The night was deep and silent, with the occasional chirping of insects and rustling of grass and trees breaking the tranquility. Yet beneath this calm facade, there lurked a complex web of killing intent.
Driven by the high bounty on their heads, all were motivated by greed. Whether old or young, weak or strong, as long as there was money to be made, it didn't matter.
Ye Zi's dark eyes were fixed on the approaching darkness, sensing the encroaching presences. He slowly drew Raikiri, his stance like a barrier, seemingly intent on halting the malice before him.
In the silent night, even Moko and Shin, mere mortals, seemed to sense the creeping chill of danger.
Just then, a patch of dark clouds parted, and the pale moonlight fell, casting a beam of light that happened to illuminate Ye Zi standing on the tree trunk.
The Ninth Squad looked up, and the silhouette bathed in moonlight, contrasting sharply with the dark unknown ahead, gave them a sense of reassurance.
Inside the carriage, through the window, they could see Ye Zi's silhouette.
Moko gazed quietly at Ye Zi's back, her eyes, usually calm like still water, gradually revealing a complex expression. Her tightly pressed lips curled into a slight, thoughtful smile.
In the midst of the night's danger, this quiet girl smiled, her expression complex, as if she had made a certain decision in that moment.
For wealth, people die; for food, birds perish.
The first ninja to reveal himself, illuminated by the sudden moonlight, saw Ye Zi's black-and-white hair and abruptly halted. In the next moment, his eyes flashed with a sharp glint.
The short sword named Raiga moved faster than his thoughts. As the shadow approached, it slashed through and effortlessly severed his head.
After decapitating the first enemy, Ye Zi did not pause. After displaying his terrifying prowess, he moved on to the next closest enemy.
The unfortunate first enemy's head flew into the air, his final moments frozen in shock as he saw the silhouette of Ye Zi growing further away.
The power of lightning was unmistakable. Yet, in the deep night, Ye Zi's signature Lightning Release did not flare, but his piercing blade light charged into the hearts of the attacking ninjas.
The smell of blood grew thick.
Ye Zi attacked with his blade, each strike aimed at sealing throats. There were no screams; in mere moments, one enemy fell after another.
He seemed to have eyes that could see through the darkness, perceiving all the enemies hiding in the shadows.
This was Konoha's Little White Fang, who years ago, with just a short sword, carved a bloody path through the encircling forces in the Land of Rain.
Only by witnessing it firsthand could one truly understand that there was no false fame behind his reputation.
Hearing the subtle sounds of flesh separating and the hissing of blood spraying from veins, the bounty hunters, driven by the 50 million ryo reward, felt a growing sense of fear.
Yet, they did not retreat. Instead, they spread out, trying to bypass this killing machine and reach the seemingly attainable 50 million ryo bounty on Muxi.
Sensing the dispersing presences at a considerable speed, Ye Zi furrowed his brow deeply. This was the situation he most dreaded. Although he was not afraid of the attackers, there would always be some he could not reach in time.
"Shokui, fight with all your might!"
He called out in a certain direction before turning back towards Moko's position. With the enemy numbers and their spread, he needed to stay close to Moko to ensure her protection.
The bounty hunters did not harbor any ill will towards Ye Zi, nor would anyone kindly attempt to stop him. Each person was driven by the hope of finding an opportunity to claim Moko's bounty.
As Ye Zi turned back, a few clever "fish" had already begun their attack on the carriage from behind.
Around the carriage, Kurenai, gripping her kunai, looked nervous. Nearby, Guy, full of enthusiasm, seemed eager to prove himself.
He was eager to test the results of his month-long training.
The incoming bounty hunters needed heads, so they did not use ninjutsu lightly. Instead, they aimed to use taijutsu to casually dispatch a couple of seemingly young and inexperienced opponents.
A tall man led the charge, throwing several kunai at Kai and following up with a direct attack.
Guy moved swiftly, dodging the kunai with ease, and then faced the attacking young man head-on. Without fear, he launched a whip kick at the enemy.
The man sneered upon seeing this. To him, a young boy like Guy couldn't possibly have great physical prowess. Thus, he did not evade Guy's kick but rather responded with a kick of his own.
Boom!
A dull thud rang out in the night, with a gust of wind spreading outwards.
Sensing the force from the man's kick, Guy's eyes lit up with excitement. This was the opponent he wanted.
The man, seeing this young boy matching him in strength, found it somewhat incredible. However, in the heat of battle, he did not think too deeply. He quickly retracted his leg, spun halfway, and aimed a second kick at Guy's face.
The wind roared as the kick came!
Guy crossed his arms to block the kick and then quickly spread his fists, grabbing the enemy's lower leg and pulling it back forcefully. At the same time, he delivered a powerful knee strike to the man's inner thigh.
The young man, with commendable taijutsu skills, bent his upper body and placed his hands on the ground, drawing a circle in mid-air. He spun around and broke free from Guy's control while also interrupting the knee strike.
However, once his leg was controlled, the young man lost the initiative. Guy stomped the ground, let out a battle cry, and, with his upper body slightly bent, swung his bandaged fists towards the young man's face and chest.
Boom!
The sounds almost coincided.
The young man took Guy's two punches head-on, grunting and flying backward, landing on the ground, his life uncertain.
Kotoe, watching from the shadows, was surprised by Guy's strength.
Kurenai was also astonished, watching in disbelief. Was this the underperforming student?
Guy's debut after graduation was a success!
"Hah!"
Guy exhaled, feeling a rush of energy. A sense of indescribable exhilaration filled him. At this moment, he proved himself through his own efforts.
The retreat of one enemy did not halt the ongoing assault.
Soon, several figures attacked, heading towards Kurenai.
Seeing Guy's performance, the attackers shifted their target. They believed that a young girl like Kurenai would be easier to handle.
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