C25 Go away I Don't Want to Kill You!

"You've won. Even Master Huo Xuan fell to you without a fight. What more is there to say? Go ahead, Mizunoki, if you're going to kill me, do it!"

Despair etched Chu Koichi's face. With Master Huo Xuan dead, and so swiftly at that, what hope could he possibly cling to?

"Life is full of twists and turns. Once, you were merely a rival I defeated, and now, in just a year, you've grown so formidable. Mizunoki, I must admit, you're impressive!"

"Hahaha!"

Mizunoki burst into laughter upon hearing these words.

"Oh, Chu Koichi, how the tables have turned. You once strutted around with such pride and vigor. When the Grass Kage and our teacher singled you out, everyone saw you as invincible. To me, I was less than a dog in your eyes. But now, to me, you're nothing more than an ant. Such is the cycle of karma, the inescapable retribution!"

"Yes, this is karma. Without those hollow accolades, I wouldn't have ended up like this, confined to the village. But it's of no consequence now."

Chu Koichi spoke with a detached tone, his expression impassive.

"Enough talk. Your time has come!"

Mizunoki sneered, his patience worn thin, ready to deliver the final blow.

He lifted his kunai, poised to slash at Chu Koichi's neck.

But at that moment, an odd noise interrupted them.

"Who's there!"

Mizunoki, on high alert, barked out the challenge.

His eyes quickly caught sight of a black shadow at the base of the tree—a child, no more than five years old.

"I'm just passing through. Carry on with your business."

Yang Ming gave Mizunoki and Chu Koichi a brief look, then continued on his way, uninterested.

He had witnessed the might of Ninja Techniques; even the most basic ones packed considerable power. It was clear how much more devastating the advanced techniques could be.

Yet to him, they posed no challenge. With his own strength, he could easily shatter them.

Having seen enough, Yang Ming decided it was time to move on.

Whether Chu Koichi was dead or alive was none of his concern. His only interest was that they steer clear of the orphanage.

"Just passing through? Hmph, you expect me to believe that?"

Mizunoki's face twisted into a cold sneer at Yang Ming's words, clearly not buying it for a second.

"Mizunoki, he's just a kid. Why drag him into this?"

Chu Koichi couldn't help but give a wry smile upon seeing Yang Ming. He had little faith in him; after all, even Master Huo Xuan had been killed. What chance did Yang Ming stand?

But Yang Ming was a Grass Ninja, and if there was a chance to save Chu Koichi, he'd take it.

"Chu Koichi, your attitude alone was enough for me to ignore whether you lived or died. But because of what you just said, I'll save your life. You're Mizunoki, right? I'm giving you ten seconds to make peace with your fate. After that, I won't kill you."

Yang Ming paused, reconsidering his stance, and addressed Mizunoki with a calm resolve.

"Oh? What's that? You're sparing me?" Mizunoki looked at Yang Ming as if he'd heard the most absurd thing, doubting his own ears.

"A mere Junior Ninja isn't worth my effort. If you were an Elite Ninja, maybe then you'd pose a challenge. Scram, while I'm still in a generous mood, or you'll regret it when it's too late!" Yang Ming's tone remained cool and detached.

"Haha, what a laughable claim. Chu Koichi, when did your village start harboring such fools who dare to insult me? I had no intention of sparing you, but now, I definitely won't. I'm going to make you suffer the most excruciating torture imaginable, so you'll understand the price of crossing me!"