Young Master, Please Become Hokage

The large ship, loaded with empty crates, sailed towards the Land of Waves...

As the sky began to lighten, the ship that had sailed through the night arrived safely at the Land of Waves.

The Land of Waves was a country shrouded in a faint mist.

Above the sea, the sun rose, its light faintly penetrating the mist and casting an orange glow upon the ship.

Ino Yamanaka was currently sitting inside the ship's cabin.

Ruri Hyuga stood guard beside her.

Having once again used her mind technique to control the female ninja's body, Ino Yamanaka slowly opened her eyes.

When she emerged from the cabin.

The coastline of the Land of Waves was already clearly visible before her.

Akira Sarutobi, on the other hand, had already applied some light makeup, adding a fake beard and other props to his hair.

He looked like a rough, gangster-like man.

Akira Sarutobi: "That is... the Land of Waves."

The Land of Waves was the location of a famous event in the original story. Kakashi, Zabuza, and Team 7 had a fierce battle here.

In this era, Gato had not yet occupied this place, so the Land of Waves was not as impoverished as in the original story.

The people lived and worked in peace, minding their own business, and their lives were quite prosperous.

One of Akira Sarutobi's goals for Kurenai was to unify the shipping industry of the Land of Waves in the future.

After the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools.

The Land of Waves became an important port transit center.

Many ships passed through here every day, transporting goods.

Therefore... this was a country with great profit potential.

As long as they could negotiate with the Daimyo of the Land of Waves using a large sum of money and profit sharing, they could do as they pleased here.

Of course, Akira Sarutobi's goal was to make money and improve local development, not to act tyrannically.

This was different from Gato and the Twelve Female Ninja.

"We've arrived."

As the large ship docked.

A gangplank was laid onto the coastal dock.

And not long after, another ship approached.

The person standing at the bow was the "Ringo Ameyuri" from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!

Chapter 34: Ringo Ameyuri - Danger!

"Heh heh..."

Ringo Ameyuri gripped the rope by the mast with one hand, exuding an air of confidence.

Her shark-like teeth were characteristic of a Mist Ninja.

Her rabbit ears that stood up and her short stature gave her a unique personal style.

From the moment she appeared, Akira Sarutobi became alert, constantly scanning the scene with his eyes.

Multiple thermal imaging outlines appeared in his right eye's field of vision.

As footsteps sounded, Mist Ninja began to gather at the bow, behind Ringo Ameyuri.

The Land of Waves was a neutral country.

So, no one would say anything about Mist Ninja appearing here.

And because it was early morning, there were few people around. Combined with the faint mist, this became a quiet and serene place for transactions.

"Hmm?"

What seemed like an ordinary scene, however, put Akira Sarutobi on guard.

Because...

"She... has weakened?"

In his right eye's vision, Ringo Ameyuri no longer radiated the boundless light and heat he had felt when they first met.

Now, her chakra radiation was weak, like a dying sun.

"Not only that..."

Ino Yamanaka also noticed the change in Ringo Ameyuri.

"Where are the twin swords on this guy's back?"

Thunder Sword Fang... one of the Seven Ninja Swords. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were inseparable from their swords.

Ringo Ameyuri had lost her sword at this moment. Why was that?

"Hehehe... we meet again..."

A string of bell-like laughter rang out, and Nonō, who was mimicking the original body's mannerisms, walked over.

Every move she made was no different from the original body.

This fully demonstrated Nonō's talent. She was always very enthusiastic about things that leaned towards amusement or negativity.

"Yo."

Ringo Ameyuri also stepped forward, disembarking from the ship and arriving on the wooden pier.

The wooden planks underfoot made a pat-pat sound as she stepped on them, and the faint sound of waves lapping could be clearly heard.

Unlike Nonō, who didn't know the plot.

Akira Sarutobi directly guessed what had happened to Ringo Ameyuri.

"That guy..."

When Akira Sarutobi saw the person with dark green hair and thick lips following closely behind Ringo Ameyuri, everything became clear.

