Using Earth Release to slip effortlessly into the heavily guarded chancellor's residence, Ye Uchiha strolled along the bluestone path as though he owned the place. The faint, delicate scent of flowers mingled with the fresh fragrance of grass and trees in the air.
Pavilions and towers, little bridges and flowing water; carp leaped above the surface before plunging back into the lake with a splash. Verdant groves nestled among ornamental rocks, while birds perched in the trees, chirping sweetly. It was a scene worthy of a painting or poem.
Although it lacked the solemn grandeur of Han's Royal Palace, its understated elegance gave it a relaxed, comfortable charm.
Were it not for the bone-chilling killing intent lurking all around and the dozen or so pairs of eyes fixed on him, Ye Uchiha would have considered it an excellent place to spend his retirement.
Shing-
With the faint whisper of a sword leaving its sheath, a dazzling flash of cold steel struck from behind.
"Got him!"
When Ye Uchiha failed to react, the assassin smiled contemptuously. He had expected the intruder to be an expert, but it turned out he was nothing more than some half-trained trash.
The residence's security really is lacking. I'll have to report this to the chancellor. If just any nobody can stroll in here, doesn't that make a mockery of us?
Suddenly, the assassin felt a chill around his neck. His vision spun wildly, and he dimly glimpsed a headless corpse standing nearby.
Huh? That body looks familiar... is it mine?
The assassin's consciousness gradually faded. His head landed on the ground and rolled once, his lifeless eyes wide with bewilderment and dawning realization.
Ye Uchiha flicked the blood off his knife-hand and watched blood fountain from the headless corpse.
*This Qi Condensation into Blades can