At that moment, a group of men surrounded Shigeo and his companions. Each wore a fierce expression, charging forward without saying a word.
Shigeo's eyes reddened as he fought back while shouting, "What are you doing?!"
"You're the culprit behind the Sea God Festival murders! We have witnesses and evidence—what else can you say?" Three elite jōnin from Kirigakure attacked him while questioning.
Shigeo's kunai spun rapidly in his hands. His body flared with golden chakra, and with a forceful burst, a chakra shockwave exploded outward, blasting the attackers off their feet.
"Are you all insane? What witness, what evidence? You don't actually think I kidnapped those brides, do you?"
"Who else could it be?!" the enemy growled, getting ready to counterattack again.
Just then, the eleven brides and more than twenty maids—protected by Shigeo, Hikaru, and Jade Ruri—cried out together,
"You've got it wrong! He didn't kidnap us—he saved us!"
Their words stunned everyone. Shigeo turned, the air rippled, and over three hundred women appeared from a hidden dimension. They rushed toward him the moment they were released.
"Little brother, what's your name? You saved us—we don't even know how to thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Why don't I repay you with my body? Which village are you from? You're so strong, your medical ninjutsu is amazing, I've fallen for you at first sight—I want to marry you!"
"I want to marry you too!"
"Me too!"
"Stop, stop!" Shigeo quickly waved his hands. "This isn't the time for marriage proposals! I need you to testify—was it me trying to kill you, or someone else? Speak!"
He pointed toward the other side. The women turned and finally noticed a group of shinobi still encircling them, seemingly preparing to attack.
"What are you doing? How dare you threaten our savior?! Listen here, we're not the type to be pushed around! If anyone bullies our man, we'll fight you to the death!"
And with that, more than three hundred women charged forward in a flurry.
Shigeo froze. What the hell? He had released them only to clear his name, not to start another battle.
The scene devolved into total chaos again. Shigeo sighed, spotting Mei rushing down the slope. He waved at her. "Onee-san, I'm here!"
Mei dashed up to him. "What's going on?!"
"Those shinobi thought I was the one who kidnapped the women. The women think the shinobi are from the Orchid Sect. It's a mess—hard to explain clearly. You handle this. I've got other matters. See you."
And with that, Shigeo turned and vanished.
Mei clenched her teeth. Why do I feel like I'm always cleaning up after him?!
"Silence!" Her sharp, commanding voice rang through the sky. "Everyone, stop!"
She led the Kirigakure nin toward the scene. Fortunately, they recognized her—her headband clearly identified her as one of their own.
"You're all mistaken!" Mei shouted. "That young man wasn't the culprit—he saved everyone! And those shinobi over there aren't from the Orchid Sect either—they came here to help!"
"Huh?"
Everyone stopped fighting and looked at Mei as she began carefully explaining the whole situation.
When all the misunderstandings were finally resolved, one of the rescued women asked, "Who was that boy?"
"You don't know?" Hikaru said proudly. "He's the strongest ninja of our Hyūga clan—the most famous man in the shinobi world—the founder of the Nanmo Nation, the First Ink Shadow, Hyūga Shigeo!"
Everyone froze. Especially Jade and Ruri, who looked as if they'd been struck by lightning.
"What?! He—he's the First Ink Shadow?!"
Hikaru frowned in confusion. "Of course. When you said you didn't know him earlier, I thought it was strange. Aren't you both from the Ink Ninja Village? How could you not recognize him?"
"Yeah… how could we not know someone as famous as the First Ink Shadow…?" Jade groaned, near tears, while Ruri stood there, mind completely blank.
Mei was equally stunned. So he was Hyūga Shigeo all along… no wonder he said his name was A-Mo. The character 'Mo'—it's part of his name! How could I have missed that?
Thinking about it more, it made perfect sense. Who else in this world could possess such overwhelming strength?
One man rescuing three or four hundred people and hiding them all inside some strange pocket dimension—while she was stuck handling aftermath and paperwork. Compared to his intellect and power, she truly felt insignificant.
When she turned again, Shigeo was already gone. Where did he go this time?
Shigeo had already arrived at Moon City.
The city lay deep within a canyon, shaped like a crescent moon.
It was this peculiar terrain that, three years ago, allowed the Orchid Sect's Water-style shinobi to fake a great tsunami—deceiving the townspeople into believing it a divine sign. Since then, the offerings for the Sea God Festival had shifted from livestock and fruit… to living women.
In those three years, countless lives had been lost. Families torn apart, lives ruined, yet the people remained blinded by ignorance and superstition. Beneath the city's glittering surface ran a river of blood and misery.
If this curse wasn't completely broken, how many more innocent girls would die in the years ahead?
On a hillside west of Moon City stood a grand estate, brightly lit, exuding luxury and power.
Outside, ninja patrolled the grounds. The main gate faced directly onto the city's main street, stretching inward toward the heart of Moon City.
As dawn broke and sunlight spread across the horizon, the bells of morning tolled through the city.
For the citizens, the previous night's ritual had ended. Life returned to normal—except for those who had lost their daughters. No one else remembered the faces of the so-called brides.
Shigeo gave a cold laugh and began walking into the city. After only a few steps, a clear voice called out behind him, "Shigeo-dono, wait for me!"
He turned to see Mei in her blue robes running toward him. Her lips curved into a smile, long reddish-brown hair dancing in the wind. Following her were Hizashi, Hikaru, Nami, Jade, and Ruri.
(End of Chapter)
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