Chaos reigned around the dais.
The various nobles, protected by their samurai, fled in panic.
Every noble's face was tense with fear.
The Hidden Rock Village has gone too far! The Land of Rivers lacks coal not because we won't buy from the Land of Earth, but because the routes are plagued by war, making it impossible to purchase any!
Their spies lurking in the capital of the Land of Rivers actually tried to kill the Governor of Kawachi, who is responsible for the hydroelectric plant!
Besides the initial four spies, four more appeared, making a total of eight spies charging towards Yōkō from two directions.
Chisa said, "Kōji! Run! I'll hold off the Rock ninjas for you!"
Chisa led the samurai in covering the retreat.
Yōkō turned and headed straight for his assassination targets.
Artisans were also running amok. White Ram took advantage of the chaos to charge towards the Left Imperial Guard General.
Chaos erupted around the Left Imperial Guard General, and White Ram seized the opportunity to strike.
To avoid exposing his identity, White Ram didn't use the Aburame clan's secret techniques. Instead, he threw three kunai with explosive tags attached.
After three consecutive explosions, the Left Imperial Guard General was shrouded in thick smoke.
One of the White Ram squad members rushed into the smoke to finish the job.
At the same time, chaos also descended upon the area around the Master of the Empress's Household.
A Root ninja threw an explosive-tag kunai. A samurai discarded his heavy armor and collided with the kunai.
The explosive tag only damaged the samurai's discarded armor, failing to hit the Master of the Empress's Household.
The one who discarded the armor was a Sand ninja.
Yōkō used the Body Flicker Technique to charge at the Master of the Empress's Household.
In a gap while fending off the Rock ninja spies, Chisa looked back worriedly towards Kōji, only to see Kōji's ninjato sever the Master of the Empress's Household's head.
She stared stunned at the scene before her, at a complete loss.
Why?
Why did Kōji kill the Master of the Empress's Household?
Kōji isn't some rogue ninja... is he a spy from some village too?
Then what was all Kōji's hard work these past days? What was my trust worth? What were our intimate moments under the moonlight?
Yōkō glanced at Chisa, his expression complex, then turned to leave.
"Don't go!" Chisa, ignoring the Rock ninja spies, ran towards Yōkō. "Was the hydroelectric plant real? Were you real? Just who are you?"
Chisa's questions were heartrending. Her eyes were red, already glistening with tears.
Yōkō didn't dare answer, nor was he willing to.
He was Root. Everything was just for the mission...
At that moment, the maidservant beside Chisa suddenly drew a kunai and slashed at the space between Chisa's eyebrows.
The rimless glasses shattered, falling to the ground, only to be crushed under the maidservant's foot.
That maidservant was also a Rock ninja spy.
Was the primary target of the Rock ninja spies Chief Treasurer Koishi Chisa, the one spearheading the hydroelectric plant?
Seeing those crushed lenses, Yōkō's heart trembled for a moment.
A kunai was embedded in the space between Chisa's eyebrows. Before dying, she was still reaching out towards Yōkō, her slender fingers trembling.
Watching Chisa's pupils slowly dilate, her once delicate face now disheveled and messy, bright red blood flowing and spreading beneath her, Yōkō felt a pang of pity.
This month... I'll revive her just this once, for Chisa...
He slowly walked towards Chisa's corpse.
White Ram shouted from behind, "Squad Leader! Get out of here!"
Konoha Root, Sand ninja guards, Rock ninja spies – the area around the dais was in utter chaos.
Yōkō sought out the strongest Sand ninja and engaged him in a fierce battle.
After forcing out this Sand ninja's abilities, Yōkō feigned defeat and was stabbed to death by the Sand ninja.
This was another time he had actively chosen death, for the warmth Chisa had given him.
[Host death detected. Mochizuki's Arc System activating...]
His field of vision shifted, and Yōkō found himself back on the previous night of the full moon.
He was in Koishi Chisa's boudoir.
