บท 66: Daimyo? Are You the One Who Wants My Head?

The chaos in Kusagakure came swiftly and ended just as quickly. Many villagers had no idea what had happened. They only knew that two waves of disturbances had struck the village, causing them to flee to the back mountain for safety. Then, they heard a thunderous roar, followed by what seemed like angry shouting. Finally, the ground shook violently, and they watched in horror as many of the buildings in Kusagakure collapsed. Dust clouds rose into the sky, even reaching those hiding in the back mountain, making it difficult to see.

It was like the end of the world.

When the turmoil finally ceased, the terrified villagers began to speak.

"Gulp!" someone swallowed hard, looking towards Kusagakure. "Is my house destroyed? What happened? Is it war?"

"It shouldn't be. If it were a war, the noise wouldn't stop so quickly. It seems more like something exploded."

"What are those ninjas doing? They've destroyed so many houses. Where are we supposed to live?"

"Shh! Don't let the ninjas hear you! You might get expelled from the village."

"There must be people who didn't make it to the back mountain."

Amidst the commotion, the Daimyo of the Land of Grass was annoyed. He, too, was hiding in the back mountain with his retainers. The heat made him constantly use his fan without air conditioning or fans until his arm ached. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.

"Let's go down and take a look!" he ordered his retainers. "The noise has stopped. The intruders must have been dealt with. I can't stand this place any longer."

"Daimyo-sama, please be cautious!" a retainer dressed as a samurai said urgently. "What if..."

"Are you contradicting me?" the Daimyo shot him a cold look.

"N-No!" the retainer sweated profusely.

The Daimyo covered his eyes with his fan and sighed, "Kill him. I don't want disobedient people around. Make it quick; I don't like blood."

"Wait! Daimyo-sama! This is a misunderstanding! I am loyal to you!—Ahhhhh!!!!"

Splat!

"Too bad you're too ugly to be added to my specimen collection," the Daimyo said with a look of pity. "You missed a chance to become famous nationwide."

"Carry me down," he instructed his other retainers.

"Yes, Daimyo-sama!"

The Daimyo's actions terrified the retainers and the villagers hiding in the back mountain, making everything quiet. The blood from the body on the ground was still flowing, making the scene even more frightening. The villagers, too scared to speak, watched as two retainers struggled to carry the Daimyo's several hundred pounds down the mountain.

Soon, they reached the mountain base, and the Daimyo had them put him down. He complained, "This path is too narrow. My palanquin can't be carried up, and being carried like this is uncomfortable."

"Daimyo-sama, it is our fault for not carrying you properly," the retainers quickly apologized.

Ignoring them, the Daimyo looked ahead, his brows furrowing deeply. "Is the place where I was staying destroyed too? Don't the ninjas know to protect my residence?"

"And what are those brats doing?" he asked, looking at some Kusagakure children in ragged clothes, which displeased him.

"Daimyo-sama, those are children who didn't make it to the back mountain in time. They must have survived the 'explosion' by luck," a retainer explained quickly.

"They're ugly."

"Their clothes are ugly too."

The Daimyo fanned himself, trying to waft away nonexistent smells. "Tell the Kusagakure leader to sell these dirty children. They shouldn't be parading around making us look bad."

Calmly, he added, "Selling these children can help fund the village. After all, hasn't he always done this?"

"Yes, of course."

"We'll discuss this with the Kusagakure leader. The next time you visit, Daimyo-sama, you won't see these dirty children."

As the Daimyo walked past the children, he suddenly stopped. "I've changed my mind. As the Daimyo of the Land of Grass, I naturally have a compassionate heart."

"Daimyo-sama, what do you mean?" a retainer asked cautiously.

The Daimyo smiled, "If we can't have a giant head specimen exhibition, we can have a child's head specimen exhibition instead!"

"Karin? Karin, where are you?" At that moment, an untimely voice called out.

Everyone turned to see a woman with long red hair in a combat uniform searching through the ruined village. It was Uzumaki Kushina! She had been drained of too much blood over the years in Kusagakure, making her too weak to use her "Kagura Mind's Eye." She could only call out for her daughter.

"Hmm?" The Daimyo's eyes lit up. "What a rare hair color. It doesn't look dyed."

He licked his lips in anticipation.

"This head would make a great addition to my collection!" he ordered. "Quick! Capture her! Don't let her escape!"

Kushina didn't expect to encounter a strange group of people while searching for her daughter. They didn't look like ninjas or Kusagakure people, more like traditional samurai. They rushed at her, surrounding her.

"...Who are you?" Seeing their swords, Kushina instinctively reached for a kunai but remembered she had no weapons.

"Our Daimyo wants your head. You just happen to have red hair," a burly retainer with a sword sneered.

"Damn..." Kushina knew she was too weak to fight them all. She could barely handle a few, let alone a dozen.

"Dad! Mom's scent is over here! I see her! It's Mom! Mom!!!"

A clear, cheerful voice came from behind Kushina.

Kushina turned quickly.

"Karin... Karin!"

She saw her daughter on Whitebeard's shoulder, waving at her.

"Gurararara... No wonder I smelled something familiar in this village."

Whitebeard's hearty voice followed. He looked at the Daimyo and smirked. "I heard someone call you 'Daimyo.' Are you the Daimyo of the Land of Grass?"

"Kid!"

"Are you the one who wants my head?"