"I should have reminded you to leave one alive."
Halbarad let out a sigh.
He truly hadn't expected the slaughter to be that fast...
"What's the point of leaving one alive?" Garrett asked as he walked over, though he hadn't yet sheathed his sword.
"Sometimes you can extract useful information from them."
"Very well then."
The longsword, still glowing with brilliant blue light, pressed against an orc's throat. The orc was lying on the ground, covered in blood...
2025-08-05 17:34:01 +0000 UTC
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"It just feels a bit too quiet."
Halbarad was vigilantly scanning their surroundings as he rode ahead. Ever since they had mounted their horses and set off, he hadn't let his guard down for a moment.
"In my experience, there should be plenty of orcs around here. Or perhaps some goblins emerging from their holes, they love ambushing travelers."
"There might even be wargs prowling at night."
"In the past, I would never take this route unless absolutely necessary."
...
2025-08-05 17:33:27 +0000 UTC
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"Estel truly enjoys listening to your tales."
Elrond stepped in with a warm smile. "Ever since he first heard of your adventures, he has been eager to meet you."
"I'm glad you enjoy my stories."
Garrett shook hands with Aragorn and said, "Looks like you're quite interested in adventure."
"Yes!"
Aragorn responded with clear enthusiasm. Then he asked, "Did you really face a dragon?"
"Of course, in the Lonely Mountain."
Garrett recalled, "That dragon was...
2025-08-05 17:32:52 +0000 UTC
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"This wine is really excellent."
Inside the castle, Erestor tasted a glass of wine that Garrett had personally poured for him. His hand trembled slightly as he held the cup.
Halbarad stood at the window with his hands behind his back, staring at the sky, his brows tightly furrowed, motionless.
"Stop daydreaming, come have something to eat," Garrett called out.
"All right, I will. I'll eat in a moment."
Garrett sighed helplessly.
Come on, you're both gro...
2025-08-05 17:32:20 +0000 UTC
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Although everything that needed to be done was done, and everything that needed to be said had been said, it seemed like there was nothing more to worry about.
However, someone was still dissatisfied.
Garrett frowned as he looked at the cramped underground refuge before him.
A week later, from the North Downs to the Sarn Ford area, many spacious underground shelters had been added. These shelters were fully stocked with emergency supplies, had comfortable living conditions, ...
2025-08-05 17:31:51 +0000 UTC
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"Greetings to you, Garrett, the legend of Wayfort."
When Garrett returned to the spot, a Ranger was already waiting under the tree. He immediately greeted the lord of Wayfort, who had saved his company.
"Thank you for your aid."
"Don't worry about it. I didn't come here specifically for that."
Garrett waved his hand and said, "The fewer orcs, the better. If I run into them, I just take care of them while I'm at it, it's not much trouble."
"Perhaps not for you, bu...
2025-08-05 17:31:18 +0000 UTC
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"No time to explain," Halbarad called out, already racing off in a particular direction.
Garrett hurried to follow.
After they had run for some distance, Halbarad suddenly came to a halt and dove behind a raised mound of earth.
Garrett rolled in beside him, quickly concealing himself as well.
The travel-worn cloak on his body blended into the surroundings, like sand and stone.
"Look over there."
Following the direction Halbarad pointed, Garrett saw a dense ...
2025-08-05 17:30:44 +0000 UTC
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"Hanzō! Get back to Ame!"
A group of noble men and women approached, attended by their servants. At the front was the Daimyō's heir of the Land of Fire. He pointed angrily at Hanzō.
"You disgrace!"
The six Ame ninjas, whose chakra and vocal cords had been sealed, let out muffled sobs.
If you asked them who they hated the most... It would naturally be the Five Great Nations!
The Five Great Villages had blockaded all trade routes with their power. It was these n...
2025-08-05 17:29:03 +0000 UTC
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"Go! Jiraiya-sensei!"
"Use Rasengan!"
"Let Hanzō witness the bond between us!"
Like a Pokémon battle, Yahiko retreated behind the bridge and roared at Hanzō, pointing dramatically.
Jiraiya's face darkened, he had never seen someone assign themselves such a role. He quickly formed a Rasengan in his hand.
"Take this!" Ge added a bit of senjutsu chakra into it.
Hanzō looked at the familiar white-haired man and raised his scythe to fight.
Though he wa...
2025-08-05 17:28:24 +0000 UTC
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Everyone in the shinobi world had no faith in Yoake.
And unfortunately, the village itself was not doing much to prove them wrong.
They all knew Hanzō's strength, if he hadn't been delusional about unifying the shinobi world back then, even one-on-one, he would've been a tough opponent.
---
In Kumo...
"Very good. Today, Yoake will cease to exist. The ninjas stationed at the ranch can withdraw," Third Raikage commanded.
On the sofa, his son leaned back with...
