Chapter 14: Illusion Technique
Seeing these records, Su Xiao finally understood why those contractors in the Steel Alchemy world knew he was clearing the area. It turned out that second-rank contractors had this kind of information communication channel.
This channel was very practical, greatly promoting the formation of adventure groups among contractors. Those who passed the first-rank assessment were no weaklings, so Reincarnation Paradise let these contractors band together to reduce casualties.
Not only that, some items obtained in derivative worlds could be sold immediately, but this kind of transaction carried high risk, requiring both parties to have equal strength.
Su Xiao could post five messages on the Derivative World Communication Platform. While browsing the records, he noticed that Divine Emperor and the others had already posted over a dozen times. They might be higher-rank contractors, or perhaps adventure group leaders had bonus posting opportunities.
Just as Su Xiao was scrolling through the "Derivative World Communication Platform," a new message popped up.
Huang Fen (Blood Gate Adventurers Vice Commander): "Recruiting members. Requirements: any attribute over 50 points, core combat skills mastered. Healers, mages, and main tanks preferred. Must have upright character, no weird hobbies like necrophilia, insulting teammates, harassing female members, etc., and no history of betraying the adventure group."
...
The corner of Su Xiao's mouth lifted. The Derivative World Communication Platform was quite interesting. He wouldn't post for now. Divine Emperor, Gulu, and the others all recognized him, so it was better to keep a low profile.
Through the "Derivative World Communication Platform," Su Xiao obtained a very important piece of intelligence: three large adventure groups were in the Naruto world—Divine Emperor, Blood Gate, and Man Tian. These were all major adventure groups.
As for the purpose of these adventure groups, Su Xiao had already heard: to snatch the Demon Hunter Set!
Three large adventure groups in chaos meant hundreds of second-rank contractors fighting. In a battle of that scale, some weaker contractors could only hide in remote corners, trembling.
"The forest outside Konoha Village... interesting."
Su Xiao hesitated. Should he go join the fun? Although the large adventure groups had many people, fighting contractors was what he did best.
Just as Su Xiao was deep in thought, another message came through on the Derivative World Communication Platform.
Stan (Blood Gate Adventurers Commander): "Gulu, don't let me find where you are."
Jin Shisi (Man Tian Adventure Group Commander): "Stan, is your brain broken? Gulu actually escaped from you."
Divine Emperor (Divine Emperor Adventure Group Commander): "This time it's a hand, next time it'll be your head, Gulu."
Gulu (Traveling Group, Sixth Seat): "A bunch of trash. The Demon Hunter Set is mine. This young lady is disappearing now. Bye bye~"
Stan (Blood Gate Adventurers Commander): "Gulu, weren't you always wanting a one-on-one? Come out and fight if you dare."
Gulu (Traveling Group, Sixth Seat): "Dare? Sorry, this young lady's lower area is a flat concave shape. Not even a single hair, let alone balls. Idiot."
...
From this information, Su Xiao learned that the final winner was that little girl Gulu from the Traveling Group—a girl who loved candy and loved killing. The Demon Hunter Ring was in her hands.
The situation in the Naruto world was becoming increasingly complicated. Now that Gulu was hiding, those three large adventure groups would dig three feet deep to find her, especially Divine Emperor. Gulu had killed his sister.
These matters had nothing to do with Su Xiao for now. He needed to join a faction quickly, or he would be forcibly executed.
After traveling for two hours, a small town appeared in sight.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao left that small town, a map in his hand.
"Land of Fields, Land of Rivers, Otogakure, Land of Waterfalls, Land of Hunting, Land of Iron, Land of Whirlpools, Land of Rain."
These were the forces surrounding the Land of Fire besides Konoha. Several of them were ruled out by Su Xiao.
First to be ruled out was Otogakure. There was a snake there, and joining that place meant risking being dissected.
The Land of Fields, Land of Rivers, Land of Hunting, and Land of Waterfalls—four small countries—were also ruled out. These small countries were too weak, so weak that Su Xiao didn't want to join them.
That left the Land of Iron, Land of Whirlpools, and Land of Rain. Among them, the Land of Whirlpools wasn't very strong either, a last resort.
Choosing between the Land of Iron and the Land of Rain, Su Xiao leaned more toward the Land of Iron. The reason was that the Land of Rain had too many ruthless people. Those people working together could destroy a large ninja village.
This wasn't an exaggeration. A certain person in the Land of Rain even had the strength to single-handedly challenge a ninja village. Those eyes were also top-tier power by the later stages of the plot.
Thinking this way, the safest choice was to join the Land of Iron. The samurai there also used blades and had knowledge of wrapping energy around weapons.
Su Xiao mounted Bubu Wang. At Bubu Wang's speed, they could reach the Land of Iron in just a few hours.
...
In the forest far from Konoha Village.
This place was already very far from Konoha. Even if a battle broke out here, Konoha wouldn't notice for a short time.
Crackle~
Trees burned with a crisp sound. A red-haired man stood in the forest, a wound on his chest that looked like it was caused by a dagger-type weapon.
The trees within a few meters of the man had all burned to charcoal. On the path he came from were two rows of black footprints, as if the ground he stepped on was scorched.
This man was called Huang Fen, the second-in-command of the Blood Gate Adventurers.
"Boss, can't find her. That girl is too good at hiding."
"Mm, got it. I'm pulling out immediately. Divine Emperor has almost gone crazy. I nearly died at his hands."
Huang Fen walked into the distance, leaving a trail of fire behind him. It seemed everything that got close to him would be burned to nothing.
Ten minutes after Huang Fen left, a fair arm emerged from the scorched earth. A little girl crawled out of the dirt, looking a bit disheveled.
"So hot."
The girl was so hot she stuck out her tongue. Her clothes showed signs of being burned. One arm was severed, and she had other wounds on her body. She was none other than Gulu, the one the three large adventure groups were all looking for.
"Damn fire man. Couldn't you walk somewhere else? Had to walk right over my head..."
Gulu shook the dirt from her hair, quickly stripped off her clothes, and glanced at the remaining stub of her severed arm, looking a bit annoyed. She took out a sharp long dagger and directly cut it off. Blood splattered. Not only did Gulu not scream, but her face flushed red.
Using one hand to bandage the wound, Gulu put on a new set of clothes.
"Looks like I've stirred up a hornet's nest. I'll keep lying low. That musclehead Number Three is really unreliable. If I get the chance, I'll definitely kill him."
As she spoke, Gulu's body gradually faded, and she walked out of the forest.
...
Near the border of the Land of Fire.
Su Xiao walked across a snowfield, his expression not very pleasant.
An hour ago, he had arrived at the Land of Iron and met with its leader, Mifune, expressing his intention to join the Land of Iron.
Although Mifune was polite, he rejected Su Xiao's intention to join. The reason was that the Land of Iron was a neutral country and could not accept an infamous assassin like him.
That's right, Su Xiao was already infamous. The reason was his assassination of the Fourth Mizukage and his open attack on Kirigakure. He was a top-tier terrorist in the Naruto world.
Crunch, crunch. Walking on the snow, Su Xiao began to formulate a countermeasure. Was he going to join Otogakure? They would probably welcome him there.
"This is a bit troublesome."
After walking for a while, Su Xiao suddenly felt something was wrong.
"Who's there? Come out."
Dragon-Slaying Flash appeared in his hand. Su Xiao stared ahead.
"Oh? Already noticed. This guy's perception is sharp. He's not just all talk, wouldn't you say, Itachi?"
"Mm, sharp. Low-level illusion techniques are useless."
The light and shadow in front blurred, and two figures appeared before Su Xiao.