Grind is My Ninja Way

"Was it him?" 

A few minutes later, Seimei opened his eyes and murmured softly. 

Hebi had not disappointed him. As the leader of this mission, Hebi indeed knew the identity of every member, including the traitor within their ranks. 

However, what surprised Seimei was that the traitor wasn't a member cultivated by the Root Organization but someone coerced into obeying Danzo's orders because of compromising leverage. 

It made sense upon reflection. Most members of the Root Organization lacked "humanity." Expecting them to serve as spies would be a disaster. 

What is a spy? 

A spy not only needs exceptional professional skills but also the ability to be adaptable and charming, capable of interacting with anyone. 

Only with these qualities can they safely infiltrate and gather intelligence. 

The members of the Root Organization, who often need to learn social skills from books, were entirely unsuited to being spies. They simply lacked the capacity! 

This point was evident from Danzo's use of coercion and bribery to send Kabuto Yakushi and Nonō Yakushi on infiltration missions in foreign countries. 

Certainly, those two were talented, but if the Root Organization had its own capable operatives, Danzo wouldn't have had to send individuals who harbored animosity toward him. 

Shaking his head slightly, Seimei stopped dwelling on the matter. He raised his hand and used Chakra Absorption Technique to drain Hebi's chakra before swiftly ending his life with a Chakra Scalpel. 

Thud! 

Hebi's corpse fell heavily to the ground. 

After confirming his death, Seimei turned his gaze toward the main battlefield. 

Now it was time to eliminate any loose ends. 

Indeed, he had no intention of sparing the traitor. 

While it was true the traitor wasn't a Root Organization member and acted under coercion, they had still betrayed the group. Seimei couldn't let them off simply because they were forced. Everyone must bear the consequences of their choices. 

Turning back to Hebi's body, Seimei formed hand seals and cast a Fire Style jutsu: Scorched Cremation Technique! 

Boom! 

Flames erupted, consuming Hebi's body. 

Soon, the fire grew, crackling as it reduced the corpse to ash. 

A breeze swept through, dispersing the remnants into nothingness. 

Satisfied, Seimei nodded. He had disposed of previous enemies similarly. After checking the surroundings one last time to ensure no traps were left behind, he activated Wind Style: Wings of Wind. 

Whoosh! 

Pale green chakra wings materialized on his back. 

Flapping his wings, Seimei flew swiftly toward the main battlefield. 

By now, over 40 minutes had passed since the battle began, and more than 30 minutes since he had relayed intelligence to Sano Nobuyuki. It was about time for his ally to arrive. 

He needed to hurry. 

If the Mist Shinobi sensed the unfavorable situation and retreated prematurely, it would complicate matters—not because Seimei cared about defeating them, but because the chaotic battlefield was the perfect opportunity to deal with the traitor. Missing this chance would require extra effort later. 

Preferring simplicity, Seimei accelerated, protecting himself with Chakra Cloak as he pushed his flying speed to the maximum. 

Although the chase with Hebi had created some distance, Seimei's aerial speed would close the gap in no time. 

Seconds later. 

Mid-flight, Seimei abruptly stopped. 

Using his Byakugan, he spotted a team of ninja a few hundred meters away, moving cautiously through the forest. 

Focusing his vision, he identified four Mist Shinobi. One, based on chakra levels, appeared to be a special jonin, likely the leader, while the other three were chunin. 

Judging by their direction, they were heading toward the area where Hebi had fled. 

Recalling the intel he had extracted from Hebi, Seimei confirmed there were no additional collaborators in the operation. These Mist Shinobi must have been drawn by the commotion. 

To be sure, Seimei decided to intercept them. 

Moreover, he could use their identities to his advantage. 

Dealing with the traitor required subtlety. Without evidence, Seimei couldn't arbitrarily kill someone, even as team leader. However, disguising himself as a Mist Shinobi was a straightforward solution. 

Descending silently, Seimei approached. 

Before they could react, he unleashed Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu! 

A massive fireball roared toward the group, radiating intense heat. 

"Watch out!" 

"Retreat!" 

"Careful!" 

Chaos erupted as the Mist Shinobi scrambled to evade. 

From above, Seimei observed their panic with satisfaction. 

He had grown fond of this method of attack since using it effectively at Yujin Port—simple yet devastating. For someone like him, who valued overwhelming force, it was ideal. 

The downside? 

High chakra consumption. Even Seimei felt the strain after repeated use. 

Fortunately, Chakra Absorption Technique allowed him to replenish chakra efficiently, so he never hesitated to unleash powerful techniques when necessary. 

As Seimei mused, the fireball struck the ground. 

Boom! 

The explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the forest. Flames erupted, transforming the area into a sea of fire within moments. 

"Ahhh!" 

Two Mist Shinobi failed to escape, succumbing to the explosion and flames. The remaining two staggered out, their clothes scorched and bodies battered. 

Yet, even in their desperate state, they kept a wary eye on their surroundings—particularly the sky. 

Wait— 

The leader's face suddenly froze, his pupils shrinking. 

The sky was empty. 

A sharp sense of danger overwhelmed him. Acting on instinct, he leapt forward—just as a blade slashed through his afterimage. 

"Huh?" 

Seimei raised an eyebrow at the near miss. Undeterred, he activated Instant Sword Technique, boosting his speed dramatically. 

In a flash, he appeared beside the special jonin. 

Swish! 

The blade gleamed as it severed the shinobi's arm, exposing bone and spilling blood. 

Despite his injuries, the jonin's resolve remained unbroken. But Seimei pressed on relentlessly, his movements a blur of light and steel. 

In mere moments, the battle concluded. The special jonin, after a brief but fierce struggle, fell lifeless to the ground. 

Seimei surveyed the aftermath with calm detachment. 

As expected, there had never been any doubt about the outcome.