The Rematch

Not long after the battle began, Yagura caught the instant Ranto threw an overly forceful punch. His hooked staff precisely wedged into the joint between Ranto's bone shield and arm, then twisted hard!

"Crack!" A teeth-grinding snap of bone rang out. The bone shield on Ranto's left arm shattered instantly, and he let out a muffled groan of pain as his movements faltered.

Yagura showed no mercy. A heavy elbow strike followed immediately, slamming hard into Ranto's unprotected abdomen!

"Urgh!"

Ranto's massive body curled up like a shrimp. The excruciating pain instantly drained all strength from him, forcing him to his knees. The bone hammer in his other hand could no longer hold its shape and reverted to normal.

Clutching his stomach and injured arm, cold sweat streamed down his face. He could not even speak.

The outcome had been decided.

The entire exchange had been brief, yet exceptionally fierce.

Ranto had lost, defeated by the gap in skill and experience.

The strength and partial bone-hardening ability he had been so proud of were still nothing before a battle-hardened Mizukage.

He knelt on the ground, gasping heavily as he awaited his final execution.

The surrounding Kaguya clansmen were filled with grief and fury, yet none dared make a move.

However, Yagura slowly lowered his hooked staff. Looking at the kneeling Ranto, he spoke in a deep voice.

"I keep my word. This time, I'll spare your life."

He waved to his subordinates. "Let them all go back. We're leaving."

With that, he truly turned around and led the main Hidden Mist force away like a receding tide, leaving behind a group of stunned Kaguya clansmen who had no idea what was happening.

Enduring the agony, Ranto watched Yagura's departing back, his face full of confusion and disbelief.

"He... he really left? Why?"

After easily defeating Kaguya Ranto, Yagura led the Hidden Mist troops back some distance and set up camp.

Inside the tent, Yagura dismissed everyone else, leaving only Shien, Akabane, and Haku, who stood quietly beside Shien.

He looked at Shien, his brows slightly furrowed, and directly voiced the doubt in his heart.

"Shien, does your 'seven captures of Meng Huo' method really work? Just like today—beat them, release them, then beat them again?"

"Those Kaguya brutes have nothing in their heads except battle and honor. Will they understand this business of winning people over with virtue?"

Shien smiled. Before he could speak, Yagura noticed Haku, who was closely following beside him.

Perhaps it had been too long since he had seen someone shorter than himself.

Yagura could not help taking a few extra looks.

Freshly washed and dressed like an exquisite doll, Haku had soft hair and an exceptionally delicate face.

When Yagura clearly saw Haku's appearance—that pure beauty transcending gender—he froze for a moment.

Then, as though he had thought of something, he cast Shien a strange glance.

After that, he subconsciously looked at Akabane beside them, who wore a perfectly serious expression as though he were staring at his nose and contemplating his heart.

Could Shien Uchiha... be into this sort of thing? Does he like young boys prettier than girls?

Rumors about certain nobles' peculiar tastes flashed through Yagura's mind, and his gaze toward Shien immediately became somewhat subtle.

Without drawing attention to it, he quietly shifted his small body half a step away from Shien.

Though he looked like a child, he was a mature middle-aged man inside. He did not want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings.

Naturally, Shien noticed Yagura's tiny movement and strange expression. He found it somewhat amusing, but could not be bothered explaining as he returned straight to the topic.

"Why are you being so rigid? After using the stick, you have to give them a carrot."

He raised one finger. "Look, you've brought so many men here. The daily consumption is considerable, yet you can't accomplish anything."

"Other than putting pressure on them, blocking this place serves no real purpose. So why not..."

"Send someone back with these men and bring over a batch of supplies."

"Get the most practical things—rice, flour, cooking oil—and bring plenty of medicine for common injuries and colds as well."

Yagura Karatachi fell into thought.

Shien continued, "Think about it. They're surrounded. What do they lack most? Food and medicine, obviously."

"You defeated their clan leader first and demonstrated your 'might.' Then you send them the supplies they urgently need, displaying 'kindness' and your magnanimity."

"That's far more useful than empty words."

"First, it can ease their hostility. Second, it can make those ordinary clansmen waver."

"Isn't following a Mizukage who defeated them yet is still willing to give them a way to live better than dying alongside a clan destined for destruction?"

Yagura was a smart man and understood immediately. Realization and admiration appeared in his eyes.

"That makes sense! I was too confined by the mindset of force." He immediately called out toward the tent entrance.

"Have Mei Terumi come here."

Before long, Mei Terumi entered the tent.

Yagura gave his order directly.

"Mei Terumi, immediately lead a team back to the village and gather a batch of supplies."

"Two hundred bags of rice, one hundred bags of flour, one hundred barrels of cooking oil. Also prepare a batch of common wound medicine and cold remedies. Get them here as quickly as possible."

Though Mei Terumi was somewhat puzzled, she accepted the order crisply. "Yes, Lord Mizukage!"

Her gaze swept through the tent and paused briefly on Shien and the others. She did not ask any questions before turning and leaving.

The next morning, just as the sky brightened, Yagura Karatachi appeared outside the Kaguya Clan Grounds once again, still alone.

"Kaguya Ranto, do you still dare fight me again?"

His voice rang clearly through the entire clan grounds.

This time, an even greater commotion erupted within the Kaguya Clan Grounds.

After a night of rest and unease, Clan Leader Ranto's injuries had improved slightly under the treatment of the clan's medical ninja. But he knew that in a one-on-one fight, he was no match for Yagura.

He exchanged a look with Elder Kaguya Sho and decided to change tactics.

"Yagura Karatachi! Don't get cocky!!"

Ranto emerged with four of the strongest taijutsu experts in the clan, including Kaguya Renbu.

"I'd like to see how many people you can fight!"

Yagura looked at the five men arranged before him. Rather than showing fear, a trace of barely noticeable satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Good. Come together. Save some time."

The battle erupted in an instant!

The five Kaguya experts coordinated seamlessly, launching fierce attacks from different directions.

Ranto attacked head-on, the bones in both arms hardening once more as his punches tore through the air with tremendous force;

Two others circled around the flanks, their kicks sharp and vicious as they targeted his lower body; one leaped high into the air and dived down like a hawk;

Meanwhile, Kaguya Renbu relied on his nimble footwork to weave about like a ghost, searching for an opportunity to land a killing blow.

Outside the camp, Akabane watched the group fighting in a tangled melee and shook his head.

"Clan leader, these Kaguya clansmen are so weak. Are there really any promising talents here?"

Shien was half-squatting as he touched Haku's back, checking that his body temperature was not cold while adjusting Haku's oversized coat.

Without even raising his head, he replied, "Ordinary clansmen naturally won't do, but they still have the Dead Bone Pulse."

"The Dead Bone Pulse!?"

"Does the Kaguya Clan have someone with the Dead Bone Pulse in this generation?"

Shien raised a hand to his lips, signaling Akabane not to speak.