klisemfg Chapter 556 Konoha Ninja?
Chapter 556 Konoha Ninja?
Xuan Weng scrutinized Zhang Hai, his gaze lingering for a few seconds on the man's black dagger before settling on his impeccably tailored ninja attire. Having lived most of his life and seen countless ninjas, he felt a strange connection to this young man, despite his mask.
"Konoha ninjas?" Xuanweng sneered, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of weariness and distrust. "Konoha ninjas, appearing in a place like this? What are you here for? Are you here to take advantage of the chaos, or to kick someone when they're down?"
Zhang Hai knew that these survivors had experienced a devastating catastrophe, and it was only natural for them to be hostile and distrustful of the outside world. He wasn't angry, but spoke sincerely, "I came here to find Elder Xuanweng, hoping to learn some techniques about fire-style ninjutsu and ninja tool forging from you. As for now... I've seen your miserable state, and I'm not one of those petty people who take advantage of others' misfortunes. I just want to offer help."
Upon hearing Zhang Hai's words, a complex emotion flashed in Xuan Weng's eyes. He glanced at the terrified and severely injured villagers around him, then at the calm face beneath Zhang Hai's mask. Finally, he shook his head, his weathered face filled with vicissitudes and despair.
“Help? We don’t need any help anymore.” Xuan Weng’s voice was tinged with weariness and sorrow. “Yangyan Village… has been completely destroyed. Our homeland has been destroyed, and our people have been killed or wounded. We have neither the strength nor the will to rebuild.”
He slowly turned around, looking at the villagers behind him, then at the destroyed village in the distance. "We will leave here, find a secluded valley where no one knows us, and live out the rest of our lives in seclusion. The world of ninjas is too cruel; we don't want to be involved in it anymore. We just want to live peacefully, far away from all this strife."
His words were filled with despair for the ninja world and a longing for peace. Having experienced the pain of his village's annihilation, he had completely given up on the idea of rebuilding it.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hai raised an eyebrow slightly. He had assumed that Xuan Weng would seek revenge, or at least rebuild the village, but he hadn't expected the man to choose seclusion. While this made sense, it didn't meet Zhang Hai's expectations. He needed Xuan Weng's skills, as well as the valuable resources and geographical location of Yangyan Village.
"Elder Xuanweng!" Zhang Hai's voice became firm, carrying an undeniable power. "The destruction of the village and the sacrifice of our people are indeed a tragedy. But you should not give up hope because of this! The skills and heritage of Yangyan Village, must they be severed just like that?"
He stepped forward, his tone full of allure and promise: "I can help you. I can provide all the resources needed to rebuild the village, including supplies, manpower, and even security. As long as you are willing, Konoha, and even I myself, can be your support. Let Kagerou Village rise again from the ruins!"
Upon hearing Zhang Hai's promise, Xuan Weng's weathered face showed shock. He narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing the Konoha ninja before him. Rebuilding a destroyed village was no small feat; it required immense resources and power. How could an ordinary Chunin make such a promise? Moreover… the information revealed in his words seemed to go far beyond that.
"Rebuilding the village... what exactly is this help you're talking about?" Xuanweng's voice carried a hint of wariness and a touch of probing. "The destruction of Yangyan Village is inextricably linked to Takigakure Village. Their ninjas have infiltrated our village multiple times, attempting to steal the secrets of Fire Release. This time, although there is no direct evidence that they were responsible, they are definitely the prime suspects."
A barely perceptible glint flashed in Zhang Hai's eyes. Xuan Weng had indeed guessed the mastermind. He didn't deny it; instead, he calmly unveiled an even more astonishing plan.
“Elder Xuanweng, I will make Takigakure repay the grudge of Yangyan Village tenfold.” Zhang Hai’s voice carried an undeniable coldness. “And my ‘help’ is to let you see with your own eyes how Takigakure Village is destroyed. I will… hire others to completely wipe Takigakure Village off the ninja world.”
Xuan Weng's eyes widened in shock; he clearly hadn't expected Zhang Hai to say such a thing. Hiring someone to wipe out a ninja village? This was an unheard-of act of madness!
"Hiring... to wipe out a village?!" Xuan Weng exclaimed in disbelief. "This is utterly delusional! No one would dare take on such a mission! Wiping out a ninja village would mean being hunted down by the entire ninja world!"
Zhang Hai smiled dismissively, a smile that appeared somewhat sarcastic beneath his mask. "Elder, you underestimate the dark side of the ninja world. In the face of profit, so-called taboos and so-called morality are nothing but empty words." His eyes gleamed with confidence, as if he could already see the future. "As long as the money is right, there's nothing in this world that no one would dare not do."
He already had a clear choice in mind: Kakuzu, the money-grubbing corpse from the Akatsuki organization. That man would stop at nothing for money, even selling his soul. Moreover, Kakuzu's strength was undeniable, and coupled with his immortality, he was more than capable of completing this seemingly impossible task.
"Money...enough money?" Xuanweng frowned, immediately realizing a crucial question: "Where did you, a mere Chunin of Konoha, get such a massive amount of funds to hire powerful ninjas capable of wiping out an entire village?"
Zhang Hai's lips curled slightly as he uttered a plan that Xuan Weng found unbelievable, yet he couldn't help but applaud.
“It’s very simple.” Zhang Hai’s voice was low, but it carried a chilling undertone. “We will use Takigakure’s own money to hire assassins to completely destroy their own village.”
Xuan Weng's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Zhang Hai, speechless for a long moment. Using the enemy's money to hire assassins, kill the enemy, destroy the enemy's village… this subversive idea, this extreme form of revenge, was beyond his wildest imagination. This wasn't just revenge; it was the greatest humiliation of his enemy!
Xuan Weng's heart pounded. He looked into Zhang Hai's calm yet controlling eyes, weighing the risks and rewards in his mind. Hiring assassins to wipe out a village was undoubtedly an extremely risky move; if exposed, both Konoha and Zhang Hai would face immense trouble. But… the thrill of revenge, the satisfaction of making one's enemies reap what they sowed, was so alluring.
He closed his eyes, and the horrific destruction of Yangyan Village and the deaths of his clansmen flashed through his mind. Especially... his son, who had perished in the war, whose remains had never been recovered.