2025-08-05 17:27:47 +0000 UTC
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"We're out of class now."
Takeshi, Kantaro, and Gian found White Zetsu, who had been waiting on the playground for a long time.
"Mm-hmm."
White Zetsu acted like a seasoned adult, hands behind his back, gazing at the three with a mysterious air.
"Did you bring the storybook I wanted?"
He extended one hand as he asked.
The three looked at each other and shook their heads. "Nope. Our moms like reading the storybooks too."
"What?!"
"Moms? Are moms t...
2025-08-05 17:27:14 +0000 UTC
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"Bread is getting more expensive, and so is fish. How are we supposed to survive like this?"
"Yesterday, bread was 100,000. Today it's jumped to 180,000. I can't afford it. Really, I can't."
"Sigh, this is just the fate of a small country like ours. 180,000 is not bad, just be glad Konoha is still willing to sell to us at all."
Rain poured like pillars outside. Inside a small tavern, a few residents of Ame were complaining.
In a quaint, elegantly styled study, a m...
2025-08-05 17:26:24 +0000 UTC
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"You think my kunai isn't sharp?"
"My kunai has never been dull!"
Sakumo stared wide-eyed as the two people pulled out their kunai.
Aren't we here for a meeting? Why the heck are you drawing blades?
He glanced at Yahiko, seated at the head of the table, who looked completely unfazed.
"Ahem! Nonsense! Finish the meeting first!" Yahiko slammed the table with a stern face.
The two of them begrudgingly sat back down.
"Sakumo, any suggestions?"
2025-08-05 17:25:43 +0000 UTC
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I am Hiruzen.
I deeply regret it.
If you're asking why, a few days ago, at the movie theater...
"Rin, look, that's Yahiko-nii, and next to him is Konan-nesan, right? She looks so pretty, but I still love you more."
"Ah, Obito, is that Yoake's leader you always talk about?"
Obito pulled Rin to the cinema to join the crowd.
At that time, the place was packed with people.
He hadn't seen Yahiko in a long time and was excitedly pointing at the movie p...
2025-08-05 17:25:12 +0000 UTC
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"The Daimyō of the Land of Fire collected ten million ryō in taxes just like that?!"
Today was the sixth day of the New Year. According to statistics, the box office in the Land of Fire had reached 200 million.
This proved that the 6 million citizens of the Land of Fire watched it not just twice, but even three or four times.
Hearing the reports from his subordinates, Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, feeling a bit lost in that moment.
Once upon a time, a lucrative industr...
2025-08-05 17:24:32 +0000 UTC
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"B, look at that cow in the commercial. Why does it look so much like the one from Kumo?"
"Yo yo! I'm sitting here today, watching this movie, and there's a cow on the screen. It must be the Yoake cow, oh yeah."
A punched the rapping youth next to him in the head.
"You idiot! You jerk!" B turned his head away, looking hurt.
A was breathing heavily. The cow got stolen and you're still arguing, muttering your lame raps. If you really were my brother, I'd want to beat...
2025-08-05 17:24:03 +0000 UTC
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The two great villages, Kumo and Suna, and even small nations like the Land of Hot Water, agreed readily after hearing there was money to be made.
Hiruzen demanded another copy of the film script, or the deal was off.
Yahiko was absolutely unwilling to comply. At worst, he figured, they just won't make money from him.
As for Kiri, even before Obito manipulated the Fourth Mizukage, it was already known as the "Bloody Mist," and had closed off its borders. Yahiko hadn't sent a...
2025-08-05 17:23:33 +0000 UTC
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From the moment he returned to the village, Yahiko allocated a sum of money to Teuchi.
At the time, Yoake's commercial street was just beginning to take shape, with few shops. He enthusiastically supported anyone who wanted to start a business, offering enough funding to open a shop right in the central district.
However, the humble Teuchi declined the funds, saying he had saved enough over the years in Konoha to build a ramen cart on his own.
Look at that, what a noble and ...
2025-08-05 17:22:58 +0000 UTC
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"Ah~ Councilor Kiramman sure has sharp eyes, she immediately set her sights on Zaun's most outstanding young talent."
"Back when Swain came to Piltover and Zaun for a banquet a few years ago, I was puzzled why that councilor insisted on bringing her daughter over to greet us."
"Turns out, she had her eye on him even back then. No wonder the House Kiramman has been growing stronger under her leadership."
"Excellent foresight, brilliant investment strategy, the only strange th...
2025-08-02 23:50:58 +0000 UTC
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Three days later, on the left flank of the battlefield, just as everything was ready for a full-scale attack on Suna, Orochimaru suddenly received an order from Hiruzen: halt all military operations and wait for further instructions.
At the same time, Hiruzen gathered his guards and set out toward the border encampment.
Two days earlier, he had received a letter from the Third Kazekage. In the letter, the Kazekage expressed his desire to negotiate a ceasefire.
