Outsmarting Himself

Lu Zeming added, "I love learning. You can pay me in books, too—herbal encyclopedias, basic ninjutsu research, rune interpretation, anything like that."

Shinbu Teiichi did not agree immediately. He studied Lu Zeming as though trying to see right through him.

"You're remarkably strong for someone so young, and you know pharmacology. I doubt you come from an ordinary background. May I ask which family you belong to?"

Lu Zeming held his head high and declared with immense pride, "I'm from the Flower Nation."

Shinbu Teiichi racked his brain but could not think of a ninja family called Flower Nation.

Lu Zeming was amused. Of course you've never heard of it.

Shinbu Teiichi did not press the matter. Instead, he said gravely, "I can accept your price, but I have one condition!"

"Let's hear it!"

"These Super Soldier Pills can only be sold to the Shinbu!"

"Agreed!"

The two talked for a long time, settling the details of their partnership.

Before leaving, Lu Zeming set down another five Super Soldier Pills as samples.

It was already late at night when he left the Shinbu estate. Few people remained on the streets, apart from a handful of drunks staggering along.

Lu Zeming narrowed his eyes slightly and headed toward the inn alone.

Several figures in black were hiding in an alley not far from him.

"Mayuko, can we start the plan?"

"Idiot. The boss said we can't use names on a mission. Use code names."

"Sorry. I was so nervous I forgot!"

"Don't be nervous. Repeat the plan!"

"Once the boss reaches a deserted spot, we pretend to be assassins and attack him. We make a big commotion, then get away safely before the Military Police Force arrives!"

"Good. Let's follow him!"

Mayuko, Yuma, and Yusuke had already used the Transformation Technique to alter their appearances.

They looked like three ordinary ninja as they quietly followed Lu Zeming.

Just as they decided the time was right to strike, something unexpected happened.

Three other black-clad ninja launched a surprise attack on Lu Zeming. Unlike Mayuko's group, all three wore beast masks.

Lu Zeming assumed the three Beast-Masked Ninja were Mayuko and the others, and felt reassured.

They even thought to wear masks. They're improving!

Lu Zeming had no intention of using his full strength for fear of hurting them. But the blade that came at him was fast and vicious. The moment he raised his own to block, he knew something was wrong.

It was too late. The Beast-Masked Ninja facing him cast Genjutsu, and countless crows swept across Lu Zeming's vision. The other two were already upon him, Kunai in hand.

The three Beast-Masked Ninja boxed Lu Zeming in, cutting off his room to move while driving their Kunai toward his vital points.

Lu Zeming barely managed to twist aside and protect his vitals. Two Kunai sank deep into his flesh. Agony struck, and blood gushed out.

Mayuko and the others went pale and rushed out to save him.

The three Beast-Masked Ninja were startled too. They had not expected anyone else to appear, and for a moment they forgot to finish him off.

That gave Lu Zeming his chance to break free. Surging Spiritual Power erupted from his entire body, sending all three Beast-Masked Ninja flying.

The three were formidable. Even as they flew backward, their hands continued forming signs.

Fire Release: Flame Dragon!

Wind Release: Vortex!

Ninjutsu: Spiral Shuriken: Split!

The wind fed the flames, and the flames concealed countless Spiral Shuriken. All of it hurtled toward Lu Zeming.

He did not dare take the attack head-on and immediately used the Substitution Technique. But he was still too close, and their combined ninjutsu covered too wide an area.

Thinking quickly, Lu Zeming leaped and guided his Kunai beneath his feet. Using them as steps, he jumped again and again into the air, narrowly escaping the attack.

The move left not only Mayuko's group dumbfounded, but the three Beast-Masked Ninja as well.

Lu Zeming seized the chance to fling a mass of Poison Needles at them. They fell on the three like rain.

The Beast-Masked Ninja retreated in quick succession to dodge them.

As soon as Lu Zeming landed safely, Mayuko and the others hurried to shield him.

