"How about it? Do you see the people behind me?"
Standing at the front of the crowd, Gatō wore a smug grin, his eyes filled with contempt and provocation. He raised his thumb and gestured toward the hundreds of fierce-looking men behind him, his tone dripping with threat.
As his words fell, the bandits behind him lifted their weapons in unison. The gleam of blades flashed coldly under the sunlight.
Their gazes were vicious, locked tightly on Genya and his companions. One order from Gatō, and they would rush forward without hesitation to cut them all down.
These bandits were Gatō's loyal dogs, raised over the years to do his dirty work. They made their living through robbery, intimidation, and oppression.
Violence and plunder were second nature to them. When they looked at Genya's group, their eyes even flickered with greed.
"I see them," Genya replied casually, a faintly amused smile playing on his lips. "But what are you trying to say? I don't get it."
His gaze swept across the bandits without the slightest hint of fear. Instead, there was a teasing glint in his eyes, as if he was simply passing time by talking to Gatō. Inwardly, he sneered.
Gatō wanted to threaten him with this rabble? How ridiculous.
Gatō's expression darkened when he saw Genya's calm indifference.
He let out a cold snort and said in a harsh tone, "I'll give you one last chance. Leave right now, and I'll let you go."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Genya's group, trying to find even a trace of fear or hesitation in their faces.
But Genya remained as relaxed as ever, which only fueled Gatō's anger.
"If you don't leave," Gatō's voice grew sharper, "then don't blame me for what happens next!"
But just as his words fell, his eyes suddenly caught something behind Genya — Kurenai Yuhi.
"On second thought," Gatō's grin widened, his tone turning cruel, "since you didn't leave right away… I've changed my mind."
Kurenai Yuhi stood quietly, saying nothing, yet her beauty and calm aura made her impossible to ignore.
Gatō's eyes went wide, his gaze filled with a sudden, wicked desire.
His tone shifted, turning crude and arrogant as he pointed his greasy hand at Kurenai. "She stays with me. The rest of you can leave!"
His words dripped with greed and lust—he already saw Kurenai as his plaything.
Genya couldn't help but laugh. "Hah… you want my Sensei to stay?" He shook his head, his voice laced with mockery. "You're short, loud, and overconfident."
He truly couldn't understand where Gatō found such misplaced confidence to even think about touching Kurenai.
Didn't he realize? Kurenai Yuhi was one of Konoha's Special jōnin. What he was doing was nothing short of suicide.
Even if he somehow managed to hold her back, by the next day his corpse would be lying in the wilderness.
"Kid, what are you laughing at? I gave you a chance! Don't regret it later!" Gatō still didn't realize the danger he was in, continuing his empty threats.
He didn't even notice the darkness clouding Kurenai's face, nor the killing intent that had begun to gather in her eyes.
"If you want my Sensei to stay," Genya said lazily, "why don't you ask her yourself?"
He didn't bother wasting more words on an idiot like Gatō.
Hearing that, Gatō turned toward Kurenai, his face twisting into an oily grin. "Hey, stick with me and you'll live a life without worries. I've got nothing but money!"
He said it proudly, certain that money could solve everything.
What greeted him instead was a flash of cold steel— a shuriken flying straight toward him.
Kurenai Yuhi didn't hesitate for even a second. The shuriken in her hand shot out instantly, grazing Gatō's scalp as it passed, leaving behind a sharp gust of wind.
Gatō shivered from the shock, his face turning pale. Before he could even react, Kurenai's cold voice cut through the air. "Get lost."
Her tone carried no emotion—just pure, biting contempt.
Gatō's expression twisted with fury. Touching the spot where the shuriken had grazed him, his mocking smile vanished, replaced by a feral snarl. "Oh? Such a temper. I like it! Men, catch them all!"
He roared the order, his voice echoing with anger and madness.
At once, the hundreds of bandits behind him stirred. They had been waiting impatiently for blood, and now, with Gatō's command, they raised their weapons and charged forward.
These were desperate men with nothing to lose. For money, they'd do anything—kill, plunder, or worse.
"Haha! I've been waiting for this!" one of the bandits shouted, rushing ahead with a huge blade, swinging it with reckless strength.
"Boss, there's a pretty girl with them! Shouldn't we have some fun first?" another yelled excitedly, his eyes gleaming with greed.
Gatō sneered. "If you can take them down, she's yours."
"Hahaha! Then let's get them!" the bandits roared, surging toward Genya and his group.
Genya watched them approach, his expression calm, a faint smile playing at his lips. He turned slightly toward Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga beside him. "Hinata, Shino—take care of it."
With that, he stepped back leisurely, as if settling in to enjoy the show.
But before Shino or Hinata could even move, Kurenai had already acted.
A shuriken flashed again in her hand—so fast that its path was nearly invisible.
It struck straight between the brows of the bandit leading the charge. His body froze in place, disbelief filling his eyes.
He didn't even have time to scream before he toppled backward, lifeless, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
The remaining bandits halted mid-charge, stunned by the sudden death of their comrade.
Although they usually committed countless evil deeds, they had never seen such a clean and precise method of killing.
Yugito's strength far exceeded their expectations, and for a moment, the bandits' steps slowed, with some even hesitating whether to charge forward.
Gatō saw this and felt a surge of panic.
He hurriedly shouted, "Quick! Someone capture that woman, and I'll give you two hundred thousand ryo! Kill one person, ten thousand ryo!" His voice carried urgency, trying to use money to motivate the bandits.
Sure enough, great rewards always inspire bold men. Upon hearing Gatō's offer, the bandits instantly grew excited again.
The fear in their eyes was instantly replaced by greed, and they raised their weapons to charge once more.
"Kill!" The bandits roared, eager to strike down a few victims and claim the money.
But what awaited them was Shino Aburame's swarm of insects.
At Shino's feet, countless black insects surged out like a tide, quickly crawling toward the bandits.
****
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