"Oh my~ Mr. Mingyue, are you going to kill him? He's one of Genshi's trusted subordinates. This could cause trouble, you know."
Sensing the killing intent emanating from Mingyue, the White Zetsu clone on the ceiling asked in a tone that was both surprised and teasing.
"He most likely saw something he shouldn't have. That guy Obito has probably been annoyed with Genshi and his faction for a long time, right? If I kill him, Obito should be thanking me instead."
Without even glancing at the White Zetsu clone, Mingyue vanished in an instant.
Such an advanced Body Flicker Technique.
...
...
One minute earlier.
In a dark alley about one kilometer away from the Kaguya compound where Mingyue lived.
After considering the distance to the Kaguya compound, Ao formed a one-handed seal. The veins around his right eye, which was covered by a black eyepatch, bulged.
"Byakugan!"
The vision in Ao's right eye, which had been covered by the eyepatch, instantly became clear and telescopic. His field of view zoomed forward.
Finally, it entered the Kaguya clan grounds and locked onto the back of a figure sitting in the mansion's main hall, reading a giant scroll.
"Hmm?"
Ao frowned slightly, increased his dōjutsu power output, and pulled his vision in a bit closer.
Next, he saw the other person's true face clearly.
At the same time, he also saw the giant scroll's true identity—
The Scroll of Seals!
Ao stumbled back two steps in fright.
His back slammed hard into the corner of the alley wall.
He simply couldn't believe what he was seeing.
That... that's... Konoha's Scroll of Seals!?
After several seconds, Ao managed to regain his composure. He was about to use his Byakugan again to get a clear look at "Ming's" face.
The shock of seeing the Scroll of Seals had been so great, he had forgotten to look at the man himself.
However, when Ao used his Byakugan to look towards the Kaguya compound again.
What he saw made his pupils constrict in shock once more.
The person sitting in the living room ten seconds ago had disappeared!
"Looking for me?"
The tone was like a friend's greeting, but it made Ao break out in a cold sweat.
As he looked up towards the source of the voice, the moonlight revealed a face that looked like a fusion of an adult Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke.
Uchiha Mingyue!!!
Ao was completely dumbfounded.
He wouldn't have imagined this even in his wildest dreams.
The Fourth Mizukage's trusted subordinate was actually the S-rank rogue ninja that Konoha had been hunting not long ago!
Why would the Fourth Mizukage collude with a Konoha rogue ninja!?
In an instant, Ao had too many questions, but only one thought in his mind—
Run!
Even as a Jonin, he didn't dare fight Mingyue.
Konoha's wanted poster stated it clearly—
S-rank rogue ninja, awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, developed his own unique Fire Style, an Uchiha of Kage-level strength.
Not only that, there was a consensus in the ninja world: never fight one-on-one with an enemy who possesses the Sharingan. If you encounter one, don't hesitate, just flee!
For Ao, there was another reason he was so wary of the Sharingan.
Two years ago, at the end of the Third Great Ninja War, he had been soundly defeated by a then 10-year-old Uchiha Shisui.
These three reasons combined made Ao not dare to fight Mingyue at all; he turned and fled.
However, reality is cruel.
The moment Ao turned.
On the surface of Mingyue's body, who was sitting on the rooftop, a giant, jet-black skeletal ribcage suddenly appeared, and a giant skeletal arm extended from its right side, grabbing Ao in its palm.
"Ugh!"
Ao gritted his teeth and struggled with all his might, but he was as helpless as a fish on a butcher's block.
"There's no need to bring out the Susanoo for a guy of this level, is there? Mr. Mingyue, isn't the drain on your dōjutsu power severe?"
The White Zetsu clone emerged from the wall at that moment.
"You... you guys... are..."
Seeing White Zetsu, Ao was even more shocked.
First a Konoha S-rank rogue ninja, and now this inhuman, monstrous creature.
The secrets hidden behind the Fourth Mizukage seemed to completely exceed his imagination.
"Either way, you're not leaving here alive today. Who told you to look at things you shouldn't have~"
The White Zetsu clone taunted with a grin.
At that moment, Ao could feel the skeletal arm holding him gradually closing.
"Quick, stop, sto—"
Squelch!!
Before Ao could get the last word out, Mingyue's Susanoo had already crushed him into a paste.
Only a single head was left, falling amidst the pulp of flesh and blood on the ground.
The black Susanoo then disappeared.
Glancing at Ao's remains on the ground, the White Zetsu clone said with a wicked smile:
"With this, Genshi can only swallow his anger and suffer in silence. He has no proof. He truly underestimated your power, Mr. Mingyue."
Mingyue felt no psychological burden at all over Ao's death.
He did intend to recruit talented people, but someone of Ao's level was completely beneath his notice.
Besides, he saw something he shouldn't have.
Genshi's group, in Mingyue's eyes.
Was no different from Obito.
To completely control Kirigakure.
Both factions had to be dealt with.