In the present moment...
As Tuziku gazed at the old man's pitiful state, it was impossible for him to suppress his emotions.
Still in restraints, Tuziku's dreadful gaze revealed his exact thoughts.
"How could you do something so awful to your own grandfather, Nēgus?!" Tuziku snapped.
Nēgus chuckled.
"You should be focusing more on your current situation."
"After all, I intend on having you punished as well for that disrespectful mouth of yours!" He smirked.
"I see..."
Suddenly—
FWOOOOOOO!!
A gust of violent wind erupted from Tuziku's body.
"HAAAAAAAA!!" he screamed.
Then—
SNAP!
The restraints binding his limbs suddenly snapped.
Nēgus stepped back in utter disbelief.
Tuziku rose to his feet and slowly began approaching Nēgus.
"I had already planned on kicking your ass for what you did to Prīōra!"
"But this—this gives me even more of a reason to beat the crap out of you!"
Tuziku clenched his fist as he began charging toward Nēgus.
"NĒGUS!!"
Suddenly, Nēgus raised a hand.
"MEN!"
FWOOSH!
An arrow of compressed wind flew across Tuziku's face, bringing him to an abrupt halt.
Nēgus glared at him.
"Tch!"
"It seems you actually managed to learn the Hakashi Technique to a certain extent."
"But... have you already forgotten?"
He smirked.
"You're up against the entire Hakashi Tribe!"
"Every single person in this village—from the moment they were born—has been learning the ways of our sacred Technique!"
"And I'm the Chief of these powerful individuals."
Nēgus burst out laughing.
"You think you can defeat me in my own village?!" he snapped.
"MEN—"
"Capture this intruder at all costs!"
"Use force if deemed necessary!"
"YES, CHIEF!" the men shouted in unison.
Suddenly, they began swarming Tuziku in an attempt to capture him.
As the men surrounded Tuziku, bows and arrows formed from concentrated wind as they aimed toward him.
"There's nowhere to run, kid!" Nēgus shouted.
As Tuziku gazed at the men circling and closing in on him, he thought to himself:
Does he intend on using the villagers as a shield?
Or...
Is he trying to test my strength?
Either way...
FWOOSH!
THUD!
Tuziku leapt high into the air and landed on the rooftop of one of the villagers' homes.
I don't intend on harming the villagers!
They simply got caught up in Nēgus' scheme.
"HE'S TRYING TO GET AWAY!" one of the men shouted.
"SHOOT HIM DOWN!"
They took aim—
Then fired.
Countless wind arrows rained down on Tuziku as he desperately leapt from roof to roof in an attempt to evade them.
"Men, I am not your enemy!" Tuziku pleaded.
"Silence, you criminal!" Nēgus interrupted as he stood nearby, observing the scene.
"You are an Underdog who came here and managed to trick the old man into teaching you the Hakashi Technique with the help of that traitor Prīōra, as well as that swordsman brat!"
"That undoubtedly makes you an enemy of our tribe!" Nēgus explained to Tuziku as he continued evading the rain of arrows that followed him.
As Tuziku leapt from roof to roof, he thought to himself:
Damn it!
At this rate—
I'll be forced to take action against the villagers!
"Damn it!" he shouted in frustration.
"MEN!"
"Do not let him escape! Capture him at all costs!" Nēgus ordered with a smirk.
The men began chasing after Tuziku.
Tuziku came to a sudden halt, then—
THUD!
He jumped off the rooftop of one of the houses.
He let out a huge sigh as he scratched his head.
"I really didn't want to fight you people..."
"But it seems you're not going to simply step aside and allow me to beat the crap out of your so-called Chief!"
Tuziku took his stance and raised his fists.
"I guess I have no choice then."
"Come at me!"
His expression hardened.
"Hey, hey, hey..."
Nēgus stepped forward.
"You don't honestly believe that you even stand a chance against dozens of Hakashi users...?"
Tuziku glared at him in silence, his fists still raised.
"Very well!" Nēgus smirked.
"MEN!"
"Capture him at once!" he ordered.
The wind bows the men carried in their hands vanished as they began approaching Tuziku.
"OHH?"
"SO YOU THINK YOU STAND A CHANCE AGAINST ALL OF US?!" one of the men shouted as they slowly approached Tuziku.
"No, I don't believe that I can defeat all of you..."
"But I intend on beating your Chief to the ground at all costs!" Tuziku grinned.
"So, if you still wish to interfere... then come at me already!" he taunted.
"WHY YOU LITTLE—"
The men charged toward Tuziku.
However, at that exact moment—
"Ahhhhhh!"
Kutcher and Prīōra came falling from the sky.
FWOOOOOOOOSH!!
THUD!
"Owwww!!"
Kutcher fell and landed on his back.
"Did you really have to let me fall, Prīōra?"
TAP!
Meanwhile, Prīōra safely landed on her feet.
"Kutcher, Prīōra!" Tuziku exclaimed.
"What are you guys doing here?" he asked.
"Because you're our Captain, obviously! Why else would we be here?!" Kutcher replied as he got up from the floor.
"Tuziku..." Prīōra turned toward him.
"You can go on ahead and deal with Nēgus. Kutcher and I will deal with the villagers!"
"Prīōra..." Tuziku mumbled.
Kutcher walked over and stood beside her as they turned their attention toward the villagers.
Suddenly, Nēgus stepped forward.
"Ah... my foolish little sister... as well as the swordsman brat!"
"How nice of you to save me the trouble of having to look for you two."
He let out a grin.
"Should you really be focusing on them right now, Nēgus?"
Tuziku slipped past the men and bolted toward him.
Tuziku swung his fist.
Suddenly—
SMACK!
Nēgus simply caught his fist in the palm of his hand.
"You're underestimating me, brat!"
"My abilities far surpass even the old man's!" he smirked.
"We'll find out soon enough!" Tuziku clapped back.
Meanwhile, Kutcher and Prīōra faced off against the countless villagers surrounding them.
"Guys, please!"
"We don't want to hurt you!" Prīōra pleaded.
"THAT'S A DAMN SHAME..." one of the men said.
"BECAUSE WE HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF HURTING YOU!!" he shouted.
Kutcher immediately grabbed the hilt of his sword.
"Kutcher, wait!" Prīōra said as she stopped him from drawing his sword.
"If you use your sword, you could fatally wound one of them," she reasoned.
"Then what the hell am I supposed to do?" Kutcher asked.
Her expression hardened.
"For now, you stay out of this..."
"I'll try and talk some sense into them!"
Kutcher took a few steps back.
"If you say so."
"AND EXACTLY HOW DO YOU INTEND ON TALKING SENSE INTO US, MISS?!" one of the men asked.
Prīōra wore a confused expression.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"We Hakashi members only know how to talk using our fists..."
She smirked.
"I intend to have a nice, long conversation with all of you!"
The villagers glared at her.
CHAPTER 59 END!