After a long while, Shion emerged from her grief over her eternal farewell to her mother.
She wiped away the tears from her face and bowed formally to Seiya.
"Thank you, passing masked Shinobi."
"Thank me for what?" Seiya did not take the credit. "Even if I hadn't acted, your bell should have kept you safe and sound."
Shion smiled faintly, "Who can truly say what might have happened? At least, in the moment you moved to stand in front of us, no one expected the bell to turn the crisis around."
"That's true."
Seiya accepted the acknowledgment without being pretentious, nodding in agreement.
The Priestess was eager to express her gratitude for saving her life.
He wasn't a fool to stubbornly push the appreciation away.
Next, Shion bowed again, saying sincerely, "I'm sorry, passing masked Shinobi."
"Actually, I was gambling that your goodwill towards me would temporarily set aside your grievance with Kurotsuchi and save us from distress. I took advantage of your kindness, forcing you to make an unhappy choice. I apologize!"
Seiya touched his mask and asked curiously, "You were so confident I would save you?"
Shion smiled with pursed lips, "In that situation, all I could do was gamble that you were a generous and good person."
Seiya nodded his chin, pondered for a moment, then looked at Kurotsuchi and asked, "Will you be as sensible as Miss Priestess and accept my life-saving grace?"
"Of course. I owe you a life!"
Kurotsuchi answered without hesitation. Although he acted to save Shion, she genuinely benefited as well. As the Princess of Iwagakure, she would not basely deny the kindness of others!
"Owe me a life? That's easily said!"
Seiya chuckled, then said coldly, "If I ask you to commit suicide, would you be willing to repay the debt with your life in this manner?"
"No!"
Shion exclaimed, hastily pleading, "Passing masked Shinobi, Kurotsuchi was only in danger because of my incorrect information. I am willing to repay the life debt for her!"
Kurotsuchi, however, stared at Seiya's mask and asked, "You want me dead that much?"
"Just say whether you are willing or not," Seiya said calmly.
"I am willing!" Kurotsuchi did not hesitate. "But before I die, I want to understand why. Could you please tell me the reason you want me dead so much?"
Seiya raised an eyebrow. "Is the grievance from the Kitsuchi Plateau not enough?"
Kurotsuchi explained, "From beginning to end, I only wanted to remove your mask. I never thought about killing you or your companion!"
Seiya shook his head.
"You should remember what I said to you before you planned to remove my mask, right?"
'I advise you not to do anything foolish. Once you see my face, you won't leave here alive today!'
Kurotsuchi's mind quickly flashed with that sentence. She immediately understood, then took out a kunai and resolutely stabbed toward her throat.
"Seal!"
Accompanying Shion's soft shout, a golden light flashed on Kurotsuchi's hand, immobilizing her.
Then, Shion looked at Seiya and pleaded, "Passing masked Shinobi, Kurotsuchi wanted to remove the mask you deem your life, and she certainly deserves to die! However, since she failed in removing the mask, there should still be room for reconciliation. Why not spare her life and discuss things further?"
Seiya glanced at her and retorted, "I saved you. Is this how you repay me?"
Shion nodded candidly, "Kurotsuchi is the Tsuchikage's only granddaughter. Her living is definitely more useful than her dying! Why would you, as the benefactor, seek temporary satisfaction by taking her useless life, rather than securing a future Iwagakure high-ranking official who could be of great importance?"
Upon hearing this, Seiya mused for a moment, then looked at Kurotsuchi.
"From now on, are you willing to serve me?"
"As long as it doesn't violate the interests of the village, I am willing!"
"Good." Seiya nodded slightly, took the kunai from Kurotsuchi's hand. "You don't have to die. Keep your life and be useful to me in the future!"
Shion saw this and breathed a sigh of relief, lifting the seal on Kurotsuchi's hand.
Then, the three of them walked out of the cave together and immediately met Kitsuchi, who was rushing up the mountain.
The Ghost Army at the foot of the mountain all turned into stone the moment Moryo was sealed, completely lifeless.
"You worked hard, Kitsuchi-ojisan!" Shion politely bowed in thanks.
"It is a Shinobi's duty! There's no need to be polite!"
Kitsuchi replied, his eyes focused on his daughter and Seiya. With his daughter safe and sound, the stone in his heart finally dropped, and the anxiety on his face vanished.
However, that shouldn't be right. With the masked man going in, his daughter should have at least been injured!
Kitsuchi felt extremely confused.
Kurotsuchi explained, "Dad, the masked man saved us."
Huh? What happened?
Kitsuchi was somewhat bewildered, unable to imagine what had transpired in the cave, but he still respectfully thanked Seiya.
With the mission complete, it was time to part ways.
After exchanging a few words of blessing, Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi waved goodbye to Shion and Seiya.
Before leaving, Kurotsuchi smiled and asked, "Masked man, could you give me a name? I can't call you 'Masked Man' for the rest of my life, can I?"
"..."
Seiya thought for a moment, then politely declined, "Let's talk about it the next time we meet."
Kurotsuchi nodded in acknowledgment. She suddenly remembered their grievance and kindly warned him.
"Masked man, your Shinobi sword is the heirloom sword of Kisame Hoshigaki's former partner, Raiga Kurosuki. And Raiga Kurosuki died at the hands of the current Kumogakure Shinobi, Jin Uchiha. Logically, this sword should belong to Jin Uchiha."
"Therefore, as long as you carry this Shinobi sword, you will eventually be sought out by those with ill intentions. After all, anyone with eyes can tell that you are involved with the S-rank rogue Shinobi wanted by Konoha!"
Seiya was suddenly enlightened, finally understanding the reason Kurotsuchi had pursued and provoked him that day.
"I see. Thank you for the reminder."
"You're welcome."
Kurotsuchi smiled faintly and left the small mountain with Kitsuchi, heading back to Iwagakure.
Shion watched Kurotsuchi leave and sincerely praised, "She is a very excellent and respectable Shinobi."
"Indeed, her character is quite good."
Seiya nodded in agreement. Even with their deep-seated resentment, he couldn't deny Kurotsuchi's personal qualities.
Shion withdrew her gaze, turned her head to look at Seiya's mask, and smiled, "So, passing masked Shinobi, could you tell your name to me, a Priestess who is practically isolated from the Shinobi world?"
Seiya firmly shook his head and refused.
"My identity involves too many things. I cannot tell you."
"Alright."
Shion was a little disappointed. She thought for a moment and then requested, "Then, could you take off your mask and let me see your face?"
Seiya thought for a moment, then removed his mask, revealing his flawless, handsome face.
Shion was momentarily lost in thought.
Her cheeks flushed, and her lips parted slightly.
After a long pause, she lamented, "It's a huge loss for the Shinobi world not to be able to admire your looks!"
Seiya grinned.
"That's a very fresh compliment. Thank you."
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