Blood Slaughter

"Sure enough, although Shadow Clones split the original body's chakra evenly, their reactions and speed still lagged slightly behind the original. Unless quantity brought about a qualitative change, they could only serve as support. Still, for a B-rank ninjutsu that wasn't too difficult, it was indeed a pretty good technique."

"Damn, what a shame. Tobirama hasn't invented Impure World Reincarnation yet, or I could've taken that along last time. Who knows if I'll ever get another chance like this."

In his haze, Kakuzu sensed someone talking beside him. As his consciousness returned, he slowly woke up and found himself lying on a wooden bed. Not far away, Enkō sat in a chair with one leg crossed over the other, intently reading a scroll in his hands. When he saw Kakuzu awaken, he leisurely rolled up the scroll and tucked it into his robe.

"Yo, you're awake? Then get ready to begin paying off your debt."

Kakuzu rubbed his somewhat groggy head. After taking a deep breath, he said, "I don't have that much money."

"Then earn it if you don't have it." Enkō spread his hands and patiently persuaded him. "You should've died, but I chose to give you another chance. Trading money for your life is a good deal, isn't it? It doesn't matter if you have no money. Our Flame Hidden Village can provide it. You can live in our village and figure out how to use that money to earn more money. Once you've paid it all back, you'll be free."

Kakuzu pondered for a moment. "You want me to manage the finances? But why choose me?"

"Because we were fated to meet." Enkō shrugged. "Of course, you don't have the right to refuse either, unless you don't want to live."

This time, Kakuzu did not think for long. He knew he had no other choice, but he still said firmly, "I need to see my family first. Otherwise, I'd rather die."

"That won't be a problem." Enkō nodded. "Then welcome to the Flame Hidden Village. But I still have something to finish first. I'll write you a letter. Take it to the Daimyo Palace in the Land of Flame, and once they read it, they'll naturally make arrangements for you. I'll also have them bring your family over."

Kakuzu asked in confusion, "The Daimyo Palace? Shouldn't I be going to the Flame Hidden Village?"

"It makes no difference. Most of our Flame Hidden Village's funding comes from the Daimyo Palace."

"Fine." At this point, Kakuzu could only follow the arrangements. He had never expected that this trip would somehow end with him joining the Flame Hidden Village, but at least he had learned that his family was still alive.

"Alright, that'll be it for now. I'll give you the letter later. Go back whenever you feel ready." Enkō stood and stretched lazily. "I was planning to think up a countermeasure, but you disrupted that. Still, since you helped me test a new ninjutsu, I'll let it slide. Well, I'll just deal with whatever comes."

Kakuzu nodded. Just as he was about to say something, footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a knock.

Enkō opened the door and saw a burly, muscular man standing outside. Upon seeing Enkō, the man bowed respectfully. "Sir, the envoy from Kirigakure has arrived. Lord Qingming invites you to the assembly hall to discuss matters together."

"So soon? Looks like Kirigakure thinks highly of you too." Enkō teased. When the man did not respond, he said blandly, "Then let's go."

After signaling for Kakuzu to wait here, Enkō followed the man to the familiar council hall.

Two people were already seated inside the council hall. When Enkō entered, both turned to look at him.

One was Qingming, the leader of the Hidden Crafts Village, whom he had met once before. Seated beside Qingming was a middle-aged man who appeared refined and easygoing.

The man wore a fitted light-gray robe. His long black hair hung neatly behind his head, and his eyes were naturally narrowed. At first glance, he gave off the impression of a gentle jade gentleman, elegant and graceful.

But the instant Enkō saw him, he frowned, and his vigilance immediately rose to its peak!

"Lord Enkō is here! Please, have a seat." Qingming warmly greeted Enkō, concern visible on his face. "Yesterday, I heard there was some disturbance on your side. Did you run into some trouble?"

What a smiling fox. Enkō sneered inwardly, though he replied politely, "There was a small conflict within my own team. Thank you for your concern."

"It's good that nothing happened." Qingming nodded without asking further. He turned to the middle-aged man beside him and introduced him. "This is..."

"Uchiha Enkō, I've heard much about you." Before Qingming could finish, the middle-aged man stood and gave a graceful bow. "I am Shuiwu of Kirigakure, here on behalf of Kirigakure to discuss the matter of bringing the Hidden Crafts Village under our wing."

Enkō was rather curious. "You know me?"

"Of course. I've heard of every powerhouse in the Shinobi World, let alone the Uchiha Clan's third-in-command." Shuiwu looked Enkō up and down. "As expected, you are indeed quite different from the rumors."

