The basement was dimly lit by a flickering yellow light.
Bock seemed to be searching for some information. He stood near the staircase, in front of a cabinet, opening multiple scrolls one after another, comparing them, organizing intelligence, and making analytical guesses. This was one of the duties of a covert operations ninja.
He was likely doing just that.
Haruto Saito watched him, then slowly shifted his gaze. He used his Byakugan to peer through the scrolls, trying to read their contents… While he could see through the scrolls, the overlapping text appeared as a dark, indistinguishable blur, making it impossible for Haruto to decipher anything.
"How should I kill this guy…" Haruto observed the basement's layout and fell into deep thought.
Killing him wasn't the problem!
Bock was no match for Haruto!
The real question was, *how* to kill him?
Should he engage in a direct fight, defeat him, and then kill him? Or should he launch a surprise assassination and take him out instantly? Haruto was certain that he was stronger than Bock, but Bock was an elite jonin. In a one-on-one battle, Haruto would struggle to kill him quickly.
Moreover, Haruto was worried that a fight might destroy the intelligence scrolls in the basement.
Haruto pondered for a while. He even considered waiting for Bock to go back above ground, where killing him would be easier.
Suddenly, Bock put down the scroll he was holding and quickly walked to another bookshelf. He picked up a scroll, unrolled it, glanced at it, then rolled it back up. He then moved to the opposite bookshelf, picked up another scroll, and began reading it.
He seemed to be searching for something.
Haruto saw his opportunity to kill him!
Using the Earth-Style Subterranean Voyage technique, Haruto moved through the soil, changing his position. This time, he positioned himself behind a bookshelf, just two meters away from Bock, who was standing in front of it, reading a scroll.
However, it was still difficult to act.
Apart from the one-meter-thick layer of soil, there was also the bookshelf blocking his path. The soil wouldn't hinder Haruto, but the bookshelf would… Still, Haruto had a way to bypass the bookshelf and reach Bock directly—using the **Barrier Penetration Technique**!
But this approach was risky. If Bock reacted in time and Haruto failed to kill him in one strike, a fight would break out in the basement, and everything inside would be destroyed.
As Haruto thought this through, he kept observing Bock.
Bock's posture would greatly influence the success of the assassination.
If Bock stood sideways in front of the bookshelf, his peripheral vision would allow him to see the surroundings, making it difficult for Haruto to land a fatal blow. But if Bock turned his back to the bookshelf, Haruto would have a much higher chance of killing him instantly.
Bock continued reading the scroll.
He didn't move, and neither did Haruto.
Finally, Bock seemed to finish reading. He rolled up the scroll, placed it back on the shelf, and turned to walk away.
At that exact moment—
Haruto used the Earth-Style Subterranean Voyage technique to instantly pass through the one-meter-thick layer of soil. His left hand emerged from the ground, touching the bookshelf. The Barrier Penetration Technique activated, and Haruto suddenly appeared in front of the bookshelf!
Bock had already turned around and taken his first step forward!
Haruto's blade, **Swift Edge**, was drawn in a flash of light!
The Swift Edge doubled Haruto's drawing speed, and combined with his samurai skills and mastery of the **Iaido technique**, his draw was already lightning-fast… This strike was as quick as a bolt of lightning!
Additionally, Haruto maintained the **Stealth Technique**, ensuring no chakra fluctuations were detected!
Yet, Bock still reacted!
In that split second—
An overwhelming sense of danger enveloped Bock. Every hair on his body stood on end. The sound of the blade cutting through the air sent a shiver down his spine. It was too fast. He knew he had no chance to dodge, but he still tried to save himself. A kunai slipped out of his sleeve, and he turned around in an instant…
*Snap!*
*Slash!!*
The kunai shattered, its broken blade flying off and embedding itself into the bookshelf. Haruto's blade sliced through Bock's body. Bock remained frozen in his turning motion, holding the broken kunai in a blocking stance. Blood sprayed from his head, then his cheeks, neck, and body…
From top to bottom, Bock was cleanly cut in half!
That was close!
Haruto let out a sigh of relief!
He had almost failed!
Due to the terrain limitations, Haruto had done his best. He had used the Earth-Style Subterranean Voyage technique, the Barrier Penetration Technique, the Iaido technique, the Stealth Technique, and the Swift Edge's special ability… Yet, Bock had still managed to react.
If Bock's kunai hadn't been of inferior quality and unable to withstand the Swift Edge's attack, he would have been sent flying, crashing into the bookshelf behind him. The two would have then engaged in a fierce battle in the confined space, and Haruto would have had to fight to kill him.
But in that case, all the scrolls in the basement would have been destroyed!
Judging by his reputation points, Bock was incredibly strong! He was likely capable of using S-rank forbidden techniques!
A ninja like that, if given the chance to unleash his full power, would have been a tough opponent for Haruto!
However, Bock never got that chance. No matter how many techniques he had or how powerful his offensive jutsu were, he never had the opportunity to use them!
"Thirty-eight," Haruto silently counted, collecting the cards that dropped from Bock's body. He then walked past the bookshelves, storing all the scrolls in his inventory space.
He wouldn't look at them now—he'd take them all!
He needed to leave this place first!
The basement was now empty, save for the bloodstained, bisected corpse and the empty bookshelves. Blood continued to pool on the floor…
Haruto returned to the surface and quickly left Duanhai Village.
On a cliff south of Duanhai Village, Haruto appeared out of thin air. He clasped his hands together and activated his Byakugan!
Haruto pushed the Byakugan's capabilities to their limit!
He rapidly scanned everything within a sixteen-kilometer radius!
He was looking for someone!
Specifically, the Mist ninja who had left Duanhai Village earlier—excluding Hanzo Ryūno and his group.
Hanzo Ryūno and his two bodyguards were too strong and moved too quickly. They had already left Haruto's observation range. Additionally, one elite jonin and two jonin from the Hidden Mist had also left his range.
That left three ninja, all of whom Haruto could see!
One Mist jonin was heading east, already thirteen kilometers away and about to leave Haruto's observation range.
The other two were jonin traveling together, heading south!
They were currently ten kilometers away from Haruto, walking intermittently and seemingly engaged in conversation. It looked like they were on a joint mission.
They were the targets!
Haruto immediately decided to hunt them down!
******
Meanwhile, in the Land of Fire, Konohagakure!
The Hokage Building, Hokage's Office!
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura had just finished a meeting and returned to the office, still discussing the matters raised.
"…The Sand Village's forces have already reached the border. If the Stone Village makes a move, the Sand Village will undoubtedly join them!" Danzō's voice was low and grim. "If the Sand Village allies with the Rain Village, and the Stone Village refuses to form an alliance with us, then they will all become our enemies!"
"Hmph!" Hiruzen grunted, his expression stoic. "Even if they all become our enemies, they won't unite completely. They'll fight among themselves too, so we—"
*Whoosh!*
A figure suddenly appeared in front of the desk, urgently reporting, "Lord Hokage, urgent intelligence from the Land of Whirlpools!"
It was the White Fang himself!
Hiruzen's expression immediately turned serious. If the White Fang was personally delivering urgent intelligence, it had to be something major.
"Give it to me!" Hiruzen gestured.
The White Fang handed over the scroll.
Hiruzen unrolled it, his eyes scanning the contents. His face suddenly changed, and he stood up abruptly, exclaiming in shock, "What?!"
The urgent intelligence: **Haruto Saito has fallen in battle!**