Logan gave the survivors three choices. Which path to take was up to them.
The survivors huddled together, quietly discussing their options. Logan didn't interfere. He simply picked up a cup of hot tea from the dining table, sat by the window, and reviewed the results of the battle.
Killing the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost had earned him 450 soul fragments. Including the fragments obtained from the Kirigakure ninja he defeated along the way, the total came to 570 soul fragments.
Logan sighed. "Still faster to collect fragments by killing famous ninja."
He had already spent 400 soul fragments to upgrade Aerosmith, which had increased both its reconnaissance range and firepower. Now, 310 soul fragments remained.
From past experience, Logan knew that drawing for a five-star Stand with only thirty chances was extremely unlikely. Even getting a four-star Stand was rare. He decided to be patient—he'd wait until he had at least sixty draws before trying again.
His second gain from this battle was Samehada.
A living weapon. Though it appeared still and metallic in his hands, Logan—who had mastered Ripple Breathing techniques—could sense the faint pulse of "qi" flowing within it.
Samehada was a good blade—but not suitable for him.
When he tried infusing Ripple energy into it, Samehada let out a low, eerie moan. Steam hissed from its surface as if the blade were being roasted alive.
Logan decided he would study its potential. If he couldn't use it properly, he'd simply hand it to Star Platinum to use as a spiked club—something to extend its attack range.
The third reward from this battle was reputation.
Back when he escaped Konoha, even though he had faced off against Itachi and Kakashi, they had survived. Word of that incident—if it spread—would frame Logan as someone who escaped the elite ninja, not someone who challenged them head-on.
But defeating the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost one-on-one?
That was something else entirely.
He'd made a name for himself. And bounty hunters would soon be lining up to take a shot at him.
Logan didn't mind. In fact, he welcomed it.
"Let them come. I'll take their lives—and their soul fragments."
With that in mind, Logan began planning his next steps.
First, settle the survivors.
Then, find a skilled blacksmith capable of reforging Samehada into a Ripple-compatible weapon.
After that, continue hunting bounty hunters to collect more fragments—until he had enough to draw a new Stand.
His time in the ninja world had taught him a lot, especially after escaping from Konoha and fighting across the Land of Water. Logan had come to understand this world's fighting style better, and it made him reflect on his first battle with Uchiha Itachi.
Illusions.
That was his biggest weakness.
Against medium- or long-range ninjutsu, he could rely on Star Platinum's speed or Aerosmith's tracking to outmaneuver the threat.
But genjutsu? If he fell into one, it was game over.
So far, he'd been relying on Star Platinum to physically jab him awake from illusions, but that was only effective against basic techniques. Against masters of genjutsu—like Itachi or Yuhi Kurenai—he wouldn't stand a chance in a solo fight.
And now that his abilities were no longer a secret, enemies would come prepared.
Logan had to find a Stand that could either resist illusions or fight independently of his own consciousness. That way, even if his mind was trapped, his Stand could keep him safe.
"The road ahead is long and difficult," Logan muttered, sipping his tea.
---
The cruise ship continued its journey, stopping at various coastal towns. Groups of people disembarked one after another.
Before they left, Logan distributed valuables from the ship—jewelry, food, spare coins—as travel expenses. The survivors bowed deeply, thanking him before embarking on their uncertain journeys.
Xiaotao stood silently at the rail, staring at the horizon.
Since her mother passed, she'd become withdrawn—quiet and distant, as though her soul had been torn from her body.
Strangely enough, Sasuke, who had always acted aloof and indifferent, now rarely left her side. He performed little ninjutsu tricks or showed off his breathing techniques, trying to cheer her up and keep her from sinking into despair.
Feeling Logan's gaze, Xiaotao turned slowly, walked over with her head bowed, and asked in a soft voice:
"Brother Logan… should I leave too?"
Logan looked at her for a long moment, then glanced over at Sasuke, whose worried expression hadn't gone unnoticed.
He reached into his coat, pulled out a ripe orange, and offered it to her.
"Would you like to come with me? It'll be dangerous."
Xiaotao took the orange. Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded.
Her mother was dead. Her father had died years ago. Her grandfather had been killed by Kirigakure ninja when they were first captured.
She had no one left.
"Then come with me," Logan said softly.
He couldn't protect four hundred people.
But he could protect one child.
In a world this vast, the fact that they had met again—it had to be fate.
---
Eventually, only one group remained on the ship—the ones who had chosen to build a village of their own.
