Naruto: Becomes a Rebel Ninja After Annihilating the Hyuga Clan - Chapter 88

Morning.

The clock on the wall ticked steadily. A playful sea breeze carried the ocean’s warmth through the window, swirling inside the room and making the curtains dance in suggestive poses before slipping out through the half-opened door.

The sunlight blushed on her cheeks like an embarrassing dream suddenly revealed in reality. When Mei Terumi opened her eyes and saw the damp spot on her pillow, she felt a similar sense of embarrassment and shyness. She wiped her mouth and then, in self-deception, flipped the pillow to hide the evidence of her drool.

Even so, she couldn’t fall asleep again once she lay back down.

Yesterday’s events felt like a dream, fragmented scenes continuously flashing before her eyes: Konoha, Neiki, Hashirama, Kengakure, Kirigakure… Things she didn’t dream of last night started assaulting her mind in revenge this morning.

“Damn it!” She wasn’t sure what she remembered or if it all made her equally angry. She punched the wall, venting her frustration and regret as a defeated person.

After calming down, her heart returned to peace.

Sounds of movement came from outside the room. Mei Terumi glanced at the clock and sighed resignedly as she threw off the blanket and found a nightgown in the wardrobe.

The nightgown was small, barely covering her navel, a miniature size for a woman of her mature physique. Considering the country’s poverty and her current status as a prisoner, she didn’t bother to be picky.

She walked out of the room in the nightgown.

The living room was small but richly decorated, with various potted plants stretching from the corners to the staircase.

A white-haired girl was watering the plants. Hearing a noise, the girl turned around and blushed deeply upon seeing Mei Terumi’s nightgown worn like lingerie.

“Hey, you’re going to drown that flower,” Mei Terumi casually remarked, seeing the pot nearly overflowing with water.

“Ah… I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” The girl fumbled, nervously apologizing repeatedly.

Though Mei Terumi didn’t know what she was apologizing for, she recognized this type of person—someone who took responsibility for everything, a troublesome personality.

Ignoring her and waiting for her to calm down was the best approach.

There were only two bowls of red bean porridge on the table. Mei Terumi sat down casually, took a sip, and frowned. She glanced at the girl but swallowed her words. Instead, she got up and fetched a bottle of soy sauce from the kitchen, dyed her entire bowl of porridge black, took a sip, and finally showed a satisfied expression.

“Sorry,” the girl whispered again.

This time, Mei Terumi understood the specific reason for the apology. She agreed that the sugar in the red bean porridge did a disservice to her taste buds, so she nodded and instructed:

“Remember, red bean porridge should always have soy sauce. That’s real food.”

She poured a large amount of soy sauce into the girl’s bowl as well.

“Try it.”

The girl put down the watering can, washed her hands, and obediently sat at the table.

“What’s your name?” Mei Terumi felt she had asked this last night but forgot. Asking again wouldn’t hurt since the shy girl wouldn’t mind.

“Hiyara Fuyuka.” Fuyuka looked at her bowl of blackened porridge, then at Mei Terumi eating happily. She hesitantly scooped a small spoonful, blew on it, and put it in her mouth.

“How is it? Tasty?” Mei Terumi asked.

Fuyuka pursed her lips and then nodded with difficulty.

“Yes, delicious…”

A good kid who doesn’t want to disappoint others, even at her own expense… Mei Terumi’s eyes sparkled.

She looked around and, finding no suspicious surveillance devices, leaned forward and asked Fuyuka casually:

“Why are you living here alone? Where are your parents?”

“They passed away,” Fuyuka said sadly, then took a big bite of the porridge. “I used to live with my brother, but it was too far from Kengakure. I didn’t want to be late for classes every day, so I moved here.”

“Does Kengakure not allow family members inside?” Mei Terumi tilted her head.

“They do, but my brother has to take care of our fields…”

Under Mei Terumi’s gentle probing, the honest girl revealed everything she knew, including details about Hashirama and Kengakure that Mei Terumi hadn’t noticed under Hashirama’s watchful eye yesterday.

“We all practice with the secret techniques taught by Lord Hashirama. I’m weak, still in the first stage, and can only see a little chakra in nature that matches my own attribute.”

“But Big Brother Kusami progresses quickly. He can already see most chakra attributes and is beginning to merge them. He can even use sword techniques with chakra attributes. Lord Hashirama says Big Brother Kusami is already at Genin level…” Fuyuka said admiringly.

Fujiwara Kusami was the oldest and most diligent student who passed the aptitude test at Kengakure. He was the role model for all Kengakure students. Lord Hashirama said he would soon graduate from the basic academy and become the first ninja trained by Kengakure.

Mei Terumi wasn’t impressed. The ninja world had no shortage of geniuses. Every village had many ninja deemed prodigies, but most wouldn’t survive to become Jonin, often dying on missions. Few made it to Jonin level, and those who did had unique skills.

Ordinary people catching up to geniuses wasn’t unheard of. In the ninja world, late bloomers were just as common as young prodigies fading into obscurity.

Might Dai, who defeated most of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist as a Genin, was a prime example.

For Mei Terumi, geniuses who weren’t exceptionally talented like Mangetsu Hozuki, who mastered all seven swords, or Neiki, who could single-handedly topple half of Konoha, were of little significance.

She mainly sought Hashirama’s true purpose for establishing Kengakure and other information about the mysterious man. Listening to Fuyuka, she suddenly found it oddly familiar.

Chakra attribute sword techniques… Isn’t that Neiki’s technique?

Neiki.

Hashirama.

Kengakure.

