Chapter 76

Standing on the high mountain peak, Zabuza had a cold expression as he sized up the village below.

This was a hidden village nestled among the mountains.

From above, the crisscrossing streets divided the village into several sections. About seventy to eighty households were scattered throughout the small village, looking particularly peaceful.

"Is this the place?" Zabuza asked without turning his head.

Behind him stood a man in gray, as tightly wrapped as Zabuza, with only his eyes exposed.

He wore a brand new forehead protector with a circle engraved in the center. The circle had a slight convex curve from the edge inward, looking from a distance like a bead protruding from his forehead.

Zabuza didn't know what this symbol meant. When he asked Su Zhong, Su Zhong casually decided on this symbol.

Of course, he didn't know that this represented the Boundary-Breaking Pearl, symbolizing the foundation of everything he had now.

"According to reliable information, this is the place. Sir... should we take action?"

Zabuza remained silent.

He was forced to submit to Su Zhong, and how could he be content with that?

But he had no way to resist, and it was impossible to just leave. The pain from the bone-separating technique still made him shudder involuntarily when he thought about it.

If he tried to leave secretly, this pain would be inflicted on Haku.

Zabuza never doubted Su Zhong's cruelty.

The first time they met, Su Zhong threatened Haku's life, forcing Haku to follow him. The second time, he threatened Haku to make Zabuza obey his orders.

This demon's nature of manipulating hearts made Zabuza shudder just thinking about it. If he really betrayed him, the retaliation would be earth-shattering.

But fear couldn't make the rebellious Zabuza submit. Every time he completed a task, he always wanted to delay.

But his subordinates seemed unwilling to delay.

"Sir, we were instructed to find the Tsuchigumo clan as soon as possible. Lord Zabuza, shouldn't we act quickly? Don't delay Lord's cultivation."

Zabuza's expression darkened. These people were gathered with a large sum of money, and they had no loyalty to speak of.

Su Zhong had bought them over with a set of killing techniques.

The killing techniques were derived from the Twelve Life-Taking Swords, divided into levels by Su Zhong, and used as task rewards.

Those who had seen the sharpness of the techniques were fanatically devoted to Su Zhong's tasks.

Even Zabuza, an expert in assassination, had to admit the power of Su Zhong's techniques.

In this chaotic world, such a powerful killing technique was bound to be attractive!

Knowing he couldn't delay, Zabuza put aside his rebellious thoughts.

If he really dared to obstruct, these former subordinates might unite against him and topple him!

Although he now had Su Zhong above him, he still had many people under him. If he lost this position, Haku would immediately be in a helpless situation.

Thinking of this, Zabuza's heart trembled again.

"Has he planned this all along? Using me to control Haku, making him work for him, and using Haku to control me, making me work for him?!"

Zabuza was angry but helpless. Even if he understood, what could he do? His strength was inferior, and it was already good that he could preserve his life.

Sighing, Zabuza gathered his spirit.

"Arrange people in all directions. Our target is the Tsuchigumo clan. Don't let anyone escape, and capture them alive. This time, we are mobilizing so many people to deal with a broken-down small clan. If there are any problems, you will bear the consequences!"

The few people behind him stiffened, fear in their eyes.

Zabuza felt the same. His loyal subordinates, who had been negligent in Su Zhong's tasks, had been turned into cripples by Su Zhong's bone-separating technique!

The generous rewards were tempting, but the punishments were equally brutal.

These people both respected and feared Su Zhong.

Swish!

Several black shadows scattered in all directions.

...

In the Tsuchigumo clan's shrine, Hikotaro, bent with age, was supported by Tonbo to the center of the shrine.

Dragging his aged body, he performed various rituals respectfully and then couldn't help coughing.

"My body is getting worse. Bōtatsu, Tonbo, the responsibility of protecting our clan's forbidden technique will fall on your shoulders."

The two, not much younger, bowed in response: "This is our duty!"

Hikotaro smiled, glancing at a pair of eyes peeking from the door.

"Hotaru! Don't peek, come in!"

"Hehe, Grandpa, how did you find me?"

A bright-eyed and fair-skinned girl, about eleven or twelve years old, skipped in. Running to Hikotaro, she grabbed his wide sleeve, her face beaming with a charming smile.

"Not practicing hard, always playing. I detected your presence from dozens of meters away." Hikotaro looked at his granddaughter lovingly, feigning a stern scolding.

Hotaru paid no attention, her face beaming with joy, saying nothing.

The old man shook his head helplessly, putting away his stern expression, and affectionately rubbed Hotaru's shining golden hair.

"Tonbo, Hotaru's strength is too weak. It will depend on you in the future."

"Hotaru-sama is still young. Her strength will naturally improve with age."

