266-270

Chapter 266: Something Feels Off  

As Mura listened to Yoru speak, a chill ran down her spine.  

His eyes hadn’t wavered—not even slightly. No hesitation, no doubt. Just cold, detached certainty, as if declaring war on an entire nation was nothing more than a mundane chore.  

He’s talking about annexing a country. A whole country!  

And yet, he made it sound effortless. As if the Moon Country were nothing more than an afterthought.  

Just how powerful is this man?  

"Relax," Yoru said, as though reading her thoughts. "This won’t harm Ryōran in the slightest. In fact, Your Majesty stands to gain quite a bit."  

A faint smirk played on his lips.  

"With the Moon Country’s territory under your rule, building a first-rate minor nation should be well within your capabilities. Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll even surpass the Five Great Nations and reshape the world order."  

Mura’s throat tightened.  

Is… that even possible?  

Logically, she knew the odds were impossible. Ryōran was too small, too weak.  

But something about Yoru’s words made her dare to imagine it.  

A future where she stood among the great daimyō, where she dictated the fate of the shinobi world.  

The thought was intoxicating.  

No. Get a hold of yourself!  

She forced her expression back into regal composure.  

"Enough talk. Prove your strength first. Let the results speak for themselves in two days." Her voice was steady, but her pulse wasn’t. "If you can’t even handle the Moon Country’s soldiers, don’t expect me to shield you. I’ll have my guards cut you down myself."  

Yoru chuckled.  

"Naturally. Just sit back and wait for the good news, Queen Mura."  

With their deal sealed, Yoru turned away.  

His path home was set. Now, all that remained was waiting for the Dragon Vein to awaken.  

Meanwhile, in the Moon Country… 

The Crown Prince was furious.  

When the Moon Daimyō learned that some nobody had openly challenged their authority, his rage burned just as hot.  

True, the Moon Country was no great power—but that didn’t mean some random brat could spit on their name and walk away unscathed.  

Under the Daimyō’s orders, 2,000 soldiers marched toward Ryōran at full speed.  

But the Crown Prince wasn’t satisfied.  

If Yoru was bold enough to provoke them, he must have some skill.  

So, he took it a step further—issuing bounties in the black market, hiring rogue shinobi to eliminate Yoru before the army even arrived.  

Let’s see how long that bastard lasts.  

Two Days Later… 

Tension choked Ryōran.  

Citizens barricaded themselves indoors. Merchants fled at the first whisper of conflict.  

The only ones left were Yoru, Ryōran’s 500 soldiers, and the Crown Prince’s flamboyant attendant—along with his band of thugs.  

"Your death is coming, brat!" the androgynous man sneered, strutting past Yoru for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "The Daimyō’s army is almost here! Pray while you still can!"  

In his eyes, Yoru was already a corpse.  

And if the way Yoru kept swinging his sword was any indication, maybe he was starting to panic.  

Or so the man thought.  

Truthfully, Yoru hadn’t even acknowledged him. He simply kept training—his blade cutting through the air with lethal precision.  

Beside him, a small girl mimicked his movements, her own sword flashing with surprising skill.  

She had talent.  

Natural killer’s instinct. Precise strikes. No wasted motion.  

Yoru had only taught her for a day, yet she already moved like a seasoned assassin.  

Interesting.  

If nurtured properly, she could become a valuable asset to Kirigakure.  

So, he trained her.  

And waited.  

The Reckoning 

When the Moon Country’s forces finally arrived, Yoru’s lips curled into a smirk.  

"This is all you brought?" He flicked blood off his blade, gesturing to the corpses at his feet—rogue shinobi, their throats slit cleanly. "You’re not even trying to impress me, are you?"  

The androgynous man’s face paled.  

"H-How…?"  

Among the dead were three A-rank missing-nin.  

Men capable of razing entire villages.  

Men who could slaughter 500 soldiers without breaking a sweat.  

And yet, Yoru had cut them down in two strokes.  

Just how strong IS he?!  

Before the man could process his dread, the ground trembled.  

