"Boss, what do you think?"
Though Suikazan Fuguki was usually brutal and extremely harsh on his subordinates, there was no denying that he had both ability and insight.
Juzo and Raiga trusted his judgment.
"Give me a day to think it over."
Suikazan Fuguki's residence was not in the central district of Kirigakure.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had their own dedicated quarters, but he never stayed there.
He had built himself a separate courtyard on a hillside in the village's northwest corner. It was not large, but the terrain was high enough that he could see all of Kirigakure from the entrance.
At least, he could when there was no fog.
There were only a few fogless days in Kirigakure each year, so most of the time, all he could see from his doorway was a gray-white sea.
There were not many servants in the courtyard. An old woman did the cooking, but she was severely hard of hearing, so people had to shout when speaking to her.
A boy was responsible for cleaning and errands. Fourteen or fifteen, skinny as a bamboo pole, he was an orphan picked up from the streets. He had no name, so Suikazan Fuguki called him "Ganzi."
There was also a middle-aged man who maintained his swords and armor. He was quiet and highly skilled, an old craftsman retired from Kirigakure's armory.
Those three were the only living things in the courtyard besides Suikazan Fuguki.
Ganzi was sweeping the courtyard when he heard the gate open.
There were not many fallen leaves in Kirigakure, since there were barely any trees capable of surviving in this cursed place. Yet Ganzi still swept diligently every day, clearing every leaf and pebble from between the stone slabs.
This was the way he had chosen to live.