Assassination

Splash—

The rain still fell in an endless, chaotic curtain, disturbing the heart.

Inside the Hidden Crafts Village's meeting hall, several of its higher-ups had gathered together. All of them kept their heads lowered, their emotions complicated.

Ever since they had received Yan Hong and the others yesterday and laid everything out in the open, the atmosphere had become extremely awkward. Both sides needed time to process this sudden information, so they had not discussed much further. After arranging accommodations for Yan Hong's group, they convened an emergency meeting early the next morning.

However, everyone wore troubled expressions, and sighs sounded from time to time. Only after a long while did someone ask Qingming, who sat at the head of the table, "Lord Qingming, what should we do now?"

Qingming frowned in frustration as well. What should they do? To be honest, Qingming wanted to know that himself.

Kirigakure alone had already been troublesome enough. Now, another Flame Hidden Village had appeared, and neither side was one they could afford to offend. It was like the top courtesan in a pleasure house being requested by two wealthy young masters at once, with no way to refuse either of them.

If it were up to the Hidden Crafts Village itself, they naturally would not join either side. Though a small village survived in the cracks between great nations, at least it retained the right to govern itself. Once they joined another village, their interests would become directly bound together—they would prosper and suffer together—but in exchange, they would lose their independence.

After all, who did not harbor the ambition to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Five Great Ninja Villages?

When there had only been Kirigakure, Qingming could still take an ambiguous approach. They would not formally join Kirigakure, but they could give it priority in forging ninja tools. But now that there were two sides, doing that would mean offending both at once. It was entirely possible that, driven by the mindset of "if I cannot have it, neither can anyone else," they would wipe out the Hidden Crafts Village first.

One of the higher-ups below complained indignantly, "If I'd known, we never would have helped Kirigakure forge those ninja swords. That pack of ungrateful wolves."

"Exactly. And who knows what's going on with the Uchiha Clan? Why did they have to show up at the same time?"

"Now isn't the time to complain about fate," Qingming said calmly. "Tomorrow, Kirigakure will also send people to discuss annexation. So I want to hear everyone's opinions."

A burly man muttered, "What opinions can there be? It's just choosing one of two. I say we join Kirigakure. The Flame Hidden Village isn't a ninja village from a great nation, after all. How many resources can they possibly spare for us?"

Someone voiced a different opinion. "But in terms of strength, the Uchiha Clan is clearly superior. Though they're in a small country, they have much more room to grow."

"I still think Kirigakure is safer."

"I feel like choosing the Uchiha Clan would be better."

They chattered for half the day without reaching a definite choice. Everyone turned to Qingming again. "Lord Qingming, what do you think?"

Qingming pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Perhaps we can do nothing."

"Hm?"

A sharp glint flashed in Qingming's eyes. "Whether it's Kirigakure or the Flame Hidden Village, they only want to win us over so that we can forge ninja tools for them. In that case, we might as well do nothing and let them settle it themselves. The Uchiha Clan has always used forceful methods, and Kirigakure is no saint either. There's a good chance they'll fight over this."

The people below thought it over. "But wouldn't that still mean following whichever side wins? Rather than passively accepting it, I think we'd be better off choosing for ourselves."

"No." Qingming shook his head. "If the two sides go to war, they will only hurt each other. Even the victor will win miserably. Then we will strike and eliminate the winner as well. They will never suspect that we possess such strength; they will only turn their weapons on each other. That will let us escape this deadlock."

Everyone's eyes lit up. After exchanging glances, they all nodded.

Qingming smiled faintly. "Let's hope they don't disappoint us."

Elsewhere, Yan Hong lay fully clothed on a simple wooden bed, staring fixedly at the ceiling while contemplating the current situation.

Before coming here, he truly had not expected Kirigakure to become involved as well. Now, a clash between the two sides was unavoidable.

If he were Qingming, he would watch the two tigers fight and reap the benefits himself. It was an open and aboveboard scheme.

