thefictionvixens Chapter 155 Looting and Encirclement
Chapter 155 Looting and Encirclement
Chapter 146 Looting and Encirclement
Around 3 p.m., Kazehaya's team brought the sick miner they had picked up from the gold mine back to the city.
The miners were initially skeptical of the Konoha ninjas' claim of "curing ailments." However, upon arriving at the small square and seeing the crowds waiting in line for treatment, they became excited and began asking the people in line for confirmation.
Unfortunately, all the appointments for today were full, so they will have to come back tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the cliff was eroded by rain.
The shadow clone, transformed into "Kirishima Hibiki," stood on the open ground of the mountain stronghold, facing a group of bandits gathered together.
He had informed four Chunin of his plan to raid the Morino clan and executed one of the opponents who was loyal to Morino Iwao on the spot.
Now, the task is to mobilize this group of ugly and vicious bandits. They are not strong enough, but each of them has a criminal record and has even participated in suppressing miners' riots, not even sparing the families of the rioting miners, in order to intimidate the surrounding residents.
"Morino Yan has already handed over the gold mine to Konoha. Without the gold mine, he won't pay us anymore."
"The Konoha ninja will be stationed here for a long time, and the Rain-Eroded Cliff stronghold will be attacked by them at any time."
"So tonight I'll lead you into Morino Mansion, rob all the gold and silver treasures, and then head straight for the Land of Filling."
"Once we get there, we'll be rich and powerful, indulging in food, drink, and entertainment—living the life of luxury!"
The shadow clone, speaking loudly and inciting, ignited the greed in the hearts of the bandits with every word.
"Chief, we'll obey you!"
"Kill Morino Yan and steal all the gold!"
"Go to the Land of Filling, play with women, and become a rich man!"
The bandits brandished their weapons and howled. The shadow clone let them make a racket for a moment before raising his hand to silence them.
"Amamiya, Nobu, and Urushido, divide your forces into three teams, each leading one. I'll handle Ashihara, the captain of the Morino Prefecture's guards."
"Yes, leader!" the three Chunin replied in unison.
"Very good. Eat early, make sure you're full, but no alcohol allowed. Arrive outside Morino Castle before dusk and lie in wait; make your move at midnight."
"Remember, there are Konoha ninja in the city. No noise is allowed during the operation. Head straight for Morino Prefecture, seize the treasure, and immediately retreat north. If you get separated, meet up in the capital of the Land of Dust."
The shadow clone was as meticulously planned as a real bandit leader, Kirishima Kirito, with even an escape route prepared.
These bandits had absolutely no loyalty to the Morino family; they were all blinded by their dreams of getting rich.
The shadow clone, Qian Shuo, smirked, secretly thinking, "Go and die, all the gold is mine. I'll use it to support charitable medical care, which will also be a way for you to accumulate some good karma. If there's a next life, may you be reborn into a better one."
As evening approached, the crowds queuing in the small square gradually thinned out.
(Please remember the website 20 ...
No longer worried about not being able to get a number, the patients will not stay overnight in the square tonight; they will simply get up early tomorrow to queue.
The last patient in line was cured and left happily. Hoshino Senju led the four Iron Blades to pack up their tents and return to the inn, where they met up with Kazehaya's team and had dinner together.
Bored after the meal, everyone gathered in a room to play cards.
Xingyuan Qianshuo did not participate. After watching for a while, he used the excuse of being tired to return to his room.
The oil lamp flickered, and with a quick sense, he detected that his shadow clone was leading more than thirty bandits toward Morino Castle.
The full moon shone brightly, its cool light bathing Morino Castle.
The city was sparsely lit, and many families couldn't afford oil lamps, so they would usually be asleep long ago. But now, under the moonlight, faint sounds of laughter and cheerful conversation could be heard from almost every household.
Xingyuan Qianshuo's free medical treatment brought new life and hope to this long-depressed city.
"If only the ninjas could drive the Morino family away—"
Many people had this thought in their minds, but quickly suppressed it. Decades of oppressive rule by the Morino family had etched fear into their very bones.
However, the thought, though suppressed, resurfaces, quietly taking root and becoming increasingly tempting.
Around 10 p.m., the city's residents were already asleep, and all was quiet.
