Hyūga Ming stepped out of the tower with a slip of paper pinched between his fingers.
An address list.
Don't think that going undercover meant he couldn't farm experience.
According to the intelligence he had just reviewed, this city housed a large number of rogue ninja.
After the Five Great Nations sealed their borders, most unaffiliated shinobi had been forced into smaller countries.
And among them, the Land of Rain was a disaster zone.
Other minor nations actively expelled rogue ninja.
Rain Village, on the other hand, followed a non-resistance policy.
That policy even extended to rogue shinobi.
Every address on the list had been memorized.
"How terrified do you have to be of the Five Great Nations to implement something like this…"
Hyūga Ming couldn't understand why the current Rain leader, Shōzō, would approve such a policy.
Unrestrained rogue ninja could do anything.
He walked straight up to a secluded house and knocked.
"Who is it!?" a wary voice shouted from inside.
"Your ancestor."
BANG—!
Hyūga Ming kicked the door in, sending it flying.
Inside were several rogue ninja gripping blades.
His gaze swept the room—
Dark, dried blood stained the floor.
According to the intel, a family of four had once lived here.
All dead.
"Rain ninja!?" a bald man near the door shouted in shock.
His companions didn't hesitate.
They charged.
Byakugan.
The disguise from his Transformation Technique concealed the veins around his eyes, only making his gaze appear unnaturally bright.
Hyūga Ming raised his hand.
"Shuriken—Heavy Firepower!"
Shuriken empowered by Bear Crushing Hands tore through the room.
[EXP +80][EXP +77][EXP +95]…
Eight men.
A few managed to block one or two projectiles—
The rest were pierced clean through.
Total gains:
[EXP +645]
Five coin pouches.
One special kunai.
[Rogue Ninja Kunai: +20 Attack]
Another off-hand weapon.
"So weak they don't even qualify as genin."
Hyūga Ming wiped the blood splashed onto his cheek—one of them had been too close.
He retrieved every thrown shuriken.
Money was money.
On to the next house.
He had already mapped every rogue ninja location in the city.
They were nothing more than walking experience packs.
As he stepped outside, his expression suddenly changed.
Under a distant tree—
An enormous chakra signature.
"With chakra like that… it's close to jōnin-level."
The bronze saber appeared in his hand.
"Who's there!? Come out!!"
A red-haired boy stepped out from behind the tree, panic written all over his face.
"I—I didn't see anything!"
He turned to run.
Hyūga Ming flipped forward and landed directly in front of him.
The boy's bangs covered his eyes.
But that appearance—
"…Nagato?"
Hyūga Ming asked curiously.
The boy crouched down, clutching his head, shaking in fear.
He didn't answer.
Just then, a middle-aged man rushed over and stood protectively in front of the boy.
"I'm sorry, honored ninja," the man said hurriedly.
"This is my son. If he offended you, please accept this as compensation."
He pulled out a coin pouch.
Hyūga Ming glanced at the two of them and shook his head.
"No need."
So Nagato was in this city.
Interesting.
He stroked his chin, thinking.
Neither father nor son dared move.
They knew very well—
This young ninja could kill them instantly.
Hyūga Ming looked at Nagato, whose eyes were hidden beneath his hair.
Those eyes belonged to Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan.
Which meant—
Everything Nagato did was already being watched.
Hyūga Ming shook his head.
Madara would drop insane loot—but he was a late-game boss.
Right now?
Untouchable.
His figure vanished.
Nagato's father finally let out a breath, then turned angrily toward his son.
"Why did you run out like that!?"
Nagato lowered his head, silent for a long time before speaking.
"The people who took Aunt Shunai's house…
They were all killed by that ninja."
His father turned toward the ruined house.
And said nothing.
To them, rogue ninja were nothing but tumors.
Another address.
Hyūga Ming knocked.
"Open up—free warmth delivery."
Before anyone could react, he kicked the door open.
Shuriken flew.
The people inside weren't even worth describing.
Final gain:
[EXP +564]
One Lightning-Release skill book.
Three coin pouches.
[Skill Book: Lightning Release · Sensory Lightning]
Straight into the inventory.
Lightning and Water Release weren't his focus.
His priority was Fire, Wind, and Earth.
Even without Earth chakra affinity, game skills ignored that restriction.
If it said "usable," then it was usable.
Experience was limited.
Efficiency mattered.
By the end of the day, Hyūga Ming had wiped out nearly all rogue ninja in the city.
Final tally:
[EXP +1856]
Most drops were coin pouches—ten to a hundred silver each.
Rogue ninja were weak.
Low drop rates.
Far worse than bandit leaders.
Not a single one had true genin-level strength.
If any did, they were hiding much deeper.
The biggest gains:
Low-Grade Health Potion ×5Low-Grade Mana Potion ×3
"Looks like I can finally fight prolonged battles."
"With these, I don't need to rush levels anymore."
Hyūga Ming was thoroughly satisfied.
Kusamori was not.
He slammed the door open and struck the table hard.
"What the hell did you do!?"
"I just killed some rogue ninja."
Hyūga Ming replied casually.
Kusamori took a deep breath.
Was that the problem!?
"Because of you, that old bastard Shōzō wants to replace me as this city's commander!"
This city was crucial.
Recruitment.
Money.
Influence.
Everything flowed through here.
Hyūga Ming grinned.
"Then don't let him arrive."
Kusamori stared at him.
"You mean…"
"Kill the one he's sending to replace you."
Hyūga Ming said it plainly.
Kusamori shook his head firmly.
"That's impossible. That would be betraying Rain Village."
As if you haven't already.
Hyūga Ming rolled his eyes internally and pressed on.
"As long as he's a chūnin, I can handle him."
"You?" Kusamori looked doubtful.
Hyūga Ming smiled wide, teeth flashing.
"I'm very strong right now."
"…Want to test it?"
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
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