https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-325-False-Allies-Konoha-True-Ally-Danzo-/12932691/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-327-The-Ultimate-Jutsu-Talk-no-Jutsu-/12932693/
Chapter 326: Seventeen Kunai in the Back, Suicide!
Chapter 326: Seventeen Kunai in the Back, Suicide!
Ghost Shark!
Remember him? Dong Ping had his eyes on him from the start, but as the timing wasn't right, he held off on making contact.
Now, the opportunity has arrived.
With the Heavenly Fortress' trade with the Water Country and the integration of the Phantom Lantern Clan, it was a simple matter to plant scouts among them.
Without this intelligence, they wouldn't have been able to seize this chance.
This trip to the Mist Concealing Village was an opportunity to bring Kaki Ghost Shark, the 'Heaven-Selected Labor Saint Body', under their command.
There was no other choice; who else could Dong Ping trust but Ghost Shark?
Amidst the various mischievous schemes of the Akatsuki, only Ghost Shark diligently completed his tasks, even going so far as to risk everything for the mission.
There could be no better subordinate than him.
Of course, aside from this goal, there was another objective.
Recruitment! By using the Mist Ninja, they could force the Sand Ninja to backstab Ye Cang.
If they intervened to save him, it would be easier to turn them to their side.
Both matters were of utmost importance and great fun, which was why Dong Ping, the master of entertainment, rushed to the scene to witness it all.
The two traveled without encountering the slightest trouble.
The route was too clean! Whether it was the Heavenly Fortress or the collaborating Shinzo Clan, none were the type to show mercy. Any pirates or covetous individuals were swiftly dealt with.
With their strength, unless the Mizukage intervened personally, no one could disrupt this route.
Who would dare challenge their interests on this route, now expanded by the Heavenly Fortress, where numerous Shinzo Clan members benefited?
Would they dare make someone 'commit suicide with seventeen kunai in their back'?
Such incidents had occurred before.
In the Water Country, there were instances of merchants using officials to cause trouble for the Heavenly Fortress.
In the end, both the merchants and the troublesome officials committed suicide with seventeen kunai in their backs.
By the way, this method of suicide was specifically requested by Dong Ping, and the collaborating Shinzo Clan members complied without objection.
While they dared not act against the nobility, it didn't mean they wouldn't target officials and merchants.
As long as they struck fear into their hearts, even if the nobility was displeased, they couldn't do anything about it.
It wasn't as if the nobility would personally go to sea to intercept smugglers, right?
If the nobility were truly that brave, the Shinobi World wouldn't be in such disarray.
Along the way, they even spotted supply points.
These supply points not only reduced casualties but also provided shelter during natural disasters.
It was these support measures that significantly lowered the loss rate of the trade fleet.
Currently, this route could be called a 'Golden Route'. As long as goods were transported from the Land of Fire to the Water Country, and then brought back specialties, the profit would double at the very least.
However, most of it needed to be distributed.
Even so, the remaining profit was astonishing.
The reason the Heavenly Fortress could invest heavily in ninja training was this golden route. Otherwise, they would struggle to sustain themselves, let alone train a large number of ninjas.
Dong Ping and his companion quietly approached the outskirts of the Mist Concealing Village.
As mentioned earlier, the Mist Ninja were dispersed around the village and even on the islands.
This time, their target was the Shomei Clan.
Having received prior notice, they had just reached the edge of the Shomei Clan's island when Shomei Ming came out to greet them.
At sixteen, she had changed in various ways since a few years ago.
Not only had her demeanor matured, but her strength was also astonishing.
Quasi-Jonin level! This was Dong Ping's rough assessment.
He felt a hint of threat from her.
It must be said that her strength exceeded his expectations.
If Dong Ping's memory served him right, the rate of her strength growth in the original plot wasn't this exaggerated.
There could only be one reason.
His influence!
Previously, she had been captured and witnessed Dong Ping's strength, giving her a goal to pursue in her training. With increased resources, her growth rate was naturally vastly different.
By the way, she would often visit the Heavenly Fortress to challenge Dong Ping, seemingly still holding a grudge about her capture.
But Dong Ping expressed that he would defeat Yamazaka Housuke and Uchiha Meika first.
