For the scattered ninja and secular forces defeated by the Firefly Organization, whether or not the news of the gold mine leaked was entirely irrelevant... though, naturally, they would surely spread the word with great fanfare.
However, before they could even begin their propaganda or allow the news to spread effectively, Black Zetsu had already delivered the intelligence to the necessary hands.
Everything was perfectly logical. News traveled at different speeds, and different ninja clans possessed varying capabilities for gathering intelligence, did they not?
The best-case scenario for the Firefly Organization would have been for the various major ninja clans to fight amongst themselves over the gold mine, ignoring the organization's existence entirely. Unfortunately, due to Black Zetsu's interference, such a scenario was never going to happen.
Three days later, as twilight descended, the suspense that had been hanging over Hane Genma's heart finally lifted... not because they had escaped the crisis, but because of a certain sense of "the dust settling."
Top floor of the Kikyo Castle Keep.
"They're here. They didn't come from the direction of the unguarded northeast mining area, but approached directly from the east. Their numbers are exaggerated..."
Only Hane Genma and Yamanaka Keiya were present in the room. The other capable combat-ready ninja had already been assigned to their respective posts, dispersed among the various tactical squads.
Genma stood up abruptly. This method of operation—charging straight for the defenders to eliminate the local ninja forces and remove all hidden threats before tallying the spoils—indicated that the attacking enemies were ruthless characters.
"What are their numbers?"
"The vanguard consists of fifty men. It's uncertain if there are follow-up troops. Bad news—someone detected my sensory jutsu. Several ninja have broken away from the main group... They're fast!"
Hearing the number fifty, Genma's first reaction was a sigh of relief. Such a number usually implied that the majority of the attackers were fodder. However, Yamanaka Keiya's subsequent reaction suggested that the enemy was not fodder, but an elite force.
Of the fifty attackers, forty-five belonged to the Hagoromo Clan. The Uchiha Clan only accounted for five. Among those five, aside from Uchiha Tajima and Uchiha Shikan, the remaining three were elderly clansmen who had long passed their prime... It was obvious at a glance which side was the main combat force.
Uchiha Shikan had absolutely no way to send a warning. Firstly, he was being watched closely by his clan head and elders. Secondly, until this very moment, he had no idea who they were actually fighting.
Genma walked to the window and gazed in the direction of the enemy's approach. Straining his vision to the limit, he saw several clusters of bright blue lightning flashing in the night. Twenty breaths later, these streaks of lightning stretched into a continuous line, like electricity paving the ground, and had already arrived near Kikyo Castle.
"The Hagoromo Clan... is it?" Genma seemed to discern the opponent's background.
This kind of performance... if only one person could move that fast, it wouldn't prove much. But if a whole group of ninja possessed such high-speed mobility, it could likely only be the Swift Release kekkei genkai of the Hagoromo Clan.
"Scrap all other battle plans. Execute Plan 10!"
Understanding the disparity in power, Genma immediately issued the order. The gap in strength was despairing, yet he maintained his rationality.
Upon hearing the order, Yamanaka Keiya did not hesitate. He leaped from the window, flipped onto the roof, and fired four signal flares—three red, one blue—into the sky.
The battle plan was clear: only a small number of designated ninja would stay behind to delay the enemy. The rest were not to think about fighting, but only about retreating.
Retreating without a fight at this juncture could hardly be called cowardice.
As the signal flares rose into the sky, Genma had already leaped down from the castle keep... He, of course, would not give up resistance.
Having figured out the enemy's identity, he instantly realized the very first thing he needed to do.
Genma arrived at the Firefly administrative office and, without a word, took out the bird that belonged to Senju Tobirama, which he had been keeping well-fed.
He produced a strip of paper and rapidly wrote down a piece of intelligence: Kikyo Castle is under attack by the Hagoromo Clan. Enemy numbers exceed fifty. The Hagoromo Clan Leader is the commander on-site. Consequently, the command structure at the Hagoromo Clan's village is currently compromised.
After stuffing the intelligence into the canister, he immediately released the bird.
At this moment, Genma didn't actually know if the Hagoromo Clan Leader was present, but that didn't stop him from fabricating a mix of truth and falsehood in the report.
He could even predict Senju Tobirama's reaction. He wouldn't disbelieve it entirely, nor would he trust it completely. Therefore, the Senju Clan would likely send a small elite unit to launch a probing attack on the Hagoromo Clan's vulnerable command center.
It was well known that Senju Tobirama deeply hated the Hagoromo; he would never pass up such an opportunity.
