A special thank you to my patrons:
—Cain, Shahzaam, kevin Williams, Jose Carrillo, Jose Sierra, Silver, ManyEB, Zhandos Kauzhanov, Vora, kurtis newman, 66835, Alex Rushing, Fredrik Dahlman.
ad 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Although it was already autumn, the nights in Kirigakure were not too cold.
The wind blowing in from the sea carried the scent of the ocean, filling the entire village with a maritime atmosphere.
However, inside the village itself, the scene was completely different.
Villagers walked with their heads down, carrying their fishing gear as they hurried past. Almost every face bore an expression of dejection.
Kirigakure's lockdown had stripped these people, who relied on fishing for their livelihood, of their means of survival. The "premium catches" they usually brought in had now become their own food.
Eating delicious fish, their hearts were bitter.
After all, these things would have been money in normal times.
As for selling them in the Land of Water... the Land of Water had its own fishermen too.
It wasn't just the ordinary villagers; even some ninja appeared listless.
Underappreciated, forced to carry out missions they detested—especially those involving killing former comrades, even civilians—the sense of powerlessness and guilt had left them numb, like walking corpses.
There was only one way to change this powerless situation—to grovel.
No matter what, they had to make Igawa Bu happy.
Many knew how to grovel, but not everyone could steel their hearts for it, because the condition for doing so might be killing their own clansmen.
Those ninja who, in their quest for favor, were even willing to offer up their wives and daughters exhibited a unique "talent" in this regard.
They became outcasts in the village, but in turn, they gained power.
A wife lost could be replaced. A father lost...
Igawa Bu was their true father!
Umoku, one of the foremost among them, had thrived in Kirigakure thanks to his exceptional skill at "groveling."
He wasn't satisfied, but he saw no other way.
"Obedience" was a prerequisite, but "obedience" alone wasn't enough. After all, when sent on missions, one still needed actual ability.
He had "groveled" his way from Genin to Chūnin, which was already his limit.
Moreover, shameless people weren't limited to just him.
The profession of "clinging to the powerful" was also quite "competitive."
Leaving the tavern, Umoku felt a bit dizzy. After walking a few steps, he felt an urgent need to relieve himself, so he stood in front of a house's doorway and began urinating.
The people inside immediately turned off their lights, pretending not to know he was there.
Umoku was amused.
He saw that the one who turned off the light was a woman, and judging by the silhouette, she had a figure that could drive a man wild.
As for her looks... ahem, once the lights were off, all faces were the same.
Umoku was just about to move on when a faint, refreshing fragrance drifted into his nostrils, instantly sobering him up a bit. His gaze immediately shifted towards the direction of the scent.
A girl with long, flowing hair wore a white yukata. One arm carried a bamboo basket filled with vegetables. She walked with a lightness reminiscent of a delicate butterfly.
Just then, a sea breeze picked up, lifting the hem of her yukata and revealing pale, slender legs.
The girl hurriedly held down her yukata. In that brief moment, Umoku caught a glimpse of her face.
Fair, pure, like a flower bud about to bloom, inviting endless fantasy.
Though her figure seemed quite ordinary, the girl wasn't very old; there was still room for growth.
The girl crouched to pick up some vegetables that had fallen on the ground. The exquisite curve of her back entranced Umoku, immediately pushing all other thoughts from his mind.
Women could be found anytime, but a girl this pure was rarely seen.
With that face, given another five years, she might become another Mei Terumī. But by then, she certainly wouldn't be within his reach.
Umoku licked his lips. Watching the girl stand up, he quietly followed her.
Passersby on the street, seeing Umoku, quickly avoided him, simultaneously feeling concern for the girl.
The girl, however, seemed unaware she was being followed, stopping and starting along her way until she entered a narrow alley.
This alley was messy, leading directly to the slums and a garbage-strewn lane. But for Umoku, this was the perfect "crime scene." After all, no matter how loud the cries for help, they couldn't reach the main road.
Upon entering the alley, the girl seemed to realize someone was tailing her. She hurriedly quickened her pace.
Umoku's lips curled into a smile. He liked women who put up a fight.
After passing through several side lanes, one after the other, they entered the garbage-filled lane.
Both sides of the path were piled high with trash; even the road itself was littered with refuse.
Umoku, careless for a moment, suddenly slipped and fell.
Cursing, he stood up, ready to catch up with the girl again, only to find the path ahead empty. Nothing but garbage. The girl was gone.
"This... where did that girl go?" Umoku fumed with anger.
And also, how had he slipped?
Umoku looked down and saw a patch of ice on the ground.
'Wait... that's a joke. How could there be ice this season?' Umoku knocked his head.
Water, it must be water...
He bent down and touched the "wet spot" on the ground.
Ice-cold... it was ice.
Instantly, a chill ran down Umoku's spine.
A "Kekkei Genkai"!
"A girl? Are you talking about me?"
A gentle, soft voice suddenly came from behind Umoku.
He whirled around. The girl from before stood there, her eyes narrowed into a smile as she looked at him.
"You... when did you get behind me?" Umoku asked.
"Just when you slipped... Oh, by the way, big brother, there's something I'd like to ask you," the girl said.
"Wh-what is it?"
"I heard... I came from the Land of Water to find my sister, but she's moved. Could you tell me where she lives now?" The girl blinked, a pitiful expression on her face that inspired sympathy.
Umoku swallowed hard. "You... you ask."
The girl suddenly moved close to Umoku. The fragrance wafting from her made his heart race.
"My sister's name is Akimoto Ruri. Can you tell me where she lives now?" The girl's voice was very soft, whispering in his ear.
"How do you know about her?" Umoku suddenly shouted, but then realized they were too far from the village's main road. No matter how loud he yelled, no one would hear.
He tried to draw a kunai, only to find his hands had lost all feeling at some point.
A layer of ice spread across the ground, freezing his body in place.
"How's the feeling of being drunk? No hurry. If you don't talk, I have other methods..." The girl suddenly stroked Umoku's shoulder. Frozen blood burst through blood vessels, piercing the skin.
The moment Umoku opened his mouth to scream, the girl covered it.
"I don't have time to drag this out. You tell me her current address, and I'll give you a quick death," the girl said sternly.
Umoku didn't answer.
The girl showed no mercy. In less than thirty seconds, Umoku's body was covered in ice shards formed from frozen blood.
Umoku kept shaking his head. The girl didn't give him a chance to speak until his eyes grew dim. Only then did she ask again, "Are you ready to talk now?"
"She... she... she's at..." Using his last ounce of strength, Umoku whispered Akimoto Ruri's address.
The girl memorized the address carefully, then asked another question. "Has she returned?"
"Mmm."
"What did she go out to do?"
"D-don't know..."
The girl leaned close to Umoku's ear again. "Oh, before you die, let me tell you something. I, am not a woman. I am a man. You can call me Haku."
Umoku's eyes widened in utter disbelief.
Impossible... a man? It can't be.
Blood sprayed from his mouth as he fell to the ground, his face a mask of bitter resentment.
"Now then..." Haku looked down at Umoku's body. "Time to dispose of the corpse."