Konoha Notes

Chapter 40 The Dream of the Wild Dog (Part 1)

The martial law order tightened suddenly, like an invisible net, covering the entire port of Chujie.

The hustle and bustle of the dock was abruptly interrupted. Heavy barricades were pushed onto the street, and the henchmen of the Tea Mountain Gang, armed with spears and knives, shouted to disperse the crowd and order the shops to close.

Panic spread rapidly, like ripples spreading from a stone thrown into still water. The crisp sound of horses' hooves on the stone pavement, mixed with rough shouts and scattered suppressed sobs, replaced the usual sounds of the city. A suffocating tension, like the impending storm, filled the air.

The doors of Haifengting Hostel were tightly shut, and the owner's face was pale, with cold sweat beading on his forehead. He quickly calmed the panicked guests, telling them to go back to their rooms and lock their doors. Only then did he take a deep breath, carefully step onto the third floor, and knock on the door of the room with the best view.

“Master Ninja…” His voice trembled slightly, “The city… the city is under martial law. It’s very chaotic outside, they say they’re searching for bandits… If you don’t need it, please don’t go out for the time being. If you need anything, just tell the shop, and we will do our best to take care of it.”

Shuji calmly replied, "Understood. Thank you for reminding us, we will make our own arrangements."

Just now, through the sensory communication of his Wood Release clones, he instantly synchronized everything his main body encountered at sea with the current upheaval in the city. The planned bait tactic was half successful—a ninja with a strange secret technique had been captured. However, torture was not Shuji's forte, especially when the other party kept their teeth clenched and wouldn't say a word.

Far out at sea, Shuji watched the ninja before him. His original plan was to lure one or two ninjas out and capture them. This mission could end after clearing out the Chayama gang, depending on the situation.

The information about the Black Eclipse Clan can be given to Itachi to try to extract using Sharingan genjutsu after he returns. If that doesn't work, the people can be taken back to the village and handed over to the intelligence squad.

I just didn't expect the other side to be so decisive.

The city was placed under martial law, and the entire Tea Mountain Gang was dispersed. This would indeed deter other forces in the city to the greatest extent, since their base was in the city and they would prioritize their own safety. However, this approach could not last long, so the guy who made this decision planned to finish the job quickly.

Wasabi House… The manor flashed through Shuji’s mind. The enemy couldn’t possibly capture it within the allotted time with just the Chayama gang’s henchmen; they would have to rely on the power of the ninjas.

On the surface, the Chashan Gang only has one ninja-level fighter, Beastman. But now, including the corpse in front of them and the lurking shadow outside the Sea Breeze Pavilion, there are now two.

The forces remaining at Wasabi's residence are theoretically sufficient to deal with Jubei. But that's only "theoretically." Information about the Black Eclipse Clan remains shrouded in mystery, and we must consider the worst-case scenario—it's time to go back.

"Last chance," Xiu said, looking at the people on the deck, "Leave your name?"

Kuchiki grinned, revealing bloodstained teeth, then immediately closed his eyes tightly. Whether the Konoha ninjas intended to kill him or intimidate him, silence was the last bulwark he could hold for his comrades.

Xiu Si sighed inwardly. He had hoped that this final conversation would pry open a crack in the relationship, at least to confirm whether the other party belonged to the Black Eclipse Clan.

Now that things have come to this, leaving behind a survivor with secret skills and a tenacious will is tantamount to planting an unstable bomb in the ever-changing battlefield.

So, that's it. The responsibility of gathering intelligence now rests solely with this body.

Kill him. Let his corpse tell the intelligence squad what the village wants to know.

He didn't get close; a kunai pierced his heart with pinpoint accuracy.

Having confirmed there was no sign of life, Shuji deftly unfurled the sealing scroll to store the entire body. He had only left a portion behind last time, wanting to preserve the secret of Wood Release; after all, outsiders wouldn't know how he died, but if he brought the whole body back, the villagers would surely know.

As for this, he didn't have any secret techniques from the battle, so he brought it all back so the village could study his techniques.

"Wandering ninjas are troublesome too." After planning for so long, the Black Eclipse Clan is still shrouded in mystery.

He turned to the pale, almost limp messenger beside him. The young man was clutching the crucial letterbox.

“The plan has changed.” Xiu Si’s voice was calm. “You will return to port immediately and go back to the waters near Izuku Port. There is no need to rush to the capital. Just stay at sea, patrol back and forth, and wait for my contact.”

The messenger looked up in astonishment: "My lord? This...this evidence..."

“Evidence is still important.” Xiu Si interrupted him, his gaze sharp. “But going to the daimyo’s residence now would be even riskier, do you understand?” Without him, it’s questionable whether the daimyo would choose to kill the messenger directly. There’s no need to waste lives.

Looking into Xiu Si's eyes, the messenger's flustered emotions seemed to find anchor, and he nodded vigorously: "Yes! My lord! I understand!"

Xiu Si said no more, and with a flash, he disappeared through the cabin door. The next moment, he appeared atop the tallest mast at the stern. The sea breeze whipped at his clothes.

After glancing in the direction of Ichigo Port, Shuji's figure suddenly transformed into a blurry afterimage, riding the surging waves and speeding towards the port locked down by martial law!

Inside the Sea Breeze Pavilion, the faint light filtering through the curtains illuminated the equally serene face of the wooden clone, Shuji. He instantly understood the original's decisions and actions.

The action is gone.

However, the stubborn ninja made Shuji realize that capturing him alive was possible, but prying him open was far too difficult.

Intelligence remains crucial. At the very least, we need to confirm his identity: is he a member of the Black Eclipse? What is their organizational structure?
He gently pushed open the window; the wooden hinges creaked softly, almost inaudible amidst the occasional rough shouts from the street below. He didn't lean out, but calmly cast his gaze into the shadows at the street corner below.

"Aren't you tired after watching for so long?"

In the shadows, his fluorescent green pupils contracted sharply. Huan Shi hadn't expected the other party to break through this thin veil of confrontation. He instinctively clenched his canines around the cold copper coin in his mouth, the rough metal edge bringing a sharp, conscious pain.

"The ninjas of Konoha are indeed sharp." Huan Shi's voice was like sandpaper scraping, made even more indistinct by the copper coin he was biting. He slowly stepped half a step out of the shadows, the edge of his oilcloth gleaming with a damp, dull sheen in the dim light, the "Food" bell on his wrist remaining perfectly still. "However, now is not the time for idle chatter."

He tilted his head slightly, the shadow under his hat obscuring most of his face, revealing only his eerie jawline and tightly pursed, bloodless lips: "The cloth merchant you were protecting has already shipped his goods. The mission is complete, isn't it? Why wade into the muddy waters of Akuta Port again? What benefits did Wasabi Jirocho promise you? Is it worth risking your lives for him?"

The wooden clone remained expressionless and unmoved.

“Listen, Konoha ninja,” Genshiki’s voice was low, with a seductive hoarseness, “the Wasabi family… is probably in a lot of trouble right now. Whether that old bastard Jirocho will even survive tonight is questionable. Staying here won’t change anything. Why not—” He paused deliberately, the bell on his wrist seeming to vibrate very slightly, “leave Ichigo Port. I guarantee you can walk out safely. Take your mission reward and return to Konoha.”

"Oh?"

"It sounds like you know a lot about what's going on at Wasabi's house? Then tell me..." His almost tangible gaze was fixed on the Eclipse in the shadows, "And who are you representing, here to guarantee our safety?"

Inside and outside the window, gazes met across the distance. An invisible smoke of war silently permeated the deathly silence of the port, shrouded in martial law.

(End of this chapter)