Rebel Mei Terumi

Mei Terumi's bright, beautiful eyes revealed a rare look of dazed confusion.

"How would I know?"

Lin Qing bit into a candied fruit and said, "This isn't a difficult thing to deduce. You are from Kirigakure—don't look at me like that, I have my own sources of information."

On the first day Mei Terumi appeared, Lin Qing had sent out a carrier pigeon to inquire with Hayato Kamihara, who was vacationing in Konoha, and learned her identity:

An elite Jonin of Kirigakure.

"From what I understand, the current Kirigakure is in a state of madness. The Mizukage is squeezing every last drop of effort out of his ninjas, leaving them no time to rest."

"You came to find me, most likely carrying a mission to kill me, yet you didn't make a move. On the other hand, the Mizukage sent two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to kill me as well."

Lin Qing spread his hands: "Wasting two sets of human resources to handle one project—I can only think of two reasons: either the Mizukage doesn't trust you, or... the fact that you were sent here is, in itself, him using my hands to kill you."

"I feel the latter is far more likely."

Nowadays, there are only three types of people in Kirigakure.

Those who obey the Mizukage and enjoy the slaughter, like Raiga Kurosuki.

Those who loathe the backstabbing and scheme to defect, like Biwa Juzo.

The Mizukage hasn't moved to kill either of the first two groups.

"This proves that you belong to a third category, one that doesn't fit the first two—"

Lin Qing looked at her calmly: "A rebel who loathes the Mizukage's bloody reign."

Where there is oppression, there is resistance.

"Even if ninjas practice the 'Art of Endurance' year-round, it's impossible for all of them to be like castrated bulls, keeping their heads low and working blindly."

The logic held up.

But...

The moment Mei Terumi thought about being described by Lin Qing as a "castrated bull," she inexplicably felt something was wrong.

"You deduced all of this from these few clues?"

"There's also the fact that you've been wearing a 'smelling a fart' expression lately. That bitter, deep-seated look—anyone could tell you're planning something big."

"Smell, smelling a fart?"

Lin Qing narrowed his eyes, lifted his chin slightly, and twitched his nose.

"Just like that."

Mei Terumi's mouth twitched, her small fists clenched tight, and she felt an urge to pull out a whip and lash him.

"I don't have a bitter, deep-seated look, and besides..."

Mei Terumi sighed softly: "I don't want to kill Lord Yagura; I just want to ask him to abdicate. Actually, before he became Mizukage, he was a truly good person. Perhaps... the pressure of being a Kage is just too great."

"Could his drastic change in personality be due to a Genjutsu?"

"Lord Yagura is a Jinchuriki; it is impossible for him to be affected by Genjutsu."

A Jinchuriki and their Tailed Beast are like teammates; if one falls under a Genjutsu, the other can adjust their chakra to break the effect.

Lin Qing nodded.

He didn't know much about Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, so since the expert said it was impossible, he had no choice but to believe it.

There are too many people who forget their roots once they gain power.

Just like a slacker buddy who, upon being promoted to manager the next day, tells his former partner to work hard and stop slacking off.

"When do you plan to make your move?" Lin Qing asked.

"I still need some time to prepare."

Overthrowing a Kage and dismantling a deeply entrenched interest group is no easy task.

Mei Terumi looked at Lin Qing: "May I ask for your help?"

"What are you offering to pay?"

"Anything. As long as I can afford the price, I will find a way to raise the funds."

After today's battle, Mei Terumi was once again shocked by the power Lin Qing displayed—slaying two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen single-handedly while being specifically targeted.

If she had Lin Qing's help, the success rate of her plan would increase significantly.

Lin Qing looked her up and down, then shook his head: "I'm not short on money."

He stood up and took the Kiba and the broken blade of the Kubikiribōchō from Mei Terumi's hands.

Lin Qing had no use for these items, but there were still Sasuke and Xiaotao.

He could let them give it a try.

Lin Qing mounted his horse and, accompanied by the clip-clop of hooves, slowly rode out of the courtyard.

Mei Terumi lowered her head in disappointment.

Lin Qing... is he unwilling to wade into these muddy waters as well?

Indeed, the warehouse of wealth Lin Qing had left behind was already a massive help; how could she possibly ask for more?

"So, keep the reward."

Mei Terumi looked up, watching the back of Lin Qing as he sat atop his horse.

He turned his profile, revealing a faint smile.

"When you truly need my intervention, just owe me a favor."

A glimmer slowly emerged in Mei Terumi's eyes.

She desperately wanted to imitate Lin Qing and say something that sounded impressive.

