Chapter 101: White Fang's Treatment
The arrival of the Mist ninja diplomatic envoy was like tossing a stone into water—naturally it stirred up ripples in circles, especially after the Mist ninja presented demand after demand, immediately raising quite a wave.
Ritsu had originally been concentrating wholeheartedly on researching and developing new techniques. Because mastering those three hair manipulation secret techniques had gone unexpectedly quickly, saving considerable time that could be used for other research. However, such days of undistracted research were truly rare. Before he'd enjoyed a few good days, approaching matters interrupted his research progress again.
"The Mist ninja have quite an appetite. They want this, they want that—don't they consider whether their stomachs can really handle it all?" Ritsu sneered.
He even somewhat admired the Mist ninja's pipe dreams!
He completely couldn't understand what these people were thinking.
Clearly the Mist ninja had been beaten into crushing defeat and fled, yet they still came demanding the return of numerous lost ninja tools, even wanting to ransom back the prisoner Suikazan Fuguki—acting as though the Mist ninja were the victorious party.
"Ritsu-kun, they might truly be able to swallow it all."
Orochimaru, seated in the main position, said faintly.
"What? How so?"
Ritsu froze.
"The village may not refuse the Mist ninja's demands."
Orochimaru said with a smile—though his smile looked as fake as if drawn on with a brush.
"Why?"
Ritsu raised an eyebrow.
"Because those people above hope to end hostilities with the Mist ninja as quickly as possible rather than continue entangling with them. As long as they can achieve a ceasefire, paying some insignificant costs is completely acceptable to them."
Orochimaru looked at Ritsu, speaking in a tone of commonplace calm: "You may not know since you haven't encountered this before, but previously after the village defeated the Sand and Rock ninja, they adopted similar methods to end those wars. They didn't demand any reparations from the Sand or Rock ninja, even proactively releasing a batch of prisoners first, then exchanging prisoners, and finally signing ceasefire agreements."
"..."
Ritsu was speechless.
He truly didn't know these things. Even as a transmigrator, he wasn't omniscient. His past life's memories contained no record of these matters, and his previous status in this life hadn't allowed him to access information at that level.
Not until now, through Orochimaru's words, did he finally understand the weakness of Konoha's current foreign policy.
"So, Orochimaru-senpai, the village will force me to hand over my obtained war spoils?"
After pondering for a moment, Ritsu asked again.
Though Konoha's foreign policy weakness was somewhat surprising, thinking carefully, this might not be a bad thing for him. Perhaps he could use this as a pretext to negotiate with the Third Hokage.
"I don't think it'll go that far. Teacher Sarutobi, however muddled, hasn't reached that degree. He won't force you to do anything. He'll try to persuade you, convince you until you willingly sacrifice for the village. If you refuse, unwilling to sacrifice for the village, then it becomes your fault!"
This time Orochimaru couldn't be bothered with evasive terms like "the village" or "those above," directly saying "Teacher Sarutobi."
"Moral blackmail?"
Ritsu said instinctively.
"Moral blackmail?"
Orochimaru's eyes lit up as he clapped in praise. "Well said! This is precisely Teacher Sarutobi's most frequently used method. He loves preaching the so-called Will of Fire, demanding everyone sacrifice everything without seeking reward or sparing cost for this Will of Fire, for the village."
Ritsu's mouth twitched. So the Will of Fire was such an abstract thing? Though he hadn't figured out what this Will of Fire was across two lifetimes.
"Orochimaru-senpai, you summoned me just to tell me my war spoils might not be secure?"
Ritsu pressed.
"Summoning you naturally isn't just for this little matter. Orders came from the village requiring you and Hiruko to return to the village as quickly as possible. Since the Mist ninja diplomatic envoy is also going to the village to negotiate signing the ceasefire agreement, you'll travel with them, escorting them safely to the village."
"Whose suggestion was this? Quite good! Using me to disgust the Mist ninja—truly an excellent disgusting idea!"
Ritsu laughed.
