Late at night, three days after Sanjuan Wolf left.
"Second Brother, I don't get it. If we want to win that kid over, why did we grab everyone from Kirigakure?" Fifth asked.
Linto protects Kirigakure. Now that they've moved against the people of Kirigakure, it's like invading a wild beast's territory.
This is blatant provocation.
Second Brother chuckled: "So we grabbed them. What can he do? There are only three possibilities if he comes back:"
"If he doesn't appreciate the offer, then we'll kill him."
"If he doesn't dare accept and runs away, then let him get lost, and we'll go back."
"If he accepts the invitation and joins us, then he's no longer a 'wild beast,' and there's no concept of territory."
Second Brother spread his hands: "In any case, he can no longer protect this village."
Fifth suddenly understood.
He's the youngest and has seen the least. He didn't expect there to be so many twists and turns.
"Second Brother, you're amazing. I need to learn more from you in the future—"
Before the "learn" part of "learning" could be said, rolling thunder roared from afar.
A gust of wind swept past, and Second Brother instinctively squinted his eyes.
When he came back to his senses, Fifth was no longer by his side.
Clang!
Second Brother suddenly turned around, drew his sword, and stared intently at Linto, who had suddenly appeared.
The other two hurried over.
When their eyes fell on Fifth in Linto's hands, their pupils suddenly constricted.
Fifth was like a stewed goose from a stew shop, his head tilted at a ninety-degree angle, loose and limp, as if his neck had been broken.
This... how is this possible?!
In just one move, no, not even one move, Fifth, who was a Chunin, was killed by Linto like an insect.
Thump.
Fifth's body was tossed on the ground. Linto shook the blood off his hands and looked at the remaining three.
The shock in Second Brother's eyes slowly dissipated, then he chuckled softly.
He was laughing at himself.
The five of them were just desperate criminals. After joining Lord Morimura, the county head, they had been calling each other brothers for so long that they had actually, for a moment, considered each other as real brothers.
"Killed one person, vented your anger?" Second Brother asked.
Linto didn't answer, his eyes calmly sweeping over the three.
Second Brother was no stranger to this kind of look.
It was the look a hunter has when identifying the next prey.
He knew what Linto was angry about: seeing the ruined state of Kirigakure, he was temporarily overwhelmed with emotion.
"Don't look like that."
"We are Lord Morimura's men, specially inviting you to join... I mean, to join the Lord's ranks. This is our sincerity—"
Second Brother kicked open a box, revealing gold and jewels, and then opened a door, revealing two beautiful women.
"This is just an appetizer. As long as you join us, you'll get even more in the future."
Originally, they had also prepared methods to test Linto, but Fifth's unjustly killed body hadn't even gone cold yet, so that process was no longer needed.
Linto took a deep breath. Three days had passed, but he could still smell a faint, cold, and bloody scent in the air.
One could imagine how many horrific tragedies had occurred on the night three days ago.
Second Brother waited after speaking.
"Are those your last words?" Linto asked.
Second Brother's smile disappeared, his expression becoming sinister. He stared coldly at Linto.
"I remember, I gave you a chance."
Fourth Brother stepped forward, drew a Kunai from his waist, raised his voice, and cursed:
"Second Brother, why waste words with him! Kid, who the hell do you think you are, acting tough? You think you're someone? One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?! You killed Fifth, what, you want to kill us too?!"
Linto looked at Fourth Brother again.
"Are those your last words?"
"Damn it!"
Fourth Brother, with the most violent temper, with a thud sound, created two Shadow Clones, and charged forward in a triangular formation, holding Kunai.
On the other side, Third Brother and Second Brother quickly made hand signs:
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"
A ferocious fire dragon formed, roaring and circling in the air.
Second Brother spat out several wind release orbs, surrounding the fire dragon's body, like bits of dragon scales. The fire dragon, already tens of meters long, doubled in size again, and the rolling heat melted the snow below.
Combined Ninjutsu: Wind Demon Flame Dragon.
"Roar—"
The Wind Demon Flame Dragon roared as it attacked Linto.
The Wind Demon Flame Dragon was controlled by Third Brother. Second Brother, who had already exhaled the Vacuum Bullets, circled around, brandishing his ninja sword, and stabbed at Linto from behind.
In front was Fourth Brother, above was the Wind Demon Flame Dragon, and behind was Jonin Second Brother.
Almost instantly, Linto fell into their coordinated formation.
"If Fifth were still alive, and Sanjuan Wolf boss was here too, not to mention you kid, we would dare to take on even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
"But..."
