Chapter 20

"What's your two favorite colors?"

"Blue and white"

"Wow. I would have pegged you for more of a red guy. Mine's rose red and orange. Anyway, what's your favorite type of request?"

"High-level assassination."

"Oh, I prefer intel gathering. Favorite time of the year."

"Night time."

"...That's a time of day."

"..."

"Fine. Kinda obvious i love the summer. Favorite village to visit?"

"Momo village"

"That far. I gotta say i love the scenery in Konoha."

It had been like this for more than an hour now. Since Shinku said the two should know each other more, Gin had started a game of 21 questions.

Meanwhile, Ye Xiao was barely hanging on and looked like he would collapse at any moment if he didn't get some rest.

"Huh. Are you doing alright back there, kid? We've been at it for two or three incense sticks now." Gin asked, glancing back at the sweat drenched boy who was gradually slowing.

"Huh... oh... yeah... I'm... alright." Ye Xiao nodded, his vision dark from the exhaustion that was too much for his young frail body.

"Hmm." Gin narrowed her eyes at the obvious lie. Turning back to Shinku, she whispered a few words into his ear, receiving a side eye from him.

"Do whatever, as long as he's not my burden." Saying this, Shinku picked up his pace. At the same time, Gin slowed down and offered Ye Xiao a canteen, which he was more than grateful for.

"Thanks, Onee-San..." Ye Xiao gulped the water down and spoke softly. A small giggle was heard from his side as he blushed.

"Don't worry about it."

"No. I shouldn't be a burden."

Gin stared at the top of the boy's head with pitying eyes. The sound of muffled sobs slowly entered into her ears, but there were no words that would help him.

"Hold on tight." After a moment, she finally broke the silence, and at her words, Ye Xiao wanted to ask why, but was soon jerked up and tossed onto her back.

"What are you doing?"

"There's not much distance left, I'm sure Shinku wouldn't mind me doing this to catch up." Saying this, Gin increased her speed, barely able to follow after Shinku.

"Thank you."

. . .

. .

.

Dropping down from the trees, running over the snowy ground, Shinku didn't worry about Gin as he sped through what was left of the forest before entering a vast expance of snow.

Shinku only continued to run. Not minding the blizzard that swirled further than the eye could see. His cloak blowing violently in all directions.

Each step taken was left, no footprint or a trace of his existence. His speed made him akin to just a blur moving through the blizzard.

Seemingly in a trace, Shinku ran and ran with his eyes narrowed.

"Hmm?"

"What is it?

Two densely armored men in the snow spoke, barely catching a glimpse of the black blur that soon disappeared.

"..."

In an instant, their heads slid off their shoulders. Blood gushing from the slash, their bodies stood for a moment after the fact before collapsing.

Still running, Shinku sheathed his ominous black bladed Katana on his hip. His crimson eyes left no remorse  or sympathy for the innocent men.

'Finally, I can take the wheel!' A scratchy voice shouted in Shinku's head as his left eye's colors soon inverted.

Sensing his surroundings, Shinku searched for other Chakra signatures  through the blizzard.

And like a demon, Slaughtered dozens of similarly armored men in nothing more than a blur.

'That's enough, Shinku.' Another voice soon echoed. Cold. Fear inducing. Oppressive. The man's voice made Shinku grit his teeth and his left eye to return to normal.

"Hmm?" Shinku stopped in his tracks for a moment and looked around. Though distorted by the falling snow, Shinku felt as if time had skipped for a moment before shrugging and entering a full-on sprint once again.

Reaching Yukigakure, Shinku slipped over the surrounding wall, and almost instantly, his appearance changed from a suspicious cloak wearing individual.

His hair turned whiter than snow, and his eyes tuned a dark brown color. His skin turned a pale white as it shriveled up, and he hunched over.

He now wore a thick, black Yukata and used a cane to help himself walk as he made his way through the village.

"Hey. Did you hear..."

"Momma, I'm hungry..."

"Let's stop by the new dango shop..."

"Old Man, do you need any help?"

Using a transformation technique, Shinku made his way through the streets, keeping an ear out for gossip about his target, when a veiled young woman spoke from behind him.

"Hah?!" With his eyes half closed, he shouted as if he was having a hard time hearing. The woman looked as if she was pitying him.

Wearing a large green Yukata with a veiled bamboo hat. Behind her stood several black armored and masked samurai men.

"Would you like some help?" The woman stepped closer to Shinku. Though she raised her voice, it was still so gentle and warm. Behind her, the seven samurai guards placed their hands on the hilts of their katana's, ready to protect the woman.

"What was that?!" Shinku shouted again as he leaned his ear in closer.

"Old Man, just move out the Princesses way!" One of the guards soon shouted, annoyed and fed up with the old man.

"If you so much as take a step against him, I'll make sure you have no job at the end of the day." The princess spoke as she took Shinku by his hand and walked along with him.

"What are you doing, youngster?" Shinku asked as he let the princess guide him. Unable to protest at the moment.

"I'm sorry, elder. Is there anything I can do to help you?" The princess asked once again.

"Oh! I'm heading... huh... where was I heading again???" Shinku scratched the back of his head. He only planned to secretly gather intel regarding his targets current whereabouts.

"Ah. Now I remember. I was looking for my grandson, Oboro." Shinku glanced up at the veiled princess who seemed to have freeze at his words.

'Shit. Don't tell me that Oboro caused a mess while he was here. Damn, I shouldn't have...'

"Oh, I think I've heard that name around before?"

'Shit.'

"Oh yeah, where is that rascal grandson of mine. He's been missing for a while?" Under his Yukata, Shinku's hand grasped a kunai as he prepared to defend himself if he needed to.

