Chapter 192: Roasting Rabbit Meat

"Fire Style: Thunder Fang Assault!"

Lian Ye's figure vanished on the spot the instant the assassin shouted the ninjutsu name.

He used the Flash Step technique to appear right before the assassin; as the lead assassin's pupils just reflected Lian Ye's Sharingan red light, he felt a chill in his neck.

His final awareness was seeing his own headless body still holding a charging stance, his hands' seal‑forming motion abruptly halted, while the dark‑haired youth's blade had already turned toward the second companion.

The second assassin faced Lian Ye's scarlet Sharingan, and the knife he raised froze mid‑air.

In his vision, countless poisonous snakes coiled tightly around his own hand.

Although reason told him it was merely genjutsu, the instinctual fear slowed his action by half a beat.

That hesitant half‑second was enough for Lian Ye to complete three moves…

He first sidestepped the third assassin's attack, then swung his tachi back across the neck of the genjutsu‑using assassin.

Simultaneously, his left hand formed a seal, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

The scorching fireball forced the third assassin to dodge.

At the instant he dodged, Lian Ye, unseen, appeared behind him; a flash of blade struck, and the assassin fell straight to the ground.

In the blink of an eye, all three assassins were slaughtered by Lian Ye.

The remaining ninja, seeing this, tried to advance and surround Lian Ye, but were blocked by the reacting Yuanfei Rizhan and others.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Great River!"

Shuihu Menyan's Earth Release ninjutsu restrained the assassins' movements, followed by a barrage of dense ninjutsu from Ri Zhan and Tuan Cang.

Most couldn't evade in time and were struck dead on the spot by the ninjutsu.

Uchiha Jing and Xiaochun Zhuanqin guarded Qianshou Feijian's side; the shuriken they threw hit precisely two assassins attempting to flank Lian Ye.

The last assassin, seeing the situation turn bad, quickly formed seals with both hands, "Lightning Release…"

Before his seal was complete, Lian Ye's tachi pierced his heart from behind.

"Cloud Hidden Village…" Lian Ye whispered into the assassin's ear, "You sent this bunch of minnows to assassinate me?"

All twelve assassins this time were Chunin; not a single Jonin led them.

He couldn't understand what the Second Generation Raikage was thinking, sending a group of Chunin to assassinate their party.

What purpose does this serve?

Might as well not assassinate…

Aren't these guys just here to deliver heads?

Could it be that the Second Generation Raikage finds his own men too many?!

Unfortunately, that assassin could no longer answer Lian Ye's question.

Yuanfei Rizhan and Zhi Cun Tuan Zang happened to kill the last two assassins.

The whole battle, from start to finish, lasted no more than a minute.

Lian Ye drew his tachi from the corpses, and when the blade reentered its sheath it produced a crisp "ka‑da" sound.

Looking at the bodies lying on the ground, even after the battle ended, he still couldn't grasp why Cloud Hidden Village acted so.

Even if they intended to assassinate, they could at least send a few Jonin, right?

Clearly, they don't consider them worth noticing!

Qianshou Feijian glanced at the bodies on the ground, his expression calm, and said, "Dispose of the corpses and continue the meal. Lian Ye, come over and roast the rabbit meat."

Lian Ye's mouth twitched; he had just been targeted for assassination, how could this old fool still be thinking about eating?

"I'm coming, uncle."

Though seething inside, he honestly went to the campfire and began roasting the rabbit meat.

While he was roasting, Yuanfei Rizhan and a few others had already dealt with the corpses and returned to the campfire.

"Never expected Cloud Ninja's target to be Lian Ye; it seems your battlefield performance has earned Cloud Hidden Village's resentment," Yuanfei Rizhan remarked.

But it's understandable; after killing so many strong Cloud Hidden Village members, not being resented would be odd.

If he were a high‑ranking member of Cloud Hidden Village, they'd also find a way to eliminate Lian Ye!

"Why do none of these assassins include a Jonin?" Zhi Cun Tuan Zang asked, puzzled.

The question he raised was exactly what Lian Ye and the others wanted to know…

Why send dozens of Chunin for the assassination; shouldn't it have been Jonin?

"Teacher, do you know the reason?" Uchiha Jing asked curiously.

There's nothing wrong with asking the teacher about things you don't understand.

Hearing this, several turned to the ever‑silent Qianshou Feijian, all eager to hear his explanation.

Qianshou Feijian met the six inquisitive gazes and patiently explained:

"The reason is simple; this wasn't the Second Generation Raikage's true intention…"

After learning the assassins' overall strength, he inferred the whole cause and effect.

"Teacher, you mean…" Xiaochun Zhuanqin asked tentatively, "Someone forced the Raikage to send people to assassinate us?"

"Exactly." Qianshou Feijian nodded slightly.

"Who could force the Raikage to act?" Zhi Cun Tuan Zang asked with a frown.

Yuanfei Rizhan also furrowed his brows, completely clueless about who was pulling strings behind the scenes.

"If I'm not mistaken, it's the Lord of Lightning Country, right?"

Lian Ye, silently roasting the rabbit meat nearby, heard the discussion and said.

The truth is actually easy to guess…

In the Ninja World, the only people who can order a Village's Kage to act, besides Senju Hashirama and Madara Uchiha, are the Daimyos of the various countries.

A Daimyo is equivalent to a sovereign, while a Kage is equivalent to a military leader; the two exist in a hierarchical cooperative relationship.

Qianshou Feijian's request obviously angered the Lord of Lightning Country, so he asked the Second Generation Raikage to send people to assassinate Qianshou Feijian.

The Raikage knew such a thing could not succeed, but could not easily refuse the Daimyo's demand, so he dispatched a group of Chunin to assassinate them.

That way, the matter can be explained coherently.

Upon hearing the explanation, the few instantly understood the whole chain of events.

"Lian Ye, you're really clever!" Yuanfei Rizhan praised, his gaze falling on the freshly grilled rabbit meat.

"Here you go." Lian Ye gave him a withering look and handed over a grilled rabbit.

Ri Zhan this guy is like someone who has never eaten food…

"Lian Ye's conjecture was correct."

Qianshou Feijian cleared his throat lightly, asserting his presence, and his gaze also fell on the rabbit meat.

After waiting all night for the grilled rabbit to finally be ready, it turned out this kid didn't hand it over to him first.

Damn!

…

Lian Ye naturally caught Feijian's hint, inwardly muttering that the old brat was being demanding, and presented the biggest, plumpest wild rabbit.

"Uncle, here's your rabbit meat."

Qianshou Feijian feigned nonchalance, nodded, and reached out to take the sizzling, oily grilled rabbit meat.

He first used the pads of his fingers to gently flick off the excess salt grains on the surface, then brought the rabbit meat close to his lips.

Smelling the aroma of the grilled rabbit drifting outward, he subconsciously swallowed his saliva.

As his teeth touched the crisp, charred skin, the scent of the fat spread throughout his mouth.

The rabbit meat was roasted to a crispy exterior and tender interior, bearing a smoky flavor unique to pine needles.

"The taste is good…" Qianshou Feijian took out a handkerchief to wipe the oil from his mouth corner, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Delicious, delicious!"

Yuanfei Rizhan and the others had already begun to feast heartily.

The wild rabbit indeed tasted great; the previously grilled fish instantly lost its aroma.

Lian Ye ate the grilled meat while vigilantly scanning his surroundings.

He hoped the thing he feared would not happen…