Naruto: How to Be an Undercover Shinobi

Kandachi was stunned for a few seconds before sensation returned to his body. He was suspended in the air, his neck caught in a grip as hard

Kandachi was stunned for a few seconds before sensation returned to his body.

He was suspended in the air, his neck caught in a grip as hard as iron—it hurt like hell.

As he reeled, a mocking voice rang out from behind him.

"Damn it. I told you—once I mastered the Eight Inner Gates, you'd be the first one I kicked to death!

And now! I'm here to keep that promise!"

The moment the words landed, Kandachi felt the grip on his neck tighten, then suddenly hurl him skyward.

By then, he understood exactly what was happening. Tears and snot burst out as he flailed in the air, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Kohei! Kohei-kun! Have mercy!

We're friends, aren't we?! Please, sir!

You even stuck me with needles before—and I took it! Don't you remember?!"

Hearing that, Reiji nearly fell off the wall from sheer disbelief.

What do you mean I stuck you with needles?!

That wasn't a needle!

It was practically a steel rod!

Wait, no—damn it! I never even stabbed you with one!

Nearly getting swept up in his own mess, Reiji flushed with embarrassment and fury.

He clapped his hands together, thumbs raised, index and middle fingers crossed, ring and pinky fingers pressed together, forming a seal as he aimed at the falling Kandachi.

"Daytime Tiger!"

With a loud shout, a blinding white tiger exploded from between Reiji's fingers.

Daytime Tiger!

A massive, high-pressure tiger-shaped blast of air erupted, instantly swallowing Kandachi mid-fall.

The roaring beast didn't stop there—it surged forward toward the stunned Amegakure shinobi, who hadn't even had time to react.

In a flash, the tiger struck the ground and detonated, erupting into a massive, spinning sphere of white light that engulfed them.

Within the light, their figures faded, crumbling like sand scattered by the wind.

As Reiji watched the devastation he'd unleashed, he clenched his fists with satisfaction.

Youth... is the greatest!

The Eight Inner Gates—forever a god-tier technique!

...

At that exact moment, Hanzō of the Salamander had already escaped using his expertly honed Body Flicker Technique.

He might be called the Demi-God of the Ninja World, the leader of Amegakure, the man who had once stopped Iwagakure's invasion alone...

But none of that mattered.

Against someone like Reiji—whose burst power was so overwhelming it might surpass even the Third Raikage—he didn't stand a chance.

Hanzō had always been good at reading the situation.

...

Crouched atop the wall, Reiji sensed the flash of movement from the Flying Thunder God seal. His lips curled into a smirk.

Damn, Hanzō really can run.

But where exactly do you think you can run to? You think that little "touch" from earlier was just me copping a feel?

With that thought, Reiji formed a one-handed seal and vanished.

The world spun.

...

When he reappeared, he was already outside the village.

He reached out and grabbed the shoulder of the fleeing Hanzō, applying the slightest pressure.

Crack—

A sharp sound echoed. Hanzō of the Salamander let out a muffled groan and collapsed, terror flooding his eyes.

When the hell did this guy get behind me?!

Why didn't I sense anything?!

As the thought crossed his mind, Reiji disappeared again.

In the blink of an eye, he was beside Hanzō once more, his hand—solid as forged steel—clamping down on Hanzō's remaining good shoulder.

Crack—

Hanzō couldn't hold back anymore. The searing pain from both shattered shoulders tore through him, and he let out a feral scream.

"Why?! Why are you killing me?!"

Hearing Hanzō's panicked and desperate cry, a flash of brutality crossed Reiji's eyes as he let out a mocking laugh.

"Why? You're asking me why?

Hahahaha!

Fine, I'll tell you!

Because of Mizukuma!

Do you still remember that name?

Do you remember the weakling you never took seriously?

The fool you sent to the battlefield to die?"

As he spoke, Reiji crouched down in front of Hanzō and let out a long sigh. His expression suddenly turned desolate.

"I know you don't remember.

But that's alright. Over the next ten, twenty... maybe even a hundred years, you'll have plenty of time to reflect on how much joy that name brought you."

As Reiji spoke, the respirator on Hanzō of the Salamander's face suddenly fell to the ground.

The next instant, thick purple poison gas spread rapidly with his heavy breaths.

Inside the poisonous cloud, Reiji narrowed his eyes slightly, his face full of scorn.

After a while, seeing Reiji completely unaffected, Hanzō of the Salamander stared in despair.

"You! You! What kind of monster are you?!"

"Hah~ That's your last line?

Just like your people—dull to the end!"

Reiji slowly placed his hand on Hanzō's neck and whispered,

"Hanzō-sama, you'd better pray that I get those eyes back and bring that idiot Mizukuma back with me...

Otherwise, you may never find out what the Pure Land even looks like."

The moment the words left his lips, Reiji snapped Hanzō's neck, leaving him frozen in shock.

Hoisting Hanzō's lifeless body over his shoulder, Reiji formed a hand seal with one hand and vanished from the land of constant downpour.

...

In the underground base of the Land of Hot Water.

On the floor, Reiji was carefully drawing a formation shaped like the upper half of a human body using a brush.

On the formation's shoulders were two bold characters—"Impure" and "Earth."

At its center, a blindfolded man knelt trembling, hands bound tightly behind his back.

A missing-nin infamous for slaughter and cruelty—more than suitable as a vessel for the Impure World Reincarnation.

At the head of the formation was an unfurled scroll, and at its center lay a bloodstained finger.

Reiji crouched behind the scroll, forming seals with practiced precision.

Tiger–Snake–Dog–Dragon...

With a quick motion, he brought his hands together and muttered in a low voice,

"Impure World Reincarnation."

His voice echoed through the vast, empty chamber.

In the next moment, dust lifted from the ground, slowly wrapping around the struggling vessel.

Before long, the struggling ceased. A face contorted in pain emerged through the dust—it was Hanzō of the Salamander, freshly revived.

"Yo~ Hanzō-sama, back so soon?"

Reiji waved cheerfully, then pulled out a kunai wrapped in a talisman and approached slowly.

Seeing Reiji draw closer, Hanzō of the Salamander froze for a while before sluggishly lifting his head.

"I… I've come back to life?

No… you… you're toying with the souls of the dead!"

At his words, Reiji smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in his eyes. He reached forward, pressing the kunai against Hanzō's forehead and whispered,

"I told you—you'd better pray. Pray I can get those damn eyes.

Otherwise… you'll be stuck like this under my control for who knows how many years."