"The weather is really nice today." Kojiro opened the window and sighed.
He turned and went downstairs, leaving the inn where he had long resided.
He had clearly noticed the changes in the streets today. The refugees' eyes were filled with curiosity and terror. They gazed in the same direction, muttering to themselves.
The shop owners nearby all had grim expressions, as if someone owed them a fortune.
Seeing their faces, as black as the bottom of a pot, Kojiro couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
These owners had probably never expected last night's assassination attempt to fail, did they?
The figures of those four young people appeared in Kojiro's mind. His lips curved as he quickened his pace, heading in a certain direction.
— — —
By the time Kojiro arrived, he only saw a pile of rubble. The inn had collapsed as if made of paper, with no one around.
Kojiro looked around.
Just then, a commotion sounded from an inn located northeast of the ruins. Kojiro's gaze fixed on that inn and right at that moment, a familiar figure walked out.
Yahiko waved at Kojiro.
"We're here!"
Kojiro smiled and walked towards the inn.
The inn owner sat on a chair with a bitter expression, looked up at Kojiro, then quickly lowered his head again.
Kojiro went upstairs, where he saw Yahiko waiting for him at the top of the stairs. As he reached the top of the stairs, a faint smell of blood permeated the air.
Kojiro quickly fixed his gaze on the roof. The smell of blood seemed to be coming from there.
"Where's Haruki?" Kojiro asked, ruffling Yahiko's hair.
Yahiko tidied his hair with an annoyed hand. He had just finished styling it.
Seeing his expression, Kojiro burst into laughter.
"Haruki is sleeping. He was very tired yesterday, let him rest well." Yahiko said in a mature tone.
Kojiro glanced at him, and at that moment, the sliding wooden door was pulled open from within.
Haruki stood at the door, yawning. He had slept well last night and felt refreshed after waking up.
Yahiko and Kojiro's conversation had already reached his ears.
"Come in." Haruki said to Yahiko and Kojiro.
They took their seats in the living room.
Kojiro got straight to the point. "I'm here to fulfill my promise."
Yahiko's eyes immediately lit up. Of course, he hadn't forgotten what Kojiro had said.
Haruki extended his hand to Kojiro. "Welcome to our ranks."
Kojiro grasped Haruki's hand, a smile on his face.
After releasing his hand, Haruki said to Kojiro, "You're not the only one joining us."
Kojiro raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Seeing this, Yahiko proudly puffed out his chest and said, "Most of the ninjas and samurai who attacked us last night have also joined our team."
Kojiro smiled with satisfaction. "To be able to turn enemies into like-minded friends, it seems my choice was not wrong."
Yahiko also smiled.
"What are your plans next?" Kojiro's gaze primarily rested on Haruki.
Haruki was different from Yahiko. He gave Kojiro the impression of a steady adult. Kojiro knew that asking Yahiko about these matters would likely yield no results.
"To change the current situation of Nibi no Utsu." Haruki said.
"How will you change it? This isn't an easy task. Do you have any ideas?" Kojiro asked.
Yahiko looked at Haruki blankly. He shared the same confusion as Kojiro. Although they had already recruited many companions, Yahiko had no idea what to do next.
"Confiscate the ill-gotten gains of the rich and provide relief to the starving refugees. Recruit like-minded ninjas and eliminate those who stand in our way." Haruki stated simply.
Kojiro chuckled. "Although the remaining ninjas in Nibi no Utsu are few, their strength is definitely considerable. Can you defeat them?"
"I can."
Haruki said to Kojiro, "No matter when, one should never boost others' morale and diminish one's own, right?"
Nibi no Utsu was, after all, just a border region of a small country. Overly powerful ninjas would not appear here.
Haruki's crows had already spread throughout Nibi no Utsu. If there were powerful and irresistible enemies, he would definitely run away.
Ideals are precious, but life is even more so.
Kojiro deeply agreed with Haruki's words. For a ninja, even if they are outmatched in strength, they must not lose the will to fight. Such a person is a true coward.
"Yahiko, go call Muramasa and the others over." Haruki looked at Yahiko and said.
"Okay."
Yahiko immediately jumped up and rushed out the door.
Soon, the sound of dense footsteps approached.
Yahiko and a large group of ninjas and samurai appeared at the door.
"Everyone, please come in." Haruki said to them with a smile.
Once everyone entered the room, it immediately became cramped, with the ninjas and samurai pressed tightly together.
Muramasa and Kojiro exchanged glances, then smiled.
"Muramasa."
"Kojiro."
The two shook hands, then both looked at Haruki.
Although the blond-haired boy always became excited and fervent when speaking of ideals, Muramasa and Kojiro both knew that Haruki was the one truly making decisions.
"We're going to act soon. Are you ready?" Haruki looked at them and said.
Muramasa's face was blank, and the expressions of the ninjas and samurai behind him were identical.
Act on what?
What were they going to do?
Not only them, but even Yahiko didn't know what Haruki's first step would be.
"First, we will publicize our ideals in the most populous areas of Nibi no Utsu, to see how many people in Nibi no Utsu are willing to support us and join us."
"These people who support and join us will be the first wave of strength we mobilize."
"Second, we need to distinguish between our own people, the neutral faction, and the hostile faction."
"For our own people, we must protect them, provide them with food and work. They will be an important force in upholding our ideals in the future."
"For the neutral faction, we will not act against them for now, allowing them to remain neutral."
"For the hostile faction, we must crack down severely. Distribute their ill-gotten gains to our own people, imprison them, and educate them."
The experiences of predecessors were laid out before Haruki, and he spoke fluently, without the slightest hesitation.