A young samurai, dressed in a dark blue samurai uniform, with a long sword at his waist and a stern, resolute face, strode over.
His sharp gaze, like that of a hawk, locked onto Naruto, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.
Just now, this young samurai had witnessed Naruto's inhuman speed and terrifying destructive power with his own eyes.
Killing a Kabane with bare hands?!
This completely exceeded his understanding of "humans."
In this apocalypse, where Kabane rampage and people live in fear, any unknown entity with terrifying power could be a huge threat!
Especially since he, as a guard, was not present just now and almost let Ayame die at the hands of a Kabane, which made him even more wary and distrustful of this "strong individual" who suddenly appeared and usurped his duty.
"Lord Kurusu!" A samurai tried to dissuade him.
Kurutsu was unmoved. He stood in front of Ayame, separating her from Naruto, his voice carrying an undeniable command: "Lady Ayame, please step back! This person's origin is unknown, his power is strange, and he is definitely not a benevolent being!"
"Appearing suddenly in such a place, and coincidentally during a Kabane attack—it's too much of a coincidence! I must apprehend him for questioning!
"Kurusu! Don't be rude!" Ayame frowned, wanting to stop him, "He just saved me!"
"Protecting your safety is my duty! Any potential danger must be eliminated!"
Kurutsu did not budge. In his eyes, there was only absolute devotion to Ayame's safety and deep apprehension towards Naruto.
He decided to strike first!
"Surrender, you suspicious fellow!"
Kurutsu roared, moving as fast as the wind!
As the most elite samurai of the Yatsushiro family, his sword-drawing technique had reached perfection!
With a flash of light, the sharp blade, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air, went straight for Naruto's right shoulder.
This strike was swift, precise, and ruthless, embodying his pride as a samurai and his resolve as a guard!
However, in Naruto's eyes, the speed of this strike was—too slow.
Too slow, too weak.
There was no need to dodge at all.
"!"
The sharp blade came before him, but Naruto neither dodged nor flinched. He extended his right hand, using his index and middle fingers to casually pinch the blade, then twisted his wrist. With a crisp "ding," the meticulously forged samurai sword broke.
"What?!"
Kurutsu's heart trembled violently!
He had never seen anyone truly catch a bare blade, let alone his own drawing slash, and then break a sword that could cut through iron like mud with bare hands.
However.
Breaking the samurai sword was just the beginning.
Naruto flicked his hand back, launching the broken blade with two fingers. It was so fast it looked like a streak of white light cutting through the air, instantly piercing Kurutsu's right shoulder and embedding itself with a "thud" into the armor of the "Kotetsu Castle" train behind him.
The armor was indestructible, specially built to cover the Kotetsu Castle and withstand Kabane attacks.
Logically, not to mention swords, even more powerful steam could not penetrate this layer of armor, yet it was pierced by a broken blade, deeply embedded within it.
At the same time, Kurutsu felt an irresistible force erupt from his right shoulder!
It wasn't the sting of the blade, but a terrifying impact, like being hit by a high-speed steam locomotive.
"Ugh—!"
Kurutsu grunted, his entire body uncontrollably lifted off the ground!
He hadn't even seen how Naruto attacked. The samurai sword in his hand flew out, spinning in the air and embedding itself into a distant wooden post.
"Bang!"
Kurutsu fell heavily onto the hard platform several meters away, raising a cloud of dust.
He felt half his body go numb, a sharp pain in his shoulder bone, and his vision darkened. He struggled to get up but found his body wouldn't obey, so he could only curl up in pain.
The entire process, from drawing the sword to being sent flying, took less than a second!
A deathly silence fell over the surroundings, broken only by the hiss of cooling steam pipes and the distant puffing of the Kotetsu Castle.
All the samurai stood as if under a spell, their palms sweating cold around their steam guns.
Their strongest guard captain was instantly defeated by this blonde young man?
He didn't even last one move?
Naruto stood in place, clapping his hands as if merely dusting them off.
He looked at Kurutsu, who was struggling in pain on the ground, his brow slightly furrowed, his tone carrying a detachment and coldness unbefitting his age: "I saved your lord from a life-or-death crisis, yet you not only showed no gratitude but, due to your dereliction of duty and incompetence, harbored jealousy and anger, then slandered me and even drew your sword against me. Is this the way of the samurai of the Yatsushiro family?!"
"To only cripple one of your arms now is already my mercy, and it is also for the sake of Miss Ayame. If there is a next time, the broken blade will pierce more than just your shoulder."
Naruto's words were deafening.
They filled Kurutsu, who was curled up on the ground, with shame and humiliation.
Being "instantly defeated" by Naruto was one thing, but having his innermost thoughts exposed made Kurutsu feel utterly ashamed to face his lord.
Ayame finally recovered from her extreme shock.
She quickly ran to Kurutsu, knelt beside him, and checked his injuries. At the same time, she looked up at Naruto, her eyes full of apology and gratitude: "Mr. Naruto! I am so sorry! Kurutsu, he was just—just too worried about my safety! Please forgive his rudeness!"
She turned to the samurai next to her and commanded: "Quick! Take Kurutsu to the infirmary!"
Two samurai, as if waking from a dream, hurried forward to help the almost unable-to-stand Kurutsu.
Supported, Kurutsu struggled to lift his head, his gaze at Naruto filled with disbelieving horror and deep defeat, but his loyalty and vigilance towards Ayame had not disappeared, only transformed into a deeper apprehension.
He knew he had completely lost.
But Kurutsu felt Naruto was even more dangerous.
"Ayame—Lady, this person is extremely dangerous—" He struggled to utter a few words.
"I know, Kurutsu."
Ayame's voice was gentle yet firm.
"But just now, he saved my life. I trust my judgment. You go get treated first."
She stood up, straightened her attire, and bowed deeply to Naruto: "Thank you again for saving my life, Mr. Naruto."
"And please forgive our offense."
"These are difficult times, with Kabane rampant, and we must be cautious. If you have no immediate destination, I wonder—would you be willing to temporarily stay at Kotetsu Castle?"
"Your strength might be able to help more innocent people."
[Main Quest: Ayame's Invitation]
[Quest Content: Accept Ayame's request, temporarily stay in Kotetsu Castle, and protect the residents of this Kotetsu Castle]
[Quest Reward: 20 experience points, 3 exchange coupons, Steam Engine Key * 1]
[Hidden Quest: The End of the Railway]
[Quest Content: Escort Kotetsu Castle to Ayame and the others' destination—Kongo-Ikoma]
[Quest Reward: Evaluation based on completion]