"HALT!"  

The Moon Country’s army had arrived—2,000 strong, encircling Yoru in a layered formation. Archers. Spearmen. Shinobi-trained samurai. Every angle covered, every exit sealed.  

Ryōran’s soldiers quickly withdrew, claiming neutrality.  

"We won’t interfere in the Moon Country’s internal affairs!"  

The flamboyant attendant barely noticed.  

Good. Fewer witnesses.  

"Last chance, brat!" he crowed, regaining his bravado. "Kneel and beg for mercy, and I might let you live!"  

Yoru laughed.  

"Mercy? For what? Defending myself?" His grip tightened on his sword. "And you think this pitiful army is enough to make me surrender?"  

The soldiers seethed.  

Who the hell does this guy think he is?!  

But the attendant’s confidence was wavering.  

Something felt… off.  

Why weren’t the Ryōran troops staying to watch?  

Why did Yoru look amused?  

And why—  

Why was the air suddenly so cold?  

Chapter 267: Annihilation in the Blink of an Eye  

"Hmph. Big words for a brat."  

The Moon Country’s army commander sneered, raising his hand. A chorus of bowstrings creaked in response.  

"Let’s see if you keep that arrogance after this. FIRE!"  

"Whoosh—!"  

A storm of arrows blotted out the sky, their razor-tipped shadows swallowing the sunlight. The sheer volume was enough to turn any man’s blood to ice.  

Yet Yoru merely sighed.  

"Lightning Style: Thunder Pillar Wall."  

Four pillars of crackling electricity erupted around him and the girl, forming an impenetrable barrier.  

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"  

Arrows—some as thick as a man’s arm—slammed into the barrier, only to shatter like glass. The shield trembled faintly… then steadied, utterly unbroken.  

A collective gasp rippled through the army.  

What kind of monster was this?!  

Those arrows could pierce half-meter-thick stone walls—structures even explosives struggled to breach. Yet against Yoru’s defense? They might as well have been twigs.  

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. None had ever faced an enemy like this.  

"My turn."  

Yoru’s voice cut through the silence. Through the shimmering lightning wall, his gaze was eerily calm.  

"I don’t mean to boast, but… some people are just born out of your league."  

He raised a hand, forming a single seal.  

**"Next life, try being wiser. And you—"** His eyes locked onto the shrill-voiced eunuch. "Pick better masters. Arrogance gets you killed."  

"Lightning Style: Wrath of the Thunder Tiger."  

A bolt of lightning shot from his fingertips, tearing through the clouds.  

For a heartbeat—silence.  

Then—  

"BOOM!"  

The sky split open.  

A monstrous tiger’s head, woven from pure lightning, emerged from the vortex of storm clouds. Its maw yawned wide, swallowing the horizon in electric fury.  

The commander’s face drained of color.  

"NO—!"  

The pressure alone froze every soldier in place. Some dropped their weapons, eyes wide with horror. Others collapsed, laughing hysterically at the absurdity of their doom. A few tried to run—legs moving in slow motion, as if wading through mud.  

Then—  

"CRACK!"  

The tiger struck.  

The entire city of Ryūgamine shook. Windows shattered. The earth buckled. A searing white light swallowed the battlefield, followed by a shockwave that sent civilians tumbling.  

Ten seconds.  

That was all it lasted.  

When the dust cleared, the entire Moon Country battalion was gone.  

In its place—a 100-meter crater, littered with charred corpses and molten armor.  

The remnants of Ryūgamine’s walls? Vaporized.  

Silence.  

Then—gasps.  

The city’s defenders staggered forward, their faces pale. Among them, Captain Muraji, Ryūgamine’s military leader, clutched his sword for balance.  

**"T-Two thousand men… in ten seconds…"**  

Even the Five Kage couldn’t pull off such annihilation.  

His gaze snapped to Yoru—still standing untouched, the girl beside him unharmed.  

"Y-You…"  

Before he could finish, Yoru raised a hand.  

"Ah. Right on time."  

