I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 562 When traveling, try to put aside the urge to help others.

Some schemes can be very simple, and even seem clumsy from God's perspective. However, a scheme is never better the more ingenious it is, nor does it necessarily have to actually deceive others.

Often, a scheme only serves as a trigger. Whether or not a scheme exists, or whether or not it is used, what is destined to happen will still happen; only the process will change.

Tatsuma wanted to pretend to be part of the alliance and betray them, but any one of the three ninja villages with a discerning eye could easily see through such a trick, and would most likely pin it on Tatsuma.

After all, who doesn't know what Tatsuma did in the Land of Water? Back then, he traveled around the Land of Water under the name "Takasugi Shinsuke," and he didn't even bother with disguise. He swaggered around like a local.

Tatsuma has done far more outrageous things to the Land of Water than just turning Mist Ninja against each other, attacking the Hidden Mist Village, damaging the interests of the Land of Water, and even causing the Land of Water to vacillate between openness and closure. He could easily have destroyed the alliance.

However, even if they figure it out, it's uncertain whether the three allied ninja villages will respond based on the truth. It's hard to say about the Land of Wind, since the Sand Village is truly powerless to open up a second front.

Both Kumogakure, having taken a break, and Kirigakure, having rested and recuperated, were capable of opening up two battlefields. Kumogakure, in particular, was desperately in need of a victory after its defeat, to prove its national strength.

The same applies to Kirigakure. Based on the investigation conducted by Tatsuma and the Hyuga ninja in the Land of Water over the past few days, it has been confirmed that the Mizukage position has officially been passed down to the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.

As a Mizukage whose rise to power was not entirely legitimate, Yagura Karatachi also needed some external conflicts to divert internal attention, and war was the best way to do so.

In particular, Kumogakure and Konohagakure were major contributors to the tragedies that Kirigakure has faced in recent years. Regardless of the outcome, as long as Yagura Karatachi dares to fight, the entire village will not question the origins of his position as Kage after the battle.

Although none of the three parties took action, Tatsuma was certain that at least Kumogakure and Kirigakure had considered killing the other's delegation.

The reason for the lack of action is that the most important cooperation has not yet been reached. After all, the two major demands of the tripartite cooperation are to kill Yekura and to fight against Konoha.

The first request has only been "completed" so far, and even this "completion" is an illusion created by Tenka's Sharingan.

The second demand has not yet been formally implemented, let alone achieved. Therefore, if these three parties want to turn against each other, they will have to wait until they have caused some damage to Konoha.

Another reason for not taking action now is that if they do it themselves, they will always leave clues, and if they are accused, they will be in the wrong in the eyes of the public.

However, if it were Tatsuma, an outsider to the alliance, to serve as the sword, both Kumogakure and Kirigakure would be happy to see it happen, because they would have a reason to turn against him, and even if something unexpected happened in the future, they could blame it on Konoha.

You could say that Chenma took the blame voluntarily, but he was willing to do it. As for the reward, he couldn't be sure. He was just hoping to win the lottery.

In the Daimyo's mansion of the Land of Water, on a fairly bustling street, a man wearing a straw hat, dressed as a wandering samurai, and wearing an inappropriate pair of sunglasses was weaving through the crowd.

Occasionally, when he lowers his head, a pair of red eyes piercing through the thin mist behind his sunglasses prove that he is indeed Sakamoto Tatsuma.

However, despite being dressed in samurai attire, he lacked the most important weapon of a samurai: a sword. He did not carry a sword.

After all, carrying a sword within the daimyo's territory would likely make it difficult to move an inch. Although the samurai troops under the daimyo's command were no match for Tatsuma, he didn't want to reveal his identity and whereabouts so soon.

Moreover, as everyone knows, Sakamoto Tatsuma does not carry a sword; the silver-haired, naturally curly-haired man who always carries a wooden sword is called Sakata Gintoki.

Tatsuma suspected that this was a large part of the reason why he had never been able to find the feeling of wielding a sword.

"careful."

Just as Tatsuma was stepping on the slightly raised pebbles along the edge of the road to avoid stepping in water, a bright voice, unusually warm in the Land of Water, suddenly rang out, and at the same time, a pair of hands reached out to grab Tatsuma's elbows.

Tatsuma's body tensed for a moment, but he quickly relaxed, letting the little girl wearing the headband of a Kirigakure ninja grab his hand.

"Excuse me, Mr. Samurai, there's someone blocking the tactile paving ahead. Let me guide you across."

".Thanks."

Chenma's lips twitched. He was just wearing sunglasses, which didn't mean he was blind, but the moment the little girl looked up, his eyes still went out of focus for a split second.

Through the gap in her sunglasses, the little girl saw Tatsuma's lifeless eyes. A look of pity crossed her face as she said, "Samurai, didn't you... didn't anyone guide you? And I see other people like you who know how to use..."

"A white cane, is it? A few lively little boys borrowed it to play with just now."

Chenma shifted his center of gravity slightly, transferring some of his power to the little girl's hand. The girl didn't seem to care, but a look of indignation appeared on her face as she said, "They've gone too far."

"They're just being immature."

Chenma offered a defense for the non-existent little boys, then asked, "You're a little girl, right? What's your name?"

"Samurai, my name is Mei Terumi, and I am a ninja from Kirigakure."

