"What do you mean, 'this is our attitude for negotiations'?"
Not only did the Hidden Sand envoy show no fear, but he instead raised his chin even more arrogantly.
"Giving you the chance to retreat now is the Hidden Sand's mercy. Don't be shameless and refuse a good offer, Leaf!"
Before he could finish speaking, Gento had lost interest in listening further.
He glanced toward Shisui.
The next second, Shisui's figure flickered and vanished, only to reappear beside the Sand envoy.
With one hand gripping his shoulder, he activated the Body Flicker Jutsu again, and in an instant, the two of them returned to Gento's side.
Hishu stepped forward in sync, his Byakugan mapping out the opponent's entire chakra network.
His strikes were as fast as lightning; several palm strikes in succession, Gentle Fist precisely sealing all of the chakra points, before he threw the man to the ground at Gento's feet.
Gento crouched down and grabbed one of his fingers.
The man finally realized something was wrong. His voice trembling, he said:
"W-wait… the terms can still be discuss—"
Crack!
A crisp sound of bone snapping cut him off.
Just as a miserable scream began to rise, Gento had grabbed his second finger.
"N-no… you can't do this! We are envoys-AHHH!!"
The second finger snapped in response.
The intense pain made the Hidden Sand shinobi convulse, nearly passing out.
Gento remained expressionless.
From the arrogant manner the man had displayed upon entering, he already knew this was not a negotiation at all, but a threat.
Since the other side had chosen to tear off all pretenses first, why should he show any mercy?
He grabbed the man's third finger.
The Hidden Sand shinobi instantly showed a terrified expression and begged:
"No! I was wrong! We shouldn't have been so arrogant!"
Gento merely lowered his head and said:
"I still prefer the way you were just now. So unruly."
Crack!
The third finger broke.
Unable to endure it any longer, the man's eyes rolled back as he fainted.
Just then did the other four Hidden Sand envoys snap out of their shock, both alarmed and furious.
"Bastard! How dare you treat Hidden Sand shinobi like this!"
"Just wait for the wrath of the Hidden Sand Village!"
As they spoke, the four of them turned to leave, intending to return to Scorpion City.
In their eyes, these Leaf shinobi had gone mad.
"Your Leaf will definitely pay the price for your arrogance!"
Even as they left, they did not forget to throw out one last threat.
Yet Gento's cold voice came from behind them:
"Did I say you could leave?"
"What?"
The four of them turned back in disbelief to look at Gento.
Recalling his actions, an ominous premonition rose in their hearts.
They hurriedly quickened their pace.
But Gento's voice, like that of a grim reaper, continued from behind:
"What makes you think you can threaten me and still walk away unharmed?
"Who gave you that confidence?"
After a pause, Gento gave the order:
"Keep them here."
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
Shinku, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately shouted.
In the next moment, the four Sand shinobi attempting to flee were all dragged underground by Earth Release, leaving only their heads exposed.
Gento walked back to the unconscious man, drew his ninja blade, and stabbed it viciously through the back of his hand.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
The intense pain jolted him awake from unconsciousness.
Gento raised his index finger to his lips.
"Shhh."
Anyhow, the agony of having his hand pierced made it impossible for him to hold back his screams.
Gento shook his head regretfully.
"Still not obedient…"
He pulled out the blade and stabbed it into the other hand.
An even more piercing wail echoed around them.
"What did I just say?"
Gento's tone was calm.
The Sand shinobi on the ground bit his lip desperately, cold sweat pouring down like rain, not daring to make a single sound anymore.
"Good."
Only then did Gento reveal the faintest hint of a smile.
"Wouldn't it have been better if you were like this from the start?"
Holding the still blood-dripping blade, he walked up to the four Sand shinobi whose heads alone remained above ground.
"Watch closely."
"Your companion angered me, so their end is…"
The blade flashed repeatedly.
Pfft. Pfft. Pfft. pfft.
Four heads' eyes widened, their expressions frozen in terror.
The surviving Sand shinobi trembled like a leaf, teeth clenched tight, not even daring to breathe heavily.
Gento nodded in satisfaction:
"You should have died as well. But I need someone to deliver a message for me, so you won't die. For now."
He crouched down and looked directly into the man's terrified eyes:
"Go back and tell Satetsu two things.
"First, my name is Gento Uchiha. Tell him to remember it well. The Hidden Sand Village will regret provoking me.
"Second, tell that defeated dog Satetsu: since a broken-spined cur like him dares to provoke me, then in one hour, I will attack Scorpion City. Let him wait inside and obediently face his death.
"Remember that?"
Seeing Gento's gaze fall on him, the Sand shinobi on the ground nodded frantically.
"Scram!"
The Hidden Sand shinobi felt as if he had been granted amnesty.
Just as he was about to struggle to his feet—
Crack!
The sound of bones breaking rang out.
Gento suddenly raised his foot and crushed both of his lower legs.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Excruciating pain surged through him.
Gento's voice, like that of a grim reaper, sounded once more:
"If you haven't left within one minute, then don't ever leave."
The Sand shinobi was on the verge of collapse, yet he did not dare hesitate in the slightest.
With both hands pierced through, and both legs shattered, he could only wriggle across the ground like a maggot, inching forward bit by bit, dragging a trail of blood across the sand.
Gento watched his figure, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Looks like my medical skills have improved again. Even someone this badly injured can still move. Truly a miracle of medicine."
The surroundings fell silent.
Many Hidden Leaf shinobi looked at Gento's back with complicated expressions.
There was awe, fear, and a faint trace of fanaticism.
…
Inside Scorpion City.
After listening to the tearful account of the returning envoy, Satetsu's whole face turned purple-red.
He smashed the wooden table in front of him with a single punch.
"Uchiha… Gento!!"
He ground his teeth, each word squeezed out from between them:
"Bastard!"
"How dare you treat Hidden Sand shinobi like this!"
"You will pay the price for this!"
A Hidden Sand shinobi at the side immediately asked:
"My lord, shall we engage the Hidden Leaf shinobi in battle and make them pay?"
Satetsu snorted coldly.
"I will make them pay… but not now!
"Pass down my order: all shinobi are to follow me and return to the village at once.
"As long as the village sends reinforcements, I will make sure Gento Uchiha dies in the Land of Wind!"
…
One hour later, Gento launched the attack right on schedule.
However, Scorpion City offered almost no resistance.
Satetsu had already withdrawn with his forces, leaving behind only ordinary soldiers forming the garrison and panicked, helpless civilians.
The Leaf shinobi advanced as if into an unguarded land, spending half a day looting the city.
In the end, the total gains reached an astonishing two billion Ryo.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission: Blood for Blood!]
[Reward: Draw Chance ×1]
Hearing the system notification for mission completion, Gento's face was filled with smiles.
He stood atop the city wall, looking down at the shinobi busily transporting the spoils, the corners of his lips slightly raised.
"No wonder so many people crave war…
"War brings such enormous profits, who wouldn't like it?"
...
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