"But how to stir up hatred between the two clans… that's the real puzzle."
Raizen muttered to himself. The Cypress and Jinen families had been cautious, keeping their conflicts contained, never striking too openly. If he wanted action, there was only one way: target the right person, make one side bleed, and let the resentment fester into full-blown war.
A low, dark laugh escaped him. Perfect… I already know how to light this fuse. Calmly, he finished his training and waited for night to fall.
When darkness settled over Uicheng, Raizen returned home. He raised his right hand, and with a sharp clap, a Shadow Clone sprang into existence beside him.
"The rest is up to you," Raizen said to the clone.
"Understood. Be careful not to be discovered," the clone replied with a nod.
Raizen handed a Flying Thunder God Kunai to the clone and summoned a clay owl, riding it high into the night sky.
From above, the clay owl blended seamlessly with the shadows. Raizen scanned the city below and followed the route Kitahara-san had described, heading straight for the Cypress residence. The compound still burned with light, a quiet beacon in the dark. With a faint smile, he threw the Flying Thunder God Kunai, placing another on the owl before disappearing into the shadows.
Moments later, he appeared inside the Cypress residence. Raizen wasn't here to kill—this was reconnaissance. Carefully, he retrieved a set of Cypress clan clothes and the clan's emblem, ensuring he could move freely in disguise. Once his task was complete, he melted into the night, climbing back onto the owl.
Quickly changing into the Cypress disguise, Raizen set his sights on the Jinen clan. When he arrived, he donned a prepared mask. A Flying Thunder God Kunai dropped silently, anchoring his position.
The infiltration of the Jinen estate was just as smooth as Cypress, but this time, the objective was darker. Raizen didn't need clothes—he needed leverage. The target: key figures of the Jinen clan. These deaths would spark the feud he had envisioned. Still, he grabbed a set of Jinen attire for the disguise—it was all part of the deception.
Sliding the door open quietly, he stepped inside. Perhaps it was the comfort of their own homes, or their arrogance, but the household guards were asleep, lulled into a false sense of security.
"You deserve to die."
He crouched beside a young man in his twenties, sleeping on the tatami. One hand gripped the man's neck, eyes cold and calculating.
"Wooo!"
The young man jerked awake, staring in terror, and immediately screamed.
"Help!"
Raizen stifled a laugh. Seriously? First reaction isn't resistance, it's screaming. Is this ninja training, or kindergarten?
The shout had consequences. In seconds, dozens of Jinen clan ninjas swarmed the residence, alerted by the piercing scream.
"Coming!" Raizen muttered. Kumo Kunai in hand, he struck as the door burst open. Each slash was precise—ninja after ninja fell silently to the ground, their lives ending before they could react.
"Who dares?! How dare someone attack the Jinen clan!"
The remaining ninjas saw their comrades fall and charged at him with a roar. Raizen dove through a side window, only to find more enemies waiting outside. The Jinen clan had him surrounded.
His grin widened beneath the mask. Perfect. This is exactly the kind of chaos I wanted.