After a moment of reflection, comparing the chasm of power between themselves and Mangetsu Hōzuki, Mei's face fell. She sighed, her expression filled with a sense of self-abandonment.
"Ren... I think we should just focus on how to run away," she whispered, her brow furrowed. "Even if he is a madman harboring thoughts of total destruction, we are no match for him. The Hōzuki clan's secret techniques are practically invincible in this environment."
Ren shook his head, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Mangetsu, who had already used Water Healing to stop his bleeding. The man was clearly enraged—his killing intent was cold enough to freeze the water on the floor. Yet, despite that, no system subtitles had appeared before Ren's eyes.
Realizing what this silence meant, Ren's expression turned strange. He patted Mei on the shoulder. "It's fine. I believe in you."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Mei's face flushed with confusion. Was this really the time for such words?
But Ren pointed straight at the monstrous, snarling Mangetsu and spoke with absolute trust. "Mei Terumī, you are the one who will fight him!"
Mei blinked, looking up at Ren in a daze. Did I hear him wrong? Is he messing with me? Me vs. Mangetsu? With what?!
Ren took a deep breath and spoke solemnly. "The Mist isn't my home. I don't have the standing to solve your problems from your perspective. But... I can tell you what must be done!"
Ren's gaze darkened as his voice sank. "Assassinate the Third Mizukage, overthrow the government, and seize power! That is only the first step! After that, you intimidate the Daimyo—kill him and replace him if you have to—and secure the village's finances! Then, declare war. Plunder. Shift the internal conflict outward and crush any remaining rebels with an iron fist! Perform a total purge! Build a nation that revolves around your will!"
"If you can't even do that, the status quo of the Mist will haunt you forever."
As Ren's clear voice echoed through the hall, a sudden silence fell.
Whether it was Mei, Mangetsu, or the five Hunter-nin maintaining the Kirisame technique—all of them stared at Ren in pure shock. To them, controlling the Daimyo and seizing the nation's economy was an unthinkable betrayal of the very foundation of the Shinobi world. Ninjas were tools for hire, not rulers.
"Mangetsu, kill him!" an older Hunter-nin roared from behind his mask. "Kill this treasonous maniac! If the Daimyo hears of this, it will bring ruin to the Mist! Without the Daimyo, the nation will collapse and the other four nations will tear us apart! Kill him now!"
However, Mangetsu didn't move. He simply frowned, looking at Ren. Beside him, Mei also turned to Ren, waiting to hear how he would answer that point.
The "One Country, One Village" system existed for a reason. But Ren simply sneered at the Hunter-nin. "If you were talking about the Lands of Fire, Wind, Earth, or Lightning, you'd be right. But you are the MIST! You are the Land of Water, isolated across the sea, protected by the natural fortress of the ocean!"
Everyone froze. He... he actually had a point. The Land of Water's geography was unique—rugged, mountainous, and easy to defend. If the Mist held the key ports, invading the island would be a nightmare for any other nation.
Ren looked earnestly at Mei. "You once said you had a goal for your home. You said the current system is wrong. If you love your home that much, then DO IT! Act, no matter the cost! Even if the future becomes a pile of sh*t or a field of ruins! Even if the man standing before you is a demon who wants to kill his master, he can become your strength!"
"So... this is your battle!"
Ren pointed at Mangetsu and spoke with gravity. "Since the night you declared war on me, I knew you craved the brightest stage in the Shinobi world. Right now, one of the greatest geniuses in history is standing before us. To be honest, I'm not sure I can defeat him. I might not even be able to cover your escape."
"But," Ren gripped his sword with both hands, his voice unwavering, "I will fight until my last breath to get you out of here. The choice is yours. I believe in you."
Ren knew Mangetsu still had the "Seven Swords Summoning Scroll." Once those blades came out, it was Phase 2 of a boss fight. Ren's techniques might not hurt a liquefied Mangetsu, but he didn't care.
He had a teammate. And he was ready to gamble.