Chapter 75 — Just a Brute
A stood where he was, lightning chakra crackling violently around his body, illuminating the grim expression on his face.
The air was thick with the smell of blood and burnt flesh.
Fragments of flesh scattered across the ground, along with the corpse lying nearby with a kunai lodged in its throat, all served as vivid reminders of what had just occurred.
"Good… very good…" he muttered in a low voice, barely restraining the boiling rage beneath it.
As a taijutsu specialist, tracking had never been his strength.
The enemy had escaped amidst the chaos, and by now there was no trace left to follow.
As for returning to the Chinoike settlement?
Who knew what kind of trouble those people might stir up again?
More importantly, he needed to reassess this seemingly fallen clan.
Without another word, A turned and dashed toward the Uchiha camp.
Under Lightning Release Chakra Mode, his figure carved a brilliant streak of light across the valley.
---
Inside the Uchiha camp, Batō was quietly reading a scroll.
When he heard the distant explosion echoing through the valley, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
Not long after, he saw A approaching the camp, radiating killing intent.
"Lord A, you're back so soon?" Batō asked, feigning surprise.
"Send a message to Chinoike Momoe," A said coldly, his voice like frozen steel.
"Tell them I'm very dissatisfied with today's farce."
"If they cannot completely purge their internal problems…"
"Then they can remain in Hell Valley forever."
With that, he turned decisively and left.
His figure shot away like a bolt of lightning, disappearing completely from the Hell Valley region.
---
Batō remained standing where he was.
Only after A's presence had completely vanished did a satisfied smile slowly spread across his face.
"Everything is proceeding according to plan…" he murmured softly.
"A brute will always be a brute."
Turning back into the command tent, he summoned a trusted subordinate.
"Go inform the Chinoike clan that those three fools angered the Kumogakure envoy."
"If they show any further signs of unrest, Kumogakure will abandon them entirely."
He paused before adding calmly:
"And clean up the area near the valley entrance."
"Bring back whatever remains of the bodies."
Meanwhile, inside the Chinoike settlement, Momoe and the elders were deeply unsettled by the distant explosion.
The blast had occurred far too close to the valley entrance.
If they rashly went to investigate, the Uchiha guards could easily accuse them of attempting to escape and kill them on the spot.
So when an Uchiha ninja arrived with a message, everyone's hearts sank.
"That's all?" Momoe asked unwillingly. "The Kumogakure envoy said nothing else?"
"Lord A was extremely angry," the Uchiha messenger replied expressionlessly. "He left immediately after delivering his words. He said you should reflect on your own actions."
After the messenger departed, one of the elders finally slammed his palm against the table.
"This is outrageous! We've already—"
"Enough!"
Momoe cut him off, rubbing her temples in exhaustion.
"What's the point of saying these things now?"
She looked around at the elders and clansmen, her voice heavy with helplessness.
"Pass down the order. No one is to leave the settlement without permission."
"Until we receive further news, no one is to act rashly."
Even though she had doubts about the Uchiha's message, in their current situation she dared not challenge it—nor could she verify it herself.
---
From a distant cliff wall, Yami watched everything unfold.
His Kagura's Mind's Eye remained fixed on the Chinoike "defector" who had escaped earlier.
Just as he expected—
The man had not returned to the settlement.
Instead, he followed an extremely hidden path, silently moving toward the outer valley.
Even more strangely, the man slipped skillfully into an abandoned camp right under the nose of an Uchiha sentry, as if he had done this many times before.
Yami followed silently, his figure flickering between the jagged rocks along the cliffs.
He noticed the small path had clearly been used often.
Yet it did not appear on the Uchiha patrol routes listed in the intelligence reports.
The abandoned camp lay deep within a narrow crevice, completely inconspicuous from the outside.
He did not have to wait long.
Footsteps soon approached.
Yami immediately concealed his presence.
An Uchiha ninja appeared, carrying a body bag.
Inside it was one of the Chinoike clansmen who had been killed earlier at the valley entrance.
"Good work," the Uchiha ninja said flatly as he tossed the body bag onto the ground.
The Chinoike defector stepped out from the shadows, his crimson eyes glowing faintly.
"Lord Batō promised me—"
"What's the hurry?"
The Uchiha ninja cut him off coldly.
"Lord Batō keeps his word. Just wait."
From the shadows, Yami narrowed his eyes.
As expected.
Everything had been a carefully arranged scheme by Batō.
And the Chinoike ninja who had attacked A before "escaping" was actually a pawn Batō had planted within the clan.
---
While the two were speaking, Yami suddenly sensed another familiar chakra rapidly approaching.
The newcomer was Uchiha Yashiro.
His figure appeared on a nearby rock wall as he cautiously observed the abandoned camp.
Gradually, his expression darkened.
After confirming something, he left quickly with a grim face.
Neither of the two men in the camp noticed anything outside.
The tension between them remained thick.
The Chinoike clansman watched the Uchiha ninja warily.
Finally, the Uchiha ninja impatiently tossed him a bundle.
"These are the supplies we promised earlier," he said coldly.
"The rest will be delivered personally by Lord Batō."
The man eagerly caught the bundle and rummaged through it.
Inside were items he had never seen before—precious supplies beyond anything found in Hell Valley.
Without even lifting his head, he asked anxiously,
"How much longer? Do you know—"
"Within the next two days, once Lord Batō finishes handling some matters, he'll personally escort you out," the Uchiha ninja promised.
Hearing this, the Chinoike ninja visibly relaxed.
But the moment his guard dropped—
The Uchiha ninja's Sharingan suddenly activated.
Three tomoe spun rapidly.
"Who's there?!" the Uchiha ninja shouted.
"Huh—?!"
Instinctively, the Chinoike clansman looked up.
The moment his eyes met the crimson Sharingan—
His body froze.
His gaze instantly became vacant.
The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the Uchiha ninja's expression—
Cold.
Dismissive.
As if looking at a dead object.
The Uchiha ninja skillfully sealed the man's chakra, casually bound the unconscious pawn, and tossed him into a corner of the camp like discarded equipment.
Then he left without another glance.
---
After confirming the man had gone, Yami emerged from the shadows like a ghost.
He silently stood before the unconscious Chinoike ninja.
Checking the so-called supplies, he found they were nothing more than ordinary travel provisions.
They held little value to Yami.
But for someone who had grown up imprisoned in Hell Valley, such items were nothing less than a gift from heaven.
This man was clearly a pawn abandoned by Batō.
Sooner or later, Batō would likely return to deal with him personally.
The ruthless method only strengthened Yami's suspicion—
This Uchiha squad leader was plotting something far bigger.
And this discarded pawn might become the key to exposing the truth.
After thinking for a moment, Yami stretched out his hand.
Through the system, he pawned the man directly.
After making a few small arrangements at the scene, he quietly left.
Now—
All that remained was to wait for the grand drama to begin.