Contradiction Emerges

"How about it? Have you had lunch? If not, why don't we go grab a drink together?" Shiro Kamimizu invited. "Of course, nothing alcoholic, just a beverage. My treat."

Kanna was also a bit curious about Shiro Kamimizu; people with such an outgoing personality seemed rare in Kirigakure, so he readily agreed.

Ignoring the pointing and whispering of the onlookers, the two returned home to explain things to his mother before departing with Shiro Kamimizu. They arrived at an izakaya, and after calling the owner over to order a few dishes, they began to chat.

"I... I don't think I've seen you around before?" Shiro Kamimizu began.

Kanna gave a bitter smile and said, "Of course you haven't. I only graduated last year, and since then, I've been idling at home, receiving guidance from my mother."

"Oh? And who are your parents?"

"My father is Kanna Tokiomi, and my mother is Kanna Morishita Mai."

"So you're the child of the Assistant!" Shiro Kamimizu stood up in respect. "How rude of me. The Assistant is a ninja I deeply admire. I never expected to run into his child today; what a stroke of luck."

Kanna nodded silently. To be honest, he was now experiencing what this body had felt before: no matter who it was, the moment they learned his identity, they would link him to Kanna Tokiomi. This feeling, how should he put it, was truly unpleasant.

Shiro Kamimizu seemed to recall something and said, "Then, you must be the one from the rumors, the one who, during last year's graduation exam... ah, apologies, apologies. I shouldn't have brought that up."

"It doesn't matter." Kanna shook his head and smiled indifferently. "No matter how painful the memory, one must face it. Come to think of it, I really thought I was a goner that time. Fortunately, the heavens were watching over me."

Shiro Kamimizu patted Kanna on the shoulder. As an outsider, there wasn't much he could say about such matters, so he could only offer comfort in this way.

After the food arrived, the atmosphere gradually improved, and through their casual conversation, Kanna slowly learned a few things about Shiro Kamimizu.

Shiro Kamimizu was a Jonin of Kirigakure who had once served in the Anbu. After his term ended, he resigned and became a freelance Jonin, currently commissioned by the Third Mizukage to serve as a guide for a Genin squad.

"A teacher? Then what about your students? Shouldn't they be training right now?" Kanna asked, a bit puzzled.

Shiro Kamimizu's expression darkened. He let out a sigh and said in a muffled voice, "We're currently reorganizing. One of them died..."

Kanna felt awkward, and before he could say anything, a voice suddenly came from nearby.

"Shiro Kamimizu?" A man wearing a Jonin uniform walked over and greeted him.

"Oh, it's you, Motohiko." Shiro Kamimizu turned his head, hesitated for a moment, and then responded.

After finishing, Shiro Kamimizu leaned in and whispered, "Murakami Motohiko. He holds the same status as me—a Jonin in charge of a squad."

Kanna understood and looked over.

Murakami Motohiko was a handsome young man, looking at most twenty-five years old, with a faint, indifferent smile on his face. Behind him followed three teenagers—two boys and a girl—and Kanna had seen all three of them before.

Ringo Ameyuri! Looking at the girl who was expressionless and ignoring everyone else as she walked straight to the counter to order, Kanna's expression grew serious.

These three teenagers were all winners of the Chunin Exams, and it seemed they belonged to the same squad.

The other two boys still had bandages on them, though their injuries weren't severe. They followed their teacher and sat at a nearby table, waiting quietly.

A few breaths later, Ringo Ameyuri walked back. Just as she was about to sit down, she suddenly raised her head, and her gaze collided with Kanna's.

That cold look, devoid of even a shred of emotional fluctuation, was filled with a sense of condescension, as if a human had inadvertently caught sight of an ant.

Kanna immediately frowned. This was exactly what he disliked about Kirigakure! Everyone, every single person, was so self-centered and completely ignored others!

The two stared at each other for a long time, neither backing down. This standoff was noticed by Shiro Kamimizu, Murakami Motohiko, and the two boys, but no one on either side spoke.

"Who are you!" Ringo Ameyuri suddenly spoke, her tone harsh and grating to Kanna's ears.

"Kanna!"

"I've seen you before." Ringo Ameyuri walked over slowly as she spoke. "During the Chunin Exams, you were the guard for the Mizukage's Assistant? A Chunin? Or a Jonin?"

Kanna was truly unhappy now. Just because he looked at her? What was the meaning of that tone? Was she going to make a move on him?

"Hmph." Kanna sneered and stood up abruptly. Now it was his turn to look down at Ringo Ameyuri. Although girls matured earlier, boys were generally more robust, and with Kanna's Shikotsumyaku bone-manipulation ability, he was a head taller than her.

