“Did you see that?”
“I did. Keisha died because he lacked strength, but Brother Neiki could make Kado listen because he had enough power!”
“You saw why Keisha died, but do you see why Kado is still alive?”
“Uh…”
“Because he has value.”
A regular person having value? Hanabi couldn’t comprehend that.
Brother Neiki left again, and this time, he didn’t take little Hanabi with him.
However, this experience made Hanabi realize the truth that strength determines everything.
Brother Neiki quickly resolved the problem that over 50,000 people on the island couldn’t solve, the issue that even Inari’s stepfather, Keisha, couldn’t solve even with his life. If that doesn’t explain everything, what does?
For the first time, Hanabi felt a strong motivation to become stronger.
Brother Neiki didn’t take her this time clearly because she wasn’t strong enough.
Only by becoming stronger could she help Brother Neiki.
Only by becoming stronger could she stay by Brother Neiki’s side.
Only by becoming so strong that one day, her strength might even surpass Brother Neiki’s…
Hanabi shyly smiled, thinking about what might happen when she surpassed Neiki.
In the simple logic of survival of the fittest, crafted by Neiki’s theory that strength determines everything, being stronger than Neiki would naturally mean she could take the lead in their relationship. It would mean she could demand some not-too-excessive things from him.
For example, I asked Neiki to hold her while she slept.
For example, I would demand that Neiki teach her in person instead of using clones.
Or other similar things.
When everyone around her—her parents, sister, and everyone else—had turned monstrous and menacing, and Hanabi couldn’t find a way to escape, it was Neiki, like a beam of light shining into hell, who took her away from that terrifying place.
Though Hanabi was asleep when Neiki carried her away from the family manor, she distinctly remembered the moment her nightmare turned into a sweet dream, surrounded by Neiki’s scent.
It felt like this scent forcibly changed her nightmare, allowing her to relax. This is why Hanabi especially clung to Neiki.
It had been raining for several days.
Neiki hadn’t returned.
Hanabi was no longer excited by the novelty of the Land of Waves. The continuous rain and Neiki’s absence dampened her enthusiasm for going out.
These days, besides sitting under the eaves watching the rain and waiting for Neiki, Hanabi spent her time in the training ground practicing Gentle Fist and the taijutsu Neiki taught her.
“Eight Gates: Gate of Opening, Open!”
Green steam surrounded Hanabi, but soon, she was panting heavily, and the green steam vanished.
Although she could only maintain the Gate of Opening for a few seconds, it was still a significant improvement. She could now open it steadily.
This was a taijutsu recorded in the Forbidden Scroll. Neiki had told Hanabi that once she mastered the Eight Gates, he would reward her, which was her main motivation for practicing this taijutsu.
“Bang, bang, bang!”
The door knocked, and Pochi, the dog, barked. Hanabi thought Neiki had returned and ran to open the door.
“Brother Neiki, I missed you—” Her excited tone abruptly stopped.
It wasn’t Neiki at the door but Inari, who was holding an umbrella and looking a bit awkward.
“That voice…”
“What are you doing here?” Hanabi coldly interrupted, returning to her usual tone.
Regardless of age, girls have an amazing ability to shift focus and salvage their image.
Inari bit his lip. After their argument that day, they hadn’t reconciled. But after Keisha’s death, although he didn’t want to admit it, he had lost.
Keisha… wasn’t much, after all.
Trying to stay calm, he said, “I’m here to take Pochi home.”
“Pochi, come here!”
Pochi excitedly jumped into his owner’s arms.
Hanabi’s expression turned sour. With Pochi gone, the courtyard would feel even lonelier.
“Take him away quickly. I’ve been wanting to get rid of this stupid dog for a while.” She lied through her teeth.
But Inari clearly had more reasons to be there than just picking up his dog. After a moment, he said, “You were right.”
“Right about what?” Hanabi was puzzled.
“Begging for peace doesn’t work. Only strength decides everything,” Inari repeated Hanabi’s words and took a deep breath. “What can’t be achieved through negotiation must be taken by the sword.”
If only Keisha had understood this sooner… Inari thought.
“Oh, right… good.” Hanabi nodded blankly, her mind filled with Inari’s words about negotiations and swords.
What a cool line…
“So, I’ve decided to join the Hidden Sword Village and become a ninja!” It sounded like both a declaration and a farewell. Hanabi suddenly looked up after five or six seconds.
Become a ninja?
“Hidden Sword Village?” Hanabi had never heard of this village.
“Yes, it’s a newly established village in the Land of Waves,” Inari nodded, taking out a notice.
The notice, issued by the Daimyo of the Land of Waves, read:
Considering the increasingly complex and dangerous international environment, the Land of Waves has established the Hidden Sword Village to form its ninja force, ready to face future potential crises in the ninja world.
“Why not call it the Hidden Wave Village?” Hanabi asked, thinking it was a strange name.
Inari scratched his head, not knowing. Perhaps “Sword Ninja” sounded better than “Wave Ninja.”
But that didn’t matter.
“Kado has been getting worse, constantly raising shipping fees and often breaking our boats. We can’t stand it anymore…” Inari explained the recent hardships faced by the people of the Land of Waves. The reality was even more exaggerated than his words.
The shipping fees from Kado’s company tripled in just a few days. Fewer people went to sea, and more used private boats, but when Kado destroyed all the island’s boats yesterday, the people of the Land of Waves had enough.
For the many fishermen of the Land of Waves,
Boats were like bowls.
How could they eat without bowls?
Kado’s ruthless methods, coupled with Keisha’s death, reignited the people’s buried anger.
Attempts to negotiate with Kado failed.
Pooling money to hire rogue ninjas to assassinate Kado was impossible!
Traveling to Konoha to commission a mission, they were turned away!
No one else could be relied on, and they were helpless. What else could they do?
They had to become strong themselves!
The newly established Hidden Sword Village quickly became popular, partly thanks to Kado’s actions.
Hanabi didn’t realize that her previous question had been answered inadvertently.
Why was Kado still alive?
Because he had value.
He was the target of the people of the Land of Waves.
After training at the Hidden Sword Village, many aimed to return as heroes, driving away Kado and restoring peace. This had become a common goal for the oppressed people of the Land of Waves.
“The ninja tests at Hidden Sword Village are strict but free. Do you want to try?” Inari said, petting Pochi. “Whether you pass or not, they’ll still teach you their training methods for free.”
“Once you’re skilled enough, you can always join the Hidden Sword Village later.”
“The only drawback is the side effects of the test.”
“Your eyes might hurt for a few days.”
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