Translation: Konoha's Bizarre Adventure
Chapter 7: The King of Scammers Novel Title: Konoha's Bizarre Adventure | Author: Beer Bear (Pijiu Xiong) Word Count: 2,529 words | Updated: 2019-07-11 21:09:58
A rogue ninja from the "Hidden Cloud Village"?
To be honest, hearing Master Yuki's words, the surrounding secret guards couldn't quite grasp the deeper implication. However, since it came from the Young Master, they weren't about to object. Even though he was only three, he was the primary heir of the Hyuga and the future clan head.
"What a bold rogue, daring to cause trouble in Konoha at a time like this!"
"No! I'm not a rogue! I'm a Jōnin of the Hidden Cloud! I'm a leading member of the envoy delegation! Don't talk nonsense!"
Being stared at with looks that said 'You're just trash with a lot of nerve,' Darby felt his face burning with humiliation and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"If you aren't a rogue, you should have something to prove your identity, right? Where's your Hidden Cloud forehead protector? Bring it out and let's see."
"That..."
Questioned by the guard captain, Darby was suddenly at a loss for words. Since he was out on a covert mission, how could he possibly carry his village's forehead protector or any other identifying token?
"Tsk. A rogue is a rogue. Still won't admit it? Go! Just catch him first!"
Seeing that Darby couldn't produce proof of identity, the Hyuga guard captain lost interest in talking. His slender frame blurred as he lunged toward Darby, thrusting a palm toward the man's chest!
The Hyuga clan is world-renowned for their Gentle Fist (Jūken). Combined with the Byakugan, which can see the flow of chakra, they possess a supreme advantage in close-quarters combat.
Some might not understand why the Byakugan is so dominant in close combat. To explain: the flow of chakra is equivalent to the flow of "intent." It acts as a warning system for the opponent's next move. For example, if an opponent wants to punch, chakra will flow toward their fists; if they want to accelerate, it flows to their legs. By seeing this "trend," a Hyuga can anticipate every move.
"Gentle Fist: Re-Hua Palm (Violent Flower Palm)!"
The guard captain's hands fluttered like butterflies through flowers. Dozens of palm strikes, like the stingers of lethal wasps, pierced toward Darby's body!
Compared to the "Hard Fist" styles of other clans known for raw power, the strikes of the Re-Hua Palm looked somewhat soft and weak. In reality, being hit by them was no joke.
The Hyuga's Gentle Fist isn't "soft" in the sense of yielding; it refers to damaging the opponent's internal organs and Chakra Pathway System (Keirakuyosei) rather than bruising the flesh with brute force.
No matter how much a ninja trains their physical body, the internal organs and meridian system cannot be hardened. This is a fundamental flaw in human biology. Thus, a single strike from the Gentle Fist can either block meridians—rendering the victim unable to use chakra—or cause internal hemorrhaging. The former cripples their power; the latter takes their life.
Death! If I get hit, I'll definitely die!
In that instant, Darby's heart rate spiked. Though as a Jōnin he had faced death countless times, he couldn't help but feel tense. As an intelligence officer, most of his jutsu weren't meant for combat; even at full strength, he couldn't match a Hyuga secret guard captain head-on. Furthermore, with one leg broken by Yuki's earlier trick, he had no room to resist.
Fine! Kill me! If you kill me, the seal on my body will activate, and the Cloud delegation will find this place immediately! By tomorrow morning, they'll formally demand compensation from the Hyuga! For the sake of the Hidden Cloud's grand plan, what does my life matter?!
With that thought, a look of grim resolve flashed in Darby's eyes. He did something absolutely unthinkable.
To the disbelief of the onlookers, Darby gritted his teeth and lunged forward! He forced his own head directly into the trajectory of the Re-Hua Palm!
What?! The guard captain attacking almost thought he was hallucinating.
This guy... it looks like... he wants to commit suicide?
The captain hadn't intended to kill Darby; he was aiming for non-lethal points. He never expected Darby to be so determined to "frame" them by dying!
Yes, "framing"—or Pengci (a Chinese term for a scam where someone fakes an accident to demand compensation). This noble art, beloved by elderly scammers in future generations, was currently being inaugurated by this Cloud Jōnin.
The Re-Hua Palm was already in motion and could not be stopped! The chakra-laden palm was a split-second away from making contact with Darby's forehead, which would turn his brain into something resembling tofu stepped on by an elephant.
It seemed unstoppable and inevitable. When Darby made up his mind to die, not even the gods could stop him.
Except, of course, for the person who had been staring at him from the sidelines.
So he really is trying to frame us by suicide... in a way, he's a respectable opponent. Though he's also incredibly thick-skinned.
If there was one person besides Darby who had anticipated this "scam," it was Yuki Hyuga. He knew the Cloud's high command had built a double-insurance policy into Darby's mission. Whether it succeeded or failed, they would get what they wanted—provided Darby died here as an "envoy." Yuki only needed to consider how to keep him alive within this house.
Whoosh!
As Darby's head prepared to meet the palm, Kaguya-hime—floating in a space invisible to everyone else—had already closed in. She extended her long, white hair and wrapped it around Darby's neck!
Kaguya-hime's hair was like a white waterfall, long enough to be used as a fishing net, and possessed incredible tensile strength.
"Get down!"
At Yuki's command, Kaguya-hime's body yanked downward. She forcibly dragged Darby out of the air just before his head could be pulverized!
Eh? Ehhhhhh!!!
Darby felt a massive force seize his neck. His body was yanked down toward the ground, achieving a mid-air trajectory shift that should have been impossible!
Because Kaguya-hime's pull dragged him down a significant distance, the Re-Hua Palm merely grazed the top of his head.
What is wrong with this guy? Does he want to die or not? He's making me lose my mind, the guard captain thought. Unable to see Kaguya-hime, he had no idea Darby's sudden descent was involuntary.
Regardless, as a veteran Jōnin who had served in the Anbu for years, the captain reacted instantly. He closed the gap and rapidly struck several points on Darby's body with his fingers!
This was the Hyuga's specialty: Tenketsu (Pressure Point) Striking. After being hit in over a dozen points, Darby found himself unable to move even a single finger.
No! I still have one last chance!
Even in this desperate situation, Darby didn't give up. He snapped his mouth open, preparing to bite down hard!