"Who told you to kneel, Sasuke?"
Sakura Haruno's words rang in Sasuke's ears, and his bending knees instantly locked up.
Kneel?
Why was I about to kneel?
What reason was there for me to go down on my knees?
Or rather, what presence was pressing down on my shoulders, forcing me to submit?
Sasuke fell into a momentary daze.
Submitting to the Daimyo—isn't that what a ninja does?
Hasn't everyone always done this?
It wasn't just him a moment ago; even the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, known as the God of Shinobi, submitted to the Daimyo and bent the knee.
A ninja who doesn't submit to the Daimyo?
What even is that?
Sasuke's thoughts spiraled into confusion for a split second.
Yet, his instincts still compelled him to slowly straighten up and stand by Sakura Haruno's side.
Sakura looked at Karin and Shino, her eyes revealing a faint hint of disappointment.
Ninjas submitting to the Daimyo—this seemed to be the iron law of this world.
No one was allowed to violate it.
It was like this in the past, and it is like this now.
Will it remain so in the future?
Sasuke was different from the others.
Engraved in his bones was refusal—rebellion.
It was precisely because of this that, after the Fourth Great Ninja War, he wanted revolution; he wanted to change everything.
Perhaps the Sasuke of that time hadn't given much thought to the so-called Daimyo.
But it was an unavoidable factor.
Sakura believed that if the so-called Daimyo and nobles had stood in Sasuke's way back then, he would have eliminated them without the slightest hesitation.
As for Naruto...
"Very well, proceed as you have stated."
Koyuki Kazahana watched the scene coldly.
To her, whether Sakura knelt or not was of no interest whatsoever.
What did it matter if she knelt? What did it matter if she didn't?
Her own life was henceforth bound to that small palace.
Han suppressed the faint sense of danger rising within him and slowly stood up.
In that fleeting glance just now, what had he seen in this new generation shinobi from Konohagakure named Sakura Haruno?
Because Jinchuriki were sealed with Tailed Beasts from a young age, they were hypersensitive to the gazes of others.
Just now, what did he see in Sakura's eyes when she looked at Koyuki Kazahana?
Indifference.
Not indifference toward Koyuki Kazahana as a person, but indifference toward the title of the Daimyo of the Land of Snow.
It was as if asking her to kneel before a Daimyo was an insult to her.
This kind of person...
Subconsciously, Han could not associate the word "ninja" with Sakura.
After all, could a ninja who refused to kneel to a Daimyo still be considered a ninja?
Han's mind was filled with complexity, shock, and trepidation.
He didn't know why he was thinking this way, but while he feared Sakura might do something, he also faintly anticipated that she would do something.
These conflicting emotions rendered him momentarily speechless.
"Mn, that settles it."
"Pack up your things. We're leaving."
Sakura gazed calmly at Koyuki Kazahana before turning and walking away alone.
Seeing this, Sasuke instinctively followed her.
This left Karin somewhat scratching her head.
Sakura...
Is she angry?
And it feels like she's angry at me?
Did I do something wrong?
Sakura returned to the ship. Once everyone had boarded and the film crew had moved the equipment left on the shore onto the deck, they continued their journey toward the Land of Snow.
The ship from Iwagakure followed unhurriedly behind them.
Sakura leaned alone against the railing, gazing out at the endless ocean, lost in thought.
If submitting to a Daimyo is what makes someone a ninja...
Then I'd rather not be a ninja.
If one must kneel to a Daimyo to become Hokage...
Then...
Why can't the Daimyo kneel to the Hokage?
"Sakura."
Sasuke had arrived by Sakura's side at some point, looking at her with a sense of helplessness.
Just moments ago, he had intended to kneel, but in the end, he hadn't.
In that instant, he had thought about many things, but couldn't come to a conclusion.
So, he sought out the person who had caused his thoughts to become so complicated.
He hoped she could help him understand this complex confusion in his heart.
"Sasuke."
Sakura glanced back at Sasuke, her calm face no longer showing her previous distraction.
"What do you think a ninja is?"
Hearing Sakura's question, Sasuke was a bit perplexed.
However, Sasuke still answered Sakura methodically, reciting the definition Iruka-sensei had once taught him at the Academy.
"A ninja is one who uses chakra."
"Does the chakra come first, or does the human come first?"
Sakura fired the next question at Sasuke almost without thinking.
"...The human."
Sasuke hesitated slightly.
"Then, are the Daimyo and the nobles humans?"
"...Yes."
Sakura's tone held absolutely no respect or reverence for the so-called Daimyo and nobles, which left Sasuke feeling somewhat adrift.
Sakura, what is going on with her?
"Ninjas are humans. Daimyo and nobles are also humans."
"Why do we have to kneel to them?"
???
!!!
Sakura's words were too explosive for Sasuke, causing his eyes to widen involuntarily.
"I say..."
"Aren't you two afraid someone will report you for discussing such treasonous topics right here?"
"As expected of an evil Uchiha brat and an arrogant girl deeply poisoned by the Senju."
A frivolous voice drifted down from above. Hikari, having woken up, had appeared on the second-floor deck at some point, looking down imperiously at Sakura and Sasuke.
"Heh, are you going to report us?"
Sakura was already aware of Hikari's presence; after all, this guy hadn't been hiding her whereabouts.
"Are you provoking me?"
Hikari narrowed her eyes at the pink-haired girl below.
The last time she had just been dug up, she was in an extremely weakened state due to not having eaten for a long time, and as a result, she was knocked unconscious by this pink-haired girl in a moment of carelessness.
That grudge was still recorded in her little black book.
"So what if I am?"
Facing Hikari Uchiha, Sakura showed no intention of backing down.
If the other party intended to defend the so-called Daimyo and nobles...
Now that Hikari knew her true thoughts, Sakura would kill her, even if it meant draining every bit of chakra in her Yin Seal!
Because if Hikari chose that side, she would absolutely be the biggest stumbling block.
The so-called Five Kage combined posed less of a threat than Hikari Uchiha alone!
"Uh, you two, let's talk this over calmly."
"Let's just talk."
"Don't fight..."
Seeing Sakura poised to strike at Hikari Uchiha, and Hikari refusing to yield even half a step, Sasuke, caught in the middle, was completely caught off guard.
Already unskilled in these matters, Sasuke could only brace himself and try to stabilize the two girls who seemed ready to tear into each other.
One was the person for whom he held unclear sentiments.
The other was his only clansman, whom he had found with great difficulty.
Both were incredibly important to Sasuke, making it impossible for him to choose between them in that moment.
Moreover, if these two were to actually start fighting, Sasuke suspected he wouldn't even have the ability to break it up.
--
Support me & read more advance & fast update chapter on my patreon:
pat reon .com/yuuwand