Chapter 84: The Tribute of Blood (Patreon)

"..."

The deathly silence in the air almost felt tangible, pressing heavily on everyone's chests. The newly added "stain" on the door silently testified that what had just occurred was not an illusion. Rapid, heavy breathing suddenly sounded in the previously quiet darkness—clearly, others, like the missing-nin, had been hiding in the shadows.

Aside from that brainless Kumogakure missing-nin, no one here today was a fool. Naturally, they weren't stupid enough to jump out and become a target. Even those with sensory ninjutsu who could detect the others present maintained a tacit agreement not to act, merely watching coldly as the missing-nin served as the probing stone.

Unexpectedly, they witnessed this bizarre scene. A door that could devour chakra... and people?

Just as most were stunned with fear, a faint scent of blood suddenly drifted through the air.

Thud!!

With several bloody arcs cutting through the air and splattering blood, a figure—throat slit, hamstrings and tendons severed—was flung from the darkness like a broken doll, terror etched on its face. With no time to react or resist, it slammed into the massive portal.

Hum!

The deep blue glow appeared on the door once more, and the eerie scene repeated. From the slit throat, only desperate, incoherent gasps could escape before, in plain sight, the figure was drained of chakra and flesh, meeting the same fate as the previous missing-nin.

"Correct." This time, Yugito Nii saw it clearly. It definitely opened a bit.

She wasn't the only one who noticed. Everyone present had sensed it. Throwing that unlucky fellow against the door was to verify their suspicions.

"..."

Several pairs of eyes fixed on the door seam, now slightly more visible than before. But the minuscule gap seemed to mock the insignificance of a life. The seam was bottomless, revealing nothing of what lay behind—only a purer darkness and stillness that seemed to freeze the soul.

A chilling sensation licked at the faces of those present. The atmosphere before the palace grew heavier.

Then, someone acted.

Hum!!

A blinding, white light instantly illuminated the area, tearing apart the impenetrable darkness. The dozens of figures hidden in the shadows were suddenly revealed. Instantly on guard, they distanced themselves from those around them, squinting toward the source of the intense light.

No attack? The blinding flash lasted only a moment, then nothing happened before being swallowed again by the thick darkness. However, soon, a voice reached everyone's ears.

"Yugito Nii, correct?"

Yugito's cat-like pupils shifted slightly toward the voice, watching as five figures emerged from the darkness. They were five ninja of varying builds, not wearing forehead protectors, dressed in different colored clothing. Recognizing them, Yugito's pupils contracted sharply.

"You are... the 'Ninja Hunters'... the Gen'yū?"

She stared at the five figures, her voice grave. "It seems someone hired you?"

Upon closer inspection, all five figures seemed ethereal and flickering—clearly not their true bodies.

"We take money, we solve problems. That's all," the leader spoke calmly. "We just didn't expect the Two-Tails Jinchūriki to be here. We'll need to ask for more payment."

"I assume you can see that opening this door requires devouring more chakra," another beside him spoke up. "In that regard, no one here is more suitable than you."

Hearing this, Yugito let out a cold laugh, extending sharp claws from her ten fingers. "Just with the five of you?"

"Meeting us," one of the Gen'yū suddenly smiled, "your luck is quite poor."

"Hmph! Mere bounty hunters dare to boast!" A Kumogakure ninja beside Yugito sneered coldly.

Since they didn't know where the enemies' true bodies were, they'd use indiscriminate attacks to force everyone out. With that thought, the Kumogakure ninja raised his hands to form seals, chakra surging within him.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Rat..."

But the moment lightning flickered around him, part of his chakra seemed to be sucked away by something. His chest swelled to a terrifying height in an instant.

"Ah!!"

Excruciating pain interrupted his seal formation. A scream of agony tore from his mouth. The other Kumogakure ninja looked on in shock, about to step forward, when the screaming ninja roared, "No! Don't come closer! Ah!!"

Crack! Crack!

As his chest swelled again, Yugito seemed to realize something. Her expression changed. "Fall back!" she shouted without hesitation.

The elite Kumogakure ninja around her instinctively distanced themselves upon hearing the command.

BOOM!

Like a blood bag exploding, flesh and blood scattered and splattered like rain in the blast.

Splat! Splat!

The Kumogakure ninja were bathed in their comrade's bloody rain. Crimson chunks and blood struck their shoulders. They stared at the remaining pool of blood on the ground, faces filled with shock and fury.

"What kind of jutsu is this?!"

"You're dead!"

As several of them prepared to charge forward again, Yugito, standing in front, raised her hand to stop them.

"Good. Just like that. Don't move recklessly."

Seeing this, the leader of the Gen'yū swept his gaze around again, his voice cold. "The same goes for the rest of you. Our employer wants what's behind the door. Killing isn't necessary."

"I assume you all understand that only by opening this door can we get what's inside. Since our goals align, if you don't want to end up the same way, obey quietly. Otherwise, I can't guarantee who'll explode next."