The old man shook his head without speaking.

"A touching scene, but I have to interrupt." A harsh voice suddenly sounded outside the shrine.

"Who let you into the ancestral shrine, Bōtatsu!" Bōtatsu sat up abruptly, scolding urgently.

Bōtatsu's face showed a moment of struggle, his eyes more determined: "Father, are you really going to guard that forbidden technique until death?"

"What nonsense! Get out now!" Bōtatsu's eyes flashed with anxiety. Bōtatsu was his son, and such rash behavior in the ancestral shrine was a grave offense.

Hikotaro waved his hand: "Enough, don't be too harsh. Bōtatsu is a genius of our Tsuchigumo clan and will eventually qualify to come here."

Bōtatsu raised an eyebrow, ignoring his father's frequent glances: "Genius? A genius destined to guard a useless forbidden technique until death? I'd rather not be a genius."

"Bold, Bōtatsu!" Tonbo shouted.

Hikotaro straightened his bent back, pulling Hotaru behind him, and looked sternly at Bōtatsu. He stopped Bōtatsu and Tonbo from attacking.

"Let him continue."

"Fine, for that meaningless forbidden technique, countless people have died at the hands of outsiders. Every day, I almost see my father's and my own fate! The Tsuchigumo clan cannot be burdened by this. Either destroy it completely or use its power to gain the dignity our clan deserves!"

"Silence!"

Bōtatsu shouted, turning to kneel and bow to Hikotaro.

Hotaru, hiding behind, her eyes filled with fear, didn't understand what was happening.

"Why silence? With the power of the forbidden technique, our Tsuchigumo clan can become like the Uchiha and Senju. Then, the entire ninja world will fear us!" Bōtatsu's eyes gleamed with fiery light.

Hikotaro was about to speak.

A sudden voice echoed in the shrine.

"Sorry to interrupt your wonderful performance. Unfortunately, I don't have time to appreciate it. Also, even if you use that forbidden technique, no one will fear you. Decline means elimination. A declining clan hoping to rise again with a forbidden technique? Ridiculous!"

The people in the shrine were shocked, not expecting someone to have infiltrated so close!

A faint mist suddenly appeared in the center of the shrine.

"Fog Hidden Technique?! You're from the Hidden Mist!" Tonbo exclaimed in surprise.

Bōtatsu, ignoring the betrayal, immediately picked up his weapon and went on high alert.

"Hidden Mist? No, no, no, you don't need to know who we are. What you need to know is, come with us."

"Bold, daring to covet the Tsuchigumo clan's forbidden technique. Aren't you afraid of the Leaf Village's pursuit?!" Hikotaro shouted.

Zabuza sneered. The Leaf Village? The lord above him was a Leaf defector, and even without dealing with them, he would still face the Leaf Village's pursuit.

"Too much talk. Move, take them all down!"

Zabuza had no patience to argue.

His large sword tore through the thick weapon, smashing toward Bōtatsu.

Bōtatsu, indeed a ninja genius, formed hand seals, and a large "Yū" character suddenly appeared in front of him.

Boom!

The large sword split the black character in half. Zabuza's wrist turned, changing the slash to a strike.

With a thud, Bōtatsu was sent flying, crashing into the wall and falling unconscious.

"Is this a genius?" Zabuza sneered.

Pulling back his hand, the large sword slid in an arc, slashing fiercely behind him.

Clang!

Sparks flew. Tonbo, who tried to sneak an attack, was immediately slashed away by Zabuza.

Tonbo, lying on the ground, just managed to get up to counterattack when a heavy hand strike hit his neck, and he fainted.

Zabuza formed hand seals, and with a thought, the thick fog dissipated, and the shrine returned to clarity.

Looking at Hikotaro and Tonbo, who were already bound, Zabuza nodded in satisfaction.

"Zabuza Momochi?! How dare you come to the Fire Country?! The Leaf Village won't let you go! Wanting my forbidden technique, I tell you, it's impossible!" Hikotaro shouted in shock.

Zabuza sneered. He wasn't interested in any forbidden technique. His task was to bring the Tsuchigumo clan back alive.

Ignoring Hikotaro's defiance, Zabuza turned to the person entering the shrine and asked, "Are they all captured?"

"Seventeen in total, all captured," the person replied succinctly.

"Each person is responsible for one. Give them enough sedatives, regardless of age, and take them all away!"

Hikotaro was shocked. He didn't expect the enemy to be so powerful. The Tsuchigumo clan, with few remaining members, had been completely captured.

He couldn't help but look at the unconscious Bōtatsu.

At this moment, he felt that the other's words were correct. If they had used the forbidden technique earlier, their clan's strength wouldn't be so weak.