To Aoi's surprise, Kaneda admitted it openly, completely unafraid. Their argument had already drawn quite a crowd of onlookers…
"Isn't that Kaneda? Who's he bullying now?"
"Looks like he held that young lad's order back."
"Guess the kid's in for a rough time…"
...
After a moment of silence, Aoi drew his Kusanagi blade, his voice icy. "I'll give you one last chance to speak wisely. I suggest you make it count."
"Go to hell with your chances! Still playing tough?" Kaneda had clearly decided to push this to the end. He sneered loudly for everyone to hear.
"Let me make this clear: as long as I, Kaneda, am alive, you will never get so much as a single tool from the Land of Craftsmen! I may not be a big shot here, but Master Kiyomasa—"
HUM!!!
A strange, low hum cut through the air. Kaneda stopped speaking mid‑sentence, a look of confusion on his face as his hand reached up toward his neck.
Drip… drip…
Bright red blood trickled slowly down, then began to flow freely. The next thing Kaneda knew, the world spun violently around him, and he crashed to the ground, consciousness gone entirely.
It had taken just one strike… and Kaneda's head was no longer attached to his body.
Only moments ago, his arrogant words had still been echoing: As long as I am alive, you will never get what you want…
"And now?"
Aoi sneered in disgust. There were always trashy people like this in the world — fools who blamed their own mistakes on others. Absolutely repulsive.
But regardless of the reason, Aoi had just killed a man…
"Murder!"
"He killed Kaneda!"
"A ninja attacked a craftsman!"
In an instant, the entire workshop erupted into chaos.
Before long, the commotion drew Kiyomasa out from the VIP chamber…
He was a man with striking silver hair — handsome, in a way — but marred by a sharp, rodent‑like face and narrow, triangular eyes.
"Who killed Kaneda?!"
The moment he saw the body, Kiyomasa roared in fury. Kaneda was his most capable assistant, and had just secured him a huge new client today.
Dead… just like that?
"I did."
Aoi did not flinch. He stepped forward with a cold smile. "So you are the so‑called Master Kiyomasa?"
Noticing Aoi's expensive clothing and imposing, dignified presence, Kiyomasa frowned and spoke with slightly more restraint. "Who are you?"
"Aoi. From Pearl Town, Land of Water." Aoi's smile turned sharp. "My, Master Kiyomasa… you have a very short memory…"
"Pearl Town?"
Suddenly, Kiyomasa's expression shifted as he realized who it was. He sneered with malice. "Oh… it's you, you little fraud!"
He barked at his men, "Seize this brat! I'll make sure he gets the warmest welcome imaginable… and pay for Kaneda with his life!"
Just as expected — Kaneda's arrogance and prejudice had been learned straight from his master.
At Kiyomasa's command, more than a dozen craftsman‑ninja rushed out from the workshop, surrounding Aoi completely…
"I didn't think it would come to this."
Aoi drew his blade with a cold smirk. I didn't want to spill too much blood in the main world and ruin my reputation… but killing dogs like these? That leaves no stain on my honor.
It looked as though Aoi was about to bathe the Land of Craftsmen in blood…
"Lord Aoi?"
A deep voice broke the tension. An elderly man stepped forward, eyes wide with shock. "Lord Aoi… what are you doing here?"
"And you are?"
"I am Omoshin. I had the honor of seeing you once before, at the summit in Kumogakure."
Only then did Aoi understand. The "noble family from the Cloud Village" Kaneda had mentioned earlier was none other than Omoi's clan. This Omoshin was likely Omoi's grandfather.
As Omoshin prepared to speak further, Kiyomasa pulled him aside with a strange, uneasy look on his face.
"Lord Omoshin… what did you just call that little fraud?"
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