Escape From Konoha

Chapter 155: 151: Taking a Stand

Within the forest Kushimaru and Jinpachi fled frantically, with their lives hanging by a thread.

They had experienced firsthand the vast gap in strength that separated them from their enemies during the recent battle.

Their only option was to relinquish any thoughts of combat and focus solely on escape.

Eliminating thoughts of battle enabled them to flee at an incredible speed. They even used deliberate tricks, like using the explosive sword to smash the trees they passed, creating obstacles for their pursuers.

As long as they could increase their chance of escape, no matter how stupid the method was, they had to use it.

But the enemies chasing them possessed both Sharingan and Byakugan. Escaping under the combined might of these eyes was nothing short of wishful thinking.

Long black hair billowing in the wind, two figures, one black and one white, raced like lightning and thunder. They left no clear distinction between their afterimages and tangible forms in their wake.

"Damn..."

Kushimaru didn't have time to complete his thought before two striking female ninjas, landed in their path.

Compared to them who had been running with all their strength, Ruri and Ayane had relaxed expressions on their faces.

"Damn! Since I can't escape, I'll just blow you both to pieces!"

Jinpachi's face contorted with fury. Seeing this scene, he had understood the fact that defeating these two enemies was the only means of escape from here.

Kushimaru also recognized the futility of escaping, and his eyes gleamed with determination.

Since there was no chance of escape, it will be a battle to death. Ninjas from the Blood Mist don't know the word surrender.

Jinpachi his sword covered in exploding tags, and charged toward Ruri. Meanwhile, Kushimaru used his Nuibairi to weave a thread trap around Ayane.

Without uttering a word, Ruri and Ayane leaped in unison, exchanging positions in mid-air like black and white, and started their attack.

Ayane pressed her palm onto Shibuki that was about to and she released a powerful chakra shockwave.

A fiery explosion followed in mid-air, sending Jinpachi hurtling backward. He looked at Ayane who remained unharmed and with her palm intact, in disbelief.

'This Monster!' Jinpachi was filled with terror.

Ayane had used chakra alone to nullify the power of his explosive sword and she still had the strength to strike back.

On the other side, Kushimaru was suspended in mid-air, as if he was performing a graceful puppetry act, with his body pierced by his own long knife and needle.

Blood coursed along the threads, and his concealed expression beneath the mask must have been one of pain.

Ruri stood before him, peering up at him from below with an expression of indifference.

"...how is this possible... I would never miss..."

Kushimaru couldn't fathom how he'd fallen into Ruri's genjutsu so easily.

"Why...why...you didn't even use.. the Sharingan..."

He was confused as to when he'd fallen under Ruri's genjutsu.

Without using tools or direct bodily contact, genjutsu couldn't be executed.

Kushimaru had merely looked into eyes not in the Sharingan state, yet he had fallen into to the genjutsu. He hadn't even realized that he himself was the target of his needle sword. He, the master of the sword was stabbed. He'd been vigilant against Ruri's genjitsu, cautious and vigilant, but his defenses had crumbled.

He couldn't comprehend what the trigger medium for the genjutsu might be.

Using eyes not in the Sharingan state to induce genjutsu merely by visual contact appeared inexplicable. Yet no other factors could explain the situation.

But Ruri had no obligation to clarify the mystery to Kushimaru. Each ninja's abilities were confidential and couldn't be disclosed to unrelated parties.

Ruri then shifted her attention to the woods, from which Shiraishi emerged, scratching his head.

Ayane had also successfully concluded her battle. The explosive power of Shibuki offered no resistance to Ayane's gentle fist.

Jinpachi's whole acupuncture points were blocked, chakra flow stopped, and his pathways and internal organs had been impacted by the gentle fist.

Ayane threw Murashi Jinpachi on the ground and waited for Shiraishi to handle the remaining two.

"The battle's over, and you're fashionably late." Ayane laughed.

"You two acted rather quickly." Shiraishi said honestly.

Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, renowned for their countless legendary feats, couldn't withstand the sheer might of these two individuals, who had ruthlessly crushed them.

"Why have people from Kirigakure come here?" Ruri asked as she frowned.