His reputation among the Mist ninja was utterly terrible. The number of Mist ninja experts who died by his hand was considerable—countless Mist ninja hated him to the bone. Having him escort the Mist diplomatic envoy to Konoha would definitely be a torturous affair for them.
"My arrangement."
Orochimaru smiled slightly.
"Worthy of Orochimaru-senpai. We truly share the same mind."
Ritsu laughed even more happily.
Seeing this, Orochimaru also smiled more pleasantly, feeling like he'd met a kindred spirit. His reason for making this arrangement was precisely to disgust the Mist ninja.
He brewed for two seconds before speaking: "The village's current situation is rather complex. The Uchiha Clan has already made a scene once, demanding the village investigate and expose the traitors who sold out comrades' intelligence. But Lord Hokage hasn't yet given a clear conclusion."
Hearing this, Ritsu's smile instantly gained several parts mockery. "Looks like Lord Hokage plans to wait until I return to the village to resolve this matter in one go, not giving us opportunities to cause trouble multiple times!"
"Perhaps."
Orochimaru gave an ambiguous answer, then continued: "But these are minor matters. The key now is another issue—a certain rumor has suddenly begun spreading in the village."
"Rumor? What rumor?"
Ritsu raised an eyebrow.
"Some people say this Mist ninja invasion wasn't due to Mist greed stirring up trouble unprovoked, but rather that someone in the village violated regulations by privately researching forbidden techniques, even capturing Mist ninja as research subjects. This ultimately made the Mist ninja unable to endure it any longer, finally triggering war between us and them!"
"Excellent methods."
After hearing this, Ritsu didn't get angry but clapped in praise instead.
This confounding of right and wrong, reversing cause and effect was indeed brilliantly executed. It distorted the causes and consequences of this war between Konoha and the Mist, attributing all responsibility for the war's outbreak to someone researching forbidden techniques. Even more, after learning of this rumor, the Mist ninja would very likely actively cooperate, transforming their original aggressor image directly into victims!
This rumor was woven extraordinarily ingeniously. Though false, it seemed more real than reality.
Even difficult to refute.
Because researching forbidden techniques was true. Moreover, Ritsu mastered the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai, and Hiruko had also exposed Ice Release Kekkei Genkai in previous battles. This was ironclad evidence!
"I imagine the person privately researching forbidden techniques in the rumor should be a master-disciple pair?" Ritsu guessed.
"More or less."
"This truly is... White Fang-senpai's treatment!"
Ritsu laughed, his smile brilliant.
Orochimaru was also startled by Ritsu's words, then couldn't help laughing too. "Ritsu-kun, your courage truly makes me admire you. But you're right—this indeed counts as the treatment Sakumo-senpai experienced!"
Back then, White Fang of Konoha Sakumo Hatake had also been deeply mired in rumor attacks, ultimately choosing to end his own life.
And now, new rumors were spreading throughout Konoha Village again.
"The Mist ninja presented so many demands—they wouldn't happen to already know about this rumor, would they? Or perhaps someone has already contacted them?" Ritsu made associations.
"Possibly."
Orochimaru answered vaguely.
Regarding this, Ritsu had nothing to be surprised about. He asked: "Orochimaru-senpai, is there anything else?"
"Ritsu-kun, can you tell me your plans? This rumor is quite troublesome and deadly. Once the village people believe it as truth..."
Orochimaru's curiosity was also quite strong.
He very much wanted to know how Ritsu would handle this thorny trouble.
"My head is also a jumbled mess right now. What methods could there be for such things? Let's return to the village first before discussing further!"
Ritsu spoke honestly, spreading his hands in a helpless expression.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, seemingly not quite believing Ritsu's answer. But seeing Ritsu unwilling to reveal his hand, he abandoned pressing to the bottom, only saying: "In that case, depart as quickly as possible!"
"Fine."
Ritsu agreed.
His gaze turned westward. The next battlefield would no longer be physical combat with blood and blades against the Mist ninja, but rather clashing swords and shadows in competition with "comrades."
"Struggling against heaven, earth and people—endless pleasure indeed!"
Ritsu instinctively flexed his ten fingers, his face revealing a pleased smile.
