Naruto: I, the villain template, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 212 He's just a fraudster spreading lies! You fools!

"Your Highness!"

Click! Click!

The warriors who had been positioned around the hall all rushed in, and a blood-red mist inexplicably rose into the hall.

The blood-stained candles reflected a dark red light, making the luxurious and magnificent hall appear blood-red.

On the round table carved from rare black wood, the grooves were stained with red and white, like vines dyed red with blood from the roots, making the atmosphere in the hall particularly eerie and terrifying.

However, those nobles whose skulls were opened were still alive.

Their white heads were exposed to the air, their eyeballs trembling and shaking wildly.

"You, you all..."

Isisi slumped limply in the chair, trembling and horrified as he watched the scene unfold before him, a sudden and completely unexpected event.

What was supposed to be a wonderful banquet has now turned into a bloody and horrific spectacle.

What happened? How could this be?!

呲! !

Mifune raised his hand and swung his sword with lightning speed, instantly severing the wrist of the woman behind him and simultaneously knocking back the old man behind Ishibi.

"Your Highness."

As the strange figures gradually gathered around, Mifune gripped his katana tightly, stood protectively in front of Ishibi, and said in a deep voice, "These guys don't seem like the ordinary civilians you described."

The woman who had been standing behind Mifune moved away and raised the hand from which Mifune had severed her wrist.

Under the solemn or astonished gazes of Mifune and the samurai, flesh and blood grew back from the hand at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"This samurai sir really doesn't know how to cherish a woman."

The woman used the severed finger to wipe her already crimson lips, the strong smell of blood filling her mouth, and bright red blood flowed down her snow-white neck from her alluring red lips.

She was still laughing, laughing unrestrainedly and mockingly.

It was as if they wanted to vent all the resentment they had harbored for years at this moment.

Just then, a slightly mocking voice followed from outside the door.

"I was wondering why the atmosphere in Daming Prefecture seemed so quiet today. It turns out it's because there are fewer dogs barking."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yoshitaka stepped into the hall. The samurai blocking his way were kicked aside, and the "demons" made way for him. When he saw the nobles whose skulls had been cracked open, a strange light flashed in Yoshitaka's eyes.

It seems that Lord Yun Chuan had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

The high-ranking officials of the Rain Kingdom are all here, keeping it under their control without anyone noticing.

At dawn, the entire Land of Rain will be brought under its control without any disturbance.

"So it's never the place that's dirty, it's the people."

Asa, dressed in a black robe, followed closely into the hall and looked at the immobilized nobles, sneering, "People are dirty; you get dirty just by touching people."

Bang! !

The handless and footless samurai, whom Asa was holding, was thrown directly onto the wooden table with a dull, suppressed sound, as if hitting Mifune's heart, causing his heart to sink and his expression to turn somewhat angry.

Another samurai from the Land of Iron, who was so humiliated by having his hands and feet cut off!

"Lord Mifune!" The samurai's face was contorted in pain as he struggled and howled, "They are... rebels from the northern part of the Land of Rain!!"

But as the three boatmen stared at Yoshitaka's face, which was both familiar and unfamiliar, they subconsciously narrowed their eyes and hesitated before asking, "You are... Yoshitaka?"

The Land of Iron is the place with the most samurai and swordsmen. In order to hone his swordsmanship, Musashi went to the Land of Iron to learn from others many years ago.

At that time, Yoshitaka was Musashi's youngest disciple and the one he valued the least. Mifune was just an unknown soldier in the Land of Iron. The two had a brief exchange.

Although Yoshitaka's talent in kendo was not particularly outstanding, Mifune was not an arrogant person. Because they shared a similar passion for kendo, their interactions and exchanges were quite pleasant.

Mifune admired Yoshitaka's persistence and loyalty, but he never expected that after so many years apart, their reunion would be like this...

"Long time no see, Mifune," Yoshitaka greeted him, but there was no smile in his eyes. "But your timing is really unfortunate."

Sensing the chilling aura emanating from him, Mifune gripped his sword tighter, his voice slightly grave as he said, "Aren't you a disciple of Lord Musashi? Why are you associating with those traitors? Where is your loyalty as a samurai?!"

"To collude with the corrupt? Loyalty? Hahahaha!" Yoshitaka laughed, almost self-deprecatingly, then suddenly pointed at Ishibi and sneered, "That's a question for the prince behind you."

