After finishing, Hakushi disappeared from the office.
◎
In the large forest near Shion City.
A team of over a dozen people was leaping forward.
Leading the charge were members of the Seven-swords Ninja, Kuriarare Kushimaru and Munashi Jinpachi.
They held the Long Blade·Sewing Needle and the Blastsword: Shibuki respectively.
The two had been pursuing another faction escorting Ringo Ameyuri, and eventually confirmed that their destination was the Land of Demons.
"Haha, the roads in this country are so spacious, it makes me want to destroy them."
Remembering the wide main roads in the Land of Demons, Munashi Jinpachi let out a cruel laugh.
"First, let's find that sickly one. If I'm not mistaken, after leaving Konoha, their target should be the Shion Flower Pharmaceutical Company."
Said Kuriarare Kushimaru.
Compared to Munashi Jinpachi, whose mind was filled with destructive desires, he seemed more like a strategist.
Clear-headed and flexible in thought.
If they couldn't receive effective treatment in Konoha, then besides the recently renowned Shion Flower Pharmaceutical Company in the Land of Demons, Kuriarare Kushimaru couldn't think of anyone else they might seek to heal Ringo Ameyuri's injuries.
Although he didn't think the Land of Demons had any new drugs to treat Ringo Ameyuri, too much time had been spent on this mission, and they needed to complete it quickly to report back to the Third Mizukage.
The trees on both sides receded continuously, while the team advanced rapidly.
Suddenly, numerous shurikens whizzed quickly through the air, flying in from the depths of the forest.
Before Kuriarare Kushimaru and Munashi Jinpachi could react, their subordinates accelerated forward, taking up ninja blades to block the sudden onslaught of shurikens.
At the moment of contact, they immediately sensed something amiss with their bodies.
Their bodies were stiff.
The world turned upside down before their eyes, the scenery distorted, and consciousness became drowsy, tempting them to fall asleep.
Their bodies fell powerlessly from mid-air.
"Is this... an illusion technique?"
The Hidden Mist Ninja barely resisted the sleepiness brought by the illusion but, even though they fought off the drowsiness, their bodies remained immobile, as if welded in place. They could only watch themselves lying on the ground, unable to lift a finger.
"Correct, but no reward."
A woman with black eyes and a Flame Circle Fan on her back stepped out of the forest, speaking with a cold voice.
Having her training interrupted left her in a foul mood.
Moreover, these Hidden Mist Ninja were exuding a murderous intent, constantly clamoring about imminent carnage, and their direction clearly wasn't towards Shion City's main gate. It certainly didn't seem like they were on a friendly visit from Hidden Mist Village.
"You useless fools, getting taken down so quickly by someone's illusion technique."
Seeing his subordinates handled so easily by the enemy's illusion technique, Munashi Jinpachi cursed angrily.
As he was about to rush forward with the Blastsword, Kuriarare Kushimaru stretched out a hand to stop him.
"Wait, don't rush in."
"Hey, why are you stopping me?"
Dissatisfied, Munashi Jinpachi questioned Kuriarare Kushimaru's interference.
"That woman is Uchiha Ruri, Konoha's S-Class Renegade Ninja."
Kuriarare Kushimaru's calm voice echoed.
"From Konoha? No wonder she looks familiar. Weird, why would a renegade ninja from Konoha appear in this kind of place?"
Recognizing her, Munashi Jinpachi scrutinized Ruri carefully. She was indeed the S-Class Renegade Ninja from the wanted posters, but he was perplexed as to why Konoha's renegade ninja would be in the Land of Demons.
Surely she wasn't here for sightseeing?
"The Land of Demons is a Neutral Country; she's probably seeking asylum."
Staring into Ruri's black eyes, Kuriarare Kushimaru spoke in a relaxed tone, seemingly unconcerned about Ruri's ability to threaten him and Munashi Jinpachi.
After all, they were the Heartless Duo from the Seven-swords Ninja of the Mist, capable of easily annihilating hundreds of Chunin when teamed up.
"Shall we attack?"
Munashi Jinpachi grinned and asked.
He was unbothered by the fact that she was an S-Class Renegade Ninja and was eager for a fight.
She was just a red-eyed ninja of the Uchiha; it wasn't his first time battling such a foe.
"Of course, I stopped you to remind you to be wary of her Sharingan's illusion technique. Remember, a woman's painful screams are more flavorful, and her blood is more delicious. Moreover, a Sharingan is a rare collectible."
Kuriarare Kushimaru gripped the Long Blade·Sewing Needle behind him, revealing a gleam of cruel excitement in his eyes behind the mask.
"I get it, her Sharingan illusion is troublesome, and her illusions are even stranger, triggered by contact with tools. But, I have the Blastsword: Shibuki! Turn to dust!"
Munashi Jinpachi laughed heartily, not bothering to explain to Ruri his reasons for fighting.
For the Heartless Duo, fighting and killing never required a reason.
Enjoyment was enough.
Munashi Jinpachi gripped the Blastsword: Shibuki and quickly circled behind, launching an attack on Ruri's back.
Simultaneously, Kuriarare Kushimaru also raised the Long Blade·Sewing Needle in unison. With its slender, pointed body, it resembled a straight needle more than a sword, connected to an incredibly resilient thread that could manipulate human bodies like puppets in the air and toy with them to death.
Unlike Munashi Jinpachi, Kuriarare Kushimaru charged from the front.
When encountering a ninja with the Sharingan, when outnumbered, flee; when the advantage is two-to-one, aim for the heart.
This was the Ninja Realm's most effective strategy against the Sharingan, with a high success rate.
Even the Sharingan could only cast illusions on one person if attacked from both the front and back.