Blood Pool Clan

A faintly bloody wind drifted through the dim valley floor, stirring ripples across the blood pool.

By the pool, Miyakenichi, the current clan head of the Chinoike Clan, sized up the black-clad young man before him. His scarlet eyes had horizontal pupils like those of a frog, filled with hatred and loathing.

On the other side, Enkō was likewise observing this family, which could only be described as deeply tragic. The harsh environment had left every one of them haggard and gaunt, their withered faces openly displaying their fury.

Enkō chuckled. "Looks like life hasn't been easy for you."

"Thanks to you." Miyakenichi stopped the restless clansmen behind him and said in a low voice, "What? Has the Uchiha Clan finally decided to wipe us out completely?"

Enkō waved for Mu not to be so tense and stepped lightly forward. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Uchiha Enkō. I know your clan bears no goodwill toward the Uchiha Clan, but compared to hatred, I believe you long for freedom even more."

"Uchiha Enkō? The younger brother of the current Uchiha Clan head?" Miyakenichi frowned. "So what exactly do you want?"

Enkō raised a finger and pointed it at the Chinoike Clan. "Let you out and return your freedom to you."

"What!"

"How is that possible?"

"Don't believe them!"

The words caused an uproar among the Chinoike shinobi behind him. Some were excited, some doubtful, and some burned with a fierce yearning for freedom!

Miyakenichi was clearly stunned when he heard this. A trace of daze flashed through his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and raised a hand to cut off the clamor behind him.

"Are you representing the Lightning Country, or only the Uchiha Clan?"

"I represent only the Uchiha Clan."

"I see." Understanding dawned on Miyakenichi, and a trace of disdain appeared on his face. "If I'm not mistaken, you want to recruit the Chinoike Clan?"

"As expected of a clan head." Enkō praised him. "That's right. I'll let you out, and in exchange, you will obey the Uchiha Clan's orders."

"Hehehe..." Miyakenichi sneered. "You want us to submit? On what grounds? You speak of freedom? If we take you down, we'll have bargaining power all the same!"

Whoosh—

As soon as he finished speaking, a brilliant red light erupted from Miyakenichi's eyes!

Boom—

In the deathly silent valley, waves of blood surged. A blood dragon rose from the blood pool, shattering the crosswinds with a howl as it dove straight at Enkō!

"Lord Enkō, watch out!"

"Hmph. Mu, stand back. I alone am enough!"

Boom—

The blood dragon crashed down upon where Enkō had been standing. The ground split apart, blasted into a bowl-shaped crater!

Before the blood dragon arrived, Enkō had already vanished from his spot. With his feet on the ground, he transformed into a Rippling Swallow, leaping over the blood dragon and rising with the wind. His gaze sharpened as he saw Miyakenichi following close behind!

Imprisoned in Hell Valley, Miyakenichi naturally had no weapons on him. Like a flood dragon emerging from the sea, he clenched his right fist and tore through the air, driving a punch straight at Enkō's face!

Before the iron fist even reached him, the immense force of the punch had already swept aside the loose hair before Enkō's forehead, revealing a pair of scarlet Sharingan!

Under the Sharingan's insight, none of Miyakenichi's movements could remain hidden!

Enkō made no unnecessary movements. He merely raised his left hand and precisely seized Miyakenichi's wrist, then drove a rising knee into his abdomen!

Bang—

His knee slammed into Miyakenichi's waist and stomach, and a ring of air exploded behind him. Before Miyakenichi could block, his entire body shot away like a boiled shrimp, streaking in a straight line through the air before crashing into the blood pool!

Boom—

It was as if a meteor had fallen into the still pool. A towering wave exploded upward, ripples spreading outward before the water finally turned into a rain of blood that fell back onto the pool's surface!

"Clan head!"

"Don't come over!"

Just as the clansmen behind him wanted to rush forward, Miyakenichi stopped them with a harsh shout!

Whoosh—

Enkō landed back on the ground and looked at Miyakenichi, who was half-kneeling atop the water. There was no mockery on his face as he calmly said, "Though I would very much like to fight the experts of every nation in the Shinobi World, your current condition is simply too poor."

"They say there are two dragons and one insect in the Uchiha Clan. It seems those rumors are all lies." Miyakenichi wiped the bloody water seeping from the corner of his mouth and said gravely, "Aren't you afraid that we'll pretend to surrender, then betray you once we're out?"

Enkō replied indifferently, "Even after getting out, you will still be hunted by the Lightning Country. Only the Uchiha Clan is willing to shelter you. The situation within the other major nations is already largely settled; no one wants a first-rate clan disrupting things now. The smaller nations dare not offend the great nations. Though the Shinobi World is vast, there is already no place left for you."

Splash—

Miyakenichi stood up and fixed his gaze on Enkō in the distance!

Ketsuryūgan: Genjutsu!

"Hm?" Enkō lowered his head slightly and watched as his body suddenly began to rot and swell, crimson light flowing through his eyes!

Sharingan: Genjutsu Reflection!

"Puh!"

Miyakenichi suffered a mental backlash and instantly spat out a mouthful of blood. His body swayed as he stared coldly at Enkō. "Then what if we join the Senju Clan? Aren't you letting us out because you want us to help you fight the Senju Clan?"

Enkō did not grow angry because of his resistance. He answered, "Indeed, the Senju Clan is a good choice. Senju Hashirama is willing, and he possesses enough strength to protect you. But surely you have heard something of the personality of this God of Shinobi."

Without waiting for Miyakenichi to speak, Enkō continued, "The ones you hate most should be the Lightning Country. The Uchiha Clan was merely a blade they borrowed. I refuse to believe the Chinoike Clan has no desire to take revenge on the Lightning Country. Do you think Senju Hashirama would start a war against the Lightning Country for your clan? On the contrary, I believe that for the peace between the two nations, he would hand you over."

"Then why should we trust the Uchiha Clan?"

"Because we are willing to give you a chance for revenge—and because I can kill you right now."

Enkō's voice was cold without the slightest warmth, yet it plunged Miyakenichi into thought. As he considered it, he turned to look at his clansmen. Before his eyes were faces filled with longing for freedom.

The valley fell silent once more. After a long while, Miyakenichi finally spoke. "Hell Valley is not controlled by the Uchiha Clan alone. We can't get out, so anything we say is just a waste of time."

Enkō smiled faintly. "Very well. Just watch with peace of mind. Mu, let's go."

Watching the two men depart, the clansmen behind him slowly gathered around. "Clan head, are we really going to throw in our lot with the Uchiha Clan?"

"Do you intend to stay here forever?" Miyakenichi's expression was complicated.

"The Uchiha Clan's third-in-command? As expected, troubled times produce outstanding men."