"Most likely, they came to hunt down Ameyuri Ringo." Shiraishi replied after giving it some thought. It seemed the most plausible reason.

Kirigakure was plagued by internal conflict currently, and the fact that Ringo was almost assassinated by her own people hinted that some didn't want her to live in peace.

Otherwise, Shiraishi couldn't fathom what the notorious Seven Ninja Swordsmen members were doing in the Land of Demons.

"Chasing and killing Ameyuri Ringo... But isn't she one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? I heard she's seriously sick." Ayane expressed her surprise.

"I only got this news recently. The situation is more complicated than it seems."

Shiraishi explained briefly, touching upon Kirigakure Mission's visit to the Land of Demons. He outlined the turbulent internal situation in Kirigakure.

"I didn't expect Kiri to fight so fiercely, even more ruthless than Konoha."

Ayane admitted, she was clearly impressed.

At this moment, Shiraishi squatted down, placing his palm on Jinpachi's forehead, making the man instantly drowsy, who then fell into a deep slumber.

After a while, Shiraishi withdrew his hand from Jinpachi's forehead.

"How are they?" Ruri and Ayane inquired with concern.

"Based on their memories, these two haven't made contact with anyone from the Land Of Water for four days, and Kirigakure has no knowledge of their whereabouts. They entered the Land of Demons through smuggling, using a hidden route. So, no need to worry about them causing diplomatic issues." Shiraishi reassured them.

"In other words, it's okay to kill them both?" Ayane asked with a smile.

"Well, after all, both of them have significant bounties on the underground black market, and their heads are quite valuable."

With many ninjas in the Land of Demons army involved in the underground black market and working as bounty hunters, he was well-versed in the high-value targets there.

As top combatants from Kirigakure, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen carried huge bounties in the underground black market, ranging from tens of millions of ryo.

On the underground market's reward list, the owner of Nuibairi, Kushimaru, had a bounty of 35 million ryo. The owner of Shibuki had a bounty of 30 million ryo. Together, the two were worth a total of 65 million ryo.

"Even though their corpses are valuable, what's even more precious are the two ninja swords handed down through the generations in Kiri."

Ayane pointed the two swords.

Despite their unimpressive appearance, Ayane recognized that the cost of these two swords exceeded the reward offered by their owners. Each of the Seven Kirigakure Ninja Swordsmen wielded top-tier swords considered priceless in the ninja world.

These seven ninja blades, responsible for countless bloodshed in the ninja world, had been crafted uniformly by top swordsmiths using rare chakra metals and ores over an extended period.

Each sword had unique abilities.

For example, Shibuki only required a chakra supply to unleash a terrifying explosion. The user can control the exploding tags in the swords body. Touching it lightly would maim or kill normal ninjas.

Nuibairi was remarkable for its piercing ability, effortlessly penetrating any solid object, even the human body. A steel wire was connected to the hilt, which could be used both for direct combat and to create advantageous trap environments. Its performance was exceptional.

But for now, these two swords were theirs. Although they didn't appreciate how these weapons were used, they were invaluable collectibles.

"Before that, I want to extract all the secrets from their bodies."

The physical worth of the two ninja swordsmen didn't merely lie in the bounty offered, but also in the numerous precious secret jutsus and confidential information about Kirigakure. These held more value for Shiraishi.

"What about Ameyuri Ringo? Do you plan to get involved with her?" Ayane turned to Shiraishi.

Shiraishi shook his head.

"No, I don't intend to meddle in Kirigakure's internal affairs. It might cause unnecessary trouble. I will keep her here for now and ensure her condition doesn't worsen."

The matter of Kushimaru and Jinpachi in the Land of Demons hadn't been disclosed to anyone. As long as they dealt with them discreetly it would keep them away from Kirigakure's radar.

The Kirigakure ninja who'd accompanied Ringo were different. They had come on orders from a certain high-ranking Kirigakure envoy to Konoha and then sought medical assistance in the Land of Demons under Tsunade's assistance.

These Kirigakure ninja couldn't be touched or harmed, at least not within the Land of Demons territory.

Shiraishi was awaiting a response from Kirigakure before deciding whether Ringo would remain here.