Fourth Brother, charging in the front, stared at Linto's profile.
Enough!
With just them, it was enough to kill this defenseless kid in front of them!
They had reached him. Not even a speed expert & Copy Ninja Kakashi could make hand signs and use ninjutsu in time.
Die—
As the thought flashed, Fourth Brother's vision went black, and the world spun. His body flew out of control, crashed into a house, smashed through the wall, and was buried under a pile of bricks.
Blood flowed from the crevices of the rocks.
"Fourth!"
Third Brother roared, his eyes flickering.
He didn't see Linto make any movements, let alone hand signs. He didn't understand how Fourth, who was skilled in close combat, had been sent flying.
But there was no time to think. Third Brother fully controlled the Wind Demon Flame Dragon, opening its blood basin mouth to tear at Linto.
Linto took a light breath, ripples surging within his body, and a hint of green lightning appeared under his feet.
The snow water melted by the Wind Demon Flame Dragon rose into the air, actually turning into a steel-hard water screen.
The Wind Demon Flame Dragon crashed into it, and hissing mist billowed out.
Third Brother's vision blurred.
"Buzz—"
"What sound is that?"
Before Third Brother could come to his senses, dozens of bullets pierced his body.
He fell blankly into a pool of blood.
Having lost control, the Wind Demon Flame Dragon let out an unwilling roar and scattered with a bam sound.
Only then did Second Brother reach Linto.
The palm of his hand holding the sword was sweating. The wind blew, making it especially cold and sticky.
Even though he was standing just three steps away from Linto, Second Brother didn't dare to take another step forward, let alone swing the sword in his hand.
Second Brother swallowed his saliva, his heart pounding.
He knew who the person in front of him was.
The one who defeated Suikazan Fuguki, revealed the truth about human trafficking, and killed countless bounty hunters and assassins, the biggest villain in the Land of Water—
"Linto!"
The will to fight faded, and a deep fear grew in Second Brother's heart.
He remembered the information, and channeled chakra into his eyes, seeing the legendary "Evil Spirit."
Star Platinum hovered behind Linto, its cold gaze looking down on Second Brother.
In that instant of eye contact, Second Brother understood.
Run!
Run now!
There was no possibility of defeating the opponent. If he didn't leave, he would definitely be beaten to death!
Second Brother turned and fled, but as soon as he took a step, his feet felt stuck to the ground. He looked down and saw streams of water crawling up his legs, making his steps heavier and heavier.
"Damn it!"
Second Brother made hand signs again, gathering chakra into his palms.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
The gale howled, and the gathered water was scattered. Second Brother took to the air, using the momentum to escape the battlefield.
Boom!
He heard the thunder again.
A hand wrapped in golden lightning tore through the gale, its index and middle fingers joined together, like a short sword stabbing towards him.
Second Brother desperately retreated in shock, shouting:
"Don't kill me! Two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen have already come looking for you! It won't be long before they find you!"
Two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?!
Terumi Mei, leading Sasuke and Momo-chan, arrived late and happened to hear these words.
"If you want to survive, the only way is to rely on Lord Morimura, the county head! With Lord Morimura's position before the Daimyo, he can definitely protect you!"
Second Brother shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Linto, don't be stupid!"
Terumi Mei, Sasuke, Momo-chan, and the eyes of the villagers stared at Linto.
They didn't know what Linto would choose.
But if they were in his place, they would definitely agree.
Money, beauty, power, and... life.
What life is after, is nothing more than these things.
Why make things difficult for yourself?
Linto retracted the two fingers he had thrust out.
"Is this your choice?"
Terumi Mei sighed softly.
She had thought Linto would be different.
Second Brother grinned.
But the next second, he saw Linto turn his "point" into a "fist!"
Linto punched Second Brother in the chest.
What?!
Everyone's eyes widened.
At that moment, the world seemed to freeze, with only the snow falling slowly from the sky.
He grabbed Linto's hand tightly, spitting out hot blood and chunks of flesh.
"You think... Killing us ends things?"
Under pain, death, and hatred, Second Brother revealed a sinister smile.
"It won't be long before you come down to hell to accompany me!"
"Linto... I'll be waiting for you in hell!"
Linto shook his head slightly: "You got two things wrong."
"First, I think, even if I die, I should be able to go to heaven."
"Second, it's not the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who are coming to find me..."
Linto exerted a little force, and Second Brother staggered backward.
Just before he lost his life, he heard the second half of Linto's sentence:
"... I'm going to kill them."
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