The Martial Valor Festival!
A traditional festival of the Land of Snow.
"If you can win the final martial competition during the Martial Valor Festival, you'll earn a chance to become the heir of the Land of Snow. But I just don't get it—why would someone like you, an underdog princess, be interested in becoming the heir?"
Kasuka Kazahana suddenly clenched her teeth. Her expression turned serious, and her attitude changed at that moment.
"Since you've already looked into the details of the Martial Valor Festival, you must already know why I left the Land of Snow."
"Was it because of forced marriage?"
"Precisely! Our country is too weak, so my father wanted to arrange a political marriage with the Land of Iron. But the person they chose was an old man in his fifties! Why on earth should I marry an elderly man?"
"So, you plan to win the Martial Valor Festival, thus avoiding the arranged marriage altogether, right?"
"Yes!"
Kasuka's mood calmed down.
What a disgraceful situation!
Even in this age of the Hokage, where society seems to be advancing toward modernity, outdated customs like political marriages still persist.
She enjoyed privilege, yet was trapped like a caged golden bird.
Ye Liang suddenly felt a surge of admiration toward Kasuka. Anyone brave enough to fight for their own love deserved respect!
"I can help you, but you must offer something in return."
"As long as you can help me win the championship of the Martial Valor Festival, even if it means giving you my body, I won't hesitate!"
"Oh my..."
After dinner, Ye Liang cheerfully made his way back to the district.
He hadn't done a single thing!
As a noble reincarnated aristocrat from Huaxia, Ye Liang was a well-rounded individual possessing virtues, intelligence, physical ability, aesthetic sense, and diligence—he despised despicable methods like these.
Truthfully, he had only wanted some money; who knew she'd offer herself instead!
Walking along the street,
The sky grew dim.
Judging by the time from his previous life, it was nearly midnight.
Shadows flickered across rooftops, barely visible. Ye Liang's senses picked up the faintest of sounds.
"It seems they're trying to assassinate me, huh."
Hurrying through several alleys, Ye Liang finally reached a dead-end lane.
"Lord, are you Ye Liang?"
Several figures landed at the mouth of the alleyway. All were masked, each holding steel short swords—clearly ill-intentioned.
Samurai!
Though these people tried concealing their presence, under Ye Liang's Kanka observation, their data became immediately apparent.
[Ninjutsu: 0]
[Taijutsu: 2]
[Ninja Tools: 0]
Their stats were extremely unbalanced—aside from their physical combat skills, everything else was nonexistent.
Figuring it out didn't take a genius.
"Let me guess—is this the doing of your Second Prince? Or maybe your First Prince?"
"Cut the chatter! Since you dared meddle in our internal affairs of the Land of Snow, don't expect to leave here alive."
These samurai wasted no words with Ye Liang. They unsheathed their short swords and charged straight at him. This was exactly what people meant when saying "a scholar stands no chance against soldiers."
"But I never said I intended to meddle!"
Ten or so minutes later, the battered samurai lay bound inside the alley.
"I already told you—I wasn't going to meddle at all."
Ye Liang stood there helplessly, speechless.
He had indeed discussed the Martial Valor Festival with Kasuka Kazahana, but since they hadn't reached an agreement on the terms, Ye Liang had not officially agreed yet.
Damn it! Do people from the Land of Snow even know what reason is?!
"Forget your nonsense!"
The samurai before him broke into tears. Even though they were the ones who had attacked first, not a single scratch was found on Ye Liang!
With Ye Liang's strength, these low-level Taijutsu users at rank 2 were no threat to him at all.
"No way! We must inform the First Prince immediately! This year's Martial Valor Festival cannot afford to oppose Princess Kasuka!"
"He's the God of Samurai! How can he be this strong?!"
Second Prince, please forgive me for being unable to break through thorns and brambles for you!
"Third Prince, I have failed! I dare not provoke this killing god!"
...
"108th Prince, I..."
The next day.
Ye Liang's title as the God of Samurai was now firmly established.
"Lord Ye Liang, we've discovered signs of White Zetsu!"
A series of urgent knocks woke Ye Liang from his sleep. It was Obito Uchiha knocking at the door. As a member of the Uchiha clan, Obito Uchiha naturally followed them during their timely relocation.
"Huh? You found White Zetsu?"
A lazy voice came from inside the room.
"Yes, just at the border of the Land of Snow! The other Uchiha members have already gone!"
Obito was about to knock again when suddenly a gust of wind whistled past his ear. When he regained focus, Ye Liang's room was completely empty.
At the border.
Over a dozen Uchiha warriors were currently fighting against an enormous White Zetsu wearing a black mask. To describe the size of this White Zetsu using animals, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was elephant-sized.
[Boom! Boom!]
Along with the White Zetsu's attack came countless [Massive Fireballs]!
This was a White Zetsu that had mastered Fire Release techniques.
"What exactly happened?"
Ye Liang quickly arrived at the battlefield.
Standing in front of him was Fugaku Uchiha, the commanding officer of this operation.
"Commander Ye Liang, while patrolling earlier, we found a black mask. Who knew putting it on would cause our clansmen to..."
"Turn into White Zetsu?"
Ye Liang's heart tightened!
Seeing this White Zetsu using Fire Release made him instinctively sense something ominous!
White Zetsu rarely used Fire Release techniques!
Most common low-level White Zetsus only knew simple Body Replacement Techniques; slightly stronger ones might use basic Wood Release techniques such as [Bindings of the Grove] or [Forest Burial].
Special attribute-based Ninjutsu could only be used when White Zetsu attached itself onto a ninja.
During the incident in Iwagakure Village, White Zetsu had been able to use Earth Release techniques because it absorbed Chakra from local ninjas.
Never did he imagine that the Uchiha clan would also become prey for White Zetsu!
Without hesitation, Ye Liang rushed forward. This situation differed from previous encounters. In the past, those black masks always latched onto powerful Kage-ranked ninjas, leaving Ye Liang with no other choice but complete elimination.
However, this time the mask appeared merely attached to an ordinary ninja's face, sparking a flicker of hope within Ye Liang.
If he could successfully retrieve this mind-controlling mask intact, it might lead to significant progress in understanding White Zetsu.
Once decided, action followed immediately!
Ye Liang had never been one to procrastinate.
He shot forward in an instant, slipping in while the White Zetsu was busy attacking others, and slammed straight into its face.
"Hey man! Mind if I borrow that mask for a second?"
A big hand tightly gripped the black mask, as if pulling a shoe stuck to chewing gum—dragging and yanking hard. Meanwhile, the mask seemed alive—growling fiercely with every pull!
What the hell even *is* this thing?!
Did it freaking turn into a spirit or something?
Ye Liang nearly lost his mind. The sound from the mask wasn't just any ordinary noise—it had to be over seventy decibels!
Hell, even at midnight, that'd totally qualify as noise pollution!
With a "slap!"
The living mask finally came off.
It lay still, silent like a normal mask, not moving a bit.
Dead?
Ye Liang reached out again to feel it. When there was no reaction, he realized—it only came alive with intense, desperate longing… the moment it got near his face.
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