If Kirigakure granted permission for Ringo to stay in the Land of Demons, then Shiraishi would arrange her medical treatment in the Land of Demons.

However, given the medical standards of the Land of Demons, even with the finest healing medicines, Ringo couldn't return to her original state. Only through the secret jutsu given to him by Katsuyu could she be fully healed.

But Shiraishi wouldn't use the jutsu.

As an unaffiliated party, intervening in the affairs of Kirigakure would reveal his location to Tsunade and breed resentment among some in Kirigakure.

For some individuals in Kirigakure, Ameyuri Ringo was a thorn in their side that had to be removed.

.....

At the headquarters of the Purple Rose Medical Company.

They were several adjacent high-rise buildings stand in the suburbs outside Oni City, the capital of the Land Of Demons.

These buildings are interconnected by bridge decks, forming a massive structure resembling a huge monster entrenched on the ground. While not entirely modern, when compared to the old days of the ninja world, this complex structure reflects the progression of time.

Sunlight filters through the transparent glass, illuminating the bustling figures of staff members scurrying through the corridors. They were the diligent employees responsible for the company's operations.

Within a lounge, the Kiri sensor nin entered and inquired about the status of Ringo from Kirigakure Jōnin, Kuraki.

"She has been temporarily stabilized. The upper management of the company is willing to use unreleased drugs to treat Ringo-sama, but expecting a complete cure is somewhat unrealistic." Kuraki sighed.

"Look at it positively, this might be a silver lining for Ringo." The sensor nin responded.

Kuraki offered a bitter smile, they had reached a point of no return. Although they hoped Ringo could recover to wield Kiba again and contribute to their reformers, even with the best medical treatment in the ninja world, restoring her to her former state was impossible.

Kuraki had come to terms with this, yet a trace of reluctance remained.

Despite their exhaustion, the discussion turned to their next steps.

"What should we do next?"

"You stay here and care for Ringo-sama; I will report back to our superior." Kurakisuggested.

"But you're the medical ninja, don't you need to stay?"

"No need, the medical ninjas in this company have medical skills as proficient as mine."

"That's true. But, it's not just medical ninjas, there are sensor ninjas here. My sensory ninjutsu was disrupted as soon as I entered this building."

The sensor Jonins expression turned serious. Among the opponents he had faced, only Konoha's Aburame clan could use their special bugs to disrupt his sensory ninjutsu. However, he hadn't expected that entering this building would completely nullify his sensory abilities.

Yet, Kuraki wasn't really displeased by that.

With Purple Rose's monthly net income had reached a scrary huge figure. A giant of this level would definitely be coveted by their several competitions to steal drug information. So, this level of security was justifiable.

The notion of this country's style being distinct struck a chord with Kuraki, who observed the blending of ninja and ordinary people in the bustling streets, and the extensive roads frequented by foreign businessmen.

Looking out from the window of the lounge, she could see ongoing construction work, with both regular craftsmen and ninjas with flexible hands contributing.

In her view, this was a squandering of ninja combat potential. Engaging in these meaningless tasks day after day would strip away their combat capabilities.

However, as an outsider, she lacked the authority to criticize the politics of another country. She couldn't help but feel saddened for the hard working ninjas who now worked as craftsmen.

Alas, these once formidable ninjas were now rendered powerless and would face an unfortunate fate.

"After so many days, there haven't been any accidents here. It appears that our pursuers were misled by the information we left, possibly heading to other locations."

Kuraki guessed. If their pursuers had truly arrived, with their audacious nature, they would have disregarded this neutral country and caused trouble, forcing them to show up.

The fact that this hadn't occurred suggested that these people hadn't yet reached the Land Of Demons, providing at least two weeks of safety.

"Nevertheless, we can't afford to be careless because of this. After I leave, you will be left alone here. Stay within this building and avoid conflicts with the people of this country."

"Understood."

The sensor Jonin nodded. After Kuraki finished her instructions, she exited the lounge.

"Take care on your journey."

"Don't worry, I will return with new orders from our superiors in ten days."

....

Two days later.

Land of Water, Kirigakure.

"Mizukage-sama, the mission with Kushimaru and Jinpachi has failed." A figure who appeared to be about 12 or 13 years with purple pupils respectfully reported after he entered the Mizukage's office.

