Too Powerful to Cozy Up to Later

Lu Zeming said nothing. Looking down from above, he swept his spiritual sense over the crowd. He found no ninja, then turned his gaze to the Matchlock Gun Squad.

It was the first time anyone had ignored the goateed official, and anger flared in his chest.

"Men! Shoot him down! No one stands above this Bugyo's head!"

At his command, the Matchlock Gun Squad quickly unslung their guns and began loading powder.

Lu Zeming smiled. They were far too slow. No wonder ninjas were the strongest fighting force in this world.

The archers in the ranks had already loosed arrows at him.

As Lu Zeming climbed higher, he pulled a Sealing Scroll from his waist. Kunai flew out of it, one after another.

One, two, ten, fifty.

The Kunai filled almost everyone's field of vision, spinning and shifting into formations before Lu Zeming as though they had minds of their own.

Before the stunned crowd, Lu Zeming pointed down with one hand. The Kunai rained onto the people below.

Screams, the rasp of armor being cut apart, the thud of Kunai striking flesh, and cries for help all mingled together.

Watching from a distance, Yuka and Rofu stood frozen.

So strong. Far too strong!

The once-orderly soldiers lay dead and wounded across the ground. Some had stopped breathing; others clutched severed arms and screamed.

The survivors tried to flee, but the Kunai surrounded them. There was nowhere to run.

The goateed official tumbled from his sedan chair in terror and scrambled about. Mud covered his new official robe, and the panicked crowd trampled his hat flat.

When they realized they could not escape, some threw down their weapons, stripped off their armor, and knelt to beg Lu Zeming for mercy.

"I was forced into this! Please don't kill me!"

"We're just trying to make a living! We've never done anything terrible!"

"I have an elderly mother and children at home! Please, have pity on them and let me go!"

More and more people dropped to their knees and begged.

Lu Zeming ignored them and looked at the goateed official.

"You probably don't remember me. Why would you? Back then, I was no different from a stray dog to you. I understand taking grain. These are troubled times, and the one with the stronger fist gets his way. But why did you have to kill her parents?"

"Rin was so young. Did you ever think about how she was supposed to survive after you killed them?"

The goateed official looked utterly lost. He had no idea who Rin was, nor could he remember when he had crossed this monstrous child.

Killing intent filled Lu Zeming's eyes. "Someone like you would never think about that. You don't have even the most basic human sympathy or compassion. There's no reason for you to keep living!"

"You can't kill me! I'm a Bugyo, appointed by the Daimyo himself! I'm wearing an official robe bestowed by the Daimyo. Kill me and it's treason. You'll be making an enemy of the entire Land of Grass!"

The goateed official shouted, a boastful confidence still ringing in his voice.

Lu Zeming could not be bothered to say another word. A Kunai flashed past, and the official's shouting stopped.

In disbelief, the man reached for his neck. Blood was already seeping out. The pride in his eyes vanished, replaced by fear.

The blood flowed faster and faster. He cupped it in his hands and tried to push it back, but there was no stopping it.

Then he began to choke, and the world before his eyes blurred.

Thud. The goateed official's body fell to the ground.

The sight left everyone speechless, but Lu Zeming caught a movement in the dense woods on a nearby hill.

He guided his long blade over the woods and called coldly, "Whoever's hiding in there, come out. Otherwise, I'll attack!"

Yuka and Rofu tensed. Could it be enemy reinforcements?

After a moment of silence, a familiar voice came from the trees.

"Don't attack! It's me!"

Four figures emerged from the woods. The one in front who had spoken was a boy in his teens, with delicate features and a high ponytail that made him look a little like a girl.

"Haruki!"

Yuka cried out. Then she saw the three people behind Haruki: her parents and the chief of the Mind-Listening Clan, Listening Yulong.

Ever since Lu Zeming had taken Listening Yuka away during the Chunin Ninja Exams in Kusagakure, Haruki had rushed back to the clan and told its chief and Yuka's parents what had happened.

Yuka's parents had been furious and had come to hate Lu Zeming.

What parents wouldn't be angry if their daughter went out to take an exam and some boy ran off with her?

Listening Yuka was a rare talent in the clan. No matter what, they had to bring her back.

After discussing it, the clan had decided to bring Yuka's mother along, hoping she could appeal to Yuka's feelings and persuade her to change her mind.

By chance, they had encountered the soldiers and learned they were headed to the same place. Worried as the four were, they had not dared reveal themselves, so they followed at a distance.

None of them had expected to witness what had just happened.

Haruki was delighted to see Yuka and immediately said, "Yuka, we came to persuade you to come back with us! Look, your parents are here too!"

At the sight of her travel-worn parents, Yuka could not hold back. She rushed straight into their arms.

Lu Zeming could do nothing about it. Everyone had the right to choose their own path.

If Yuka chose to return with her parents, all he could do was wish her well.

Lu Zeming had already braced himself for Yuka's departure. To his surprise, the Mind-Listening Clan's chief, Listening Yulong, contradicted Haruki.

"Haruki, what nonsense are you talking about? When did we say we were here to persuade Yuka to go back?"

"Didn't we agree at home that no matter what, we had to—"

Smack!

Listening Yulong slapped Haruki on the forehead, cutting him off.

"The journey must have worn you out so badly you can't think straight. We came to discuss our entire clan joining him. Persuade Yuka to go back? Following our lord, she has a bright future ahead of her. Should she return to that rundown village of ours and keep growing potatoes every day?"

Haruki's face turned crimson. He could not get a word out.

He could not understand why the chief had changed his tune so suddenly.

Even Yuka's parents looked baffled, with no idea what the chief was up to.

Lu Zeming's interest was piqued by Listening Yulong's words.

"You're saying you came to discuss having the entire Mind-Listening Clan join me?"

"That's right, my lord!"

"You're sure?"

"Certain!"

Lu Zeming considered it for a moment. "That's a major decision. We won't settle it quickly, and I still have business today. Sorry for the trouble, but could you help Yuka and the others escort these soldiers who surrendered back to the village? We can talk when I return. How does that sound?"

"As you command, my lord!"

Listening Yulong's manner was exceedingly respectful.

Lu Zeming then told Yuka, "When you get back, tell Kumi that lives are precious, including those of these soldiers. Give them a chance to mend their ways through Labor Reform. If some truly won't change, judge them by their crimes. Execute those who deserve it."

"Yes!"

Only then did Lu Zeming turn and fly toward the bandit strongholds that had been causing trouble.

On the way back with the captured soldiers, Yuka's father moved close to Listening Yulong.

"Chief, why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"Are you an idiot? He routed an army with a single move. How strong do you think he is?"

Yuka's father recalled what he had just seen and shuddered.

Listening Yulong continued, "More importantly, he's still so young. If we don't get on his good side now, we may not even get the chance later."

"And you know what our clan's situation is like. The Land of Grass is growing more chaotic by the day. For all we know, disaster could reach us next. If our homes are destroyed and our families killed, who could we turn to for justice? In times like these, it all comes down to who has the stronger fist."

"I understand!"

Yuka's father nodded repeatedly in agreement.