Chapter 371: Organization
"Captain, target location confirmed accurate. After reconnaissance, we've locked onto this rogue shinobi group as the target for this 'cleanup' operation."
An ANBU shinobi wearing an animal mask unfolded a simple yet detailed terrain sketch in hand, fingertip pointing at the core area of the structural diagram.
"Group leader, codename 'Rust,' real name Kakuzo. Originally affiliated with Kirigakure's Interrogation Department, position of jonin. Not from a Kekkei Genkai family. His signature combat method involves manipulating specially-made high-strength chakra threads, excelling at restraint, cutting, and... 'precision operations' when torturing targets."
"Oh?"
A peculiar voice picked up the conversation. Hoshigaki Kisame wore a long black robe, that ferocious giant thing wrapped in bandages on his back. His fish-like face showed some playful doubt.
"Kirigakure origin? And an Interrogation Department jonin at that... this is getting interesting. Since he's not from those Kekkei Genkai families that easily cause trouble..."
"Logically, he should've had a relatively stable life in the village. How did he fall to the point of defecting?"
The ANBU shinobi immediately answered, "This target defected during the turbulent period after the Fourth Mizukage stepped down, during the village's power transition."
"The direct trigger was his abnormal behavior within the Interrogation Department being noticed by new management—he repeatedly unauthorized torture far exceeding necessary limits on prisoners with no intelligence value, torture carrying obvious enjoyment. Follow-up investigation further discovered that during the Fourth Mizukage's reign, he'd repeatedly abused his position to arrest shinobi and even civilians posing no substantial threat under fabricated charges, with the sole purpose of satisfying his personal twisted sadistic desires."
The ANBU's tone carried a trace of cold contempt. "Comprehensive assessment: target individual 'Rust' Kakuzo belongs to the psychological abnormality criminal type. His actions don't simply pursue money or political benefits—his core driving force lies in obtaining perverted psychological satisfaction from inflicting pain and controlling others."
"His danger rating has therefore been elevated. Even Kirigakure Village, currently in recovery period with tight resources, issued a bounty of ten million ryo on him, dead or alive."
"As for this gang's current primary crimes and economic source, they operate in border areas, specifically kidnapping villagers from scattered settlements or small communities, demanding ransom amounts usually equivalent to standard B-rank mission payments to reduce victims' willingness to seek help from major shinobi villages while increasing payment probability."
"However... according to our intelligence, of all kidnapped villagers, not one has been released to date."
"I see..." After listening, Hoshigaki Kisame grinned, revealing that row of sharp teeth, seemingly quite satisfied with this cleanup target.
"You've worked hard—the intelligence is thorough." He casually waved his hand. Then he brought Samehada from his shoulder down with a heavy "thud" against the ground, bandages loosening slightly to reveal its rough, barb-covered blade.
He turned his head, gaze sweeping over the dozen-plus figures standing solemnly behind him. They all wore standard ANBU attire.
"Then," Kisame's gravel-like voice echoed at the mine entrance, carrying undisguised anticipation, "chat time's over. Now beginning... 'cleanup' mission."
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"Who's there?!"
"Enemy attack—!!"
What originally served as a temporary base stronghold, after the opening shot, transformed into a chaotic slaughterhouse. This bandit gang composed of approximately fifty wandering rogue shinobi of various origins and uneven strength—under the sudden precise assault launched by ten enemies—their resistance proved fragile as thin paper.
Metallic clashing and the dull thuds of blades tearing through flesh rang endlessly.
Clang!
A rogue shinobi swung his blade toward the black shadow before him, only to have his opponent easily deflect it at an inconceivable angle.
Immediately after came a soft "squelch"—the shinobi blade had already precisely pierced through his heart. He couldn't even see his opponent's movements clearly, only glimpsing through the animal mask's eye holes a flash of heart-palpitating crimson light.
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
Some rogue shinobi formed hand seals in panic, attempting to use surging water currents to block the enemy's advance. However, an attacker also wearing ANBU garb completed hand seals almost simultaneously.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Scorching flames rapidly expanded into a massive fireball. By attributes, water should counter fire, but when "quantity" and "quality" of chakra had overwhelming differences, common sense would be overturned.
