Three Paths

There was no way to hide it.

Nor was there any need to.

Lin Qing carried Suikazan Fuguki's corpse, followed by a mighty procession of four hundred people. The sight of them moving through the flames was seared into the hearts of Mirage City's residents.

They leaned out of windows and peered through cracks in doors, watching cautiously.

Compared to other countries, the Land of Water was truly small. And with water transport more convenient than overland travel, its cities maintained close ties with one another.

The residents of Mirage City gradually recognized familiar faces in the crowd.

"Nitta! What are you doing here?"

"Brother Uesugi? What happened to your injuries?"

"Oh! Sister Matsudaira, you... Come inside, quickly! I'll bandage you up!"

Some people came out of their homes, hoping to bring familiar friends and relatives inside for medical care and treatment.

But the survivors who had just escaped a nightmare did not go with them.

After all they had endured, they were more clearheaded than most. If they went inside, they would bring disaster down on the very friends and relatives who had offered to help them.

The group continued following Lin Qing. As they walked, the residents of Mirage City and spies from other organizations peppered them with questions about what had happened.

Exclamations rang out from the crowd now and then.

By the time the mighty procession of four hundred reached the harbor, nearly half the city knew what the Fourth Mizukage and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had done—and how Lin Qing had taken down Suikazan Fuguki in such an incredible fashion.

Lin Qing found a ship belonging to the Land of Water moored at the harbor.

It was a pleasure boat over thirty meters long, specially built to host daimyo and leaders from other countries.

Lin Qing kicked down the railing and led everyone aboard.

"Don't come any closer! Stop! Ow—"

Seven or eight samurai tried to stop them, but Lin Qing kicked each of them into the sea.

The people of the Land of Water had been treated like cargo and sold off by their own village. Surely compensating them with a ship wasn't asking too much?

The four hundred or so people had spent their lives dealing with the sea and ships. Sailing came as naturally to them as breathing. After a little tinkering, they got the excessively luxurious passenger ship underway.

"Woo—woo—"

The steam whistle sounded.

"Don't leave!"

The officials of Mirage City finally arrived in a rush, their clothes still unbuttoned. With his big belly hanging out and his face flushed red, the man shouted,

"Don't leave! Come back here!"

As he watched the ship recede into the distance, the official in charge of Mirage City collapsed onto the ground and wailed.

With something this serious happening in a city under his jurisdiction, his political career was all but over.

Aero Smith circled overhead.

At first, several ships had trailed them furtively. But after Lin Qing used Aero Smith to blow up the ships' sterns, they had no more pursuers.

After a night of sailing, everyone finally began to relax.

They had really escaped.

"Ding-a-ling!"

A bell rang.

A young man came running up, a smile on his face and a bit of grease at the corner of his mouth.

"Dinner's ready! Come and eat!"

The four hundred people gathered in the dining hall. Several large buckets stood before them, filled with dishes they had never seen before.

"These must be ingredients meant for the nobles, right?"

Someone grinned. "To eat what the Daimyo eats even once in my life? I could die happy."

As soon as he said that, the person beside him slapped him.

"Don't say things like that."

The man realized he'd said something unlucky and gave a sheepish chuckle, drooling at the sight of the food.

Everyone was hungry, but when they saw Lin Qing standing by the window with his back to them, they silently formed a line.

The first person to get a serving swallowed hard. His hunger urged him to shove the food into his mouth at once, but he held back.

He carefully walked over to Lin Qing.

"Sir, please eat first."

Lin Qing glanced at him.

He understood that the man was offering the food not out of flattery or respect, but out of gratitude for the previous night.

Lin Qing did not refuse the kindness. He smiled and nodded, accepted the food, then went over to Sasuke and Xiaotao, who were sitting in the corner, and handed the meal to Xiaotao.

"Have something to eat."

"Brother Qing, I'm not hungry..."

Lin Qing nodded. "I know you're not hungry. But whether you want revenge, want to investigate, or haven't figured out what you want to do yet and need time to think... you still have to stay alive first."

Xiaotao lowered her head in silence.

Lin Qing handed the food to Sasuke. Sasuke patted his chest and gave Lin Qing a reassuring look.

One serving after another was handed out. People ate in great mouthfuls, and some even wept as they ate, wiping away their tears while savoring each bite with care.

"Look!"

Someone suddenly cried out.

Following the direction of his finger, everyone saw—

The rising sun shone over the distant edge of the sea.

The pleasure boat had excellent lighting. Sunlight fell on the glass, glimmering with faint rainbow colors.

How beautiful.

Was sunlight really so wondrous?

They had not seen it in so long.

Ever since they had been locked in cages, darkness, filth, and stench had been their constant companions. They had thought they would never again sit in the sunlight, carefree, and feel its warmth.

And they owed all of this to that man.

Everyone looked at Lin Qing's back, their eyes full of hope.

After everyone had finished eating, Lin Qing turned around, pulled over a chair, and sat across from them. "I want to tell you what I think about the paths ahead of you."

At the mention of the future, everyone sat up straight on their knees.

"The first path is to go home."

Lin Qing said, "Some of you are residents of the Land of Water, while others came from elsewhere to visit family. If you want to go home, I can put in at the shore."

A small group nodded.

No matter how ruthless the Land of Water was, it wouldn't go to the trouble of hunting down a handful of civilians once they returned to the Land of Fire or the Land of Earth.

"The second path is to go to Konoha and seek political asylum."

"Konoha... Political asylum?"

Quite a few people looked confused. The term was unfamiliar to them.

Lin Qing gave a slight nod.

The various countries and shinobi villages opposed one another, openly and behind the scenes alike. The Land of Fire and the Land of Water had their share of clashes.

If he sent them to Konoha, the Third Hokage or Danzo would surely use them as a showcase: proof of how they could strike at Kirigakure, recruit capable people, and attract talent.

They would be able to live in safety—at the cost of sacrificing some of their freedom.

After hearing Lin Qing's explanation, quite a few people were tempted.

"The final path is to establish a small village of your own."

Much of the Naruto World was still covered by vast stretches of forest and wasteland. If a group of people worked hard enough and had the right tools, they could build a small village in just a few months.

On his way from Konoha to the Land of Water, Lin Qing had seen plenty of suitable places.

Once they had cleared and cultivated the fields, they could be settled within a year or two.

Three paths, each leading to a different future.

After a brief silence, a man raised his hand.

"Sir, I want to follow you."

At his words, quite a few people looked up and said in unison, "Sir, please let us follow you."

"No."

Lin Qing said, "After I killed Suikazan Fuguki, Kirigakure and the Land of Water definitely won't let me go. If you stay by my side, you'll put both yourselves and me in danger."

Lin Qing was not yet strong enough to protect a whole group of people.

"Sir, but they were the ones who did wrong... You saved us and righted that wrong. Why would they come after you?"

Lin Qing fell silent for a moment.

After a long while, he gazed out the window at the rising sun and sighed softly,

"Yes. Why?"