Hell Valley

The sky was dim, dark red clouds blanketing the heavens and turning the sunlight that fell upon the land blood-red. The earth was a barren Gobi Desert; from afar, it looked like an enormous slab of flesh lying across the canyon.

This was Hell Valley.

The area spanning dozens of li within the canyon had been sealed inside a massive Barrier. This was an Illusion Technique Barrier unique to the Uchiha Clan. It could not be broken from within, and anyone approaching its walls would be enveloped in mist and lose consciousness. In mild cases, they would become muddleheaded; in severe cases, they would be reduced to idiots.

Relying on this Barrier, the Uchiha Clan had steadily suppressed the Blood Pond Clan for decades.

According to the intelligence, the Uchiha squad originally stationed to guard the Barrier had mysteriously gone missing three months ago. The squad sent to take over their duties had also vanished without a trace. In other words, for a full three months, no one had known what had happened here.

When Uchiha Chiri and the others arrived at the canyon, the sight before them made their scalps go numb.

The Four Seals Barrier that had stood for decades was gone.

That meant the Blood Pond Clan... had escaped!

Yet strangely, they had also inspected the Uchiha camp around the Barrier's perimeter. There were no signs of destruction. Other than the Uchiha clansmen who had vanished into thin air, everything was exactly as it had been.

"Logically speaking, after being imprisoned for so long, the first thing they should have done after escaping was kill every guard..." Uchiha Kirito frowned. "They actually held themselves back?"

"Maybe they only killed people and didn't destroy anything." Jiraiya folded his arms and said coolly.

Orochimaru shook his head. "Impossible. Although I do not understand the Blood Pond Clan's methods, it is normal for enemies to lose their minds when they meet. Who would be in the mood to kill people without destroying their belongings?"

"I looked into it. The Blood Pond Clan possesses a dojutsu Kekkei Genkai called the Blood Dragon Eye. They specialize in controlling blood and combining it with Illusion Techniques to create Human Bombs. With such an explosive fighting style, it would be hard not to leave traces behind." Tsunade stroked her smooth chin.

Uchiha Nen remained silent. He was the youngest and least experienced among them, yet he kept his hands behind his back and put on an air of maturity.

"I think the priority now is to return to the village as quickly as possible and report the Blood Pond Clan's escape to Teacher!" Tsunade offered a highly rational suggestion.

"Well..." Kirito hesitated. "I think we should first confirm the exact situation before reporting back. What if—just what if—the situation is not what we imagine it to be?"

"What are you talking about? The Barrier is gone. Do we really need to investigate?" Jiraiya was the first to object. He winked at Kirito. "Don't tell me you're afraid the Uchiha Clan will be held accountable and want to stall for time?"

Orochimaru reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jiraiya, no one here will evade responsibility. Do not make it sound so unpleasant."

At that moment, Nen looked at Chiri. "Sister Chiri, whatever we do, we'll listen to you."

Chiri's delicate brows furrowed slightly. After pondering for a moment, she let out a soft breath. "Everyone, enter the valley with me. Do not leave my line of sight under any circumstances."

"Huh? Seriously? What if there are still remnants inside the valley? Wouldn't we be trapped like turtles in a jar?" Jiraiya wondered if he had heard wrong.

"You said they were remnants. We can handle them," Nen said softly. "Besides, I believe Sister Chiri will protect us."

"That makes some sense. Maybe staying outside would be even more dangerous." Tsunade brushed back her hair and walked to Chiri's side.

"Mm. If there is no one in the valley, then the Blood Pond Clan's escape is confirmed. If there is someone, we can gather intelligence." Orochimaru nodded in agreement.

"Of course I'll listen to my sister," Kirito said.

Thus, everyone turned their eyes toward Jiraiya.

"Ugh..." Jiraiya covered his face, looking utterly hopeless. "Fine, whatever."

And so, led by Uchiha Chiri, the group stepped into the area once enclosed by the Barrier and entered the canyon.

The air in the valley was heavy, with a faint Bloody Scent filling every corner. Even a shallow breath of it made one physically uncomfortable. It was hard to imagine that the Blood Pond Clan had lived here for decades.

Behind the mountains stood a blood-red maple forest. Though the conditions within were ordinary, some game still lived there. Thus, besides the fields in the valley that allowed them to be self-sufficient, they also hunted in the mountains for food.

After so many years, they had already built a small settlement here. The houses stood in orderly rows, densely packed together, conforming to the valley's terrain and forming simple streets.

However, the streets were now completely empty, making the place seem desolate.

"I say we should go back. We've already confirmed there's no one here, right? This place looks creepier the longer I look at it." Jiraiya crept along at the rear. A cold wind blew past, and he shrank his neck.

"Since we're already here, let's search the place before leaving," Nen said.

"Hah, even a brat has more courage than you, Jiraiya." Tsunade shot Jiraiya a disdainful glance.

"He just doesn't know the severity of things!" Jiraiya argued. "I checked before coming here. The Blood Pond Clan's methods are extremely cruel. Even ninja can easily fall victim to them!"

"When it comes to understanding the Blood Pond Clan, we Uchiha should know more than anyone." Nen lightly choked him off.

"I smell something," Orochimaru suddenly said.

"Obviously. It smells like rust. That's the smell of blood." Jiraiya sounded displeased.

"No, the smell of a conspiracy." Orochimaru frowned. "The clansmen disappeared, and the Barrier vanished. The timing is far too strange."

"What do you mean?"

"If we had lost control of Hell Valley three months ago, then the Blood Pond Clan should have gone to the village for revenge. At the very least, we should have heard some news of them appearing in the ninja world. Given this clan's extreme temperament, there is no way they would quietly swallow their anger."

Orochimaru stroked his chin. "I have a rather unpleasant guess. The Barrier may very well have disappeared today!"

"Damn, don't scare me like that. Why does it feel like this was aimed right at us?!" Jiraiya jumped in alarm.

Chiri, who was walking at the front, let out a faint sigh. She had naturally considered what Orochimaru had thought of before entering the valley.

She had expected the Clan Head to dig a pit for her. She simply did not know how deep that pit was, or how insane the trap would be.

If he truly would rather release the Blood Pond Clan than secure his own position, then such a move would be... far too foolish.

What exactly was going on? Was he not afraid of being punished by the village?

Or was he confident he could face everything?

This Clan Head had once been a very rational person. Yet after winning the position of Clan Head, he had begun to act arrogantly and self-importantly, as if nothing in the world mattered to him.

Eyes...

Chiri bit her lip, recalling a clue that could not be ignored.

Every person who won a death match seemed to lose one eye. They became pale and hollow, devoid of the slightest Light.

Was this some kind of price? Or perhaps... some Secret Technique unknown to others?