Chapter 35: I'll Bear the Blame, Let Me Take the Flak
Faced with this colossal being she could resist neither in body nor in spirit, Sara finally chose reality.
'Honorable Kazekage… I am willing to lead You to absorb the power of the Ryūmyaku!'
When Sara spoke those words, Saito released his Ninjutsu, and countless streams of gold dust flowed back into the ground.
Watching Saito walk up to her again, Sara rose, composing herself once more into the bearing of a queen.
Once more she addressed Saito with utmost gravity.
'Honorable Kazekage, I am willing to guide You to the Ryūmyaku's power—only beg that You spare the fifty-thousand people of Rōran a path to live.'
'Of course! Now that I shall obtain the Ryūmyaku's power, I will naturally give the people of Rōnan a better life.'
'So long as Lady Sara can persuade them to join Hidden Sand Village, I swear in the name of Kazekage: I will treat them as equals. Every benefit Hidden Sand Village enjoys, Rōran shall enjoy; every man will have work, every child schooling, every elder medical care.'
'Thank You for Your benevolence, Kazekage-sama!'
After hearing Saito's promise, Sara felt a little easier in her heart.
At the very least… she had obtained a guarantee, hadn't she?
'In that case, Kazekage-sama, please follow me.'
'Good!'
After casually knocking An Lushan unconscious, Saito followed Sara away.
Soon the two stood before the Ryūmyaku altar.
Under Sara's string of incantations, the aperture that controlled the Ryūmyaku energy widened from the size of a bowl to that of a well.
Surging Ryūmyaku energy gushed out, dyeing the surroundings in violet.
Then Sara stepped back, signalling Saito to enter.
By now Saito could hardly wait.
Perhaps sensing the vast, pure natural energy, every cell in his body was thirsting for it.
He stepped into the altar, sat cross-legged, and silently intoned: Devour!
Immediately the dense purple energy, congealed into substance, found its outlet and rushed madly toward Saito.
Sara had been watching quietly from outside—then her mouth fell open.
For behind Saito, golden light blazed ever brighter.
It faintly formed a human silhouette: indistinct, face unseen, long golden hair, most striking of all six golden wings upon its back.
It looked sacred and exalted.
But that wasn't what made Sara gape.
The apparition wore no clothing—probably for lack of energy.
Though the figure was translucent, what should be there was still there, and Sara saw it clearly.
How… could it be so big!!!
As everyone knows, desert temperatures swing wildly: scorching by day, freezing by night.
Oases fare a little better.
Yet within Rōran, thanks to the Ryūmyaku, the temperature stayed comfortable year-round.
So Saito slept soundly that night.
Of course, that was only one reason.
'Ahh~ what a beautiful day.'
After waking, Saito stretched lazily, glanced at the sun nearly overhead, and smiled.
Then he looked at Sara still asleep beside him, tenderness and vexation on his face.
Tenderness because Sara was his woman; vexation over how to explain this to Momona and the others.
Yes, you read that right: them, not her.
After Momona, Kana had been unable to escape either.
It had been a bright, sunny day.
In the Kazekage's office, Kana, dressed in her usual professional secretary attire, sorted documents on the desk.
Everything had seemed so routine; Saito was as calm as ever.
As usual he admired her black stockings—then, whether by heaven's design or… yes, heaven's design…
Kana tripped in front of him, and as she tried to stand her hand accidentally brushed something hard and recoiled as if shocked.
Besides, Saito was still growing stronger by the day; even the Uzumaki Momona could barely keep up.
Thus a game where no one knew who was hunter and who was prey unfolded in broad daylight inside the Kazekage office.
That very evening Saito had Kana move into his house.
The next day…
Elder Miya Jomon invited him for drinks, saying it was to thank the Kazekage for his care of the Chinoike Clan.
He remembered drinking a lot that night.
He vaguely heard Elder Ooyashiro shouting at him.
'Kazekage-sama, do you want a wife or not? Just say the word and I'll send her right over!'
Perhaps because he was drunk, he recalled answering.
'Then send her along!'
Yet when he woke the next morning he found an extra woman in his bed.
Her name: Ooyashiro Yui.
She was proactive, a bit yandere, and his own desires were raging!
Saito admitted he had indeed been dead drunk.
Had he been sober… he would have… hesitated a moment… then accepted!
After all, as Kazekage how could he fail to grasp Miya Jomon's intent!
The Uzumaki and Chinoike Clans, both newcomers.
Despite Saito's repeated orders and his efforts to enlarge Hidden Sand Village's pie, some interests were still touched.
People feared these two clans might one day squeeze them out.
With the Uzumaki, Momona's presence kept things from going too far; that left only the Chinoike.
When competing for the same post, even if a native villager was slightly less qualified, so long as the gap wasn't large the native was still preferred.
Human nature; Saito and Ooyashiro both knew it, and trusted time would smooth it away.
But Saito had taken yet another Uzumaki, and Ooyashiro grew anxious—so sending a wife after drinks became inevitable.
Though Ooyashiro's act might overstep… could you really blame him?
He only feared his clansmen would be ostracized!
He only wanted them to merge quickly into Sunagavure!
So let the blame fall on Saito!
