Chapter 36: An Offer and a Revelation
"La la la, la la la~"
Shion danced happily into the garden. Seeing her mother and Uncle Matsuki talking, she called out in surprise, "Mother! You're here! And Uncle Matsuki is here too!"
"Oh, Shion, what brings you here?" Seeing her daughter approach, the woman's smile became genuine and warm. She gently stroked Shion's head.
"Mhm! I met a ninja brother today! He made me feel very comfortable, and he's a ninja! Doesn't Mother have troubles? That ninja brother should be able to help you!" Shion said with innocent conviction.
"You're so thoughtful, Shion." The woman was deeply touched. She then glanced at Matsuki. "You may leave."
"Yes, My Lady."
After Matsuki withdrew, the woman looked at Shion. "So, Shion, have you had any more of those... strange premonitions lately?"
"No... Mother, Shion is so scared of having those visions again..." Shion still remembered her first strange vision half a month ago. It had come without warning, just like a dream. In it, a villager had died. Shion thought it was just a nightmare, but a few days later, that villager truly died.
After Shion told her mother, her mother knew—Shion had inherited that power. The power to foresee death.
"That's good." The woman nodded, feeling slightly relieved. Confirming her own prediction was correct, she said to Shion, "Now, let's go meet this ninja friend of yours."
"Mhm!" Shion happily took her mother's hand, skipping back toward the castle.
Ryouma was studying the ornate chair behind the main door in the castle's hall when he felt a presence. He looked up to see Shion leading a woman inside.
She was very beautiful, with exquisite taste, and an undeniable air of authority.
That was Ryouma's first impression.
"Greetings, ninja." The woman smiled, holding Shion's small hand, her eyes on Ryouma.
Ryouma's heart skipped a beat. Unsure of how to address her, he defaulted to Shion's relation. "Greetings... Auntie."
"Yes." The woman acknowledged softly. She looked from Shion to Ryouma. "You seem like a good person. However, the Land of Demons' strength is limited, and we have our own... unspeakable secrets. So..."
The woman seemed to know of his origins. Her bright, yet profoundly deep eyes felt as if they could see right through him.
"Mhm." Ryouma offered only a single, non-committal sound.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" the woman asked.
"No." Ryouma's lips quirked up slightly. "However, I know you are in trouble."
"The trouble I face, you cannot help with." The woman's expression remained placid. "Even if you are classified as an S-Rank."
S-Rank? S-Class Rogue Ninja? Konoha has already designated me an S-Class rogue? They really think highly of me! But... how does this woman know? It hasn't even been two hours. How is her intelligence network this efficient?
And... how does she know my specific rank?!
A torrent of questions flooded Ryouma's mind, but he kept his face carefully neutral.
"In that case, I won't trouble you further." Ryouma shrugged. He turned to Shion with a strange smile. "Goodbye, Shion."
Ryouma always felt that when the situation was unclear, striking first was a form of wisdom. He decided to withdraw immediately.
As he finished speaking, a silvery light flickered in his eyes. But his position didn't change. He was still in the castle!
A cold sweat trickled down Ryouma's temple. Staring at the alluring woman before him, he felt a genuine thrill of fear.
Never. The Instant Eye has never failed before. But now...
"Big Brother, why do you want to say goodbye?" Shion tilted her head, looking at Ryouma in confusion, then at her mother. "Mother, what does that mean?"
"It's nothing." The woman smiled, then addressed Ryouma. "There's no need to rush off. You can leave after a night's rest."
Ryouma's eyes darted around uncertainly. Finally, he bit his lip lightly and agreed.
At this moment, the arrogance in his heart began to crumble.
He had thought that with the Instant Eye, he was practically invincible. Now, it seemed he was still far too naive.
Clear water, a blue sky, willow trees, and a beautiful woman.
Ryouma sat cross-legged on the grass. Before him was a clear lake with leaping fish. When he turned his head, he could see the beautiful woman and the little girl.
"Big Brother, why do you have to leave tomorrow?" Shion walked over and wrapped her arms around Ryouma's neck from behind, her face full of reluctance and confusion.
"Because... your big brother is a troublesome person," Ryouma replied with a bitter smile, gazing at the sky, his head brushing against Shion's chin.
Shion, tickled by his hair, broke into a fit of giggles.
"Ryouma." The woman now knew his name, though Ryouma still didn't know hers. "What are your plans? To go to another country? Or become a bounty hunter?"
Ryouma turned to look at her. Her eyes were captivating, and for a moment, he was mesmerized. She truly didn't look like the mother of a twelve-year-old girl.
"I plan to go to the Land of Water."
Ryouma remembered the system's next mission clearly. No matter what, he had to go to Kirigakure in the Land of Water to eliminate Chōjūrō.
He didn't care about Chōjūrō's identity, his background, or what repercussions his death might have on the future. All he had to do was complete the mission.
"Oh?" A flicker of emotion finally crossed the woman's serene, alluring face. She didn't know why Ryouma was going to the Land of Water, but she was a smart person. She knew what to ask and what not to ask. A smile touched her lips. "Are you sure you don't need my help?"
Did he need it? The answer was yes. Ryouma needed to know the route to the Land of Water, and he needed to know Chōjūrō's whereabouts.
"No." Ryouma was stubborn, if only because the first time the woman had asked if he needed help, he had refused.
Saving face has its price!
Ryouma now understood the pain behind those words all too well.
"Don't stand on ceremony. You can repay the favor in the future," the woman said.
She had said as much. Ryouma, mentally kicking himself, felt his eyes light up. He offered a somewhat shameless smile. "I'd like to know the route to Kirigakure in the Land of Water. And also... the whereabouts of Chōjūrō, one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
"In a moment, I will have someone bring you the route to the Land of Water." The woman smiled, a smile that could melt the winter's frost.
"However..."
"However?" Ryouma's heart tightened.