"Captain, the target location has been confirmed. After reconnaissance, we have locked onto this group of Rogue Ninjas as the objective for this 'cleanup' operation."
An Anbu Ninja wearing an animal mask unfolded a simple yet detailed topographic sketch, pointing a finger at the core area of the diagram.
"The group leader, codenamed 'Rust,' goes by the name Kakuzure. He was formerly affiliated with the Hidden Mist Village Torture and Interrogation Force and held the rank of Jonin. He does not come from a Bloodline Limit Family. His signature combat style involves manipulating specially crafted, high-strength Chakra threads, excelling in binding, cutting, and performing... 'precision operations' while torturing targets."
"Oh?"
A peculiar voice took over the conversation. Kisame Hoshigaki wore a black robe, with the hideous, bandage-wrapped giant object on his back, and a look of playful confusion appeared on his fish-like face.
"Hidden Mist origin? And a Jonin from the Torture and Interrogation Force... This is getting interesting. Since he isn't one of those troublesome guys from a Bloodline Limit Family,"
"He should have lived a relatively stable life in the Village. How did he end up a Rogue Ninja?"
The Anbu Ninja immediately replied, "The target defected during the turbulent period after the Fourth Mizukage stepped down and the Village's power was transferred."
"The direct trigger was when his abnormal behavior in the Torture and Interrogation Force was discovered by the new management—he repeatedly and unauthorizedly subjected captives with no intelligence value to torture far exceeding necessary limits, with clear signs of enjoyment. Subsequent in-depth investigations revealed that during the Fourth Mizukage's reign, he had abused his position to repeatedly arrest Ninjas and even civilians who posed no real threat under fabricated charges, solely to satisfy his own twisted sadistic desires."
The Anbu's tone revealed a hint of cold disdain. "Comprehensive assessment: the target, 'Rust' Kakuzure, is a psychologically abnormal criminal. His actions are not merely for money or political gain; his core driving force is to derive perverse psychological satisfaction from inflicting pain and controlling others."
"His danger rating has been raised accordingly. Even for the Hidden Mist Village, which is currently in a recovery period and facing resource shortages, a bounty of ten million ryo has been issued for him, dead or alive."
"As for the gang's current primary crimes and economic sources, they are active in the border regions, specializing in kidnapping villagers from scattered Villages or small settlements. The ransom demanded is usually the reward for a standard B-rank mission, to lower the victims' willingness to seek help from major Ninja Villages and increase the likelihood of payment."
"However... according to our intelligence, not a single one of the kidnapped villagers has been released to date."
"Is that so..." After hearing this, Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, revealing his row of sharp teeth, seemingly quite satisfied with this cleanup target.
"Thank you for your hard work; the intelligence is very thorough." He waved his hand casually, then slammed the Samehada on his shoulder onto the ground with a thud, causing the bandages to loosen slightly, revealing its rough, barb-covered blade.
He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the dozen or so figures standing solemnly behind him. They were all dressed in the standard Anbu attire.
"Then," Kisame's gravelly voice echoed at the entrance of the mine, carrying undisguised anticipation, "small talk is over. Now begins... the 'cleanup' mission."
"Who goes there?!"
"Enemy attack—!!"
The mountain stronghold, which had served as a temporary base, turned into a chaotic slaughterhouse after the first shot. This bandit group, composed of about fifty Rogue Ninjas of varying backgrounds and strengths, found their resistance as fragile as paper under the sudden, precise assault launched by the ten enemies.
The sounds of metal clashing and blades tearing through flesh were incessant.
"Clang!"
A Rogue Ninja swung his blade at the shadow in front of him, but it was easily parried by the opponent at an incredible angle.
Immediately after, there was a soft "squelch"—the Ninja blade had precisely pierced his heart. He couldn't even see the opponent's movements, only catching a glimpse of a heart-stopping crimson light flashing beneath the eyeholes of the animal mask.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
A Rogue Ninja panicked and formed hand signs, attempting to use a surging current of water to block the enemy's advance. However, an attacker on the opposite side, also dressed in Anbu attire, completed their hand signs almost simultaneously.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The scorching flames rapidly expanded into a massive fireball. In terms of elemental attributes, water should counter fire, but when there is an overwhelming gap in the "quantity" and "quality" of Chakra, common sense is overturned.
