"Haruko?"
"Huh?! You're really back?!"
Night fell.
Hongdou, who had just returned home after a busy day, suddenly saw that familiar figure.
That diligent, hardworking, and ambitious young girl.
She returned to the courtyard once more, bathed in moonlight, and brandished the long sword in her hand.
Everything looks so familiar...
But Hongdou noticed... that something seemed off about her junior from elementary school?
The swinging motion was a bit too exaggerated.
Moreover, he was muttering to himself, clearly not very happy.
They didn't even realize they were back...
"Is the mission not going too smoothly, Haruko?"
Having already guessed what was going on, Hongdou took two steps forward and asked softly.
Meanwhile, as she moved a little closer, she finally managed to vaguely hear her junior sister's mutterings...
"I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!"
"I'll chop you to death again!"
"I bought a watch last year!"
"Damn it..."
Hongdou didn't immediately connect those strange words with what she was hearing.
My junior sister is so outstanding, how could I possibly use foul language?
Soon, Qingchuan also noticed the red bean next to him.
He realized he had lost his mind, quickly stopped chopping, and turned to smile.
"Senior Hongdou, you're back!"
"Um..."
Seeing that smile, Hongdou felt even more certain that the words coming from her junior sister's mouth couldn't possibly be "that kind" of words.
"What are you thinking about? You're so serious."
"This isn't like you..."
Hongdou joked.
However, there was a hint of heartache in her eyes...
If I'm not mistaken.
Junior Sister's mission may not go so smoothly.
Although the specifics of the mission were unknown, the junior sister did not tell her before leaving.
But considering that Jiraiya, also one of the Legendary Sannin, appeared in the village and brought his junior sister along...
actually.
It's not that hard to guess.
"It's nothing." Qingchuan withdrew his gaze and raised his knife again.
He forced a smile, but there was still a hint of gritted teeth in his expression...
"I just thought of a despicable guy and suddenly wanted to kill him."
"I really want to kill him!"
Hongdou was stunned.
The heartache in his eyes deepened even further...
to be honest.
The man's departure was a huge blow to Hongdou.
How happy those days were, how much she longed for that man's silhouette.
When that man left, the sense of loss and despair he felt was undoubtedly doubled.
Tenfold.
But for my junior sister... it's probably about the same.
That's why I'm so frustrated.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Haruko."
They both managed to maintain a smile.
As if infected by something, even Hongdou's smile seemed forced.
And... he was so gritting his teeth.
"Once you become powerful enough, I'll help you take him down!"
I won't let you get bullied in the slightest!
Qingchuan was stunned.
He probably knew... that Hongdou might have misunderstood.
It's probably not just one person saying that...
But he didn't have the courage to tell Hongdou that what he was actually going to cut down was some thing whose brain had been eaten by an octopus...
A burly man from Kumogakure followed him to Konoha, and afterwards even claimed he wasn't a Kumogakure ninja...
Damn it.
These days are truly fucking unbearable!
....
"I disagree with Danzo's opinion."
Meanwhile, in the Konoha high-level conference room, the first meeting to discuss "how the Konoha elders should deal with the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki" was underway.
An old woman said, frowning.
Compared to the tranquility of the other courtyard, this place is more accurately described as tense and on the verge of conflict.
Although only four elderly people attended the meeting.
But three of them are the highest-ranking elders in Konoha.
Mitokado Homura, a comrade-in-arms of the Third Hokage and one of the high-ranking advisors of Konoha.
Koharu Utatane, the old woman who just spoke, is also a comrade of the Third Hokage and one of Konoha's high-ranking advisors.
Then there's Danzo, the one-eyed mummy who is the leader of Root and a high-ranking advisor to Konoha, and his comrade and superior, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
These four people are nearly 300 years old combined.
However, any major decision made by Konoha is the result of discussions among these four people.
This time, the major decision they have to make is how to deal with an Eight-Tails Jinchuriki who has inexplicably come into their hands.
"Following Danzo's approach, obtaining the Eight-Tails will inevitably lead to a new round of war."
Koharu Utatane remarked, "Konoha is not in a position to suffer any more casualties right now..."
"I agree with Xiaochun's point of view."
Mitokado Yan, who was standing next to him, seemed to share the same view.
"Since the Fourth Hokage's wife died in battle, the sealing of the Tailed Beasts has become a problem."
"Moreover, even if it is handled properly, Konoha will gain a useful strategic weapon, but it may not have much of an advantage in the new round of war."
"I suggest… sending the Eight-Tails to Kirigakure, letting Kumogakure and Kirigakure weaken each other, is more appropriate than holding the Eight-Tails and starting a war."
The two elders explained their position.
However, their attitude wasn't particularly tough.
All eyes were on Hiruzen Sarutobi; the final decision would still rest with the current Kage.
"So, according to you, you're telling us to just give away the Eight-Tails that's practically in our hands?!"
Danzo Shimura, sitting next to Hiruzen Sarutobi, simply let out a cold snort!
However, his assertiveness was clearly not as effective as always in high-level meetings, especially at such top-level decision-making meetings.
"Such a weak approach will only bring shame upon Konoha's ancestors!"
"Sarutobi!"
As Danzo spoke, he looked directly at his old friend.
"Make a decision! These two weaklings...they're too disappointing!"
Danzo's words sounded like a request, but also like a hint.
We can't let ourselves get weak anymore... Sarutobi!
Hiruzen Sarutobi understood his old friend's implication.
A conflicted look in his eyes, yet his expression remained unchanged...
After taking a drag of his cigarette and exhaling a cloud of smoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally sighed under the watchful eyes of his three former comrades.
And lately, I seem to be sighing a lot...
"Danzo is right... The Eight-Tails is of great significance to Konoha."
"Sarutobi Hiruzen said slowly."
Danzo's eyes lit up with joy!
"But if we look at it from the perspective of gaining benefits from war..."
"The Eight-Tails is not suitable to stay in Konoha, whether in the past, present, or future... It would be too much of a burden for us."
He glanced at Danzo, whose gaze gradually shifted from joy to a mixture of disappointment and coldness.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed again.
However, after this sigh, his gaze sharpened.
"Let's send the message about the Eight-Tails in Konoha to Kumogakure first, and also inform Kirigakure while we're at it."
"Assuming the Eight-Tails is Konoha's spoils of war..."
"Gentlemen, prepare for negotiations!"
...
at the same time.
On the other side, in a small hotel under surveillance by the underworld.
Xiong Er muttered to himself as he gnawed on the chicken leg in his hand...
Ah! It smells so good!
"A joyful and unforgettable experience!"*
End of Chapter
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