"Why are you Konoha ninja also part of the pursuit? Have you joined forces with Iwagakure?" a ninja with a scratched headband, his back against a large tree, shouted hysterically.
If it weren't for his skillful Water Clones, he would have died several times over.
After all, he was facing the infamous Uchiha.
However, his opponent didn't seem to be going all out. It felt like a cat toying with a mouse, unhurried and relaxed. As if deliberately amplifying the terror in his heart.
"Because you're worth a lot," a young woman slowly emerged from the bushes.
Holding a bounty poster in both hands, she read each word aloud: "Murata Ichiro, Iwagakure A-rank missing-nin. During a mission to assassinate a wealthy merchant's daughter, he chose to abandon the assassination and defect from Iwagakure."
"Subsequently, he killed several waves of Iwagakure pursuit units. Bounty: 5,000,000 Ryo."
The young woman's gaze was fixed on the bounty poster, seemingly not paying the least bit of attention to Murata.
"So, you're a bounty hunter?" Murata Ichiro gritted his teeth and said hatefully.
It was clear that since becoming a missing-nin, he had been constantly harassed by bounty hunters.
However, those who came before were ordinary Chunin or weak rogue ninja.
But he was a Jonin. He never expected that even an Uchiha would become a bounty hunter.
Wait, wasn't the Uchiha clan in chaos? The remaining forces were led by someone called the Hero King to attack the Land of Water.
How could there still be an Uchiha operating outside?
"I never thought the famed Uchiha would stoop to bounty hunting," Murata Ichiro said as he began to form hand seals.
Regardless, one couldn't afford to be careless when facing an Uchiha.
"Because our organization is short on funds. So what? Want to join our Dimensional End's Congregation?
"Our organization is the best in all worlds, capable of suppressing even the ninja world.
"Join us, and you can obtain great power." The young woman lifted her head, looking directly at the missing-nin. In her eyes were the clear three-tomoe Sharingan.
This was Uchiha Izumi, who had left Konoha.
Currently, the only Uchiha known to be active were the two in Akatsuki. And those taken away by the Hero King—Uchiha Fugaku's faction, consisting of peace lovers, ironic as it was.
The radicals had all died during the massacre. The remaining ones were Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Izumi, who had joined Natsuki's Dimensional End's Congregation and awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Dimensional End's Congregation?
"What the hell kind of organisatioin is that? Never heard of it." Murata Ichiro was stunned.
He racked his brains but couldn't recall such a large organization.
However, he had just left Iwagakure, seeking a peaceful life.
He absolutely wouldn't join any force and work for those cold-blooded people at the top again.
"But you can forget about it. I defected from Iwagakure because I don't want to join any more organizations."
"I just want to live a peaceful life with my wife. Why is it so difficult?" Towards the end, Murata Ichiro became agitated.
He clapped his hands together and rapidly formed hand seals. When dealing with an Uchiha, one had to strike first.
Anyone who wanted to destroy his life was an enemy.
Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet Jutsu!
The ground in front of him suddenly cracked open, and an earth dragon formed of mud roared and charged towards Izumi.
Boom!!
A tremendous roar echoed as the area struck by the jutsu collapsed and exploded in a massive cloud of dust.
A direct hit from that technique would've pulverized even the God of Shinobi! At least Ichiro thought so.
He chuckled softly.
Puchi!
Suddenly, a sharp blade pierced through his back, emerging from his chest.
"Cough...Wh-When...?" Murata struggled to glance behind him.
A long katana, driven through the tree trunk, pinned him in place.
"The moment you spaced out," Izumi said, smiling as she stepped out from behind the tree, casually withdrawing her katana. "Alright, stop pretending. This is just another one of your Water Clones."
Just as she finished speaking, Murata Ichiro's body dissolved into a puddle. It really was a Water Clone.
In the next instant, Murata reappeared ten meters away, his expression grave. "The Sharingan is truly terrifying."
"It's too early to sigh in relief."
Suddenly, Izumi's voice came from above.
Murata's eyes widened in alarm.
He tried to leap away, but only managed to jump half a body length to the side.
Puchi!
A long katana pierced him once again. This time, it pinned him to the ground from above.
"Cough, cough...it's really unpredictable. Is this the power of the Uchiha?" Murata, his lower abdomen impaled, had lost his mobility.
The outcome was decided.
"So?
"Will you join us?
"You too can have the opportunity to gain great power." Izumi leaped down from the treetop, renewing her offer.
"You still want me to work for you? Impossible!" Ichiro roared
He had promised his wife, Takeuchi Misaki, that he would no longer take lives meaninglessly.
That was why he left Iwagakure, vowing never to serve these dark and powerful organizations again.
"Then forget it.
"Our organization doesn't accept just anyone. Your will is strong, but your strength is lacking.
"Well then, I'll be taking your bounty." With that, Izumi formed the hand seals for a Fire Style jutsu, aiming it at the immobilized Murata.
Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!
A massive fireball shot towards him.
"No!"
A woman, appearing from nowhere, instantly shielded Ichiro.
Boom!
Endless flames filled his vision.
"No!" Murata Ichiro's eyes were bloodshot.
That was the voice of his wife, Takeuchi Misaki.
She was also his former assassination target, the wealthy merchant's daughter. Due to a series of events, he had abandoned the mission, defected from the village, and fled with her to a small town in the Land of Rain to live in anonymity.
"Aaaah!"
If Misaki died, he wouldn't live alone.
Murata yanked out the katana impaling him as he stumbled and threw himself into the inferno.
The scorching flames instantly engulfed him.
"Strange? Why doesn't it hurt?"
After plunging into the fire, Murata immediately sensed something was wrong.
In the next moment, the boundless crimson vanished.
He was leaning against the same tree as before.
Looking around, there wasn't a single person in sight.
For a moment, he didn't know if he was still in a genjutsu or back in reality.
"Such a terrifying genjutsu!"
Murata Ichiro slumped against the tree, slowly raising his head to look at the sky.
"Does this Dimensional End's Congregation really exist?"