Enkō neither confirmed nor denied it. He slowly walked to his seat and sat down, saying calmly, "Let's stop with the pleasantries. Since our goals are the same, how do you intend to settle this?"

Shuiwu was taken aback, then said helplessly, "Lord Enkō is truly direct. Although the Flame Hidden Village is not among the Five Great Nations, the Shinobi World has seen your village's strength. Kirigakure absolutely does not wish to become enemies with your village."

After saying that, Shuiwu glanced at Qingming, who was watching the show from the side. "I wonder what Village Chief Qingming thinks?"

"Me?" Qingming froze for a moment. Why haven't you two started fighting yet? On the surface, however, he shook his head and said, "Kirigakure and Flame Hidden Village are evenly matched, so it is truly difficult to choose. You may discuss it yourselves. Regardless of the outcome, though, I only hope you will treat the Hidden Crafts Village's shinobi well."

"Naturally." Shuiwu nodded and looked back toward Enkō. "It seems the question has been thrown back to us. To be honest, Kirigakure places great importance on the Hidden Crafts Village. Could your village withdraw from the competition? As compensation, we can exchange other resources."

Enkō shook his head. "Sorry, but the Flame Hidden Village is equally determined to acquire the Hidden Crafts Village."

"I see. That does make things difficult." Shuiwu narrowed his eyes, his face full of regret. Then, as if he had suddenly thought of something, he said, "How about this? To avoid affecting the relationship between our villages, the two of us can have a fight. If I lose, Kirigakure will no longer interfere in this matter."

"Oh?" Enkō raised his brows. "Can you fully represent Kirigakure?"

Shuiwu smiled faintly. "I still have that much authority. However, if I happen to win, the Hidden Crafts Village can still go to you."

"Huh?"

"What?"

Enkō and Qingming both froze, thinking they had heard wrong. If he lost, he wanted nothing; if he won, he still wanted nothing. Then what was he doing here? Looking for amusement?

Enkō asked suspiciously, "Then what do you want?"

"I want... your blood!"

Shuiwu slowly opened the eyes he had kept narrowed, revealing a pair of entirely blood-red pupils!

"If I win, I want every drop of blood in your body!"

Rumble—

Outside the window, countless lightning serpents slithered through the dark clouds. The rain gradually intensified, bean-sized drops pounding against the roof in a barrage of chaotic noise.

Yet inside the entire council hall, the atmosphere that had been fairly peaceful moments ago had turned deathly silent.

Enkō's gaze tightened. "You said you want my blood?"

Shuiwu closed his eyes again, seemingly returning to the image of a refined gentleman. Yet his words carried a trace of bloodlust. "That's right. No matter what, a battle between us is unavoidable, so why not raise the stakes? As things stand, whether you win or lose, the Hidden Crafts Village will belong to you. Could it be that Lord Enkō lacks the resolve to sacrifice himself for his village?"

"I'm curious. Does my blood hold such an attraction for you that you're willing to give up the Hidden Crafts Village?"

"Heh." Shuiwu chuckled and answered without concealing anything. "My Kekkei Genkai is rather special. The blood of powerful people can greatly increase my strength. The stronger the person, the more significant the enhancement their blood provides. And I can sense that your blood is exceptionally delicious. Don't worry, either. My ninjutsu can let you survive even without blood. You'd just be a living corpse!"

"I see." Enkō nodded. "Then let's begin."

Delight flashed through Qingming's eyes. "In that case, shall I arrange a location for the match?"

"A location for the match? Isn't this place good enough?"

Whoosh—

The instant his words fell, Shuiwu vanished from his seat. Like a shadowless phantom, he shot forward more than ten meters in an instant. In the blink of an eye, he was already before Enkō, his five fingers clawed as they reached for Enkō's throat!

At the same time, Enkō's Mangekyō Sharingan flashed sharply. He could barely catch a figure tearing through the airflow and dusty haze, moving at an utterly unbelievable speed!

At that critical moment, Enkō drove his strength up from the ground and thrust out a palm, meeting the incoming claw head-on!

Boom—

Two torrents of immense chakra exploded within the council hall!

The chair beneath Enkō instantly shattered, while the floor tiles beneath his feet cracked into a spiderweb pattern. The surging dust was blasted apart in both directions by the force, swallowing Qingming, who had been watching from the side, in the blink of an eye!

Enkō did not move, but Shuiwu was sent flying back by that palm strike. While still in midair, he abruptly pressed his palms together before him!

Blood Release: Blood Meteor!

Swoosh—

A piercing whistle tore through the entire hall, like the wail of a demon from hell. A blood arrow shot through the air. Even though Enkō had been prepared, he was startled by its terrifying speed!

