Infusing Ringo Ameyuri with the Will of Fire!

"Alright, I can tell you what I know," Ringo Ameyuri said, trying to sound casual.

But the darkness around her made her nervous, a knot tightening in her stomach. She couldn't see anything.

He came so late at night. He probably wants information about Kirigakure from me. Saving me was likely just for that reason.

After all, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were famous, even feared.

As one of them, she knew things, valuable secrets.

Betraying my village... in a hellhole like Blood Mist, does anyone really stay loyal?

Actually... some do.

There were so many blindly loyal fools in Blood Mist.

They 're being used by the Third Mizukage…

Ringo Ameyuri's mind raced, filled with worries. "What do you want to know? Where should I even start?"

But Sarutobi Ryo didn't care what she said.

He was ready to test a certain part of his "System."

Ringo Ameyuri felt a strange tingle on her head in the dark.

She could feel him above her, his presence close.

I'm lying in bed, unable to move. My body is weak from the treatment.

I need to rest.

Outside, a huge thunderstorm raged.

If Kurosuki Raiga was better with the Lightning Blade Kiba, he could call down lightning in this weather. He could break through the barrier faster.

But he wasn't ready yet. He had only just gotten the Lightning Blade, so he couldn't use its full power.

So …

"In three days, you won't be the only one getting stronger," Sarutobi Ryo muttered.

That guy, Kurosuki Raiga, must be trying to get used to the Lightning Blade too.

Sarutobi Ryo spoke, "You don't need to worry about that. I only have one question. Even if you kill Kurosuki Raiga, you won't go back to the village, right?"

"..."

Ringo Ameyuri stayed quiet.

Sarutobi Ryo's right eye saw her clearly, even in the darkness.

His right eye was becoming more and more useful.

"The leaders of Kirigakure want you dead. They think Kurosuki Raiga should have the Lightning Blade. They set a trap. They sent forty people, saying they were there to help you with the mission. But really... they wanted to make sure Kurosuki Raiga got the Lightning Blade Kiba."

Sarutobi Ryo explained everything, and a bitter look crossed Ringo Ameyuri's face.

She had worked so hard for Kirigakure, her whole life.

It wasn't a long life.

Why does it still make me feel sad?

All her time had been spent training, doing missions, planning, and just trying to survive.

Fighting alone, always lonely.

I wish... I wanted romance...

Ringo Ameyuri had never even had a boyfriend. Her biggest regret, maybe her only one, was never being in love.

Before she could think more about her feelings, Sarutobi Ryo reached out. He put his hands on both sides of her head.

Chzz...

Sarutobi Ryo pulled her head toward himself, off the bed.

Her body stayed on the bed, but her head was held up in the air, tightly in his hands.

What is he going to do?

Ringo Ameyuri felt uncomfortable with him holding her head like this.

It was an automatic reaction.

Ninjas from Blood Mist kept their distance from others, like lone wolves.

She couldn't figure out what Sarutobi Ryo was planning.

"I have a good idea," Sarutobi Ryo said, his voice sounding tempting.

Like Danzo had said, Sarutobi Ryo was very pure.

But he also had darkness inside him, something Danzo hadn't fully seen.

Danzo knew the darkness was pure too, but he didn't know the details.

And now, Sarutobi Ryo, who was connected to the darkness, was letting that darkness out.

He had never said he was a good person, not a saint.

But he still had a good side he wanted to protect.

People were a mix of good and evil.

Like the Gemini Gold Saint, two sides of the same coin.

"What idea?" Ringo Ameyuri asked, her face turning pale.

He's holding my head. What can I do?

"I'll help you kill Kurosuki Raiga. And after that... I want you to be my partner."

"Oh?" Sarutobi Ryo's suggestion made Ringo Ameyuri smile, like when they first met.

She seemed confident, elegant, and a little wild.

This is... the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

"Sounds good, but what do I get out of being your partner?"

"Money, help with problems, a place to hide..."

Sarutobi Ryo listed many benefits.

When Ringo Ameyuri heard that Sarutobi Ryo had taken over the underworld of that Port Town, and was now in charge of that woman's business, her eyes lit up, or rather... her expression became a little strange.

"You're... kind of interesting..."

"I want to become Hokage, the strongest ninja. I want to change Konoha and the whole Ninja World."

Sarutobi Ryo spoke of his goals.

"As for why I saved you..."

He paused, letting her think about it.

"Konoha has a similar problem right now. My swordsmanship teacher... the Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, is facing something similar to you."

"..."

Ringo Ameyuri's eyes widened.

She was shocked, and then angry.

Your Konoha is really messed up. Even someone as strong as the 'Konoha White Fang' is being set up to die?

The name of the Konoha White Fang was famous.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were nothing compared to him.

Ringo Ameyuri knew that any of the Seven Swordsmen would be killed instantly by the Konoha White Fang alone.

They weren't even on the same level.

He was so strong, even the legendary Sannin were not as well-known as him. And Konoha... wanted to get rid of him?

"Time is running out..."

Sarutobi Ryo said quietly.

Kakashi should have already graduated by now, and be training with Minato Namikaze.

That means the Konoha White Fang will die soon.

Since I came to this world, things won't happen exactly like in the story.

Some things might happen sooner.

I need to plan ahead, not just follow the timeline.

I have to become stronger.

Strength, power, money …

Then, I can control my own life, and the lives of others. I can change all the bad things.

Change... everything bad.

Finally, I 'll fill the whole world with the light of the Will of Fire!

"Then..."

Sarutobi Ryo looked down at the shocked girl.

"To make our partnership better, I need... to add some small restraints."

Steel Release!

In the darkness, the Sarutobi Clan's weapon, the amazing Adamantine Staff, rose up.

Ringo Ameyuri didn't see the danger coming.

Then, Sarutobi Ryo covered the weapon with Steel Release.

He held Ringo Ameyuri's head tightly.

Sarutobi Ryo struck hard.

Tzz~!

"Ugh~!"