My Techniques are a bit off

Outside the Auction Venue

The merchants vying for the gold mine had already entered the venue, leaving a crowd gathered outside—some standing, others squatting.

The crowd consisted of shinobi, samurai, and rough-looking individuals armed with deadly weapons. There were many people present, as the gold mine attracted not only merchants from the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Rain, but also those from smaller regions and nations hoping for a lucky break.

Local merchants from the Land of Rivers were plentiful as well, accompanied by a variety of bodyguards. The scene outside was far livelier than inside.

However, merchants from smaller regions were unlikely to risk engaging in assassination plots. Most of them hoped to win within the rules, letting money speak for itself.

The weaker they were, the more they wanted everyone to follow the rules.

"Boss, it feels like everyone's looking at us," Iris whispered cautiously.

Due to the deaths of the Amegakure shinobi and merchants, the only shinobi from major villages remaining were from the Sunagakure and Konoha. Naturally, they attracted the most attention.

The Amegakure's reputation largely stemmed from Hanzo the Salamander, so the Sunagakure shinobi appeared relatively normal, aside from the female ninja suspected to be Temari. Her massive iron fan made her seem particularly intimidating.

On the other hand, the Konoha team…

With the Jōnin from both villages already inside the venue, the most eye-catching figure outside was Link, wearing the iconic green Chūnin vest of Konoha.

Why? Because he looked far too young, was completely unknown, and was, after all, just a Chūnin. All of these points drew attention.

"Ha! I can't believe Konoha made a little brat like him a Chūnin," jeered a ronin with a heavily tattooed chest, leaning on his longsword.

"Yeah, if our boss were there, he'd probably be a Jōnin!"

"Ha ha ha!"

The other ronin laughed, their comments filled with mockery, dragging Konoha's reputation through the mud.

The Land of Fire might be powerful, and Konoha prestigious, but in the Land of Rivers, where these men had no families or attachments, they lived only for fame and fortune. These were men with nothing to lose.

Why hadn't they dared mock Nara Ensui earlier? Because they weren't looking for a fight. They simply wanted the bragging rights of "provoking a Konoha Chūnin."

If someone attacked in broad daylight, it would draw immediate backlash. The shinobi from major villages, bound by rules, were unlikely to retaliate.

As for why they didn't pick on the Sunagakure shinobi…

Everyone knew Konoha shinobi were softer and less likely to kill innocent people outside of missions or wars. Provoking the Sunagakure could easily result in death.

The ronin mocked Konoha because they believed Konoha's shinobi were easier targets, the type to endure insults without retaliation. In short, they were opportunistic cowards trying to smear Konoha's reputation.

Iris glared furiously, instinctively drawing a kunai.

"Clang!"

The sight of someone reaching for a weapon instantly heightened tensions. The crowd began drawing their own weapons in response, creating a chain reaction.

This was a classic display of intimidation dynamics: shinobi from major villages were strong, and their mere presence provoked fear and hostility. Any sign of aggression from them was bound to trigger unified opposition.

The suspected Temari stood with her arms crossed nearby, watching the Konoha trio with interest.

A fight could easily escalate into a large-scale conflict, resulting in the auction's failure and the mission's collapse.

Not fighting, however, would damage Konoha's reputation and credibility.

[So, as a Chūnin from Konoha, what will you do?]

Her smirk grew wider.

"Boss…" Ami, more perceptive of the situation, softly reminded Link of the stakes.

Link turned a cold gaze toward the jeering ronin.

Unnoticed, his shadow had already crept behind the group, silently standing upright.

"Crack!"

The leader's head twisted a full 360 degrees, his longsword snatched from his grip by the shadow.

"Splat!"

"Splat!"

The shadow, mirroring Link's physical strength, reflexes, and taijutsu skills, launched a surprise attack, killing the ronin instantly.

There were no screams, no struggle—just the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground and the quiet flow of blood.

The scent of blood slowly spread, and the atmosphere grew heavier. What terrified the crowd wasn't open combat, but the silent, lethal efficiency of the attack.

The fact that the Konoha shinobi could instantly eliminate several burly ronin suggested they could likely do the same to most others present.

Link retracted his gaze, calmly watching the auction venue. He neither threatened the crowd verbally nor offered explanations or reassurances.

The majority of people lowered their weapons, silently raising their vigilance and plotting potential escape routes.

Iris, clutching his kunai, flushed with excitement as his eyes swept over the previously hostile crowd, who now avoided his gaze entirely.

Ami, meanwhile, looked at Link with admiration. His stature didn't matter; his strength, decisiveness, and execution spoke volumes.

How had the great villages earned their reputations?

Through bloodshed.

Link silently reflected. Should good people always be the ones targeted? Ridiculous. He never considered himself a good person.

Without the burden of moral obligations, no one could use them to manipulate him.

Two choices?

He'd rather eliminate the person forcing the decision. After all, he was a ninja, not a hero.

Judging by the results, his approach was highly effective. The simpler and more direct, the better.

The powerful elites might disregard samurai and shinobi as expendable tools, but who were these small-time thugs to dismiss ninjas so lightly?

If a full brawl had broken out, Link was prepared to slaughter every hostile individual quickly and efficiently to prevent them from interfering with the auction.

That was his simple, brutal solution.

~~~

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