Two days later, Uchiha Feiyun once again stepped into the underground chamber of the Exchange Office.
This time, Que Ni's attitude was even more respectful than before, even personally pouring him a glass of expensive Snow Country strong liquor.
"Nameless younger brother, your bounty has spread throughout the entire underground world."
Que Ni squinted, handing over a scroll. "Currently, three A-rank hunting teams have taken the order, and the 'Blood Crow' team is the most efficient, having already completed two targets."
Feiyun took the scroll and slowly unrolled it. It recorded the latest hunting report:
Sarutobi Kazuya (Genin): Died from poisoning, his body was discovered completely blackened.
Shimura Kenji (Chunin): Ambushed on his way back from a mission, his head was severed.
Feiyun's finger gently tapped the table, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
He looked up at Que Ni: "Good, what's the reaction from Konoha?"
Que Ni lowered his voice: "They've started a lockdown. The Third Hokage is furious, and the Anbu are investigating the source of the bounty. However..."
He revealed a cunning smile: "Our Exchange Office's channels aren't that easy to trace."
Feiyun sneered, then said: "What about the intelligence I asked for?"
Que Ni was prepared, pulling a map from his sleeve with several red dots marked on it: "According to our informant, Sarutobi Tsuguri is a Special Jonin of the Sarutobi clan, currently on a patrol mission at the border of the Land of Fire. He is expected to pass through 'Quyi Canyon' tonight."
Feiyun's fingertip paused on the red dot, his killing intent growing: "Very good."
Que Ni showed a professional smile: "Then I wish you a pleasant hunt."
After leaving the Exchange Office, Feiyun quickly headed to his destination.
After nearly half a day of travel, he finally arrived at the location marked on the map.
This was a narrow rift valley, with towering rock walls on both sides, making it difficult for light to penetrate, and it was perpetually shrouded in shadow.
Feiyun stood above the canyon, looking down at the winding path below, a slight smile playing on his lips: "This is truly a suitable place for an ambush."
He took out three explosive tags from his ninja tool pouch and carefully placed them at key positions on the rock walls.
Next, it was just a matter of waiting for the prey to take the bait... Night fell, and the canyon was utterly silent.
Suddenly, faint footsteps could be heard in the distance.
Sarutobi Tsuguri—a burly Jonin, leading two Chunin subordinates, was patrolling along the canyon.
"Captain, the black market bounties have been causing quite a stir lately. Shouldn't we be more careful?" one Chunin asked in a low voice.
Sarutobi Tsuguri snorted coldly: "Mere bounty hunters dare to touch Konoha's ninja? They're asking for death."
No sooner had he spoken than a faint 'click' sound came from beneath his feet.
"A trap?!"
Boom—!!
The explosive tags instantly detonated, and the huge shockwave caused the rock wall to collapse, sending countless shattered rocks raining down!
"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!" Sarutobi Tsuguri quickly formed hand signs, and a wall of earth rose from the ground, barely blocking the falling rocks.
However, just as he let out a sigh of relief, a dark figure rushed out from the smoke and dust like a ghost!
Feiyun, holding a chakra short sword with a cold gleam wrapped around its blade, stabbed towards Sarutobi Tsuguri at an extremely fast speed!
"Damn it!" Sarutobi Tsuguri hastily dodged, but was still cut on the shoulder, blood instantly staining his sleeve.
"Who are you?!" Sarutobi Tsuguri roared, simultaneously gesturing for his two subordinates to flank him.
Feiyun didn't answer, merely slowly took off his hood, revealing his handsome face and a pair of scarlet Sharingan eyes.
"That's... the Sharingan? Uchiha?!" Sarutobi Tsuguri's pupils constricted. "How is this possible! The Uchiha clan was clearly already..."
"Already annihilated?" Feiyun sneered, "Too bad, I'm still alive."
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Feiyun opened his mouth and spewed a scorching fireball, forcing the two Chunin back.
At the same time, he quickly formed hand signs: "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Three clones instantly appeared, rushing towards different enemies.
"Don't underestimate a Konoha Jonin!" Sarutobi Tsuguri roared, slamming his hands on the ground: "Earth Style: Stone Spikes!"
Sharp stone spikes suddenly erupted from the ground, piercing through two shadow clones.
But the real Feiyun had already leaped into the air, throwing kunai like rain!
"Fire Style: Great Flame Jutsu!" Sarutobi Tsuguri quickly formed hand signs, and fierce flames blocked the kunai.
However, Uchiha Feiyun's true killing move had just begun.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan!"
The moment their eyes met, Tsuguri's movements suddenly froze, the scene before his eyes twisted, as if he had fallen into an endless abyss.
"Damn it... it's genjutsu! My body... I can't move!!"
Sarutobi Tsuguri struggled desperately, but his body was beyond his control.
Pfft—!
Feiyun's short sword accurately pierced Sarutobi Tsuguri's heart.
"This cut is just a little bit of interest."
Blood gushed out, Sarutobi Tsuguri's eyes gradually lost their focus, and he finally collapsed.
The two Chunin only reacted at this moment.
Seeing their fallen captain, they were terrified.
"How can he be so strong? The captain is a Special Jonin!"
Feiyun didn't waste words, directly flashing to and slaying one of the Chunin.
The other Chunin retreated in terror, his hand clutching his weapon trembling.
"Uchiha... we... we're comrades from the same village, let's talk this out..."
Feiyun's three-tomoe Sharingan spun, and he directly cast genjutsu.
—Zing!
The powerful genjutsu immediately pulled the remaining Chunin into an illusion, leaving him standing there like a puppet.
"When you and your captain were cooperating to surround me just now, why didn't you remember we were comrades?" Feiyun sneered.
"Pfft!"
Feiyun's hand rose and fell, directly beheading him.
Waving his short sword forcefully towards the ground, shaking off the blood, Feiyun sheathed his sword.
After searching the three bodies for valuables, Feiyun's eyes lit up: "Not bad, there's over a million in cash alone, plus various ninja tools, this haul is almost 1.5 million!"
He then took out Sarutobi Tsuguri's bounty slip and quickly confirmed it with his eyes.
His brows couldn't help but furrow slightly, and he muttered to himself: "It actually requires bringing back the corpse to get the full bounty?!"
"What a hassle... who did you unlucky bastard offend anyway?"
But complaints aside, Feiyun still grabbed Sarutobi Tsuguri by the collar and slung him over his back with one hand.
For a powerful ninja, carrying a person was nothing; this weight didn't affect him at all.
He had already confirmed the intelligence earlier; the other two Chunin were not bountied, so Feiyun didn't bother with their bodies and directly left the area.
After this battle, Feiyun had a rough idea of his own strength.
Even without using his mental power, relying solely on the Sharingan and ninjutsu, he had comfortably reached the Jonin level!
He couldn't help but secretly think: As expected of the Sharingan clan. The emotional stimulation that night actually allowed a Chunin to directly become Jonin level.
However... Feiyun's mouth curved into a smile.
4.5 million Ryo was as good as in his pocket!