About 160 people stood before Logan. Men and women of all ages. The leader stepped forward, bowed deeply at the waist, and declared:
"Sir, we are eternally grateful for your kindness. If you ever need us, just say the word. We're not ninja—but we'll do what we can."
Logan smiled and clapped the man on the shoulder.
"Safe travels."
With a map that Logan had drawn, they disembarked and disappeared into the wilderness, determined to build a life of their own.
Now, the ship held only Logan, Sasuke, and Xiaotao.
Sasuke leaned against the railing, staring out at the sea. The once-crowded ship now felt eerily quiet.
"…Do you think they'll make it?" he asked.
"They will," Logan replied.
He watched the last group vanish into the trees.
"Bad luck doesn't last forever."
---
Meanwhile, back in the Land of Water…
News of the Pufferfish Ghost's death spread like wildfire.
The Samehada sword had been taken.
And the Fourth Mizukage had been exposed for selling his own citizens.
Each one of these events would've shaken the country on its own—but all at once? It was like an earthquake ripping through the foundations of the nation.
Especially the last one.
Long ago, before ninja villages existed, ninja were organized into clans and worked freelance—essentially mercenaries for hire.
Daimyōs could pit one clan against another with nothing more than gold.
But after First Hokage Senju Hashirama stepped in and established the Hidden Village system, a new order emerged. Tailed beasts were distributed, and each nation formed a ninja village, bound by contracts with its daimyō.
In exchange for resources, funding, and legitimacy, the villages had one sacred duty:
Protect the nation. Protect its people.
Now, that trust had been shattered.
The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, had broken the unspoken contract.
The daimyō of the Land of Water immediately summoned Yagura for questioning.
Outside the palace, Terumi Mei stood with her arms crossed.
She was in her early twenties—beautiful, sharp-eyed, and full of fire.
Beside her was her old teammate Ao, wearing his signature eyepatch. Underneath it was the Byakugan he'd taken from the battlefield years ago.
"What do you think the daimyō and Lord Yagura are talking about?" Ao asked. "Will he… be removed?"
Terumi Mei smirked. "Why not use your Byakugan and read their lips?"
Ao straightened, looking indignant. "You can't use ninjutsu to spy on the Mizukage and the daimyō!"
She laughed. "Too serious, as always."
Leaning against the wall to avoid the harsh sunlight, she muttered, "It's just political bargaining. The daimyō's not mad about the people being sold—he's mad it got exposed."
Inside the meeting room, the daimyō was furious—but not for the reason one might expect.
He didn't care that the citizens had been sold like cattle.
He was angry that he hadn't been consulted. Angry that the scandal could harm his power.
"You made the money," he snapped at Yagura, "but you didn't even bother to cut me in?"
Outside, Ao's expression darkened.
"Do you think… they're negotiating how to split the profits?"
"Don't say it like that," Terumi Mei sneered. "It's not splitting profits. It's sharing power."
"…Seventy-thirty?" Ao guessed.
"Seventy for the daimyō," she replied coldly. "Yagura's the one begging."
Ao couldn't understand. Yagura did all the work—capturing people, establishing routes—and he only got 30%?
What kind of leadership was this?
If even the Mizukage had to grovel, what did that say about the rest of them?
He fell silent.
After a pause, Terumi Mei changed the topic.
"That man… the one who saved the prisoners. His name was Uchiha Qing—but he abandoned the Uchiha name and now calls himself Logan. Why did he do it?"
Was Konoha involved?
Was another village using him?
Or was it a personal vendetta?
Ao rubbed his chin. "Maybe… he just wanted to save them?"
Terumi Mei stared at the sky.
"…Are there really people like that in this world?"
Creeeaaak—
The palace doors opened. The daimyō strolled out, fanning himself lazily. He gave a half-nod to Yagura before stepping into his palanquin and leaving.
Yagura remained inside.
Despite his youthful face and small frame, he was Mizukage—the "Blood Mist" ruler responsible for untold slaughter.
He turned toward the shinobi outside.
"Terumi Mei."
She stepped forward, climbed the steps, and knelt before him.
The doors closed behind them.
"I'm giving you a mission," Yagura said calmly. "A secret mission."
"…Yes, Lord Mizukage?"
"Go and kill Logan."
"…Me?"
"Is there a problem?"
Terumi Mei hesitated only briefly.
Then her eyes narrowed, and she responded:
"No. I accept the mission."
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