At these words, the figures hiding in the darkness, previously restless, froze. For the moment, the Gen'yū had truly controlled the situation. The Kumogakure ninja's death had been bizarre. No one had seen how the Gen'yū attacked. Until they understood the principle behind that explosive jutsu, most present indeed didn't dare act rashly. After all, no one could guarantee they weren't already affected.

Especially the bounty hunters present, who were most familiar with the Gen'yū's reputation and abilities. Out of caution, they could only stand still, watching coldly.

"Please," the Gen'yū leader looked at Yugito, his voice heavy. "What you lack least is chakra, isn't it?"

In truth, even if Yugito Nii suddenly attacked now, she wouldn't explode like that Kumogakure ninja. Because this jutsu was actually their cultivated "Blasting Bugs"—parasites that could infest a target's body and feed on chakra. Using chakra or ninjutsu fed the bugs, accelerating their growth until they reached their limit and exploded within the host.

Since they needed Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, to satisfy the door's hunger, the Gen'yū naturally couldn't implant her with Blasting Bugs. They were gambling. Gambling that Yugito Nii wouldn't dare to act. Using the lives of their five members and the dozen Kumogakure ninja as stakes.

"..."

Just as they expected, Yugito narrowed her eyes but indeed didn't act rashly. She stepped toward the door. The two twisted stains on the door seemed to come alive, exuding a greedy hunger. Her expression grave, she slowly raised her hand and pressed it against the door.

HUM—!!

The familiar glow reappeared, but it was no longer the previous dim, eerie light. A deep blue radiance erupted violently, covering the colossal door like a tidal wave in an instant! The brilliance was so intense it briefly dispelled the underground darkness, casting the entire palace entrance in an icy, cold light!

"Ugh!" Yugito Nii let out a pained, suppressed groan.

The vast, refined chakra within her felt as if billions of icy steel needles were piercing her skin, muscles, and meridians. It surged uncontrollably toward the door, devoured by the greedy portal! The terrifying pulling force felt as if it would tear her soul out—like an invisible, giant hand constantly wrenching at her body.

Crack! Crack! CRACK!!

Under the varied gazes of everyone present, as chakra was madly poured in, the previously barely perceptible door seam visibly widened. With the grating, teeth-setting sound, an even colder, deader, more ancient aura gradually seeped out from the other side of the door, permeating the air.

Yugito Nii's gaze fixed on the widening crack. The chill seemed to seep through her vision, eroding her very bones. She could feel it—something lay behind that door. Ancient, icy, brimming with malice... yet feeling strangely familiar.

But soon... Yugito's chakra was nearly depleted, yet the door had only opened a fist-sized gap.

"Damn it! Damn it!!"

Yugito tried to thrust her hand into the crack but was still blocked by an invisible force. Her face, growing pale, darkened instantly. She could actually feel that if this continued, the door would open soon. But by that point, her chakra would be completely exhausted, leaving her no strength left to compete for whatever lay inside!

So, she deliberately made it appear that her chakra alone wasn't enough.

Seeing this, the others' expressions also grew grave. Their previously suppressed intentions and readiness to act began stirring again. It was as if they could hear the door greedily staring down at them, whispering.

Not enough! Far from enough! Give me more!

Without a doubt, if even Yugito Nii couldn't open the door, they would be the next ones sent to their deaths. Who knew how many more lives it would take? The Gen'yū had forced Yugito to this point; they would surely force the rest to their deaths as well. They couldn't wait any longer...

"Hah!"

"Damn it!"

Thwick! Thwick!

The sound of flesh being torn echoed. Enraged, pained roars erupted from the darkness. The ethereal forms of the five Gen'yū suddenly dissipated.

The voice was familiar to the others—it belonged to two of the Gen'yū who had just been threatening everyone.

Thud! Thud!

Two corpse-like figures, like discarded sacks, were casually tossed out, hitting the cold door with dull thuds. The Kumogakure team's searchlights immediately swung over, illuminating the still-warm bodies of two Gen'yū members dressed in yellow and blue. Their faces were frozen in horror and agony. Their necks bore massive, gruesome puncture wounds. The door began draining their flesh and blood, causing them to shrivel.

"What are you still hesitating for?"

A voice tinged with amusement echoed from the darkness, like a seductive whisper stirring everyone's desires.

"Kill."

A single syllable, imbued with cold intent, was uttered softly. It instantly tore through the suffocating silence, shattering the already fragile balance. After a brief, dead silence, several figures in the darkness lunged at the nearest person to them.

"Ah!"

"Damn it!"

"Kill them!"

Howls, shrieks, curses, and explosions erupted instantly in the darkness! Flashes of firelight illuminated faces contorted by rage, fear, and greed.

The colossal door and the shadowy figure watched silently as these offerings slaughtered each other before it, presenting their lives and souls as tribute.

This is how it should be.