Chapter 2: All Living Off the Black Market, Crossing Paths Everywhere

Click!

Accompanied by the crisp sound of shattering, two precious hearts were lost in vain before the mission was even completed.

Kakazu’s pain was so intense he could barely breathe. He stared coldly at Shixia, his gaze icy and piercing.

Yet, Shixia did not press the attack further. Instead, he retracted his aura, shrugged casually, and spoke with a light, teasing tone.

“Still want to continue? We’re all just making a living on the black market. There’s no need to fight to the death over a little mission reward. Why not each take a step back and enjoy the wider sky?”

“If you ever need my help again, I’ll give you a 10% friendship discount.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakazu frowned deeply, his emotions tangled.

He took a long, steady breath, trying to quell the rage within.

Then, with a cold glance at Shixia, Kakazu turned and left.

Recalling Kakazu’s slaughter, as effortless as slicing through melons, the hearts of Mizunai and the others still pounded fiercely.

The caravan’s guards, along with the ninjas Mizunai had painstakingly hired from various sources, were only now shaking off their stupor, gradually coming back to their senses.

“They’re alive... it feels like being pulled back from the edge of hell.”

“The ninja the boss hired are insanely strong! Their ninjutsu dazzled my eyes!”

“This time was really thanks to him. Otherwise, we’d have been dead long ago!”

Their eyes were filled with the relief of survivors, as if savoring the terror they had just endured under Kakazu’s control.

But just then, Mizunai suddenly lost his temper.

As their employer, anger and frustration surged within him.

“How could you let him escape?!” Mizunai roared.

In the previous fight, Shixia clearly had the absolute upper hand, leaving Kakazu battered and humiliated.

If he’d wanted to, he could have easily kept that bastard from fleeing!

Yet that Kakazu had slaughtered so many of his guards and then simply walked away unscathed?

Mizunai’s blood pressure skyrocketed.

Hearing Mizunai’s roar, Shixia merely raised a hand to scratch his ear.

“Lord Mizunai, you only hired me to rescue your men. Pursuit or capture isn’t part of my duties. Aren’t they all saved? Not a single casualty. The mission’s over now, so how about you pay up the 200,000 reward?”

With that, Shixia extended his hand, palm up, casually awaiting Mizunai’s response.

Mizunai’s face darkened like iron. Though burning with anger, he ground his teeth and grudgingly paid the fee.

That bastard’s strength was even more terrifying than Kakazu’s, so Mizunai dared not act rashly.

As the payment was received, the system promptly issued a notification.

[Hiring mission successfully completed!]

[Reward: 200 Hire Points]

After claiming the system reward, Shixia felt as if bathed in spring breeze, a satisfied smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

The employer’s payment was trivial compared to the system’s bonus rewards, which mattered most.

Glancing at his system panel, Shixia’s mind already formed new goals and plans.

[Name: Uzumaki Shixia]

[Gender: Male]

[Age: 18]

[Hire Points: 721]

[Chakra Attributes: Fire (D), Wind (B), Lightning (S), Water (C), Yang (D), Yin (D)]

[Total Chakra: SSS Rank (Your chakra amount has reached the standard of a chakra ton, truly awe-inspiring.)]

[Physical Strength: SS Rank (Strength and speed far surpass elite Jonin)]

[Talents]

[Heavenly Thunder: Greatly increases affinity for Lightning Release; chance to obtain lightning-based rewards during draws is increased.]

[Bloodline Limit: None]

[Ninjutsu]

[Substitution Technique: Proficiency B]

[Lightning Release: Thunderball: Proficiency C]

[Lightning Release: Lightning Clone: Proficiency D]

[Lightning Release: Ground Walk: Proficiency A]

[Lightning Release: Heavy Flow Storm: Proficiency S]

[Lightning Release: Thunder Plow Hot Blade: Proficiency A]

...

Examining his own attributes, Shixia’s expression brightened. Just 300 points short, and he could perform another ten consecutive draws.

Looking over the panel, he noticed Mizunai staring at the bodies of his fallen men, his expression complex.

Shixia read his thoughts and smirked playfully.

“If you’re really that upset, just say the word. I’ll catch him for you on the spot, and you can do whatever you want—punish or take revenge as you please.”

Mizunai snorted coldly. “You’d be so kind?”

Shixia rubbed his fingers together.

“One flat fee: four million! Of course, if you only want his head, two million is enough.”

“Or, if you value his abilities and want to recruit him, I can bring him back intact for a friendly price of six million!”

Though he had expected this, Mizunai’s eyes widened in shock at Shixia’s words.

“Six million?! Are you kidding me?”

Shixia remained dead serious.

“Hey—this Kakazu guy caused you heavy losses, yet you just let him swagger away.”

“Can you stomach that? I sure can’t.”

“And six million is already a 90% discount. If you went to someone who knows what they’re doing, it’d cost at least sixty million.”

Mizunai laughed bitterly.

He felt his years were wasted—never before had he met someone this shameless.

“You’re the one who let him go!”

“And at that price, I could hire three Konoha Special Jonin for the mission! Why come to you?”

Shixia wanted to retort.

Special Jonin? Why not a special chef as well?

Penny-pinching over tens of thousands—your status in Konoha is that of a third-class citizen.

Meanwhile, hidden in the distant bushes, a few figures observed silently.

They wore white animal-shaped masks with gray sleeveless ninja armor, each carrying a long ninja sword on their backs.

“The guards are too strong. The plan has changed.”

“Lord Danzo has given orders—activate the backup plan!”

.....

.....

Mizunai’s caravan resumed its journey.

This time, Mizunai had played a small trick.

His true objective was not to seek refuge, but to rendezvous with a secret organization within the Land of Fire.

Mizunai was indeed a merchant.

But the goods he traded were “people”—

Individuals with special talents.

He had already made multiple deals with Konoha’s ninjas.

They had promised him that once this mission was completed, he could officially join the Land of Fire and obtain its citizenship.

As the caravan pressed on, Mizunai cautiously glanced around, baffled.

“Did something go wrong?”

“According to the agreement, this should be the rendezvous point.”

Thinking this, Mizunai took out a map for a closer look.

Shixia sat in front of Mizunai’s carriage.

As the caravan advanced, he leisurely continued to pitch his services.

“Lord Mizunai, are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

“My strength is no joke; I’m no worse than Konoha’s elite Jonin.”

“Even for mission pay, I can offer you a friendship discount as a returning customer.”

Shixia was desperate to increase his power!

The ninja world was no peaceful, tranquil place.

It was fraught with danger and had a frighteningly high birth rate.

On the surface, all seemed serene, but beneath, countless schemes churned and dark currents surged.

Countless factions lurked, stirring in secret.

And in a few years, the ninja world would even face an alien invasion!

Only by becoming strong enough could one survive better in this world.

Inside the carriage, Mizunai paid no heed to Shixia’s words.

He sneered coldly to himself.

“Let him be arrogant for a little longer.”

“He extorted me for 200,000 and still let Kakazu escape!”

“Does he really think my money is so easy to take?”

As Mizunai pondered these thoughts in secret, a group of Konoha ninja finally appeared not far away.