Another half-month passed. Within the former estate of Hanzo of the Salamander in the Land of Rain.
Diarmuid sat in a spacious tsuboniwa (courtyard garden). Before him stood a tea table, the fragrance of tea drifting through the air in thin curls of steam. He held the scroll of the Rain Tiger at Will Technique, engrossed in his study. Previously, he had been occupied coordinating with Konan to reorganize the Akatsuki and the Hidden Rain Village; now that things were on track, he finally had a bit of leisure.
Speaking of Konan, she had met with Diarmuid earlier this morning.
It was a farewell. There wasn't much to say, really, just a simple expression of gratitude for his help. Perhaps Diarmuid held a certain fondness for her in his heart, but Konan had never harbored any special feelings for him. To her, they were merely in an employer-employee relationship, perhaps colored by a hollow "debt of gratitude" for saving her life. Having lived through such tragic misery recently, how could she possibly have room for any other emotions?
After saying her goodbyes, Konan left the Land of Rain decisively, carrying the ashes of Nagato and Yahiko with her. In the end, she chose not to let them return to the earth; perhaps she simply couldn't bear the thought of being separated from them.
On the other side of the courtyard, a graceful and beautiful figure was plucking a stringed instrument. The light, airy melody combined with the serene environment felt exceptionally sophisticated.
The musician, who had long, silvery-white hair and eyebrows to match, possessed skin of unparalleled fairness. Even her pupils were a matching silvery-white. This was, of course, Shiramu Ameri, whom Diarmuid had spotted on the street not long ago.
She was the high-ranking Oiran he and Jiraiya had met while carousing in the Land of Earth's Daimyo Castle. Back in the Hidden Leaf, he'd heard Jiraiya mention that she had been "collateral damage" of Diarmuid's exploits. After he caused chaos in the Land of Earth, the nobility had targeted her for various reasons, forcing her to flee. Jiraiya said she had disappeared into some chaotic small nation to hide.
At that time, the Land of Rain was indeed chaotic, a primary battlefield for three Great Nations. Ameri had somehow slipped into the country and joined the Hidden Rain Village as a Genin.
As the song ended, the notes lingered in the air. Diarmuid took a timely sip of his tea.
"What else would my Lord like to hear?" Shiramu Ameri asked softly.
Diarmuid looked at her, rubbing his chin. "Tell me, do you actually know ninjutsu?"
"This humble one possesses three chakra natures and does indeed know a few jutsu," Ameri replied with a nod.
"No wonder you could become a ninja, even if only a Genin," Diarmuid chuckled.
"I am a Genin because it is the least conspicuous rank, not because I lack the ability to be more," Ameri corrected him gently.
"Hahahaha... fair point." Diarmuid laughed. For her to escape from the Land of Water to the Land of Earth, and then to the Land of Rain, she had to have some skill. Given her high-class background, it was logical she had access to some potent techniques.
Glancing at the scrolls on the table, Diarmuid pondered for a moment. "Want to learn something more powerful?"
Ameri looked at him with surprise. "I thought my Lord intended to keep me as a caged bird..."
She had recognized him the moment they met on the street. After all, this was the man whose reckless actions in the Land of Earth ended her career as an Oiran and made her a fugitive. She had noticed both Diarmuid and Jiraiya back at the flower district. Knowing Diarmuid's mad reputation, she had tried to play dumb and intended to flee the Land of Rain immediately after their encounter.
It was a common enough occurrence; many of Hanzo's loyalists had already fled the village to become wandering shinobi or hide within the country. Ameri had no intention of being involved with a lunatic like Diarmuid, but he had recognized her through her disguise in an instant. Then again, silver hair, silver eyebrows, and silver eyes are quite rare; it would be harder not to recognize her.
Seriously, how does she usually hide? She didn't even try. You could at least wear colored contacts!
Since being brought back to the estate, Ameri had resumed her role as an "Oiran," except now she was a private one, serving only Diarmuid with her music and songs. For the past two weeks, she had been quite anxious, assuming Diarmuid had claimed her for her beauty. Fortunately, he had been too busy integrating the village to pay her much mind, only calling for her music during his lunch breaks to relax.
