Chapter 264: The Guiding Principle of Blending in the Ninja World

"Don't say any more, let's go back first."

The Sunagakure Team Leader Jonin wanted to continue, but Qiandai interrupted with a remark.

If he kept talking, it might provoke the youth's displeasure, and then they'd all have to answer here.

Don't be fooled by their numbers; with the youth's just‑shown strength, dealing with them isn't hard…

"With me here, they wouldn't dare act rashly," the Team Leader Jonin reassured, not catching Qiandai's hint at all.

So many of them came, and they're still afraid they can't handle three Konoha ninjas?

Qiandai: "……"

"Konoha ninja, hand over the corpses of our village's rogue ninjas, or don't blame me for being rude!" the Team Leader Jonin shouted.

The Konoha ninja's actions have already threatened the Village's intelligence security.

If they refuse to hand over the corpses, they'll have to kill a few people; I'm sure Wind Shadow Lord won't blame them for that.

After all, Sand Hidden Village is on the right side here, so even if Konoha learns of it, they'll have to bite the bullet and accept it.

"Oh? What if I don't give it?" Lian Ye gripped the hilt, his gaze turning icy.

It's not wartime now; he originally didn't want to kill Sand Hidden Village's ninjas, as that could easily spark a two‑nation dispute, but now the plan can't keep up with the changes.

Since these guys are set on coming to die, he has no reason to refuse.

As for possibly causing a two‑nation conflict?

If he silences them all, no one will know.

How could Lian Ye possibly be willing to discard the hard‑won intelligence?

"Refuse? Then there's only death!" the Team Leader Jonin's murderous intent flared as he reached into the Ninja Tool Bag.

The atmosphere in the arena instantly became tense.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang got excited at the sight, casually tossed a head onto the ground, pulled a Kunai from the Ninja Tool Bag, and his fiery gaze fell on the leading Jonin.

He muttered why Lian Ye hadn't chosen to kill the girl earlier, realizing it was to cast a long line for a big fish…

Heh, truly the evil Lian Ye!

Killing a single girl yields disproportionate cost and gain, but killing a group of Sand Ninjas is another story…

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun also readied for battle, ready to strike the moment conditions turned unfavorable.

"Wait!" Qiandai hurriedly stopped the Team Leader Jonin, fearing they might actually start fighting.

After all, these people aren't as easy to kill as the youth before them…

"Qiandai, what do you mean?" the Team Leader Jonin retorted.

Qiandai, a genius of Sand Hidden Village, repeatedly blocking herself, obviously has a problem!

Could it be that she has taken a liking to this Konoha ninja?

The Team Leader Jonin subconsciously glanced at the youth; his attention had been on the rogue ninja's head, so he hadn't looked at the other's appearance.

When he finally saw Lian Ye's face, he was stunned.

The kid is indeed handsome, no wonder Qiandai tried to block him.

But being handsome is useless!

In this world, only strength matters!

As he kept watching, the Team Leader Jonin kept feeling the youth in front of him looked familiar, as if he'd seen him somewhere before.

Where could that be?

He rarely sees Konoha ninjas; the last time was years ago on a Battlefield.

Wait, on a Battlefield?!

He seemed to recall something…

The youth's face before him gradually matched that of the boy from three years ago.

The Team Leader Jonin had once seen the boy wield a Tachi, charging into the Sand Ninja troops, cutting through them like slicing a melon, killing countless comrades in an instant.

Most of those fallen comrades died from poison; had he not been fast, they'd have become dead under the blade.

Later he learned from others that the boy was Konoha's Deadly Poison Master!

The Team Leader Jonin's complexion turned white instantly, losing his earlier swagger, wishing he could bolt away immediately.

He finally understood why Qiandai was blocking him: she already knew the youth's identity!

Lian Ye noticed the Jonin's series of expressions and guessed she had already learned his identity.

He asked with interest, "Any objections now?"

Qiandai tried to stop the Team Leader Jonin from speaking, fearing his words might anger the youth in front of them and indirectly cause her death.

"No, no objections…"

Before she could speak, she saw the Team Leader Jonin shaking his head like a tambourine, his face showing intense fear.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang's mouth twitched at the sight; the head he was about to claim vanished like that—what a pity, had he known he'd just act directly.

Now it's over; he missed a chance to kill the Sand Hidden Troops outright.

"If there's no objection, shall we leave then?"

Lian Ye picked up the head Tuan Cang had dropped on the ground and, before leaving, asked symbolically.

He's not a blood‑thirsty type; since the Sand Ninja didn't strike, he has no need to act.

He couldn't possibly seize Sand Hidden Village's intelligence and then turn around and kill them all, could he?

Unless they strike first, he'd choose to kill and silence.

In most cases, Lian Ye is a principled person, provided nothing threatens his life.

If his life is threatened, he'll go to any lengths.

In Lian Ye's view, his own life is always paramount; no one or nothing can make him willingly sacrifice it.

He can accept avenging others, but cannot accept others avenging him.

Only while alive is there a future; when dead, there is nothing.

He could never expect anyone to perform Impure Earth Reincarnation on him, right?

Even if he truly undergoes Impure Earth Reincarnation, it isn't a genuine resurrection; the caster can lift the Forbidden Technique at any time.

Unless, like Madara Uchiha, he knows the seal that lifts control.

Looks like it's time to ask that old kid about the details of Impure Earth Reincarnation; if he truly emerges via it in the future, he could still cancel the caster's control.

Lian Ye has always thought ahead; now he is even preparing for after death.

Fearing death is a creature's instinct; he doesn't think fearing death is a big deal—being afraid of death is perfectly normal.

Only those brainwashed from childhood would rashly go to deliver a head.

If you can win, fight; if you can't, run; if you can't run, fight desperately.

This is Lian Ye's creed for wandering the Ninja World!

After decades of arduous cultivation, few in the Ninja World can threaten his safety.

As long as he doesn't, like Er Zhu Zi, seek enemies stronger than himself, it's fine.

……

Watching Lian Ye and the two others disappear into the distance, a Sand Ninja asked in doubt.

"Team Leader Jonin, are we just going to let them leave like that?"

"The heads of the rogue ninja they took could very likely expose the Village's secrets."

"What do you know?" the Team Leader Jonin said with lingering dread: "That youth is Konoha's 'Deadly Poison Master'!"

If we don't let the three leave, they'll have to explain themselves here today.

"What?!" terror flashed across everyone's faces.

The title "Deadly Poison Master"—

... is, to Sand Hidden Village Ninjas, a nightmarish existence!

Qiandai's expression kept shifting; unwilling, she clenched her fists, her gaze fixed on Lian Ye's receding silhouette.

……

……

ps: Thanks for the gifts from the big ones; keep generating power, love you all, yīng yīng yīng……