Arc IX Chapter 10

    IX

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    Arc IX Chapter 10

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    An eventful day had passed, and Yuji was neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the outcome of their little adventure.

    Yuji remained conflicted. His stance regarding their unexpected saviour was ambivalent at best.

    On the one hand, the girl used them as stepping stones to advance her agenda. On the other hand, she solved their debt issue and got rid of Tsuyoshi and his men for good. The girl kept her promise, despite her unconventional methods and all her deviations.

    The girl wasn''t entirely honest, but who was these days. The world was a dark place and honesty died a slow death.

    Yuji grumbled. The little princess honoured her word against all expectations. She deserved their gratitude, much to his dislike.

    Tsuyoshi wouldn''t bother them anymore. The man wasn''t stupid. He wouldn''t dare to defy her. Not after her little performance.

    Yuji remembered. Her dark sinister aura, the frigid cold surrounding her. Her existence frightened him. Her presence rendered them minuscule, meaningless.

    The girl said Pain, their all-mighty gracious god, sent her.

    Maybe her words were true. Maybe she was indeed a messenger of their god, another angel sent to punish the unbelievers for their sins.

    Rumours circulated about the Angel at his side. The woman enacted his will and interacted with the mortals in his name, gracing them with her presence.

    The girl might be another instruments of his divine will, but he doubted so. The girl was different. She didn''t seem like an angel, nor did she pretend to be one.

    Her personality was rather human. Not virtue, but ambition guided her path. It didn''t feel out of place.

    The way she spoke, the way she acted, fitted her nature. Her bearing was quite earthly, that of a ruler, that of a queen.

    There was little divine about her, but Pain wasn''t exactly the most benevolent ruler either. Contrary to his lofty words and benign intentions, their proclaimed god ruled with an iron fist and little love. He didn''t set the highest moral standard.

    The elders remembered his bloody deeds. Much innocent blood was spilled that day. He murdered Hanzo, his friends, his allies. Pains spared nobody in his frenzy. Driven by bloodlust, neither women, nor children, escaped his blind rage. They all had to die, Amegakure remembered. The village never forgot the days when the rivers once again turned red.

    Discontent was never voiced, criticism only spoken behind closed doors. Pain''s men roamed the streets and silenced dissident voices.

    Faithful believers, crazed cultists and misguided zealots, thugs and thieves, they were all and none.

    I will join the academy! I will become powerful! I will become a splendid villainess just like her! Ohohoho!“

    ...

    ...

    ...

    Her behaviour ... was ... unexpected.

    Yuji shook his head. His poor little sister had officially lost it. “....“

    Mayumi pouted, offended by his lack of faith. “You don''t believe me, do you?“

    He laughed. “Silly sister, stop dreaming. You neither will become a splendid ... villainess, nor will you join the academy.“

    “Why?“ Mayumi crossed her arms.

    Yuji, ever the pessimist, scoffed. He knew how things worked. “Look, joining the academy is a pipe dream. Without connections, you are nothing in this village. You are not from a prestigious family, you have no talent, you have no wealth. They have no reason to accept you.

    And even then, the academy is in shambles right now, a shadow of its former self. Forget your dreams, Mayumi ...“

    “Mayumi?“

    Mayumi broke out in tears. “Nii-san, you are such a meanie.“ His sister started hitting him. Her little fists hurt surprisingly.

    “Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Stop hitting me.“

    “No!“ Mayumi intensified her assault.

    “I understand, I understand, I will try to sign you up for the academy. Are you happy now?“

    Mayumi tears subsided. Her eyes sparkled again with new splendour. “Really?“

    “Yes.“ Not that they would accept her to begin with. An orphan of unknown origin without a single ryo in her pockets and any knowledge about the ninja arts at the academy? Absurd.

    He didn''t need to worry, but Mayumi was happy for now. That was important. And she stopped hitting him.

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