The massive fireball carried terrifying heat waves, actually forcibly evaporating that impressive Water Severing Wave, its remaining momentum engulfing the caster and several people around him.
"Ahhhhh—!!"
Shrill screams were instantly drowned by the roar of exploding flames.
Among the rogue shinobi desperately resisting and fleeing in despair, someone finally captured the true nature of that red glow beneath the masks during those fleeting combat intervals.
A rogue shinobi pierced through the chest by a blade, in life's final moment as it rapidly drained away, pupils trembling from shock.
"Shar... Sharingan...?! Impossible... the Uchiha clan was already..." The unfinished words forever froze in his throat, dissipating as his heart stopped beating.
"Boss! Where's Boss Kakuzo?! Save us!!"
Desperate cries spread among survivors. Only then did they discover with horror that their leader possessing jonin strength, who should serve as core combat power—"Rust" Kakuzo—had never appeared since the attack began.
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Meanwhile, in dense forest several miles from the stronghold.
A tall, thin figure with pale skin, sunken eye sockets, and heavy dark circles was desperately fleeing through the trees at frantic speed.
Kakuzo's face currently held no trace of a leader's dignity, only the panic and viciousness of desperate escape. That face which should appear lifeless from long-term mental distortion now appeared abnormally "animated" due to intense emotional fluctuations.
From the moment he detected the attackers' well-trained aura—absolutely not ordinary bandits or bounty hunters—Kakuzo had unhesitatingly chosen to abandon his subordinates and flee alone.
Guilt? He'd never possessed such a thing. Those gathered around him were merely convenient tools and cannon fodder to distract attention. If they all died, he'd just find more.
However, he underestimated the pursuers' determination and efficiency.
"Found you. Can't let you escape like this."
A voice carrying obvious playful tone suddenly rang out ahead to his side. Following immediately was terrifying wind pressure tearing through air—a massive strange blade wrapped in bandages came cleaving down at his head!
Kakuzo's soul nearly left his body. Instinctively activating Body Flicker Technique, his form desperately dodged sideways.
BOOM!!
The massive blade heavily struck where he'd just stood, blasting open a deep crater, dirt and wood fragments scattering everywhere.
Kisame shouldered Samehada, watching the still-shaken Kakuzo with leisure, face showing no surprise, simply waiting for the other to recognize him. Sure enough, terror rapidly crawled across Kakuzo's pale face.
"You... you're... Hoshigaki Kisame?!"
"Oh? So you do recognize me. We were once colleagues after all. Before battle begins, do you have any last words to say? Or perhaps... final questions?"
"Wait! Senior!" Cold sweat poured from Kakuzo's forehead. Facing the "Tailless Tailed Beast's" infamous reputation, he couldn't muster half a thought of resistance.
But intense confusion overcame fear. "Senior, you... didn't you also defect from Kirigakure long ago? Why come hunt me down? Those ANBU... they're not Kirigakure's people? Which organization do you belong to now?!"
"Well... compared to you, I've been far luckier. Thanks to that person's acceptance, I finally found my own... 'belonging' again. Therefore, what I now represent is called—"
He clearly enunciated that name which in certain circles inspired either terror or longing.
"[Ember]."
Kakuzo's pupils suddenly contracted to pinpoint size, body beginning to tremble uncontrollably. That top-tier organization which in recent years rapidly rose within the shinobi world's dark side, famous for its extremely mysterious posture and overwhelmingly formidable strength, making countless rogue shinobi both fear and desire to join! He'd actually been targeted by such an existence?
"No! Please, please wait!" Survival desire overwhelmed everything. Kakuzo spoke rapidly, face squeezing out what he considered his most sincere expression. "We don't need to fight! Senior, you came to hunt me merely for Kirigakure Village's bounty money, right?"
"Give me a chance! Let me become your subordinate! I'm very familiar with this region, know many hidden resources and connections, can definitely bring more benefits to Ember! I'm very useful!"
Facing Kakuzo's urgent declaration of loyalty, Kisame simply watched him calmly. After several seconds of silence, Kisame lightly tossed out a question.
"...How about this. Before battle begins, I'll ask you one question."
"According to intelligence we possess, when you were still in Kirigakure, you once framed a comrade who trusted you, personally torturing them to death."
"Back then, your... reason for doing that was what?"
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