As Uchiha Ci's words fell,
A sudden gust of wind blew away the mist under the moonlight, stirring the flames and causing the bonfire to roar to life.
Sparks flew, crackling and popping.
The young man's profile, illuminated by the huge full moon, was deeply etched into the eyes of the three people present.
Though wrapped in bandages, looking disheveled as if he had just escaped death after a severe injury,
The arrogantly raised corners of his mouth
Exuded a breathtaking handsomeness!
Looking at Uchiha Ci's confident smile, the brown-red-haired girl's green eyes wavered slightly, lost in a trance.
When their eyes met, it felt like being drawn into the grand vision of the boy's ideals.
But soon, she regained her composure and couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips, as if thinking of something interesting.
"Oh?"
"In that case, I acknowledge you as my rival."
"Uchiha Ci."
She narrowed her green eyes, swept the brown-red strands behind her ears, looked up at the full moon in the sky, and weighed her words.
Then, she smiled:
"Let's reintroduce ourselves. My name is—"
"Ming, Gekkō Mei." (Moonlight Ming)
"Though this might come as a shock to you, neither you nor I have yet reached the moment when we can truly stand on the ninja world's most dazzling stage."
"However,"
"As long as you still dream of becoming the world's conqueror, harboring such mad thoughts,"
"Then one day, we will meet again on the battlefield."
The girl's green eyes shone with a gentle yet serious light, but deeper within her pupils, a trace of rational and ruthless killing intent quietly flashed.
"Until then, I won't show you any mercy."
Uchiha Ci still had his Sharingan active at this moment.
He naturally caught every subtle change in the expression of this girl named 'Gekkō Mei'.
This name, this hair color, this appearance, plus this resolute will—
Uchiha Ci finally recognized her true identity.
Gekkō Mei, or rather—
Terumi Mei.
The Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure in the future!
The powerful kunoichi who mastered dual Kekkei Genkai and ended the chaotic era of the "Bloody Mist"!
Uchiha Ci almost couldn't help but laugh. Looking at Terumi Mei's cute, childish face, he nearly blurted out:
You're quite the nice one!
This inexplicable feeling of suddenly making a powerful enemy for himself, threatening to scatter his ashes to the wind—
Honestly, it was kind of thrilling.
But, can't we do this now instead of later? Promote me already!
Uchiha Ci raised an eyebrow, his tone three parts odd, three parts arrogant, and four parts displeased, as he provocatively asked:
"You, is this a declaration of war against me?"
Terumi Mei shook her head, speaking with some regret:
"Uchiha Ci, even though I watched your battle in the village and must say it was brilliant—"
"With your excellent shurikenjutsu, continuous Fire Release, and last-minute combat IQ, you'd be considered a talent even in my village."
"But I'm sorry—"
"At your current level, you are not yet my match."
"Nor are you likely a match for those stronger than me, the true geniuses among my peers."
"Konoha's Namikaze Minato, Kirigakure's Hōzuki Mangetsu, Sunagakure's missing-nin Sasori of the Red Sand, Kumogakure's Killer B—these are the ones setting the trends in the ninja world today. Their talents are even enviable to me."
Terumi Mei paused, her clear green eyes turning serious.
"You harbor such trembling ambition and bear the Uchiha name. Perhaps in the future, you can catch up from behind."
"You can consider this me declaring war on you."
"On your future self—"
"A declaration of war!"
The girl's words floated on the wind, their firm will shining brightly under the moonlight.
Hearing this, Uchiha Ci felt helpless.
As a genius of Kirigakure, Terumi Mei had likely already mastered her two Kekkei Genkai at this point. Whether it was Lava Release or Boil Release, killing his current self would be child's play.
If she showed hostility, he'd have a reason to fight her!
He could receive a lunch box and 500 million ryo in the blink of an eye and go home to enjoy happiness.
But if she didn't want to kill him now, he couldn't put a knife to her neck and force her.
However,
Uchiha Ci wasn't discouraged. He just smiled inwardly, thinking, You probably won't live to see that day.
Laughable.
He, Uchiha Ci, was about to go off himself at the Evil God Cult.
