"The villagers' attitudes changed so quickly. I'm afraid that wasn't the only reason I wanted to leave..."
This time, Mirai's guess had been correct. The Third Huo Ying, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had deliberately come up with a reason—a perfect reason—to keep Mirai from resenting him over his defection.
The reason was that Mirai's defection had actually been arranged by his Lord Huo Ying.
As for why, there was no need for Huo Ying to explain it in detail. The villagers would believe it.
With that explanation, the villagers would no longer hold any negative feelings toward Mirai. Instead, they would admire him even more.
After all, Mirai had been ordered to defect. It must have been an extremely difficult mission. Furthermore, when he defected, he had been regarded as a high-level rebel. Although it had been arranged by the Hokage, it indirectly acknowledged Mirai's strength.
From then on, after this defection, not only did Mirai receive no punishment, but he became a hero in the villagers' eyes.
When Mirai saw how enthusiastic the villagers were, he naturally returned their smiles, though his pace grew faster and faster.
If those villagers return to their shops and discover I did something so evil to them...
Mirai shuddered all over, and his steps quickened.
"Hello, Mirai!" Suddenly, a small hand tapped Mirai on the shoulder, and a fragrance unique to a young girl drifted into his nose. Mirai knew who it was without even turning around.
"Hmm? What, have you figured it out?" Mirai turned around and looked at Inoue with a mischievous grin.
"You big-headed idiot!" Inoue smacked Mirai directly on the head, leaving him stunned.
"You're such a terrible person! If you were fine, why did you lie to me? Not only did you deceive my feelings, you even stole my flowers!"