Chapter 33: Rebel Mei Terumi

Mei Terumi's pair of bright, beautiful eyes blinked, rarely showing a dazed cuteness.

"How do I know?"

Ryosuke bit into the preserved fruit and said, "It's not something hard to deduce. You're someone from Kirigakure, don't look at me like that, I have my own sources of intelligence."

On the first day Mei Terumi appeared, Ryosuke had already sent a carrier pigeon to inquire with Kamihara Hayato, who was vacationing in Konoha Village, and learned her identity, an elite jonin of Kirigakure.

"According to what I know, the current Kirigakure, Mizukage has gone insane, squeezing every single ninja, with no rest time at all."

"You came to find me, most likely, you were sent with a mission to kill me, but you didn't make a move. On the other hand, Mizukage sent two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to kill me."

Ryosuke spread his hands, "Wasting two sets of human resources to deal with one target, what I can think of are only two reasons, either the Mizukage doesn't trust you, or... the fact that you were sent here was him using my hand to kill you."

"I think, the latter has a higher probability."

Currently, there are only three types of people in Kirigakure.

Those who obey the Mizukage and enjoy killing, lunatics, like Raiga Kurosuki.

Those who hate scheming and plot to escape, rogue ninjas, like Zabuza Momochi.

As for the first two types, the Mizukage didn't make a move to kill either of them.

"This shows that you belong to the third kind, "

Ryosuke calmly looked at her, "A rebel who detests the Mizukage's bloody rule."

Where there is oppression, there is resistance.

"Ninjas, even if they often practice the 'Art of Endurance,' can't all be like bulls who've had their balls smashed, docile, obedient, heads down and working."

That logic made sense.

But...

When Mei Terumi thought about how she was the "bull whose balls hadn't been smashed" in Ryosuke's words, she suddenly felt something was wrong.

"You deduced it from such traces?"

"And also, recently, you always wear a 'smelling fart' expression. That kind of deep hatred and bitterness, anyone can tell that you're about to do something big."

"Sm-smelling fart?"

Ryosuke narrowed his eyes slightly, raised his chin a bit, and flared his nostrils.

"Just like this."

Mei Terumi's mouth twitched slightly, her fist clenched tight, wishing she could pull out a whip and lash him.

"When did I look that bitter and deep in hatred? And besides..."

Mei Terumi lightly sighed, "I didn't intend to kill Lord Yagura. I just wanted to ask him to step down. Actually, before becoming Mizukage, he was a really good person. Maybe... becoming a Kage was just too much pressure."

"A drastic change in personality, could it be due to genjutsu?"

"Lord Yagura is a Jinchuriki, he couldn't possibly be affected by genjutsu."

Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts are like teammates. If one falls into a genjutsu, the other, person or beast, can adjust the chakra and break free from the illusion's effect.

Ryosuke nodded.

He didn't know much about ninjutsu or genjutsu. Since the expert said it's impossible, he could only choose to believe it.

There are too many people who forget their roots after gaining power.

For example, someone who was still your slacking-off buddy yesterday, gets promoted to manager today, and suddenly tells you to work hard and stop slacking.

"When are you planning to make a move?" Ryosuke asked.

"I still need some time to prepare."

To overthrow a Kage, to subvert a bound community of interests, is not an easy thing.

Mei Terumi looked at Ryosuke, "Can I ask for your help?"

"What are you offering?"

"Anything, so long as I can afford it, I'll find a way to raise the money."

After today's battle, Mei Terumi was once again shaken by the power Ryosuke displayed, killing two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen on his own, even under deliberate targeting.

If Ryosuke helped, Mei Terumi's chances of success would increase dramatically.

Ryosuke looked her up and down, shook his head and said, "I don't need money."

He stood up, received the broken blades from Mei Terumi's hand.

He couldn't use these two items anymore, but he still had Sasuke and Rei.

Maybe they could try them out.

Ryosuke got on his horse, the sound of hooves clattering, as he slowly trotted out of the courtyard.

Mei Terumi lowered her head in disappointment.

'Ryosuke... also didn't want to wade into this muddy water?'

Yeah, Ryosuke leaving behind that warehouse full of wealth, was already a huge help. How could she dare to expect more?

"So, forget the reward."

Mei Terumi raised her head, looking at Ryosuke's back on horseback.

He turned his face slightly, revealing a small smile.

"If you really need me to act, then just owe me a favor."

A light slowly emerged in Mei Terumi's eyes.