Almost at the same moment, shouts from the Military Police Force rang out in the distance.

The three Beast-Masked Ninja saw that another attempt on his life was impossible and withdrew without hesitation.

Once he was sure they had gone, Lu Zeming could no longer hold himself up and collapsed.

Mayuko hurried to support him, tears streaming down her face.

"Boss, it's our fault. We were useless! We couldn't protect you!"

Lu Zeming was remarkably calm. He even had a smile on his face.

"Don't be silly. You've only been ninja for so long. You'll get stronger. Besides, this works out. We won't have to pretend I was attacked and injured. A real injury is much more convincing!"

"Boss, save your strength. We're taking you to the hospital."

Lu Zeming shook his head. "No hospital. Back to the inn!"

"But your wounds!"

"These injuries won't stop me!"

The attack on Lu Zeming had caused a huge commotion. The three ninja's combined ninjutsu had nearly burned down half a street.

Mayuko stayed behind to answer the Military Police Force's questions, while the brothers Yuma and Yusuke escorted Lu Zeming back to the inn.

When they arrived, Yuka saw Lu Zeming covered in blood and burst into tears again. Even the usually carefree Rofu looked worried.

After lying down on the bed, Lu Zeming gave them instructions.

"Tell everyone I'm gravely wounded and at death's door. If anyone comes to visit, turn them away—wait, except Shinbu Teiichi!"

News of the attack on Lu Zeming soon spread throughout Kusagakure.

Some were delighted, others worried. Shinbu Teiichi was among the worried.

What truly concerned him was not Lu Zeming, but the Super Soldier Pills in Lu Zeming's hands.

The moment he heard the news, Shinbu Teiichi came to see him.

Lu Zeming had deliberately left his wounds untreated while waiting for him.

Looking at Lu Zeming's terrible wounds, Shinbu Teiichi's face darkened. Anger filled his eyes.

"Investigate this. Find out which bastard did it! To assassinate an outstanding candidate in the street—do they have no respect for Kusagakure's rules?"

Feigning weakness, Lu Zeming said, "I think you already know who did it. But let me remind you: we'd barely agreed to work together when someone tried to kill me. They got the news so quickly that I'm frightened for you."

Every hair on Shinbu Teiichi's body stood on end.

That's right. How did they hear so quickly? Could someone in my household be working for them?

Yes, they must be. Otherwise, the timing couldn't have been this perfect.

There's a traitor in my household, someone close to me. If they catch me off guard one day...

The more Shinbu Teiichi thought about it, the more frightened he grew, and the fiercer his expression became.

In truth, Shinbu Teiichi was simply overthinking it. But powerful people had a habit of doing that.

"Focus on recovering. I'll give you an explanation for what happened today!"

With that, Shinbu Teiichi hurried away.

Lu Zeming had no intention of letting the fire he had started die out. He meant to add fuel and make it burn hotter.

As the saying went, when disaster struck an enemy, seize the advantage and let firmness overcome softness.

In plain terms: kick them while they were down!

After Shinbu Teiichi left, Lu Zeming entered his Inner Landscape and began healing his wounds.

With the combined effects of his Wood Spiritual Root and the Inner Landscape, the wounds on Lu Zeming's body healed visibly.

At dawn, Lu Zeming sent Mayuko and the others into town to spread the word.

They said Lu Zeming had stepped on certain people's toes during the second exam, provoking retaliation. That was why he had been attacked at night and left at death's door.

The commoner ninja whom Lu Zeming had helped during the second exam were outraged and spread the news far and wide.

Within half a day, word had reached the entire commoner ninja community!

They gathered in small groups, talking about how Lu Zeming had come to their aid and how greedy and shameless the great families were.

The great families monopolized most resources, but commoner ninja made up the majority.

After enduring oppression for so long, the commoner ninja had finally found an outlet for their anger. They did not take any major action.

But when no one was watching, they were bold enough to throw stones into certain great families' courtyards and splash paint on their gates.