Captain Muraji whirled around.  

There, flanked by guards, stood Queen Mura. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her eyes blazing with a mix of fury and awe.  

"That was excessive," she hissed. "You could’ve minimized collateral damage. This was a show of force."  

(Privately, she was reeling. That technique—it wasn’t just power. It was cataclysm given form.)  

Yoru shrugged.  

"Efficiency. Our deal was 'no survivors.' This was the cleanest method."  

(He could have butchered them all silently with his blade. But where was the fun in that?)  

Queen Mura exhaled sharply. Then—  

"Very well. The pact stands."  

She turned to Captain Muraji.  

"Mobilize 500 troops. We strike the Land of Moon at once."  

For a moment, the captain stood frozen. Then—a grin split his face.  

"AT LAST!"  

The crowd erupted. Cheers. Cries of vengeance. The people of Ryūgamine, long oppressed, roared their approval.  

Yoru strolled over to the queen, offering a mock bow.  

"Congratulations in advance, Your Majesty. Victory is assured."  

Queen Mura didn’t share his confidence. Her voice was steel.  

"We’ll see."  

With that, she swept away, barking orders to seal the city’s borders. No leaks. No spies.  

And as for Yoru?  

At her request, he became the silent warden of Ryūgamine.  

No message would leave.  

No warning would reach the Land of Moon.  

Chapter 268: The Shinobi World is Shocked  

Queen Mura's War Council  

Inside the royal palace, Queen Mura and her advisors swiftly finalized their battle plans.  

Though Ryōran was small—lacking in land, population, and resources—its strategic location at the crossroads of nations had made it a hub of commerce. Wealth flowed freely here, and where wealth went, power followed.  

Under the sheer force of money, Ryōran assembled a new force of 1,000 mercenaries in record time. Combined with their existing 500 royal guards, they now had 1,500 soldiers—enough to launch a surprise invasion westward toward the Moon Country.  

Logistics? Supply lines? All handled with terrifying efficiency, thanks to Ryōran’s bottomless coffers.  

So fast… Yoru observed silently. Almost as if she’s been planning this for a while.  

"What Are Our Odds?"  

Seated cross-legged in the throne room, Yoru glanced up at Mura.  

"What do you think our chances are?"  

Mura’s lips curled. "High. The Moon Country only has 3,500 standing troops—and you already wiped out 2,000 of them. That leaves just 1,500 regular soldiers to defend against us."  

Her finger traced a map.  

"Even if their border garrisons have 5,000 reserves, they’re too scattered to matter. We strike fast, take Crescent Lake City—their key stronghold—and the rest will crumble."  

A cold smile.  

"With that city’s natural swamps and labyrinthine terrain, 100 of my men could hold off 1,000. Once it’s ours, the Moon Daimyō’s capital will be wide open. We capture him, and the war ends."  

Yoru chuckled, impressed.  

"Queen Mura, if you weren’t a ruler, you’d make one hell of a general."  

She tilted her chin up, pride flashing in her eyes.  

"After the Moon Country falls, I’ll immediately seek an alliance with the Land of Wind. That should deter any opportunistic neighbors."  

Her fingers drummed the armrest.  

"And I’ve already sent envoys to nearby minor nations. The more allies we secure now, the less backlash we’ll face later."  

Yoru nodded. "‘Befriend the distant, attack the near.’ Smart move."  

He mentally ran the numbers.  

The Moon Country doesn’t stand a chance.  

With that, he took his leave.  

Two Months Later…  

The surrounding nations were in shock.  

No one had expected Ryōran—the weakest of the weak—to suddenly invade the Moon Country.  

And win.  

What began as 1,500 soldiers had snowballed into 5,000 by the time they stormed the Moon Daimyō’s palace. The defending forces, caught off-guard and cut off from supplies after losing Crescent Lake City, collapsed within weeks.  

Starved. Outmaneuvered.  

The Moon Daimyō’s personal guard, grown lazy from years of peace, barely put up a fight. By the time he tried to flee, it was too late—his palace was surrounded.  

