Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 175 The Nemesis of Silent Murder: Building Your Own Car

the next day.

Ogosho Port.

The head of the Hejie family personally came to see him off.

Last night, the old patriarch's eyelids twitched as he watched the truckloads of corpses being transported from the hotel.

It's too cruel.

With just five people, they wiped out over a hundred elite soldiers from the Wasabi family.

"Mr. Sousuke, it's a pleasure to work with you."

The old patriarch handed over a new contract.

Those are additional berths, and a larger warehouse.

He was trying to be friendly, but he was also afraid.

"It's a pleasure working with you."

Sosuke took the contract and smiled.

"By the way, patriarch."

"Those corpses—I've heard that cemeteries in the Land of Tea are very expensive. If the Wagaku family needs fertilizer, I can help you dispose of them."

The old patriarch paused for a moment, then chuckled twice.

"No—no need. We still hope to give them a dignified funeral."

That's a real shame.

Sousuke embarks on a journey.

"Return to Konoha."

Maki followed behind Sousuke, looking back at the bustling port city.

When she arrived, she was a naive and clueless girl.

When she left, she was already a ninja who had seen blood.

"Mr. Sosuke."

Maki suddenly spoke.

"Um?

"I want to learn that."

"Which one?"

"That's it—the chili powder smoke bomb."

Maki's eyes sparkled.

"I'd like to go back and improve the recipe. Would adding some mustard powder make it even better?"

Sosuke was taken aback.

Then, he burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Good! Very good!"

"I'll have Chiba teach you chemistry when we get back."

"Maki, you really are talented."

This is the kind of talent he needs.

Practical, insidious, and—full of creativity.

The returning group traveled along a forest path.

Compared to the tension they felt when they arrived, Iwai and his companions moved with much lighter steps. Mission accomplished, bounty in hand, and they hadn't even really risked their lives.

Maki walked in the middle of the group, still savoring the feeling of controlling the situation with ninja tools last night. She reviewed the events in her mind, thinking about how to throw smoke bombs more effectively if she encountered a similar situation again.

"It's getting foggy."

Kenji suddenly stopped and placed his hand on the heavy crossbow behind his back.

He is in charge of remote surveillance and is most sensitive to changes in the environment.

A thin layer of white mist had appeared in the once clear forest. The mist came without warning and carried a damp, salty smell of the sea.

"Everyone be careful."

Iwai raised his shield and stood in front of Sousuke.

"This fog is abnormal."

Sosuke stopped in his tracks.

In the vision of his left eye, the world around him was not a vast expanse of white, but rather a gray outline.

However, within this gloom, the fog was—blue.

This indicates that the mist contains chakra.

"The Technique of Concealing Mist"

Sosuke uttered four words calmly.

"Whoosh!"

The sound of something cutting through the air was extremely faint.

Two senbon needles shot out from the thick fog, heading straight for Kenji's throat.

Kenji reacted extremely quickly. Instead of dodging, he raised the crossbow's brace to block.

"Ding! Ding!"

The thousand books were flung away and became embedded in the tree trunk.

"The response is good."

A chilling voice seemed to come from all directions, echoing in the mist and making it impossible to discern the direction.

"The Ninja of Konoha—"

As the sound rang out, three figures slowly emerged from the thick fog.

They wore masks with wavy patterns and striped, tight-fitting combat suits.

Hidden Mist Village, the pursuing force.

They are specifically responsible for hunting down rogue ninjas, retrieving corpses, and destroying classified information.

"The Hidden Mist's Dark Division?"

Iwai's expression was solemn.

This is the most mysterious and ruthless unit in the ninja world. It is said that they would even cut off the heads of their own people to keep their secrets.

"We are a legitimate caravan."

Sosuke stood at the front of the line, his expression calm.

"I am not carrying any contraband. What brings you gentlemen to my side?"

The leader of the Mist Ninja ignored Sousuke's polite words.

Beneath the mask, those eyes coldly swept over the crowd.

"We are tracking a group of rogue ninja, codenamed 'Kitou'. Intelligence indicates that their last known appearance at the Grand Palace in the Land of Tea was during contact with you."

"Hand over their whereabouts. Or—"

The long sword in the mist ninja's hand was slowly drawn from its sheath.

"die."

Zongsuke understood.

They came for the demon's head.

After all, Kito and his gang possessed some of Kirigakure's low-level secrets or unique ninjutsu, such as the technique of silent killing. A closed and extreme village like Kirigakure would never allow these secrets to leak out.

However, Kito is now a member of the Takaya Trading Company.

Betraying employees?

