If we get 350 Powerstones by the end of the week, I will upload 2ch/day for the next week.
"That's great!" Yahiko laughed excitedly.
The Akatsuki was growing, and more and more people shared their ideals. Though everything was just beginning, Yahiko felt as if he could already see the light of victory.
The ninja and samurai stood solemnly before Haruki and his companions.
Haruki reached out his hand. Rika, shrinking her massive body, bowed slightly before Haruki, allowing Haruki's hand to touch her forehead.
Uh…
Haruki wasn't even sure if that counted as Rika's forehead. It was just the part above her eyes and mouth.
"Yuta…"
Rika let out a lingering, childlike voice.
Haruki smiled and encouraged her, "You've worked hard, Rika, go back and rest."
"It's not hard!"
"Not hard at all!"
Rika's voice grew sharp.
Haruki nodded. "Mm-hmm."
Rika truly was a good Cursed Spirit.
Rika's body gradually transformed into a dense black mist, slowly flowing like a small stream into Haruki's ring. After Rika's body disappeared, Haruki clearly noticed the ninja and samurai sighing in relief. The oppressive feeling Rika brought was suffocatingly powerful.
"If we want to change the current situation in Nibi no Utsu, we must start with the merchants."
From the crowd in front of Haruki, a steady middle-aged ninja stepped out.
In the Ninja World, it was a rare thing for an ordinary ninja to live to middle age.
"I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Jizo Muramasa."
Muramasa looked at Haruki and continued, "Those merchants don't care whether the world is at war or at peace, all they care about is money. Sometimes, they even become instigators of war, all for the sake of accumulating more wealth."
"If we want to save Nibi no Utsu, we must kill these people or drive them out."
"But that's very difficult." Muramasa said, word by word.
"I know you are Hanzo's student, and your strength is great. But most of these merchants are powerful and influential. They spend large sums of money to bribe the Daimyo, privately supporting powerful samurai and ninja to serve as tools for their enrichment."
"Besides us, these merchants often support ninjas who don't easily make a move. These ninjas are all Jonin level, not easy to deal with."
Muramasa shook his head at Haruki, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
Traitors like them would be eliminated by the Jonin supported by those merchants.
"Then let's wait for them to come to us." Haruki glanced at Muramasa, his gaze searching for the innkeeper.
Muramasa frowned slightly. "They are Jonin."
"I know."
Haruki pulled the innkeeper out from behind a wooden board.
He stood beside the innkeeper, staring at the innkeeper who was squatting behind the board.
"What a… what a coincidence…"
The innkeeper forced a stiff smile onto his face.
Haruki had no time for pleasantries with him. "Find a place to stay. If not, I'll kill you."
A trace of terror flashed in the innkeeper's eyes.
He immediately nodded. "Okay. I'll go find one now."
The innkeeper scrambled, stumbling, towards the un-affected inn not far away.
Haruki looked at the people behind him and said, "Get a good night's rest."
Tomorrow, the merchants of Nibi no Utsu would surely be anxious.
Muramasa exchanged glances with the people beside him and followed behind Haruki and his group.
Nagato quickened his pace and came to Haruki's side.
"Tomorrow, I will stand by your side and fight alongside you." Nagato's voice was soft but exceptionally firm, his Rinnegan gazed earnestly at Haruki.
"Good." Haruki nodded.
He didn't want to deal with anything right now, he just wanted to sleep.
Following the innkeeper, they arrived at an empty inn. There was no one inside the inn. A single wooden clog lay scattered in the lobby. It seemed everyone had been frightened away by the previous commotion. This suited Haruki perfectly.
His gaze swept lightly over the innkeeper and he turned to go upstairs.
Muramasa and his companions also followed upstairs, choosing their rooms at random on the second floor.
As soon as he entered his room, Haruki collapsed onto the bed, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
As for the others, they didn't have such strong hearts as him.
Muramasa and his group entered their rooms, but they had no desire to sleep. Just thinking about the Jonin who usually didn't even show their faces made their hearts uneasy.
They dared not close their eyes, fearing that if they closed their eyes, they would never see the sun of tomorrow again.
Haruki didn't have this worry because of Rika's presence. As soon as someone attacked him, Rika would be unable to restrain herself and appear immediately.
When Rika unleashed her power, Haruki would instantly wake up.
Before long.
Haruki and Yahiko's snores echoed through the room. Konan's breathing also gradually became steady.
Nagato closed his eyes but did not fall asleep as quickly as the other three. Haruki's words repeated over and over in his mind, lashing at him like a whip.
Tonight in Nibi no Utsu was destined to be a sleepless night.
The merchants, who were peacefully sleeping on their soft, large beds, were jolted awake by a loud noise. They opened their eyes immediately, sat up in bed, and looked around warily.
The room was empty. The moonlight crept in through the window. A familiar black shadow flashed and sat on the windowsill, casting a dark shadow on the room's floor.
The merchant's wildly beating heart instantly calmed down.
"What happened so late?" The merchant's voice echoed in the silent room.
"A young brat of no small status has come to Nibi no Utsu." The ninja's voice was icy, raising goosebumps on the merchant's skin.
"Who?"
The merchant thought of the four little brats who had caused such a stir in Nibi no Utsu during the day.
"Haruki, Hanzo, the demigod of the Ninja World's student."
"He is a Genius renowned throughout the Ninja World."
The ninja's tone was completely flat, like a speaking corpse.
The merchant felt a chill run down his spine, but he still controlled himself.
"Very strong? Then you go personally."
"You are a Jonin, you wouldn't be unable to kill even four children, would you?"
The merchant narrowed his eyes, his tone filled with deep sarcasm.
If he couldn't even do such a small thing, perhaps he should consider finding someone else.
"Hmph."
"Genius?"
"This sky has never lacked geniuses."
The black shadow vanished, leaving no trace, as if it had never been there.
The merchant exhaled and lay back down on the bed.