Death Squad

The morning mist had yet to fully disperse, but six people were already standing at the assembly point outside Konoha's eastern gate.

Hyuga Xiao stood at the back of the team, his pale eyes calmly sweeping over the five Branch House members ahead of him. The morning chill slipped beneath his collar, and he subconsciously tightened his forehead protector—the Caged Bird Seal beneath it was faintly heating up, like some ominous warning.

"Everyone's here."

Elder Xiao of the Main House emerged from the mist, dressed in a dark blue combat uniform with no forehead protector on his brow. He was forty-two this year, Hyuga Hiashi's cousin, and was known within the Main House for his "iron hand." At the family meeting in Chapter 20, he had been the first to propose that "the Branch House needs more opportunities for actual combat."

Xiao's gaze fell behind Elder Xiao.

Two Main House Elite Ninja stood five meters away like shadows, arms folded and eyes cold. They were not members of the mission team, merely "observers."

"The mission is simple." Elder Xiao's voice was as dry as sandpaper. "A suspected Orochimaru base has been discovered near the border of the Land of Rice Paddies. Your task is to investigate, confirm the intelligence, and engage if necessary."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the six faces.

"Remember, this is an S-rank mission. You all know what that means."

A faint intake of breath passed through the group.

Xiao's gaze did not shift, but his Byakugan had silently activated. Within his three-hundred-and-sixty-degree field of vision, he saw—

Hyuga Tetsu, the Branch House Elite Ninja standing at the front, had abnormally active chakra flow. At his heart was a cluster of dark red energy nodes, slowly yet steadily eroding the surrounding chakra pathways.

Hyuga Aoba, the Chunin on the left, had the same thing.

Shu Hyuga, the Special Jōnin on the right, had the same thing.

Of the six-man squad, aside from himself and the other two Chunin, the remaining three had all been implanted with some kind of temporary Curse Mark around their hearts. Xiao had never seen its structure before, but his Byakugan could clearly see it extracting the hosts' vitality and converting it into chakra reserves within the nodes.

Like precharging a battery.

When needed, a single order from the Main House would make those Curse Marks release all their stored energy at once, allowing their hosts to erupt with combat power far beyond their usual limits for a brief period.

And then?

Xiao's pupils contracted slightly.

Then the hosts would suffer organ failure from overdrawing their vitality, or simply burn themselves out in battle.

Temporary Enhancement Curse Seal. He silently recited the name.

So that was it.

The so-called "S-rank mission," the so-called "engage if necessary," were all part of a carefully designed script. The Main House did not need them to return alive. It only needed them to provide maximum value before dying—either to wear down Orochimaru's forces or to trade their lives for intelligence.

Perhaps both.

"Move out."

Elder Xiao said nothing more and turned toward the gate. The two observing Main House Elite Ninja followed.

Xiao moved with the team, his steps steady. His eyes swept over the three teammates implanted with Curse Marks.

Hyuga Tetsu, thirty-two years old, one of the Branch House's youngest Elite Ninja, with a four-year-old daughter.

Hyuga Aoba, twenty-eight, newly promoted to Chunin last year, with a mother bedridden year-round.

Shu Hyuga, thirty-five, a Special Jōnin skilled in intelligence analysis and trap placement, one of the few Branch House members permitted access to classified missions.

Did they know?

Xiao studied the expressions of the three men. Hyuga Tetsu frowned slightly, clearly uneasy about the mission rank, yet his eyes held even more obedience toward Main House orders. Aoba was somewhat nervous, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his ninja tool pouch. Shu remained expressionless, like a machine running a program.

They did not know.

Or rather, they did not dare think in that direction.

The team passed through Konoha's gates, and the Chunin on duty saluted Elder Xiao. The moment he stepped beyond the barrier, Xiao felt the Curse Mark beneath his forehead protector rise by another fraction of a degree.

The Caged Bird Seal was reminding him: he had left the protected zone.

And also left the limit of the Main House's direct control.

But it did not matter. He had calculated it long ago. From Konoha to the border of the Land of Rice Paddies, the entire route lay within the Caged Bird Seal's effective killing range. The Main House could make him brain-dead at any moment, like flipping a switch.

That was why the Main House was so at ease with this mission.

At ease with sending him to die.

"Maintain formation." Elder Xiao gave the order from ahead. "Tetsu, scout the left flank. Aoba, the right. Shu, cover the rear. The rest of you follow behind me."

A standard reconnaissance formation.

Xiao had been placed in the middle of the team with the other two Chunin. It was the safest position—and the easiest to monitor.