Yet, after holding it in for a long time, she only felt a slight soreness in her nose, and thinking that her current appearance looked exactly like the "fart-smelling" expression Lin Qing had described, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"I'm off."

Lin Qing waved his hand.

"Goodbye."

Lin Qing secured the supplies and led the group from Snowfall Village back to their hometown.

Because many had fallen ill due to the freezing cold while at the County Magistrate's mansion, the return journey took longer than the trip there.

By the time they returned to Snowfall Village, it was already noon on the fourth day.

Sasuke and Xiaotao were squatting at the village entrance building snowmen; two rows of snowmen of various sizes lined the path, showing that the two had been waiting for Lin Qing there the entire time.

Seeing Lin Qing return, the hearts Sasuke and Xiaotao had been clutching were finally set at ease. To them, Lin Qing was their last remaining family.

If something had happened to Lin Qing, they truly wouldn't have known what to do.

The village chief and other elders heard the commotion and came to the entrance, trembling as they greeted them. The villagers' eyes turned red, and they recounted the hardships of the past few days with tearful voices.

But as they spoke, the village chief sensed that the atmosphere was off.

The man from Haku's family had a severed arm.

Haku's mother and Haku stood apart from the rest of the villagers.

Once he understood the sequence of events, the village chief grabbed his cane and swung it hard at the villagers.

This so-called rejection of Kekkei Genkai was a rule that only emerged after the era of the Bloody Mist; to kill one's own kin for the sake of rules set by others for unknown motives...

They were either fools or villains.

The village chief walked up and bowed to Haku and her mother.

"I am sorry. These fools almost harmed you."

Haku said softly, "It is alright, Village Chief. We have decided to leave Snowfall Village; we will not cause any more trouble for everyone."

"Leave..."

The village chief was stunned. "Where will you go?"

Haku's mother said, "We do not know... but as long as we are together, anywhere will do."

The village chief nodded.

The fact that Haku's mother possessed a Kekkei Genkai would eventually spread. Rather than waiting for the ninjas from Kirigakure to arrive, leaving early was the better choice.

It was just that a life on the run would certainly not be easy.

"If you have nowhere to go, would you like to come with me?"

Haku turned to look at the approaching Lin Qing.

"Is that really okay?!"

Compared to wandering blindly, following Lin Qing clearly offered a greater sense of security.

"I know a group of people who are establishing their own village. I can take you there."

Having killed members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and County Magistrate Senmura, he would inevitably invite double retaliation from the Daimyo and Kirigakure. However, based on what Lin Qing knew, with three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen dead, Kirigakure didn't have many high-end combatants left.

The pursuers who followed would likely be assassins skilled in poison and stealth.

Such assassins were like flies—annoying, and not worth many soul fragments.

Lin Qing intended to leave Kirigakure for a while to seek targets elsewhere, and incidentally, check on the new village of the human trafficking survivors.

The Land of Water was a good place, but Lin Qing had been killing a bit too much lately; he needed to give the Land of Water time to "recuperate."

Once a new crop of fugitives and powerhouses appeared, Lin Qing would return to harvest them again.

They decided to rest for the night and set off early the next morning.

That evening, Lin Qing went into the forest and hunted plenty of game. Haku's mother prepared a table full of dishes and brought out the wine stored in their home.

As for Haku's father, he had locked himself in his bedroom.

Lin Qing had not killed him, and neither had Haku's mother or Haku.

Or rather, they had already "killed" him once before.

The moment he raised his blade against his own wife, he was already dead in the hearts of both mother and son.

The group enjoyed a rare moment of leisure.

"I wish Teacher Zhaozhao were here."

Sasuke whispered, "She is actually quite a good person."

Lin Qing patted Sasuke on the head.

"She is currently undertaking a great task."

"What kind of task?"

"Once it succeeds, it will allow everyone to live without fear, making every day as happy as today."

Sasuke nodded, only half-understanding.

With Lin Qing's return, Sasuke and Xiaotao relaxed, and not long after finishing dinner, both children fell into a deep sleep.

Lin Qing sat by the window, spreading out a sheet of paper, and contemplated his future plans by the light of the moon.

Knock, knock—

A knocking sound suddenly came from the door.

The sound was light and soft; one could tell immediately that it was a woman knocking.

Lin Qing walked over and pushed the door open.

It was Haku's mother.

She wore a beige kimono, her hair was swept up, and she possessed a beautiful face and a graceful figure.

"Mr. Lin, the children are all asleep. Would you mind if we had a chat?"