The way to break the stalemate was simple enough. Either one side willingly yielded, or they flipped the table and destroyed the Hidden Crafts Village, so that no one got it.

But although the Flame Hidden Village's direct military strength was no weaker than that of a great nation's ninja village, its logistical foundation lagged far behind the Five Great Nations. Therefore, he was determined to obtain the Hidden Crafts Village.

Yan Hong rubbed his temples in annoyance. "We'll also have to guard against them profiting from our conflict."

Rustle, rustle—

Just as Yan Hong considered his options, a faint sound came from the roof. It was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, hidden amid the howling wind and rain, making its exact location impossible to discern.

Yan Hong's gaze narrowed slightly. The Hidden Crafts Village? No. Kirigakure's people haven't even arrived yet. No matter how foolish they are, they wouldn't strike at a time like this. Then who is it?

The sound fell silent for an instant. Then a crack appeared in the room's door, and a black shadow swiftly slipped inside.

The intruder was completely shrouded in a black cloak, revealing only a pair of dark green eyes. The lower half of the face was wrapped in cloth. The target was unmistakably clear; accompanied by a faint rush of wind, the figure appeared beside Yan Hong's bed.

Yan Hong had his eyes closed, his expression peaceful. His chest rose and fell with his breathing, clearly showing that he had fallen asleep.

The figure looked Yan Hong over. The right hand silently slid out from the sleeve, entirely black in a strange manner, then shot toward Yan Hong's throat!

Crack—

Smack—

The instant the hand closed around his neck, Yan Hong's entire body turned into a cloud of white smoke. When the smoke dispersed, the living person in the intruder's grasp had become nothing more than a log!

The intruder's pupils suddenly contracted. Realizing that the ambush had been exposed, the figure was just about to leap away when thunder suddenly exploded from behind!

Splash—

Yan Hong lunged forward, one hand reaching for the intruder's shoulder and the other toward the back of the neck, attempting to capture the person alive!

But the black-clad figure reacted with astonishing speed. The instant the attack from behind was sensed, the left hand swiftly fired a yellow smoke bomb at the ground!

Bang—

Dense smoke filled the entire room in an instant. Seizing the opening, the black-clad figure had no intention of fighting and rushed toward the door at full speed, intending to escape!

Clang—

A cold gleam flashed through the enclosed room!

The white mist filling the air was torn apart down the middle by a snow-bright slash, accompanied by a piercing blade cry!

Once Yan Hong realized taking the intruder alive would be difficult, he decisively struck to kill. The long blade in his hand swept toward the black-clad figure's face with terrifying speed!

"Hah—"

Finding no way to evade, the black-clad figure's right sleeve suddenly swelled, and the figure directly slapped a palm toward the frigid blade!

Clang—

The three-foot blade struck the palm and erupted with the thunderous clash of metal, even bursting with a dazzling spark in midair!

Boom—

Surging chakra erupted between them, instantly overturning the wooden bed beside them. Yan Hong retreated three steps with his blade in hand, only steadying himself after crushing the floor tiles behind him beneath one foot!

The black-clad figure, meanwhile, was sent flying backward. The figure's back smashed through the window and crashed into the rain outside!

The icy rain striking the intruder's face restored clarity. The instant the figure landed, a palm struck the ground, and the body flipped backward before regaining its footing and fleeing into the distance!

Uchiha Flame Slash!

Whoosh—

A crescent-shaped flaming slash tore through the boundless curtain of rain. Every raindrop that approached the flames instantly evaporated and vanished without a trace!

Terror seized the black-clad figure's heart. With no other choice, the figure concentrated all chakra into both hands, crossed both arms before the body, and forcefully received the rapidly approaching flaming slash!

Boom—

The robes exploded apart!

More than half of the black-clad figure's cloak was swallowed by flames, yet the body remained completely unharmed. White smoke rose from it under the intense heat. The hood was also blown back by the force of the blast, revealing an utterly ordinary face!

Yan Hong stepped into the rain. The moment he saw the intruder's face, surprise flashed through his eyes. "How could it be you?"