"Keep quiet and don't make a sound. Don't alert the Konoha ninjas and attack Morino Prefecture directly," the shadow clone, transformed into Kirishima Kirito, said in a low voice.
"Yes, sir," the bandits replied in hushed tones, their voices barely concealing their excitement.
"action."
With a wave of his hand, the shadow clone led the way into Morino Castle.
Morino Castle doesn't have regular patrols like the capital of the Land of Rivers. Especially after the arrival of the Konoha ninja, the Morino clan's guards retreated back into the castle.
The band of thieves, who were originally a disorganized mob, were now driven by the gold and silver treasures and showed some discipline, arriving at Morinofu in a quiet and orderly manner.
"Who goes there?" The guards on duty outside the gate spotted them and shouted sternly.
Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!
Three shuriken pierced the guard's throat with pinpoint accuracy, and he collapsed to the ground, whimpering.
"Charge in and open the main gate first," the shadow clone commanded.
"Yes."
Several ninjas, using shadow clones, leaped onto the wall, quickly dealt with the guards inside the gate, and with a creak, pushed open the gate from the inside.
Ordinary bandits swarmed in. The shadow clone led them straight to the courtyard where Morino Yan was located.
Using Kirishima Kirito's memories and Kagura's perception, he had figured out the guard arrangements of Morino Mansion.
The visible force is mainly composed of samurai. Although the captain of the guard, Ashihara, is a samurai, he possesses the combat strength of a Jonin. There are also two Chunin, several Genin, and more than ten samurai. Hidden in the shadows are one Jonin and two elite Chunin.
Apart from having an additional Jonin combatant, the manor's guard strength is roughly equivalent to that of the Rain-Eroded Cliff stronghold.
Soon, their commotion alerted the Morinofu guards.
"Kirishima Kirito, how dare you act so recklessly!" Ashihara, wielding a katana, recognized the newcomer and roared angrily, "Have you forgotten the kindness of the clan chief in taking you in?"
"What favors are there? It's just a transaction of employment." The shadow clone deliberately raised his voice in response. "I defected from Kirigakure for wealth and luxury. With the Morino family's treasure, where in the ninja world can't I go?"
"You ungrateful jackal, I will slay you tonight!" Ashihara's eyes widened in fury, chakra enveloped the blade, and he charged forward in an instant.
As a samurai, although he did not know ninjutsu, he knew the key to fighting ninjas: use speed to interrupt hand seals, close the distance, and fight in close combat.
However, his speed still seemed ordinary to Xingyuan Qianshuo's shadow clone.
"Water Release: Water Blade Slash!"
The shadow clone infused water-style chakra into a kunai, and the two passed each other.
Ashihara's neck was cut open, blood gushing out, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.
"Kill! Loot all the treasure!"
Seeing their leader kill the enemy with a single blow, the bandits were filled with righteous indignation and charged forward with a roar.
The guards who had come with Ashihara were shocked and hastily engaged in battle, but were quickly killed.
"Go, capture Morino Yan and force him to reveal the whereabouts of the treasure," the shadow clone said in a deep voice.
"Yes, leader!" the surviving bandits responded excitedly.
A building rooftop on the outskirts of Morinofu.
Xingyuan Qianshuo and two Konoha squads, a total of nine people, stood silently watching.
The moonlight was bright, and the sounds of fighting and shouting could be heard from not far away.
The people of Konoha remained outwardly silent, but inwardly they were overjoyed, even exchanging knowing glances.
"Chisaku-kun, what do you think we should do now?" Kazezao Shinobu broke the silence and asked.
Xingyuan Qianshuo pondered for a moment: "Our Konoha needs the residents of Morino Castle to mine, and we should protect them. Therefore, we must not let these bandits leave Morino Prefecture and harass the people."
"Yes, Chisaku-kun is right." The Konoha ninjas echoed in agreement.
"Senior Kazehaya, please lead a small team to the other side and block the bandits' retreat. Your own safety must be the priority," Hoshino Senju added.
"it is good."
Feng Shangren responded in the morning and immediately led his team away in a flash.
Hoshigen Chisaku deliberately left the Iron Blade Squad behind to clear himself of suspicion. Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi or Danzo became suspicious later, they wouldn't be able to find any clear evidence.
Inside the Morino residence, Morino Yan hurriedly got up and dressed, protected by two elite Chunin.
