Chapter 61
Asuma listened to this string of sarcasm and, for a moment, couldn't find the words to counter it.
Last night, he had killed several of the so-called "lowly people" that Yamano Ichio referred to.
Killing was still killing, and while Yamano hadn't killed yet, it felt hypocritical to criticize him. Asuma found it somewhat ridiculous himself.
At that moment, another voice rang out.
"Had enough? The great ninja you speak of slaughtered an entire village in one night. Killing a bunch of ordinary people is no different from slaughtering cattle."
Haneda spoke up, his tone threatening.
With his level of strength, it was already generous that he hadn't started killing. If it weren't for his curiosity about what might happen next, Haneda would have already made his move.
Hearing this threat from what seemed like a mere child ninja, Yamano Ichio was about to retaliate. But when he saw the chilling, ominous look in Haneda's eyes, he instinctively kept his mouth shut.
"Let's go. This isn't fun anymore." Yamano Ichio shoved his hands into his pockets, pretending to be casual as he started to leave.
But Haneda spoke again:
"Who said you could leave? You haven't paid for the things you broke, the medical bills for the injured, and the compensation for emotional distress."
After hearing this, the samurai beside Yamano couldn't bear it any longer and suggested:
"Young master, shall I take care of this insolent brat?"
Upon hearing this, Yamano glanced at the burly samurai, then at the calm but murderous youth, and decisively backed down.
"Fine. A little money is no big deal. If you want it, take it. Who cares?"
With that, Yamano Ichio threw a stack of money, not even bothering to count it, and walked off.
The butler glanced back at Haneda and the others, whispered a few words to the young master, and followed him away.
Once the samurai's figures had fully disappeared from the street, the elderly man, known as Uncle Second, hurriedly pulled his granddaughter over to thank Haneda and his companions.
"No need to thank me. I simply can't stand this sort of behavior," Haneda replied.
He then turned to Asuma and Kurenai and said, "I'm going to gather some intel. If you're free, feel free to head back or explore."
"Okay. Kurenai and I will help this gentleman clean up his stall first, then we'll meet up with Sakumo-sensei to train."
Asuma knew that following Haneda would only slow him down, so he didn't insist on going with him.
...
Inside Yamano Ichio's mansion, in a secret room.
The butler led Yamano Ichio there, whispered a few words into Sakata's ear, and left, closing the door behind him.
Once the door was completely shut, the room dimmed, and Sakamoto coldly addressed his son:
"Haven't I told you not to stir up trouble these days? And now you've run into them!"
"Father, I was doing family business, helping collect the rent!"
"It's just that I was a bit rough, and it just so happened that those three Leaf ninjas saw me."
Yamano Ichio tried to defend himself.
But Sakamoto knew his son well. Even without the butler's reminder, he could have guessed most of what had happened.
After staring into his son's eyes for a long while, Sakamoto suddenly said:
"Fine, this works. At least we've tested the attitude of those ninjas."
"They're already thinking of making a move against me. They'll likely hire ninjas from the Hidden Mist."
"This conflict has already escalated to involve the positions of two other great nations. Morality doesn't matter anymore."
"However…"
Sakamoto slowly approached Ichio and coldly glanced at his only son.
"I don't care how you used to act, but from now on, you are not to leave this house—not even one step!"
"If you want to see me and yourself dead, then by all means, step outside!"
"Do you understand?!!"
"Yes, Father! I swear I won't step outside, nor will I provoke those Leaf ninjas again!!"
Rarely had Yamano Ichio seen his father so serious, so he immediately promised.
"Once you're out, send the butler to see me."
Sakamoto turned away with his hands behind his back.
As the footsteps faded, sunlight streamed in again, only to be blocked once more by the heavy door.
"Sir," the butler greeted respectfully.
"Find a way to leak information about those Leaf ninjas to the Hidden Mist, and lead them into a fight to the death."
"Sir, do you mean to have them all killed?"
"What do you think?"
"Heh… Ninjas are just tools. If they can't serve me, then they should be destroyed."
...
Leaving Toyohama City, the landscape transitioned into fields that stretched into the mountains, blocking the sea from view.
Haneda, disguised as a young man with black hair and wearing a straw hat, walked along a path through the fields.
He intended to gather some intelligence about the bandits.
Soon, he passed a small village.
According to the intel scroll, the bandits' hideout was nearby.
The village wasn't large—about forty to fifty houses, only a few dozen families.
One of the houses had a white cloth hanging at the entrance, as if someone had died, but there were no signs of mourning, which seemed odd.
Haneda slipped through a window and, as soon as he stepped inside, his feet stirred up a cloud of dust.
Everything here was old. The tables and chairs showed signs of having been broken, as if no one had lived there for a long time.
Yet the white cloth at the door seemed freshly hung, which was strange.
Haneda's curiosity deepened.
He remembered that when he entered the village, he saw an elderly woman sitting at the door across the street, so he decided to ask her.
Quickly, and as easily as he came, Haneda climbed back out the window and walked casually to the opposite door.
The elderly woman, who had been weaving, stopped when she saw him approach and warmly asked:
"Are you lost, young man?"
Haneda shook his head, pointed to the white cloth across the way, and said:
"I'm a traveler from the Land of Fire, also a writer dedicated to recording the customs and cultures of different nations."
"Grandmother, may I ask, is there any particular tradition or belief about hanging white cloth outside a home where someone passed long ago?"
While speaking, Haneda pulled out a small notebook and pen, looking very serious.
The elderly woman's eyes dimmed upon hearing the question.
She hadn't intended to answer, but seeing Haneda's sincere and earnest expression, she didn't have the heart to refuse.
Besides, the young man was from the Land of Fire. Telling him wouldn't hurt.
"That was put up by my son, Kazue. It's not a custom of the Land of Waves."
"Oh? Was your son close to that family?" Haneda asked, pretending to take notes.
"You could say that. He was very close to Takahashi. After their family was destroyed by the Yamanos, he became quiet."
"Until one day, some people came looking for him. After he hung the white cloth, he left."
"Before he left, he said…"
"We, the people here, are like the stalks in the field. When the wind blows, we fall. Sometimes we fall even without the wind."
"So we must resist. We must grow wild and strong, and root ourselves in the fields."
"Kazue left those words and then went."
"He didn't come back to visit you?" Haneda asked.
"He said he didn't want to drag me down."
The elderly woman's expression darkened, as if she understood the path her son had chosen.
***
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