As long as the Hagoromo Clan's village came under attack, it would immediately create a "besiege Wei to rescue Zhao" effect for Kikyo Castle... The attackers would never guess in their wildest dreams that a small ninja organization in the borderlands could timely contact their arch-nemesis, the Senju Clan.
Fortunately, Genma's guess—half deduction, half gamble—was correct. For the enemy, this was an operation to build mutual trust, so it was necessary for the clan leaders of both sides to participate... After all, there wouldn't be any accidents or danger, would there?
As for why the Hagoromo Clan committed so much power, it had nothing to do with how much they valued the Firefly Organization... Once they secured the gold mine, they had to hold it, didn't they? So many ninja were actually there to guard the mine. That way, even if other powerful forces came to contest it, the Hagoromo Clan would have nothing to fear.
Meanwhile, at Lingdang Castle on the other side, the emergency signal was also received.
"Lord Daimyo, three reds. According to the plan, we must withdraw... Although the enemy's main target is Kikyo Castle, that doesn't mean Lingdang Castle will be safe."
"Then proceed as planned. We retreat temporarily."
Given Shimizu Kisuke's personality, he had always held conservative views on the expansion of power in the Land of Rivers. Yet, at a time like this, he had no complaints and instead firmly supported Genma's decision.
This defeatist, surprisingly, showed no cowardice at the critical moment.
Boom! Boom!
Accompanied by continuous explosions, a great fire ignited within Kikyo Castle.
"Go! Head south, don't stop for a second."
Fuma Goro crouched on a rooftop, directing the evacuation of ninja and some civilians. However, such a command position was extremely conspicuous, both to his own side and to the enemy.
Four or five Hagoromo Clan ninja, having discovered Fuma Goro and realized his role, instantly moved to surround and kill him.
Fuma Goro was constantly aware of his surroundings. With the enemy's movements being so arrogant, there was no possibility he wouldn't detect them.
"Go!"
He grit his teeth, repeated the order to the evacuating team one last time, and then turned to intercept the enemies.
Indecisive people can take firm and decisive steps; those who cannot bear pressure will eventually have moments where they shoulder the responsibility.
Lan walked across the chaotic streets, her long blade at her hip, her steps consistent and measured.
Half of her body was shrouded in the night, while the other half was illuminated by the dancing flames.
The more chaotic the environment, the sharper her sensory abilities became.
A chakra signal rushed toward her at high speed. Just as the opponent's kunai was about to pierce her neck, she turned sideways, yielding a body's width of space, while her long blade simultaneously unsheathed.
She held the blade with one hand, hilt down, tip tilted toward the night sky, the edge meeting the enemy with incomparable precision.
Puchi. A slight sound rang out as a Swift Release ninja was cut in two in response.
At the same time, a ball of explosive flame rushed straight at her from behind.
Lan maintained her expressionless demeanor. She turned and slashed back, a Wind Release vacuum blade slicing the powerful Fire Release technique directly in half.
An aged figure appeared not far down the street.
"Nameless..."
Lan turned around, the hollow holes beneath her bandages seeming to align with the opponent. She hesitated slightly, then said:
"I seem to... remember your chakra..."
"Speed has no meaning to me..."
Nara Hideyuki was like a hunting spider. The Hagoromo ninja, who prided himself on speed, had fallen into the Shadow Sewing Technique; black shadows were currently strangling his neck.
However...
However, the enemy was from a major ninja clan after all. His chakra quality at this moment was stronger than Nara Hideyuki's. Lightning burst from his body, and under his violent struggle, it seemed difficult for Hideyuki to decapitate him immediately.
Aside from the black shadow tendrils, a mass of white tendrils shot out from Hideyuki's arm. These tendrils performed a light extraction at the enemy's chest, and a fresh, living heart changed owners just like that.
Now, Nara Hideyuki's chakra was stronger than these Hagoromo ninja, because he now possessed three hearts.
The enemy, chest pierced, was already dead. The shadows receded from his body. Simultaneously, Hideyuki flicked the five fingers of his right hand, connecting five chakra threads to the corpse.
Harvesting the heart wasn't enough; he was even creating a "puppet" on the battlefield. It could be said that few could grow stronger the longer they fought quite like Nara Hideyuki.
But just then, an enemy suddenly appeared behind him, a hand-knife flickering with lightning stabbing straight through his chest cavity...
The enemy was many, and he was few. The number of elite enemy ninja far exceeded their own. Thus, even someone as strong as Nara Hideyuki could easily fall into an encirclement.
However, the enemy who believed they had achieved a one-hit kill found that they could not withdraw.
