Becomes a Rebel Ninja After Annihilating the Hyuga Clan

"Are you going today as well?"

At the dinner table, Kaiza set down his chopsticks, and his wife Tsunami couldn't help but ask.

"Of course. If we keep letting Kado run rampant like this, none of us will have a good life!" Before Kaiza could speak, Tazuna, his father-in-law, expressed his support for Kaiza's righteous cause. He turned to his grandson, Inari. "Isn't that right, Inari?"

"Grandpa's right! I support Uncle Kaiza too!" Inari shouted enthusiastically.

Tsunami refilled Tazuna's cup with sake and added more food to Inari's bowl, silencing both of them. She then turned to Kaiza and voiced her concerns. "But Kado has recently brought in more thugs. If anything happens, please don't act recklessly. Take care of yourself."

"Don't worry. We actually have more people on our side. It's not just me who opposes Kado; it's the will of everyone in the Land of Waves," Kaiza said confidently, giving Tsunami a reassuring smile. He clenched his fists to show his determination.

It was drizzling outside as he put on his rain hat and stepped out. Turning back to the three inside the house, he said, "Besides, as a man, you have to choose a way of life that you won't regret."

"For me, no matter the pain or sadness, I will protect what's truly important with all my might, even if it costs my life!"

"Well said!" Tazuna, slightly drunk, stood up and handed Kaiza a cup of sake, insisting on a toast.

"See you later." Kaiza waved and then disappeared into the rain.

"I'm full, too," Inari announced, grabbing an umbrella and heading for the door. Just as he was about to step out, a firm grip on his collar stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going in this rain?" Tsunami's voice was stern.

With the tense standoff between Kaiza and Kado's men at the docks, Tsunami instantly knew what Inari was planning. But in such a volatile situation, any slight misstep could lead to a full-blown conflict, something a child-like Inari should not be involved in.

"I… I'm going to get Pochi," Inari said, blinking. "My new friend took him home to play, and I want to bring him back before the rain gets heavier."

Pochi was the little dog he had been raising, and the new friend he mentioned was, of course, the girl with the white eyes.

"Oh, then be quick and come back soon," Tazuna said, waving him off.

Relieved at being allowed to go, Inari eagerly ran out.

"Father!" Tsunami protested, clearly upset.

"Let him go. He's a boy; he'll be fine," Tazuna replied, smiling. Full from dinner, he then retired to his study.

On his desk lay the unfinished blueprints for a grand bridge.

Tazuna hadn't participated in Kaiza's protests. As an architect, he had his method for solving problems. His keen eye told him that someone as greedy as Kado wouldn't just relinquish such massive profits due to public pressure.

Instead of hoping protests would make Kado give up control of the shipping routes, Tazuna thought it would be better to tackle the problem at its root by building a bridge connecting the Land of Waves to the outside world. This would eliminate the shipping routes as a chokehold used by tyrants to control the country.

Tazuna hadn't shared his bridge-building plans with anyone yet. The people’s disappointment needed to build up, and the funds for the bridge would only be fully raised once everyone had completely lost faith in Kado.

"The people's resolve is almost there…" Tazuna muttered as he began working on the blueprints.

"Hey, you said someone was going to kill you, but it's been days and I haven't seen a trace of any assassin. Are you messing with me?" A man with short black hair and bandages wrapped around the lower half of his face and neck sat on a couch, glaring at Kado.

"It must be true…" Kado wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Kado himself was starting to doubt whether the death ship incident was really targeting him.

If it was, wouldn't the assassin have made a move by now?

"I've made a lot of enemies while consolidating this country's shipping resources. They're jealous of my success and have hired an assassin to kill me…" Kado explained.

"I don't care about your reasons. I'm not going to guard you forever. In seven days, whether the assassin shows up or not, you need to pay me the agreed fee, got it?" Zabuza's voice was cold and threatening.

"Of course, of course." Kado nodded, wringing his hands nervously as he left the room with his men.

Once out of earshot, Kado fumed. "That rogue ninja dares to threaten his employer!"

He spat on the ground and then began to worry.

"Do I really have to pay him in seven days?"

That guy hadn't done anything yet…

His original plan to have the rogue ninja and the assassin kill each other seemed increasingly unlikely, as the assassin had yet to appear.

If no assassin showed up, then the death ship incident was just an accident. He had panicked and hired a rogue ninja for nothing, and now he had to pay a hefty fee. The thought made Kado's entire body ache.

"Boss!" A subordinate ran up to him.

"What is it?" Kado snapped, already in a foul mood.

"Those people are protesting at the dock again. They've even seized several of our ships. There are too many of them, and the guys are too scared to intervene…"

Kado's company ran its shipping business during the day.

At night… it ran a different kind of business.

And the nighttime business was far more lucrative.

"Hmm?" Kado's eyebrows shot up. He slammed his cane on the ground and cursed. "Those rebels! Rebels!!"

"This is getting out of hand."

"Gather some men and let's go deal with it, quickly!"

Just as Kado was about to head to the docks to confront the protesters, a thought struck him, and his expression turned uncertain.

…Could this be the assassin's move?

He turned to a subordinate and said, "Go inform those rogue ninja in the back room and tell them…"

"Tell them what?" a cold voice interrupted.

Kado stiffened and turned to see Zabuza standing next to him, his face breaking into a forced smile as he wrung his hands.

"When did you come out, Zabuza-san?"

"When you called me ‘rogue ninja.'"

The executioner's blade rested on Kado's neck, and Zabuza leaned in close. Even with bandages covering his mouth, Kado could smell the metallic scent of blood as Zabuza spoke.

"You think you can just save the fee if no one comes to kill you?"

A hand slapped Kado's face. It didn't hurt, but it was a public humiliation.

"This is your last warning. You hired me. Whether or not I do anything, you still pay."

"We're watching you."

With that, Zabuza turned into a puddle of water and disappeared.

The air was silent for a few seconds.

"Boss… are we still going to the docks?"

"Yes!" Kado growled.

Even if there's no assassin, I'll create one!

I can't stand Zabuza taking all that money for nothing!

"Who is the leader of those rebels?"

"Kaiza, the hero of the Land of Waves!"

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