Forest of the Land of Tea.
"Go to hell!"
Munashi Jinpachi gripped the Blastsword: Shibuki, powerful chakra concentrated within the blade. In an instant, numerous explosive tags appeared on the blade's surface, descending onto a Hidden Mist Ninja.
With a violent explosion, the Hidden Mist Ninja instantly died, their body unrecognizable, with pieces of flesh blown away mid-air.
Seeing the sky covered in beautiful crimson, Munashi Jinpachi's face revealed a look of intoxicated delight:
"No matter how many times the blastsword is swung, the thrill of this explosion is always so alluring and irresistible."
Engulfed in the ecstasy of brutal slaughter, Munashi Jinpachi rested the blastsword on his shoulder, then scanned his surroundings.
Several other Hidden Mist Ninjas were suspended among the trees, scarcely visible to the naked eye, hanging in mid-air like performers in a puppet show.
Their bodies convulsed, not dead yet, unable to convey their screams, instead uttering excruciatingly painful moans.
Blood trickled down their fingers, slowly dripping to the ground as they watched themselves step into the abyss of death.
Holding the Long Blade·Sewing Needle, the masked Kuriarare Kushimaru slightly raised his head, letting out a sharp, sarcastic laugh as if admiring the artwork of his masterpiece:
"Painful enough to want to die, right? Don't worry, you won't die until all my masterpieces have been appreciated. I'll chop off your hands and feet, letting you experience the ultimate beauty of this world."
As he spoke, he lightly flicked the thread connected to the Long Blade·Sewing Needle, splattering blood.
The only thing unchanged was that the Hidden Mist Ninjas suspended between the trees like puppets did not die immediately, enduring the terror brought by a chronic death.
"Your methods are as slow as ever. If this continues, that woman will get away."
Munashi Jinpachi walked over and said.
"Don't lecture me; I'm enjoying the thrill of killing."
Compared to Munashi Jinpachi, who reduces enemies to ashes in an instant, letting them experience the fear of death through chronic demise, expressing various pleading and painful faces, is what Kuriarare Kushimaru deems as art.
Though the process is rather cumbersome, it's worth it to hear such moving 'music'.
"Fine, suit yourself."
Though the dead were Ninjas from the same village, these individuals clearly had no connection with them.
Hence, even towards their own people, neither of them showed mercy, instead killing mercilessly.
After about ten minutes, having savored the thrill of killing, Kuriarare Kushimaru had his subordinates clean up the battlefield and retrieve the bodies.
"I have interrogated them clearly, they are fleeing in the direction of the Land of Demons."
Munashi Jinpachi said.
"Land of Demons? Why are they going there?"
"I don't know. They seemed to have stayed in Konoha for a while before."
"Are they seeking treatment from Tsunade, one of the Sannin? But even that top medical ninja in the medical field can't heal such injuries."
Kuriarare Kushimaru calmly analyzed the situation.
"You'll find out when we get there. That place is a Neutral Country; should we restrain our actions?"
Munashi Jinpachi asked with a grin.
"What do you think?"
Subsequently, the two revealed cruel smiles simultaneously.
After all, they are the 'Heartless Duo', sparing no one is their style.
Anyone daring to block the road will be killed.
◎
"Please stop!"
The western sea region port of the Land of Demons.
A ninja, wearing a black windbreaker with a Shion Flower mark embroidered on the back, stopped an approaching unidentified vessel.
The vessel was small in size and not a registered ship.
Such unidentified vessels could no longer dock at the western sea region ports of the Land of Demons.
Six guards stood there, with ninja blades or short knives equipped at their backs and waists.
"I am Kuraki, a Jonin from the Hidden Mist, here on a secret mission to the Land of Demons, please grant us passage."
Onboard the vessel, a female Jonin from the Hidden Mist revealed her identity, then handed over a sealed document.
Surprised by the now strict inspection of the Land of Demons, contrary to its rumored lax and open system, yet it was still far less stringent compared to the current Hidden Mist.
The guard, holding the sealed document, walked to a room similar to a gatekeeper cabin to communicate with the staff inside, seemingly verifying the authenticity of the document.
Soon after, the guard came out with the document and handed it back to Kuraki Jonin, and said,
"The document is legitimate. We've recently revised some regulations, sorry for any inconvenience caused. You may proceed."
"No problem, it's as it should be."
Kuraki Jonin had other Hidden Mist Ninjas disembark, one of whom carried a pale-faced young woman, evidently severely injured.
Seeing this, the guard quickly prepared a comfortable carriage for the Hidden Mist Ninjas, driven by their own people, placing the injured in the carriage, heading towards the capital Shion City.
Due to limited space in the carriage, only one was left inside to tend to the injured while others guarded from the front and back of the carriage.
A man and a woman ran closely behind the carriage.
"It's quite strange; the Neutral Country's entry inspection has become so stringent."
"It's unrelated to us. Our mission is merely to safeguard Jonin Ringo's safety and cure her illness."
Kuraki Jonin replied.