Chapter 36: Declare War on Your Future Self! Embark on a Lonely and Doomed Road!
As Tsukasa finished speaking, a sudden gust of wind blew, dispersing the mist under the moon and stirring the flames, causing the bonfire to burst into brilliant fire.
Sparks flew upward with crackling sounds, and the young man's profile under the shining full moon was deeply reflected in the eyes of the three people present.
He was obviously wrapped in bandages all over his body, looking battered as if he'd just been seriously injured and evacuated from the front lines—
Yet the arrogant curve of his lips was so striking it took one's breath away!
Looking at Tsukasa's confident smile, the green eyes of the girl with long reddish-brown hair grew slightly dazed. When their eyes met, she seemed to be drawn into the grand vision of the young man's ideals.
But soon she came back to her senses and couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips, as if thinking of something interesting.
"Really?"
"If that's the case, then I accept you as my opponent."
"Uchiha Tsukasa."
She narrowed her emerald eyes, tucking the brown strand from her ear behind it. She glanced up at the full moon in the sky, carefully choosing her words, then smiled:
"Let's get to know each other properly. My name is—"
"Mei. Mei Terumi."
"Though this may shock you, neither you nor I have yet reached the point where we can truly stand on the shinobi world's most dazzling stage."
"However—"
"As long as you still harbor such delusions of world conquest, with such mad ambitions—"
"There will come a day when we meet again on the battlefield."
The girl's emerald eyes gleamed with gentleness and sincerity, yet deep within them flickered a hint of rational, ruthless killing intent.
"When that time comes, I will show you no mercy."
Tsukasa's Sharingan remained active, allowing him to capture every nuance of expression on the face of the girl named Mei Terumi.
This name, this hair color, this appearance, combined with this resolute will—
Tsukasa finally recognized her true identity.
Mei Terumi—the future Fifth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist!
The powerful kunoichi who mastered dual Kekkei Genkai and would eventually end the chaotic era of the "Bloody Mist Village"!
Tsukasa couldn't help but want to laugh. Looking at Mei Terumi's cute face that still hadn't lost its youthful innocence, he almost blurted out: You seem like a decent person!
This feeling of suddenly making a powerful enemy for yourself who threatened to scatter your ashes—
To be honest, it felt oddly satisfying.
But couldn't she scatter him now instead of waiting for later?
Tsukasa raised his eyebrows with a tone that was three parts mocking, three parts arrogant, and four parts resentful, asking provocatively:
"Are you declaring war on me?"
Mei Terumi shook her head with some regret:
"Uchiha Tsukasa, even though I witnessed the battle you fought in that village, I must say it was impressive."
"Excellent shuriken skills, endless Fire Style techniques, and the combat intelligence you displayed at the crucial moment—even in my village, you'd be called talented."
"But I'm sorry—"
"At your current level, you shouldn't be my opponent."
"Much less an opponent for those stronger than me—the true geniuses of our generation."
"Minato Namikaze of Konoha, Mangetsu Hōzuki of Kirigakure, the missing Sasori of Sunagakure, Killer Bee of Kumogakure—these are the trendsetters of today's shinobi world, and even I envy their talents."
Mei Terumi paused, seriousness filling her clear green eyes:
"You possess such terrifying ambition, and bearing the Uchiha name, you might just rise to the pinnacle in the future."
"Consider this a declaration of war."
"Against your future self—"
"A declaration of war!"
The girl's words drifted on the wind, the unwavering resolve within them gleaming in the moonlight.
Tsukasa felt a wave of frustration upon hearing this.
Mei Terumi, a genius of Kirigakure, should have mastered both her Kekkei Genkai by now—whether Lava Release or Boil Release, killing him would be child's play.
If she showed any hostility, he'd have every reason to fight her!
Quickly claim his life and return home with five hundred million ryō.
But if she didn't want to kill him now, he couldn't exactly force her to put a blade to his throat.
However, Tsukasa remained undeterred, smirking inwardly that she wouldn't live to see that day come.
After all, he—Uchiha Tsukasa—was about to be delivered to the Jashin Cult.