Two months.  

That was all it took for the Moon Country to fall.  

Now, Ryōran controlled its lands, its armies, its future.  

The surrounding nations, once dismissive of Ryōran, suddenly treated its envoys with fearful respect.  

Who would be next?  

With 10,000 troops under its banner—and rumors of the monster who had single-handedly slaughtered 2,000 soldiers in one strike—few minor nations dared provoke them.  

Only a handful—like the Land of Demons and the Land of Valleys—could possibly stand against them now.  

And with Ryōran’s newly secured alliance with the Land of Wind?  

Its rise was unstoppable.  

"Now, Honor Our Deal."  

Yoru stood once more in Mura’s throne room, his voice calm but firm.  

"Open the Dragon Vein for me."  

He hadn’t objected when she’d used his name to intimidate her enemies. It was a clever move—one he respected.  

But now, it was time to go home.  

Lingon Amefuri’s illness won’t wait. Who knows how much time has passed in my world?  

Mura studied him, then leaned forward.  

"One more condition."  

Yoru’s eyes narrowed.  

She dares renegotiate now?  

"What is it?" His tone turned icy.  

A faint smirk played on Mura’s lips.  

"Meet me here tonight, and I’ll tell you then." She paused. "I promise, it’s an offer you won’t refuse."  

Yoru’s frown deepened.  

What game is she playing?  

"Queen Mura," he said coldly, "I don’t appreciate last-minute changes. Remember—I helped build this kingdom. I can just as easily tear it down."  

With that, he turned and left.  

He didn’t see the conflicted look in Mura’s eyes—the mix of desperation and desire.  

Mura’s Secret Plan  

"A man like you…"  

Mura exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around her throne.  

"If I could bear your child, Ryōran’s future would be secured."  

She knew the truth.  

Ryōran’s revival was Yoru’s doing. Even though he’d spent most of his time here eating, sleeping, or training, his mere presence had been enough to deter invasions.  

That was the power of fear.  

And Yoru?  

Young. Powerful. Radiating the kind of charisma that made even a queen’s pulse quicken.  

He probably doesn’t even realize it.  

But Mura did.  

And she intended to use it.  

Yoru’s Misunderstanding  

"Why at night? Is this about that time I barged into her chambers?"  

As Yoru walked away, his mind raced—but not in the direction Mura hoped.  

The idea that this could be about romance never even crossed his mind.  

All he cared about was one thing:  

Getting home.  

Chapter 269: Outmaneuvered  

Night fell, and he arrived at the royal palace.  

But the moment he pushed the door open, his brow furrowed. "What’s this overpowering scent?"  

The fragrance was intoxicating—thick enough to seep into his skull and spread through his entire body.  

Then, he noticed something else off.  

The palace’s decor was… sensual. Pink ribbons, translucent yet teasing, swayed in the breeze. The dim, moody lighting seemed designed to stir the deepest desires.  

Yoru’s frown deepened as he stepped forward—only to freeze at the sight of Mura.  

"Your Majesty, what kind of game are you playing?" His voice was sharp. "A setting this provocative is practically an invitation for sin. And you—your attire is…"  

He cut himself off, pupils contracting. "Wait. This scent… You—"  

A surge of heat erupted from his core, scorching through his veins and clouding his mind. His breath grew ragged, unbidden thoughts flooding his consciousness.  

If he didn’t recognize this reaction, he’d have wasted his years of experience.  

And Mura—where was her regal dignity now?  

Clad in nothing but a sheer veil, her skin glowed under the dim light, every curve a lethal temptation.  

"Don’t… don’t come closer!" Yoru retreated, chanting inwardly: "Do not look! Do not look!"  

Mura laughed, low and throaty. "What’s wrong, little man?"  

Then she lunged.  

Their lips met—and his restraint shattered.  

A primal growl tore from his throat as he pinned her beneath him.  

—  

When Yoru awoke, he found himself staring into a pair of gleaming, mischievous gemstone eyes.  