He lowered his head, pretending to organize his ninja tool pouch, while his fingers brushed the anonymous map in his inner pocket.

Land of Rice Paddies. Valley. Safehouse.

The message's sender had said that the truth about the Caged Bird Seal lay there.

And now the Main House had sent him to the Land of Rice Paddies on a "certain-death mission."

A coincidence?

The corner of Xiao's mouth curved into an unnoticed smile.

The team moved swiftly through the forest. Morning sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, scattering mottled light and shadow across the woods. Birdsong drifted from afar, and everything seemed peaceful and ordinary.

But Xiao kept his Byakugan activated the entire time.

Three hundred meters ahead, he saw residual chakra from a patrol squad that had passed through yesterday. In a tree hollow five hundred meters to the left, a wild boar was sleeping. Eight hundred meters behind and to the right, two ANBU leaped between treetops, moving at a thirty-degree angle to their route.

Were they following them? Or was it just a routine patrol?

Xiao could not be sure.

He could only be certain of one thing: from the moment they left Konoha until now, Elder Xiao had not looked back at the team even once.

Like a shepherd who would not look back at sheep destined for the slaughterhouse.

"Rest for ten minutes."

Two hours later, Elder Xiao stopped beside a stream. He took out his canteen, walked upstream to fill it, and quietly discussed something with the two observing Elite Ninja.

The Branch House members spread out to rest.

Xiao leaned against a cedar tree and closed his eyes, pretending to nap. Within his Byakugan's vision, he saw Hyuga Tetsu walk to the stream and crouch down to wash his face. The water was cold. Tetsu shivered, then stared blankly at the water's surface.

"Senior Tetsu."

Xiao opened his eyes and walked to the stream.

Tetsu turned around. Seeing Xiao, he forced a smile. "Xiao. What, nervous?"

"A little." Xiao crouched down and scooped up a mouthful of stream water. "It's my first S-rank mission."

"This is only my third." Tetsu sighed. "On my last S-rank mission, six people went out. Only two came back."

His voice was soft, as though he were speaking only to himself.

Xiao looked at Tetsu's face reflected in the water. Thirty-two years old, with fine lines already at the corners of his eyes. That was not old in the Shinobi World, yet Tetsu looked ten years older than his actual age.

"Your daughter is four this year, isn't she?" Xiao suddenly asked.

Tetsu froze for a moment, then his gaze softened. "Yes. She'll turn four next month. Lately, she's been pestering us to let her learn shuriken. Her mother won't allow it, says it's too dangerous."

As he spoke, he pulled a crude talisman from his clothes.

"She stuffed it into my pocket before I left. Said it would keep Daddy safe and bring him home."

The talisman was folded from colored paper, rough and clumsy, with a crooked smiling face drawn on it in crayon.

Xiao stared at that smiling face for two seconds.

Then he raised his head and looked into Tetsu's eyes. "You have to make it back safely, Senior."

Tetsu smiled and patted Xiao on the shoulder. "You kid, you really know how to talk. Don't worry. I'm an Elite Ninja. I'll protect all of you."

He said it sincerely.

Xiao nodded and said no more.

He returned beneath the tree and closed his eyes again. In his Byakugan's vision, the dark red Curse Mark energy around Tetsu's heart had expanded by five percent compared with two hours ago.

It was growing.

Feeding on its host's vitality.

"Gather."

Elder Xiao's voice cut through the break. The team regrouped and continued onward.

For the rest of the journey, Xiao kept watching.

He noticed that whenever the team passed through complicated terrain, Elder Xiao would send the three teammates implanted with Curse Marks to scout ahead. He himself and the two observing Elite Ninja always remained in safe positions.

Once, twice, three times.

Like using bait to clear the way.

By evening, the team reached the border of the Land of Rice Paddies. Ahead lay a region of rolling hills. Further north was the suspected base area marked in the mission.

"We camp here tonight."

Elder Xiao selected an open area backed against a rock wall. The view was broad, and the position was easy to defend but difficult to attack—a standard tactical campsite.

The Branch House members began setting warning traps and pitching tents. Xiao was assigned to gather firewood.

When he returned carrying dead branches, he saw Elder Xiao standing at the edge of camp, looking north.

The night grew darker, and the distant mountain ridges blurred into deep gray silhouettes. Wind blew from the valley, carrying the scent of earth and decaying leaves.

"Hyuga Xiao."

Elder Xiao suddenly spoke without turning around.

Xiao stopped. "Elder Xiao."