A line of blades awaited him.
Mei Terumi wouldn't even live to see the day she could cut him down!
Of course, he wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. After all, it was at least decent insurance, wasn't it?
So Tsukasa looked at Mei Terumi seriously, then suddenly smiled confidently:
"Very good, Mei Terumi."
"Then I'll look forward to the day you come to kill me."
"I hope on that day, you who tried to stand in my way will satisfy me!"
However, when Tsukasa's words reached Mei Terumi's ears, her mind went blank.
'Look forward to,' 'that day,' 'come,' 'satisfy me.'
Several words automatically combined in her mind, forming suggestive phrases that made her blush and her heart race.
Mei Terumi blinked rapidly and gasped, her emerald pupils trembling as her pure white ears instantly flushed red.
She immediately turned away and snorted awkwardly:
"That's up to you. I won't be pleased by it."
Tsukasa's smile froze. What are you blushing for?
I was just trying to confirm a specific date for you to kill me.
You're too slow—you won't even be able to touch my ashes.
What's with this sudden tsundere act?
Tsukasa shook his head, not daring to dwell on it further.
He turned to look at Hidan, who had already risen from the ground, slapped his shoulder, and grinned.
Then he said seriously:
"Hidan."
"The Jashin Cult is no good thing. Killing everyone around you won't solve the problem."
"On the contrary, for the current Land of Hot Water, the Jashin Cult can't save the country—it's a parasite."
"This leech clings to the Land of Hot Water's lifeline, constantly draining fresh blood and kidnapping children for so-called rituals. In the end, it will only accelerate this country's decline."
"I think someone who's read books like you should understand this truth."
Hidan nodded heavily, then fell silent.
The light in his eyes seemed to be fading.
Understanding didn't mean he could take heroic action.
Due to the war and the inaction of Yugakure's shinobi and Hot Water's nobility, the Jashin Cult had grown wildly on this land, now showing signs of becoming uncontrollable.
Hidan was just a student who wasn't even a proper ninja yet.
The only choice he could make was to pick the lesser of two evils.
Looking at the now-awakened Hidan before him, Tsukasa smiled, feeling relieved by his younger brother's awareness.
The reason he'd said so much was because he himself was an awkward guy who hated owing favors.
Hidan had saved him twice—he should repay that debt.
The only way to repay him was to prevent Hidan from walking the Jashin Cult's path.
The younger brother before him had read books and newspapers, possessed his own understanding of the shinobi world, and had keen instincts—
Even to the point of being intelligent.
He was clearly different from the future's idiotic, maniacal, and amusing madman.
Tsukasa could only speculate that the reason for this transformation was the Jashin Cult's bloody and brutal rituals.
Exchanging power with devils came at a price.
Among countless test subjects, only Hidan—tortured to madness—ultimately succeeded in appeasing Lord Jashin and gaining immortality in return.
He offered his sanity for the Land of Hot Water's future, only to gain power after losing his mind, going mad and slaughtering all the Hot Water shinobi who had given him life.
This was undoubtedly a tragedy.
Tsukasa would never let such a tragedy happen again.
"Don't look so dejected. I'm here, aren't I?"
Tsukasa laughed heartily, patting Hidan's shoulder vigorously.
"Since I said I'd bring peace to this country, I'll do it!"
"Those the Hot Water shinobi dare not control—I'll handle them!"
"Those the Hot Water shinobi dare not kill—I'll kill them!"
"The Jashin Cult the Hot Water shinobi dare not provoke—I'll destroy it!"
"Brother, you just need to hide behind me and watch me unleash my brilliance!"
Tsukasa wrapped his arm around Hidan's shoulders—the boy was a head shorter—thumped his chest with his fist, and laughed softly:
"That's enough."
Tsukasa released Hidan.
Without saying anything more, he turned and walked forward.
"No need to see me off. Hidan, return to your hometown and wait for my good news there."
After saying that, Tsukasa raised his hand and waved to the three of them in farewell.
Alone, facing the grand moonlight,
He stepped over the bonfire,
passed the three people,
and walked toward the lonely road to death.
End of Chapter 36
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