Their owner—still flushed from the night’s frenzy—clung to him with shameless satisfaction.  

"Clever scheme," Yoru spat, icy. "I’ll admit defeat. Now get off me."  

Yoru, who’d dominated the shinobi world, ruled the Land of Water, and crushed every foe in his path—outplayed by the unarmed Queen of Loulan?  

Pathetic.  

"Mmm, no~ I’m exhausted. You were far too energetic last night." Mura nuzzled against him, all traces of royalty gone.  

"Fine. I’ll leave instead."  

A Water Clone replaced him as he dressed swiftly, shooting her a glare. "Remember our wager. I need the Dragon Vein’s power. Fail me, and I won’t hesitate to act."  

He vanished without another word.  

"Ugh! What a block of ice!" Mura hissed, wincing as she moved. "You took my virginity, and this is your attitude?!"  

—  

Three days later.  

"This is the Dragon Vein. But activating it requires two more years. Check Loulan’s archives if you doubt me."  

Back in her regal gown, Mura stood poised beside Yoru.  

"So I’m stuck here for two years?" His jaw tightened.  

As a time-traveler, he’d avoided altering history—until this. Destroying the Moon Kingdom was one thing, but Mura’s "breeding gambit"? Unforeseen.  

Would the child disrupt the future? The uncertainty gnawed at him.  

Yet each time he considered ending the pregnancy, he hesitated. What if the child dies with Loulan’s fall? What if they’re just another face lost to time?  

His emotions were a storm.  

(He didn’t yet know he’d be the one to change Loulan’s fate.)  

"That’s right~ Aren’t you thrilled? More time with me!" Mura grinned, girlish despite her 23 years.  

"Thrilled? You’re the only one celebrating." Yoru turned away. "Prepare yourself. Pregnancy isn’t a game."  

At the tunnel’s exit, he paused. "I’m leaving Loulan. I’ll return in two years. Farewell."  

A shunshin—and he was gone.  

"That bastard!" Mura stomped her foot. "Who abandons the woman who took their first—?!"  

By the time she emerged, scouts reported Yoru’s disappearance.  

"Dismissed."  

Hand resting on her abdomen, Mura smirked. "This isn’t over."  

Chapter 270: The Senju Duo  

Time flew by.  

At first, Mura could still catch whispers of Yoru’s exploits—today he took down a rogue ninja, tomorrow he crushed a criminal syndicate, the next day he challenged some renowned warrior. His fame grew, his name spreading far and wide.  

A wanderer with a young woman always by his side, a master swordsman walking the line between hero and rogue—people began calling him "Rōnin", after a name from some popular novel.  

Countless factions tried recruiting him. Without exception, he refused them all.  

Rumors even said the Daimyō of the Land of Fire extended an invitation. Still, he turned it down.  

Then, suddenly, the trail went cold. Mura could no longer find any news of him. The weight of his absence left her listless, her cheeks hollowing over time.  

Until one day—doctors began arriving in Wave Country, batch after batch, every few weeks.  

According to them, a man had ordered them here. "Stay for two years," he’d said. "Leave early, and you’ll regret it."  

Hearing this, Mura’s lips curled into a smile for the first time in months.  

Not long after, neighboring nations started sending shipments—medicinal herbs, nourishing foods, all sorts of supplies.  

Again, the reason was the same: A man’s command. Disobey, and pay with your life.  

Mura’s heart swelled. Maybe that bastard wasn’t so heartless after all.  

But then… silence. A full year passed in the blink of an eye.  

Then came the day the royal palace erupted into chaos—preparations, urgency, a flurry of movement.  

Wave Country was about to welcome its next ruler. 

Mura was going into labor.  

That same day, a hexagonal barrier descended from the sky, enveloping the palace. An icy pressure followed, freezing everyone in place.  

It took a while before anyone noticed—the figure standing atop the palace roof. A man in black, his clothes fluttering in the wind, his gaze colder than glacial ice, deeper than the stars. Just looking at him stole the breath from their lungs. No one dared approach.  

Yet the moment he appeared, something miraculous happened.  

