I'll Never Leave the Land of Hot Water!

Naoki stopped polishing the glass and looked up at him.

That look sent a chill down the messenger's back. His smile stiffened for an instant, but he quickly recovered, maintaining his respectful demeanor. "I am an envoy of the Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water. I've come to deliver a letter on my lord's orders."

"A letter?"

"Yes." The messenger held out the letter with both hands. "My lord said he has investigated what happened the other day. It was all the doing of Todo Ichiro, that rebellious son of his. He deserved to die. My lord is deeply ashamed, and has sent me to offer his apologies. He hopes Lord Naoki won't hold it against him."

Naoki took the letter and opened it, reading it carefully.

It was a long letter, worded with extreme courtesy. First, the daimyo expressed his apologies, saying that his failure to discipline his son had allowed the latter to run wild. Then he thanked Naoki for cleaning up his family's affairs. Finally, he invited Naoki to visit the Daimyo Mansion whenever he had time, promising to host a banquet and apologize in person.

Between the lines, the letter was full of praise for Naoki and attempts to win him over.

After reading it, Naoki folded the letter and set it on the bar.

"Understood."

The messenger waited a moment. When Naoki said nothing more, he didn't take offense, but bowed respectfully again. "Then I'll take my leave."

Standing behind the bar, Naoki gazed at the letter, his brows drawing together slightly.

At some point, Aikawa Yumi had come downstairs. She walked over to him.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm wondering whether this letter is sincere or just a front."

"My Anu, you're so naive." Aikawa Yumi reached out and pinched Naoki's cheek. "You actually believe that? Even if you don't know what kind of person the Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water is, just look at Todo Ichiro and you'll understand. If he wasn't favored, there wouldn't be any ninja in that castle..."

Naoki slowly nodded.

There might not have been many Kirigakure Ninja in that castle, but most of them were Chunin. Ordinary nobles couldn't afford to keep ninja like that.

Seeing Naoki nod, Aikawa Yumi asked, "So, what are you going to do next?"

"Why don't we just storm the capital and kill that old bastard?"

Naoki glanced at the woman who had just said something so shocking, then shook his head.

Killing a daimyo wouldn't be difficult for him. The problem was his identity. As a Konoha Ninja, as an Uchiha, it was one thing to have been missing for days without returning to Konoha to report in, but to also cause trouble out here... By then, the trouble might not affect him alone.

"We should leave here and go to Konoha..."

Before Naoki could finish, Aikawa Yumi's smile faded.

"No. I'll never leave the Land of Hot Water!"

Naoki parted his lips, but when he saw the determination in Aikawa Yumi's eyes, he fell silent.

He said nothing, and neither did Aikawa Yumi. The two of them seemed to be giving each other the silent treatment.

After a long while, Naoki finally spoke.

"Then what do you want to do?"

Aikawa Yumi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I have other places I can go..."

If they were going to leave, they had to do it soon. Naoki knew that, and so did Aikawa Yumi.

After gathering their things, they set off once night fell over Kannazuki Town.

The night was as dark as ink, with the moon hidden and the stars gone.

Two figures raced across the wilderness. Naoki carried their packs, while Aikawa Yumi, dressed in a fitted outfit, stayed close by his side.

"Anu, why are you walking so fast? Your big sister can barely keep up." Aikawa Yumi complained, but she didn't slow down at all.

Naoki didn't look back. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan glimmered faintly red in the darkness as his wary gaze swept over their surroundings.

Seeing that Naoki had gone quiet again, Aikawa Yumi pursed her lips but stopped teasing him.

They had left Kannazuki Town two hours ago. By Naoki's estimate, once they crossed the hills ahead, they would reach the mountainous region in the northern part of the Land of Hot Water. Even if pursuers caught up, they could use the terrain to their advantage.

Just then, Naoki suddenly stopped.

Aikawa Yumi nearly walked into his back. She was about to speak, but he clamped a hand over her mouth and pulled her behind him.

"Don't make a sound."

Aikawa Yumi blinked and followed his gaze.

In the hills ahead, more than a dozen dark figures could be seen moving swiftly toward them under the moonlight, circling around to cut them off. They vanished into the shadows, then flashed into view again beneath the moon.

"Looks like I guessed right." Aikawa Yumi lowered her voice, excitement coloring her words. "That old bastard really was up to no good."

Naoki ignored her teasing. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan intently tracked the figures.

Most of the dozen-odd figures were low- and mid-ranking ninja, though there seemed to be one or two Jonin among them...

The situation wasn't too dangerous. Naoki gave Aikawa Yumi a push.

"Get out of the way."

Aikawa Yumi was taken aback by the push, then broke into a smile, her eyes crinkling. Even in the darkness, her bright, sparkling eyes were clear.

"My Anu finally knows how to look out for his big sister."

As soon as she finished speaking, the dark figures emerged.

Under the moonlight, more than a dozen ninja spread out in a fan formation, moving swiftly and in perfect order.

Their leader was a man around forty, with a cold expression and a pair of triangular eyes that gleamed sinisterly in the dark.

"Uchiha Naoki?" the man with triangular eyes said, his voice as rough as sandpaper. "After killing so many of my comrades, I never expected to run into you here!"

Naoki didn't answer him. Instead, he turned slightly and glanced back at the woman from the corner of his eye.

Aikawa Yumi had already retreated behind a boulder. Only her eyes were visible as she watched with keen interest. She showed no fear at all—in fact, she looked excited to be watching a show.

This crazy woman...

Naoki looked away and faced the enemy again.

"So you've sided with the Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water?" Naoki asked. "You're working for that man?"

"Enough talk!" The man with triangular eyes waved a hand. "Attack!"

Fifteen figures sprang into action at once. Kunai and shuriken rained down like a torrential downpour.

Naoki sneered.

He hadn't slacked off in his training lately, and on top of that, he had awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan. His strength was nothing like what it had been before.

Naoki flashed out of sight.

The next instant, he appeared in front of the three Kirigakure Ninja at the vanguard, swinging his long blade in a horizontal slash.

The blade flashed through the night like a streak of light. The three ninja didn't even have time to react. Their vision blurred; then they felt a chill at their throats, and blood sprayed into the air.

"What?!"

The man with triangular eyes' pupils contracted. Before he could say another word, Naoki was already upon him.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan glowed an eerie red in the moonlight. Naoki's gaze was frighteningly calm, as if the man before him were not a Jonin, but a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

The blade swept past. The man with triangular eyes hurriedly blocked it with a kunai, but the tremendous force numbed his hand and sent him flying backward.

"Attack together!"

The remaining Kirigakure Ninja swarmed forward. Kunai and shuriken came at Naoki from every direction.