Chapter 15: Framing
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of black figures shot forward as the Hidden Mist forces launched their assault toward the Land of Fire's border.
Their movement was extremely fast and well-hidden. If Mingyu hadn't obtained the information in advance, they might have actually succeeded in their surprise attack.
But now…
Meanwhile, back in the small room.
Ox and Yugao had returned, but Mingyu was nowhere to be seen.
Both of their expressions looked unpleasant.
"Don't tell me that kid is already dead," Ox muttered.
Death rates were very high for Anbu missions like theirs.
"He probably isn't… There are only ten minutes left until 8 PM. Should we go check?" Yugao asked.
After a day of investigation, she had also picked up some clues, so she was starting to believe Mingyu's words from earlier. But she didn't dare fully trust him either.
If he was right, the two of them would be punished for delaying critical intelligence.
"Hmph, you actually believe that brat? He's just a kid," Ox scoffed.
"I have a feeling he might be telling the truth. If the Hidden Mist really launches an attack, it'll be dangerous!"
"…"
Ox's expression turned serious. Without another word, the two of them rushed toward the border.
At the same time, the Mist army had already reached the Land of Fire's border.
"Sir, something feels off. It's too quiet tonight. There are far fewer guards than usual," a female ninja named Shima Ai said. She was an elite Chunin.
"Could there be a traitor?" the black-clothed leader thought, his gaze unconsciously shifting toward Mingyu.
Mingyu, however, was glaring at him with clear annoyance.
"No wonder Lord Orochimaru said the Hidden Mist is the trashiest of the five great villages. You're scared of your own shadow even when facing the Land of Fire's border guards. What use are you?"
"You—!"
"What? Did I say something wrong? If I remember correctly, your famous Seven Ninja Swordsmen were beaten by a single Konoha Genin, right?"
To be honest, Mingyu really looked down on the Hidden Mist.
They had created the "Bloody Mist" era, trying to raise elite ninjas but ended up crippling themselves. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were crushed by Might Guy's father — a mere Genin — and the survivors all became rogue ninjas. A village that reached that level could only be called a failure.
And then there was Chojuro… just a big softie. If Kishimoto hadn't forcefully redeemed him, someone with that personality would have died dozens of times already.
"Hmph! Attack!" the black-clothed leader roared in fury.
If it weren't for the mission and the fact that this kid was supposedly Orochimaru's subordinate, he would have beaten Mingyu into the ground right then and there.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At his command, dozens of figures launched their assault. Cold kunai sliced through the air toward the Land of Fire's forces.
But in the next second, he was stunned.
The moment they entered the area, they were completely surrounded.
"There's a traitor!"
Everyone's eyes instantly turned toward Mingyu — the only outsider among them.
"Fuck your ancestors! You actually betrayed us?!" Mingyu suddenly roared at the black-clothed leader.
"Huh?"
Everyone was momentarily dumbfounded.
Why is our captain suddenly the traitor?
"It's you, isn't it?! You sold us out!" the black-clothed man roared back in rage.
"Bullshit! If I had betrayed you, you'd all be dead already! Why do you think I kept telling you not to attack earlier and to wait? So you could tip them off and get us all killed!"
Mingyu spoke with righteous fury.
He was joking — right now they were surrounded by quite a few strong opponents. If he admitted to being the traitor, he would be blasted into pieces instantly. Besides, he still needed these people to help him enter the Land of Water.
"You… you… you…!"
The black-clothed man felt like his lungs were about to explode from anger. He had actually been framed as a traitor.
"Hmph, I've long heard that the Hidden Mist loves producing traitors. I didn't expect to meet one so soon. Selling out so many of your own comrades just to defect to the Land of Fire — what a ruthless heart!"
"I…"
"What 'I'? I noticed your suspicious behavior the whole way here. Good thing I kept a backup plan, or we would've all been screwed because of you."
When it came to talking shit, Mingyu — a professional keyboard warrior from the 21st century — was unmatched. Even Hinata had been easily won over by his smooth tongue.
The black-clothed middle-aged man was clearly not a match for him in a verbal battle.
"Brothers of the Hidden Mist! This man has betrayed us. We can only rely on ourselves now. Anyone who wants to live, follow me!"
Mingyu shouted loudly. With a flash, he sprinted toward the southwest section of the encirclement.
To be safe, he had covered most of his face with black cloth, so the Land of Fire forces had no idea who he was.
"Want to run? Attack! Kill them all!"
At the commander's order, the Land of Fire ninjas unleashed a storm of kunai like pouring rain.
Just as the situation looked desperate, a massive explosion suddenly erupted in the southwest.
Boom! Boom!
The encirclement was blown open. Mingyu didn't hesitate — he charged straight through the gap.
The explosion came from explosive tags he had secretly planted earlier when he visited the border.
"Run! Hurry! Go!"
Seeing the opening, the surviving Mist ninjas were overjoyed and rushed toward the southwest.
But the Land of Fire's reaction was fast. Before even five people could escape, they were surrounded again. The rest were quickly slaughtered — not a single survivor.
Mingyu watched the entire scene from high up in a large tree.
Everything had gone exactly as he had planned.
Not only had he neutralized the Hidden Mist threat, but he had also solidified his fake identity with the survivors.
The most tragic one was the black-clothed leader. He died and was forever labeled a traitor.
"I can't believe the captain was actually a traitor… He sold us all out."
In a hidden grove, the few surviving Mist ninjas had ugly expressions on their faces.
Over a hundred had come. Only five were left alive.
"Enough. There's no point talking about it now. We need to return immediately and report this. We should also investigate whether that bastard had any accomplices back in the village. Otherwise, we're all in danger," Mingyu said as he stepped out.
"Ha… I guess that's all we can do," the others nodded helplessly.
With the Land of Fire's nature, they would definitely launch a massive search. Staying here meant certain death.
"Terumi Mei… I'm coming."