Name: Mu Yu
Rank: Genin of the Hidden Rain
Affiliation: Subordinate of Chūnin Kusamori
Mission: Monitor cities near the Land of Fire border and record all suspicious individuals suspected to be ninja.
Mu Yu opened his mouth and poured out everything he knew.
A crimson curse mark glowed faintly on his forehead.
Hiruko was maintaining the technique.
Puppet Curse.
"Sensei, I want to learn this," Hyūga Ming said, eyes shining as he stared at Hiruko.
Turning someone directly into a puppet—if this skill reached level ten, who knew what kind of effects it might unlock?
"This curse technique is extremely difficult," Hiruko replied.
"When you return, I'll teach you."
The Puppet Curse was an A-rank technique, similar in nature to sealing jutsu.
Not just anyone could master it.
More importantly—it was Hiruko's own original creation.
"Alright," Hyūga Ming smacked his lips in mild disappointment.
He just didn't know whether Hiruko would still be in Konoha by the time he returned.
"Now that we know his identity and mission," Hiruko said seriously,
"from this moment on, you will replace him. You are now a ninja of the Hidden Rain, gathering intelligence for Konoha."
"If you're ever exposed, reveal your true identity. The Hidden Rain won't dare act rashly."
Small villages rarely dared to provoke major ones—
especially Konoha, which was already being called the strongest village.
That might not be true in a few years, Hyūga Ming thought, but didn't say it aloud.
Once the war began, Hanzo of the Salamander would openly challenge the Three Great Villages.
The only small village in history that dared to do so.
"Understood."
Seeing there was nothing more to gain from Hiruko, Hyūga Ming lost interest in playing along.
Hiruko noticed and didn't push the conversation further.
He looked at the Rain ninja, whose eyes were now empty.
"He's no longer needed."
Shhk!
A flash of steel.
The Rain ninja's head fell, his body collapsing to the floor as the severed head rolled twice—stopping at Hiruko's feet.
[EXP +112]
[Skill: Nen Bullet (Cannot Be Used)]
"Sensei, I'll leave him to you," Hyūga Ming said cheerfully, even smearing some of the blood onto himself.
"You—" Hiruko stared at him in shock.
This kid showed zero hesitation in killing.
And no discomfort around corpses.
That kind of mindset…
Unsettling—but undeniably ninja-like.
Suppressing his unease, Hiruko quickly pulled out a sealing scroll and sealed the body away.
"Clean up the blood yourself," he said, glancing at the floor.
"Relax. No one will notice," Hyūga Ming replied confidently, pulling something from his pocket.
"Wait—why are you taking out an explosive tag?!" Hiruko shouted, eyes wide.
"It's already over!"
"To erase suspicion, of course!"
Hyūga Ming detonated it instantly.
BOOM!!
Flames engulfed the room.
Hyūga Ming was thrown from the window, already transformed into the dead genin's appearance. He screamed hoarsely:
"Konoha ninja attack!!"
Hidden figures instantly appeared, surrounding him.
Their eyes turned toward the burning room.
A figure slowly stepped out through the shattered window.
Hiruko—slightly scorched—lowered his gaze, looking deeply at Hyūga Ming, now protected by Rain ninja.
A gust of wind passed.
Hiruko vanished.
Hyūga Ming's vision darkened.
He collapsed unconscious.
When he opened his eyes again, he was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
"You're awake?"
A cold voice rang out.
Hyūga Ming looked at the man before him.
"Who are you?"
The man frowned, eyes flicking to the bandages wrapped around Hyūga Ming's head.
"I'm your superior. Kusamori," he said coldly.
"Why did that Konoha ninja attack you?"
"Konoha…?" Hyūga Ming clutched his head, face twisted in pain.
It wasn't entirely fake—the explosion had injured him.
He'd deliberately failed to dodge at the last moment.
"I'm Mu Yu… I don't know anything…"
[Endorphin Release – Brain Enkephalin]
The skill didn't just block pain—it allowed emotional regulation.
Now, Hyūga Ming perfectly displayed confusion and memory loss.
Even a veteran actor wouldn't see through it.
Rather than impersonating the original and dealing with existing relationships—
It was far easier to wipe the slate clean.
Amnesia.
Kusamori's eyes shifted slightly.
Without warning, he flicked three shuriken.
Forehead.
Throat.
Heart.
Hyūga Ming slammed his palm down, lifting his body as all three blades missed. He kicked off the wall, charging straight at Kusamori.
Kusamori sidestepped—
—and smashed his knee into Hyūga Ming's abdomen.
Hyūga Ming showed no reaction.
He kicked Kusamori square in the face, sending him crashing into the wall.
Bang!
Before Kusamori could react, Hyūga Ming was on him, straddling his chest, fists raining down.
"STOP!!"
Rain ninja rushed in, grabbing Hyūga Ming.
"He tried to kill me! I'll kill him!! Let go!! LET GO!!"
A sharp chop to the neck.
Hyūga Ming went limp.
Kusamori wiped blood from his face, glaring at the unconscious boy.
"So?" someone asked. "Is he really Mu Yu?"
Kusamori nodded slowly.
"Most likely."
If it were a transformation technique, that fight would've dispelled it.
No transformation meant—
This was probably Mu Yu.
"He's lost his memory. And his sense of pain," Kusamori said, turning to a man in a white coat.
"What's going on?"
The medic frowned.
"Likely brain trauma. Internal bleeding pressing on the nerves."
"This condition has appeared before."
"Amnesia. Loss of pain. Violent tendencies."
He glanced at Hyūga Ming.
"It fits."
Kusamori frowned.
"Can he still be a ninja?"
The medic thought for a moment.
"There have been similar cases. Some quit. Others continued."
"Those who stayed… their strength increased rapidly."
"But they eventually went mad."
"…and died."
Hyūga Ming—still pretending to be unconscious—
let a faint, meaningless smile curl at the corner of his mouth.
It worked.
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