Chapter 70: The Man Who Brings Death

The bounty station's long history can be traced back to the Warring States period. The darkness and greed in people's hearts nourished this underground flower.

Bathed in blood and money, the bounty station grew, with its complex network and intelligence points extending to every country in the world. Secretly, it was even called the "Great Nation Without Land"!

Yet, despite its power, the bounty station's "transaction records" did not include any cases involving the Byakugan.

Although the Hyuga clan is not as powerful as the Senju or Uchiha clans, it has been a prestigious family for thousands of years. From ancient times to the present, it has rarely fallen out of the top tier of shinobi clans. The clan guarantees Jonin-level experts, who, if they all mobilized, could destroy a small country.

Even now, as their influence wanes, the Hyuga are still formidable. Additionally, with Konoha's protection, seizing the Byakugan is like stirring a hornet's nest. Provoking the Hyuga is a very troublesome matter.

Moreover, due to the branch family's self-destruction mechanism and the main family's bloodline guards, obtaining a complete Byakugan is extremely difficult!

Obtaining one is already tough, and selling it to the bounty station is even rarer.

—Risking great danger to extract a Byakugan and not implanting it into oneself, but rather exchanging it for money, is almost unthinkable for shinobi who crave power.

However, today, this unprecedented transaction appeared at the branch of the bounty station in the Land of Hot Water.

In the deepest underground chamber of the Land of Hot Water's bounty station.

A bald man with a tattoo on his face took a sip of hot tea, looking at the man opposite him, who wore an oni mask. He respectfully said, "Aizen Sōsuke-sama, I am the person in charge here. You can call me... Viper."

"Viper?" Yuto replied. "So, you're the one negotiating this deal with me?"

"Yes, sir. You are our esteemed customer."

Yuto sneered, placing his hands behind his head and leaning back. It was a very relaxed and comfortable posture, but to Viper, it was a testament to this man's overwhelming strength. Even in such an awkward position, the man named Aizen Sōsuke exuded a powerful confidence!

Viper took a deep breath and placed a small glass bottle on the table.

"Sir, the item you brought has been authenticated. It is indeed a genuine Byakugan, with no signs of sealing and in excellent condition."

"Hmm." Yuto responded indifferently. "Do you dare to take it?"

"Sir, you jest. Our bounty station would sell our lives for the right price..." Viper chuckled, continuing, "This kind of rare organ of a kekkei genkai is always in high demand. My estimate is... 1.2 billion ryo."

The average bounty for a Konoha Jonin is about 30 million ryo. The price of four Jonin's deaths is enough to fund a raid on a small country.

Implanting the Byakugan grants a 360-degree field of vision and x-ray vision. Properly preserved, it can be used for many generations. Whether for reconnaissance or protection, it is highly useful. Coupled with its "priceless" nature, it indeed is worth the price.

'My offer is fair, and... it's my limit,' Viper thought.

The mysterious man opposite him, a fierce individual daring enough to extract a Byakugan, had a reputation for being as ruthless as a viper and as venomous as a spider. Viper did not dare provoke such a formidable character, nor did he dare to pull any tricks to lower the price.

"Heh..." Yuto gently tapped the oni mask's horn, producing a dull thud. In the silent underground chamber, the sound was exceptionally clear. Viper felt as if the man wasn't tapping the mask, but using his finger to dig out his heart.

"Too much money is just a number." Yuto suddenly spoke, "Let's Barter."

"Of course, Aizen Sōsuke-sama." Viper exhaled in relief, "What do you need?"

"I'm quite interested in that hard-boned clan." Yuto's tone was casual, as if discussing dinner plans, "I want two live members of the Kaguya clan, awakened with the Shikotsumyaku."

Viper closed his eyes. Exchanging Byakugan for Shikotsumyaku was a reasonable trade, not too difficult. However, obtaining them alive...

The bounty station did have the capability to accomplish this. The Kaguya clan was strong, but it was a time of chaos, offering many opportunities.

However, absolute caution was necessary to avoid exposing the bounty station as the mastermind and becoming a target of Kirigakure's wrath.

To mobilize resources of this level, Viper's rank wasn't sufficient.

"Aizen Sōsuke-sama," the bald man deliberated, "I need to report to headquarters. Can you wait? Within two days—no! I'll give you an answer within a day!"

"Alright." Yuto responded softly. As he stood up under Viper's respectful gaze, he suddenly stopped before leaving the chamber, "Keep your mouth shut."

Viper smiled obsequiously, "Aizen Sōsuke-sama, rest assured, this matter will remain absolutely confidential. At least in the Land of Hot Water, no one but us will know. If the secret gets out, you can take my head!"

—Exchanging Byakugan for Shikotsumyaku, a scheme that offends two great nations, must indeed be handled with utmost caution.

Yuto nodded, seemingly approving Viper's shrewdness.

...

Yuto left the underground chamber, walking for several kilometers before checking his surroundings with the Byakugan and changing his clothes.

He did not dispel the transformation technique but changed his appearance and voice entirely.

He walked further, without a set direction, casually strolling until he reached a town.

The Land of Hot Water was a famous country, renowned for its hot springs. Despite the ongoing war, the town's residents lived relatively well, certainly better than those in the Land of Rain.

Yuto found a tavern and sat inside, quietly observing the street.

Finally, as the sun was about to set, he saw a caravan.

In the shinobi world, there were no railways crossing the wilderness. Cities were relatively isolated from each other, and these traveling caravans played a significant role in transmitting news and information.

If the land is the body, the roads are blood vessels, and the cities are organs, then these traveling merchants are the nervous system transmitting information!

Many street rumors, when heard by those who know the truth, are like thunder from a clear sky!

More importantly, information from the bottom up can never reveal its source.

For both the instigator and the transmitter, this was the safest way.

In the caravan, a few children were happily playing, innocent and carefree.

Yuto bought a bag of candies and called the children over.

"What were you singing just now?"

"It's the Goose Song! We learned it in that city to the west." The children, enticed by the candies, let down their guard and answered while sniffing.

"Oh... the Goose Song." Yuto patted the child's head, "How about I teach you a new song? You can sing it in other cities and make others envious!"

"Sure! Learning a new song means we can exchange it with other kids, haha..."

"Exchange and sharing, such a good thing."

Yuto smiled warmly. He cleared his throat and softly hummed, "White eyes, hard bones..."

(End of Chapter)