Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 27 Battle of the City Lord's Mansion

Late at night, candlelight was lit in the main hall of the side hall of the steward's mansion.

The others sat around the table, while Sato Yoshisuke sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, with a rough map of the lord's mansion spread out in front of him.

His finger traced across the paper, finally stopping at the main courtyard.

"The situation at the city lord's mansion is more complicated than we imagined. If there really is a Jonin stationed there, the danger of our infiltration will increase exponentially."

Because of what happened this morning, Naoto has been very silent, even his usual idle chatter has decreased significantly.

He looked around at everyone and finally said to the captain, "Takikawa-kun, Captain, didn't you guys notice? Actually, ever since we entered the city, I've had a strange feeling."

The two servants who brought us here seemed to be afraid of something. And the guards we encountered earlier—I could sense their resistance, as if they were facing danger and enemies.

Although Naoto is talkative, he has always had a keen intuition, especially after consuming the insect, which endowed him with a talent for perception.

This is also the only one among all the symbiotes to acquire a talent, and of course, the only one that was not catalyzed by Aburame Shisei's cocoon technique, choosing instead to let the insect eggs naturally coexist.

However, because of the previous incident, he was feeling somewhat down, and it wasn't until now that he had recovered and noticed these details.

Sato Yoshisuke suddenly frowned and remained silent in thought. Clearly, he had also noticed this, but hadn't paid much attention to it before.

But thinking about it carefully now, there are indeed many unusual things. Does that mean this is actually a trap?

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Two servants entered carrying food boxes. The fat servant in the lead bowed and said, "My lords, you have worked hard. The city lord specifically instructed that dinner be prepared for you."

The food box was opened, revealing steaming hot rice, grilled fish, miso soup, and several side dishes, which looked quite plentiful.

"You're too kind, Lord." Sato Yoshisuke nodded, but his gaze lingered on the servant's face for a moment longer.

The fat servant felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and quickly lowered his head, saying, "Then, please enjoy your meal, everyone. I'll take my leave now."

The door closed again.

Chuncao took out a small cloth bag from her bosom, and from it took out a specially made silver needle for testing poison. She then inserted it into each dish in turn. When she examined the miso soup, the tip of the silver needle turned an eerie bluish-black.

"It's poisonous." Her voice turned cold.

You Shu's expression changed: "They want to poison us?"

"No, this isn't a deadly poison." Chuncao carefully examined the color changes on the silver needles. "It's a paralyzing drug, and the dosage is quite large. If you take it, your whole body will stiffen, and you'll be conscious but unable to move."

Sato Yoshisuke frowned and said, "Just as I thought."

"Captain, what should we do next?"

The tree was at a loss; if it really was a trap, then they were already surrounded.

After thinking for a long time, Sato Yoshisuke said, "Let's play along. Since they want us to be poisoned, let's show them."

He then asked everyone to move closer and began to make plans in hushed tones.

Aburame Shicheng sat quietly to one side, watching their discussion. He would occasionally chime in with a word or two, but mostly just echoed what they said.

At midnight, the courtyard was completely silent.

Three dark figures scaled the wall and landed almost silently.

The leader, Black Scorpion, was dressed in a dark brown ninja outfit and wore a half-scorpion-shaped mask on his face, revealing only his eyebrows and eyes, which gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

Behind him, Red Butterfly, dressed in a dark red bodysuit, toyed with two short knives in her hands. Little Bug brought up the rear, his face filled with eager excitement.

His gaze swept across the courtyard, finally settling on the paper window of the side room, where a candlelight illuminated the figures of several people slumped over the table.

"Boss, they've fallen."

Black Scorpion didn't answer immediately, but instead raised a finger to signal for silence.

He closed his eyes and sensed for a moment. There were indeed only five people in the room whose chakra fluctuations were extremely weak and disordered—characteristics consistent with poisoning.

But he remained vigilant. His survival as a wandering ninja was entirely due to this caution.

"Go in," Black Scorpion gestured.

The little insect eagerly pushed open the door. Inside the room, five people lay sprawled on the floor, white foam lingering at the corners of their mouths, their breathing faint.

"Haha, what a bunch of useless trash!" Little Bug couldn't help but laugh out loud. "These are supposed to be elite ninjas from the Ninja Village? They can't even see through this little trick."

"Shut up." Black Scorpion coldly interrupted him, his gaze sweeping across the room: "Red Butterfly, confirm this."

Red Butterfly nodded, took out a medicine bottle from her bosom, and poured out a few grains of powder, scattering them into the air.

The powder drifted towards the five people on the ground, but they showed no reaction. If they were faking it, this irritating powder would have caused subtle changes in their breathing rate.

"It's true," Red Butterfly confirmed.

Black Scorpion relaxed slightly, but still didn't get completely close: "Where is the city lord?"

"Wait outside the door," said the little bug.

"Let him in."

The portly city lord walked in tremblingly, and upon seeing the scene on the ground, his face turned even paler: "Lord Black Scorpion..."

"Well done." Black Scorpion rarely praised him. "Next, I'll extract ninjutsu from these people. Lord City Lord, your mission is complete. You may leave."

The city lord felt as if he had been granted a pardon and turned to leave.

"Wait. Is the dungeon ready?"

"Ready, ready, it's in the basement of the west wing."

"very good."

Black Scorpion then turned his attention back to the four people on the ground. He walked over to Sato Yoshisuke, squatted down, and reached out to check the other's pulse.

At that very moment—

Sato Yoshisuke suddenly opened his eyes, and a shuriken shot out from his right sleeve, aiming straight for the black scorpion's throat.

too fast!

Black Scorpion's pupils contracted sharply, and his body instinctively leaned backward. The sword in his hand grazed his chin, leaving a trail of blood.

At the same time, he flicked his left hand, and another shuriken shot out, colliding with Sato Yoshisuke's second attack in mid-air, sparks flying everywhere.

"Attack!" Yoshisuke Sato shouted, and the other three on the ground jumped up at the same time.

Chuncao formed hand seals: "Water Release: Misty Technique!" A light white mist instantly filled the room, obscuring the view.

A tree branch rushed towards the insect, its blade piercing straight at its chest. The insect hastily retreated, but its arm was still cut, and blood flowed freely.

Naoto lunged at Red Butterfly, but she reacted faster, drawing her short sword and clashing it against Naoto's kunai. The two instantly became entangled in combat.

Black Scorpion had retreated to the center of the room, his face expressionless, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent: "So that's how it is. You guys are really good at pretending."

"You have too many flaws."