Just as there are Rogue Shinobi in the Ninja World, wandering without a permanent home, there is another type of person who lives similarly.
Ronin.
These sword-wielding samurai were once warriors under the Daimyo, killing for honor.
However, the end of the Warring States Period also brought about the end of the samurai era.
The establishment of the Five Great Villages and Five Great Nations marked the beginning of the Shinobi era.
In the past Warring States Period, Shinobi Clans gathered in small groups, accepting employment from any employer, and fiercely competed and fought among themselves.
Samurai groups could still attach themselves to the Daimyo, serving them and assisting in governing the country.
With the establishment of Shinobi Villages, the Daimyo had no choice but to cooperate with the Shinobi Villages to fight against other Great Nations. The direct consequence was that the samurai lost their primary role as the violent group that governed the country.
On the front lines of battle, the Daimyo abandoned the samurai; the outcome of wars was decided by Shinobi groups.
This meant that a large number of lower-ranking samurai lost their livelihoods.
This situation reached its peak during the First Shinobi World War.
Due to the death of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, the peace treaties signed by the Five Great Villages disintegrated. For resources, land, population, and all other desired things, the other four Great Villages all turned their attention to Konoha.
The brutal First Shinobi World War broke out, and the Second Hokage of all Five Great Villages perished.
What remained was not only devastation but also hatred.
In this war, the various small countries from the Warring States Period were destroyed, becoming part of the territories of the Five Great Nations.
The destruction of numerous small countries led to the peak of samurai exile.
Some of the wandering samurai went to the Land of Iron, but more could only continue their nomadic lives in confusion, most of them becoming professional bandits.
They lived by plundering and killing.
Occasionally, they would also accept employment like Sengoku Shinobi, whether as escorts for merchant caravans or for other tasks.
At this time, this group of Ronin accepted a commission from a Shinobi.
Although they disliked Shinobi, they did not dislike money.
Around two in the morning, everyone in the camp was fast asleep. In the sentry post, where a brazier burned, sword-wielding Ronin samurai constantly dozed off.
This cursed place was easy to defend and difficult to attack, located halfway up the mountain with three sides suspended in the air, and only one small path leading into the mountain. Even if Shinobi attacked, it would take some effort.
Having slacked off for years without incident, the Ronin samurai had unknowingly fallen asleep.
Just then, a black-footed, bare-bodied dragonfly silently landed on the samurai's topknot.
Approximately a few seconds later, an explosion suddenly rang out.
All life force was instantly extracted, combined with weak spiritual energy, and converted into Chakra. The dragonfly died before the Exploding Tag's jutsu formula was activated.
A dazzling flash of fire erupted.
In the explosion, the samurai's life was taken in his sleep.
Following this, more explosions continuously erupted.
Like raindrops, Summer Red Soldiers swooped down from the sky.
Brilliant, meteor-like fireworks bloomed one after another.
Explosions, screams, and panicked shouts mixed together, like a pot of boiling water.
Burning like an inferno, black smoke billowed into the sky.
Awakened samurai ran frantically through the camp, only to be struck by an oncoming meteor a moment later, turning into burning fireballs.
The entire camp was surrounded by the swarm, with nowhere to escape.
Until the last human sound ceased, the flames burned amidst the falling snow, the cold moonlight streamed down, smoke columns rose into the sky, and a cold wind swept through, leaving tattered, blood-stained clothing fluttering helplessly in the wind.
The remaining swarm of insects flapped their wings and vanished into the darkness.
Only ruins and corpses silently whispered of terror.
On a distant mountaintop, the Shinobi who put down his binoculars looked grim, faintly pale.
But his face was too dark to tell.
What in the world was that jutsu?
Due to the long distance, they could only see faint, star-like streaks of light flying by, followed by the fiery glow of explosions.
And these streaks of light were everywhere in the sky!
"Something's wrong, those guys are all dead," a Shinobi said.
This was a standard four-person squad, with a Jonin leading three Genin.
"Send word, Konoha has sent a large force, retreat!" the leading Jonin immediately ordered.
The younger Genin then fired a signal flare.
"Hurry!" The Jonin's extensive experience caused an uneasy premonition to rise in his heart.
Because this situation was the first of its kind.
For Shinobi, an unknown first time meant extreme deadliness.
"But, gather."
"Forget them! Everyone retreat individually!"
The captains of the other three squads, also excellent Jonin, knew what needed to be done at the moment.
If a large force was attacking, they needed to run quickly before the encirclement was complete.
As long as they weren't caught, it would be fine; the Village wasn't ready for war yet.
But could they escape?
The four ran silently and grimly through the mountains. Just then, the Kumogakure Jonin's eye twitched, spotting a streak of light far behind him.
They had been discovered!
While his mind was still processing, his body reacted first, stopping abruptly and turning around. A Kunai shot out like lightning, precisely piercing the streak of light, which disappeared far into the mountain ravine.
He had to change direction to leave.
Just as he was thinking this, more streaks of light flew rapidly from a distance, flapping their wings menacingly.
"They're dragonflies, Captain!"
"Stop, we can't run anymore, prepare to fight." As he spoke, the Kumogakure Shinobi all drew their weapons.
What kind of opponents would they face?
He hoped it wouldn't be a monster.
Even though he had experienced many battles, the Kumogakure Jonin couldn't help but feel nervous.
Because he truly didn't know how long his good luck would last.
"Set traps!"
"Understood!"
After what felt like a brief yet long period of tense pre-battle preparation and waiting, a figure, accompanied by falling fine snow, slowly appeared at the end of the mountain path.
They're here!
From her figure, she was a young girl, wearing a pure white hooded robe, seemingly blending with the white snow. As she walked slowly, an invisible, heavy pressure assailed their hearts.
Only one person?
The Kumogakure Jonin's eyes were filled with gloom.
He knew exactly what this meant.
The worst possible scenario.
The next moment, the flapping dragonflies swiftly swooped down.
"Get out of the way!" the Kumogakure Jonin, who had witnessed this before, shouted a warning.
But it wasn't that easy to dodge.
Almost instantly, the three Genin, each making evasive movements, all turned into exploding fireworks in the Kumogakure Jonin's eyes.
His pupils, illuminated by the firelight, contracted to pinprick size, then expanded again.
The steel wire trigger traps they had set earlier were completely useless. The dense steel wire mesh, against the white snow, was hidden and difficult to detect.
Even so, these terrifying insects still skillfully passed through the gaps in the dense netting, directly attacking the Shinobi.
It was even more inconceivable than the Uchiha Clan's incredible shuriken jutsu.
Dragonflies, these inconspicuous little creatures, could they really be so terrifying?
Their own Exploding Tags then detonated in sympathy.
Crouching on the faintly trembling mountain wall, amidst the firelight and flying snow, the Kumogakure Shinobi gravely drew the long sword on his back.
On the other side, the masked Anbu girl also drew her long sword.
An eerie purple covered the blade.
Let the explosions continue for a while longer, then decide life or death.
On the snowy mountaintop, fine snow began to roll down.
The wind howled through the snow.
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