After taking leave of Orochimaru, Ritsu first went back to find Teacher Hiruko, briefly explaining the information Orochimaru had told him.
"Those bastards! This is slander!!"
Unlike Ritsu's composure—
Hiruko was enraged.
"Teacher, it's not entirely slander. Our research on the Chimera Technique truly didn't receive any approval or permission. From that perspective, there's no problem."
Ritsu said with a smile.
"What you say is correct, but saying our master-disciple pair triggered war between the village and the Mist ninja to research forbidden techniques—that's too absurd!"
"That's why it's a rumor rather than fact. Teacher, don't get too angry. It's not worth it, and there's no need. Unless the Third Hokage dares to lie with open eyes, smearing a layer of shit on his perfect persona, these rumors will always remain just rumors, impossible to become crimes for us."
"Alright, Ritsu, you don't need to comfort me."
Hiruko was also someone of firm will. He quickly rallied again. He sighed and said: "I'm now truly starting to believe what Suikazan Fuguki said. White Fang-senpai's death perhaps truly wasn't due to his own psychological fragility but rather a helpless choice after being forced into a desperate situation!"
"Back then, White Fang-senpai was harmed by rumors because he had no background, no backing. But our master-disciple pair is different from him. I'm the Hyuga Clan head. Trying to attack us with rumors is simply impossible!"
Ritsu said with full confidence.
His confidence came from multiple sources.
First was his own strength. In this ninja world where one person could destroy a nation or oppose an entire hidden village, the strong actually needn't care about ants' chaotic clamor.
Second, he was now the Hyuga Clan head. As Konoha's top prestigious clan, the Hyuga were deeply rooted in Konoha Village with extensive connections, possessing firm supporters to oppose rumors. The situation of being besieged on all sides would be difficult to create.
There was also a very important reason—as a transmigrator, Ritsu possessed a completely different mentality from the natives.
He'd never bound his identity to being a Konoha ninja. To him, being a Konoha ninja was merely the optimal choice. Konoha was never a hometown he couldn't abandon. If some helpless changes occurred, abandoning his Konoha ninja identity was completely something he could consider.
And this was something White Fang of Konoha lacked. He couldn't sever his Konoha ninja identity, so ultimately he could only be slowly strangled bit by bit by rumors and slander!
Until finally, White Fang personally sent himself on his way.
"Ritsu, your mentality truly makes people envious!"
Watching his treasured disciple, so confident and seemingly fearless of anything, Hiruko's mood immediately improved by seventy or eighty percent. Having such a disciple meant no regrets this lifetime!
However, thinking that someone planned to kill his treasured disciple, his mood immediately rode a roller coaster plunging toward the abyss!
He thought very seriously for a moment before speaking again: "Ritsu, actually I not only believe what Suikazan Fuguki said about White Fang-senpai, but also what he said about you. I think he spoke the truth. Because your act of overthrowing Main Family rule caused the village's upper leadership to view you unfavorably, feeling you might threaten their rule. For this, they—no, it's the Third Hokage—he wants to kill you!!!"
Hiruko spoke with harsh severity.
This was completely laying it all out!
He looked at Ritsu and said solemnly: "Ritsu, we can't always remain so passive under attack. We must find a way to resolve this problem, or rather, we must resolve the person who keeps targeting and scheming against you! Otherwise, troubles will endlessly find us."
Hiruko's words overflowed with killing intent.
Watching Teacher Hiruko brimming with murderous aura, the corners of Ritsu's mouth couldn't help curving into a pleased arc. His mood was exceptionally good. "Teacher, I'm very clear about everything you've said. I've never thought of always meekly submitting like this. It's just that I wasn't strong enough before, so even if targeted and schemed against, I could only endure."
"But now it's different."
Ritsu clenched his fists, speaking resoundingly: "Our master-disciple pair joining hands is already enough to make our Lord Hokage properly suffer. So... Teacher, when we return to the village this time, I'm preparing to properly play with our Lord Hokage!"
Hearing this, Hiruko immediately laughed. He said earnestly: "When the time comes, remember if there's anything you need me to do, tell me anytime."
****
50+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces