The Mind-Listening Clan

In Crescent Valley, Lu Zeming strolled along in front, occasionally parting the weeds with his blade to see if there were any herbs to pick.

His haul this time was impressive. With one backpack in front and another behind, his little figure looked round and rather cute.

Mui and Shinbu Kosuke carried two more large packs of supplies.

Unlike the carefree Lu Zeming, both looked aggrieved. The way they eyed him suggested they were regretting ever meeting him.

It was understandable. Their injuries had not been that serious to begin with. After Lu Zeming worked on them, the injuries were healed, but Mui's face was frozen stiff, while Shinbu Kosuke kept breaking out in cold sweats as if he were suffering from kidney deficiency.

How could either of them be happy?

They swore that even if they died, they would never let Lu Zeming touch them again.

Suddenly, Lu Zeming seemed to sense something and looked west.

"Wait here, you two. I'm going to watch a good show. I'll be right back!"

Deep in the forest, three youngsters—a girl and two boys—sped through the branches.

They looked about twelve or thirteen and wore frightened expressions, as though they were running from something.

The girl clearly had the least stamina. She gradually began to fall behind.

"Haruki, Rofu, I can't keep going! Take the flag and run!"

The delicate-looking boy named Haruki refused to abandon his companion.

"Don't give up, Yuka! We can do this. If we just keep going, we'll pass the selection. Think of our clan. Think of your little sister!"

Haruki's words visibly lifted Yuka's spirits. Unfortunately, she was not the protagonist. She had no Nine-Tails inside her, nor did she have a rousing soundtrack to carry her through everything.

Seeing their pursuers closing in, Yuka gritted her teeth.

"You two have to survive. I'll buy you some time!"

Yuka stopped, turned, and fired several Shuriken into the forest.

Metal rang against metal, and three ninjas appeared with Kunai in hand.

"So they left you behind? Makes sense. If you're going to hold everyone back, you should be ready to get abandoned."

As the lead ninja spoke, another tried to attack Yuka from behind, but she dodged before he struck.

The lead ninja curled his lip, displeased with his companion.

"Idiot. She's from the Mind-Listening Clan. Use Taijutsu!"

The three immediately closed in and attacked Yuka with Taijutsu.

At first, Yuka dodged ahead of each strike, as if she could sense what they were about to do. But as the three ninjas pressed her harder and faster, she clearly could not keep up.

Just as a Kunai was about to pierce Yuka's neck, another flew out of the bushes and deflected the fatal blow.

Two figures suddenly joined the fight and drove the three ninjas back.

Yuka turned and saw that Haruki and Rofu had returned!

The three came together without a word, each entrusting their back to the others.

Yuka's eyes reddened. "Why did you come back?"

Rofu flashed his sharp canine teeth and grinned. "I never abandon my companions!"

Haruki's face was grim. "You're the pride of our clan. I can die, but you can't!"

The lead ninja across from them scoffed. "You knew you couldn't win, yet you came back to die. What enviable friendship. Fine, I'll give you a chance to live. Hand over the flag, and I'll let you go."

Haruki looked at Yuka. She shook her head.

The lead ninja rubbed his forehead protector in frustration. "I forgot. The Mind-Listening Clan can hear people's thoughts. No fooling you, then. In that case, you can die first!"

The fight erupted again. Neither Yuka nor Haruki was much good at Taijutsu or Ninjutsu.

Only Rofu could transform parts of his body into those of a beast, greatly boosting his speed and strength. He barely kept their position from collapsing.

But the gap in strength was too great. After only seven or eight exchanges, their defeat was clear.

Four Kunai pinned Rofu to a tree. Yuka's left arm was twisted at an unnatural angle, and Haruki was drenched in blood, Shuriken lodged all over his body.

Haruki knew that if this went on, all three of them would die. He shoved the flag into Yuka's hand.

"Yuka, live for me!"

Haruki pulled out three Explosive Tags and charged the three ninjas, intending to take them down with him.

The lead ninja remained perfectly calm.

Ninja Art: Wind Demon Shuriken!

A Shuriken swelled in the wind, growing to the size of a millstone in an instant before flashing past.

Haruki's arm, still holding the Explosive Tags, was severed at the shoulder. The tags fell to the ground before he even had a chance to detonate them.

Yuka collapsed helplessly to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

"Will the Mind-Listening Clan end here?"

"Ahem. Sorry to bother you, but can the Mind-Listening Clan really hear people's thoughts?"

An unexpected child's voice rang out. Everyone looked toward it and saw a boy carrying a long blade approach with curiosity on his face.

As though he had not noticed the three ninjas glaring at him, he walked straight up to Yuka.

Yuka stared at him, stunned.

The boy spoke again. "Can you hear what I'm thinking right now? If you really can, I might save the three of you!"

Clutching at this lifeline, Yuka hurriedly pulled herself together.

"You're thinking about your own name."

"Then what's my name?"

"Lu Zeming!"

Lu Zeming gave Yuka a thumbs-up. "That's an amazing ability!"

Lu Zeming glanced around, then turned to the three ninjas.

"All right, you heard her. I'm protecting these three. Leave the flag and get lost!"

The lead ninja laughed in disbelief.

"Kid, you've got some nerve talking big. Today I'll teach you—"

Before the lead ninja could finish, Lu Zeming vanished.

Two screams rang out. The lead ninja's companions had been knocked unconscious by blows from a scabbard.

Fast. Far too fast!

Sweat beaded on the lead ninja's forehead. The rest of his words stuck in his throat.

Lu Zeming crooked a finger at him. "That Wind Demon Shuriken of yours looked pretty strong. Come on, let me see if I can stop it!"

"You're asking for it!"

The lead ninja gritted his teeth and used his best technique again.

Ninja Art: Wind Demon Shuriken: Split!

Charged with Wind Release Chakra, the Shuriken rapidly grew. Then it split into two, both spinning like enormous wind wheels as they shot toward Lu Zeming.

At almost the same instant, Lu Zeming drew his blade.

White light flashed as the blade swept across.

Two shrill screeches rang out. The wind-wheel Shuriken were cut into four pieces, and the blade's arc continued on, slicing off half the lead ninja's ear and a strip of his scalp.

As if he felt no pain, the lead ninja stared blankly at the cleanly severed Shuriken on the ground, disbelief filling his eyes.

Lu Zeming shook out his numb right hand and sheathed his blade.

"Hey, what were you going to teach me?"

The lead ninja snapped out of it. "I—I was joking!"

"Then hand over the flag and get lost!"

The lead ninja could hardly believe his ears. "You're really not going to kill us?"

"Do I have some reason I have to kill you? It wasn't easy for your mother to raise you!"

The lead ninja's mouth twitched. He said nothing more, obediently handed over the flag, and helped his companions away.

Before leaving, he took a long look at Lu Zeming. There was no hint of revenge in his eyes, only curiosity and something more complicated.

The boy had none of a ninja's coldness or cruelty. Small as he was, he seemed like a flower blooming in a barren wasteland.

Lu Zeming, huh? What an interesting kid.

Once he was sure no one would disturb them, Lu Zeming looked at Yuka and the others and rubbed his hands together.

"Oh, more patients. Lucky me!"