She also wanted to learn from Ryosuke, to say something cool.

But after holding it in for a long while, she only felt her nose tingle slightly, and thought her current appearance really did resemble what Ryosuke called "smelling farts," and she couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm leaving."

Ryosuke waved his hand. "Goodbye."

———

Ryosuke brought the supplies and led everyone from Snowy Village back to their homeland.

Because many people had been at the county magistrate's mansion, and with the freezing cold weather, some fell ill, the return journey took even longer than the trip there.

By the time they returned to Snowy Village, it was already noon on the fourth day.

Sasuke and Rei were squatting at the village entrance, building snowmen. Lined up on both sides of the village entrance were all kinds of snowmen, clearly, the two had been waiting there for Ryosuke the whole time.

When they saw Ryosuke return, Sasuke and Rei finally let go of the heavy weight on their hearts. To them, Ryosuke was their last remaining family.

If something had happened to Ryosuke, they really wouldn't have known what to do.

The village chief and other elders, upon hearing the commotion, shakily came to the entrance to greet them. The villagers all had red-rimmed eyes and recounted their recent experiences through sobs.

But as they spoke, the village chief sensed something wrong with the mood.

The man from the Haku family had a broken arm.

Haku's father and Haku stood apart from the villagers.

After asking for the full details of what had happened, the village chief grabbed his cane and started swinging it in wide arcs, smacking the villagers.

This so-called rejection of bloodline limit abilities, was a rule that only started after the Bloody Mist.

To murder the ones closest to you just because of rules made by others for unknown reasons…

That's either idiotic, or malicious.

The village chief stepped forward and bowed deeply to Haku's father and Haku.

"I'm sorry. These fools nearly harmed you."

Haku softly said, "It's okay, village chief. We've decided to leave Snowy Village. We won't bring everyone trouble."

"Leave..."

The village chief was stunned, "Where will you go?"

Haku's father said, "We don't know... but as long as we're together, anywhere is fine."

The village chief nodded.

The matter of Haku's bloodline limit would get out sooner or later. Rather than wait for ninjas from Kirigakure to come, it was better to leave early.

It's just that a life on the run wouldn't be easy.

"If you have nowhere to go, why don't you come with me?"

Haku turned to look at Ryosuke walking over.

"Really?!"

Compared to blindly wandering outside, following Ryosuke obviously gave a stronger sense of safety.

"I know some people who are building their own village. I can take you there."

Having killed members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the magistrate of Sen Village, it was certain that both the Daimyo and Kirigakure would seek revenge.

But from what Ryosuke knew, three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were already dead. Kirigakure didn't have much high-level combat strength left.

The ones coming after him would most likely be assassins skilled in poison and stealth.

Those assassins were like flies, annoying, and not even worth many soul fragments.

Ryosuke planned to leave Kirigakure for now, find targets in other places, and check in on the survivors of the human trafficking case and their new village.

The Land of Water was an exhausted place, and recently Ryosuke had done too much killing. He had to give the country some time to "recover and rest."

Once the next wave of fugitives and strong opponents appeared, he would come back and harvest again.

They decided to rest for the night and depart the next morning.

That night, Ryosuke went into the forest and hunted a lot of wild game. Haku personally made a table full of dishes, and even brought out the family's treasured wine.

As for Haku's father, he locked himself in his bedroom.

Ryosuke didn't kill him, neither did Haku or his mother. Or rather, they had already "killed" him.

The moment he raised the blade toward his own wife, he was already dead in their hearts.

Everyone enjoyed a rare moment of leisure.

"If only sensei were here too."

Sasuke said softly, "She... was really nice."

Ryosuke patted Sasuke's head. "She's doing something big right now."

"What kind of big thing?"

"One that, once successful, will make it so that no one ever has to live in fear again. So that every day can be as happy as today."

Sasuke nodded in half-understanding.

With Ryosuke back, Sasuke and Rei finally relaxed. Not long after dinner, the two children fell fast asleep.

Ryosuke sat by the window, unfolded a piece of paper, and under the moonlight, thought about the plans to come.

Knock! Knock!

Suddenly, there came the sound of knocking.

Very light, very gentle. Just by the sound, you could tell it was a woman knocking.

Ryosuke walked over and opened the door.

It was Haku's mother.

She wore a beige kimono, her hair tied up, her appearance beautiful, her figure graceful.

"Doctor Ryosuke... the children are asleep. Would you mind... chatting for a bit?"

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