"Rebuilding the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist has always been my plan, and I chose you long ago. It's just that the blade that was originally meant for you is still out there somewhere."
Ameyuri froze for a moment, then her eyes lit up.
"My lord, you mean... Kiba, right?"
"You know where it is?"
Gekkō Raito was somewhat surprised.
"Yes!"
Ameyuri nodded emphatically, a feverish look rising on her pale face.
"Honestly, if you hadn't suddenly pinned me to a bed for treatment, I'd probably already be out there with my bags, chasing down leads on Kiba."
"Even if I died on the road, I'd still want to see that legendary Ninja Blade with my own eyes!"
Gekkō Raito let out a startled laugh.
No wonder this girl had become the Lightning Sword's second wielder in the original story. She had had her eye on it all along.
"All right, stop talking about dying."
Gekkō Raito stood up and turned off the light for her.
"Just focus on recovering. I'll find every last one of those missing Ninja Blades."
He left the hospital room with its smell of disinfectant. The corridor lights were rather dim.
Even though Chōjūrō and the other kids were only standing guard, their backs were perfectly straight.
Gekkō Raito waved, signaling for the tense little ones to disperse and go home to sleep.
On the way home, the night breeze was slightly cool.
Mei Terumi had not left. Instead, she walked beside Gekkō Raito.
"Kiba, and that strange blade, Samehada-do you know exactly where they are?"
With his hands in his pockets, Gekkō Raito shook his head.
"Their exact locations? No."
"Then that's quite a boast you made. Looking for two blades in the vast Shinobi World is no different from finding a needle