If Fujita Kazu met with an accident today and they did nothing about it, then what about tomorrow, the day after, or in the future? Could the same thing happen to them someday?
They were not fools. Everyone had their own sense of justice in their hearts. Some things just went unsaid.
Something like the murderer who killed Fujita Kazu—Reichi—being taken out by outsiders made them secretly delighted. How could they possibly think about chasing down the other party?
Moreover, Fujita Kazu's daughter had apparently also been saved by the outsiders. This further proved that the outsiders did not seem to harbor much malice.
When weighing these two choices side by side, they naturally had their answer in mind.
"What are you talking about? We're just going to discuss matters with the daimyo. Why would we bring so many people? You all come with me—that's enough."
After Mifune made his decision, the subordinates beside him did not try to persuade him further. They simply nodded slightly.
Mifune was the general of the Land of Iron and also its strongest samurai. The number of people he brought would not affect the outcome; it was purely a matter of attitude.
Aside from leaving one person behind to take care of Fujita Kazu's daughter, Mifune immediately led the rest toward the daimyo's residence at the fastest possible speed.
This was not because Mifune was eager to question the daimyo about Fujita Kazu's matter. His personality was steady. Though angry, he would not act rashly. Under normal circumstances, he would prepare thoroughly before confronting the daimyo.
But ever since discovering that Reichi had been killed by a mysterious powerhouse, a strange feeling had lingered in Mifune's heart—as if the other party would not stop so easily, and if he arrived too late, he might never see the daimyo again.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the daimyo's residence, Mifune immediately sensed that something was wrong. Under normal circumstances, the daimyo's residence should still be brightly lit at this hour.
But now, not only was it plunged into darkness, but it also exuded an aura of slaughter. All these signs confirmed that Mifune's earlier guess had become reality.
"Sir, should we observe the situation from outside first, or go straight in?"
Seeing Mifune's grim expression and combining it with how different the daimyo's residence looked from usual, his surrounding subordinates roughly guessed what was happening and cautiously asked.
"Of course we go straight in. The daimyo holds a noble status. Even if this is related to Fujita Kazu's death, we cannot sit idly by. I will personally speak to the daimyo about Fujita Kazu's matter afterward."
"Yes." Although the surrounding subordinates might have had other thoughts, when Mifune gave the order, they did not dare disobey and could only agree.
After entering the daimyo's residence, Mifune also understood where the earlier aura of slaughter had come from. Nearly a hundred samurai stood in a furious circle, staring intently at the few people in the center.
"It still happened after all."
In the center of the circle, Mifune saw exactly what he had feared the entire way here: the corpse of the daimyo of the Land of Iron.
After confirming the daimyo's death, Mifune no longer paid attention to the several samurai corpses lying nearby. Instead, he looked directly upward.
"Who exactly are you? Why did you kill the daimyo?"
Looking at the two figures standing beside the daimyo's corpse, Mifune questioned them in a low, deliberate voice. Although he tried his best to remain calm, everyone around could feel the suppressed anger hidden in his words.
Mifune was certain he had never seen the two figures opposite him before—masked, wearing straw hats, clad in black cloaks embroidered with red clouds. He had never even heard of them.
From their attire, they clearly belonged to some organization. But the Land of Iron should have no connection whatsoever with them. Why would they target the daimyo?
...
A short time earlier
"After all, that guy is a daimyo. Killing him directly would cause quite a bit of trouble. So before we act, let's put these on first."
Outside the daimyo's residence, Uchiha Hikari looked at the two sets of Akatsuki cloaks and masks that Furina suddenly summoned from a scroll. She could not help but widen her eyes.
When had the other prepared these? How did she not know? And to have them ready in advance... Could it be that she had already known they would end up doing something like this later...?
Furina paid no attention to Uchiha Hikari's somewhat strange look. Instead, she seemed quite pleased with herself. Hikari was still too naive. Having a convenient identity for operations when going out was perfectly normal, was it not?
Murder and arson by the Akatsuki organization—big love from Fufu to the Leaf people—was that not perfectly normal?
Besides, this was not Furina wrongly accusing the Akatsuki. They had done such things before. Scorpion in the Land of Birds was just one example.
Moreover, from before until now, more than half of the Akatsuki members—Itachi, Kisame, Obito, Scorpion, Deidara—had tried to make a move against poor, weak little her. They were thoroughly bad.
Oh right, and the former Akatsuki member Orochimaru, plus White Zetsu who was probably peeping on her right now. So many Akatsuki members bullying her alone—borrowing the Akatsuki name to act was simply payback, fair and reasonable.
Although Uchiha Hikari found Furina's actions a bit strange, after receiving the Akatsuki clothes, she still quickly changed into them and adjusted her figure slightly with the Transformation Technique.
"Hm~ It actually looks pretty convincing. Putting that aside, their clothes are actually quite nice-looking. You look even better in them. Of course, it would be even better if you could take them off without dying."
"It's alright, I guess."
Although she had somewhat gotten used to it, Uchiha Hikari still felt a little embarrassed by Furina's evaluation. So even though she was in a good mood, she only quickly nodded and turned toward the daimyo's residence, pretending to be observing the situation.
"Pfft."
Seeing the other's tsundere behavior, Furina simply smiled without exposing it. If you're happy, just show it. Uchiha ancestral tsundere, right?
"Then let's get ready to move."
Without teasing her further, Furina quickly changed into the Akatsuki clothes as well and handed one of the masks to Uchiha Hikari.
After putting them on, the two instantly vanished from their spots, leaving only afterimages behind. Without alerting the patrolling samurai guards, they infiltrated the daimyo's residence.
After avoiding several patrolling teams, the two also located the room where the daimyo was. He was currently eating dinner together with someone who appeared to be his son, attended by several servants.
"Dad, that guy Reichi is taking way too long. I don't know where he's at with it. It's already this late and he hasn't come back. He didn't run into trouble, did he?"
Hearing this, the daimyo paused mid-bite, then showed an expression of understanding. What his son was thinking—he knew perfectly well. Worried about Reichi? Hah.
"Trouble? I think you're just worried about those girls. Before Reichi left, you kept emphasizing again and again that he should bring back Fujita Kazu's daughter alive, along with those two girls she's been close to.
All you ever think about is this nonsense. I don't even know how you're supposed to inherit my position in the future. Hmph. But don't worry. I already reminded Reichi. He knows to be careful with his strength."
Seeing his son's useless display, the daimyo first scolded him a bit. But then he showed an "I understand" smile. After all, he had been the same way back then.
"Haha, Dad, you're the best to me. Ever since I saw them on the street last time, I haven't been able to eat or sleep properly. Once Reichi brings them back, I definitely have to make up for lost time."
"Hmph. All you think about is women. The only thing I regret about this whole affair is Fujita Kazu. He finally reached his current level of forging skill, yet he refuses to support me.
Not only that, but he's on good terms with Mifune and the others. With his forging techniques backing them, more and more samurai in the country only listen to Mifune's orders.
As for me, the daimyo, aside from useless respect, I get nothing else. This change truly makes me uneasy."