"Where's Night Owl?" His voice trembled.
"Lord Night Owl has gone to investigate the situation," a Chunin replied.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a ninja in his thirties with a short braid appeared in an instant.
"Night Owl, is he a Konoha ninja?" Morino asked urgently.
"They're not from Konoha; it's Kirishima Kirito leading bandits from the mountain stronghold who have broken in," Night Owl replied.
"Kirishima Kiri?" Morino Yan was taken aback, then gritted his teeth, "That disloyal and treacherous bastard, I will tear him to pieces!"
At this moment, the shadow clone quickly led the bandits to Morino Yan's courtyard. This was, as planned, the final scene.
"Morino Yan is in the house ahead, and he's probably guarded by powerful ninjas. I'll use the Hidden Mist Technique to ambush him. You all stay here, and we'll enter once the mist dissipates."
"Yes, leader."
The shadow clone formed hand seals, and thick fog instantly spread, quickly covering most of the Morino Mansion.
"It's the Mist Concealment Technique—Kirishima Kirito is here. You two guard the clan leader, I'll deal with him," Night Owl said in a deep voice.
His eyesight and hearing were exceptionally sharp, and even the thick fog did not hinder his combat ability.
"Not good, so fast!" Night Owl sensed the approaching enemy and hurriedly engaged in combat.
To everyone's surprise, the speed of "Kirishima-giri" far exceeded expectations, and the sound of his movement was almost inaudible.
In the blink of an eye, the enemy had circled behind him, and a sharp kunai imbued with wind-style chakra pierced straight at his heart.
The Shadow Clone Technique swiftly and decisively dealt with the Jonin using the Wind Body Flicker Technique, then rushed into the room without hesitation and easily took down two Chunin.
"Kirishima Kirito, don't kill me—I'll give you anything you want!" Morino Yan pleaded, trembling all over.
The shadow clone curled its lip, said nothing, and knocked the other unconscious with a palm strike.
He then crouched down, placed his palm on Morino Yan's forehead, and used his mind-reading technique.
"Holy crap—they've done so many bad things, they deserve to be torn to pieces. They sent their two sons and wife to the Land of Honey? One is ten years old, the other is three—don't come back. Sure enough, there's a secret treasure vault hidden outside. Luckily, I thought of that."
After obtaining the information, the shadow clone took out a kunai and slashed it across Morino Yan's neck.
Blood gushed out, and Morino Yan awoke in excruciating pain. He futilely clutched his wound, whimpered a few times, and then breathed his last.
The shadow clone left the room and, under the cover of the thick fog, quickly located the Morino Mansion's treasury using Magnet Release: Gold Sand's ability to sense gold.
Outside the Morino Mansion, Hoshino Senju pretended to form hand seals to sense the situation in the fog.
Before long, a large number of gold bricks appeared in his personal space. Some weighed 500 grams each, while others were heavier and larger. Roughly estimated, they weighed 300 jin (150 kg) and were worth about 150 million taels of silver.
In addition, there were four boxes of banknotes, mainly from the Land of Fire, as well as various other valuables.
At this moment, Kirishima Kirito's shadow clone mission is completed, he actively cancels it, and his memories are returned.
"There are still five hundred catties of gold in the secret vault outside the city. Not bad, not bad." Xingyuan Qianshuo's lips curled up slightly, and he nodded in satisfaction.
The sounds of fighting in Morino Mansion had long since ceased, and now the fog was slowly dissipating, leaving the surroundings silent.
"Iron Blade, let's go investigate. Be careful," Xingyuan Qianshuo said in a deep voice.
"Yes," the four Iron Blade members responded.
As the fog dissipated, the remaining bandits stood guard outside the Senye Yan courtyard, but could not hear any movement inside.
"You, go in and take a look." Chunin Amemiya casually picked out an ordinary thug.
The thug dared not disobey and gripped his dagger tightly as he cautiously entered the hospital.
He rushed out, panting, "Everyone inside is dead—Morino Yan is dead too!"
"Where is the leader?" Amamiya asked urgently.
"I don't see the leader—"
Amamiya exchanged glances with the other two Chunin, a sense of foreboding flashing through his mind. He then rushed into the courtyard, only to find Kirishima Kirito nowhere to be seen.
