"Killed the Sanjuan Wolf team, number two, three, four, five, got a total of 270 soul pieces."
"Current soul pieces: 580"
Linto stepped over number two's body, untied the horse's rope from the cart, pulled one out, jumped on, and turned back to Sasuke and Momo-chan, saying:
"You guys stay here, I'm going to the town."
Terumi Mei stopped him.
"You heard what he just said, two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are coming!"
"I know."
"Not just them, there are also samurai, ninja, and guards in the town... Are you planning to attack a town head-on?!"
"I know."
"You don't know anything!"
Terumi Mei grabbed the horse's rope, saying fiercely, "Who do you think you are? The legendary Senju Hashirama? If you go today, you'll die!"
"You don't want me to die?"
"Of course!"
"Why?"
"Because—"
Terumi Mei couldn't answer for a moment. She didn't know how to say it. Less than a month ago, she had received the order to kill Linto and had been tracking him ever since.
Seeing her silence, Linto smiled instead.
"Because you see me as a friend."
"Linto!"
Blade Gramps's shout came, and he ran over carrying a big knife as tall as a person. He didn't have time to make a sheath, so he had to copy the old Samehada, wrapping it with bandages.
"Here."
Blade Gramps used his arms to throw the big knife over.
Linto reached out and caught it with one hand. It was heavy and cold.
But it suited him well.
"Doctor Lin."
The village chief walked over shakily, with a group of old and weak people behind him.
The village chief handed over a thick cloak and a package full of food. His lips were half open, as if he had a lot to say, but he couldn't say a word.
What could he say?
The village chief had lived for so many years and had seen too much kindness and coldness.
Don't say that Linto had no connection to Kirigakure, it was just a fleeting meeting. Even the native locals wouldn't risk their lives to seek death.
What Terumi Mei said was right, this was reality.
But outside of reality, when faced with desperate situations, people... always have a glimmer of hope in their hearts.
Longing for a hero to descend from the sky.
Linto took the package, hung it on the side of the horse saddle, and then swung the cloak, draped it over his body, and gently patted Terumi Mei's hand holding the horse's rope.
"I should go."
Terumi Mei couldn't understand: "Why do you have to go?"
None of the people taken away were Linto's relatives.
Although the cause of the matter was somewhat related to Linto, it ultimately came down to the tyranny of County Chief Morimura.
The so-called taxes were just his way of collecting money and killing people. It was whatever they said it was. Linto didn't need to be responsible for it.
Linto looked at Terumi Mei calmly. He thought of many reasons, and finally he thought of a sentence:
"Everywhere was sadness, everywhere was blood, just to save people... I want to go take a look."
It was a simple sentence, and many people present didn't understand it.
Terumi Mei was one of the few people who understood. She stared blankly at Linto, and even forgot when she let go of the rope.
At that moment, she thought of the tragedy of the "Village of Blood Mist", and thought of Yagura's increasingly crazy policies in recent years. An impulse arose in her heart, wanting to follow the man in front of her to fight and kill.
But as soon as she took a step, Terumi Mei had to stop.
She couldn't go.
The opponent was the county chief personally appointed by the Land of Water Daimyo, the Kirigakure high-level Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
If she went, it would be equivalent to betraying the country and the ninja village.
A warm hand fell on her shoulder, Linto shook his head at her slightly: "Don't make things difficult for yourself, take care of them for me."
Linto looked around at everyone, waved the rope, and the horse neighed.
One man and one horse rushed into the snowy night and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Terumi Mei gently stroked the shoulder where Linto had left his hand. The warmth gradually faded, and she couldn't help but feel lost.
"People in the world are forced to do things, Teacher Zo, you don't need to blame yourself," Sasuke said.
Terumi Mei came back to her senses and said stubbornly:
"Who said I blame myself? Didn't Linto tell you? I'm a ninja sent by another organization to scout Linto.
But Linto, isn't he afraid that I'll kidnap you and use you to threaten him later?"
Sasuke folded his arms.
"No way, Teacher Zo, you're not that kind of person. While you're watching others, you're also being watched. Brother Shou says it's called 'When you stare into the abyss, the abyss is also staring at you' - Ouch!"
Terumi Mei flicked Sasuke's forehead.
"You're full of catchphrases, shouldn't I be calling you teacher?"
...
The sound of hooves treading on snow echoed in the night, and the trees on both sides of the road brushed past. Linto grabbed the rope and transmitted the power of Ripple to the horse.
The horse made a short neighing sound. Linto lowered his body to reduce wind resistance and increased his speed again.
