Domination

A black force like a vengeful spirit kept seeping out of the unconscious Wang Taoming’s body, yet it also seemed bound to that very body.

Its face was savage and twisted, yet it could not break free.

Xu Yue had also finished preparing a Sealing Jutsu.

Sealing Evil Method!

With Xu Yue’s current mastery of Sealing Jutsu, even after completely sealing that vengeful spirit away, dense sweat still appeared on his forehead.

"Tch, what a pain. There was something like this too? Prince Su, the ‘Puppet Master’?"

After sealing the evil spirit, although it had only been an indirect clash from afar, Xu Yue could still sense the strength of that Qing Court prince.

After capturing one Wang and having Uchiha Shisui use Kotoamatsukami to control him, making Wang Taoming follow his "suggestions"—

This vengeful spirit had begun causing trouble.

At first, Xu Yue had thought it was something like Wang Zhaoming’s inner demon after his demonic transformation. Later, however, he discovered that it seemed to have been influenced by some other major figure. That was why he had carried out this sealing, to prevent it from interfering with Kotoamatsukami.

Only after he completed the seal did Kotoamatsukami finally overwrite the existing authority.

It seemed that when using it on Reincarnators, he also needed to consider certain other abilities. Whether Kotoamatsukami had other means of being undone was still unknown, so he had to remain cautious.

"Mm, what sort of ability is this?"

Waking from his unconsciousness, Wang Zhaoming brushed aside the hair by his ear. A trace of confusion appeared on his handsome face.

He felt that there was nothing wrong with him, yet he could still sense that something was off.

"What terrifying power. It can alter my subconscious without affecting my personality."

Shock gradually appeared in Wang Taoming’s eyes.

There were plenty of methods for controlling others in Reincarnation Space, but being able to achieve this extent was extraordinarily rare in his view.

"Alright, you’ll have plenty of time to study this change later. Now, let’s discuss what comes next…"

Xu Yue cut him off. He had not used such a precious opportunity on him just to listen to this.

At present, most things in Naruto World were proceeding according to his planned route. If he wanted to use Kotoamatsukami to control someone, Madara and Nagato were untouchable because of their Rinnegan. Obito was therefore the most useful target.

Orochimaru also had value, but the most important Impure World Reincarnation had already completed half its requirements. Barring any accidents, Xu Yue could obtain it next time. If Wang Zhaoming had not been available, he could have used it on Orochimaru.

But compared with a helper who could only function in a single mission, Wang Zhaoming was clearly the better choice, even if there might be some hidden risk involved. Even if he controlled Snake Uncle, he would still have to spend money to learn his techniques…

Afterward, Xu Yue began learning from Wang Zhaoming what Qi Xieyuan and Muto were preparing to do next.

They had expended so much effort and invited two outside reinforcements from other military groups, only to fail in seizing the Four-Tomoe. It seemed they could only make up for those losses elsewhere.

The opportunity for three Kage-level figures to enter this timeline was exceedingly rare. Thus, Muto, who possessed the most intelligence, had invited the other two to undertake another high-difficulty mission.

Interestingly enough, their destination was the Land of Earth!

The intelligence held by the Rothschild France Bank there had also been purchased from Japan, but Japan had kept something in reserve. This time, they were going to harvest the fruits of others’ labor.

Hearing their target once again made Xu Yue sigh at this group’s convoluted path.

They were actually trying to obtain Dust Release!

By exploiting the intricate relationships among Kurotsuchi, Kitsuchi, Akatsuchi, Deidara, Roshi, and Ōnoki, they had unlocked a cumbersome and lengthy chain of missions, gradually raising their favorability.

At the end, after paying enough Plot Points, they would have a chance of obtaining Dust Release. Yes, a chance. It seemed that the rewards for the chain mission were granted directly by the Space.

Dust Release was the rarest and best reward, but the other possible rewards from completing that chain mission were also Bloodline Scrolls. Even Deidara’s Explosive Art could potentially be obtained.

The information Japan had held back was that when the chain mission reached the point where the Four-Tails Jinchuriki defected, there was a chance to intercept the reward midway through a battle with the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi.

It would simply require far more Plot Points.

Even so, it was absolutely worth it!

"Excellent. This will save me quite a bit of trouble. Just go along with their intentions for now…"

Upon receiving this information, a smile appeared on Xu Yue’s face.

"Understood."

Meanwhile, the Wood Clone Xu Yue had left behind as a substitute within the merchant caravan arrived with the caravan’s rented ship at the Three-No Sea between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire.

"The Land of Water does not permit ninja from other countries to enter. According to the escort agreement, this is as far as we can take you."

Asuma spoke to Xu Yue and the others with a hint of apology, a cigarette clenched between his teeth.

"Haha, don’t worry. See my bodyguard? She’s from the Land of Water. She’ll go get someone."

Xu Yue pointed at Mei Terumi beside him, who rolled her eyes, looking quite pleased with himself.

"Should we wait a little longer for her to go call someone?"