It felt like she was onto something secret. Mei Terumi pressed the table, suppressing her excitement, and asked:

“Can you show me the sword technique?”

Hiyara Fuyuka, though puzzled, nodded and fetched a long sword wrapped tightly in bandages and oiled paper from her room.

When the sword was unsheathed, Mei Terumi looked at it seriously and sighed.

It was just a standard sword. Fuyuka’s cherished attitude made Mei Terumi almost think it was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen’s swords or Neiki’s black sword that could slice through iron like mud.

The two went outside, where the village was still foggy. Only the outline of distant buildings was visible.

“I… I’m not very good yet…” Fuyuka hesitated.

“It’s okay, just try. I’m a very skilled elite Jonin, you know.” Mei Terumi spoke confidently despite the seal in her heart affecting her chakra flow and possibly causing death if she went beyond a certain range. Her face remained self-assured.

“Okay.” Fuyuka took a deep breath, holding the sword seriously.

A flash of white light in the girl’s eyes made Mei Terumi pause. What was that?

Before she could ask, she noticed the fog thickening around a specific spot.

The buildings she could see… suddenly vanished…

What was happening?

Before she could understand, Fuyuka tightened her grip and shouted:
“Water Sword Technique: Flowing Water Slash!”

She swung the sword forward with all her strength.

A blue light flickered on the blade, quickly disappearing. Only the water droplets on the blade showed Fuyuka’s effort.

Fuyuka blushed, embarrassed and looking down:
“Sorry… this is the best I can do…”

Mei Terumi stared for a long time, then, as if discovering a great secret, trembled as she grabbed Fuyuka’s shoulder:

“No, no, that was great!”

“Little Fuyuka, tell me…”

“Do you know someone named Neiki here in Kengakure?”

Fuyuka shook her head, confused.

“No?”

“Think again?”

Mei Terumi asked urgently.

Neiki’s sword techniques had distinct features, combining different chakra attributes into sword techniques, an innovative approach in the ninja world.

While each village had developed their own sword techniques, like Konoha’s Leaf Style Kenjutsu, these were generally based on the user’s traits and developed as ninja-style sword techniques.

For example, Hayate Gekko’s signature technique, Dance of the Crescent Moon, was developed based on Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Similarly, Uzuki Yugao’s Secret Sword: Moon Shadow was developed based on Body Flicker Technique.

These sword techniques began with a jutsu and were then adapted to combat with a sword, resulting in ninja-style sword techniques like Konoha’s.

After witnessing Neiki’s unique sword techniques yesterday, especially noticing how he merged water and earth chakra attributes to create a mud monster to block a combined attack, Mei Terumi was initially unimpressed. But recalling it now, she realized the strangeness—Neiki didn’t form hand seals.

He didn’t form seals, yet summoned a mud monster with his sword.

Undoubtedly, that seemed more like a jutsu.

From its effects, it resembled a ninja-style sword technique.

A sword was merely a tool to release the jutsu.

Now Fuyuka’s demonstration showed a similar result. Though she failed,

without forming seals, water droplets appeared on the sword, and the surrounding fog thickened. Mei Terumi could imagine the grandeur of a successful strike.

She didn’t understand the principles, but this method of directly using natural energy undoubtedly stemmed from the same source as Neiki’s techniques.

Why was Neiki, who defected from Konoha, in the Land of Waves?
Why was the mysterious man claiming to be Hashirama also in the Land of Waves, establishing Kengakure?
Why did Kengakure’s sword techniques resemble Neiki’s?

There must be a connection between Neiki and Hashirama!

“No… I haven’t heard of anyone named Neiki here…” Fuyuka thought carefully and shook her head. “Sorry, Sister… I couldn’t help you…”

“Ah, it’s okay, don’t worry. I was just asking.” Mei Terumi patted her head.

It seemed the girl didn’t even know who Neiki was.

This only fueled Mei Terumi’s curiosity. She initially thought Neiki’s sword techniques were his own creation, but now it seemed unlikely.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the Professor for mastering all five chakra natures, was much older. Neiki displayed at least four chakra nature sword techniques in their battle. No matter how talented he was, he couldn’t have mastered this so quickly, starting from birth.

Especially considering he also mastered the highly difficult Flying Thunder God Technique.

This couldn’t be explained by talent alone; there must be a master behind him!

And Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, had lived so long and developed new techniques, which was understandable. Hashirama might have influenced Neiki’s massacre of his clan and his defection from Konoha.

Mei Terumi pondered this.

She didn’t consider the possibility they were the same person.

One used a sword; the other used Wood Release.

One was a cold-blooded killer.

One loved and protected the people.

One was selfish and ruthless, eliminating anyone in his way.

One was noble and selfless, establishing a ninja village in the Land of Waves to teach people to become their own heroes.

Though Hashirama killed many Kirigakure ninjas, it was because Kirigakure first slaughtered the Land of Waves’ people. If Kirigakure hadn’t attacked Kengakure, Hashirama probably wouldn’t have retaliated.

Blood for blood was a natural law. Mei Terumi didn’t resent Hashirama’s actions. He even let some Kirigakure ninjas go, showing great mercy.

Such different individuals in character, methods, and style couldn’t be the same person.

Mei Terumi mainly suspected a master-disciple or master-servant relationship between them.

And consequently, Hashirama’s true intentions.

“If Neiki’s actions in Konoha were directed by Hashirama, would cooperating with Hashirama in Kirigakure make me play a similar role to Neiki?”

“Using Neiki to cause chaos in Konoha, and me or Zabuza to cause chaos in Kirigakure.”

“If so, would Kirigakure suffer more than Konoha?”

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