If you knew the Earth Grudge Fear secret technique, would you keep your original heart in its original position?
Nara Hideyuki certainly wouldn't.
In fact, even if one heart was pierced, his life wouldn't be in danger. However, Hideyuki was just like Genma—he cherished his original parts very much.
Nara Hideyuki used his shadows to control the opponent. A moment ago, his chakra intensity was limited, but now the tables were turned. After all, it was three hearts against one, and one of his was of the exact same configuration as the enemy's. Simple addition and subtraction determined the winner.
Just as he was preparing to violently strangle this enemy to death, Hideyuki glimpsed Yamanaka Keiya rushing over.
"Come!"
At Nara Hideyuki's prompt, Yamanaka Keiya turned his head and immediately understood the other's intent. He quickly formed hand seals:
Ninpo: Mind Body Switch Technique!
Nara Hideyuki suppressed the enemy's body physically, while Yamanaka Keiya invaded the enemy's spirit. His clan's secret technique instantly sent the enemy's consciousness into a deep sleep, while he took control of the body.
As for his own empty shell of a body, Yamanaka Keiya was rather bold—he simply tossed it into a dark alley, leaving it to play the role of a corpse.
The two split up, each going to find more enemies to slaughter.
On another side, the three young ninja—Fuma Tomo, Tachibana Wakamatsu, and Gotō—though not as proficient in the Earth Grudge Fear as Nara Hideyuki, utilized their teamwork and the technique's hard-to-kill nature. Coupled with the fact that they already possessed Hagoromo ninja hearts, they managed to fight the enemies to a standstill.
Not far from them, Akimichi Jinsei had fallen into a bitter struggle. The enemy was too agile, completely countering his strength... Even Hane Genma looked clumsy in front of Swift Release, let alone the heavier Akimichi.
Already countered and now surrounded, after just a few rounds, he had suffered multiple wounds and was in imminent danger.
Massive blood loss in a short time caused his consciousness to blur. A cold light projected into the bottom of his eyes. Just as he shivered and instantly jolted awake, a long blade was already slashing horizontally toward his throat.
The enemy's smile began to freeze. Suddenly, the Hagoromo ninja's blade swung at empty air. The enemy before his eyes had inexplicably vanished.
high up in the distance, Uchiha Nanami had activated her Mangekyo Sharingan. A line of fresh blood flowed from the corner of her eye, and the intense stinging pain forced her to cover the eye with one hand.
She was panting heavily. At the same time, her heart was plunged into deep self-blame, shame, and torment.
She had already spotted the Uchiha ninja among the invaders and roughly guessed that it was she herself who had brought this siege upon the Firefly Organization.
In her mind, the root of everything happening before her eyes lay in her rescue of Lan. That matter seemed to have ended, and Madara seemed to have mastered the Uchiha Clan, yet the retaliation had come nonetheless.
"Perhaps it is truly as the rumors say... the Sharingan always brings misfortune..."
Caught between the Firefly Organization and the Uchiha Clan, Nanami lost her bearings for a moment. She wasn't as decisive as Lan; she felt that raising her blade against anyone would bring immense pain.
But Nanami still found the correct course of action. She began to use her ocular powers recklessly. Akimichi Jinsei was not the first, nor would he be the last.
In the night, a figure was flying close to the ground.
After dealing with several ordinary enemies, Hane Genma finally discovered an enemy command hub.
Using the Light-Weight Rock Technique, he flew rapidly. At the same time, looking as if he were swimming the butterfly stroke, his hands and feet occasionally clawed at the ground. Although the movements were not elegant, the continuous application of force made his speed faster and faster.
In an instant, he rushed in front of an old fellow.
Massive amounts of steam erupted from his sides. Simultaneously, he had already completed the hand seals a step ahead.
Light-Weight Rock Technique released. Added-Weight Rock Technique activated.
Boom!
He kicked the old man in the waist. In an instant, blood splattered everywhere, and the man was practically folded in half.
The enemy flew backward, spinning, and smashed into a castle wall with a boom, his body almost flattened into a pancake.
This was a standard violent insta-kill. No technique, all power.
The so-called Elder didn't even have time to activate his proud Sharingan before he was kicked to death by Genma like a stray dog.
If this ninja ever had the chance to be buried, folding him up and stuffing him into a coffin would at least save half the wood.
Genma halted his figure and looked expressionlessly at the two ninja behind him.
"The Uchiha Clan..."
The remaining two were Uchiha Tajima and Uchiha Shikan. Irrespective of anything else, right now, Genma only wanted them dead.
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