Rushing from late at night to day, and then from day to night, without a moment's rest.
It took the Sanjuan Wolf team five days to slowly travel from the town to Kirigakure.
It took Sanjuan Wolf three days to receive the letter and lead a group of villagers back to the town.
And Linto, took less than twenty-four hours.
"Clomp—clomp—"
The horse hooves stepped on the edge of the cliff. The last ray of sunset shone on the town below, as if smeared with a layer of scarlet paint.
The sunset disappeared, and the world fell into a brief darkness.
But soon, the lights in the town came on.
The only lights.
The light came from the center of the town, a most delicate and huge mansion.
The brightly lit mansion, where singing and laughter could be heard, was in stark contrast to the deathly silence inside the town, where the houses of ordinary people could not see any light at all.
Linto understood that he had found the right place.
...
A banquet was being held in the county chief's mansion.
There were four people seated at the banquet. On the left were County Chief Morimura and Sanjuan Wolf, and on the right were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who had come to investigate Linto's whereabouts.
Biwa Juzo, the owner of Kubikiribocho.
He had short black hair, no eyebrows, sharp teeth, and a cross-shaped scar on his right face. His ears and neck were wrapped in bandages, and his lower face was painted with red stripes.
Kurosuki Raiga, the owner of the Thunder Swords·Kiba.
He had long green hair, thick eyebrows, and equally sharp teeth. His upper body was wrapped in bandages.
The two people sat cross-legged, with their ninja swords placed within easy reach, eating meat and drinking wine while enjoying the dance of the dancers below.
Biwa Juzo rarely showed a smile.
In recent years, Mizukage · Yagura's policies have become increasingly strict.
Although he held the title of "Seven Ninja Swordsmen", only he knew how comfortable his life was.
Many people in Kirigakure have become rogue ninja. Biwa Juzo originally planned to do this too, and heard that an organization called "Akatsuki" was more active.
But in these days, after contacting County Chief Morimura, he gradually changed his mind.
Why be a rogue ninja?
Isn't it better to go over the ninja village and work directly for the Land of Water Daimyo?
With County Chief Morimura's shrewdness, he keenly noticed Biwa Juzo's thoughts in conversation.
He poured wine and made promises to Biwa Juzo from time to time, and with Sanjuan Wolf boasting on the side, Biwa Juzo's face was flushed, and he tightly grabbed County Chief Morimura's hand:
"I've been drifting for half my life, and I only regret not meeting a wise lord. If County Chief Morimura doesn't abandon me, when the time is right, I am willing to serve like a dog or horse."
Who said that Biwa Juzo was cruel, cold, and ruthless? When it was really related to his own interests, how many people could be cold?
As for what "when the time is right" meant, it naturally meant when County Chief Morimura left this poor place and really became a popular person in the Daimyo's eyes.
Only the weak need to place bets when others are at their lowest point.
Strong people like Biwa Juzo only need to add icing on the cake when others are successful enough to share a piece of the pie.
Everyone present knew this well, smiled at each other, and no one pointed it out.
The dancers finished their dance and leaned over to throw themselves into their arms. Biwa Juzo naturally didn't refuse, opened his arms, one on each side, squinted his eyes, and rubbed their delicate white skin.
Only Kurosuki Raiga didn't have a woman in his arms.
County Chief Morimura asked in a low voice: "Are there no types that Lord Kurosuki likes? Should I change to another group?"
Biwa Juzo smiled.
"This brother of mine... he likes men."
As soon as these words came out, County Chief Morimura was stunned, Sanjuan Wolf was stunned, and even the dancers in their arms were stunned.
Pfft—
One of the dancers laughed softly.
Before the laughter landed, the banquet became silent.
She was picked up by Sanjuan Wolf, and before she could beg for mercy, Sanjuan Wolf twisted her neck.
Sanjuan Wolf threw her body on the ground and bowed ninety degrees.
"I'm sorry, Lord Kurosuki, I ruined your fun."
Kurosuki Raiga waved his hand, not caring about this matter.
Until a few subordinates came up and dragged away the dancer's body, no one looked at her again.
"But speaking of male beauty..."
Sanjuan Wolf recalled: "Among the people I brought back from Kirigakure, there is a boy named 'Haku', with a handsome appearance, I don't know if the lord is interested."
Kurosuki Raiga raised his eyebrows slightly.
Seeing the change in his expression, County Chief Morimura urged:
"Why don't you quickly bring him up for us to see."
---
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