The Third Mizukage, who was dealing with documents, asked indifferently, "Have they returned? I need to know the details."

"Sorry, Mizukage-sama, both of them are dead." .m

The Third Mizukage, who was processing the document, suddenly raised his head, and the pen in his hand also paused. He fixed his gaze on the teen with sharp eyes. "Yagura, you.. you just said they died. What happened?"

Yagura, with no emotion in his purple pupils, expained with a serious expression,

"News from the underground money exchange in the Land of Tea indicates that someone claimed a bounty of 65 million ryo for their bodies."

"Underground money exchange? Who was it?" The Third Mizukag asked, his tone cold.

"Konoha S-rank rogue ninja, Hyuga Ayane.".

"Konoha!"

The calm façade of the Mizukage crumbled, revealing anger for the first time.

"What's wrong with Konoha's Hokage Sarutobi, why are they allowing such a dangerous traitor to roam freely?"

"With all due respect, Mizukage-sama, Konoha is deeply engaged in the battlefields of the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass. Pursuing rogue ninjas of this caliber is beyond their capabilities."

"Have you recovered the bodies of the two of them? Do you know their whereabouts?" The Third Mizukage asked as composed as possible.

"I don't know where they are now. Many have handled them since, making it difficult to trace." Yagura said truthfully.

Afterward, he sensed something and raised his head slightly. He saw the third Mizukage with an increasingly cold expression. A terrifying Chakra had manifested, enveloping his body like flowing water. The office became cloaked in a heavy atmosphere, making it hard to move and breathe.

Yagura understood why Mizukage was furious.

While the deaths of Kushimaru and Jinpachi were irreversible, what was critical were the two ninja swords in their possession. Nuibairi and Shibuki. Reclaiming these swords required tracking down Hyuga Ayane, a rather challenging task.

Yagura wasn't intimidated by Mizukage's anger, but his expression grew more solemn as he continued, "There's one more thing to report."

"Go on."

"This is a letter from Konoha's Third Hokage and a letter from the Priestess of the Land Of Demons." Yagura said, placing the two letters on the Mizukage's desk.

The Mizukage opened and read the letters, his brows furrowing after finishing them.

"What's going on, Mizukage-sama?" Yagura asked curiously.

"Kuraki took Ringo to Konoha to seek medical treatment from the Tsunade."

"I see." Yagura nodded thoughtfully. "What's the reason for the Land Of Demons High Priestess?"

"Konoha's Third Hokage stated that Tsunade is powerless to treat Ringo's disease and recommended seeking medical care at the Purple Rose Medical Company in the Land Of Demons. The Priestess is asking about the situation."

"Understood. So Ringo is now recovering in the Land of Demons. I will dispatch someone to deal with her immedia--." Yagura stated with a cold expression.

"Wait a moment" The Third Mizukage called Yagura to a halt.

"Is there anything else, Mizukage-sama?"

"Forget it."

"Forget it? You mean... you'll let her go like this?" Yagura's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Too much has been sacrificed..."

The Third Mizukage stood up and gazed out of the mist-covered village from the window. His eyes, cloudy with fatigue, seemed to detect a hint of blood amidst the thin mist. His gaze grew more pained.

"Gengetsu-sensei left this village in my care before he died, and I've failed in leading it properly. This is my responsibility."

As the disciple of the former Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, he had inherited the mantle of Mizukage in a time of turmoil. However, as the Third Mizukage, he had not been able to effectively lead the large Kirigakure.

Kirigakure was now embroiled in self-inflicted chaos, a quagmire of infighting resulting from his hesitation and ineffective command.

Yagura stood in silence, observing the aged and weary back of the Mizukage. At this moment, Yagura realized just how old the third Mizukage had become.

....

In the dark.

A presence emerged, but the figure's identity remained concealed.

"Lord."

Kuraki, who had secretly returned to the Kirigakure, knelt and bowed to the shadowy figure.

"The third has ordered Yagura to send you to take Ringo with his permission. But you must return to the village immediately with Kiba and ensure no accidents occur. Yagura is already preparing to leave, and you should head to the Land of Demons as soon as possible to avoid arousing suspicion."

