"Crystal Release: Crystal Mirror."
A flawless, shimmering mirror of pure crystal materialized in front of Yun Zhong Qufeng, casting back a pristine reflection of his face.
"Crystal Release: Crystal Clone Technique." As he completed the jutsu, the mirror shimmered, and the reflection within slowly stepped out. It was a perfect replica of him, indistinguishable from the original.
The two Qufengs exchanged a knowing nod. No words were needed; their thoughts were already aligned.
The clone turned and casually made its way toward the direction of the suspected Hidden Cloud spy, while the original concealed himself in the thick underbrush, ready to strike at the right moment.
…
"Damn this twisted forest. If I knew it was going to be like this, I'd have just taken the main road. I'm not even a ninja anymore," grumbled Tanabe Mitsuji, trudging through the dense woods with no sense of direction.
He muttered complaints under his breath, wiping sweat from his brow.
"If I had more power, I wouldn't be stuck running espionage missions."
While lost in his self-pity, a child suddenly stepped out in front of him. The appearance was so sudden that Tanabe jolted in surprise.
"Whose kid is this? Damn near gave me a heart attack!"
Qufeng's clone smiled cheerfully. "Sorry, mister. I saw you wandering and thought you might be lost."
Tanabe's eyes narrowed slightly, but he forced a tired smile and replied, "Yeah, I'm from the capital. My sister married someone from Konoha, so I came to visit. But I ended up lost in this blasted forest."
"I can guide you out. I'm familiar with these woods."
Tanabe's eyes lit up with a spark of false gratitude. "Really? Thank you so much."
To an unsuspecting observer, he would appear to be a worried older brother on a heartfelt visit. But fate had brought him to the worst possible encounter — Yun Zhong Qufeng.
"Uncle, I can lead you out, but I'm hungry. There's a price for my services."
Tanabe gritted his teeth inwardly, sensing the kid's intention to extort him, but kept his pleasant facade intact.
"All right, let me check what I have," he said, pretending to rummage through his bag. His fingers brushed over a concealed kunai as he bided his time.
After a moment, he paused and lifted his hand. "Here. Come closer. I've got a flatbread for you."
Qufeng's clone smiled brightly and stepped forward without hesitation.
The moment they were within striking distance, Tanabe sprang into action. His hand darted out of the bag, clutching a gleaming kunai that he drove toward the child's chest with a vicious thrust.
"Stupid brat. Next time, don't try playing ninja games with adults," he snarled.
Watching blood spray from Qufeng's mouth, Tanabe sneered with smug satisfaction. "Your performance was decent, I'll give you that. But I've been around for over twenty years. You made the mistake of treating me like a fool."
But instead of seeing the eyes of someone dying in fear, he saw something far more unnerving — a smile.
"That's why you're the one who's going to die."
A clear, piercing sound rang out as if glass shattered in the air. The next instant, a rain of razor-sharp crystal shards exploded outward.
Each shard was as clear as glass, yet deadly as steel, descending in a torrent from all directions. There was no room to dodge, no time to react.
In seconds, Tanabe's body was riddled with wounds. He was still alive, barely, gasping in agony as blood soaked into the forest floor beneath him.
From behind a thick tree trunk, the real Yun Zhong Qufeng stepped out, his expression calm and steady.
"I never underestimated you. You were simply too full of yourself."
"C... crystal?" Tanabe croaked out with the last of his breath.
"That's right. Real crystal. If you had actually managed to kill me, maybe you'd have become rich overnight," Qufeng replied with a mocking grin.
"Please... spare me. My daughter... she was just born."
"Sorry. I have people I must protect as well."
"Crystal Release: Crystal Prison Technique."
A fierce, white glow surged beneath Tanabe. In moments, a massive crystal erupted from the earth, encasing him in a transparent tomb.
Sunlight filtered through the tree canopy, striking the crystal's surface and breaking into dazzling bands of color. The result was breathtaking — a kaleidoscope of refracted light turned the deadly prison into something resembling a masterpiece.
Tanabe's face, twisted in fear, was frozen inside the crystal, captured like a fossil in amber. Beautiful, yet cruel.
That was the Crystal Prison Technique. Once captured, the victim rarely survived. It was practically a death sentence.
Qufeng snapped his fingers, and the crystal shattered instantly, scattering into a cloud of glittering powder that drifted through the air. The scene was like a funeral of light — silent, radiant, and final.
He would never allow anyone to disturb the peace of his world.
"Imagine. A spy making it all the way to Konoha's front door, and no one noticed."
"If not for me, Konoha would've been finished eventually."
[Chaos Event Concluded. Completion Rating: C+. Reward: 1400 Peace Points.]
[Because the host killed Tanabe Mitsuji directly, Konoha's spy disruption plan failed. Chaos Level increased by 5.]
What?
"Are you kidding me?"
"I wasn't supposed to kill him? What, I was supposed to invite him to a hot bath? Treat him to a fancy meal?"
"This damn system is messing with me. I outsmarted him, fought tooth and nail, and you're punishing me for winning?"
"I feel like Wu Zetian mourning Li Zhi. I've already lost everything!"
"I want to see which bastard came up with this nonsense. I'm going to the Hokage! If I don't get an explanation today, even Hashirama Senju isn't safe from me!"
Seething with fury, Yun Zhong Qufeng stomped his way back toward the village. Passersby gave him curious glances, mistaking him for an angry child going to tattle on someone.
No one could have guessed that this six-year-old, silver-haired boy was planning to confront the very First Hokage. Even though a single swing from Hashirama's colossal wooden fists could crush him into a pebble.
When he reached the Hokage Tower, Qufeng greeted the guards politely.
"I'm not here to attack the Hokage. I'm here to retrieve my father's will."
The guards, recognizing him and sensing no hostility, allowed him to pass without question.
Inside, the corridors were mostly empty. Soon, he stood before the Hokage's office.
He took a moment, then replaced his fierce expression with one of harmless innocence.
"Uncle, I am the new clan head of the Yun Zhong Clan. I've come to see the Hokage and collect my father's will."
The guard, a member of the Senju Clan, smiled warmly. "Go ahead. The Hokage is inside."
Though technically guards, none of them expected actual threats.
Seriously, who in their right mind would try to assassinate the First Hokage?
Qufeng knocked three times. A deep, authoritative voice called out from within. "Come in."
As he opened the door, he saw the man who had made the entire ninja world kneel. The God of Shinobi. Hashirama Senju.
The moment Hashirama looked up, he recognized him instantly. "You're Yun Zhong Shan's son, Yun Zhong Qufeng, aren't you?"
"Hokage-sama knows me?"
Qufeng hadn't expected the leader of the village to remember someone as insignificant as him.
"I remember everyone in the village. Your parents were two of my most trusted comrades. Their deaths were a great loss."
"They gave their lives for the village. As long as the village survives, so do they."
He still didn't know exactly what convictions his parents carried when they died. The village had only just been founded. Yet they had given everything.
And his words came from the depths of his soul. Though the future might turn dark, he now had the power to change things.
Hashirama slammed his palm on the desk with conviction. "Well said! As long as the village endures, so do they!"
"You're here for the will, aren't you? Shan entrusted it to me for this very day."
Hashirama reached under the desk, pulled open a hidden compartment, and retrieved a yellowed envelope. He handed it to Qufeng.
Just as Qufeng reached out to take it, the office door burst open with a crash.
For a split second, Qufeng thought some lunatic had come to assassinate the Hokage.
"Big Brother! I need to talk to you!"