Duy Ni suddenly retracted every trace of his smile, fixing the newcomer with a cold, lifeless stare.
It was the same look one would give to a dead man.
"L-Lord Duy," the newcomer stammered in panic, "is this some kind of new joke? Ha, haha! What a great joke! Everyone else, laugh too! Boss clearly just told such an amazing punchline!"
But the boss had always been such a friendly, approachable guy—how could he look so terrifying now?
Yet no one answered his question.
Even if someone had, he wouldn't have heard it anyway.
[Boom!]
A concentrated ball of water exploded right in front of the newcomer, splattering brain matter everywhere.
But everyone in the room acted as if they hadn't seen a thing.
They simply wiped off the blood-streaked mixture of water and brain matter from their bodies using tissues.
Not even glancing at the headless corpse lying on the ground.
"I hate arrogant fools like you the most! Can't you see I'm furious?"
Duy Ni's face was already sinister by nature, but when he twisted it into a snarl, it became outright horrifying.
Still, the department heads around the table remained indifferent.
Only after Duy exhaled sharply did one of them finally speak in a calm voice: "Sorry everyone—I just get like this whenever I think about that bastard Harada. Anyway, let's get back to business now."
The team captains exchanged glances before giving slight nods, finally loosening their tense expressions.
At that moment, Lord Duy returned to his usual self.
Truth be told, Lord Duy was usually extremely kind toward his subordinates—except for one type: fools.
Creak.
Suddenly, the door—something that shouldn't have moved—was gently pushed open, drawing all eyes outside.
There stood a red-haired youth, sword already drawn—a silver-white blade gleaming in his hand.
He faced them all with cold indifference, his gaze as lifeless as one shown to corpses.
"Are you Duy Ni?" The youth asked tonelessly. "You ready to meet your end?"
To be continued.
Chapter 233 – Business
"You… Who are you?" Duy Ni asked, fear creeping into his voice as he stared at the figure before him—even though it was just a child.
How could there possibly be an ordinary child that even *he* hadn't sensed approaching this place?
This was simply impossible unless the boy's power actually surpassed his own. Yet for someone so young to have strength greater than his? That was unthinkable.
"It's complicated to explain, and honestly, you don't need to know," Shiki Uzumaki shrugged casually, wearing an expression of helpless resignation.
Seeing the boy's calm and unconcerned demeanor—as if killing him required no effort at all—unease rose within Duy.
Though he didn't believe he would die here easily, caution still made him carefully ask, "Since we're strangers, someone must've hired you to kill me."
"For someone like you to kill me, no matter which ninja village you belong to or whatever organization you work for, it must cost quite a sum. If possible, I'd like to offer double that amount. And if you could tell me who hired you in the first place, even better."
Only Duy Ni spoke; none of the others at the table uttered a word.
Duy Ni's ministers appeared utterly indifferent to his life or death.
Yet Shiki Uzumaki could clearly sense that everyone here had already tensed their nerves. It was obvious that if negotiations between Duy Ni and himself broke down, they would strike like thunderclap to kill him.
That said,
If his opponent were a regular ninjutsu-type or genjutsu-type ninja, then maybe at such close range, there might be a real chance of success.
But he himself specialized in taijutsu—in fact, in ninja-style body techniques.
"Better to open at least two gates of the Eight Gates Formation just to be safe."
Shiki Uzumaki's cold gaze flashed with a trace of chilliness. Even though he knew his opponents probably stood no chance against him, out of caution, he silently activated [Opening Gate] and [Healing Gate].
Opening these two gates wouldn't cause noticeable physical changes nor release blood-steamed chakra. If not for knowing how cumulative damage from the Eight Gates Formation affected the body over time, Shiki might have wanted to remain permanently within these first two opened gates.
"I originally thought you were someone exceptionally strong, but now I never expected you'd make such an elementary mistake. Not disclosing client information seems to be a rule universally followed by all ninja villages."
Shiki gently wiped his blade with his finger. Originally, he had planned to immediately eliminate Duy Ni using decisive, lightning-quick means.
However, something else soon caught his interest.
"So you are indeed a ninja from a great ninja village," Duy Ni sighed slightly. "You're right; this rule about confidentiality is observed only by large hidden villages. But smaller villages or underground organizations don't follow this code. After all, those accepting missions usually do so out of greed. When there's a chance to earn more, why not take it?"
There was a persuasive edge to Duy's voice, gently nudging Shiki toward that very decision.
Suddenly, he noticed the red-haired kid frown slightly before Duy finally understood—this path led nowhere.
Yet still, he attempted one last appeal.
"Although you don't wear a forehead protector bearing your village's symbol, judging from your performance, I can confidently say you're definitely a ninja from one of the great villages. Plus, considering we are near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain and Amegakure ninjas haven't been taking many missions lately, you're almost certainly from Konoha. Given Konoha operates under strict regulations, any cooperation between us appears unlikely."
Duy concluded his deduction with finality.
Shiki nodded slowly, acknowledging Duy's words.
Even in such unexpected circumstances, remaining calm enough to analyze accurately deserved genuine respect.
"You've really thought this through. If that's the case, are you ready to die—or are you just stalling for time, planning to take me down with you?"
Shiki Uzumaki asked mockingly.
"No, I've always believed that anything's possible." Duy Ni's thin face suddenly turned serious as he studied Shiki Uzumaki closely.
"Take this transaction, for example. Since you were sent here to kill me, it proves there's no personal vendetta between us. That opens up the possibility of cooperation. And the real obstacle preventing us from completing a profitable deal is merely Konoha's rules. So let's think—what if we could bypass those rules?"
"I'll admit—you're full of ideas. That explains how you got where you are."
Shiki Uzumaki found himself increasingly drawn to this man called Duy Ni. He even found himself oddly tempted to bring him on board.
But clearly, Duy Ni wasn't particularly moved by Shiki's approving gaze and continued speaking.
"If that's the case, what do you say we team up and eliminate the person who assigned this mission? Then you could get three times the reward and not have to worry about Konoha's repercussions afterward. How about that? After all, you don't even know them in the first place. If you're worried about morality—well, in the Land of Rain, I'd say I'm still one of the better guys out there. I only kill those who are truly greedy."
Suddenly, Shiki realized—the people who came to Nikamura would first be robbed clean, then given three free days in this village.
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