Thus Saito brought Ooyashiro Yui home as well.
You had to admit, the Chinoike really dared love and dared hate.
Add a dash of yandere and she gave Saito a whole new experience.
Exhilarating!
And then…
The Ninja World buzzed with gossip: the Kazekage of Hidden Sand Village was insatiably lustful.
From eight-year-old boys to eighty-year-old grannies, none were spared.
Especially some old geezer forever clutching a cracked crystal ball and his white-haired apprentice—they cursed the loudest!
Clearly green with envy!
Hah! All bark, no bite, those two.
Not honest at all—unlike him!
Of course, some said they wanted to learn from Saito.
Take a certain Raikage who kept walloping his son with Lightning Plough Hot Sword.
Between strikes he'd shout.
'Why can't you be like the Kazekage of Hidden Sand Village? Look how many wives he's got! And you're still feeling another man's muscles! Die!'
Anyway… let's return to the present.
Saito's movements had finally roused Sara from her slumber.
The instant she opened her eyes and saw the naked man before her, instinct told her to scream.
But when she recognized who it was, yesterday's memories came flooding back.
Yesterday.
While she was still stunned by the size of the phantom—
a violent surge of energy slammed into her like a tidal wave.
Caught off-guard, Sara was hurled backward, her clothes torn in a dozen places.
By the time she made her way back—
Saito was already hovering cross-legged in mid-air, a golden wing pattern at the corners of his eyes, lending his handsome face an added, effortless nobility.
Then an even fiercer tide of energy struck. This time Sara was swept into the sky, and as she plunged toward the ground, her short life about to end—
a warm, large hand caught her and lowered her safely to earth.
The one who held her was Saito.
Yet his eyes now were terrifying, his breathing ragged.
Sara wriggled free, frantic to check on him—
and what happened next made her mind go blank.
Saito was completely naked; even his manhood… She glanced down at herself: her own clothes were shredded, revealing swaths of pale skin.
A shriek tore from her throat.
But that scream seemed to ignite him.
With a flicker he was in front of her, looking down.
Sara stared at the chest inches from her face, then up at Saito.
N-no… let me go!
[Ding! Signal received!]
Ah—
( )
( )
Now, lying on the bed, Sara relived it all and began to cry.
In one night she had lost the Ley Line, Ryūran was fading, and even she herself… Unable to bear it, she sobbed aloud.
Beside her, Saito tried to comfort her; he knew he was to blame.
He had meant to absorb only a portion of the Ley Line's power to break into the second stage, but the feedback had overwhelmed him.
Still, he would not run from the consequences.
The Ley Line hasn't vanished.
Eh—?
Her grief faltered at his words.
She turned swollen eyes on him, needing confirmation.
You heard me. If it were gone, would the air still be this pleasant at noon?
Reassured, her quick mind re-engaged.
You're right—it is still warm!
Yes! The Ley Line survives!
Ryūran is still here!
Then she frowned. Why? I thought you'd absorbed its power!
Seeing her adorably bewildered look, Saito inwardly groaned.
[No wonder she believed An Lushan and ended up killed by him—there's a reason.]
Think. I always said I'd take only part of it.
Eh—
Oh… that's true!
So I can keep living in Ryūran?
No.
Why not?
Two reasons.
First, the Ley Line is wounded. Ryūran exists only by draining it. When the line was whole it could replenish itself faster than the city consumed it, but now it might not keep up.
And you've forgotten An Lushan—if someone coveted the line once, others will come.
But if your people come with me to Hidden Sand Village, I can seal the Ley Line underground and let it heal.
Tell the world it's sealed, and anyone lusting after it will have to come through me.
Second: you are mine now. I won't have my woman living alone out here.
She had been nodding solemnly until that blunt second reason froze her brain.
I-it's not… that was forced! I never agreed—ah!
Stop!!
The next day.
At the Ley Line altar.
Saito pressed his palm to the altar's heart. His eyes closed, then opened; golden wings now marked their corners.
Sage Mode.
The absorption had pushed the fusion to 43%—the second stage.
His Chakra had multiplied roughly thirty-fold.
Roughly fifty Shukaku, to be exact.
More importantly, his body had been drastically enhanced.
Not just muscle: his very life-form had ascended. He could live a thousand years; Orochimaru's dream was now his.
Best of all, he could sense natural energy.
With his vast Chakra and physique, the energy rushed to him like an eager pup.
One call and it flooded in, fusing instantly.
Infuriating, isn't it?
[Sage Art: Eight-Trigrams Seal!]
Golden sigils spilled from his palm, cloaking the altar before vanishing.
The vent that had released the Ley Line's power sealed shut.
Done.
Everyone packed? We're heading back to Hidden Sand Village.
Mm. The people are ready. H-hey, put me down—I can walk!
Saito had her slung across his back; Sara's face flamed.
Give it up. You can barely stand.
But if my subjects see—
They'll see their queen on intimate terms with the Kazekage and feel reassured about leaving home.
F-fine…
She settled against him.
Hey, Saito.
Hm?
Do you think Lady Momona will welcome me?
Don't worry.
Tell her I forced you—I'll take the blame.
You DID force me!
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