In a small Village within the Land of Fire, Sakumo, who had been unconscious for several days, had already woken up.
He just couldn't get out of bed again.
Shan Zi gently attended to him, and her skill at serving people made Sakumo uncomfortable.
For several days, the two had little communication. It was always Sakumo talking, and Shan Zi just listened, offering a gentle smile.
Sakumo also didn't know what to say.
He didn't know how to date!
It was too difficult!
He couldn't possibly talk to her about how he cut people down during his Shinobi career, could he!?
No one would do such a thing, right!?
He could only chat about some meaningless nonsense.
"Um, Shan Zi, come back to the Village with me," Sakumo got to the point.
"Mm," Shan Zi responded, then just smiled and shook her head before walking out of the room.
Sakumo had a headache. Here it comes again!
It was like this every time!
Women were too troublesome!
She didn't say yes, and she didn't say no. What did she mean?
Sakumo wasn't sure what Shan Zi was thinking.
Sakumo saw Shan Zi about to close the door.
He suddenly shouted, "I'll support you!!!"
These words took all his courage, and his face felt flushed with embarrassment.
His remaining hand was trembling.
Trembling hands, an excited heart. He hadn't felt such a thrill even on his first mission.
It was so thrilling that he felt uncomfortable all over, enough to make his toes curl and dig a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment into the floor.
"Just rest easy," Shan Zi said, and after closing the door, she leaned against it and slid down, covering her mouth as her face was already covered in tears.
Her eyes were full of complexity.
"Thank you... Brother Sakumo..."
Struggling to stand up, Shan Zi shed her luxurious kimono and vibrant makeup. With a bare face, she donned the simple, common attire of a farm girl.
She began her day's farm work.
Chopping wood, cutting grass, farming, raising fish—this was the life that had only appeared in her dreams before.
She used all her savings and some personal jewelry to buy this place.
Although it was difficult and she was clumsy, she was now very, very content.
And Brother Sakumo had his own life.
He was a Shinobi and always had to return to the Shinobi Village.
What she wanted was companionship, not endless waiting.
After much thought, Shan Zi made up her mind.
For several days, the two lived a normal farm life until Sakumo's body gradually began to recover.
It was time to leave.
Sakumo realized this and, pushing open the door, found that Shan Zi was no longer there.
"Shan Zi!!!"
Sakumo called out, but no one answered. Only the barking of dogs responded.
She was hiding.
Very clumsily. To a professional Shinobi, her tracks were full of flaws, making it impossible to hide.
If Sakumo wanted to, he could easily find her.
"I'm leaving!"
"I'll come back to see you!"
Sakumo could hear faint sobs and didn't move for a moment.
Finally, Sakumo made up his mind and turned to leave.
Outside the Village, three Shinobi were already waiting by the roadside.
"Captain Dog! Hmph!" Hitomi snorted, turning her back to Sakumo.
Sakumo was puzzled and asked as he caught up, "What's wrong?"
"It means you're too cowardly," Naori said with a smile.
"How am I cowardly!!" Sakumo exclaimed.
"Hmph! Isn't it good to retire from being a Shinobi and farm the land? With a beautiful wife by your side," Hitomi said. "Fighting and killing is so dangerous."
"Then you retire from being a Shinobi!!!" Sakumo retorted.
"I'm not a Shinobi like you," Hitomi said. "My whole family is looking to me."
Sakumo looked at Naori.
"I'm an Uchiha, you know," Naori said with a smile.
"Is my Hatake Clan small?" Sakumo argued. "It's a Shinobi Clan, after all!"
"Yes, yes, a Shinobi Clan of dozens of people," Hitomi said. "Tiny as a sesame seed."
"Don't look at me like this! I'm the pillar of my family!!!"
"You?" Hitomi said. "You can barely take care of yourself, and you're a pillar? You've been bedridden twice after two missions. You're the weakest among us!"
Unable to retort, Sakumo was speechless for a moment.
"Alright, that's enough of this topic," Miki interrupted the bickering.
"Yes~" Hitomi replied readily. Anyway, she had already won the argument.
The group left the Village.
Sakumo looked back and asked, "Are we still continuing our mission?"
"Return to the Village." The mission was over. Miki glanced at Sakumo's severed hand and said, "Don't you want your hand?"
How could he not want it!
Sakumo said, "Can't you also use that jutsu to regenerate it?"
"Before, Naori and Hitomi only rebuilt part of your organs. The rest that could still be used were just made to work."
That's too stingy.
Sakumo said, "Then grow my hand back too, while you're at it."
"That hand of yours is completely roasted and carbonized," Miki said. "It can't be reattached. If you force regeneration, your lifespan will be greatly consumed. To prevent your untimely death, it's better to return to the Village and find Tsunade."
I see...
After a moment of contemplation, Sakumo asked, "What about those Flower Prostitutes? How are they?"
"They've all been safely delivered and settled in the countryside of the Land of Fire," Miki said.
"Oh..." After nodding in understanding, Sakumo then wondered how so many people were managed.
But the matter was over, so he didn't ask further.
Miki looked at Sakumo and said, "Captain, what do you think about getting a steel arm?"
"Huh?" Sakumo was puzzled.
"It's a rare opportunity," Miki said. "You can't keep losing your hand every time you use that jutsu, can you?"
...Sakumo looked at his severed arm and said, "I can not use that jutsu. Please give me a normal hand."
"Anyway, there's no rush," Miki said. "I have a few good ideas. Do you want to try them?"
"No! Not interested!" Sakumo said warily. "Please don't mess around!"
"Honestly," Miki said. "I'm just trying to be helpful."
"That's quite unnecessary," Sakumo said. "I appreciate the thought!"
Chatting and laughing, the group returned to Konoha.
Konoha Village, Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage looked at the intelligence report: the Land of Earth, Land of Water, and Land of Wind had suffered heavy losses in a sudden swarm of exploding insects. They retreated in disarray back to their respective countries without even seeing the enemy's face.
The Third Hokage carefully read the battle report.
A group of such exploding dragonflies wouldn't be difficult to handle, and a large group wouldn't be difficult either. But when the scale reached a certain level, it was already something that a non-Shinobi army couldn't withstand head-on.
The Shinobi of the Three Great Nations seemed numerous but were not united, each harboring their own ulterior motives.
This was the main reason for their defeat.
Iwagakure immediately used Earth Release to escape, leaving behind a few unlucky individuals who couldn't use Earth Release.
Sunagakure and Hidden Mist suffered heavy losses.
At least half of their manpower was lost in the insect swarm attack.
And Miki herself didn't even show up.
"How impressive..."
The Third Hokage sighed, "This child has already surpassed me now."
Both in combat power and methods.
The Five Great Nations were all being played in her hands.
It was truly unexpected.
Now, the Flower Prostitutes were scattered across the rural Villages of the Land of Fire.
They were rapidly transferred using the beetles called Winter Storm Chariots.
The Third Hokage dispatched Anbu to assist with some of the resettlement and cleanup work.
It was successfully kept secret.
After the heat died down, these Flower Prostitutes could choose to live in the cities.
Whether to reform or return to their old profession.
The Third Hokage smoked his pipe, full of worry.
This fellow! I must discipline her!
She was too lawless!
But I can't hit her too hard, or I'll be the one hurting.
It's so difficult!
The Third Hokage let out a long sigh.
The content of Volume 3 ends here.
Next up is the Second Shinobi World War.
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