Asuma was quite good-natured. His mission had technically ended by now, but he felt that having their only remaining bodyguard leave to fetch help would create a gap in their defenses.

"It’s fine. The sea is calm around here, and she’ll be quick. Ninja from the Land of Water aren’t very friendly, so it’s better not to meet them."

Xu Yue looked entirely unconcerned.

"In that case, we’ll take our leave."

With that, Asuma led the escort team directly off the ship, stepping across the water toward the direction from which they had come.

"You should have had them wait. There’ll be a gap in the defenses while I’m gone. Forget it, leaving behind a Water Clone should be enough…"

Mei Terumi spoke coldly as she began forming hand seals, only for Xu Yue to interrupt her.

"Don’t use a clone or anything. What if it goes out of control? You won’t be here, so who could subdue it? That would be terrifying."

Mei Terumi was somewhat dumbfounded by Xu Yue’s utterly amateurish words. She did not know how to describe it, and explaining the fundamental principles felt far too troublesome. Soon enough, though, she decided it did not matter.

"Stay here obediently and don’t move. I’ve already checked the surroundings. There won’t be any problems. It’ll only take about fifteen minutes. I just need to have two people at the outpost notify them."

She only said it out of professional habit, and she herself did not think there was any problem.

She was not returning to the village to call for help. She only needed to have someone at the nearby outpost go back and report the situation, then she could return and continue guarding them.

Her individual strength was certainly sufficient, but escorting someone was not merely a matter of strength. There were too many goods, and with only one person, trouble would constantly arise along the way. She had only promised Utakata to protect Xu Yue himself.

Fortunately, they had chosen this place for the handover precisely because they had confirmed the safety of the nearby area. Leaving for fifteen minutes would be more than enough.

As she spoke, she jumped off the side of the ship and ran toward the faintly visible shore in the distance…

After Mei Terumi turned into a tiny dot and disappeared into the distance—

A greenish eyeball that had appeared on the deck followed her disappearing figure as it turned.

Then, in the cluttered space at the very bottom of the ship’s hold, one of the four Holy Saints of Heaven opened his eyes. His face was full of excitement as he recounted everything his skill had gathered.

"They’re gone. They’ve all gone…"

The four men, who had always occupied the very bottom rung of society in the merchant caravan and had long been holding themselves back to the point of bursting, let out wild laughter.

"Haha! Ahahahaha! They’ve finally left! They’ve all finally left!"

"We’ll definitely repay you properly for all the gifts along the way!"

"There’s enough time!"

The four men, reeking of filth and urine, wore crazed, grotesque expressions.

The Laborer Group members stationed one level above them immediately sensed that something was wrong upon hearing the laughter below. At the same time, a rather quick-witted laborer assigned to work on the deck ran down in a panic and explained the current situation on deck.

The handover between the merchant association’s leader and the ninja had happened far too quickly. It had been so quick that the handover was completed before they had any chance to react.

They were merely laborers responsible for moving cargo, after all. They had no way of guessing the merchant association president’s thoughts.

In an instant, every high-level combatant on the ship had left!

This made Old Xue, the middle-aged man in a headscarf acting as the Laborer Group’s temporary leader, look extremely grim.

He had thought they would retaliate after returning, but had they been unable to restrain themselves even in Mission Space?

If they returned to the real world, the punishments and costs of taking action would make targeting them over nothing but wounded pride entirely unprofitable. He was confident that he could preserve the others in the Laborer Group by sacrificing his own life.

After all, Reincarnators placed profit above all else.

Yet the merchant association president, who had always been so cautious, had actually made such an enormous blunder!

It seemed they were now determined not to spare a single person!

"Everyone, gather up! Get over here, all of you!"

At a time like this, Old Xue, the Laborer Group’s temporary leader, showed his own judgment and decisiveness. He gathered everyone together and blocked the exit leading up from the lowest deck.

They stared vigilantly at the four figures slowly walking up, like evil ghosts crawling out of an abyss.

"Hehe, it seems you’re planning to resist."

A brown-haired man with a sickly complexion looked viciously at the laborers.

"It seems you still don’t understand the gap between us."

"Members of a large military group and trash like you—even if we’re at the same mission stage, or even below your mission stage—can deal with you with a mere wave of the hand!"

The four Holy Saints of Heaven had become completely unrestrained.

Before reinforcements returned, they had more than enough time to slaughter their way through this place!

"Everyone, there’s no other way now. If we can return to the real world, we may still have a chance to negotiate properly with them. But now, we can only rely on our fists!"

Facing the other side’s undisguised killing intent, the Laborer Group members also understood that there was no avoiding this.

Driven into a corner, they could only risk everything!

"Oh? You still have a little spirit left in you. I thought I’d have to spend some extra time cultivating it."

But at that moment, a figure slowly descended from the stairway leading down from the upper deck.

It was none other than that unreliable merchant association president…

Two updates complete…

Salted Fish Beast reminds everyone again: tomorrow’s update may be a little late.