

Tomoe slowly spun within Itachi's eyes. The deeply hostile gazes had stirred the viciousness in his heart, and in an instant, several nearby soldiers felt something slam into their souls.

Their vision turned crimson. A pair of eyes abruptly opened within their minds, and their consciousness followed those eyes to stare onward. Pupils swayed endlessly within their hearts like pendulums, and the power of those tomoe gradually emptied their gazes.

"How...?"

The soldiers fell straight from their horses, drooling from the corners of their mouths as they muttered incoherently. Armor and weapons clattered across the ground.

Negishi Hanbei was instantly dumbfounded, while several nearby samurai cried out in alarm.

"Careful! It's genjutsu! There's something strange about this kid!"

Negishi Hanbei froze as he felt that oppressive force, but the next second, his entire back was drenched in sweat as though he had crawled out of water.

A black-robed old man rode up behind them. His face could not be seen in the darkness beneath his coarse cloth garments, but Itachi clearly saw that with just a casual pat, he dispelled the genjutsu!

"So there really is an expert at your side. No wonder you're so arrogant."

As a cold laugh drifted over, Itachi signaled for his team to disperse the innocent villagers nearby. Staying here would only bring them further trouble.

"I wouldn't call myself much of an expert. Still, reaching the level of a Chunin at your age makes you a rare talent indeed."

The black-robed man's voice was aged and harsh. His speech was particularly awkward, as though half his tongue had been cut off—or perhaps he simply did not wish to reveal his true identity.

At those words, the remaining noble samurai were slightly startled. They knew what being a Chunin meant. It meant being a powerful ninja capable of leading a team out on missions alone. Some Chunin could even serve as examiners in the empire, or as specially hired tutors and guests for noble households.

Yet these children before them looked no older than twelve or thirteen.

"You're flattering me."

Itachi sneered, staring fixedly at the man. Even through his clothing, he could sense the chakra fluctuations on the verge of bursting forth. By all rights, there shouldn't have been such an expert in this remote backwater. Could it be...?