That, in itsel...
2025-08-02 23:48:13 +0000 UTC
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"Later, in the Battle of the Land of Whirlpools, Tsunade's reputation resounded throughout the shinobi world. Within Konoha, some even believed that Tsunade was more suited to be Hokage, and Hiruzen should step down."
"Then, A went to Konoha to propose to Tsunade, which intensified internal conflicts in the village, creating irreconcilable tension between Hiruzen and Tsunade."
"Later still, Tsunade and Shin were suddenly sent to the border. You even said at the time that this was ...
2025-08-02 23:46:29 +0000 UTC
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"Damn it, I lost another heart."
In a forest laid to waste, trees leaned and fell all over, some sliced in half, others bearing massive craters left behind by water jutsu. Leaves drifted through the air, torn and broken.
The air reeked of smoke and the acrid smell of burning wood. The ground was full of craters and chaotic trenches.
"Looks like we won't make it back in time for dinner tonight."
Yahiko gasped heavily. Beside him, Sakumo was wiping blood off his tantō. ...
2025-08-02 23:44:51 +0000 UTC
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Since they already knew these people had ulterior motives, Konan decided to make some proper arrangements for them.
Three of them were assigned to teach at the school, where they would instruct students in basic physical techniques.
The other three were sent to the Expansion Team.
The purpose of the team was to go out and find bandit hideouts, capture them, and bring back recruits.
Yahiko had said that population was crucial to the social development and economic growt...
2025-08-02 23:44:16 +0000 UTC
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Might never make it back?
Hearing what Halbarad said, Garrett suddenly felt a strong sense of recognition.
Ordinary people wouldn't understand this statement, because they didn't know the mission of the Istari.
A total of five wizards had been sent to Middle-earth to assist the Free Peoples in resisting Sauron. Three of them were stationed in the central regions of Middle-earth, while two went to the distant East. After some time, one of those two headed further sou...
2025-08-02 23:42:36 +0000 UTC
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Ding.
A silver coin flipped into the air and was caught by Garrett. Then he tossed it into the air again.
This action drew sidelong glances from some road-weary travelers.
But when many people turned their gaze toward the figure clad in dark armor and draped in a travel-worn cloak, their breath unconsciously slowed. They furrowed their brows, searching their memories, yet couldn't place why that figure felt so familiar.
Only when the man had walked far away di...
2025-08-02 23:42:06 +0000 UTC
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"Teacher? Me?"
The old man pointed at himself, eyes wide with surprise.
"My Lord, I've never received formal higher education. I began working after learning just basic reading and arithmetic. I'm afraid I'm not qualified for such a position."
"I already feel deeply honored to be a tutor, looking after and teaching the children the most fundamental knowledge. As for more advanced subjects and skills, you may need to find someone else..."
"Don't be in such a rush to ref...
2025-08-02 23:41:30 +0000 UTC
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"I know you're all worried about me, and it's because you care about my safety. But my wish is to protect our home on the battlefield. Please believe in me!"
Shiratori looked sincerely at Suishin and Rotsuki.
[Gratitude detected]
[Suishin: +2000 points]
[Rotsuki: +2000 points]
[Total accumulated: 4000 points]
[Energy transferred to Smallpox Deity]
[Development progress: 65.7%]
Suishin and Rotsuki looked at Shiratori, deeply moved.
What a...
2025-08-02 23:39:49 +0000 UTC
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"I've been practicing my cursed energy a lot lately," Shiratori said. "And I found that I unintentionally created a new cursed tool, this guy."
He patted the broom he was holding and said regretfully, "Unfortunately, it doesn't have any other abilities. It can only fly."
A trace of realization flashed in Hanzō's eyes.
So that's how it is.
The boy's cursed energy was too mysterious, even he couldn't predict what kind of change it might produce.
"If it we...
2025-08-02 23:39:19 +0000 UTC
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"Great!"
"Finally back on the battlefield again!"
Shiratori tried to suppress his excitement. Though the battlefield was full of dangers, to him, it was a treasure trove of emotional energy.
For the sake of emotional energy, what was a little battlefield?
He began packing his things in his apartment for the mission.
He needed to be fully equipped with ninja tools: kunai, shuriken, scrolls, wire, smoke bombs, explosive tags, poison, antidotes, long sword, armor......
2025-08-02 23:38:44 +0000 UTC
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Shiratori left Number One at the blacksmith shop where the iron pellets were being made.
On the way back to his apartment, he saw from a distance a large crowd of ninjas gathered under the village bulletin board.
The ninjas were all red-faced, veins bulging, filled with righteous indignation.
His eyes sparkled, he immediately realized this was a great chance to collect emotional energy. So, he strode confidently toward the crowd, his face full of innocent curiosity.
"S...
2025-08-02 23:37:33 +0000 UTC
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