Chapter 190 - Fujimoto Yoshio's Choice
In the hidden chamber beneath the hot spring inn
Kazane savored a cup of Mizuhano tea, gifted by Ishikawa Ken. The more he sipped, the more familiar the flavor seemed—like something he'd tasted once long ago.
Soon enough, the thoroughly "cleaned up" son of the Daimyō was invited into the chamber by the three kunoichi.
"What do you want with me...? Do you know who I am?"
The Daimyō's son, clearly born of noble stock, had regained his composure after the earlier chaos in the spring. Calmly, he sat himself down, poured a cup of tea, and took a sip—completely unbothered, as if he were the host rather than the guest.
Despite his burly exterior, the Daimyō's son was quite sharp. On the way to this room, he had already figured out who his captors were.
Within the Land of Fire, there had only ever been one major military force: the Hidden Leaf Village, now under the leadership of Orochimaru.
His guards may not have been shinobi, but they were elite samurai—his captain had even killed a Jōnin before. Yet this team had been wiped out by three women with ease.
Other than Konoha, there was no other organization in the Land of Fire capable of such a feat.
And the fact that they hadn't harmed him earlier, even in that explosive moment, meant he was still relatively safe for now.
With his life apparently not in immediate danger, he was more curious about what the man across from him—Kazane—wanted.
However, his casual attitude annoyed Kazane.
He hasn't even been granted permission to sit. Why's he acting like he owns the place? Clearly, he still doesn't get his situation.
Jiriku, having been by Kazane's side for years, immediately understood his leader's displeasure from just a slight furrow of the brow.
Without a word, Jiriku got up, walked behind the Daimyō's son, and kicked the chair right out from under him.
"Did we say you could sit?" Jiriku growled.
Bang!
"Ugh!"
The Daimyō's son, still sipping tea, never expected such hostility. The chair vanished beneath him, and his hefty frame flailed mid-air. He clumsily clawed at empty space before crashing onto the ground, his enormous belly jiggling violently and even making the room tremble slightly.
"Ah... ahhh... AHHHH!"
To make things worse, the teacup slipped from his hands and scalding tea spilled over his torso. He let out a screech like a pig being slaughtered—echoing straight into Kazane's ears.
But beneath the pained groans, a chill ran through the nobleman's heart. These people… they really would hurt me.
Maybe I should play along for now...?
"Alright, quit faking. Keep it up and I'll smack you for real."
Ten seconds passed, and Jiriku had already grown impatient. He gave the man a kick.
The tea had been sitting for five or six minutes—it was lukewarm at best. No way it scalded that bad.
As soon as Jiriku spoke, the Daimyō's son stopped screaming and stood up obediently. Mimicking the stance of his palace attendants, he respectfully stood to the side, waiting for Kazane to speak.
A wise man adapts.
Raised in nobility, Fujimoto Yoshio had received an education that prepared him for such situations. When your life hangs by a thread, you do what you must.
Even though he believed Kazane wouldn't kill him—surely he was here for something important—he dared not gamble with his life. He hadn't yet inherited his father's title. There were still pleasures in life he hadn't enjoyed. Dying now would only hand everything over to his younger brother.
Seeing him stand respectfully, Kazane nodded in approval. He lifted his teacup, took another sip, and finally asked:
"I know who you are. You should know who I am too, don't you?"
Fujimoto cautiously replied:
"You're with the Akatsuki of the Land of Rain… right?"
Sometimes, it was better to pretend ignorance than to speak the truth.
Kazane paused briefly—then chuckled.
"Heh. Hahaha! I'm not one of those rats from the Land of Rain. I'm with Konoha's ANBU. You're quite the sharp one."
Hearing this, Kazane's interest grew.
This guy's not as simple as he looks. He must have some real brains to make it this far as a Daimyō candidate.
Kazane continued:
"Do you know why I came to find you?"
"I don't."
It was the exact question Yoshio had been wondering himself. He had never offended any Konoha ninja. In fact, he had gone out of his way to avoid them to maintain political neutrality. So why had Kazane come for him?
"Don't you think the shinobi world is a bit too chaotic lately?"
"Which aspect are you referring to, sir?"
Fujimoto Yoshio's breath quickened. Combined with all the rumors he'd heard about recent events in the shinobi world, he had a vague idea of Kazane's intent.
"You're a smart man. The five great nations have been locked in deadlock for too long. Going forward, there should be only one country."
"The current Daimyō is old. I think you know what needs to be done."
These were treasonous words. As the Daimyō's son, Yoshio should have risen to chastise Kazane on the spot—but for some reason, his heart began to race with excitement.
Inhale... exhale.
He took a deep breath, slowly calming his racing heart. Straightening his back, his eyes gleamed with purpose. The air around him shifted. He now looked like a true heir to the throne.
In a calm, steady voice, he asked:
"Who are you really?"
Kazane was more intrigued than ever.
Looks like I've found a very interesting pawn.
"Hatake Kazane."
Crack.
The moment Kazane uttered his name, it was like a bolt of lightning split through Yoshio's mind. His face twisted with complex emotions—clearly undergoing a fierce internal struggle.
Finally, as if he'd come to a decision, he looked Kazane in the eye and said:
"I understand. I know what I have to do."
"Oh? Then go do it. I'll be waiting for your answer."
