Chapter 213

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Kirigakure was in chaos.

For their own benefit, the commoner ninjas rallied around Yagura, ruthlessly exterminating the village's ninja clans.

Swish, swish, swish.

Ice Release: Shattering Ice Crystals!

A thin layer of ice suddenly appeared underfoot, allowing a Yuki ninja to glide swiftly forward.

At the same time, various sizes of ice spears floated around him, continuously shooting at Deva Path Pain who stood in his way.

Close in, elbow strike.

But Deva Path Pain merely raised his right arm to block, effortlessly deflecting the Yuki ninja's attack, his powerful physique even pushing the ninja back several steps.

With a graceful backflip, the Yuki ninja landed, and as his toes touched the ground, a layer of ice spread rapidly towards Deva Path Pain.

Crack, crack, crack.

In an instant, the ice reached Deva Path Pain's feet, freezing him into an ice statue.

The Yuki ninja's face lit up with joy, and once again, a thin layer of ice appeared beneath his feet, propelling him swiftly towards the frozen Deva Path Pain.

Just one more strike, and the frozen Deva Path Pain would be shattered into pieces.

Shinra Tensei!

An invisible force exploded, and the Yuki ninja's pupils contracted as if a loaded truck had run over him, shattering his bones and twisting his body before flinging him far away.

Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome of Magnificent Nothingness!

The invisible force continued to spread, but another Yuki ninja, who had just killed a Kirigakure Anbu, quickly erected a thick ice wall in front of him.

Boom! The ice wall shattered under the impact, but the force of the attack dissipated.

"Ice Release Kekkei Genkai does have its merits."

Deva Path Pain muttered, "No wonder Kyomu wants to bring them under his command."

Tap, tap.

With that, Deva Path Pain continued forward, a black rod appearing in each hand.

Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals! Swish, swish, swish.

Countless ice needles, formed entirely from Ice Release chakra, filled the sky, descending like a deadly shower, dense enough to trigger trypophobia.

But such a trivial attack posed no threat to Deva Path Pain.

Swish, swish, swish.

The black rods in his hands twirled, deflecting every incoming ice needle.

Deva Path Pain continued to advance, while the opposing Yuki ninja did not retreat, launching a second wave of attacks.

Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!

Crack, crack, crack.

A series of ice surfaces quickly extended towards Deva Path Pain, surrounding him. The Yuki ninja's body and shadow merged into the ice surfaces.

Fast movement! As he moved, attacks followed like shadows, with both speed and frequency high enough to shred a person to pieces.

Shinra Tensei!

Boom! The invisible force exploded again, pushing everything around away, dispelling all fancy techniques.

Deva Path Pain turned, spotting the Yuki ninja being thrown back, and hurled a black rod with great force.

Thud.

The black rod pierced through the Yuki ninja's chest, pinning him to the ground, dead.

With that, Deva Path Pain moved as if in an uninhabited land, slaughtering the Yuki Clan members with the aid of the surrounding Kirigakure ninjas.

The number of Yuki Clan ninjas was rapidly decreasing, but some women and children managed to escape, rushing towards the borders of the Land of Water.

Their former comrades were truly aiming to exterminate their clan!

Run, or face certain death? But the feeling was like ashes in their hearts. Despite all their sacrifices for the village and country, why were they treated this way in the end?

Alongside the Yuki Clan, Mei led the Terumi Clan and other non-bloodline clans in making the same choice.

As for the Kaguya Clan, known as battle maniacs, they were fighting to the death, with no intention of retreating.

One word: Fight!

Death was not feared by the Kaguya Clan. Their lives revolved around battle, and they had no other pursuits.

Whether against enemies or themselves, the Kaguya Clan struck decisively. Even in death, they sought to take someone with them.

"What a bunch of lunatics." Orochimaru smirked. "Sasori, what do you think?"

"They make excellent materials for puppets." Hidden inside Hiruko, Sasori's voice was muffled. "Of course, if it's you, you qualify for my collection."

"Heh." Orochimaru chuckled without responding further.

Surveying the surroundings, he felt a tinge of regret.

Such excellent research material, now nearly wiped out due to their refusal to retreat and inflexible thinking.

"Let's clean up the battlefield and take a walk." Orochimaru stepped forward slowly, with Sasori following inside Hiruko.

Meanwhile, Kirigakure's Anbu reported the situation to Yagura in the Mizukage's office.

"Understood. Inform the Akatsuki to withdraw; their job is done."

"Yes, Mizukage-sama."

The Anbu left, and Yagura couldn't help but sneer. "Greedy vultures!"

Hiring the Akatsuki had cost Yagura a lot, but he didn't know that half of the payment went to Kyomu.

Moreover, the Yuki and Terumi Clans, driven out by Yagura, were heading to the port, intending to flee to the Land of Dragons.

Yagura's intentions were clear: exterminate all ninja clans within the village and country, at any cost, including hiring outsiders to help. This madness left the Yuki and Terumi Clans no choice but to flee.

However, Yagura had some reservations. He spared the Hozuki Clan, not wiping them out entirely.

Although the Hozuki Clan hated Yagura, they had no plans to join the Land of Dragons. Even if they had to wander, they dreamed of reclaiming Kirigakure someday.

After all, the Second Mizukage of Kirigakure was from the Hozuki Clan.

"Yagura-sama, have you obtained the scroll of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from the Hozuki Clan?"

