The large hand blocking Aoi's view was covered in thick, calloused skin. For a samurai, such marks were not unsightly blemishes, but badges of honor.
Aoi looked up. Before him stood a man with sharp features and a resolute expression — undeniably a handsome warrior.
From his falcon-like gaze to his tall, powerful build, everything about him screamed that he was also a formidable fighter.
But at the end of the day, you're still just a samurai...
Aoi sneered inwardly. Why do you have to be so tall? Planning to reach up and pluck the moon from the sky?
"I'll admit I'm of unknown origin, but where exactly do you see 'suspicious intent'?" Aoi narrowed his eyes, his tone turning cold. "If you can't give me a good reason, we aren't going to settle this peacefully."
Unexpectedly, the young samurai didn't hesitate for a second. He glared toward a group of shinobi huddled in the back of the cave and spat out, "Shinobi are nothing but vipers hiding in the shadows! Are there any among you who dare fight fair and square with steel and courage?!"
Seeing this, Aoi couldn't help but scoff aloud. "If shinobi were truly as worthless as you claim, your master wouldn't have hired a whole squad of them for protection, would he?"
The remark clearly struck a nerve. The samurai's fair face flushed bright red with anger. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, ready to draw, but seemingly out of consideration for Noko's presence, he slowly forced himself to let go.
"Protecting my lord requires no help from shinobi. Samurai are enough on their own! And I will prove it!" With that, the samurai stormed off in a huff.
"Aoi-kun, please don't be angry. Lord Shinki is actually a very kind person," Noko said, clutching Aoi's sleeve anxiously.
Aoi shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry, Noko. I'm not angry at all."
As for whether that guy is a good person or not? I have no idea. But I do know for sure... he's an absolute fool.
Reasonable people don't argue with fools, so Aoi had absolutely no interest in trying to teach him a lesson.
Just then, the sandstorm outside suddenly died down. Storms in the Land of Wind were like that — appearing out of nowhere, and vanishing just as abruptly.
With the storm over, another samurai came to escort Noko back to their party. Aoi waved casually, unconcerned, and walked out of the cave alone, parting ways with the group.
Once outside, Aoi took out his map to confirm his location. He was right on the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind. To his left lay the Land of Rain; to his right, the Land of Wind.
Straight ahead lay the Land of Birds...
Aoi had no desire to seek out Hanzo for another fight. He decided to head toward the Land of Birds.
If he played his cards right, there was no reason he couldn't seize control of the country — after all, in the original timeline, a bunch of rogue ninja had managed to take it over.
If they could do it, so could he.
Suddenly, from deeper within the desert, the sharp clash of weapons rang out...
Clang!
Amid the ringing of steel, a familiar voice roared out furiously, "I knew it! You damned shinobi are completely unreliable!"
Isn't that that fool Shinki?
Aoi sneered and turned to leave. This wasn't his problem. He wasn't Naruto, the do-gooder Hokage who helped everyone he met.
He certainly wasn't about to throw himself headfirst into trouble just for the sake of Noko, whom he'd only met a few minutes ago...
But right at that moment...
"Daimyo Ono, surrender quietly!" a shrill voice jeered mockingly. "Do that... and I might just spare your daughter's life!"
"Daimyo?"
Aoi raised an eyebrow and stopped in his tracks, grinning broadly to reveal a set of perfect white teeth.
"Oh my my... that is a title a simple wealthy merchant definitely does not possess!"
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