Moriyue and the others had barely begun chatting happily when several discordant voices rose around them. Turning around, they saw three burly men who looked like trouble with their legs crossed, staring at them. Their words and expressions made no attempt at concealment; it was naked provocation.
Kumogakure's unity was sometimes only relative. No village was completely united. Everyone had their own thoughts, and true unity was simply impossible. If such a place existed, it certainly would not be in the world of ninjas.
Kazeki and Ando were both infuriated by what the three said. Those people knew nothing of the truth, understood none of what they had gone through, yet they were condemning them based on rumors they had heard from who knew where. They truly found those people detestable.
Moriyue restrained the two, who were starting to stir. They would not allow anyone to slander their squad, especially their captain.
Yet through their provocation, Moriyue noticed a detail. Those two had shifted the issue onto Yugito Nii. He did not know whether they had done so deliberately, but Moriyue felt they seemed deeply hostile toward him because he was close to Yugito Nii.
His suspicion was not baseless. Whether in Kumogakure or elsewhere, Yugito Nii could be called one of the most beautiful women around. However, because of her cold personality and aloof aura, many people who had tried to approach her had been mercilessly rejected.
For that reason, quite a few people held the mindset of destroying what they could not have. Aren't you so aloof? If I can't destroy you, then I'll destroy your friends.
"Forgive me, but there's something I'm rather puzzled about..."
Moriyue rose to his feet, politely arranged his utensils, and slowly walked toward the three hoodlums.
"Captain, calm down..."
Kazeki grabbed Moriyue's