This is a devastating blow to the Chamber of Commerce's reputation. Moreover, the sawtooth team is short-handed, and the death of these twenty skilled workers would be a significant loss.

"Feel sorry."

Sosuke shrugged, looking regretful.

"We did hire them, but we terminated the contract after the festival."

"As for where they went—they probably went to feed the fish at sea, right? After all, they offended the powerful clans of the Tea Country."

"lie."

The voice of the Mist Ninja remained completely still.

"If you don't want to talk, then leave your brain behind. We'll search for it ourselves."

"kill."

The moment the order was given, the three Mist Ninja figures vanished into the thick fog.

Silent killing technique.

Using dense fog to obscure vision, employing special footwork to eliminate sound, and even suppressing killing intent to the extreme.

For an ordinary ninja, this is a nightmare. Because you have no idea where the sword will come from.

The three Iwai immediately stood back to back, protecting Maki in the middle, and nervously stared at the white surroundings.

I couldn't see anything. My hearing was also disturbed by strange echoes in the fog.

"To the left, forty-five degrees."

Sosuke suddenly spoke.

"Kenji, fire!"

Kenji immediately raised his heavy crossbow, aimed it at the white mist that Sousuke had pointed to, and pulled the trigger.

"collapse!"

Ceramic crossbow bolts whistled out.

"Ding!"

The sound of metal clashing came from the fog, followed by the sound of a figure retreating in a slightly disheveled manner.

"You got it?" Kenji exclaimed in surprise.

"Missed, it was blocked. Continue."

Sousuke's left eye radiated a slight warmth beneath the eyepatch. The Mist Concealment Technique could block visible light, but it couldn't block heat.

Although these three Mist Ninja were trying their best to suppress their chakra, they were still alive and had body temperature.

In the thermal imaging view, the three people were like three torches in the dark night, and no matter how they moved, they were under Sosuke's surveillance.

Silent killing technique? It's a joke in the face of thermal imaging.

"Right side, Iwai, shield bash!"

"yes!"

Iwai roared and swung his large shield fiercely at the open space on his right.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

A ninja from the Mist, who was preparing to launch a sneak attack, ran right into the shield. The blind spot he had calculated was anticipated.

"How is that possible?!"

The ninja was knocked back a few steps, his eyes behind his mask filled with shock.

In this dense fog, even the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan would have their vision obstructed. How did this one-eyed dragon see it?

"Damn it—there's something wrong with his eyes!"

The leader of the Mist Ninja reacted extremely quickly.

"Use water clones to lure us in! A swift and decisive victory!"

"Water Release: Water Clone Technique!"

In an instant, more than a dozen heat sources appeared in the thermal imaging field of view.

Although the water clone's temperature is slightly lower than the main body, it is difficult to distinguish it instantly when moving at high speed.

"Since we can't see it clearly, let's all keep it from being seen."

Sousuke sneered.

"Maki!"

"yes!"

Maki unrolled the scroll, her hands trembling slightly, but her eyes were resolute.

"Control Equipment - Smoke Barrage!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!

Dozens of smoke grenades exploded in the forest.

This is not ordinary smoke. It is smoke containing highly irritating chili powder.

The cool, white mist was instantly polluted by this pungent, acrid smoke.

"Cough cough cough—!!!"

Even well-trained Mist Ninjas couldn't help but cough violently the moment they inhaled this dust.

Tears and snot were streaming down my face, and my respiratory tract felt like it was on fire.

The so-called "silent killing technique" requires, first and foremost, steady breathing. How can you kill someone when you're coughing like this?

"Now!"

Sosuke moved.

He had already put on a gas mask, and he didn't need to see.

Body Flicker Technique!

His figure cut into the battlefield.

A silver light shimmered in his right palm.

Water Release: Water Sand Cutting.

"Zi"

High-pressure water jets cut through the mist.

A coughing ninja had his neck severed by a waterline.

Blood splattered, staining the mist red.

"The first one."

Sosuke's voice was as cold as ice.

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

The leader of the Mist Ninja realized something was wrong. These weren't ordinary ninjas; they were a group of experts in poison and traps!

Moreover, that one-eyed man's technique was too sharp!

Just as he was about to back away, a wire mesh covered with glue was pulled down from above.

Bell made her move.

"Gotcha!"

"Damn it!"

The ninja tried to use Water Release to cut the net, but the glue stuck his handprint to the spot.

Kenji's heavy crossbow was already aimed at his heart.

"puff!"

The ceramic arrow pierced through.

"The second one."

Only one Mist Ninja remains.

He turned and ran.