Queen Mura, exhausted and struggling, suddenly found renewed strength. The birth went smoothly—a healthy baby boy, mother and child both safe.  

The moment the child was born, the man vanished, as if he’d never been there at all.  

Had everyone not seen the barrier, seen him, they might’ve thought it a hallucination.  

The next morning, during their routine patrol, the royal guards stumbled upon corpses—dozens of them.  

On one of the leaders, they found a manifesto. A list of conspirators. Their plan? Storm the palace during Mura’s labor, when security was weakest. Assassinate the queen. Overthrow the kingdom.  

The guards broke out in cold sweat. They scrambled to investigate—only to find every name on that list already dead.  

All killed by a single, flawless slash to the throat.  

The precision was terrifying. Even master swordsmen who examined the bodies shuddered, muttering, "This skill… it’s inhuman."  

"It must be him—it has to be!"  

Someone immediately thought of the child’s father. The man who’d once performed miracles in Wave Country.  

"No doubt. Only he could pull this off."  

The guard captain rushed to deliver the news to Mura.  

"I see. Clean it up. Leave no loose ends—and keep the civilians undisturbed."  

Her tone was calm, as if she’d expected this all along.  

"Hmph. Say you don’t care all you want… but your actions don’t lie."  

Now noticeably rounder-cheeked, Mura smirked to herself.  

Meanwhile… 

Konohagakure  

"Yoru-sama, are you sure you don’t want to check on Queen Mura? If you were so worried you wiped out an entire rebellion in one night, why leave in such a hurry?"  

Walking down Konoha’s bustling streets, a girl trailing behind Yoru tilted her head. Around fifteen or sixteen, she stood nearly as tall as him. Together, they could pass as siblings—or a young couple.  

Yoru, now eighteen (nineteen by traditional count), still had a youthful face. But his eyes carried a weight far beyond his years, giving him an oddly ageless aura.  

"Since when do I need a reason to come and go as I please?"  

He flicked her forehead without turning around.  

"Ow! Hey!"*  

The girl—Reiko—bared her teeth, ready to pounce.  

"Knock it off. People are staring."  

Yoru palmed her face, holding her at arm’s length. Sure enough, passersby were watching with amused, knowing smiles.  

His eye twitched. These idiots are definitely misunderstanding something.  

His tastes were normal, thank you very much. No lolicon tendencies here.  

"Ugh, this is your fault!" Reiko’s face burned crimson under the crowd’s gaze.  

Yoru rolled his eyes. My fault? Who brought it up in the first place?  

Later… 

Hot Springs Inn  

"Konoha really is something else. Number one hidden village for a reason."  

Soaking in the steamy waters, Yoru sighed in contentment.  

"Of course! Konoha’s my pride and joy—a place of prosperity, warmth, and peace. Everyone deserves to live happily here!"  

A booming, infectious laugh cut through the mist. Yoru cracked an eye open. The sheer presence radiating from the newcomer was overwhelming.  

A square-jointed man with an ordinary face but a grin like sunlight slid into the water beside him, sighing in bliss.  

Yoru blinked. Then, recognizing the face, he leaned back and shut his eyes again.  

"Shouldn’t the Shodaime Hokage be buried in paperwork right now? Slacking off like this—what if they impeach you?"  

The man was none other than Senju Hashirama—the God of Shinobi, the strongest man alive outside the Sage of Six Paths himself. The one who’d ended the Warring States era.  

"A man like you visiting Konoha? I had to see it for myself. Who knows what you’d get up to?" A colder voice cut in.  

Another figure entered—silver hair, sharp red markings, piercing eyes. Dressed in battle-ready gear, his very aura was a blade.  

Senju Tobirama.  

The Nidaime Hokage. Master of forbidden jutsu. Creator of the Hiraishin. The man whose innovations would indirectly shape—and shake—the shinobi world for generations.  

And, as Yoru well knew, a man whose arsenal consisted of exactly two things: water-style techniques and "absolutely broken" forbidden techniques.