Joining

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Several figures raced through the wilderness, moving so fast they looked like ghosts flitting through the mountains.

Crash—

As they passed through a narrow mountain path, the view before them suddenly opened up!

Halfway up the mountain, crumbling walls and broken ruins lay everywhere. Shattered bricks, collapsed rock faces, and desolate weeds formed a bleak scene.

At the center of it all, Yan Hong supported the injured Mu, while the unconscious Olui lay at his feet.

Uchiha Kaze carried a short man over his shoulder and hurried over to them. He casually tossed the unconscious man at their feet. "Lord Yan Hong! Are you all right?"

"Don't worry, I won't die." Yan Hong covered his right eye with one hand and nudged the man Kaze had brought with his foot. "This is one of the Lightning Country daimyo's personal guards?"

Kaze nodded. "Yes. I've already learned through genjutsu the portion of the hand seals he knew for breaking the barrier. Lord Yan Hong, when do we open it?"

"Uh..." Yan Hong looked slightly embarrassed. "Could one of you treat him a little? I accidentally hit him a bit too hard."

"Hm?" Upon hearing that, everyone instinctively looked toward Olui at Yan Hong's feet, then collectively sucked in a sharp breath!

"Whoa! This... he isn't dead, is he?"

Olui's entire chest had caved in, and half of his head was crushed. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, he would have been no different from a corpse.

"Jia, Yi, quickly give him and Mu emergency treatment." Kaze immediately arranged for the rescue effort.

After handing Mu over to the logistics and supply team, Yan Hong sighed. "Sure enough, when we get back, I need to mention to my big brother that we should establish a medical ninja unit as soon as possible."

"Medical ninja? What's that?" Kaze scratched his head, though he did not dwell on it. Seeing Yan Hong still covering his right eye, he asked with concern, "Lord Yan Hong, your eye..."

"It's fine. I haven't used the power of my right eye in so long that I'm a little unaccustomed to it." Yan Hong waved a hand. "Kaze, when the time comes, take the Blood Pool Clan back first. I'll go to Water Country alone to subdue the Taketori Clan."

"What? Lord Yan Hong, wouldn't it be too dangerous for you to go alone?"

Yan Hong shook his head. "We've already offended Lightning Country. There's no need to drag Water Country into this as well. Taking too many people would instead be seen as a provocation. Besides, compared to the Blood Pool Clan, the Taketori Clan, whose actions are driven by instinct, will clearly be easier to subdue."

"This..." Kaze was obviously still hesitant. "How about I accompany you?"

"Mu is badly injured. If you leave with me, no one will be able to keep the Blood Pool Clan in line." Yan Hong said seriously, "Return to the clan as soon as possible. My second brother will arrange the rest. I have a feeling that the great war with the Senju Clan is not far off."

"Lord Yan Hong, Lord Kaze! Emergency treatment is complete!" At that moment, one of the treating ninja ran over. "Lord Mu is out of danger, but Olui's injuries are too severe. We truly can't save him. We can only barely let him wake up one more time."

"That's enough." Yan Hong nodded and walked toward Olui.

Olui had already regained consciousness, but he was clearly only having a final burst of life. When he saw Yan Hong approach, his eyes were filled with ferocity and not a trace of fear. He even tried to struggle to his feet.

"Uchiha Clan, just wait. My boss will definitely avenge us."

"Then wait slowly." Yan Hong shrugged, utterly unconcerned. "Even if he doesn't come, sooner or later, we'll go find him."

Olui was visibly stunned. Looking at Yan Hong's young face, his gaze grew complicated. "What lofty ambition."

Yan Hong knew there was no point in saying more, so he waved a hand to signal Kaze to act.

As the Sharingan genjutsu activated, control over the entire barrier fell into Yan Hong's hands.

Before the massive barrier, Kaze and two other Uchiha Clan members formed hand seals at the same time. The next second, the barrier began dissolving from the top down, and free air once more poured into Hell Valley!

Inside the barrier, Miyakenichi looked up at the sky and watched the barrier vanish with his own eyes, his heart full of emotion. "I didn't expect it to happen so quickly."

"The barrier is open! We're free!"

"Hahaha! This is wonderful!"

"Clan head! Let's get out of here quickly! I never want to stay in this cursed place again."

Looking at his excited clansmen behind him, Miyakenichi let out a long sigh. "Let's hope we haven't escaped the tiger's den only to enter the wolf's lair."

Someone suggested, "Clan head, are we really going to follow that Uchiha Clan? There are only a few of them. Why not just kill them? The barrier is open anyway."

Miyakenichi remained calm instead. "Kill them, and then what?"

"And then? Then of course... uh... then..."

"That's exactly it. The world is vast, yet there is no longer any place for us." Miyakenichi pointed overhead. "This barrier has opened, but it has merely been replaced by a larger one. Let's go. I only hope the Uchiha Clan will keep at least a little of their word."

Thus, Miyakenichi led his clansmen slowly outside. From afar, he saw Yan Hong waiting for them. With a helpless smile, he took the initiative to extend a hand.

"Then, from now on, the Blood Pool Clan will be in your care."

"Don't make it sound like you're entrusting us with your last words. The road ahead is still long." Yan Hong smiled and shook his hand. "Don't worry. You won't regret the choice you made today."

"Heh, did we have any other choice?"

Yan Hong did not reply. He pointed to Kaze beside him. "Clan Head Miyakenichi, next, please take your clansmen to the Land of Fire. Kaze will accompany you."

Miyakenichi glanced at Yan Hong. "Lord Yan Hong, could it be that you have other plans?"

Yan Hong did not mind his sudden change in address. "Yeah, there are still a few matters I need to handle."

Miyakenichi did not press further, instead asking quietly, "You... heh, we—what chance do we have against the Senju Clan?"

Yan Hong thought for a moment, then answered in a voice only Miyakenichi could hear, "To be honest, no chance at all."

"Cough, cough, cough..." Even though Miyakenichi had mentally prepared himself, he nearly choked at those words. He smiled bitterly. "Then what are we doing this for?"

"What for?" A trace of pride flashed in Yan Hong's eyes as he looked up at the sky. "For the day we can break the barrier hanging over our heads."

Miyakenichi froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha... good! For those words alone, why can't our Blood Pool Clan take one more gamble?"

Yan Hong smiled faintly. "Welcome aboard."