"You've been very quiet today." Elder Xiao turned around. Moonlight fell across his face, making his stern expression seem even colder. "Unlike other young people. The first time they undertake an S-rank mission, they always have some... unnecessary emotions."

Xiao lowered his head. "I am only carrying out the mission."

"Good." Elder Xiao took two steps closer and lowered his voice. "Remember, the Main House has been watching your performance."

His gaze scraped across Xiao's face like a blade.

"Tomorrow's reconnaissance will assign you to the vanguard. Perform well. Understand?"

Xiao's pupils contracted slightly in the shadows.

The vanguard.

The first to contact the enemy, and the position with the highest death rate.

"I understand." His voice remained calm and even. "I will not disappoint the Main House."

Elder Xiao stared at him for several seconds, then nodded and turned away.

Xiao stood where he was, watching Elder Xiao enter the largest tent. Within his Byakugan's vision, the two observing Elite Ninja were already standing guard outside, their chakra in a state of heightened alert.

He carried the firewood toward the bonfire.

Hyuga Aoba was trying to start a fire, his flint striking off scattered sparks. The firelight illuminated his young face, which was filled with unease.

"Xiao, do you think..." Aoba trailed off.

"What?"

"Nothing." Aoba shook his head and struck the flint harder.

The sparks finally ignited the dry leaves. Flames rose, driving away the night's chill.

Xiao crouched down and added the firewood to the blaze one branch at a time. The flames crackled, shifting light and shadow flickering over his face.

Low conversation came from the tent where Elder Xiao and the two observing Elite Ninja spoke. Xiao's Byakugan could see their chakra flow and could "hear" the rhythm of their moving lips.

"...once we reach the coordinates tomorrow, send Tetsu and Shu in first..."

"...if we encounter Orochimaru himself, activate the Curse Marks immediately..."

"...that kid named Xiao, Lord Hiashi specifically ordered us to confirm his death..."

The flames suddenly surged higher.

Xiao expressionlessly added another branch.

The night deepened.

The camp fell silent, save for the occasional crackle of the bonfire. Two Branch House members took turns keeping watch while the others rested in their tents.

Xiao lay in his sleeping bag with his eyes open.

The canvas roof of the tent glowed faintly white beneath the moonlight. He could hear Hyuga Tetsu's steady breathing in the neighboring tent and could "see" Aoba unconsciously curling up in his sleep.

Six heartbeats. Six flows of chakra.

Three hearts containing ticking bombs.

One neck wearing a noose that could tighten at any moment.

Xiao slowly closed his eyes.

A system interface appeared in his mind, and the number beneath bloodline purity flickered slightly.

[Byakugan Purity: 62%]

[Caged Bird Seal Removal Progress: 18%]

It was not enough.

Nowhere near enough.

He needed more time, more opportunities, more... power to break Fate Nodes.

And tomorrow would be the first node.

Outside the tent, Shu Hyuga, who was on watch, suddenly rose to his feet and looked north with his Byakugan. Xiao could "see" his expression turn grave.

"Something's moving," Shu said quietly.

Elder Xiao emerged from his tent, followed closely by the two observing Elite Ninja.

"What is it?"

"Three kilometers north. Chakra signatures." Shu's voice remained steady. "At least twenty people. They're moving quickly, straight toward us."

The camp instantly entered combat readiness.

Xiao crawled out of his sleeping bag, grabbed his ninja tool pouch, and rushed out of the tent. Under the moonlight, everyone was already in position, their Byakugan giving off a faint blue-white glow in the darkness.

Elder Xiao stood at the center of the camp, his expression grim.

"Prepare to engage." He gave the order. "Tetsu, Shu, Aoba, the three of you will block them from the front. Xiao, you and the other two cover the flanks."

The same arrangement again.

The three implanted with Curse Marks would take the front line and be sent to die.

Xiao tightened his grip on his kunai.

To the north, twenty points of chakra light were rapidly approaching. Their method of movement was strange. They were not traveling by the usual ninja leaps, but... crawling?

Like snakes.

Xiao's Byakugan pierced the darkness and made out the outlines of those figures.

Pale masks, black robes, and limbs twisted at the joints.

They were Curse Mark test subjects.

Orochimaru's toys had arrived.

And their timing was too perfect—so perfect it was as if someone had informed them in advance that a Hyuga squad was camping here.

Xiao's gaze shifted to Elder Xiao.

Under the moonlight, the corner of the Main House elder's mouth seemed to curl into an almost imperceptible smile.