But to Kanna's disappointment, even as Ringo Ameyuri tilted her head to meet his gaze, there was no fluctuation in her eyes.

Seeing that the atmosphere was wrong, Murakami Motohiko signaled, and the boy to his left called out instinctively, "Ameyuri, come eat."

Unexpectedly, Ringo Ameyuri raised her eyebrows and scolded, "Shut up!"

"Hahaha, how overbearing!" Kanna laughed, mocking her.

"When you have power like mine, you can be like this too," Ringo Ameyuri said indifferently, completely unmoved.

Behind her, the boy's mouth moved, but he didn't dare say anything and sat down obediently.

At this point, Murakami Motohiko couldn't watch anymore and said helplessly, "Ameyuri, come over and eat. That is an order!"

Ringo Ameyuri took one last deep look at Kanna. This time, she didn't defy her teacher's face, returned to her seat, and without looking at Kanna again, began to eat.

Kanna's eyelids twitched. He wanted to be angry but had nowhere to vent; after all, she hadn't actually done anything to him. At worst, she looked down on him; at best, she just had a cold attitude. Could he really pick a fight over that?

After Kanna sat down, fuming, Shiro Kamimizu poured him a drink and lowered his voice. "The child Ringo Ameyuri killed during the Chunin Exams was my subordinate..."

Kanna's hand tightened. The Chunin Exams were designed to test team combat and required participation in groups. This year's rules were similar to previous years: if one person withdrew, the whole team was disqualified. In other words, the final six people in the combat exam were exactly two squads. One was Ringo Ameyuri's, and the other, it seemed, was Shiro Kamimizu's three subordinates.

No wonder the atmosphere between the Jonin of the same village was so awkward. Looking at Murakami Motohiko's earlier demeanor, it seemed he didn't have any conflict with Shiro Kamimizu, but since his subordinate had killed Shiro Kamimizu's prize pupil, he had no face left to act friendly.

Kanna had seen Ringo Ameyuri for himself today. She was truly arrogant—or perhaps she didn't intentionally look down on others, but simply didn't consider them worth her time, confident that she could surpass anyone, with a domineering, solipsistic personality.

Whether she was born with this personality or developed it later, Kanna had no right to judge, but he just couldn't stand it!

She wasn't even invincible in the world yet, and her tail was already pointing toward the sky. If she ever truly became invincible, wouldn't she turn the world upside down?

The arrival of Ringo Ameyuri and her group had ruined the mood for Kanna and Shiro Kamimizu. The two finished their meal in a hurry, exchanged contact information, and parted ways.

That night, in a training ground in Kirigakure, Murakami Motohiko clapped his hands to summon his subordinates before him and said, "Very good, today's mission has been completed successfully. Tomorrow will be the same. Now, dismissed!"

"See you tomorrow, Sensei."

"We're heading out, Murakami-sensei."

The two boys said their goodbyes politely, while Ringo Ameyuri silently turned and left on her own; the other three were already accustomed to her temperament and thought nothing of it.

A bright, clear moon hung high in the sky, and a gentle breeze blew until a patch of dark clouds suddenly drifted over, plunging the entire world into darkness.

Judging by the look of it, it was going to be another rainy day.

When she walked into a secluded alley, Ringo Ameyuri seemed to sense something; she stopped at the entrance and gripped the hilt of the longsword on her back.

"Come out," she said indifferently.

Three dark figures slowly emerged from the depths of the alley, blocking the path. The leader stepped forward and said, "Ringo Ameyuri, come with us! The Hayashinaka Clan requires an explanation from you!"

"What a joke!" Ringo Ameyuri drew her longsword and held it vertically before her. She examined the blade closely, not even sparing the others a glance as she said, "What are you supposed to be, daring to give me orders?"

The ninja opposite her did not get angry and replied, "The Hayashinaka Clan sent us here not to do you harm, but to invite you to the clan estate. Once you have explained yourself clearly, we will naturally let you return."

An explanation? An explanation for what? Of course, it wasn't to ask why she had killed Hayashinaka Shigure; it was to lure her into the clan estate to coerce or bribe her, perhaps to place a seal on her or secure some leverage. If Ringo Ameyuri were to agree, she might as well prepare to spend the rest of her life working for the Hayashinaka Clan.

In Kirigakure at this time, the combined power of the various great clans was even stronger than that held by the Mizukage! Because the village's various businesses, trade, key government positions, and all sorts of departments were held in their hands, they commanded a vast number of subordinate ninja.

Now, the Hayashinaka Clan had finally reacted to the death of Hayashinaka Shigure!

Either become a pawn of the Hayashinaka Clan! Or die right here!

Blatant! Unscrupulous! The clans of Kirigakure were truly this arrogant now!