Under his cold gaze, Isisi trembled involuntarily, but quickly composed herself, forcing a smile: "Go back now, and I'll acknowledge your independence, how about it?"

Before Yoshitaka could speak, a slightly immature voice suddenly rang out.

"Go back? Go back to die?!"

"Hey! You..."

Oboro, who had been hiding outside the door, suddenly burst in. Behind him, Asagi looked helpless and shrugged at the frowning Asagi, indicating that he had also failed to stop him.

Mifune looked at the boy who looked to be in his early teens, frowned, and said, "I can give you some money and food to take back with you."

"Money and provisions?" A hatred beyond his years gleamed on Oboro's youthful face as he pointed at Ishibi and sneered, "The common people of the entire Land of Rain are starving. Even if you're rich, can you be richer than this guy?"

"This so-called 'Prince Daimyo' hasn't been able to feed everyone for years. How many people can your money feed? Can it feed everyone?!"

Veins bulged on Isisbi's forehead as he snarled, "If I can't, then why can that brat Wushan?"

"I left Dawn City years ago. I joined Dawn City when it was first established. I don't know if anyone is still starving to death, freezing to death, or dying from exhaustion."

The old man suddenly spoke, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes: "But when there wasn't enough food, that sir would go hungry with everyone; when there weren't enough clothes to wear, that sir would suffer with everyone; when there was too much work to do, that sir would be exhausted with everyone."

"Fake! That's just his disguise!" Isisi said in a grim tone, his voice filled with hatred. "He's just a deceitful little devil who spreads lies; only fools like you would choose to believe him!"

The old man didn't even glance at him, and said in a calm tone, "Whether it's fake or a disguise, at least the swindler you're talking about is willing to put on an act, isn't he? You noble gentlemen aren't even willing to put on an act."

Having said that, he turned to look at Mifune, whose expression was gloomy, and smiled, "Sir, you said you're willing to give us money and provisions? I know you're a good person, and I thank you for your kindness."

"But I can only tell you that even if you give them money and provisions, those money and provisions will still be confiscated."

Mifune withdrew his gloomy gaze from Ishibi, staring intently at Yoshitaka and Asa beside him, then at the expressionless demons around him, and said in a deep voice, "I don't understand. Don't you know the consequences of a rebellion?"

"This is an unforgivable and irredeemable sin, and it may even bring disaster to your family and neighbors!"

The old man, his back hunched, smiled slightly and said, "Of course I know."

Mifune turned to the old man and asked, "Since you knew it, why did you still knowingly commit the wrong? Why did you still become a traitor? Why did you still betray the daimyo? Why...?"

"Because we're hungry, because we hate, because..."

The old man paused slightly, his crimson pupils contracting as he looked at Isisi, his voice filled with hatred: "We have no neighbors left, our homes have been destroyed! We have no family left, they have all starved to death!"

"The only meaning of our lives now is hatred!"

As a samurai who adheres to the true spirit of the samurai, Mifune felt compassion for the weak and said directly, "After the rebellion is quelled and the war is over, I will urge Prince Isei to give you justice."

"Fairness? Fairness?!"

As if struck on a sore spot, Long became agitated, her tone turning hysterical: "When my entire family was wiped out, and I was all alone, who ever gave me justice?"

"When my parents would rather starve to death than let me miss my last bite of food, and it was stolen from me, where was the justice you speak of?"

"Now you're saying you'll give us justice? Hahaha!"

Oboro couldn't help but burst into laughter, laughing so hard he was doubled over, laughing wildly and unrestrainedly. Perhaps he was laughing at himself, perhaps he was laughing at Mifune in front of him, or perhaps he was laughing at this "fair and just" world.

He finally understood, finally understood the purpose of that person's summons, and finally understood the true nature of these so-called samurai, daimyo, and nobles.

"Hahaha!"

The laughter gradually subsided. He looked at Mifune and said menacingly, "This isn't justice; it's just an attempt to make amends for the mistakes I've made! But it's too late!"

"You say treason is a serious crime, you say rebellion will be punished by death, as if you can live without rebelling! You are the liars! You are the real liars!"

The penniless, thin, and short boy pointed at the general of the Land of Iron and the high-ranking daimyo of the Land of Rain, loudly mocking everything they said: "But you can't fool anyone anymore!"

"You, you deserve to die!"