Yagura asked, and a figure emerged from the shadows of his office—Ameyuri Ringo.

"Yes, and I've driven out the remaining Hozuki members."

"Good. Gather the other six members and lead the Anbu to continue pursuing and eliminating the fleeing Terumi and Yuki Clans. They must not escape our borders."

"Understood!"

"And make sure to collect all the books and scrolls from the clan residences. There can be no mistakes."

Ringo nodded and vanished, while Yagura finally exhaled deeply.

His reforms in Kirigakure were finally nearing completion.

"Wait and see, I'll make Kirigakure the strongest hidden village in the ninja world!" Yagura's eyes flashed red as he grinned sinisterly.

Unaware of the influence of his inner darkness and the tailed beast within him, he believed he was acting for the good of Kirigakure.

But with his goal achieved, Obito no longer needed to stay and manipulate Yagura with his Mangekyō Sharingan. Over time, Yagura would realize the foolishness of his actions.

"Mei, what do we do now?" Haku asked anxiously beside Mei.

"What else can we do? Fight our way out!" Mei's face was splattered with blood, both hers and her former comrades'.

"Why is the Fourth Mizukage-sama... why..."

"I don't care about the Fourth Mizukage. I just want to kill him!" Mei's eyes burned with anger. "Now, my Terumi Clan has fewer than a hundred ninjas left, including women and children!"

As Mei finished speaking, Haku's eyes reddened. At fourteen, she was now the strongest and oldest surviving ninja in the Yuki Clan.

Her uncles, aunts, and other relatives had all died at the hands of that man to protect their escape.

Turning, Haku met Deva Path Pain's cold gaze, filled with endless hatred.

Deva Path Pain remained emotionless, having endured far more suffering than Haku.

Raising his hand, he prepared to use Bansho Ten'in.

"The cooperation is over. Take your payment and leave the country within an hour, or we'll treat the Akatsuki as enemies."

Deva Path Pain lowered his arm, turned, and picked up the money box brought by the Kirigakure ninjas, leaving without looking back.

His task was complete, and he had the money. The rest didn't concern him.

As Deva Path Pain left with the money box, Haku's pent-up anger and frustration exploded.

"Bastards! You hired outsiders to slaughter the Yuki Clan. Do you even see us as part of the village?"

"You should understand. Our lives are about missions and orders, nothing else." Ringo stepped forward, carrying her sword. "It's a ninja's fate, and we don't need comrades."

Haku stumbled back. "Why, why is it like this?"

"The ninja clans hinder the village and country's development, so they must be eliminated." Ringo's voice was cold. "You're no longer needed, so you must be dealt with."

"Not needed anymore..." Haku's eyes dimmed. "Have we been abandoned?"

Ringo said nothing more. For her, obeying orders and completing missions was everything.

The words she had exchanged with Haku were merely a courtesy, to let her die understanding the reasons behind her fate.

This was the reality of the "Blood Mist" policy in Kirigakure. There was no camaraderie, only orders and their execution.

At the same time, the despair in Haku's eyes deepened. So this was what it felt like to be abandoned by the village and former comrades.

Whoosh!

A fierce wind howled as Ringo's heavy blade, Kabutowari, smashed towards Haku with deadly force.

"Haku!" Mei shouted, "Snap out of it!"

Haku was in a daze, unable to process the village's betrayal, or find meaning in life anymore. She had lost the will to fight.

This state was shared by other Yuki Clan members, all of them young and scarred by the "Blood Mist" policy.

They saw themselves as tools, and without their masters, what purpose did tools have?

A ridiculous thought, but one that was pervasive in Kirigakure.

It was a mindset Kakashi found hard to understand.

Extend, Raijin! Swish.

Raijin's blade, covered in concentrated Lightning Release chakra, extended rapidly, like a shooting star, precisely striking Kabutowari's center.

Clang!

Blocking Ringo's attack, Kakashi flashed in front of Haku in an instant.

"Kakashi?" Ringo recognized him. "This isn't a place for Ryūgakure ninjas."

"I go where I please." Kakashi retorted. "The Yuki Clan is under Ryugakure's protection now."

"This is Kirigakure's internal matter. Are you trying to start a war with us?"

"You've abandoned the Yuki, Terumi, and other clans. Since you've given up on them, Ryūgakure taking them in shouldn't be an issue."

Kakashi glared coldly at Ringo. "These people are now under our protection."

"You think they'll come with you?" Ringo smirked. "They're tools of Kirigakure. Disposing of them is none of your concern. A proper tool never betrays its master, even when being destroyed."

"Do you need us?" Haku asked Kakashi quietly.

Kakashi looked at Haku with surprise, then nodded. "Yes, Ryūgakure needs the Yuki Clan."

Haku's eyes brightened momentarily. "Will you abandon me, and my clan?"

"No."

"Then I'll go with you."

Kakashi was surprised at the ease of her decision but had no time to dwell on it as Ringo launched a second attack.

Meanwhile, the Kirigakure ninjas surrounding the Yuki and Terumi Clans prepared a large-scale combination jutsu.

They intended to eliminate them completely.

But this was just the beginning. The remaining six members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were converging on the battlefield.

The number of Kirigakure ninjas was increasing.

"Guy," Kyomu glanced at Might Guy, "the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist hold special significance for you. It's time to take them down."

(End of Chapter)