"Kurotsuchi Raiga..."

This Mist Ninja Jonin, whose neck was wrapped in bandages, was named Kurotsuchi Raiga.

In the original work, Kurotsuchi Raiga was the next wielder of the Thunder Sword Fang.

"Meaning, Ringo Ameyuri is critically ill..."

Although she had tried to conceal it, Akira Sarutobi was able to observe her slightly pale face by zooming in with his right eye.

His right eye, which functioned as both a telescope and a magnifying glass, was exceptionally useful when analyzing such situations.

Ringo Ameyuri was a genius girl who had suffered from a serious illness in the original work.

And the ninjas of Kirigakure never had a good end.

When they weakened, others would come, drawn by the scent of blood, like sharks drawn to blood, tearing at their flesh.

Ringo Ameyuri was sick.

So someone took the opportunity of her illness to end her life.

The girl known as a genius, who had made various contributions to Kirigakure throughout her life, ultimately met her end through betrayal... and then, she was killed.

This was the way of survival for Kirigakure ninjas.

Perhaps in their eyes, it was normal. After all, everyone had come through it this way.

But in Akira Sarutobi's eyes, it was typical social Darwinism, lacking basic human decency.

Furthermore...

Ringo Ameyuri, a meritorious ninja of Kirigakure, was ultimately killed by her own people. How similar was this to Kagami Uchiha!

Malice could not be hidden.

Kurotsuchi Raiga and the others... Akira Sarutobi was all too familiar with those cannibalistic eyes.

Because he had seen such eyes far too many times.

"Meaning... Kurotsuchi Raiga, and even the entire group of Mist Ninjas, plan to kill Ringo Ameyuri during this transaction..."

In Akira Sarutobi's right eye's vision, Ringo Ameyuri's thermal imaging was gradually dimming.

"Young Master Ryo..."

Nonō was also among the crowd.

She was standing behind Akira Sarutobi at this moment.

As a very skilled Medical Ninja, Nonō could judge a person's health just by looking at their face.

She wanted to tell Akira Sarutobi about Ringo Ameyuri's abnormality, but she didn't know how to start.

On one hand, the other party was watching intently, and all the Mist Ninjas were looking this way. Any slight movement might cause them to attack.

On the other hand...

Nonō hesitated.

She had witnessed Akira Sarutobi's decisive methods over the past week.

The gangs had been integrated into legitimate shipping companies, and those with checkered pasts had been killed.

The rampant corruption in the entire port town had been cleared out in just seven days.

More job opportunities had emerged as a result, leading the people towards a better future.

Unlike the traditional Second Generation Hokage or even the previous generation, as she had imagined.

This young master from a noble background seemed... special.

He could empathize with the lower classes, something... other those in power lacked.

Over these past few days, her impression of Young Master Ryo had greatly changed.

Therefore, the mission and various arrangements all began to be led by him.

Subsequently, Nonō noticed a change in Akira Sarutobi's eyes: "Young Master Ryo... it seems he already has a plan?"

Just as Nonō thought Akira Sarutobi would choose to ambush Ringo Ameyuri, capturing the leader first...

The order Akira Sarutobi gave to Ino Yamanaka surprised everyone.

"Save her."

"???"

Her mind was filled with confusion, but her body moved first.

Their默契 (understanding) since childhood allowed Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka to completely trust each other.

So... facing Akira Sarutobi's instruction, Ino Yamanaka didn't hesitate for a second, directly drawing her katana and charging towards Ringo Ameyuri.

"Huh?"

Kurotsuchi Raiga, standing behind Ringo Ameyuri, was first confused.

Then, he broke into a grin.

If he could use someone else's hands to eliminate Ringo Ameyuri, that would be the best possible outcome.

He wouldn't have to dirty his own hands...

Just as he thought the katana would pierce Ringo Ameyuri's chest.

Shing!

The katana turned, slashing fiercely at him instead.