Chapter 29: Kurotsuchi: Is this what you call 'peace-loving'?
"Don't be nervous. I have some very important intelligence, and I'm giving it to you for free."
Shiromo's gaze shifted back to Kurotsuchi, and she glanced over at Onoki.
"What intelligence?" Kurotsuchi asked, her expression tense. Her hands hovered in front of her, ready to form hand signs and fight at any moment.
This is just like in novels and movies, right?
"I need to borrow something from you."
"What?"
"Your head!"
"I have some free intel."
"What intel?"
"We're going to invade Iwagakure!"
Shiromo ignored Kurotsuchi's wandering thoughts and spoke directly: "Our organization has a rogue ninja from the Land of Hot Water who believes in Jashin. He has a called 'Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood.'"
"This technique is terrifying."
"As long as he gets the enemy's blood, he can activate the curse. Any damage he takes is reflected back to the enemy. He also possesses immortality. Even if you pierce his heart or decapitate him, he won't die."
Kurotsuchi shivered after hearing Shiromo's description. "Is there such a technique? Is it real?"
"There was intelligence confirming that a serial killer had appeared in the Land of Hot Water. The bodies had strange circular and triangular patterns around them. People from the Land of Hot Water did ask for our help."
"When our people arrived, the killer had already disappeared… Was he absorbed into your organization?"
Onoki's voice came from the side.
"Is that true?"
Kurotsuchi was shocked.
Onoki's words confirmed the authenticity of Shiromo's statement.
But Onoki didn't focus on Kurotsuchi's current emotions. He didn't even have the time to keep watching the cave to see if Deidara would escape. He used his Light-weight Rock Technique and floated beside Kurotsuchi, directly in front of Shiromo.
"If what you say is true, this forbidden technique is indeed terrifying. But the most dangerous part is its unpredictability."
"Ninjas always get injured during combat. Even if there's a huge power difference, a strong ninja might still get a small cut or bleed if they're careless."
"Then if this forbidden technique is used at that time, it's…"
Shiromo smiled, unfazed by Onoki's increasing suspicion.
"Why? Why are you telling us this? You must have some ulterior motive!" Onoki's voice became sharper.
Sometimes, having too much combat experience isn't a good thing.
Shiromo's description of the technique was too strange and illogical, which made Onoki anxious and suspicious, as though there was some grand conspiracy hidden within.
"The goal is simple: deterrence."
"Deterrence?"
Onoki repeated the word to himself, as if contemplating its meaning.
Shiromo, however, kindly explained: "Yes, deterrence. Just like I told her earlier, our organization is one that loves peace."
"Since we love peace, naturally we don't want to achieve our goals through killing or fighting. If we can deter the enemy and make them give up voluntarily, wouldn't that be perfect?"
"You want to do what the Yellow Flash did?"
When Shiromo spoke, Onoki immediately remembered the man from years ago who had caused other villages to surrender their missions whenever they encountered him.
"Flying Thunder God is indeed terrifying. If Namikaze Minato hadn't been an upright man, he could have left a mark on you or your son. Every night, using Flying Thunder God to attack, Kurotsuchi would probably have blonde hair by now."
Shiromo stroked his chin, thoughtfully.
"...!"
Onoki was at a loss for words.
"Ahhh!"
A sudden scream interrupted their conversation, drawing everyone's attention.
The Iwa-nin, Ishiharu, who had attacked Shiromo earlier, was now clutching his right shoulder in agony. His right arm was completely gone.
It seemed to have suddenly broken off and dropped to the ground.
"What is this?!" Onoki's eyes widened in disbelief.
Shiromo casually spoke up, not even breaking a sweat.
"If we want to deter people. Just saying it doesn't work."
"Since someone here volunteered to try and kill me, I assume they are also prepared to die, right?"
Shiromo snapped his fingers in Ishiharu's direction. Ishiharu's right leg suddenly snapped, blood spraying across the rock wall.
With only one leg left to stand on, Ishiharu could no longer gather chakra in his foot. He slipped and fell straight down.
Thud.
He was dead.
"Is this what you call 'peace-loving?'" Kurotsuchi glared at Shiromo, her eyes wide.
Shiromo grinned. "Isn't this enough peace? They say, 'armed with weapons, the desire to kill comes naturally.' I've simply eliminated someone who wanted to kill me. What's the problem?"
"There's an old saying: 'Enemies should be resolved, not befriended.' It means that when dealing with enemies, don't try to make friends, just eliminate them."
"If you guys feel uncomfortable or think I'm too cruel, just give me some names. Or I'll pick a few randomly for you…."
"Enough!" Onoki interrupted Shiromo's speech.
Shiromo's forceful nature reminded Onoki of his lifelong nightmare, Uchiha Madara.
Madara had absolute power but had never killed them.
For years, Onoki had wondered why Madara didn't finish them off.
Onoki quickly shook his head, pushing that thought away.
Shiromo was merely taking advantage of the situation, he wasn't on Madara's level.
"Has Ishiharu fought with you before? Did you get his blood?" Onoki asked, trying to keep his composure.
"There's no need for you to probe. If we only had his blood, what kind of deterrence would that be?" Shiromo chuckled lightly. "Besides, every member of our organization is at least as powerful as Deidara. Do you really think that guy could survive after getting injured and having his blood collected?"
"Do you mean… there's someone else?" Onoki hovered in the air, still not daring to guess.
"For example, you, Tsuchikage-sama," Shiromo teased.
"Impossible!" Onoki immediately denied it, "I've never fought with you. Even when I fought other ninjas and got injured, that was long ago…"
"Hahahaha! Old man, didn't see that coming, huh? You haven't been injured, but you've got hemorrhoids! Always bleeding, so collecting it's pretty easy, right?"
Deidara's mocking laughter echoed from the cave.
Both Onoki and Kurotsuchi were startled.
In fact, when Shiromo spoke to Konan earlier, the two of them had already assumed Deidara had escaped.
But now, they realized Deidara hadn't left at all.
However, after the laughter faded, they no longer had time to think about it.
The following words caused their expressions to change drastically.
Onoki's face flushed red with rage, contorted in fury.
It was more twisted than when Shiromo mentioned Namikaze Minato's nightly raids earlier.
Kurotsuchi, on the other hand, couldn't contain her laughter. But once she finished, a sense of dread suddenly took over.
'If Old Man's hemorrhoid blood could be used for that Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood, then could they…?'
She glanced at Shiromo in terror.
(End of this chapter)