I Want to Save Her.

Although Great Sage's style seemed to be getting stranger and stranger, even veering off into Tenten's talent tree of roasting him.

Jiang Rui was not all that upset.

After all, he had realized one thing: he was just that adorable too!!

After greeting the uncle, Great Sage confirmed that he was not the mission target, which relieved Jiang Rui. After all, everyone knew—

Fate was a... little bitch...

Forget it. At least his fate was not fucked up enough for every person he knew to somehow turn out to be his enemy.

Still, speaking of which, the uncle really was a good man. Once he learned Jiang Rui's current identity, he immediately sold out his own crew...

Mm, sold them out completely. He handed over every piece of information without hesitation, saving Jiang Rui quite a bit of trouble.

But for some reason, the uncle had not been afraid when he saw his mask. Instead, he actually seemed to feel closer to him.

Over the next few days, Jiang Rui threw himself into a frenzy of missions—pursuits, assassinations, interceptions, and all manner of operations.

It made Jiang Rui feel that his reconnaissance and tracking skills had improved by leaps and bounds.

Until today, half a month later, an extremely bad piece of news arrived from his teacher, the Water Shadow.

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen have lost contact!"

Just as Konoha could use the Mind Transfer Jutsu to transmit information across great distances and even between realms.

Kirigakure also possessed methods such as the Water Mirror Technique for long-range communication.

Jiang Rui stood behind the Third Mizukage, his small figure seeming utterly out of place among the elders and High Ninjas.

If there was anything else he had gained over these past few days besides tempering his skills and mentality through slaughter.

It was that he had begun calling the Water Shadow "Teacher" rather than "sir."

At the same time, after forcibly killing an enemy High Ninja during a mission, he had officially entered the sight of the other clans.

His name as a genius had spread throughout Kirigakure.

But what frustrated him was that his third task had still not been completed. He was practically about to sleep with the Anbu comrades already, okay?! Yet the Water Shadow had never brought up that matter.

He did not dare mention it, nor did he dare ask. After all, he had once let a certain child go...

"Ahem."

In the vast Water Shadow's office, someone finally broke the silence.

"This old man believes that, with the current situation unclear, it would be best to remain still for now."

The speaker was an elderly man with graying temples and a slightly stooped body. He wore a blue-and-white robe, and the ice crystal ornament at his neck confirmed his identity.

The Yuki Clan's Great Elder!

"Oh? Since none of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen know how to play with ice scraps, it does not matter if they all die, right?" Kaguya Tsuki bared a mouthful of sharp teeth and taunted him with a hint of mockery.

That surprised Jiang Rui greatly.

In his impression, Kaguya Tsuki had always been the steady sort. Looking at him now, though, perhaps flamboyance really was the hallmark of their lineage?

Still, it was understandable. Aside from Lightning Style, Ice Style was what restrained the Water Transformation Technique...

"Hmph. Do you know which three squads were sent out?" The Yuki elder snorted. "One of them consists entirely of Yuki children."

"You ignorant brat, do not speak recklessly when you do not understand the situation. Just stay safely in the rear and summon Ninja Swords."

That old bastard... Kaguya Tsuki raised an eyebrow, licked his lips, and his expression darkened somewhat.

The others watched their noses and contemplated their hearts, all lowering their heads and saying nothing. The two great clans had been feuding for ages; it was not something small households like theirs could compare to.

"That is not quite right either." Genji glanced at the Water Shadow. Seeing that he remained silent, he stepped forward to mediate.

"The Hozuki Clan has safeguarded the Ninja Sword Summoning Scroll throughout the generations because its abilities make it worthy of such a responsibility."

"This old man has no wish to contend over words. It is simply that the current situation remains unclear. Kumogakure has always acted decisively, yet no news has come from them at all. If we attack now, we must be on guard."

At that, Jiang Rui could not help frowning. Kirigakure really planned to take the opportunity to attack the Land of Fire?

For what?!

Naturally, Jiang Rui did not know that, for a Ninja Village, starting a war brought nothing but harm. But in terms of daimyo and politics, setting pressure on the Land of Fire's daimyo, demanding territory and reparations aside, merely seizing several ports and shaking the Land of Fire daimyo's dominant status would already be quite worthwhile.

The Land of Water was an archipelago in the sea. Resources were scarce to begin with, public security was poor, population pressure was high, and there were many scattered ninja clans. Expending some ninjas was also highly beneficial.

After all, they were just a cluster of islands. Even if they lacked strength, no country was particularly interested in them...

So, ninjas were meant to be used and sacrificed.

Later, when Kisame Hoshigaki assassinated the daimyo, the Bloody Mist Policy had indeed intensified the conflict between civilians and ninjas, but there might not have been no historical reasons behind it either.

Once the Yuki elder finished speaking, no one raised an objection. Everyone present was either the head of a clan or the master of a household, so naturally none wished to participate in a war with no benefits.

The Water Shadow sighed inwardly and said, "The daimyo's will cannot be defied. There are nearly ten thousand Mist ninjas; we cannot raise them for nothing. This war is unavoidable."

"Continue the investigation." Genji stepped forward, sweeping his gaze over Kirigakure's major clans. After a pause, he said, "The Yuki Clan has already sent four people, and their lives and deaths are currently unknown. Since that is the case, how about each major clan sends some people to form a squad?"

Behind them, Jiang Rui's eyes lit up when he heard that the four Yuki Clan members' fates were unknown.

He stepped forward, tugged at the Water Shadow's sleeve, and spoke in a crisp voice. "I want to go!"

"Hm?" The people around him all looked in surprise at the little girl who had suddenly popped up. Some were disdainful, some appreciative, but most were regretful.

However, they mostly thought the Water Shadow would not agree. This squad was clearly meant to send in some cannon fodder for appearances' sake.

What a joke. Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had fallen. The geniuses of their clans were still waiting to become the next generation's pillars! Were they supposed to send them to their deaths now?!

Sure enough, the Water Shadow looked toward Genji, who shook his head. Since the little fellow had completed numerous missions and proven his loyalty to Kirigakure, Genji and the Water Shadow had both believed that the new generation of Kirigakure had finally produced a treasure. How could they simply send him to his death?

He looked at Kaguya Tsuki, his meaning obvious: have him quickly put forth someone to take the lead, and reject Jiang Rui's suggestion in the clan head's name while he was at it.

Kaguya Tsuki studied the little fellow with interest. They had met many times, and as fellow clansmen, he had been friendly enough. Although his father had told him to beware of the other party shaking his position, with his flamboyant temperament, he had never thought this fellow could have any impact on him.

But he looked a little... not too bright?

Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Rui's clear voice sounded again.

"Though this may sound arrogant, I think everyone in the Hozuki Clan except the clan head and me is weak! Not a single one can fight!"

This little fellow was a bit arrogant, huh?

Even Kaguya Tsuki could not help raising the corner of his mouth. Mm, he liked hearing that. He wanted to say the same thing himself, but because of his position as clan head, he could say it, yet he could not.

"I am from the Hozuki Clan and have some ability to protect myself. As long as I do not run into a Lightning Style High Ninja or someone at the Kage level, no one can kill me."

Jiang Rui turned to the Water Shadow. He spoke clearly and seriously.

"I want to save my senior sister. I still owe her a barbecue meal."

The entire hall fell silent.

Kaguya Tsuki looked at the blue hair that was almost the same shade as his own, then grinned.

Oh my, oh my, this was incredible. Sorry, old man, but I kind of liked this little fellow.

The previous chapter lost bookmarks. Tearfully pathetic—sure enough, I am not suited to writing daily life!

Mm! It was time to head to the battlefield and show off!