The Great Fireball, carrying a terrifying heatwave, forcefully evaporated the impressive Water Shockwave, and with its momentum undiminished, swallowed the caster and several people around him.
"Waaahhh—!!"
The shrill screams were instantly drowned out by the roar of the exploding flames.
Among the Rogue Ninjas who were fighting desperately and fleeing in despair, someone finally caught a glimpse of the true nature of that red light beneath the mask during the fleeting moment of conflict.
A Rogue Ninja, his chest pierced by a blade, felt his pupils tremble with terror in his final moment as his life rapidly faded away.
"Sha,Sharingan...?! How is that possible... Didn't the Uchiha Clan already..." The unfinished words were forever frozen in his throat, dissipating as his heart stopped beating.
"Leader! Where is Leader Kakuzure? Save us!!"
Desperate cries spread among the survivors. Only then did they realize with horror that their leader, "Rust" Kakuzure, who possessed the strength of a Jonin and should have been their core combat power, had not appeared once since the attack began.
Meanwhile, in the dense forest several miles away from the stronghold.
A tall, thin figure with pale skin, sunken eye sockets, and heavy dark circles was speeding through the trees in a frantic, disheveled manner.
There was no trace of a leader's dignity on Kakuzure's face right now, only the panic and ruthlessness of someone desperate to save his own life. His face, which should have looked lifeless due to long-term mental distortion, now appeared unusually "vivid" due to the intense emotional fluctuations.
From the moment he sensed that the attackers were well-trained and not merely ordinary bandits or bounty hunters, Kakuzure had chosen to abandon his subordinates and flee alone without hesitation.
Guilt? He had never possessed such a thing. Those who gathered around him were nothing more than convenient tools and cannon fodder to distract attention; if they all died, he would just find more.
However, he had underestimated the determination and efficiency of his pursuers.
"Found you. Can't let you get away just like that."
A voice with a clearly playful tone rang out abruptly to his side. Following immediately after was a terrifying wind pressure that tore through the air—a huge, bandage-wrapped monstrous blade came slashing down at his head!
Kakuzure was terrified out of his wits, instinctively activating the Body Flicker Technique, his figure flashing desperately to the side.
"Boom!!"
The giant blade slammed down heavily where he had just been, blasting a deep crater into the ground, with soil and wood splinters flying everywhere.
Kisame carried the Samehada, looking at the shaken Kakuzure with composure. There was no surprise on his face, only waiting for the other party to recognize him. Sure enough, astonishment quickly spread across Kakuzure's pale face.
"You... You are... Kisame Hoshigaki?!"
"Oh? You really do know me. We were colleagues once, after all. Before the fight starts, do you have any last words? Or perhaps... a final question?"
"Wait! Senior!" Cold sweat seeped from Kakuzure's forehead. Faced with the notorious reputation of the "Tailless Tailed Beast," he couldn't muster the courage to resist.
But intense confusion overwhelmed his fear, "Senior, you... didn't you also defect from the Hidden Mist a long time ago? Why come to hunt me down? Those Anbu... are they not from the Hidden Mist? Which organization do you belong to now?!"
"As for that... compared to you, I am much luckier. Thanks to that person's acceptance, I have finally found my own... 'home.' Therefore, what I represent now goes by the name of—"
"［Cinder］."
Kakuzure's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpricks, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. That top-tier organization that had risen rapidly in the dark side of the Ninja World in recent years, famous for its extreme mystery and incomparably powerful strength, which countless Rogue Ninjas both feared and longed to join! He had actually been targeted by such an entity?
"No! Please, please wait a moment!" The desire to survive overwhelmed everything else. Kakuzure shouted quickly, forcing the expression he thought was most sincere onto his face, "There's no need for us to fight, right! Senior, you came to hunt me down, it's just because of that bounty from the Hidden Mist Village, isn't it?"
"Give me a chance! Let me be your subordinate! I am very familiar with this area and know about many hidden resources and connections; I can definitely bring more benefits to Lord Menma! I am very useful!"
Facing Kakuzure's eager display of loyalty, Kisame just looked at him calmly. After a few seconds of silence, Kisame calmly threw out a question,
"...How about this. Before the fight starts, I will ask you a question."
"According to the intelligence we have, back when you were still in the Hidden Mist, there is a record of you framing a comrade who trusted you and torturing them to death with your own hands."
"At that time, what was... your reason for doing so?"
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