"Clients?"
So he was a "businessman"—that explained why unfamiliar shinobi frequented this place.
However, in these turbulent times, "businessmen" lurking in the shadowy corners of the Shinobi World invariably gave off an unsettling impression.
The business conducted here was most likely illegitimate.
"What can I obtain from you?" Yūshin asked with some curiosity.
"My clients can be simply divided into sellers and buyers."
"Could you be more specific?"
"If serving as a seller, I generally only accept human trafficking... My research requires extensive shinobi assistance. With the Shinobi World in such chaos, defeated shinobi are mostly killed outright—such waste seems regrettable, considering shinobi are precious resources. Therefore, if you wish to maximize utility, you can deliver war-captured shinobi to me, and I'll offer sufficiently fair prices."
Vocal—actually "slave trading." Yūshin had unexpectedly heard...
Good news.
Yūshin secretly clenched his fist. Regardless of this person's purpose in collecting slaves from the Shinobi World, since he engaged in such business, Yūshin could basically confirm that his clansmen's distress signal had originated from here.
His clan members were very likely being held at this location—he'd found the right place.
Only human traffickers would have various types of people gathered in their hands. For Yūshin, this was indeed good news.
"Certainly a profitable business, though unfortunately, I had no prior knowledge and lack the merchandise you require," Yūshin said.
"Oh, so those two shinobi died—truly regrettable," that voice responded.
The opponent had indeed noticed the swamp battle.
Yūshin thought: If I said those two didn't die directly by my hand, would you believe it?
"What if I were a buyer? What could I obtain from you?" he continued inquiring.
"Items capable of rapidly enhancing a shinobi's combat effectiveness—for instance, secret medicines providing temporary yet swift chakra enhancement, or absolutely loyal giant summoning beasts."
Absolutely loyal? Yūshin recalled that unfortunate fellow just killed by his own summoning beast.
"May I see the summoning beasts? I'm quite interested in this aspect."
"Naturally—as long as one abides by fair trading principles, anyone can become my client... Please proceed inward; the merchandise awaits inside."
Following these words, one corner of the courtyard suddenly collapsed, revealing a downward-slanting staircase.
Yūshin pondered briefly, then stepped toward that direction.
After descending the dark stairs, his vigilance heightened to maximum. His right arm, hidden beneath clothing, began transforming to pale coloration.
No choice—such underground spaces resembled traps too closely. He had to remain ready for immediate escape.
Almost simultaneously with Yūshin's partial White Zetsu transformation, his vision suddenly changed!
After penetrating underground to a certain depth, what Yūshin had originally perceived as ordinary subterranean structures now appeared as rows of iron cages.
Individual cages scattered along both corridor sides—one side's cages imprisoned shackled shinobi, while the other side contained various grotesquely shaped fierce beasts.
Genjutsu? When did I fall under genjutsu?
The visual transformation indicated Yūshin had been under some form of genjutsu control all along, yet he completely lacked awareness of when he'd been affected—his mind contained zero clues.
Moreover, why did this genjutsu dissolve after he underwent partial "White Zetsu transformation"?
Could White Zetsu-transformed bodies restore normal chakra flow?
This wasn't the time for such contemplation. Yūshin feigned ignorance while continuing deeper into the passage.
At the passage's terminus stood a room with open doors.
Yūshin attempted canceling White Zetsu transformation, discovering he saw a rather elegantly constructed house. The room directly facing the entrance contained a long table, behind which sat a cloaked figure whose features remained indiscernible... This resembled a business negotiation venue.
Then Yūshin resumed White Zetsu transformation—the so-called room became another cage filled with chaotic torture instruments.
He carefully observed the cage's interior, then without much hesitation, boldly entered.
"Welcome, my guest. Please allow me to introduce myself—my name is Tsuchishi, and I'm someone passionate about cultivating summoning beasts."
Upon entering the room, that voice echoed within the hollow chamber.
Passionate about cultivation? More like passionate about "assembling" summoning beasts.
Without giving Yūshin reaction time, the cage door subsequently closed.
After he became a trapped rat, that skulking fellow finally dropped pretenses as sinister laughter began echoing throughout the underground space.
"You'll definitely make excellent research material."
"Not long ago, someone apparently transmitted distress signals while I was inattentive. I have tremendous confidence in my cages—originally considered this mere illusion, yet unexpectedly someone has now walked into my trap..."
"Rest assured, I'll extract your brain and heart, then select the finest beast for replacement. You won't die, but will experience a fresh new lifestyle..."
Casual conversation? Certainly not—this person was stalling for time.
Yūshin sensed his chakra being stripped away by some force. He instinctively looked toward the wall behind the iron cage.
Earth Release?
He pondered, then said: "I seem to recall a certain Earth Release ninjutsu capable of absorbing enemy chakra—what was it called... Earth Prison Dome of Magnificent Nothingness?"
That somewhat arrogant voice abruptly ceased, then he became furiously agitated: "How do you know my secret technique?"
Did Yūshin have any obligation to explain to his opponent? He smiled, then said:
"Your attitude isn't quite right. As a researcher, regardless of circumstances, one should maintain equanimity, preserving absolute calm and rationality."
How could one celebrate at halftime? Clearly inexperienced.
"Trapped prey—once your chakra is drained, let's see you..."
However, before completing his statement, Yūshin had already extended a pale palm, pressing it against the surrounding rock wall.
Surrounding chakra began flowing in reverse—instantly Yūshin transformed from "net loss" to "net gain."
The chakra within the earth prison walls was completely extracted in moments. After losing chakra maintenance, surrounding walls immediately crumbled.
A more concealed room was thus revealed.
"Found you—hidden quite deeply indeed."
As Yūshin had anticipated, those who skulked and used various methods to lure him into traps definitely lacked outstanding direct combat capabilities.
Of course, chakra-absorbing abilities could count as a killing technique—unfortunately, he'd encountered the even more absorptive Yūshin.
If it were someone else, they truly might not escape from this cage.
In the Shinobi World, while chakra-absorbing abilities weren't numerous, they weren't rare to the point of being one-in-a-million. If one believed relying solely on this technique could ensure invincibility, they'd inevitably stumble eventually.
This self-proclaimed Tsuchishi had committed empiricism's error.
"You can see me? No—when did you dispel the genjutsu?"
"I'd like to ask when I fell under genjutsu myself."
Yūshin formed hand seals—Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
The iron cage confining him was easily sliced into fragments. Witnessing this situation, Tsuchishi immediately attempted escape.
Trying to flee?
Yūshin continued releasing a second ninjutsu—Water Release: Water Colliding Wave.
Within the cramped underground space, surging water waves resembled breached flood torrents, instantly filling this small "rat hole."
In open terrain, such ninjutsu's attack effectiveness wouldn't amount to much—with shinobi agility, there were always evasion or defensive methods.
However, in constricted underground spaces, ordinary people simply couldn't handle such "massive flooding." The opponent lacked any operational space, virtually unable to escape Yūshin'sWater Release impact range.
Yūshin employed the Mayfly Technique, first merging his body into rock walls, then rapidly moving through them.
He instantly appeared beside Tsuchishi, striking the drowning enemy's neck nape with a swift palm strike. Following a crisp crack, Tsuchishi's cervical spine seemed to dislocate.
Both choking on water and receiving blows, the enemy was directly knocked unconscious.
"This... not durable?"
The enemy's impact resistance was so feeble, somewhat exceeding Yūshin's expectations.
With such weak strength, he dared consider himself a "research personnel"?
True Shinobi World inventors all possessed Kage-level strength.
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