"That brat really doesn't know his place. Taking old dog Fujimitsu's head within a hundred days? Who does he think he is? With a useless piece of trash like him? Trying to show off in front of everyone like that... he's completely delusional."
When Saito Ze heard the news, he was practically overjoyed.
"Don't get careless," said Lady Ishimura, Saito Ze's mother. "Since Saito Tsubasa dared to make such a promise, he must have some degree of confidence. Don't forget, there's still another force inside the General's Residence. Once Saito Tsubasa inherits the general's seat, he'll gain their loyalty. They specialize in assassination. If he uses them to take that old thief Fujimitsu's head, it may not be impossible."
"Mother, you mean the ninja?" Saito Ze scoffed. "Impossible. Sure, ninja are good at assassination, but their agreement with the General's Residence is only to protect the general from assassination by other ninja. Even if they could send ninja to assassinate that old thief Fujimitsu... does Fujimitsu not have ninja of his own?"
His eyes were filled with deep contempt for Rosinante.
He had never understood it.
From childhood until now, he had always been stronger than Saito Tsubasa.
So why had their father insisted on handing all of his legacy over to Tsubasa?
How could he possibly accept that?
For reasons unknown, someone spread the news in secret.
Before long, the matter had swept through the entire military camp, stirring up endless discussion.
And most of that discussion...
Was full of doubt toward Rosinante.
General Fujimitsu was not only a samurai of immense personal strength, but also commanded thousands upon thousands of troops.
The power of the Fujimitsu domain was even greater than that of the Saito household.
To take General Fujimitsu's head within a hundred days?
How easy did that sound?
In the eyes of almost everyone, Rosinante had simply been too eager to seize power.
Too impatient.
Too reckless.
That was why he had dared to make such an outrageous promise.
But if the day came and he failed...
How would he clean up the mess?
Would he really surrender the position of general?
As for the rumors and uproar outside, Rosinante paid them no attention.
Under the witness of Captain Muto, he formally inherited the general's seat.
Afterward, he ordered everyone to return and make preparations.
Tomorrow...
He would inspect the military camp in person.
That night, while Rosinante was resting, he suddenly sensed a subtle disturbance around him.
Rosinante knew very well that the owner of this body had too many people who wanted him dead.
Even in sleep, he kept a thread of his mind constantly alert.
"Come out."
His Observation Haki detected no killing intent from the other party.
"Greetings, General," the newcomer said as he appeared and dropped to one knee. "I am from the Hatake Clan, the ninja clan bound to the Saito household by contract. We have learned that the General has inherited the general's seat, and I have come to offer my service."
Rosinante raised an eyebrow.
From the memories of this body, he knew that the Saito household had deep ties with the Hatake Clan.
In fact, the Saito Clan and the Hatake Clan had once even been distant relatives.
Back then, the Hatake Clan had still been a samurai family, not a ninja clan.
Later, after the Saito Clan rose into a regional warlord house, they signed a protection pact with the Hatake Clan, which had by then become a ninja clan.
The reason the Saito household had been able to survive for a hundred years in the Land of Fire...
Was also because the Hatake Clan had been secretly protecting them all along.
In a Naruto world where ninja moved through the shadows and dominated the battlefield, without such protection, the Saito household would have long since been assassinated by hired killers from rival forces.
One had to know...
Even an ordinary wandering rogue ninja was often stronger than a samurai.
As a regional lord, the Saito family had countless enemies.
In the underground black market, there had been more than one occasion where a bounty had been hung on the head of the Saito General.
Usually, every major force had a ninja clan backing it.
The lords needed ninja to protect their lives and interests.
The ninja, in turn, needed the resources that those forces could provide, rice, salt, iron, and other essentials.
It was, in a sense, a mutually beneficial relationship.
"The Hatake Clan, hm?" Rosinante said calmly. "Then you should know that I was targeted in an assassination attempt not long ago."
"We know," the Hatake ninja replied. "But according to the agreement between the Saito Clan and the Hatake Clan, the Hatake only protect the head of the Saito Clan, the General of the Saito Residence. It was only today, after you inherited the general's seat, that we became obligated to serve you. That said... you have truly surprised us, General. Your physical condition may still be poor, but your swordsmanship has already reached the level of a true sword master."
The relationship between the Hatake Clan and the General's Residence was one of employment.
Not strict lord and subordinate.
"I won't dwell on that matter any further," Rosinante said. "Do you know who sent those death-sworn assassins after me last time?"
"Hasn't the General already found out?" the Hatake ninja replied.
Rosinante was slightly surprised by that answer.
"Your ability to move in stealth is truly extraordinary, General. Even I failed to detect your movements directly. However, your handling of traces afterward was still lacking. Or perhaps... you simply disdained cleaning them up. But it was precisely those traces that allowed me to infer your actions."
Rosinante's lips curved faintly.
Interesting.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"I am Hatake Clan jonin, Hatake Ikko," the man replied.
"Jonin?" Rosinante's eyes narrowed in genuine surprise.
One should never underestimate a jonin.
In the ninja world, jonin were already considered true elites.
The Hatake Clan was only a small ninja clan.
A jonin was already one of the family's pillars, a core combat force.
Normally, they would never be sent out for long-term missions so casually.
In the past, the ones assigned to guard the Saito General had usually been only chunin.
"Because the Nara Clan sent a jonin last time, we were unable to protect the General and ensure his safe retreat in time," Hatake Ikko said. "That led to the old General's death on the battlefield. In addition, the clan believes the Saito household's situation has become unstable recently. So the Clan Head sent me here to personally guard the General."
"Please convey my thanks to the Hatake Clan Head," Rosinante said.
"Yes."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Rosinante asked, "By the way... do you have any methods for chakra cultivation?"
"Does the General wish to learn ninjutsu?" Hatake Ikko asked in surprise.
Although ninjutsu was undeniably powerful, ninja themselves did not enjoy particularly high social status.
Many people believed ninja were nothing more than mercenary killers who cared only for money.
As long as the price was right, they would even kill fellow ninja.
That was why, in terms of status, ninja were often looked down upon.
Even samurai, despite their own limitations, were still regarded more highly.
So for Rosinante, the noble General of the Saito household...
Why would he ever want to cultivate ninjutsu and become part of a profession so often despised?
"I have no interest in ninjutsu itself," Rosinante replied. "But I do have some interest in chakra. If it's convenient, I'd like to take a look."
Hatake Ikko nodded.
"This is the basic method for chakra cultivation."
As he spoke, he took out a scroll and handed it over to Rosinante.
It was only the most basic chakra training method.
Not some secret technique.
There was nothing particularly sensitive about it.
Besides...
The Saito Clan and the Hatake Clan had once shared a connection.
But ever since the Hatake Clan had become ninja, the Saito family had gradually begun to look down on them.
Though it was rarely said aloud...
The Hatake Clan could feel it.
So in truth, Hatake Ikko was almost eager for Rosinante to cultivate chakra and become one of the same kind.
If that happened...
Then the Saito Clan would never again have the right to look down on the Hatake Clan.
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Note: We have seen the disappointment in the readers on this new volume, but rest assured it will be short and will end very soon, and we'll be back to One Piece!