Scared Shitless

When it came to individual intelligence-gathering ability, Dan Katō was undoubtedly in a league of his own in the Ninja World.

The accuracy and efficiency of the Spirit Transformation Technique in gathering intelligence were far beyond what Genin like Aburame Nami and Inuzuka Ryo could match.

Dan Katō had already uncovered everything Inuzuka Ryo had found, and it was also Dan Katō who had discovered Hida Yuichi's smuggling of Iron Ore to an enemy nation in connection with this mission.

"I knew all along that Hida Yuichi was no good!"

Inuzuka Ryo raised his hand high and shouted.

"Since that's the case, let's set out immediately."

Dan Katō looked at his three fully prepared disciples and waved his hand.

The setting sun was blood-red, shining over the quiet, numb little town.

The residents of Tetsuseki Town had been on edge lately, because Lord Hida was planning to recruit another batch of Miners to dig in the mines.

They called it recruitment, but it was really forced conscription. They called them Miners, but in truth, they were slaves.

Every few years, a batch of Miners would be used up. When that time came, Lord Hida would send out his men. Anyone who had ever been overheard badmouthing Lord Hida, or anyone whose tribute to him had been too meager, would get the privilege of going to the mines.

A black insect the size of a bee drifted out of the Lord's Mansion before finally landing on an arm clad in a loose, wide-sleeved robe.

"Nami, how did it go?"

Meikyō asked Aburame Nami.

"A total of seventy-three samurai guards."

Meikyō nodded, then turned to Inuzuka Ryo.

"Ryo, do you still remember Hida Yuichi's scent?"

"Don't worry, I definitely remember it!"

"Then once we move in, you'll lead the way and lock onto Hida Yuichi's location. Nami, spread your insects out and surround the area as much as possible to prevent Hida Yuichi from escaping. I'll serve as the main attacker and spearhead the breakthrough."

Meikyō assigned their combat roles simply and clearly.

After their previous mission, the three-person squad had begun to vaguely regard him as their leader. Combined with the fact that Meikyō was indeed the strongest among them, it all came naturally.

"Alright, let's make this a big one! Let's go, Tetsu Maru!"

Inuzuka Ryo shouted as he activated the Four Legs Technique and charged forward with Tetsu Maru.

Meikyō was even faster, flashing to the gates of the Lord's Mansion in an instant.

"Uchiha Style: Instant Fire Blade!"

Crimson flames climbed along the Wakizashi's edge and sliced through the wooden gates in an instant, cutting them in two.

The gates, their severed edges burning with flames, crashed to the ground.

Aburame Nami waved both hands, releasing swarms of insects that scattered throughout the surrounding area.

These insects were her eyes and ears. As long as Hida Yuichi tried to escape, the other swarms would converge to stop him at once.

"Not good! Someone's attacking the Lord's Mansion!"

"Quick, summon the samurai!"

"Go notify Lord Hida!"

The Lord's Mansion immediately descended into chaos.

Meikyō took the lead, charging in the direction Inuzuka Ryo indicated. Everyone in his path was sent sprawling.

Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Nami followed close behind.

Such a huge commotion naturally drew attention. Before long, a group of samurai dressed in white uniforms and headbands rushed over with swords in hand.

"Who are you? How dare you barge in here! Don't you know Lord Kameda has this place under his protection?"

"Looks like they're ninja!"

"Konoha Ninja, too!"

"Damn it, Hida never told us we'd be dealing with Konoha Ninja!"

"What are you scared of? They're just a bunch of brats! Get them!"

Meikyō silently exchanged a glance with Nami. The next moment, swarms of insects surged forward, blocking the samurai's vision.

The very next second, Meikyō and Inuzuka Ryo charged out. Claws and blades flashed everywhere as blood splattered.

"Over there! He's trying to run!"

Inuzuka Ryo suddenly pointed in a direction and shouted.

"Leave this place to you. I'll deal with him!"

Meikyō gave an order, then activated the Body Flicker Technique and rushed into the distance.

There were many different types of Body Flicker Techniques.

Any technique capable of changing one's position within an extremely short period could be called a Body Flicker Technique, such as Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God or Hanzo's Water Body Flicker.

As a prestigious clan of the Ninja World with a thousand-year legacy, the Uchiha Clan naturally had its own system of Body Flicker Techniques designed for use with the Sharingan. According to Uchiha Yu, Meikyō's Great-Uncle had been a Body Flicker expert in the village whose skill was second only to the Second Hokage's. Under the Second Hokage's guidance, he had even developed a Phantom Body Flicker Technique.

Of course, that technique was extremely difficult. Uchiha Yu said that it was basically impossible to learn before awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and mastering a certain number of prerequisite ninjutsu. What Meikyō used now was the Body Flicker Technique paired with Uchiha Style Swordsmanship. Once his body could withstand greater strain, he could incorporate various flicker techniques such as Physical Body Flicker into it, pushing his speed up another two levels.

"Quick! Run, run for your lives!"

Hida Yuichi fled the Lord's Mansion in panic, his legs stumbling beneath him as a group of samurai guarded him.

But in the next instant, a blurred figure flashed into view. The wakizashi in his hand was wreathed in flames, and with each rise and fall of his blade, the samurai protecting Hida Yuichi were swiftly cut down.

"Damn it, a Konoha Ninja!"

Hida Yuichi recognized Meikyō, and his face immediately turned incomparably ugly.

He did not understand why the secret he had covered up so meticulously had still been discovered by Konoha.

If anyone was to blame, it was his bad luck in running into Dan Katō.

Had it been another ninja, it might not have mattered. But Dan Katō, who possessed the Spirit Transformation Technique, was absolutely one of the finest Intelligence Ninja in the world. Even without deliberately investigating, he could uncover such information.

"Uchiha ninja! Let me go! I have a lot of money! With that money, you won't have to keep risking your life and taking missions for such a tiny amount of pay!"

Hida Yuichi shouted.

Yet the only answer he received was the flaming blade and the screams of the samurai.

"Drip. Drip."

Drops of blood slid from the wakizashi.

All the samurai had been slaughtered by Meikyō, leaving behind only Hida Yuichi, whose face was filled with endless terror.

"Can... can you not kill me? I-I have money, lots and lots of money! Enough for you and your teammates to take dozens of missions!"

At those words, Meikyō's hand paused. The blade of the wakizashi was only a few millimeters from Hida Yuichi's throat.

Hida Yuichi could even feel the icy, stinging sensation left by the blade cutting through the air just moments ago.

Meikyō suddenly frowned again.

He had smelled something foul. Looking more closely, he saw that a yellow liquid had already begun to seep from Hida Yuichi's crotch.