A dog biting a hedgehog, with nowhere to sink its teeth

As the saying went, you did not strike a smiling face.

Takahashi Yū finally understood what that saying meant. Looking at Mangzhong kneeling on the ground with a fawning smile plastered across his face, he simply could not bring his raised hand down.

"Ah... Mangzhong, my boy, how can you act like this as the man in charge of the Grass Ninja? What will your underlings think of you? Get up and talk."

Takahashi Yū let out a long sigh. Faced with someone so humble, he really could not bring himself to be ruthless.

"It's all right, Lord Takahashi Yū. I'm used to talking like this."

Kneeling on the ground, Mangzhong looked utterly sincere.

"Lord Mangzhong! We've brought them!"

"Chief, we've brought the scrolls too."

Voices came from afar, accompanied by a sliding sound familiar to Takahashi Yū. Several figures were even more thorough than Mangzhong. Mangzhong had merely slid on his knees; these elite Grass Ninja slid straight toward them in full prostration.

"Greetings, Lord Takahashi Yū! Greetings to everyone in the Undying Squad!"

With their foreheads still pressed to the ground, leaving long trails in the dirt, the elite Grass Ninja shouted in unison.

Sweat was already running down Takahashi Yū's forehead. The corners of his mouth twitched. He had no idea why they were acting like this.

Surely Kusagakure did not abase itself this much even before the Kage of the major villages.

Little did he know, the Grass Ninja understood Takahashi Yū better than anyone else in this world. After all, they were the ones who had spread his intelligence reports far and wide by selling them.

This guy is different from everyone else. Push him too far, and he won't give a damn about the balance of the Shinobi World. I've heard he doesn't even get along that well with Konoha. He outright ignored Mitokado Homura on the battlefield against the Sand Shinobi, and that was Konoha's appointed commander. Could there be a chance of getting this guy to join us Grass Ninja?

Mangzhong had no idea Takahashi Yū could no longer bring himself to attack the Grass Ninja, and had even started indulging in fantasies. His face, however, still wore a smile that invited any beating or scolding.

"Hurry up and bring our guests over so Lord Takahashi Yū can take his pick. Are you sure they're all here?"

Mangzhong spoke to the elite Grass Ninja behind him, whose heads remained lowered.

"Lord Mangzhong, all the guests we've recently sto-cough, cough, invited are here. I have the ninjutsu scrolls on me too."

One of the elite Grass Ninja raised his lowered head slightly and whispered to Mangzhong.

Takahashi Yū had already seen the people they brought over. The red-haired woman merely looked haggard and was in much better shape than Uzumaki Shui Ling and the others. Clearly, she had not suffered any torture.

She was probably from Karin's branch of the family in the original story. But their circumstances had been utterly tragic there, with the Grass Ninja draining her to death.

Mangzhong cautiously raised his head to observe him and noticed a hint of confusion appear on Takahashi Yū's face. He carefully stood up, though he kept his back bent, and asked quietly:

"Lord Takahashi Yū, is the person you're looking for among them? Rest assured, under my leadership, we Grass Ninja have always treated our prison-cough, received our guests with the highest honors."

Takahashi Yū shook off his wandering thoughts and looked at Mangzhong. Could the abuse of the Uzumaki have happened because the other Grass Ninja had ousted this man?

After all, letting the Uzumaki Clan put down roots and flourish in the Land of Grass was the best approach. Over time, Kusagakure would gain another bloodline clan.

They just could not let anyone else discover it. What would the ninja villages that destroyed the Land of Whirlpools think if they learned they were sheltering the Uzumaki Clan?

Even ordinary people knew to tear trouble out by the roots, let alone ninja.

Under Takahashi Yū's stare, Mangzhong sweated even more. His eyes now darted around as he debated whether to kneel again.

"Ah..." With a hint of regret, Takahashi Yū patted Mangzhong, staggering him and sending him smoothly back onto his knees.

He walked straight toward the Uzumaki woman he suspected was Karin's mother.

