"I am going to be the Mizukage who changes the current situation of Kirigakure! I must pull myself together and show him! My mission! I will definitely complete it!"
Hayashi Rei also steadied herself after despair.
"Amahara Suisen… In… I hope I can buy you some time. I will use my life! To protect you!" Rei said with unwavering determination.
It was clear that the rogue ninjas were losing their patience.
"Have you finished your last words? Go to hell together! Earth Release: Mountain Wood Technique!" The rogue ninjas showed skill with Earth Release, tearing up the earth beneath Rei and the others, immediately following up with the Mountain Wood Technique, ready to crush the three beneath the ground.
"Let's go together!" Rei gathered Amahara Suisen and In into her arms and leaped upwards.
"But with my hands occupied, I can't use ninjutsu…" Rei fell silent.
"At least I tried…" Rei had done all she could. Suisen and In closed their eyes slightly.
"Are we going to die?"
At just that moment, with a swift movement, a man appeared in front of them.
"Rei, thank you! You kept our promise. Now, leave it to me! Flying Thunder God Technique!" Uchiha Shigure instantly brought all three to safety.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Uchiha Shigure immediately produced a shadow clone.
"Go! Make sure those people can never resurface." Shigure commanded.
"Understood!" The shadow clone charged toward the rogue ninjas.
"Rei, so you're a girl! No wonder you've been acting that way from the very beginning…" Shigure said pointedly.
"Acting what way…" Rei looked at Shigure, leaving him momentarily at a loss.
"Shigure, you made it! Where's that bad guy?" Amahara Suisen asked.
"Don't worry. That bad guy won't trouble anyone anymore." Shigure said and watched the ongoing fight.
Although Shigure's shadow clones couldn't use the Flying Thunder God Technique yet—like the Second Hokage—his mastery of the Body Flicker Technique and unique swordplay were overwhelming for the rogue ninjas.
Close-quarters taijutsu saved chakra, so the shadow clone began a one-sided slaughter. Even enemy ninjutsu was evaded swiftly using the Body Flicker.
"Impossible! Just one shadow clone can…?" "We're not weak! How can the situation change so quickly just because of a kid?!" The rogue ninjas were in disbelief.
"Alright, time to end this." Shigure was also uninterested in dragging things out. His shadow clone grew a bit more serious and in an instant, all visible enemies were dispatched.
"So strong!"
"Even the clone is unbeatable?!"
"Does he always make others feel safe?" Rei watched Suisen and In, then looked at Shigure. At just the right time, she spoke.
"Shigure, I'm sorry. I lied to you for so long before." Rei said apologetically.
"It's fine. I'm sure you had your reasons. When you're ready to tell me, you will." Shigure's tone was light.
He had long known Rei was a girl, but never felt the need to reveal it.
"Yes, with your sharp mind, of course you figured it out." Rei answered plainly.
"This has nothing to do with analytical skills… Never mind, let's move on."
"Moving on means we'll have to part, right?" Rei's voice was tinged with disappointment.
"Yes. If you want to reach Kirigakure, your path will probably diverge from mine. I'll head northeast, you'll go southwest." Shigure knew the parting was inevitable.
In and Rei exchanged a look. The blue-haired girl, Amahara In, then spoke: "Shigure?"
"Yes." Shigure nodded. "Is there a problem?"
"If you hadn't saved me, I'd probably be dead. Thank you! Farewell!" Rei and In turned to go. As she left, Rei looked back and shouted, "Don't forget my name, I'm Hayashi Rei. Remember to marry me someday!"
Then Rei and In vanished into the forest.
"Hayashi Rei… marry her…" Shigure was left speechless. The future Mizukage had just tossed such a line at him while leaving.
"This could get complicated." He could already sense trouble ahead. Her name was Rei, he had uncovered her secret, and she had a Kekkei Genkai—it was clear she was Hayashi Rei.
"I wonder about In's true identity," Shigure mused.
"In is the daughter of the Land of Water's Daimyo," Amahara Suisen's sudden comment startled Shigure.
"Suisen… You mean she's the Daimyo's daughter?" Shigure asked, surprised.
"Yes, I've seen In at some of the Daimyo's private gatherings, but we aren't close." Suisen explained.
"That makes sense." Shigure nodded. At that moment, Kakuzu finally caught up.
"Boss! Your Flying Thunder God Technique must be even better than Tobirama's now, huh? I can't even keep up with you!" Kakuzu said, panting.
"This person is dangerous!" Suisen recoiled, frightened.
"Don't worry; he's my subordinate now. That previous incident was just a plot to lure me out. Ultimately, it was me who implicated you, Suisen." Shigure explained and comforted her. Almost unconsciously, Shigure hugged the now-blushing Suisen.
"Alright… I get it…" Suisen, a little embarrassed, then asked, "He's a rogue ninja; he can't enter the Land of Fire or Konoha. What are your plans?"
Shigure smiled. "Don't worry! I have a great plan. For now, I just need to send you back."
"Okay." Suisen nodded.
Their journey continued. There were no more enemies, and Shigure often used the Flying Thunder God to jump ahead with Suisen.
They traveled from a waterfall to a forest, then to wide plains.
To break the monotony, Shigure tossed a Flying Thunder God kunai into the sky, teleporting with Suisen, letting gravity pull them downwards, and teleporting to the ground just at the thrilling final moment—giving Suisen the ride of her life.
As the daughter of a wealthy Land of Fire merchant, Suisen had never experienced such fun. Her whole childhood had been filled with business.
Looking at Shigure, Suisen felt an unfamiliar sense of security and attachment. But soon, their journey brought them to the gates of the Daimyo's castle in the Land of Fire.
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