Perhaps being hammered too many times allowed him to grow so fast.
"Dong Ping-kun!"
Shomei Ming's tone was excited as she waved her hand, revealing a bit of her youthful liveliness.
As for Hyuga Cangyue, she naturally continued to play the role of an invisible bystander, following behind.
Today was Dong Ping's first visit to the Mist Ninja Clan's territory.
Although it was called a clan territory, it resembled an ordinary village.
The cultivated fields, various plants, and rivers, as well as rows of salted fish hanging under dilapidated eaves.
Salted fish!
It was a specialty of the Water Country.
Since they could be used as 'food and salt', they were also the largest quantity of goods in trade.
Every time a fleet arrived, they would transport large amounts of salted fish back.
They could be used as food and salt, and the key was their long shelf life, making them highly popular in various countries.
The children of the Shomei Clan wore tattered clothes and looked malnourished.
Just from these aspects, one could tell the living conditions of the Shinzo Clan.
If one saw children with good spirits and strong bodies, there was no doubt that they were clan members with ninja talents. They could obtain ample food and enjoy benefits like medicinal baths.
Resource allocation!
It was also an inevitable choice for the Shinzo Clan.
After all, every ninja was a gold-devouring beast, and no matter how wealthy they were, it was impossible to train them all as ninjas. They could only choose the ones with the best talents for cultivation.
After seeing the situation of the Shomei Clan, Dong Ping's eyes twitched slightly, and there was only one word in his mind.
Poor!
So poor!
If not for seeing it with his own eyes, who would have thought that ninjas, who seemed omnipotent, could be this poor.
But in the Shinobi World, over ninety percent of the wealth was in the hands of wealthy merchants and nobles. Ninjas could only rely on the leftovers from these people, and it was no wonder they were so poor.
For ordinary civilians, starving to death was a common occurrence.
Soon, they arrived at the clan leader's residence.
The tall and luxurious wooden building made Dong Ping question if he had seen it correctly.
It was a stark contrast to the surrounding small and dilapidated buildings.
However, Dong Ping quickly realized that he was viewing the Shinobi World with his pre-transmigration values again.
In the Shinobi World, such a situation was completely normal and not unusual.
"Welcome, Your Excellency!"
A middle-aged man with brown hair enthusiastically greeted them.
He couldn't help but be enthusiastic.
Ever since collaborating with the Heavenly Fortress, the Shomei Clan, which was originally of medium size, had grown significantly in influence.
With the clan on the verge of becoming a large Shinzo Clan, the clan leader dared not be negligent.
"Clan Leader Shomei is too kind, I haven't visited in a long time!"
Dong Ping made a polite remark.
Although he disliked these formalities, he had to abide by these rules until he had the strength to overthrow them.
After the initial greetings, Clan Leader Shomei led a few people to the reception hall and sat down, then directly asked, "Is there anything the Shomei Clan can help you with?"
He understood that if Dong Ping hadn't had a matter to attend to, he wouldn't have visited.
"I do have a matter that requires the assistance of the Shomei Clan..."
Dong Ping explained what he wanted to do.
The clan had gained a lot of benefits from the Heavenly Fortress, and although they had contributed some strength, it was far less than the gains. So, it was also normal for them to do something for him.
Yes, this was also part of Dong Ping's plan.
He intended to use interests to win over the various Shinzo Clans of the Mist Concealing Village. When they could no longer bear living in the Blood Mist Within, he would directly absorb their elite members.
As for what he wanted the Shomei Clan to do, it wasn't to betray the village, but to find a way to promote a peace agreement between the Mist and Sand Ninjas. However, the precondition for signing the agreement was that the Sand Ninjas would offer Ye Cang as the price for the contract.
Since the Sand Ninjas had always wanted to sign a peace agreement, they would definitely not miss this opportunity.
Even though Shadow-level ninjas were important, they weren't irreplaceable.
Next, they would wait for the Sand Ninjas to backstab Ye Cang, and then they would 'heroically rescue' them, making them their own.
But before that, they still had to go and subdue the Ghost Shark, the 'Heaven-Selected Labor Saint Body'.
(End of Chapter)
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