Fengjin Town, Land of Earth.
After Fujiki led a dozen or so Iwagakure ninja to inspect the small town, they moved on towards the next one.
The Tsuchikage had issued a strict order: they had to find clues about the attackers, no matter what.
Thinking back to the Tailed Beast Bomb that had appeared in the sky above the village that day, Fujiki still felt a lingering fear. If not for the Tsuchikage, that bomb would probably have razed the Hidden Stone Village to the ground.
Exactly which village would do such a frantic and insane thing?
The first suspect Fujiki thought of was the Hidden Mist. In the First Great Ninja War, the Second Tsuchikage and the Second Mizukage had perished together, creating a blood feud that lasted generations. If the Hidden Leaf wasn't situated right between them, acting as a buffer, they probably would have started an all-out war long ago.
Just as Fujiki was mulling over this, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
As he got closer, Fujiki realized this person was highly suspicious; his clothing and attire didn't match the style of the Land of Earth at all.
Waving his hand to signal the team to halt, Fujiki stepped forward, preparing to question the stranger.
"Who are you..."
Before Fujiki could even finish his sentence, the figure launched an attack.
Fujiki hurriedly retreated while simultaneously activating his Kekkei Genkai—Steel Release.
Upon seeing the Steel Release, a smile appeared on the stranger's face. "Looks like I found the right person. I'll be taking this Iwagakure Steel Release ninja."
As he spoke, lightning that moved like flowing water lit up his body.
"Storm Release: Laser Circus!" (Ranton: Reizā Sākasu!)
Over a dozen beams of fluid lightning shot towards Fujiki.
Seeing this, Fujiki cried out involuntarily, "Hidden Cloud's Storm Release?!"
Immediately, he formed hand seals and slapped the ground. "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" (Doton: Doryūhek!)
Lightning Release suppresses Earth Release. Fujiki knew perfectly well that a simple earth wall couldn't stop Storm Release. After casting the jutsu, he instinctively moved closer to his teammates for backup.
However, what he didn't expect was that before the Storm Release beams even hit the wall, the stranger's fist was already in front of his face.
The fist, wrapped in crackling lightning, punched directly through his abdomen.
Fujiki's face was filled with disbelief. "Impossible... such speed..."
Before he could finish speaking, he lost consciousness.
This person was, naturally, Gisei Shiraishi, who had disguised his appearance.
He pulled his hand out of the Steel Release ninja's gut and muttered, "Although Lightning suppresses Earth, this is way too weak, isn't it? Done in one punch?"
He hadn't really considered just how freakishly strong he was right now. Even without using the Lightning Body Flicker, simply using Lightning Release chakra to stimulate his cells made his speed outstanding, even among Kage-level shinobi.
Fujiki was only a Jonin-level Steel Release user. Even if Gisei used ordinary Lightning Release ninjutsu, Fujiki wouldn't have been able to fight back—let alone when Gisei, thinking the Steel Release defense would be formidable, specifically used Storm Release to enhance his power.
Fujiki couldn't keep up in speed or defense; getting instantly one-shotted was only natural.
The dozen or so ninjas who came with Fujiki just stood there, stunned foolishly.
A Jonin captain—a Steel Release user at that—was instantly taken down in one hit?
"This guy is a monster... quick, send the signal!"
Just as an Iwa ninja pulled a signal flare from his vest and prepared to fire it, Gisei appeared in front of him and casually kicked him into the distance.
What followed was, naturally, a slaughter. Among these ninjas, who were at most Chunin level, not a single one could withstand even a casual move.
After clearing the field, Gisei muttered, "There wasn't even one who could put up a fight. How boring."
He threw the unconscious Steel Release ninja over his shoulder and left the scene.
The ninja he had kicked away earlier didn't die, but he wasn't much better off, having already fallen into a deep coma. Gisei had deliberately spared his life so that Iwagakure's rage towards the Hidden Cloud would burn even hotter.
One day later, Gisei found the Explosion Release ninja.
This time, no one was lucky enough to be spared. After killing everyone else, he took the Explosion Release ninja and left the Land of Earth.
Back in Butterfly Habitat Valley, after Gisei treated the Steel Release and Explosion Release ninjas, he used the advanced Blood Contract Seal and Butterfly Seed to bring them under control.
Then, he began to inscribe sealing formulas on their bodies.
These two guys weren't exactly weak, but they were far from strong enough to become core members of his organization. To be honest, Gisei was very disappointed; seeing such rare Kekkei Genkai on them felt like a waste.
There was no other way; he had to give them a helping hand.
After inscribing the sealing formulas, Gisei transferred some chakra to them, then released their restraints.
As soon as the two regained their senses, they immediately leaped back to put distance between themselves and Gisei.
Gisei shook his head. "I advise you to think clearly before making a move. Leaving aside the fact that you can't defeat me, right now I can control you with a single thought."
Fujiki and the Explosion Release user, Taka, looked at each other and simultaneously stopped forming hand seals.
"I should be dead. Are you that Lightning Release ninja?"
Gisei snapped his fingers. "Correct. I changed my appearance when I captured you. This is my true face now."
Taka looked around and asked, "Where is this place?"
"No comment," Gisei said coldly. "I'm giving you two choices now: leave the Iwa ninja and work for me, or become my puppets and work for me. Pick one."
Bitter smiles appeared on both Fujiki and Taka's faces.
What kind of choice is this? There is no choice at all.
Seeing their hesitation, Gisei began to entice them. "Presumably, you both have families in Iwagakure. As long as you work for me for five years, I guarantee I will let you reunite with them."
"Of course, if you have other requests, I will agree to them as well. Whatever you want, it's fine."
The reason Gisei didn't forcefully bind them immediately was to leave time for the Butterfly Seed to grow. Once the seed matured, their free will wouldn't matter anymore.
After a moment, Taka nodded first, and immediately after, Fujiki also agreed.
So simple?
Gisei showed a strange smile but didn't say anything. Whether it was feigned compliance or genuine sincerity, in the face of absolute power, all schemes were futile.
After taking the two to the training ground set up on the east side of the Ninja Butterfly village, Gisei turned back to them. "Demonstrate your Kekkei Genkai to me."
Fujiki took a step forward, formed a seal, and his body turned into dark, gleaming steel.
"You captured us just for our Kekkei Genkai?"
Gisei nodded. "Kekkei Genkai is the best path to becoming strong. It's just that... you two are a bit too weak."
Fujiki: "..."
We aren't weak at all, okay? In the village, we are ranked as elites! It's just that you're a monster, so of course you think we're weak.
Taka sighed, took a kunai from his pouch, injected chakra into it, and threw it.
The kunai landed on the ground and immediately exploded.
Gisei looked at it, speechless. "Just this?"
The power of the explosion was decent, roughly equivalent to ten explosive tags, but the method was too one-dimensional. How fast can a thrown shuriken be? Any decent ninja could dodge that easily.
Fujiki and Taka felt incredibly stifled seeing the disdain in Gisei's eyes.
We know you are strong, but don't use your insane standards to judge us normal people!