Chapter 85: Mission Failure, Return to the Village

In the River Country, in front of a manor.

It is raining now, the rain curtain falling like fine silver threads.

Heaven and earth are shrouded in a haze.

In the distance, three silhouettes are slowly walking toward the manor.

They wear black conical hats, the bamboo slats hanging from the brim sway gently in the rain, concealing their faces.

"This is the employer's house," Tuan Cang said, looking at the mission map in his hand.

"Something feels off; we seem to be late," Lian Ye lowered his hat, his Sharingan flashing a crimson glint in the shadows, "Stay alert."

He instinctively grasped the Tachi at his waist.

The three slowed their steps together, and the sound of raindrops striking the hats became distinctly audible.

Soon, the vermilion gate of the wealthy merchant's manor loomed before them.

At that moment, a sudden gale rose, lifting Lian Ye's hat; he slammed it down, but his gaze met a figure on the roof also wearing a conical hat.

Lian Ye sighed inwardly; this mission had failed.

They arrived late, causing the employer to be killed…

But since they're here, they should at least avenge the employer, right?

With that thought, Lian Ye immediately cast a Sharingan Genjutsu.

The person on the roof met the Sharingan and stood dumbfounded.

"Heh, daring to stare directly at an Uchiha's Sharingan," Lian Ye said with a slight smile, already knowing the opponent's fate.

"Attack!" Tuan Cang barked low.

In an instant, Xiaochun spun, flinging Shuriken; several Shuriken pierced the rain curtain, soaring toward the rooftop silhouette.

"Pupupu—"

The sound of Shuriken hitting flesh rang out, and the rooftop figure immediately tumbled down from the roof.

Lian Ye stepped forward and pushed the door open; a heavy stench of blood mixed with damp air slammed into his face.

Inside, a heap of corpses lay haphazardly; they must have been the bodyguards hired by the house's owner.

But they were too weak, no match for the killer.

In the flickering firelight, a rotund man in lavish robes slumped in a wooden chair, a gruesome wound at his neck nearly severing his head, his cloudy eyes bulging, a frozen expression of terror seeming to recount his final despair.

It was obvious without thought that the rotund man was their employer.

"Damn, we're late!" Tuan Cang said, seeing the scene inside, clenching his fist in frustration.

"Lian Yejun, what now?" Zhuan Qin Xiaochun asked.

"Although the employer is dead, we can't have come all for nothing," Lian Ye said, looking at the luxurious interior, "Take some valuables back; consider it travel expenses."

Tuan Cang twitched his mouth, unsure what to say.

Uchiha Lianye was getting more and more wicked, even refusing to leave the dead's belongings…

But the suggestion was indeed good.

Just by the interior, it's clear the owner was wealthy.

Thus the three began looting the manor.

If anyone saw this, they would surely think Konoha's ninja were motivated by greed, killing the employer to plunder his wealth.

"Hahaha, we're rich!" Tuan Cang exclaimed excitedly, staring at the box of gold, silver and jewels before him, his mouth almost split with laughter.

"Tuan Cang, those who see get a share."

Lian Ye and Xiaochun somehow ended up beside Tuan Cang.

Tuan Cang: "……"

Watching the two take two‑thirds of the loot, he felt like slapping himself.

He should have kept his voice down from the start.

Now it's turned from striking it rich to barely making a little.

After finishing the loot, the three left the manor.

Lian Ye also gathered the corpses, intending to bury them somewhere.

The money he collected would serve as the employer's burial fee.

"Alas, this mission failed," Lian Ye lamented.

To stay away from Qianshou Feijian, he deliberately chose a protection mission, hoping to spend some time outside.

Who would have thought they'd be late, and the mission ended before it even began.

"Damn Uchiha Tanaka!" Lian Ye grumbled.

If not for that old hindrance wasting his time, the employer wouldn't have died.

So he logically blamed the failure on Tanaka, vowing to kill him.

Tuan Cang and Xiaochun looked bewildered; they didn't know who Lian Ye was referring to.

Could it be that someone from the Uchiha clan had a conflict with Lian Ye?

For some reason, Tuan Cang felt a great sense of relief seeing Lian Ye clash with the Uchiha.

Even though Lian Ye hadn't provoked him, he still couldn't stand to see the other succeed.

Perhaps that's human nature's flaw…

Lian Ye found a scenic spot, buried the employer, then returned with the two.

———————

Without delay on the road, the three took two days to return to Konoha.

Just after entering the Village, Lian Ye encountered three Uchiha members, one towering nearly two meters, whose presence caught his attention.

Who is this guy if he's not Uchiha Shun?

It's hard to imagine that this face actually belongs to a 14‑year‑old boy; people would even believe he's forty.

Uchiha Shun's expression remained blank as he outright ignored Lian Ye.

Lian Ye said nothing in response and walked straight past them.

At that moment, one of the Uchiha youths sneered at Lian Ye, "Hey, aren't you a Uchiha… no, I should call you Thousand Hands Lian Ye!"

He raised his voice on the words "Thousand Hands".

The news that Lian Ye had been kicked out of the Uchiha had already spread throughout the clan.

When these youths learned that the prodigy Lian Ye had been expelled from the clan, they naturally came over to mock him.

Lian Ye halted, turned, and faced the Uchiha youth who had spoken.

The boy, stared at by Lian Ye, felt unsettled; to ease the awkwardness he continued, "What are you looking at? You're just a dog of a disgraced family expelled from the clan!"

"So, what are you trying to say?" Lian Ye suddenly laughed, "Are you flaunting your superiority? Trash."

"Bastard, how dare you insult me!" the boy's face flushed with anger.

Lian Ye looked at the angry boy, somewhat puzzled.

He was the one who came over to provoke first; Lian Ye only retorted a couple of lines, and now he's angry?

No, you're getting worked up over nothing!

Sure enough, most Uchiha are just arrogant fools...

"It seems you haven't grasped the gap between us," Lian Ye activated Three Tomoe, "Since when do the weak dare to swagger before the strong?"

The boy saw those eyes and froze on the spot.

Lian Ye's figure flashed; he appeared before the boy, and before the other two could react, a heavy fist slammed into the boy's nose.

The boy's nose bled profusely, and he was sent flying backward.

The intense pain snapped him out of the Genjutsu; his face twisted snarlingly as he stared at Lian Ye and roared, "How dare you hit me? Do you know who I am?"

At that moment, Uchiha Shun stepped forward and said, "This is the Second Son of the Tanaka Clan leader, Uchiha Lie Huo."

"Heh, the son of that Tanaka guy?" Lian Ye narrowed his eyes, "I don't even regard your father, let alone you!"

Before the words left his mouth, Lian Ye appeared before Lie Huo, planted a foot on his chest, and stomped down forcefully a few times.