Zhong Yan's one-swing execution of the Dead End Butcher left both onlookers in complete psychological shock.
Zhao Anmen, though initially composed, was still visibly stunned now that he had witnessed the Uchiha's power firsthand. He had always known it was terrifying—but seeing it was something else entirely.
As for the young girl, who had grown up in Canvas Street and never seen much of the outside world, she was so shocked she couldn't even speak.
"There are really people this strong in the world?" she gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes wide as saucers.
Compared to her reaction, Zhao Anmen was a little more composed—but he was also keenly aware they had to leave immediately. If the Uchiha noticed them, escape might be impossible.
With that, he gently patted the girl on the shoulder and whispered, "You've seen enough now. Let's head back, alright? Your grandma's worried sick about you."
"I don't wanna go back! I need to go to New Eridu! Those guys from Vision lied to us! We haven't been able to reach them in days, and I have to demand an explanation!" she huffed, arms crossed.
Demand an explanation…? If she actually went to Vision's offices in New Eridu and confronted them, she might never make it back alive.
No matter what, Zhao Anmen couldn't let her go—not until she returned to Canvas Street and he could notify New Eridu Public Security to take action against Vision.
"Don't worry. I'll deal with Vision Corporation. But for now, let's get you out of this Hollow—you've been in here too long. The etheric radiation might start affecting you." His tone remained gentle.
Maybe it was the sincerity in his voice, or the calm authority he projected, but after a long pause, the girl finally nodded and agreed to go with him.
…
Meanwhile, Zhong Yan stood amid the cracked earth scorched by black flames from the slain Dead End Butcher.
With a thought, the Amaterasu flames extinguished under the guidance of Kagutsuchi.
That's when he noticed the pair attempting to leave.
"You've been watching for this long... and now you think you can just walk away?"
Zhao Anmen's expression darkened as the Uchiha's voice rang out behind him.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the girl's hand. In the blink of an eye, a golden shimmer cut across the air—and the two vanished on the spot.
In less than a heartbeat, they reappeared over a hundred meters away.
"Wha… What just happened?!" the girl cried, wide-eyed at the sudden displacement. But Zhao Anmen wasn't in the mood to answer.
Only after confirming that the Uchiha hadn't followed did he finally exhale in relief.
But just as he began to relax, a distorted vortex of space spun open a short distance away.
The Uchiha stepped out.
Zhao Anmen's face immediately contorted in alarm. Before he could initiate another teleport, a ring of black flames suddenly erupted around them.
The soaring temperature startled the girl. Zhao Anmen quickly shielded her with both arms, in case the flames closed in.
He could've teleported them out—he had no doubt about that.
But the earlier scene had confirmed one thing: the Uchiha could track their location again with ease.
Back at Victoria Housekeeping, he hadn't pursued them—probably because the range was too far. But here, one teleport wasn't enough to escape.
"I didn't recognize you at first... not until you used that teleport just now. So, I guess killing two of you still isn't enough to make your kind fear me." Zhong Yan approached slowly, a hint of killing intent in his voice.
His hatred for the Nin-Village ran deep. Letting them go last time had already been the greatest mercy he could offer.
And now, after he spared them... they still had the audacity to show up again?
How could he possibly let that slide?
Seeing the Uchiha's deadly aura, Zhao Anmen immediately shouted, "Wait! She has nothing to do with this! She's just a normal kid who wandered into the Hollow. At least let her go."
Zhong Yan paused.
He had already noticed the girl Zhao Anmen was protecting. She'd appeared in the game—she was the one who led the Cunning Hares to Canvas Street.
There was no way she was a member of the Nin-Village. And judging from Zhao Anmen's Public Security uniform, it was clear he wasn't acting as a Shadow this time.
With that in mind, Zhong Yan activated Kagutsuchi and dispelled the black flames surrounding them.
Then, his tone returned to calm. "If the New Eridu Public Security sent you, that means you already know about Vision Corporation. Good. Now that the Hollow has collapsed, go evacuate the residents of Canvas Street before it's too late."
The sudden shift in demeanor stunned Zhao Anmen. Especially after hearing what the Uchiha just said—he almost couldn't believe it.
Could it be… that he destroyed the Dead End Butcher just to trigger the Hollow's collapse and help the residents escape?
Was he… protecting them?
"You… don't tell me this is because of that arrow—"
Zhao Anmen had been researching the Uchiha extensively over the past few days. He knew the man wouldn't act out of some naïve desire to save innocent lives.
Not unless something had changed.
And the most plausible explanation… was guilt. A desire to atone for the destruction caused by that arrow.
If that was truly the case, then from a moral standpoint—he was leagues ahead of the other Shadows of the Nin-Village.
"Some things… it's enough if you just understand them yourself," Zhong Yan replied, voice flat. "Saying them aloud won't do you any good."
Zhao Anmen felt a tinge of awkwardness.
But he quickly realized another problem.
"Right now, Vision has cut all communication from Canvas Street. If we want New Eridu Public Security to send a squad, someone has to make it out first. But evacuating everyone without preparation will only provoke a massacre."
His tone turned grim.
Zhong Yan frowned slightly.
In his mind, once his anonymous tip was sent, Public Security would surely dispatch a team to investigate.
His job was to slay the Dead End Butcher, collapse the Hollow, and let the residents escape the blast zone.
And that plan… should've been sound.
But he had overlooked something.
Behind every polished system, there's always something rotten lurking underneath.
Even an organization that claimed to be the embodiment of justice—like New Eridu Public Security—was no exception.
He… had been too naïve.