There was a whole row of knives waiting for him to stick his neck out.
You, Terumi Mei, won't even live to see the day you kill me!
Of course, he wouldn't miss this opportunity. After all, this counted as a moderate insurance, right?
Then,
Uchiha Ci looked seriously at Terumi Mei, suddenly smiled, and said confidently:
"Very well, Gekkō Mei."
"Then I'll look forward to the day you come to kill me."
"I hope that on that day, you, who try to block my charge, can bring me joy!"
However,
These words from Uchiha Ci made Terumi Mei's mind buzz.
'Look forward to', 'that day', 'charge', 'joy'—
These words automatically arranged and combined in her mind, forming a love confession that made her blush and her heart race.
Terumi Mei blinked fiercely, took a sharp breath, her clear green pupils trembling, her small white ears instantly flushing crimson.
She immediately turned her back and snorted, highly displeased:
"Do as you please. I won't be happy."
The smile on Uchiha Ci's face froze. Why are you blushing like a boiling teapot?
Bro, I just want to confirm with you the specific day you're going to kill me?
It's too late; you won't even catch my ashes.
Why suddenly act so tsundere?
Uchiha Ci shook his head, not daring to dwell on it.
He turned to look at Hidan, who had climbed up from the ground, slapped him on the shoulder, and grinned.
Then, he said seriously:
"Hidan."
"The Evil God Cult is no good. Killing everything around it won't solve the problem."
"On the contrary, for the current Land of Hot Water, the evil cult not only can't save this country—"
"It's a cancer."
"This parasite clings to the main artery of the Land of Hot Water, constantly sucking its fresh blood, kidnapping children for so-called rituals. In the end, it will only accelerate this country's decline."
"I think if you've read the books, you should understand this."
Hidan nodded heavily and immediately fell silent.
The light in his eyes seemed to vanish.
I know that, but that doesn't mean I can make the tough choice.
Because of the war, and the inaction of the Hot Water Ninja and nobles, the Evil God Cult grew rampant on this land, now an unstoppable force.
Hidan was a ninja trainee, not even a genin.
The only choice he could make was the lesser of two evils.
Looking at the now-awakened Hidan before him, Uchiha Ci smiled, pleased with his little brother's enlightenment.
The reason he said so much
Was because he was an awkward person who didn't like owing favors.
Hidan had saved him twice; he deserved repayment.
The only way to repay Hidan was to prevent him from contacting the Evil God Cult.
The Hidan before him now had read books and newspapers, had his own understanding of the ninja world, and a sharp intuition.
He could even be called smart.
The future Hidan, as crazy as that idiot, was clearly a different species.
As for the reason behind this change, Uchiha Ci could only speculate it was due to the bloody, cruel rituals of the Evil God Cult.
There was a price to pay for dealing with demons for power.
Among a large number of test subjects,
Only Hidan, tortured to madness, finally succeeded in pleasing the evil god in exchange for immortality.
He offered his brain to the future of the Land of Hot Water. After gaining power, he lost his mind, went mad, and killed all the Hot Water Ninja who raised him.
This was undoubtedly
A tragedy.
Uchiha Ci would never let this tragedy happen again.
"Stop looking so gloomy. Isn't your big brother here?"
Uchiha Ci laughed and vigorously patted Hidan's shoulder.
"Since I said I'd bring peace to this country, I'll definitely do it!"
"I'll handle what the Hot Water Ninja don't dare to!"
"I'll kill who the Hot Water Ninja don't dare to!"
"I'll destroy the evil cult the Hot Water Ninja don't dare to provoke!"
"Little brother, you just hide behind me and watch me shine!"
Uchiha Ci hugged the shoulders of Hidan, who was a head shorter, hammered his chest with a fist, and chuckled:
"That's enough."
Uchiha Ci released Hidan.
Without another word, he turned and walked forward.
"No need to see me off, Hidan. Go back to your hometown and wait for my good news there."
After speaking, Uchiha Ci raised a hand and waved farewell to the three of them.
Alone, under the grand moonlight,
Past the bonfire,
Past the three people,
He embarked on the path of lonely death.