Crash—

Enkō instantly ducked low. The blood arrow grazed his back and streaked into the wall behind him, instantly blasting apart the stone wall and letting a sheet of icy rain pour inside!

Clang—

Reacting at once, Enkō kicked off the ground and lunged forward like a fierce tiger. The long blade in his hand left its sheath, drawing a dazzling white arc through the air!

"What incredible speed!"

A flash of amazement crossed Shuiwu's eyes as a blood sphere silently condensed in his right hand. Just as the three-foot blade light reached him, the tiny blood sphere abruptly exploded!

Boom—

The immense chakra contained within the blood sphere instantly blasted both men away, while the shockwave shoved everything around them outward!

Enkō raised his blade before him, but his back slammed into a stone wall. With a muffled thud, he crashed through it and flew out onto the ground beyond!

Crash—

Cold rain fell over him. Enkō planted his blade into the ground and slowly rose, staring at Shuiwu as he too walked into the rain, his eyes filled with gravity!

Shuiwu, the future Third Mizukage—the most mysterious Mizukage. There was very little information about him, yet he was also the true founder of the Blood Mist Village!

Enkō wiped the rain from his face and stood proudly in the downpour with his blade in one hand. "You really are strong."

A bloodthirsty smile rested on Shuiwu's face. "You're not bad either. I never expected you to dodge Blood Explosion at such close range."

"Hah." Enkō took a deep breath, crimson light suddenly flashing from his Mangekyō Sharingan. "Then let's continue!"

Dojutsu: Kagami no Mitama...?

Just as the Mangekyō's dojutsu was about to activate, Shuiwu vanished directly from his sight!

The prerequisite for Kagami no Mitama to seize a ninjutsu was that the opponent had to be within his field of vision. Once he lost sight of the target, this dojutsu became completely useless!

"I've studied the Uchiha Clan. Your eyes are the Mangekyō Sharingan, aren't they? I don't know what abilities they possess, but as long as you can't see me, they are useless!"

An abrupt voice rang out from behind him. Enkō whirled around and saw a massive blood scythe sweeping toward him. It moved so quickly that it carved a trail of white mist through the air!

Clang—

Enkō raised his blade to block. The blood scythe struck the blade, and the finely crafted weapon snapped in an instant. The crimson scythe, heavy with the stench of blood, continued on without losing momentum. Its icy gleam swept across Enkō's cheek, leaving behind a shallow cut!

Whoosh—

Enkō leaped back several steps. A trace of blood seeped from the wound on his face, only to be washed clean by the rain moments later. Yet a faint dark-red stain now marked the puddle beneath his feet.

In the distance, however, an intoxicated expression appeared on Shuiwu's face. "What an enchanting scent. The blood of the strong truly is intoxicating. Once I drink your blood, I can become the strongest being in the Water Country in one stroke!"

Big brother, sorry. It looks like I'll have to use the power of the Mangekyō. Enkō murmured inwardly, then rapidly formed hand seals!

Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!

Boom—

A sea of fire surged forth. Crimson flames burned away wind and rain like an overwhelming tide, crashing down upon Shuiwu with unstoppable force!

Blood Release: Blood Wings!

Whoosh—

A pair of enormous wings made of blood spread from Shuiwu's back. With a flap, he soared into the sky, vaulting over the oncoming flames in one motion and looking down from above at the churning sea of fire beneath him.

Shuiwu smiled mockingly. "Such immense chakra, but what use is it if it can't hit me?"

Boom—

The moment his words fell, a dragon's roar erupted through the rain!

A circular opening suddenly burst through the sea of fire beneath Shuiwu's feet. A black chakra spear shot through the air with terrifying force, dragging the surrounding rain along with it. As the water spiraled around it, it formed a roaring dragon!

Shuiwu's eyes widened in shock. He had no idea what this thing was. He wanted to dodge, but had no strength left to do so. He could only watch helplessly as Enkō's spear came at him. In haste, the blood wings behind him folded together before his body!

Boom—

After a muffled blast, rainwater splashed everywhere. The blood wings exploded in midair, and Shuiwu turned into a shooting star, flying straight into a nearby building. He smashed through two walls in succession before crashing onto the street outside once more!

"Cough, cough."

Shuiwu spat out a mouthful of blood. His once-neat long hair now hung messily over his face. Looking at the black Susanoo before him, madness flickered in his slightly opened blood-red eyes. "What a monster! That was almost dangerous. The Uchiha Clan actually has something like this... Urgh?"

As though someone had seized his throat, Shuiwu lowered his head in surprise and looked at his hands. "What's going on?"

Not far away, blood streamed from Enkō's left eye!

Dojutsu: Kagami no Mitama!