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After the eleven rogue ninja were completely annihilated, Miao wiped the blood off his kunai with a piece of cloth torn from one of the fallen rogues. He then carefully stored it back in his weapon pouch and slowly turned around.
"Hmm?" Noticing the peculiar expressions and thoughtful gazes of Yuhi Kurenai and Might Guy, Miao's heart gave a slight jolt. "Could they have discovered something? No, that can't be right. I didn't use the Rasengan, so there shouldn't be anything suspicious about my actions."
The Rasengan was a technique developed by the Fourth Hokage, and its characteristics were unmistakable—it was unique in the entire shinobi world. Both Kurenai and Guy undoubtedly knew of this signature seal-less jutsu. Considering this, Miao had deliberately avoided using the Rasengan during this mission to prevent drawing attention from Konoha shinobi.
However, what Miao failed to realize was that if someone extremely familiar with the Uchiha clan—someone like Hatake Kakashi—had been present, his identity would already have been exposed.
The incredibly sharp shuriken techniques Miao had just employed were none other than the Uchiha clan's secret family techniques, passed down through generations. While many people outside the Uchiha clan had seen these techniques and marveled at them, why was it that others couldn't replicate or master them to the same level?
It wasn't merely because the throwing techniques were highly specialized—though they were indeed intricate enough that only those who dedicated significant effort could even begin to understand them—but more importantly, these techniques required the support of the Uchiha clan's ocular powers: the Sharingan.
Without the Sharingan, even mastering the throwing techniques was futile. The naked human eye simply lacked the precision, reaction speed, and tracking abilities provided by the Sharingan. Even if someone managed to learn the throwing method, they wouldn't be able to execute it flawlessly. Only the combat prowess granted by the Sharingan could fully control the trajectory of the shurikens.
If an expert on the Uchiha clan had observed Miao's shuriken techniques, they would undoubtedly deduce that he likely possessed the Sharingan.
Miao himself remained oblivious to this fact. These techniques had been drilled into him since childhood under his father's guidance, year after year until they became second nature. When he acted earlier, it was purely instinctive, deploying the attack methods he was most proficient in, without realizing any potential implications.
And so, the caravan resumed its journey, though the previously relaxed atmosphere had vanished entirely. Might Guy seemed lost in deep thought, no longer in the mood for playful banter, while everyone else harbored their own thoughts.
Miao continued walking at the rear of the caravan, while the Konoha chūnin now regarded him with cautious respect, no longer daring to harbor any hostility. After all, Miao's strength spoke for itself—he was on an entirely different level. This was the fundamental rule of the world: survival of the fittest. It applied not only between nations but also among individuals.
Miao was also deep in thought. He could clearly sense Kurenai frequently glancing at him with a contemplative look. He pondered over this as well, trying to pinpoint where he might have slipped up. This was the classic case of "clearer when viewed from the outside, confused when involved."
But in the end, it didn't matter much to him. Even if Konoha suspected something, what could they do about it? With his current strength, Miao was unafraid of Konoha. Against individual opponents, no one in Konoha could match him—not even the Third Hokage—thanks to the power of his Sharingan. If they sent a large group of shinobi to overwhelm him with sheer numbers, he could always retreat. There was no way they could capture him. Besides, hadn't Uchiha Itachi and Orochimaru both managed to evade justice despite their notorious reputations?
One had slaughtered nearly his entire clan, while the other conducted horrific experiments on his fellow villagers. Yet both of these infamous "big shots" continued to live freely. So how could someone like him—a newly rising bounty hunter—possibly attract Konoha's attention? Moreover, he had no direct ties to Konoha whatsoever.
And so, the caravan slowly made its way toward the Land of Lightning. Time passed steadily, and after nearly a month, they successfully reached the rest station designated for receiving caravans within the Land of Lightning. Kurenai submitted the entry procedures, and Matsamoto Sho signed the mission confirmation form. With that, the mission was officially completed, and Miao secured his bounty payment.
During this month-long journey, the path had been relatively perilous yet manageable. They encountered three or four groups of rogue ninja or bandits along the way, but all were repelled. With two jōnin-level shinobi like Might Guy and Yuhi Kurenai from Konoha, along with three experienced chūnin, the bandits stood no chance.
However, Miao refrained from taking action again. He still hadn't figured out which aspect of his abilities might have caught the attention of the Konoha shinobi. One thing he did know was that if he acted again, Might Guy and Kurenai would grow even more suspicious of his identity—and that wasn't something he wanted. Furthermore, the bandits' skills were lackluster, so Miao decided to keep a low profile for the remainder of the journey.
Still, his desire for revenge against Konoha burned fiercely in his heart. He hadn't acted yet because he knew his strength wasn't sufficient. Battles between shinobi weren't as simple as one-on-one duels, and his target wasn't just a single person—it was the entire Hidden Leaf Village. His parents' murder demanded retribution.
But avenging his parents required careful planning and seizing the perfect opportunity—a moment that could severely cripple or even destroy Konoha. Though the timing had yet to arrive, Miao already had a rough plan in mind. However, for it to succeed, he needed far greater power than he currently possessed.