Kazuma's already flushed face turned even redder.
But watching the light beams still weaving through the air, he also understood that he absolutely wasn't a match for Gekko Chizan.
"…I admit defeat…"
Even if Kazuma was unwilling, he knew he had no chance of winning.
The moment he said the words "admit defeat," Gekko Chizan's attack had already stopped.
All the crystals halted, then began to crack piece by piece, finally turning into a cloud of dust.
The defensive barriers around the arena shattered as well, then under Gekko Chizan's control slowly reformed into a statue.
As for the statue—of course it was of Gekko Chizan himself.
Seeing that statue appear, everyone's mouths twitched.
What was this supposed to mean? He won and immediately made himself a monument?
Especially the Daimyō—he had lost two of the three matches, and the only one he won was against a child still in single digits?
This blow was honestly a bit much.
His most trusted unit captain Kazuma had been completely crushed by Gekko Chizan, without even the slightest chance to fight back.
Was the ninja force he painstakingly assembled really this fragile?
"Daimyō-sama, now that the sparring is done."
"Shouldn't we enjoy a nice post-meal break?"
"I'm quite fond of the hot springs in the Daimyō's mansion. After a good soak, doing a few more rounds sounds pretty nice."
"Hahahahaha."
Gekko Chizan admired the statue he made with great satisfaction. In the Daimyō's ears, the victor's declaration was painfully grating.
But what could the Daimyō say? Gekko Chizan was the winner.
As for that damned statue… hmph, he'd just find a chance later to smash it and throw it out.
Just as that thought appeared, a notification suddenly rang in Gekko Chizan's mind.
[Ding! The system has detected that the host has awakened a brand-new method of torment—erecting a crystal statue of yourself in important locations. How utterly shameless! But this system loves it! Well done!]
[This sort of long-term disgust value… truly excellent.]
[Therefore! The system grants a special reward!]
[Reward: Crystal Release ninjutsu becomes immune to sonic destruction!]
Oh? This reward was pretty good.
Gekko Chizan knew that the greatest weakness of Crystal Release was sound waves.
With this, unless someone brute-forced it, they wouldn't be able to break it at all.
Unlike Gekko Chizan's happiness, the Daimyō was suppressing his displeasure, forcing his voice to remain calm as he said,
"Of course, Chizan-kun. Enjoy yourself."
"Yukimura, make the arrangements."
Yukimura understood the Daimyō's temperament very well, so he said nothing. He simply put on a smile and walked toward Gekko Chizan and the others.
Gekko Chizan acted as if he didn't notice the Daimyō's strange expression, cheerfully calling over the two Uchiha kids. Then, joking with Yukimura-san, he headed toward the hot spring.
Kazuma watched Gekko Chizan's departing back, clenching his fists tightly.
He knew that this failure was not only his own shame, but had also disappointed the Daimyō.
Once Gekko Chizan and the others left, the Daimyō's expression instantly changed.
But not quite in the way Kazuma imagined—the Daimyō didn't get angry. Instead, he showed a trace of sorrow.
Standing alone at the center of the arena, he muttered, "Are we truly this weak?"
"Or is Konohagakure really just filled with monsters…"
Masaki wanted to step forward and say something, but seeing the Daimyō's lost expression, he didn't know how to begin.
At that moment, Kazuma walked up, kneeling on one knee.
"Daimyō-sama, this failure is my responsibility. Afterward, I will—"
Before he could finish, the Daimyō sighed softly.
"You're not to blame. I was the one too eager for results. How many years has Konohagakure existed?"
"Even when besieged by the other four ninja villages, it never fell. The moment I saw Gekko Chizan, I understood—it's unrealistic for the Land of Fire to abolish Konohagakure."
"Ah…"
With a heavy sigh, the Daimyō turned and walked toward his residence.
Masaki followed closely after.
Only Kazuma was left standing there in a daze.
…
Elsewhere, Gekko Chizan soaked comfortably in the hot spring, drinking a bit of sake as he bathed. His expression—tsk tsk—pure bliss.
Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Shisui were also enjoying the soothing warmth. After all, after such a fierce battle—Obito's Eight Gates and Shisui's full-power exertion—they were both exhausted.
But unlike Chizan, they didn't get any alcohol; they were still kids, after all.
"Sensei, why did you make me mock them so relentlessly?"
"That was the Daimyō's personal ninja force. Won't the Daimyō hold a grudge?"
Obito wasn't the only one curious—Shisui was too.
Mocking the people on their own turf… no matter how you thought about it, it didn't seem wise.
Gekko Chizan looked utterly unconcerned. He took a sip and smiled. "So what? Haven't we been targeted enough since we arrived?"
"Tonight's matches were clearly meant to intimidate us while assessing our strength."
"If they're inferior, that's their problem."
That one line—"if they're inferior"—made Shisui lower his head at once. He was the only one out of the three who lost. It stung.
Seeing his disciple lower his head, Chizan immediately realized he had been too blunt.
"Uh, Shisui, I didn't mean you. You're still young."
"Suirai is already a grown man. If he can't even beat you, he shouldn't bother showing his face."
"Uh—right, pretend I didn't say that. Anyway, you told him to wait ten years. Beat him however you like then!"
Shisui: … Captain Chizan, please stop talking. Do you even hear what you're saying? Your "comfort" hurts more than not comforting me at all!
Obito burst into loud laughter beside him.
"But sensei, that's not what our mission is."
"The situation in the Daimyō's mansion has completely exceeded the village's expectations."
Shisui suppressed his speechlessness and spoke again.
Chizan glanced at him and replied, "Shisui, since we're already here, of course we'll complete the mission."
"But before that, we can do lots of things. For example—this. Hot springs."
"Don't ruin the mood, alright? Once we're done soaking, I'll take you to experience something every man should."
"It's always 'mission, mission.' Are you a machine? The village won't collapse without us."
"Remember, boy—you're a person, not a screw. Even if you disappear for a while, the village will keep running."
"Relax. Enjoy the hot spring."
After finishing that, Gekko Chizan closed his eyes to rest, while Obito threw an arm around Shisui.