Chapter 32: The Hidden Assault
Under the cloak of night, Ninju and Tiju Yuto moved with the precision and skill that defined them. Their objective was clear: take down three sentinel outposts stationed across smaller villages near the Fire Country border—no survivors, no trace of their presence left behind. And when the bodies were found, all suspicion would point to the Sand Village.
They navigated the shadows like ghosts, swiftly and silently approaching their first target. Ninju Yuto took a steady breath, focusing his chakra as he formed the necessary hand signs for his wind release techniques. With a mere flick of his wrist, he unleashed a razor-sharp blade of air that sliced through the sentries without a sound. In moments, they fell, their last breaths stolen by the invisible edge of the wind.
On the other side, Tiju Yuto advanced with the elegance of a seasoned swordsman. His sword was a blur of silver, glinting briefly in the moonlight before disappearing into the darkness. His strikes were quick and efficient, each movement designed to end a life as swiftly and quietly as possible. Those who managed to catch a glimpse of his figure in their final seconds found themselves fading to darkness before they could utter a sound.
At each outpost, they planted evidence pointing directly to the Sand Village. They left distinctive symbols associated with Sand ANBU, scattered unique Sand Village weaponry, and even infused residual traces of chakra signatures similar to Sand's elite shinobi. Their mission wasn't just about elimination—it was about deception.
They used their own techniques sparingly, only when no witnesses remained. The purpose was to ensure that no sign of them lingered, leaving behind only the carefully crafted clues to fuel the narrative they had devised.
With dawn approaching, their work was complete. They had silenced every sentry, set the trail perfectly, and vanished like whispers in the night. As the first rays of sunlight broke over the villages, they knew the evidence would be found, sparking suspicion and mistrust directed solely at the Sand Village.
Back in the dimensional villa, Ninju and Tiju Yuto released some of the previously absorbed Yutos and joined them in the meeting room. As the Yutos gathered, CEO Yuto spoke with a satisfied grin.
"Excellent work. Not only was the mission flawless, but the eighth inner gate technique has improved from this operation. We were all able to watch it unfold with the shared vision, and the execution was flawless."
CEO Yuto leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "Let's see how the other villages respond. If tensions start to simmer, we might add fuel to the fire. We should also consider selling information on their troop movements as the conflict escalates."
Just then, a notification sounded in the room.
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[Ding]
New Title Acquired: Assassin in Shadow
Presence reduction by 87% (when desired)
[Ding]
Combined Skills Activated: Hollow + Soul Invisibility
Presence reduction by 99.99%; detectable only during direct attacks
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A sense of awe filled the room, knowing the extent of stealth they now possessed. With this, they could move undetected even in plain sight.
"Let me test it," Tiju Yuto said, activating the presence reduction combined with hollow and soul invisibility. He seemed to vanish, not a trace of his presence visible to any in the room.
CEO Yuto looked around, sensing nothing but familiarity. "I can't see you, but since we're the same, I can still feel you slightly."
Jenny added, "We can't see you either. There's just a faint feeling—maybe the soulmate connection."
CEO Yuto smirked, a thought forming. "Let's take this further."
He signaled for Gene Yuto, who promptly teleported to retrieve a cloned body. A few moments later, Gene Yuto returned with a nutrient tank holding an identical Yuto clone. Placing it on the meeting table, all the Yutos merged with Gene Yuto, who then used soul alchemy to separate a fragment of their soul. Using 4,000 soul coins, he embedded it within the clone body.
As the clone absorbed the fragment, it began to come to life, taking on the memories and expertise of the Yuto collective. They named this new entity Assassin Yuto, a master of stealth, tactical assault, and untraceable movements.
Satisfied, Main Yuto absorbed Assassin Yuto back into himself, gaining an even sharper edge and provide Assassin Yuto with the knowledge of j taijutsu, swordsmanship, ninjutsu, and illusions. With a final thought, he split back into his multiple forms, prepared for the next stage of their mission.