"And what about Ringo?"

"Kushimaru and Jinpachi were killed by Konoha's S-class rogue ninja, Hyuga Ayane. Their bodies were exchanged for bounties in the underground black market. Kirigakure will soon announce that Ameyuri Ringo went to the Land of Demons for medical treatment and died to a serious illness. It appears the third has grown old and has become hesitant."

The figure in the dark sighed.

Kuraki understood the message. The third would not target Ringo anymore; they would conceal her death as a result of a severe illness, allowing Ringo to live out her life safely in the Land of Demons.

"Yes, I'll convey this news to Ringo-san as soon as possible to stabilize her mood."

Since there was a new decision in the village, Kuraki had no choice but to obey.

"By the way, is there truly no way to treat Ringo's illness?" The figure in the shadows inquired once more, not wanting to give up such a valuable Jōnin.

"No, whether it's Tsunade-sama or the Land of Demons, they can only alleviate further body deterioration." Kuraki replied.

"That's a shame then." the figure responded.

They had hoped that Konoha's Tsunade could heal Ringo's injury, which had prompted Kuraki to bring her to Konoha. However, the outcome remained unchanged.

"But..."

"But what?"

"Konoha's Tsunade-sama mentioned that Chiba Shiraishi, an S-rank rogue ninja, could potentially heal Ringo's illness."

Kuraki conveyed Tsunade's message.

"Chiba Shiraishi? I remember he was a medical ninja from Konoha's White Fang team in the past, and he was with Hyuga Ayane, who killed Kushimaru and Jinpachi." The figure in the darkness recalled.

"With all due respect, the chances of finding Chiba Shiraishi are very slim." Kuraki sighed.

She honestly believed that even with Tsunade's mention, they had little hope of locating Chiba Shiraishi. The lack of information, the traitor status, and the embarrassment of seeking assistance from the defected ninja made it a daunting task.

"I understand. This is the situation, and there's no alternative. You should leave quickly, and ensure Yagura doesn't become suspicious. He's a more ruthless and ambitious individual than the third." The figure warned.

"Understood." Kuraki nodded but didn't leave, her face displaying hesitation.

"What's troubling you?"

"My lord, could you reveal your true identity to me?"

Kuraki didn't find this request impolite. She had been communicating with this unknown individual in the dark for over a year without a face-to-face meeting.

The resources, intelligence, and connections the individual possessed had made him increasingly wary. In her perception, even Yagura, the prominent figure beside the third Mizukage, couldn't have such a strong background and connections.

The figure in the dark hesitated.

"You're right; it's time for you to know my true identity. I apologize for keeping it hidden for so long. I had initially planned to wait for a while, but there's no harm in revealing it earlier."

In the darkness, the figure emerged halfway, leaving Kuraki with a shocked expression. She stammered,

"You- you are..."

.....

After handling the problem with Kushimaru and Jinpachi, Shiraishi not only acquired various secrets and ninjutsu from their minds, but he also gained a deeper understanding of the current state of decay within Kirigakure.

In Kirigakure, ninjas were constantly pitted against one another, and this seemed to be connected to the daimyo and nobles of the Land Of Water.

Overall, the entire territory of the Land of Water could be described in one word—chaos.

Given the ongoing infighting within Kirigakure, Shiraishi needed to rearrange personnel. He was even contemplating withdrawing some of them.

With the internal strife at this level, a large-scale internal conflict would erupt sooner or later if things continued to deteriorate.

While Shiraishi pondered, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

A member of the intelligence department entered, looking concerned, and placed a scroll in front of Shiraishi.

"Shiraishi-sama, this is for you."

"For me?" Shiraishi was slightly surprised.

The scroll had eight characters written vertically on its exterior, "Chiba Shiraishi, this is an Invitation for you."

Shiraishi scrutinized the scroll, quickly scanning its contents. Though the scroll was not particularly long, it conveyed a significant amount of information, enough to leave Shiraishi in a state of confusion.

The final lines of the message read: "Shiraishi-san, please come to the Land of Rainbows for a discussion."

At the end, the sender added their own name, a name that struck Shiraishi like lightning, followed by the logo of Kirigakure.

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