"What a powerful song!" the Akatsuki members exclaimed after quietly listening to the chorus.
"Perhaps what the Holy Church wants to do is all in that song! A religious organization that sings not of its god, but of common people as lowly as the dirt. No wonder those Holy Light Clerics are willing to die without hesitation for their god," Nagato murmured, as though he had suddenly understood something.
"There is no savior in this world-we can only rely on ourselves! Is that really true? Can those common people who know nothing really make this world better?" Yahiko shook his head, unable to understand.
"Everyone, it's time we returned to report our findings to Lord Hanzō!" Yahiko snapped out of his confusion. He decided to visit the Holy Church's territory as little as possible from now on. Every visit left him questioning the goal he had once been so certain of.
"Yahiko, can't we look around a little longer?" asked an Akatsuki member who had never seen such a bustling city, reluctant to leave.
"Remember, we're ninja. Our mission comes first. Now that we've learned what's going on, there's no point in staying," Yahiko said sternly.
"Yes!"
With that, the Akatsuki members headed back to the ninja village to report.
"Have they left?" Axel asked quietly.
"Yes, Commander!" Mina replied, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"This was probably our last meeting as friends. The next time we meet, we'll be enemies, or at least opponents," Axel said, gazing out the window with a touch of sadness.
"In these chaotic times, if friends aren't walking the same path, perhaps it's better to end the friendship sooner," Mina said, her cheeks reddening as she looked at the commander's sunlit profile.
"You're right, Mina. You really are my finest assistant. We're simply people each working toward our ultimate goals!" Axel turned to look at the quiet girl before him.
Under the commander's gaze, Mina felt her heart pounding uncontrollably. Flustered, she hurriedly said, "I have other things to take care of!" Then she ran out of the office.
Axel scratched his head. "Is there still something to do today? Have I left some work unfinished?" To a workaholic like Axel, leaving work unfinished meant letting the Holy Light down.
After thinking for a long time, Axel still couldn't figure it out. "If I can't remember, I'll ask Mina! Girls are more attentive, after all. I should learn from them in that respect." With that, he went out to find her.
After several turns, he finally spotted Mina, but... "So this is the unfinished business you were talking about!" She was actually having afternoon tea with Ria and the others. "You really can't trust what women say. They're too complicated." Axel thought again of the growing pile of work lately, though he wasn't sure whether he was imagining it.
Still, seeing Ria's radiant smile in the distance, he could only shrug helplessly and turn away, with no intention of interrupting the women's afternoon tea.
"Bishop Ria, you wouldn't believe it, but I actually saw Commander Axel looking sad today. You ought to pay more attention to your little brother's physical and emotional well-being," Mina said with concern.
"Oh, was it because of those friends whose ambitions differ from his?" Ria asked calmly, raising her teacup and taking a small sip.
Meli looked curious as well, quietly refilling Ria's cup.
Mina nodded quickly.
"I see! There's nothing we can do about that. It's like two similar roads. They might lead toward the same goal, but sooner or later, they branch apart. I'm sure Axel will understand that."
"Hehe, I was just mentioning it," Mina said hurriedly, brushing the matter aside.
"Actually, I think the wounds of friendship can be healed through love," Meli suddenly remarked.
"Oh? What do you suggest, Meli?" Hearing a subject they had never explored before, both girls turned their eyes toward the mature woman.
Meli chuckled softly and said, "Axel is fourteen this year. He's at the age when romantic feelings begin to stir. As his big sister, I think you could find a nice girl for him."
Ria frowned slightly. "But that blockhead Axel doesn't understand girls at all!"
Meli covered her mouth and laughed softly. "That's something you don't know, Ria. The less boys understand women, the more girls like them!"
"Really?" Ria asked in surprise.
Beside her, Mina's face had turned as red as an apple under Priest Meli's steady gaze.
Ria followed Meli's gaze. "No way! Mina, you actually like that blockheaded little brother of mine?" she exclaimed.
"Bishop Ria, how could you say it out loud? This is so embarrassing!" Mina covered her face, at a loss for what to do.
"Hahaha! It looks like I won't have to worry about my little brother's love life anymore!" Ria laughed.
Unable to endure their teasing any longer, Mina finally fled.
As Axel strolled along, a figure raced past him. "Isn't that Mina? Why is her face so red? Can priests even get sick?" He quickly shook his head. That seemed impossible. Could drinking too much black tea turn your face red? he wondered. Good thing I don't drink it. I'll tell Mina to drink less next time!
"Lord Hanzō, this is what we learned about the situation with the Holy Church!" After returning to Amegakure, Yahiko gave Hanzō a general report.
"Is that so? It seems the Daimyo wasn't willing to sit and wait for death, and did something foolish! Send that as our reply to him."
"Lord Hanzō, aren't we going to intervene?" Yahiko asked hesitantly.
"How could we? They were willing to do something like that. I don't consider myself a good man, but even I wouldn't lay a hand on innocent children. They are all the future of the Land of Rain!" Hanzō said slowly.
"Yes!" Yahiko answered loudly.
"Damn it! Damn it! Those useless fools! The Land of Rain has already lost more than half its territory, and they still expect me to care about those wretched commoners!" The Daimyo of the Land of Rain repeatedly stamped on the letter that had just arrived.
"Your Lordship, those cultists in the east have been slaughtering nobles under the guise of disaster relief. Now it seems they have no intention of leaving, either!" a noble said cautiously.
"You useless fools have the nerve to say that? Didn't you promise me a powerful evil god? All I got was a pack of rats who were driven back by those cultists without so much as a peep!" the Daimyo said furiously.
"The most pitiful of all was my dear little brother. We relied on each other from childhood, and now those cultists have brutally murdered him!" With that, the Daimyo couldn't help breaking into tears in his seat.
"Your Lordship, this is no time for grief! If we don't find a solution soon, the Land of Rain is finished!" a noble said anxiously. As the cultists grew stronger, the nobles who had yet to lose their lands could neither eat nor sleep in peace.
"What solution could there be?" The Daimyo looked down at the nobles through tear-filled eyes.
"Why not ask your relative, the Daimyo of the Land of Water, for help?"
The Daimyo immediately wiped away his tears. "That's right! But who should I send?" His gaze immediately returned to the noble who had spoken. "Yes, you! Go to the Land of Water at once and explain our country's situation to its Daimyo. As long as he can eliminate the cultists, I'll agree to anything."
"Your Lordship, at my age, I'm no longer fit for such a long journey!" the noble cried, his face deathly pale.
"Hmph! Since you proposed it, you can carry it out. If you refuse, I'll exterminate your entire family!" the Daimyo said viciously.
The noble's whole body went limp, and he sank helplessly to his knees. Filled with grief and indignation, he said, "Yes! Yes! I'll go. I'll leave at once."
Looking at the old man slumped on the floor, the other nobles suddenly felt a bleak sorrow, like foxes mourning a rabbit's death.
Before you continue