But this morning, with Konan's departure, Diarmuid's schedule had cleared. Orochimaru and the others were expected to arrive soon. Seeing Diarmuid idle today, Ameri felt her peaceful days might be coming to an end.
"Hahahaha, a caged bird..." Diarmuid laughed, then suddenly reached out his hand toward her.
A powerful suction force erupted, a gentle version of Universal Pull, lifting the courtesan from her seat and pulling her directly to his side. Pinching her exquisite chin, Diarmuid smirked.
"I wouldn't call it 'caging' you. I'm not that bored. But truthfully, I've had my eye on you since the Land of Earth. No other reason, simply because of your beauty. I planned to snatch you away after killing that Daimyo, but that idiot Jiraiya messed up my plans, and I actually forgot..."
Ameri looked at him in a panic, unsure of how to respond.
Diarmuid's fingers traced her face as he smiled. "You are indeed beautiful. I've seen many beauties, but yours is still exceptional. Pack your things tonight; you're staying in my quarters."
Her eyes darted around in distress. "For a man of your power, such behavior lacks grace..."
"Interesting. I only asked if you wanted to learn ninjutsu, yet you brought up these matters yourself. Now that you've piqued my interest, why do you say such things?" Diarmuid asked with a grin.
"I... this humble one..." Ameri was at a loss. To her, Diarmuid was an utter madman who killed without hesitation—a Daimyo in the Land of Earth, a "Demigod" in the Land of Rain. He was now the de facto ruler of the country. He was terrifying. Even if she appeared calm, she was internally paralyzed with fear.
"Hahahaha..." Diarmuid released her chin. "Do you want to learn more powerful ninjutsu or not?"
Though confused by his sudden shift in topic, Ameri didn't dare push her luck. She nodded flusteredly. "Of course."
When she was a noble, she looked down on shinobi; she only learned a few jutsu out of interest or as a requirement for a daughter of a military house. But as a fugitive, she realized that in this world, the only thing you can truly rely on is your own strength. She hadn't had many ways to acquire high-level techniques until now.
Diarmuid stopped teasing her and picked up a scroll from the table. He sighed slightly, appearing somewhat regretful. This piqued Ameri's curiosity, could a ninja as powerful as him actually feel regret?
The scroll was the gift Konan had left before her departure. It contained a high-level secret technique.
Its name was Paper Release.
This secret technique was a family heirloom of Konan's. Though she didn't know her true identity or her surname, she had carried this scroll since she was a child. Of course, without foundational knowledge, she couldn't understand it until she met Jiraiya. It was like a modern person finding a legendary martial arts manual in a world of wuxia, without knowing the meridians and pressure points, you can't practice a thing.
Once she mastered the basics, Konan's Paper Release progressed at a staggering rate, eventually leading to the absurdly powerful Six Hundred Billion Explosive Tags. Paper Release wasn't a Kekkei Genkai; it was a Secret Technique (Hiden), meaning it could be learned by others, much like Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear or the Nara Clan's Shadow Imitation.
By leaving it behind, Konan had truly decided to leave the life of a shinobi. She gave her most precious treasure to Diarmuid as a token of gratitude.
To be honest, Diarmuid felt conflicted receiving it. The guilt of having killed her dearest friend was heavy. He had treated Konan with deception, yet she had repaid him with absolute sincerity.
Coming back to reality, Diarmuid shook his head and handed the scroll to Ameri.
"Take it... learn it. It's a very powerful, high-level Secret Technique. Once you master it, you'll at least have the power to protect yourself."
"A high-level Secret Technique?" Ameri looked at him in shock. She hesitated, but eventually took the scroll.
Ignoring her surprise, Diarmuid took another sip of tea. Just then, a ninja appeared in the corridor and spoke softly: "Diarmuid-sama, Orochimaru-sama and Sasori-sama have arrived."
"Hahahaha, they're finally here?" Diarmuid laughed, stood up, and headed toward the corridor.
However, just before leaving the courtyard, he paused and looked back at Ameri. "Don't forget about tonight... have my bed ready."
Ameri's face flushed red with a mix of shame and annoyance. She didn't dare say anything aloud, only cursing in her heart: Absolutely no grace for a powerhouse.
Diarmuid didn't say anything more and disappeared around the corner.