"Three Chunin, four Genin, and a dozen or so ordinary bandits," Hoshigen Chisaku said to the four Iron Blade members.
"Get them out, but leave a few alive for questioning."
"it is good."
The five men instantly plunged into the bandit group. After a fierce battle, most of the bandits were killed or wounded, and the rest knelt down and surrendered.
Three Chunin attempted to escape, but Hoshigen Chisaku killed two and captured one. Two Genin and five ordinary thugs remained.
The Kazehaya squad, having heard of the fighting, rushed over and, after surveying the scene, asked, "Chisaku-kun, what's the next step?"
'
"Iron Blade, keep an eye on these people. Kazehaya-senpai, let's go in and check on Morino Yan," Hoshigen Chisaku said.
The group entered the room and saw Morino Yan's unseeing corpse.
Xingyuan Qianshuo crouched down to examine him, then looked up and said, "He's not breathing."
"Phew—" Kazehaya exhaled a long breath, a look of joy flashing in his eyes.
"Summon the survivors of the Morino family." Hoshino Senju stood up and said, "Also, you are familiar with the other families in the city. Find four or five families with decent reputations and ask them to send someone to witness. We Konoha cannot bear the stigma of murdering Morino Yanagi."
"Ah, yes, yes, Chisaku, you're right." Kazehaya nodded quickly.
After leaving the room, everyone went their separate ways.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Xingyuan Qianshuo formed a hand seal and created a shadow clone, which instantly left Senye City and headed straight for the secret vault outside the city.
Soon, the survivors of the Morino residence were gathered together, totaling twenty-eight people, mostly servants with a few guards.
One of them was Nagano, the manager who had led Kazehaya to the gold mine.
Hoshino Senju's eyes narrowed slightly. He learned from Morino Yan's memories that this guy was no good either. He had done a lot of things to bully the good people, and he was the one who handled the daily contact with Kirishima Kirito's gang.
"Lord Nagano! This is all Kirishima Kirito's conspiracy, it has nothing to do with us!" The captured Chunin Urushido shouted as soon as he saw the butler.
The steward's expression changed. He had already recognized that this group of bandits came from Rain-Eroded Cliff, and had intended to pretend not to know them, but he was exposed on the spot.
"Oh? You know them?" Hoshino Chisaku feigned doubt. "Could it be that you conspired with bandits to kill Morino Yan and steal his family fortune?"
Nagano's expression changed again, and he hurriedly explained, "Lord Sensaku, please understand! This must have been done by Kirishima Kirito! He is a traitorous ninja from Kirigakure, who was taken in by the clan leader but showed no gratitude, betraying his promise and committing murder for his money—"
"Kirishima Kirito—when we arrived after hearing the fighting, the fog was thick, and we didn't see him," Hoshigen Chisaku said calmly.
"My lord! That thick fog is Kirishima Kirito's Mist Concealment Technique! He used the fog to cover his tracks, kill and steal treasures, and escape alone, leaving us to die as scapegoats!" Urushito cried out in protest. "We were forced to come; if we hadn't, we would have been killed—"
Xingyuan Qianshuo nodded slightly—this was precisely why he kept this person: he had some brains, but not enough.
"Kirishima Kirito escaped using the Fog Escape Technique, and has most likely already taken the Morino Mansion's treasure," Hoshigen Chisaku casually remarked. "Butler Nagano, shall we go check the treasury?"
Nagano's heart tightened. Although Morino Iwao was dead, his three sons were still alive, and the family still had hope; if all the treasures were lost, the Morino family would be truly finished.
As for whether this was Konoha's scheme, or whether Konoha would be tempted by the money—the thought only flashed through his mind before he suppressed it, not daring to think about it further.
So he took a few trusted men and led Hoshino Senju and two Konoha ninja to the treasury.
Upon seeing the empty storeroom, the pampered butler, accustomed to a life of luxury, collapsed to the ground, his legs giving way beneath him, muttering, "It's over—the Morino family is finished—completely finished—"
Hoshino Senju watched his performance with a cold eye. From Morino Ichiro's memories, he knew that this butler had amassed a considerable fortune in private and had hidden away a great deal of valuables.
Moreover, he was one of the few people besides Morino Yan who knew about the secret vault outside the city—he just didn't know its exact location. Those who knew its location had already been silenced by Morino Yan.