"Quit playing tricks!"
Faced with Ye Wudi's unexpected gesture, the Root special jōnin chasing from behind didn't show a hint of fear.
Instead, under the watchful eyes of everyone present, he charged forward with two subordinates in tow.
"Hahaha, kid, have you lost your mind? You're actually running straight at us?"
"Enough with the talk. This brat is cunning as hell take him down now!"
"What's there to worry about? He's already trapped inside our barrier. Catching him is as easy as lifting a finger!"
Yet just as the three spoke with utmost confidence…
Whoosh!
Before their very eyes, Ye Wudi suddenly vanished from beside the special jōnin in a flash.
In the blink of an eye, he had inserted himself right into the middle of their formation.
The surrounding Root operatives all tensed up at once, thinking Ye Wudi was about to unleash some hidden trump card.
But what they got instead was Ye Wudi's signature "triple combo of class."
"Are your wives pretty?"
Huh?
What did this kid just say?
"Mind if I take a look? Maybe have a chat? Help you two add another member to the family?"
What!?
Is he insane?
"Or don't tell me you don't even have wives? Or maybe... you're just that lame, and they've already run off with someone else?"
Nani!?
You little piece of
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 666 points of negative emotion from Root Special Jōnin XXX!
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 666 points of negative emotion from Root Chūnin XXX!
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 999 points of negative emotion from Root Chūnin XXX!
"I'm going to kill you!"
The Root chūnin closest to Ye Wudi could no longer restrain himself. He lashed out with his blade, aiming to slice into Ye Wudi's arm.
Ye Wudi sighed, disappointed.
He'd gone this far with the provocation, and yet out of the seven opponents surrounding him, only one had been enraged enough to lose his composure.
Even the four ninjas maintaining the barrier showed no reaction at all.
Clearly, they were convinced they had him completely under control today.
In that case time to raise the stakes.
"You people are no fun. All violence, no charm. You totally lack my wit, humor, and refined temperament."
"Oh well. In that case…"
Ye Wudi straightened up and raised his right hand.
The three Root ninjas in front of him immediately sharpened their gazes, preparing to retreat at the slightest sign of movement.
"I surrender."
"..."
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 666 points of negative emotion from Root Special Jōnin XXX!
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 666 points of negative emotion from Root Chūnin XXX!
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've received 999 points of negative emotion from Root Chūnin XXX!
After all that, he actually surrendered.
The special jōnin was clearly exasperated, but in the end, he raised his hand to stop his teammate.
Clang!
"Captain!"
"He's surrendered. There's no need to keep fighting. Let's just take him in."
While restraining his teammate, the special jōnin turned and locked eyes with Ye Wudi, staying alert in case he tried to escape.
As much as he hated to admit it, this brat now in possession of Uchiha Shisui's Body Flicker Technique really was fast.
"If we drag this out any longer, there's a chance the Hyūga clan's guards might double back."
"I understand."
The volatile chūnin nearby reluctantly withdrew his blade.
Just as the special jōnin pointed his weapon at Ye Wudi's head and the other two chūnin moved in to bind him, Ye Wudi once again smiled warmly and spoke.
"Say, the reason you're trying to take me in it's for that scroll, right?"
"That scroll?"
Could it be… the training scroll for Uchiha Shisui's Body Flicker Technique?
If they could get their hands on that scroll, their strength would rise dramatically.
The expressions of all seven Root operatives tensed. Clearly, they were tempted.
Ye Wudi shrugged, unconcerned.
"Thought so. Well then, I might as well tell you where it is."
"You can send whoever you want to fetch it. As long as I'm spared, I don't care who takes it."
"Not like I need it anymore, I've already mastered the technique."
"..."
Now they were truly shaken.
This deal they couldn't lose.
All they had to do was send one person to pick it up. Meanwhile, Ye Wudi would remain trapped in their circle. He wouldn't be going anywhere.
But even so, none of them spoke. None volunteered.
Because no matter who was chosen to fetch the scroll, the remaining six would feel at a disadvantage.
That scroll contained the secrets of Shisui's Body Flicker Technique it was too tempting. Who could say for sure that the one sent wouldn't just run off with it?
"You're all dragging your feet. How about this I'll just tell three of you. Then you can figure out the rest yourselves."
While the others hesitated, caught in their own greed and doubt, Ye Wudi suddenly leaned in and spoke in a low voice to the three in front of him.
"How's that sound?"
"Uh…"
They still looked wary, not giving any verbal reply.
But despite the silence, the special jōnin was already inching forward, weapon in hand his body far more honest than his words.
"Alright. Let's hear it."
"Don't worry. I promised I'd tell you something from the bottom of my heart, and I always keep my promises."
From the bottom of his heart?
Something felt off…
Never mind. The priority was getting the method for Shisui's technique.
"Listen closely. The scroll is located…"
"Yes?"
"It's located… in the Pure Land."
The Pure Land?
Nani!?
Whoosh!
Before the special jōnin could react, Ye Wudi split into ten identical figures and encircled him.
"Damn it! He's trying to escape!"
But just as the seven Root ninjas tensed in alarm, each of the ten Ye Wudis smiled disarmingly and spoke in unison:
"Escape? Why would I do that?"
"I said I'd tell you something from the heart and I'm a man of my word."
"For example… like this."
In the next instant, Ye Wudi's true body plunged a blade cleanly and without hesitation into one ninja's heart.
Squelch!