Kazane smiled in satisfaction, stepped aside, and gestured toward the chamber door.
Without another word, Fujimoto Yoshio turned and walked slowly toward the exit.
He knew that once he stepped through that door, his entire future might be irrevocably changed.
Without any order from Kazane, no one tried to stop him. Yoshio pushed open the door and left the way he came.
"Boss… you're just letting him go?"
Jiriku looked confused as he stepped beside Kazane.
"Let's see what he chooses to do. We'll know soon enough."
Kazane stared at the darkened doorway, lost in thought.
What will you do?
—
In a valley not far from Onsen Town
Due to geothermal activity, the landscape here stayed warm year-round. Cherry blossoms bloomed across the valley, painting it in vibrant pink.
Hiruko stood beneath a cherry blossom tree, cloaked in a wide coat, gazing absently at the petals drifting in the wind. The beautiful woman who always accompanied him approached from a distance.
"Lord Hiruko, recently Konoha's ANBU have been showing up in the town. They're likely here for us. Should we relocate?"
Breaking off a cherry branch, Hiruko murmured to himself:
"So… they've finally come."
He turned and gently tucked the blossom behind the woman's ear.
"No need. Just act like they don't exist."
And with that, he paid no mind to her pink cheeks or trembling legs. Instead, he strolled off toward a thatched hut nearby.
—
Sixty light-years from Planet Hokage, in the Firmar star system
A colossal spaceship, the size of an island, drifted through space. Inside, several humanoid creatures with four thick, powerful arms and muscular builds operated a glowing control panel.
Each of them looked like they were born for war—hulking frames, fierce eyes, and razor-sharp teeth.
With precise motions, they enlarged and shrank sections of the star map.
Not far behind them, another tall humanoid sat on a throne, overlooking them like a king.
After some time, one of the larger operators turned and addressed the figure on the throne:
"My lord, we're within 60 light-years of the target. Requesting permission to initiate spatial fold."
The figure on the throne was fiddling with a mysterious device on his wrist. It emitted streams of strange symbols—transmitting some unknown data.
Bored, he waved his hand, giving permission without a word.
These missions—eliminating newborns—he had carried out countless times across eons. From initial guilt to numb indifference, nothing stirred his heart anymore.
The tall operator relayed the order:
"Initiate spatial fold—full speed ahead!"
Swoosh!
The island-sized vessel vanished instantly, as if it had pierced through ripples in space.
—
Outside the valley of Onsen Town
The tranquil valley was disrupted by a group of uninvited guests.
"Lord Kazane, this is the place."
As the group halted, a plain-looking man approached Kazane and pointed toward the valley.
This unremarkable man was Root's local contact. His greatest strength was how forgettable he looked—average in every way.
People might pass him on the street and forget his face seconds later.
Root chose their undercover agents carefully. A ninja needed to blend in. Flashy looks had no place in infiltration.
Of course, the inn's alluring attendants each served their own specialized roles.
Kazane led the group into the valley. The moment he entered, he was struck by the view.
Cherry blossoms swirled in the air, creating a sea of pink. Amidst this scenery stood a beautiful boy, perfectly harmonizing with the idyllic surroundings.
At the sight of the boy, Kazane's instincts told him—this was Hiruko.
Tap. Tap.
Petals crunched underfoot as Kazane approached from behind.
He didn't mask his presence. Hiruko heard the footsteps, but didn't turn. He remained lost in the scenery.
"You came."
After a long silence, Hiruko finally spoke.
"I shouldn't have."
Kazane replied, a flicker of boredom in his gaze.
"But you did."
A faint smile tugged at Hiruko's lips beneath his collar.
"Let's go then."
Without another word, Kazane turned and walked away.
Hiruko followed calmly, unfazed.
Even Jiriku and the Root agent looked confused.
What were they even talking about?
Wasn't this supposed to be a battle? A capture mission? And it's done just like that?
From the nearby hut, the beautiful woman with a cherry blossom in her hair stepped out, carrying luggage, and followed Hiruko.
Though puzzled, the others followed as well.
In truth, Kazane had already guessed everything the moment he saw Hiruko waiting for him.
Hiruko came back to the Land of Fire to return to Konoha.
Even if Kazane hadn't come, Hiruko would've found a reason to reconnect.
That's why Kazane found it dull. But for Hiruko, it was a victory.
Returning home in disgrace was not the same as being invited back by the ANBU captain.
Kazane's presence proved that Orochimaru still valued him.
With that reassurance, Hiruko's worries vanished.
—
Having retrieved Hiruko and extorted a fortune from Kakuzu, Kazane had no more interest in loitering outside the village.
The more he learned about the shinobi world, the more he realized—
Konoha was the best place to live.
The other nations were either buried in sand, shrouded in mist, trapped among rocks, drowned in rain, or frozen in eternal snow. None of them were great.
But Konoha? Green hills, clear water, birdsong, and blossoms—and more importantly, friends and family.
At that thought, Kazane remembered Kakashi's search for Obito.
What's Kakashi up to now?
Hopefully Nagato would put enough pressure on him—to make him realize what true strength looks like.
Otherwise, with Kakashi's arrogance, one day he might fall to someone he'd never see coming.
After all, this world isn't just about battles—
Assassins exist too.