Scared to Death
When it came to individual intelligence-gathering capabilities, Kato Suan stood out as one of the best in the ninja world.
His use of the Spiritual Transformation Technique gave him an edge far beyond what Genin like Aburame Nami and Inuzuka Rui could offer. The information Rui had managed to sniff out had already been uncovered earlier by Suan. In fact, the smuggling of iron ore to an enemy nation—linked directly to Tobita Yuichi—was something Suan had already confirmed.
"I knew that Tobita Yuichi guy was shady!" Inuzuka Rui barked, raising his hand with a clenched fist.
"In that case," said Kato Dan, glancing at his three eager disciples, "we're moving out."
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The setting sun spilled across Tieshi Town like blood, casting an eerie glow on its eerily quiet streets.
Lately, fear hung thick in the air. Word had spread that Lord Feitian was "recruiting" new miners. But everyone knew that meant young men were being kidnapped and forced into slavery. It wasn't mining—it was a death sentence.
Every few years, the last batch of workers would "disappear," and Lord Feitian's men would emerge from the shadows. If someone failed to pay tribute or dared speak ill of him, they'd vanish into the mines—never to return.
A small, black beetle buzzed out from the manor and landed silently on a robed arm.
"Nami, report," said Ming Jing, his voice low.
"There are seventy-three samurai guards in total," replied Aburame Nami, her face emotionless behind dark glasses.
Ming Jing nodded and turned to Inuzuka Rui. "You still remember Tobita Yuichi's scent?"
"Like it's burned into my nose!" Rui grinned confidently.
"You'll take point. Track him down and lead us in. Nami, deploy your kikaichū to form a perimeter and cut off escape routes. I'll take the lead in combat."
Ming Jing's orders were short, precise—and no one questioned them. After their last mission, he'd naturally taken the lead. Not only was he composed under pressure, but he was clearly the strongest among them.
"Yosh! Let's rock! Let's go, Tetsumaru!" Rui yelled, activating his Four Legs Technique and summoning his ninken.
Ming Jing vanished in a blur, heading straight for the manor's main gate.
"Uchiha Style: Snapfire Flame Sword!"
Flames coiled around his wakizashi, slicing through the wooden gate with ease. The fiery blade cleaved it cleanly, leaving behind only burning embers.
Nami raised her hands, releasing a swarm of kikaichū that scattered across the compound, covering every possible exit.
"Enemy attack! Sound the alarm!"
"Fetch the samurai commander!"
"Inform Lord Tobita, now!"
Panic erupted inside the mansion.
Ming Jing charged toward the direction Rui indicated, cutting down any opposition in his path. Rui and Nami followed closely, forming a deadly triangle formation.
Their intrusion drew attention fast—within minutes, white-robed samurai arrived, swords drawn.
"Who dares invade the lord's estate?! Do you not know Lord Kameda protects this territory?"
"Ninja? Konoha shinobi?!"
"Tobita didn't say we'd face Leaf shinobi!"
"Who cares?! They're just kids—cut them down!"
Nami gave Ming Jing a look. Without a word, her kikaichū swarmed forward, blinding the samurai.
Rui and Ming Jing surged into the confusion. Claws and steel danced amid screams and splattered blood.
"There! He's trying to flee!" Rui pointed toward a side corridor.
"I'll handle him. Cover me!" Ming Jing ordered before vanishing.
There were many types of Body Flicker Techniques. Any jutsu that enabled instantaneous movement over short distances could be categorized as such—like Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God, or Hanzo's Water Teleportation.
The Uchiha Clan, with their long heritage, developed their own version of the Body Flicker Technique. According to Uchiha Yu, Ming Jing's great-uncle had served under the Second Hokage, mastering advanced teleportation under his tutelage. It was during that era he developed a style known as Phantom Step—a high-speed movement technique requiring both three-tomoe Sharingan and considerable chakra control.
While Ming Jing hadn't mastered that level, he incorporated a rudimentary Blink Step into his Uchiha-style swordsmanship, giving him impressive speed and unpredictability.
"Move, move! Protect Lord Tobita!"
Samurai swarmed around Tobita Yuichi, shielding him as they ran. But before they could escape, a blur cut through the air.
Flames burst to life.
Ming Jing's flaming blade swept cleanly through the samurai, their cries cut short as their bodies crumpled.
"Konoha ninja?!" Tobita gasped, his face drained of color.
How had they found him?
He'd been so careful. He'd bribed, lied, and covered every track.
But he hadn't accounted for Kato Dan.
With the Spiritual Transformation Technique, Dan was one of the most feared intelligence operatives in the entire ninja world. No secret could hide from his spirit form.
"You… you don't have to do this!" Tobita stammered as Ming Jing approached, blood dripping from his sword. "I have money! Lots of it! Enough for you and your team to retire!"
He fell to his knees, trembling.
Ming Jing raised his blade.
Blood trickled from its edge.
All the samurai were dead. Only Tobita remained, shaking uncontrollably.
"Please… please don't kill me! I-I can pay you triple, no, ten times what this mission is worth!"
Ming Jing paused.
His wakizashi hovered just millimeters from Tobita's neck.
The blade hummed with residual heat, and the air itself seemed to slice as it passed.
Suddenly, Ming Jing wrinkled his nose.
He looked down—and saw a puddle forming beneath Tobita.
Yellow.
Warm.
The smell hit him.
Tobita Yuichi had pissed himself.