Chapter 30 — Give Me Back My Touching Moment, You Bastard!
"Come out."
"Is… is it over?"
Oshima stepped out from his hiding place. His expression was still tense, the shock not yet fully gone. But as someone accustomed to authority, he quickly concealed his unease and other negative emotions.
"Who sent them?"
Taking a deep breath, Oshima forced himself to calm down. The most urgent matter right now was figuring out who was targeting him behind the scenes. Could it be another lawless bastard like Gato?!
Shinji slung the Executioner's Blade onto his back and shook his head.
"No idea. But it's very likely an assassination request Gato put out somewhere while he was still alive. Because news of Gato's death hasn't spread yet, the mission wasn't canceled, which attracted a few unwanted guests."
"Still, this should just be an accident. If you're worried, you can arrange for someone to travel with us later. Once we reach the destination, we can confirm whether there are any assassination missions against you that haven't been withdrawn."
Oshima looked deeply grateful.
"Thank you so much. You've saved my life again."
"If possible, please allow me to at least show some gratitude. Don't refuse just yet—because I believe your companion needs treatment, and it just so happens that my estate has the most skilled doctor in all of the Land of Waves."
Seeing his sincere expression, and glancing at Hidan in the distance, hacked into a miserable state, Shinji decided to accept his goodwill.
So he nodded and said,
"Let me guess—the best tailor in the country is also at your estate?"
Oshima was confused, but still answered,
"A tailor? Do you need clothes made? I don't know who the best one is, but I can summon all of them."
"That would be perfect. Hopefully they can stitch that guy's arm back on nicely."
"Heh heh, are all members of the Jashin Cult as humorous as you?"
"Please don't misunderstand. I'm serious." Shinji's face was completely straight.
"…Huh?" Oshima was utterly bewildered.
"Oh right. When your people collect the bodies later, make sure those two are properly buried. The dead shouldn't be desecrated."
Oshima nodded instinctively. Such a small request wasn't worth refusing.
He wasn't the type to vent his anger on corpses—Gato aside.
After giving his instructions, Shinji went to pick up Hidan's severed arm, then walked over to him and clicked his tongue.
"I found you the best tailor around. We'll have your arm sewn back on later."
"Don't disturb me. I'm praying to Lord Jashin."
"What kind of nasty habit is that? Are you coming or not?" Shinji said impatiently, but still extended a hand toward Hidan lying on the ground.
"You dare disrespect Lord Jashin—you're dead meat!"
"I'll ask the tailor to stitch that filthy mouth of yours shut too!"
"Tch~"
Hidan looked disgusted, but his movements were quick. Just as Shinji was about to withdraw his hand, Hidan grabbed it and used the momentum to pull himself up.
"Since you didn't interfere earlier, I'll give you a chance to curry favor with me."
Such a stubborn mouth!
Shinji felt helpless. Seeing Hidan staggering, he sighed inwardly. Fine—he wouldn't argue this time.
"Then I thank you."
As he spoke, Shinji slung Hidan's remaining arm over his shoulder and supported him as they walked forward, completely unconcerned about the blood all over Hidan.
Hidan, who had been waiting for Shinji to snap back, froze.
This bastard… didn't retort?
And… and he was actually doing something this intimate?!
Eugh—!
Goosebumps erupted all over Hidan. Snapping back to himself, he immediately started struggling violently.
"Hey, hey, hey! Let go of me! Believe it or not, I'll stab you to death right now?!"
Hidan panicked—furious even—and his eyes showed a strange hint of fluster…
Shinji frowned at once.
"Behave yourself. Don't smear blood all over me."
If not for how miserable this guy looked, Shinji wouldn't have reached out in the first place!
The rare act of kindness, and this is how it's received?
Spoiled rotten!
"Let go. I can walk on my own."
Thud!
Shinji actually let go.
Hidan immediately face-planted into the ground.
"Trying to act tough? Walk, then—go on. One more word, and I'll drag you along with a rope."
Shinji cursed under his breath, but still hauled Hidan back up.
Perhaps recalling the traumatic experience of being dragged along the ground before—or perhaps Shinji's nasty attitude put him at ease—Hidan finally gave up. He snorted and stopped resisting, letting Shinji support him.
[Bond Value +10, +10, +10…]
Shinji shot him a strange look.
Heh. What a tsundere.
After walking for a while, Hidan seemed uncomfortable with the silence and took the initiative to speak.
"That guy's sword seemed pretty special."
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—you've heard of them. That blade is one of them: the Decapitating Blade, Executioner's Blade."
"So the bandage-wrapped weirdo was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?" Hidan suddenly looked excited.
After all, the fame of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was widespread. Back when Hidan was still in Yugakure, he'd already heard of them. At that time, he was just an ordinary chūnin—there was no comparison at all.
But now it was different.
He had obtained immortality, mastered Death Possession Blood, and had killed a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen one-on-one.
This—this was the life he wanted!
"Yeah. A terrifying guy known as the Demon of the Mist. To think he'd die at the hands of some nameless small fry. No one would believe it if word got out."
Shinji mocked casually, then suddenly changed the subject.
"Of course, I believed from the start that you'd win."
"Even if you're not too bright, I know that as long as you're given the chance, you can kill anyone…"
Being called a "small fry" made Hidan unhappy, but what Shinji said afterward stirred something different in him.
His expression remained one of arrogant disdain, but inside he was overjoyed!
Especially because those words came from Shinji of all people—making them even more precious.
Hadn't anyone noticed? Ever since ancient times, recognition from a rival was the most satisfying of all. That was exactly how Hidan felt right now.
Unfortunately, reality proved he was happy too soon.
"Heh heh. Except me."
Damn it!
Hidan was instantly furious, ready to curse him out on the spot!
So all that earlier emotion was fake—this bastard right here was the Shinji he knew!
"One day sooner or later, I'll chop you down!"
---
I currently have 30 chapters more in stock, so why not exchange it for some power stones!?
Here's the deal, for every 20 Power stones this novel received, I'mma release an additional chapters on addition to two chapters daily releases! Though, don't give me too much and drain my reserves cause I gotta save some chapters for rainy days.