Finally, Isebi, enraged by the repeated offenses from the lowly people he regarded, and who considered himself superior, snapped, "Even Musashi wouldn't dare speak to me like that when he was alive! Who do you think you are, daring to question me?!"

Having said that, he looked at Mifune, who was standing protectively in front of him, and shouted sternly, "Mifun! Kill them all! Kill all these lowly people! I unconditionally support you, I unconditionally support the Land of Iron!"

Upon hearing this, Mifune suppressed his somewhat disordered breathing, withdrew the look of disgust he had been giving Issei, turned to look at the people in front of him, gripped the knife in his hand, and a trace of hesitation and doubt flashed in his eyes.

A moment later, he raised the sword in his hand, pointed it at Yoshitaka and the others, and said in a deep voice, "I don't want to kill you, but I also have my own stance. As the general of the Land of Iron, I must abandon my personal desires and prioritize the national interest."

"So, this is the last time I'm advising you to leave, and I might spare your lives!"

Although Mifune disliked Isaibi and was somewhat disgusted by his words and actions, he understood his own position.

He now needs Isisi's promise; the Land of Iron now needs the support of the Land of Rain. If he wants the Land of Iron to become a neutral country, Isisi's proposal is the fastest way.

"Ha, Mifune, you're strong, I can feel it."

Upon hearing Mifune's words, Yoshitaka sincerely praised, "Even Lord Musashi is not as good as you are now. In the path of swordsmanship, you may go further than anyone else, but..."

He drew his short sword from his waist, facing Mifune's gleaming blade without a trace of fear in his eyes, and sneered, "Let's not even talk about whether you underestimate me; even if you could kill me, so what?"

"You can kill me, you can kill the child behind me, you can kill everyone here who wants to rebel, but can you kill all those people outside who are starving?"

After a long silence, Mifune finally managed to squeeze out a few words: "Your verbal skills have certainly improved; I hope your swordsmanship reaches the same level!"

In response, Yoshitaka raised his short sword.

"Then let's settle things with a knife!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the two figures vanished from their spot.

Bang! Bang!

Both of them pushed their speed to the limit, and the solid wood floor beneath their feet cracked under their foot. They appeared on the wooden table almost simultaneously.

Yoshitaka raised his short sword and stabbed at Mifune's throat, but Mifune was even faster.

He swung his long sword to deflect the short sword aimed at his throat, then slashed diagonally down, intending to use a reverse slash to cut Yoshitaka in two.

But in the next moment, two wisps of white mist spilled from the corners of Yoshitaka's mouth, and his already extremely fast speed became terrifying.

Clang!

The blades clashed, the long steel blades slicing out dazzling sword light, sparks bursting down like rain onto the table, the sound of the blades rubbing against each other sharp and piercing.

The short sword clenched tightly around Mifune's famous sword. All Mifune could see were a pair of gray eyes and a hideous scar below the corner of the eye.

In those eyes, Mifune saw no resentment, no blame, not even anger, only a fierce fighting spirit.

Mifune's gaze sharpened slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "I thought you were wielding your sword out of hatred."

"I'm just like you!" Yoshitaka grinned. "I also deeply love the sword in my hand! I'll also risk my life, gamble my entire life, for some inexplicable thing—foolish and stubborn!"

Clang! Clang clang!!

As soon as the words fell, the long blades clashed, their surfaces intersecting, a sharp, metallic sound echoing in their ears, and the falling sparks seemed to ignite the wooden table beneath their feet.

With each swing of their swords, the crisp sound of the blades cutting through the air filled them with genuine joy; with each slash, witnessing the two swords swiftly cutting through the air, their souls were stirred with excitement.

"I'm different from you!"

The blades clashed once more. Meeting Mifune's gaze, Yoshitaka licked his lips and sneered, "I am not a samurai. To win, I will stop at nothing!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his chest heaved, and his body's potential surged and roared within his flesh and blood!

Rain is water, but water is not rain. Water is changeable and permeable, ice is hard and cold, and air is hazy and lingering. So, what are the characteristics of rain, which is "rootless water"?

The answer is penetration. A raindrop falling continuously on a single point can eventually penetrate rock—this is the surface phenomenon. But the essence is…

--corrosion.

"Rain Breathing - First Form - Flying Ink!"

Yoshitaka's short sword, which was locked in a fierce struggle with Mifune, slashed out, sending sparks flying between the two men.

As Mars burst into bloom, Mifune's pupils seemed to reflect inky black raindrops.

(End of this chapter)