( After Azi Dahaka's Repel. )
[ Sakurazaka Village Ruins ]
" Shiro, Shiro! " Akafushi tries to wake up Shiro, who still faints after Yakujin 'rejuvenate's him.
" His skin is recovering, but he still doesn't wake up. " Yakujin says after rejuvenating him, this is her first time rejuvenating others than her, especially humans.
" Perhaps it doesn't work? but... " Yakujin sees the tied Red Strings in her pinkie, realizing it's still connected.
" No, no, you're still alive! " Akafushi calls Shiro while crying hard, she can finally move again after Yakujin also rejuvenates her too.
Instead of Shiro, Akafushi is quickly recovered using Yakujin's very power, but Shiro doesn't.
" No, no, no... "
" Please, Shiro don't, I... " Akafushi cries while still hoping for it.
" He is not dead. " a voice says it which Akafushi and Yakujin looked at the source and sees.
" You... " Yakujin sees the Black Merchant, she gazed upon him earlier during the whole ordeal.
* Black Merchant approaches. *
" Black... Merchant...? " Akafushi calls the Black Merchant which made Yakujin look at her with great surprise.
"( You know this person? )" she asks within her mind, while looking at the approaching Black Merchant again who walks towards Shiro.
" I see you rejuvenates his physical body, good. " Black Merchant praises and claps.
" This will be perfect for the bases, 'it' will take care from now on. " Black Merchant says it while the two women are confused.
" Pardon? " Akafushi asks. the Black Merchant as suddenly.
* Light comes out from Shiro's body. *
" What is-! " Akafushi is frightened as it happens.
" The pills worked! " the Black Merchant tells them, explaining to them what did he give to Shiro earlier.
" So you're the reason the boy is hidden from me? " Yakujin asks while placing one of her hand on her waist, showing her annoyance and arrogance. Right, after knowing that there will be someone so hideous exists around her and dared to take her 'sacrifice' or prey, in the first place.
" 'Barrier Magic' Milady... " Black Merchant tells her.
" I protected him from you during your wrath... "
" Besides, keeping him out from the battle really did make things come in your favor, you know? " Black Merchant referenced Yakujin's fight with Kiba-Tora.
" Hmph! " Yakujin arrogantly gets annoyed about the truth over her 'victory'.
"( Arrogant brat! )" Black Merchant curses in his mind while still smiling.
" Aside from the battle... " Black Merchant tells them while Shiro's body still filled with light.
" I believe you all should bring Shiro out from this place, while he's recovering. " Black Merchant says, as from the pile of humans, comes out some people with black clothings.
" Ninjas, those who trained in the ancient human ways of 'Shinobi'... " Yakujin says as she sees them.
" I see, so the Lord of this Nation also participate in this whole ordeal, sending these trained assassins during this very mess. " Yakujin glares at them, revealing her menacing aura too.
" Well, you were hated by the humans of this very Nation, didn't you? " Black Merchant teases while Yakujin gets pissed.
" That human... " Yakujin growls while reffering the Nation's Lord, beggining to face all Shinobi Ninjas that were watching under the corpses the whole time.
...
( Days after. )
[ Sakurakoku Royal Palace ]
" Milord, it we had news... " said an advisor to the owner of the Palace, the Lord of the 'Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Nation'.
" Yakujin triumphant once more? " the Lord asks, as the Ruler of the very Nation itself.
" *sigh* "
" After many Samurai and Warrior we sent, after we had to resort on using monstrosities... "
" She is still that invincible...! " the Lord slams his hand on the armrest, slamming it hard.
" Grrh..., is she really had no weakness? "
" Why does it all failed!? " the Lord asks in his anger.
" Milord... " the advisor call the Lord.
" I believe this failure rest on the trust we made to the Yamagami Clan Leader, Arikato that Head Shaman. "
" If we, my apologies... " the advisor stutters.
" If you, didn't 'trust' him for what he proposed... " he says this while shivering.
" Then, we didn't had to made the deal with the 'Justice Union' in the first place..., my apologies, majesty... "
" It's alright, this fault rest on us... " said the Lord as he regrets trusting the Head Shaman of that Remote Village in the Mountains, the very Mountains ruled by the Chimera Master herself.
" I simply approved him since he told his hatred towards the Chimera Master and also because he had the 'Justice Union' backing him with great sincerety. "
" Now, since he failed... "
" The 'Union', that... " the Lord grunts.
" That Union leader wants us to compensate, for the losses. "
" Dammit, I should've known, but the Shaman's offer were to appealing at the time since we lacked those who can fight or conspire with us. "
" Curses that Yakujin for causing all this... "
" Curses for her and those alike who ravaged this once beautiful country of blossoms and turn it into a 'Den of Destruction'. " the Lord annoyed the current state of his Nation.
" If we just had the power like the 'Union'... "
" Like those guys, whom were told to able on defeating their land's Chimera Master... " the Lord stressed out.
" My... Lord... " the advisor calls him.
" What is it? " the Lord responds.
" My apologies for interrupting... "
" But perhaps, instead of conspiring to kill her, perhaps we could... "
" ... " the advisor went silent all of the sudden.
" Continue...! " the Lord orders him.
" Pardon me My Lord, but I have to inform you that... "
" During the event in the Thunder Mist Mountains... "
" I've secretly dispatched the Shinobi on witnessing the whole thing. " the advisor tells.
" What!? " the Lord shouts.
" Without me knowing!? " the Lord asks the advisor with a loud tone.
" Yes My Lord, I believe we need to had some witness during the whole debacle, that's why I dispatched them. "
" Some of them died, but the survivors, whom disguise as the Sakurazaka Villagers at the time, immediately returned to me with some news... "
" A news they returned with the costs of their physical damages, for only around four of them survived the ravaging destruction, they even either die when returned or decided to retire immediately after the information they gave me. " the advisor explained long.
" Would you like to hear, what they informed me? " the advisor asks.
" Go on... " the Lord gets intrigued, as the advisor explains it all.