"What's your name? We ran into Uzumaki Shui Ling outside. She said another clan member was in Kusagakure. That's you, right?"

Takahashi Yū withdrew the killing intent around her and asked listlessly.

He had come fired up to wipe out the Grass Ninja gang, only to find they were all spineless. Takahashi Yū's frustration was easy to imagine.

"Lady Shui Ling? Are Lady Shui Ling and the others all right? I-I'm Mizuki Uzumaki," Mizuki Uzumaki answered hurriedly.

"They're fine. Come with us now."

Takahashi Yū perked up a little and motioned for Mizuki Uzumaki to follow, then looked at the little ones around them, most of whom were quite young.

"What's the story with these people, Mangzhong?" Takahashi Yū turned to ask.

"My lord, these... these are young guests we Grass Ninja invited back from all over the world. We've been keeping them well fed and clothed. My lord, you see..."

Mangzhong kept rubbing his hands, his face wreathed in smiles as he studied Takahashi Yū, afraid he might become displeased.

"Oh, is that so?"

Takahashi Yū tilted his head and looked at the trembling children. Under the influence of the Killing Intent Surge, they shakily edged toward the Grass Ninja around them.

"My lord, after kidnapping me, they really didn't do anything to me. They only asked me to join Kusagakure."

When the children failed to speak for so long, Mizuki Uzumaki had to explain, because she and these children had all been kept in the same area, where the Grass Ninja had "provided" for them.

Takahashi Yū saw the children's actions and understood what Mizuki Uzumaki meant. These children might be better off staying with the Grass Ninja. War raged outside, giving the Grass Ninja opportunities to abduct children. Most of these children, who might possess special abilities, had only been abducted after some major upheaval in their families.

As long as this shameless Mangzhong stayed alive, the Grass Ninja would probably treat these children with special abilities well. Outside, they might get caught up in the war any day.

"Mangzhong, my boy, I'm taking Mizuki Uzumaki with me. Any objections?"

Takahashi Yū could not help seeing Kusagakure's leader in a new light. He had vision and ambition, and knew when to bow and when to stand tall.

If this continued over the years, Kusagakure might really rise to prominence.

"My lord, you must be joking. How would I dare object? Please, take her." Mangzhong wiped the sweat from his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then how should we settle the matter of those Grass Ninja I killed outside after they provoked me?"

Heaven knew Takahashi Yū meant those words sincerely. He already regretted kicking Kusagakure's gates away. After all, those represented their dignity.

He just did not know how thick-skinned Kusagakure had become under Mangzhong's leadership.

"Lord Takahashi Yū, do you mean the Grass Ninja pursuit unit? It's fine. They're not our people. They belong to Hozuki Castle and spend all day acting strange and secretive. Good riddance."

Mangzhong hurriedly waved his hands and explained to Takahashi Yū.

Much of Takahashi Yū's guilt faded. He threw an arm around the kneeling Mangzhong and lifted him to his own height, declaring:

"You're a damn talent! You've earned my approval. If someone else is chief the next time I visit Kusagakure, I'll kill them. How's that? Am I a good friend or what?"

When Takahashi Yū suddenly hauled him up, Mangzhong was initially scared half to death, thinking he was about to follow Taiseki's rumored fate and have his head bitten off. But then he heard Takahashi Yū's words, which swept even his fear away. His face went blank as he sank into thought.

What does this guy mean by that? Is he taking me in as his subordinate? Does he want Kusagakure to become his vassal? Should I make this decision that goes against my ancestors?

Seeing the vacant look in Mangzhong's eyes beside him, Takahashi Yū knew he was clearly off fantasizing. Worried that he might misunderstand, he quickly patted him to interrupt his thoughts.

"Don't overthink it. I mean exactly what I said. Don't cause me trouble, you hear? Otherwise, if I say I'll kill your whole family, I'll kill your whole family. We're all in this business. Can't we keep things simple?"

Interrupted in his thoughts, Mangzhong listened to another stream of words from Takahashi Yū.