But Sosuke was faster, appearing behind him in an instant and delivering a chop to the back of his neck.

The ninja collapsed softly.

The battle is over.

Clean and efficient.

"Clean up the battlefield."

Sosuke looked at the two corpses.

"The Hidden Mist's pursuit force—they're excellent material."

"Their bodies have been specially modified to adapt to water pressure and silent movement; their joint and muscle structures are different from those of ordinary people."

"Chiba will definitely like it."

Sousuke took out the sealing scroll and wrapped the corpse in it.

As for that survivor—

Sousuke looked at the unconscious Kirigakure.

He planned to take it back and give it to Orochimaru.

The Hidden Mist Village likely possesses considerable information about the Land of Water. They might even have acquired the technique for silent assassination.

After cleaning up the battlefield, the five continued on their way.

noon.

"Let's take a break. We'll have lunch here."

Iwai skillfully began cleaning the site.

Kenji quickly climbed up a nearby tree, set up his heavy crossbow, and prepared his firing position. Rin took out a wire from her ninja tool bag and set up simple warning bells around the camp.

This set of movements was fluid and seamless, a testament to the tacit understanding they had honed on the northern front.

Sosuke unsealed the scroll, and with a "thump," several exquisite food boxes appeared on the ground. They weren't dry soldier rations, but chicken, rice balls, some pickled fruit, and even a pot of tea.

To be able to eat this level of lunch during a field mission is an almost sinful luxury.

The three Iwais ate with great relish.

Maki knelt beside Sousuke, holding a cup of hot tea in her hands, her eyes somewhat vacant.

"What are you thinking about?"

Sosuke picked up a piece of pickled orange; the sweet and sour juice neutralized the oiliness of the chicken.

"I'm thinking about—improving smoke grenades."

Maki came to her senses.

"What are your thoughts?" Sosuke asked with interest.

"It suddenly occurred to me that there is something better than wasabi—I used to learn to identify herbs from Dean Nono, and there was a plant called 'tear grass'—"

"Its sap, even a tiny bit on the skin, will cause an intense burning sensation. If inhaled as a nebulizer—"

"Maki, this is even more brutal than cutting me with a knife."

Iwai chimed in from the side, and Iwai gasped in surprise.

Kenji looked at this junior who was even younger than him with awe.

"good."

Sousuke nodded approvingly.

"This has great commercial value."

"When you get back, go find Chiba. Have him help you purify the components of the Tear Grass. We need to launch this improved version of the smoke bomb before summer arrives."

"I've already thought of a name: Maki's Tears."

"Huh? Using my name?" Maki blushed.

"Of course. This is your invention."

Sosuke stood up and dusted himself off.

"I'll pay you the patent fees. Do a good job, Maki. Maybe you'll become the first female ninja in the ninja world to make a fortune selling smoke bombs."

Everyone laughed.

"I'm full, let's rest for a while."

The three of them, Iwai, found three different secluded spots to rest.

Only Sousuke and Maki were under the shade of the trees.

Maki sat upright with her hands on her knees.

Sosuke leaned against a tree trunk, holding a book in his hand—a travelogue of the land of tea.

"Relax, there are no enemies here. Iwai and the others are watching over us."

"yes----"

Maki relaxed her shoulders a little.

She glanced at Sosuke furtively.

At this distance, his profile was serene, even possessing a scholarly air. He didn't resemble the ruthless man who had wiped out Wasabi's entire family with a mere laugh.

"Boss."

Maki mustered her courage and spoke.

"Um?

'

"Have you always been this rich?"

This is a very presumptuous question.

But Sosuke wasn't angry. He closed the book, turned around, and looked at the curious girl.

"No."

Sosuke said calmly.

About two years ago, I was just like you.

"Even worse off than you."

"Back then, I couldn't even refine my chakra. I was lying in a pile of dead bodies in the Land of Rivers and almost got eaten by wild dogs."

Maki's eyes widened. She couldn't imagine that scene.

"Then how did you—"

"How did you climb up here?"

Sousuke smiled.

Because I have a cheat code —

He thought about it carefully and answered the question seriously.

"Because I refuse to accept my fate."

"Maki, this world is like a carriage. Some people are born inside the carriage, like those daimyo, those powerful ninja clans. Others are born under the carriage, crushed by the wheels."

"If you want to get on the bus, besides pulling the people up, there's another way."

"What method?"

"Build your own car."

Sosuke's eyes were bright.

"Takaya Trading Company, that's the car I built. I made my fortune with this car."

Maki's heart skipped a beat.

Build your own car —

A spirit and courage that are truly moving.