Before him was Chisa, bathed in moonlight, and those glasses full of contrasting allure.
Koishi Chisa, knowing nothing of the future, raised her hand, trying to grasp Yōkō's waist.
Feeling Chisa's body temperature, Yōkō sighed inwardly. It's good that she's alive.
[Mochizuki's Arc activated!
The host has only one revival opportunity per month, reviving on the previous night of the full moon upon death.
Reward: One lottery draw chance:
1- B-Rank Earth Release: Ant Hell Technique;
2- Red Fire Ant Toxin Preparation Technique;
3- Wind Attribute Chakra.]
Option 1, the Ant Hell Technique, was an Earth Release ninjutsu that created a vortex of sand and soil on the ground to swallow enemies.
This technique took effect relatively slowly and wasn't an instant-kill ninjutsu, so Yōkō ruled it out.
Option 2 was the toxin of the Red Fire Ant, one of the unique toxins found in deserts.
The Sand ninjas, being relatively weaker, often relied on tricks and toxins. Yōkō ruled out this option as well.
The third option was Wind Attribute Chakra.
For a long time to come, the war would be fought against the Sand ninjas, who specialized in Wind Release.
Mastering Wind Attribute Chakra would allow him to learn some Wind Release techniques later, understand Wind Release ninjutsu better – know yourself and know your enemy – which would be beneficial in combat.
Yōkō selected Wind Attribute Chakra.
His chakra attributes became: Earth, Water, Wind, Yang, and Yin.
Moonlight shone down, reflecting off Chisa's rimless glasses, her flushed cheeks, and her fair, slender waist.
Half an hour later, Chisa, panting, lay on Yōkō's chest, looking up at him.
"Mr. Kōji, may I take off my glasses now?"
"No. I like how you look with glasses on."
Chisa smiled and didn't resist.
Yōkō held Chisa's smooth shoulder and said, "My dear Chief Treasurer, let's talk a little about work."
Chisa immediately became serious, wrapping the thin gauze around herself and listening attentively.
Yōkō's hand moved over the gauze as he said, "After the Land of Rivers develops hydroelectric power, it will affect the Land of Earth's coal sales. I'm afraid the Hidden Rock Village might try to sabotage the construction of this hydroelectric plant."
Chisa asked, "The Hidden Rock Village is fighting both Konoha and the Hidden Rain Village simultaneously. Can they free up the resources?"
Yōkō said:
"The Hidden Rock Village has the largest number of ninjas among all the hidden villages. Their ninja force is at least three times that of Konoha's. They have spies hidden everywhere.
Constructing the hydroelectric plant is one thing; protecting it is even more important.
My dear Chief Treasurer, you can take off your glasses and sleep first. I'll go now to see if I can find any Rock ninja spies."
"Ah? Right now?" Chisa gently kissed Yōkō's chin. "But I'm still not sleepy. What should I do?"
"Not sleepy, huh..."
Yōkō had no choice but to rearm himself and once again appreciate the contrast between intellectual beauty and primal beauty.
A little over half an hour later, thoroughly exhausted, Chisa fell into a deep sleep.
Yōkō put on his clothes and left Chisa's boudoir.
After closing the door, Yōkō saw the maidservant waiting in the corridor.
This was the maidservant who killed Chisa in the previous timeline.
"Lord Governor of Kawachi..."
"Come with me. I have something to leave for Lady Chisa. Give it to her when she wakes up."
The maidservant arranged for other maidservants to come stand guard before following the Governor away.
Arriving at a secluded spot, the maidservant froze, realizing she could no longer utter a single word.
Sealing curse marks locked all her joints.
Yōkō reached out and snapped the maidservant's neck.
"You're quite the accomplished Rock ninja spy, planted right beside the Daimyō's sister."
Most despicably, she had actually crushed Chisa's glasses.
If you want to kill, just kill. How could you crush Yōkō's favorite thing, crush those glasses?
Who wouldn't love a 'glasses-wearing girl'?
***
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