What is he hinting at? Exactly what he said? He'll secure my position as the Grass Ninja's leader, and I'll serve him in secret? Otherwise, he'll kill my whole family?

Speechless at seeing Mangzhong sink into thought again, Takahashi Yū hurriedly dropped him onto the ground.

"Let's go, boys!"

Takahashi Yū hurried away with his squad members and Mizuki Uzumaki, afraid Mangzhong might come down with some serious bout of madness and latch onto him.

Mangzhong was still lost in thought after being dropped onto the ground. Taiseki, who had been thrown into a house and knocked unconscious at the beginning, slowly came around with a groan.

"Taiseki!"

"Taiseki, you're alive! Your head wasn't bitten off?"

"What? Taiseki survived the clutches of Konoha's demon?"

"What? Taiseki fought Takahashi Yū and survived?"

Regardless of the commotion in Kusagakure behind them, Takahashi Yū's group pressed ahead. It really had been like a dog biting a hedgehog, with nowhere to sink its teeth.

When they finally spotted Yamanaka Ayano's group, Mizuki Uzumaki rushed forward in excitement and tightly embraced the frail Uzumaki Shui Ling.

"Lady Shui Ling!"

"Mizuki, are you all right?"

"Mizuki! Mizuki!"

Watching the four vulnerable women embrace, Takahashi Yū shook his head. "Konoha really has done people no end of harm."

During the First Shinobi World War, the Land of Whirlpools had given Konoha its full support.

Its Sealing Jutsu had protected Konoha from the other ninja villages' tailed beast attacks, while its unique Uzumaki secret techniques had provided tremendous help, only to make others covet what it possessed.

Not long after the first war ended, it came under siege. In the end, Konoha took away only Kushina, who was suitable to become a jinchūriki.

Even their own country's princess had tacitly accepted the refusal to send aid. The surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan struggled to stay alive throughout the Shinobi World. Calling it tragic hardly began to describe it.

Mito Uzumaki-no, it should be Mito Senju-was a ruthless one too.

Once the redheads had calmed down, Yamanaka Ayano asked gently, "What do you plan to do next? Will you come back to Konoha with us?"

She had always been a gentle person, and she had been raised on Konoha's teachings. Although Takahashi Yū had led her a little astray, her guilt toward the Uzumaki had not diminished. Probably every Konoha ninja at this point felt guilty toward the Uzumaki.

Anyone familiar with Konoha's teachings understood. Yet the affair in the Land of Whirlpools had nearly backfired on them. Without Mito Uzumaki's tacit acceptance, Konoha's ninja might have rebelled.

Those words instantly brought all the grievances in Uzumaki Shui Ling's heart surging up:

"Konoha! I even helped Konoha fight in the Shinobi World War, and what came of it? The Uzumaki Clan has been reduced to this! If I go to Konoha, how could I ever face our dead clansmen?"

Her voice had begun strong and forceful, but as she looked at the three clan members embracing her, it grew quieter and less certain.

Uzumaki Shui Ling did not fear death, but the children before her, who had no ability to protect themselves, left her deeply torn. Even setting aside the ninja villages that had attacked the Land of Whirlpools, the Black Market bounties alone could cost them their lives. And they were all female. What would happen if they were captured was easy to imagine.

"Ah..." Uzumaki Shui Ling sighed deeply. The sound seemed to rise from the deepest recesses of her heart, carrying endless sorrow and profound helplessness.

She looked at Takahashi Yū and said hopefully, "Takahashi Yū, I know of you. I want to entrust these three to you now. They will follow you from this day forward. The Uzumaki Clan will not betray its word like Konoha!"

This was the best arrangement she could think of now. The Uzumaki Clan's unique Mind's Eye of the Kagura told her that, though he was shrouded in bloodshed, it could not conceal his warm heart.

Takahashi Yū slowly raised his head, the corners of his mouth lifting into a brilliant smile. "Sure. You come back to the village too. I'll watch over all of you!"

Takahashi Yū wanted to give Konoha some grief!

Let's see how you handle this one!