Yagami held the kunai upside down and drove it from the top straight into Mei's skull.
If he couldn't bring himself to kill Qiaoyi, then he'd have to be ruthless enough to kill her sister.
Truth was, he had plenty of chances to stop Qiaoyi from getting hurt. But he did nothing—only watched and waited.
He waited until the very last moment, right before the sister's blade struck home, to intervene and stop the murder.
Had he acted too early, killed Qiaoyi's sister outright, Qiaoyi would've only come to hate him for it.
Blood streamed from Mei's forehead, ears, and neck.
Qiaoyi instinctively wanted to reach out and stop him, but Yagami gave her no chance to act.
Her chest and throat burned with sharp pain.
Thinking back to her sister's crazed determination to kill her, Qiaoyi suddenly realized how utterly unfamiliar Mei had become.
She could barely remember what her little sister had once been like—
the child with two bouncing braids who followed her everywhere seemed long buried in the past.
Maybe all these years of sacrifice weren't really for her sister at all,
but for the memory of that innocent child who no longer existed.
All the rewards, the payment, the spy's compensation—she'd sent them home for her sister's sake,
making Mei believe it was all hers by right.
Mei's body collapsed, and Yagami pulled the kunai free. Bone cracked, and brain matter spilled from the wound.
Now, even the Yamanaka Clan couldn't pry a single thought from her corpse.
He could write the mission report however he pleased.
The signs of an Hidden Stone shinobi were obvious enough, it wouldn't take much to pass it off.
Turning around, Yagami gently lowered Qiaoyi to the ground and whispered,
"It's over, Qiaoyi. All of it's over.
You've been abandoned by Stone Village. Ōnoki blamed your spy network for feeding false intelligence that led to their defeat.
That old man isn't the broad-minded type. Short as he is, his temper's just as stunted—never admits fault, never changes his mind.
Forget Stone Village. Forget your sister. Stay here in the Hidden Leaf.
I've got people above me. They can cover for you for a while."
But even as he spoke, a quiet thought lingered in his mind—
If the cover fails… to protect myself, I'll have to kill her first.
In that instant, the cruelty of the shinobi world became all too tangible.
No matter how much he liked Qiaoyi, when it came down to her or himself, he'd always choose survival.
He pulled aside the fabric at her abdomen, revealing the wound as he cleaned it.
"Tomorrow at noon, your bar opens as usual. Act like nothing happened.
No matter how much it hurts, you endure.
The neck wound's easy—just wear a collar.
Yeah… a collar suits you. Has a bit of charm. I like it."
Qiaoyi lay there, tears streaming down her face—
for herself, for her sister, for all the meaningless sacrifices she'd made,
for the pain of betrayal,
for every Stone spy who'd died for nothing.
In the face of hatred between villages, every death lost its meaning.
And in the end, the one who saved her wasn't her homeland,
but a stranger from the Hidden Leaf.
"…What's your name?" she asked faintly.
"My name?" Yagami dabbed medicine onto her wound and thought for a moment.
"What did I tell you it was last time?"
"You said… Miqū."
"Then I'm Miqū."
Qiaoyi knew he wouldn't tell her his real name. She didn't press further.
She was a spy, after all. Having even one person willing to protect her in Konoha was already more than she deserved.
Staring through the gaps in the canopy, she whispered.
"Why must there be killing? Why must there be wars, enemy villages, so much death?"
Yagami answered,
"In a world where strength is everything, everyone believes they can make others bow to their kunai.
The problem is—too many people think that way.
Every one of the Five Great Villages believes it. Every Kage believes it.
There's war between villages, and even inside them there's strife.
Where there are people, there's conflict.
It's too big a question, Qiaoyi. Just live your life well. This isn't something people like us can fix.
Maybe one day, if I become the strongest shinobi in the world…
I'll try to cut down on the killing."
Even as he said it, Yagami didn't believe his own words. Just something to soothe a wounded heart.
Still, the idea of becoming the Head of the Anbu intrigued him.
The Hokage was busy running the village.
The Anbu Commander, though—he could slip a few things through the cracks, shape events quietly, influence people freely.
No Hokage could personally oversee every Anbu mission.
He'd need someone like that Commander by his side.
The next day, Qiaoyi opened her bar right on time.
No one came to arrest her. It almost felt like she'd become just another ordinary villager,
running a small, cozy tavern in Konoha.
Maybe… that wasn't such a bad life after all.
That afternoon, a voice suddenly called out,
"Madam! Your best sake! And a plate of braised beef!"
Startled, Qiaoyi looked up.
He was standing there at the door, smiling at her.
He looked even more handsome than before—enough to make her heart skip.
Blushing furiously, Qiaoyi turned away.
After a few drinks and a meal, Yagami left the bar,
knowing she was still healing and in no state for anything else that night.
He made his way to the Hospital.
Inside, both Black Ape and White Ram had finished surgery.
Black Ape removed his mask—a round-faced man, built like most of the Akimichi clan.
His wife was from the same clan too, likely a distant relative.
Each ninja clan kept strict genealogies to prevent close kin marriages.
Black Ape told his wife, "Go on ahead. I've got something to discuss with my friend."
She didn't know he was Anbu, and calling Yagami a "friend" kept that secret intact.
Yagami couldn't help glancing at her retreating figure—her chest was… formidable.
Bigger even than Tsunade's.
No wonder the Akimichi specialized in Body Expansion Techniques.
Different talents, same principle. Even the Senju couldn't compete there.
Once the room was empty, Yagami said,
"Captain, I'm acting as interim squad leader now,
but with so few men left, we can't carry out many missions."
Black Ape looked at his bandaged leg.
"I'll be discharged in half a month. Give it another month after that and I'll be back to fighting shape.
Lady Tsunade's medical ninjutsu is incredible.
My aunt said if it weren't for her, no other doctor in Konoha could've saved this leg.
While I recover, you all should rest too.
I doubt Captain Yellow Dog will assign any major missions.
Once I'm back, we'll rebuild the Black Ape Squad."
Yagami nodded repeatedly.
That meant, for the next month and a half,
his safety was practically guaranteed.
He couldn't help but feel a bit excited.
It was already the 12th. This month's "revival" use was spent.
If he could make it to next month's 14th,
he'd use his golden cheat ability again—this time, maybe to make something happen on purpose.
Staying alive each month since reincarnating hadn't been easy.
No wonder Itachi had slaughtered his clan for peace.
Peace… was worth any price.
War could drive anyone into becoming a beast.
***
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