Chp-51: Silver-faced Asura

In the dimly lit underground space, the air was thick with dust and the stench of blood. Numerous ninjas gathered here, some looking fierce, others scarred, and some completely shrouded in black robes, concealing their true identities.

Suddenly, a low murmur spread through the crowd.

"Silver-faced Asura is here!"

The previously chaotic crowd instantly quieted down, parting to make way for the not particularly tall figure approaching. The figure was cloaked in black robes, appearing rather slender compared to the usual burly individuals in the underground black market. A silver-white metal mask concealed his face, leaving only his grey eyes exposed, which were as cold as ice.

"This is Silver-faced Asura's third mission this month, right?"

"I heard he always takes on multiple missions at once, and they're always the difficult ones."

"I really want to see what he looks like under that mask."

The nearby ninjas stared in awe.

"Are you crazy? Don't you remember his eerie abilities?"

The person who had spoken was immediately reprimanded. He shivered, recalling something terrifying, and fell silent.

While whispers floated around him, Silver-faced Asura reached the task handover station in the black market. He placed a scroll on the table, his voice cold and brief.

"Three heads. Pay up."

The receiving ninja opened the scroll, and with a puff of white smoke, three gruesome heads appeared.

"Impressive as always, Silver-faced Asura. These three had high bounties in the black market. No one could take them down until you did."

"Cut the crap. Just pay up."

"Of course."

The ninja, unfazed by the harsh words, took out a large stack of cash, counted it, and sealed it into another scroll before handing it over.

"A total of 25,630,000 ryō. Please verify."

As soon as the amount was announced, the dimly lit underground market filled with the sound of people gulping, like wolves discovering prey, their breaths growing heavier.

The brow under the silver-white mask furrowed slightly as he took the scroll and walked out of the black market.

Behind him, some eyes gleamed with malice.

...

In the forest outside the black market, the silver metal mask suddenly liquefied, flowing into the collar beneath, revealing a young face.

It was Satoru Hyuga!

He removed the coloured contacts from his eyes and sighed.

"Wearing these contacts every time I go to the black market is such a hassle."

The Byakugan was too distinctive and had to be concealed. The metal fluid worked well as a mask but was impractical for eyewear.

Once his electromagnetic force levelled up enough to manipulate photons, he could control light reflection and refraction, making his eyes' appearance undetectable.

He was currently near the largest black market in the Land of Grass. Due to the country's unique geographic location and lack of governance, the black market industry had flourished.

Satoru naturally chose this place to hone his skills.

The underground black market was a ruthless, ruleless, blood-soaked realm where the strong thrived.

While completing missions for the Hokage, Satoru also concealed his identity to grind in the black market, earning the moniker Silver-faced Asura in just over a month.

"Seems some fools are brave enough to follow me."

Raising an eyebrow, Satoru muttered disdainfully.

He sensed two figures approaching stealthily. In other places, it might not matter, but here in the black market, an ambush was likely.

He had just collected a bounty; someone following him so soon was clearly up to no good.

His hand brushed over his face, transforming back into the cold, ruthless Asura, waiting for his pursuers.

...

"Hey, are we really going to attack Silver-faced Asura?" a short ninja asked hesitantly.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

The tall ninja in front turned, scolding him.

"Don't be a coward! We're both Jonin. Together, we can take him."

The tall ninja, scarred from forehead to chin, licked his lips greedily.

"He just cashed in over 20 million ryō, plus that weapon of his that's worth 30 million in bounties. We can make over 50 million. We won't have to risk our lives anymore."

Hearing such a large amount, the short ninja's eyes gleamed with greed, though still tinged with hesitation.

"But his weapon is too weird, changing shape at will. We might not be able to handle it."

"Relax, I came prepared."

The tall ninja revealed a grey metal chest plate under his clothes.

"This is special chakra metal armour. It can block almost any ninja tool attack. Combined with my Petrification Technique, his attacks won't penetrate my defence."

He handed a matching chest plate to the short ninja, looking pained.

"This is custom-made for you."

If Satoru had heard their conversation, he would have called them geniuses. Using metal to block his attacks? What a brilliant idea.

After gearing up, the two approached their target quietly.

Once in range, they used their jutsu almost simultaneously.

"Earth Style! Earth Wall!"

With a tremor, a massive stone wall rose, enclosing Satoru and the two ninjas.

The tall ninja squinted at Satoru's calm demeanour.

"Not running at the first sign of trouble? Looks like Silver-faced Asura is about to be erased from the black market."

"Secret Technique! Petrification!"

Grey rock spread from the tall ninja's skin, enveloping his entire body except for his eyes, which stared greedily at Satoru.

"I don't know who gave you the courage to ambush me," Satoru said, raising a hand slightly.

The two ninjas suddenly floated into the air, suspended.

"W-what's going on? I thought your ability was tied to that shape-shifting weapon?" the tall ninja stammered, struggling to break free.

"You mean this?"

Satoru raised a finger, and the silver metal formed a snake-like shape at his fingertip, shifting through various forms.

"You misunderstood. This isn't the source of my power, but a manifestation of it."

Satoru shrugged.

In mid-air, the tall ninja's pupils contracted, his body trembling.

He realized that everyone had misunderstood Silver-faced Asura's true power, and they were terrifyingly wrong.