"Reiko understands."
Reiko gave Raizen a deep bow.
Raizen's expression was somewhat complicated as he asked, "When do you plan to head back?"
"I intend to return this afternoon," she replied.
"I'll prepare some gifts for you to take with you."
Raizen had already paid her the full reward the day after she gave birth.
"Thank you, Lord Raizen, but there is no need. Reiko grew up as an orphan in the Sarutobi clan; I have no family to speak of," she said, a hint of sadness touching her voice. She paused, then added with a look of intense expectation, "Lord Raizen... I want to live with my child in the future. If I don't come back on my own, would you... would you go to the Sarutobi clan and bring me back?"
Raizen was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Reiko to actually want to stay. But it made sense—she was alone in the Sarutobi clan with no ties or kin. The Uchiha compound was different; here, she had her child and a place she belonged. Naturally, she wanted to be by her daughter's side.
Raizen smiled warmly. "As long as you wish to return, I believe the Third Hokage will not restrict your freedom. If you truly run into trouble, for the sake of the child, I will step in to help."
Reiko's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you, Lord Raizen."
At noon, Reiko cast a lingering, reluctant glance at her baby and left the Uchiha district.
After she departed, Raizen also headed out. He had promised Kurenai he would visit her today. He stopped by a florist, intending to buy a bouquet for his date. The shop was filled with all sorts of vibrant blooms. Raizen picked out a beautiful arrangement, paid the bill, and was about to leave.
Suddenly, an arrogant voice boomed from behind him.
"Hey! Brat! Drop those flowers. This young master has taken a liking to them."
Following the voice, a man with a tattoo on his arm, holding a gaudily dressed woman, sauntered up to Raizen with a swaggering, overbearing gait.
Raizen frowned at the man. "Pardon me, but I've already paid for these."
"Brat, do you have any idea who I am?" the man sneered. "My father is Mitokado Homura, the Village Consultant. You dare refuse me? Hand over the flowers nicely, or I'll make sure you regret it."
Raizen narrowed his eyes, his voice turning cold. "You're Mitokado Homura's son?"
"That's right! I am Shin'ichi Mitokado, son of the Great Consultant. If you don't want to suffer, hand them over!" Shin'ichi looked at Raizen with a face full of unbridled arrogance.
Mitokado Homura's son... Raizen's gaze turned icy. Homura was one of the masterminds behind the Uchiha massacre—one of Raizen's sworn enemies.
However, Raizen knew he didn't yet have the absolute power to wipe out his enemies and escape unscathed. He had no intention of dropping his mask just yet. His current persona was that of a loyal, "Will of Fire" patriot. On the surface, he was one with the village; the massacre was entirely the fault of the "unfilial" Itachi.
Raizen quickly smoothed his expression, replacing the coldness with a look of "righteous" indignation. "Even if you are the Consultant's son, you cannot simply seize someone else's property in broad daylight! I paid for these flowers. You can't just take them."
Shin'ichi burst into a boisterous laugh. "Hahaha! Is there anything in this village that Shin'ichi Mitokado cannot have? Brat, look at your status and look at mine. Taking something from you is an honor! Are you really going to refuse me?"
Raizen shook his head. "I am."
"Fine! Since you want to do this the hard way, don't blame me for being heartless. Men! Break this brat's legs and teach him a lesson he won't forget!"
"Yes, Young Master." Two ninjas in ANBU-style gear—likely private guards—stepped forward. They cracked their knuckles with an audible pop-pop-pop, their faces cold and predatory.
Raizen immediately adopted the act of a weak, terrified civilian. "You... you can't do this! Beating a fellow villager and stealing property in broad daylight? Is there no law in this village?!" He took several stumbling steps back, looking appropriately frightened.
"Law?" Shin'ichi laughed mockingly. "In Konoha, I am the law. You're just a commoner—how dare you defy me? I'm going to ruin you."
Raizen channeled his inner Oscar-winning actor, screaming toward the surrounding crowd in panic. "Help! Murder! Someone's trying to kill me! Mitokado Homura's son is a murderer!"
Shin'ichi looked on with disdain. "Scream all you want. Even if you scream yourself hoarse, no one is coming to save you."
"What's going on here?"
Prompted by Raizen's shouting, a local security squad flickered onto the scene. The squad leader asked with a cold, professional tone.
Seeing the security team, Shin'ichi didn't show a hint of fear. Instead, he glared at the leader. "What does it look like? Can't you see I'm handling business here? Get lost!"
The squad leader followed the voice and saw Shin'ichi. His cold face instantly transformed into a fawning, sycophantic smile. "Haha! My apologies, Young Master Shin'ichi! I didn't realize it was you. We'll be on our way immediately."
With a deep bow, the squad leader led his men away, leaving as quickly as they had arrived.
A cold, hidden smirk flickered across Raizen's lips for a fraction of a second.
Once the guards were gone, Shin'ichi turned back to Raizen. "See that, brat? Even the security captain fears me. Who the hell do you think you are to say no?"
The surrounding crowd watched with suppressed rage, but no one dared to speak up. The man's father held the strings of power in the village; he wasn't someone ordinary people could provoke. Even those who wanted to help were silenced by the sight of the two vicious-looking ninja guards.
"If... if you touch me, I'll tell the Third Hokage!" Raizen stammered, continuing to retreat.
"Hmph." Shin'ichi let out a dismissive snort. "Lord Third is a busy man. Why would he care about a bug like you? Besides, given my father's relationship with the Hokage, who do you think he'll side with? Do it! Break his legs! I'll take full responsibility for whatever happens!"
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