Shinku was slightly regretting trying to pry anything out of the princess of Yukigakure, especially about his assassination target, who has a habit of being scamming women and occasionally even being a child predator.

"Hmm. Come with me."

Being dragged away by the princess and followed by the samurai.

Looking around, Shinku could see how the villagers were surprised by their princes coming out of her family's castle, but also because she was dragging a random old man towards it.

'Shit. I can't just kill her right in the middle of the village.'

. . .

. .

.

"What. the. hell!"

Gin growled at the figure right in front of her.

Shinku, or more accurately a blood clone of himself, stood and stared at the two who were only now reaching the end of the forest.

"You didn't bother waiting for us and rushed ahead by yourself!"

Gin grabbed the collar of Shinku's cloak and pulled him down and closer to her eye level.

"Yeah."

"Then what are you doing in Yukigakure right now?"

"..." Shinku didn't answer since he didn't know, though he could assume what his real self was doing. But even he wouldn't be able to guess that he would run into the princess.

. . .

. .

.

"Please come inside, Mr. Shin." Tye princess led Shinku to Kazahana Castle, a famous building outside the village in the mountains of the land of Snow.

Hearing her words, Shinku didn't bother thinking about her intentions and thrusted his Kunai toward her face, slashing the veil off as she leaped backward.

Immediately, the seven samurai's leaped between the two, their blades drawn and pointed at Shinku.

"Princess, please stay behind us. We'll handle this guy."

One of the guards shouted before charging at Shinku.

"Wait!"

The princess shouted, but a kunai was firmly embedded through his helmet, blood gushed from the bottom opening as he dropped to his knees.

Pulling out several more, Shinku threw them at the remaining six guards who parried them away.

"Get him!"

The guards charged at Shinku as he dispelled his transomation jutsu and unsheethed his black-bladed katana.

Shinku stared past the guards at the princess's revealed face. Her smooth, milky skin, violet-blue eyes, long black bangs that framed the sides of her face.

Just as the guards were about to reach him, Shinku Shunshined behind the princess and placed the blade against the side of her neck.

"I don't know who told you, but now you're all gonna die."

The guards turned in horror as their princess was about to die and began bargaining, offering their lives for hers, but were ignored.

"I thought members of Sora weren't allowed to kill their contractors."

Shinki pressed his blade and drew some blood, only to freeze at her words.

Few know of Sora, and even less know of Sora's rules and restrictions.

"When the moon is full..." Shinku whispered, creating overwhelming pressure by releasing some of his chakra, suffocating the guards.

"The hounds will begin their hunt." The princess spoke, falling to her knees under the pressure.

Hearing the correct code, Shinku withdrew his pressure and helped the princess to her feet, ignoring the unconscious guards.

"I suppose you knew who I was when I mentioned Oboro. But why did you lead me here?" Shinki asked, gesturing to the Damyio Castle.

"You're late. I had the guards capture Oboro when he least expected it, and he's locked up in the dungeon."

Shinku raised a brow at her words.

Despite his crimes, Oboro was the former advisor of the Third Mizukage before seeking asylum in Yuki, where he became an advisor to the Damyio.

Abusing his authority, he scammed many women and molested many children from Yukigakure.

'I was hired by an unknown contractor and requested to assassinate Oboro. But...'

"Why not kill him?"

Shinku stared down at the short woman, her hat fallen off as her hair blew in the wind.

"..."

"Where's my contractor at?" Shinku wrapped his right hand around her throat and glared. He didn't like tricks.

"Please..."

"What?"

"I, Madam Yukihara, the wife of the Daimyo. I beg you to pry my daughters whereabouts from Oboro. He captured shortly after you were hired and has been threatening me with her since."

Revealing her true identity as the Daimyo's wife, Yukihara didn't fight Shinku's grasp but pleaded for him to save her daughter.

"..."

"That's not part of my contract."

"Ah... I see..."

Shinku released the trembling Yukihara and headed over to the castle doors. Kicking them open, Shinku knocked the dozens of guards nearby out with brute force while making his way through.

Yukihara followed after him, picking up and wearing her veiled hat. She led Shinku to the dungeon and also stopped him from harming any more of her guards.

"Please... reconsider..." Yukihara asked him one last time as they reached the entrance to the dungeon.

Shinku brushed past her, his Katana in hand as he shoved the door open and stared at the bruised, chained man that only smiled from his corner.

Seeing that Shinku was no longer going to listen, tears dripped down Yukihara's cheeks as she turned away to leave.

"I won't tell you anything. If I die, so does the princess. HAHAHAHAEHEHHEHEHEHE-Gah!"

The man cackled like a mad man only to be met with a searing pain in his abdomen as Shinku's blade pierced through him.

"I don't need you to speak to get that information."

'Mind Sensing Jutsu' Using a jutsu unique to the Yamanaka clan from Konoha, Shinku searched through the man's mind and extracted everything he needed to know.

Hearing Shinku, Yukihara turned back in shock and witnessed a mind-blowing scene.

The moment Shinki finished, he Shunshined away, leaving Yukihara alone with the dying Oboro who still had a blade stabbed into him.

Taking steps towards him, Yukihara took the hilt of Shinku's blade and twisted it around, opening the wound even more.

Elsewhere, Shinku stared down at the bound girl that looked as if she would tear him to shreds.

"I'll fucking kill you! I touch her and I'll kill you!"

Shinku threw a few kunai's and broke the chains, freeing the smaller version of Yukihara.

"Settle down, Gaki. Oboro is bleeding out, and your mother sent me to get you."

"Fuck you! Like he'll I'll just believe you!" The girl lunged at Shinku but was caught by the wrists and slammed against the wall.

"Whatever." Shinku soon Shunshined away with the girl in hand, appearing behind Yukihara, who was still twisting the blade in Oboro.

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Chapter End