The little girl's voice was filled with pride, but Tatsuma frowned. Just as Terumi Mei was wondering, Tatsuma said, "A ninja? You must have experienced a lot of pain, right? I've heard..."

Tatsuma looked hesitant, but Mei Terumi shook her head. Realizing Tatsuma couldn't see her, she quickly added, "I just graduated. This time, the village expanded its enrollment, so it's not like previous years."

"Really? Does this expansion of enrollment mean another war is brewing, just like a few years ago?"

"I don't know either. I heard from the teacher that it's related to a very, very bad rogue ninja from the village in the past."

Mei Terumi was also somewhat puzzled, but she was just a genin, and no matter how curious she was, no one would tell her about the village's higher-ups' discovery and decision.

Tatsuma didn't say anything. With Mei Terumi's help, he slowly walked forward, occasionally brushing against the stalls that were occupying the tactile paving for the visually impaired.

The two soon arrived at an intersection. Mei Terumi asked, "May I ask your name, samurai, and where you're headed? If it's on my way, I'll give you a ride."

"A name? I used to have a name, Sakata Gintoki, but after I put down my sword, no one called me that anymore, and I no longer use that name."

Tatsuma gently pressed his other hand into his pocket, as if trying to hide his face even deeper. Mei Terumi said encouragingly, "No, Mr. Sakata Gintoki, your name is very nice."

However, perhaps you shouldn't put down your sword. I've heard stories of samurai who lost their sight, an arm, or a leg, yet through sheer willpower, they still managed to defeat their enemies.

"You said it yourself, it's just a story from a folk tale."

Tatsuma's voice was low as the two stopped at the fork in the road. Mei Terumi looked at the wandering samurai, who exuded an aura of dejection, and wanted to offer some words of comfort. However, Tatsuma first rallied his spirits and said:

"But you're right, maybe I shouldn't have put down the knife completely. Although the knife in my hand can no longer be wielded, the knife in my heart and my spine will never fall to the ground or bend."

"That's exactly how it should be!"

Mei Terumi smiled brightly and then asked, "Sakata Gintoki-san, you still haven't told me where you're going."

"We have the same destination."

After Tatsuma finished speaking, Terumi Mei was taken aback. Before she could ask a question, Tatsuma continued, "That is the end of life, death. Of course, that's not where I'm going today. Today I plan to go to the Go room in the north of the city and play shogi with someone."

Mei Terumi suddenly took a deep breath and held it in her throat. After a while, she reacted, laughed, and said, "I thought you were really going to do something drastic. But, we really do have the same destination: the chess room in the north of the city."

The place where the daimyo prefecture entertained the delegation was located in the north of the city. Nearby was the largest chess room in the daimyo prefecture. Terumi Myousei, this samurai gentleman must be planning to go to that one, right?

It just so happens that she was going to deliver a letter to her teacher today. Anyway, her teacher said that it was fine as long as it was delivered today. She could deliver it to a samurai gentleman who was having some misfortunes along the way. She shouldn't be scolded, right?

Terumi even pondered whether, after delivering the letter, she should go to the chess room to check on the samurai. If the samurai wouldn't play for too long, she could send him back.

The place where the two met was not far from the daimyo mansion in the very center of daimyo Prefecture. After passing the daimyo mansion and walking a little further north, they would be close to the embassy.

Mei Terumi subconsciously slowed her pace. Just as she was wondering whether she should ask the samurai to wait a moment so she could deliver the letter before taking him to the chess room, Tatsuma suddenly spoke up:

"Have you arrived at your destination yet?"

"Um."

Mei Terumi responded, and Tatsuma nodded, saying, "I also heard some sounds of shogi pieces being placed. I can figure out the rest of the way myself."

"Really? But there's still some distance between us, how could you hear me?"

"Heaven is fair. When it takes something away from you, it will always give you something in return. Of course, some unlucky people are deprived of happiness, but Heaven rewards them with suffering as a reward."

But I'm lucky; my hearing is much better than normal. You won't need to see me off anymore. Thank you for your help, Mei Terumi.

As Chenma spoke, he withdrew his hand and slowly moved forward. However, after only two steps, he began to veer off course because there were no raised tactile paving markers under his feet.

Seeing this, Mei Terumi quickly ran up to Tatsuma and helped him up, saying, "Sakata Gintoki-san, please wait for me a moment. I have something to take care of and will be back soon."

"No need, I can't trouble you any further."

"No, I was just thinking of going to check out the chess room; I've never been before."

Mei Terumi said, leading Tatsuma towards a side alley, "Wait here for a bit, so you don't get hit by cars or pedestrians."

"You are such a gentle girl, you will definitely find a very good husband in the future."

Mei Terumi blushed and said, "No way, I'm still young, I don't want to think about these things yet."

"Is Mei Terumi your real name?"

"yes."

Mei Terumi didn't hesitate at all, but Tatsuma stopped, his face serious, and said, "I know you can't just reveal your name to strangers. How could you, as a ninja, forget that?"

"Huh? Isn't Sakata Gintoki your real name?"

"Of course not."

Tatsuma placed his other hand on his straw hat and said, "I wasn't planning on telling you, but... it would be too tasteless to deceive a little girl like you. Remember, our names are..."

"Sakamoto Tatsuma."

As he spoke, Tatsuma took off his straw hat, revealing a head full of natural curls, ready to counterattack Terumi Mei the moment she reacted and made her move.

Mei Terumi paused for a moment, then said, "I understand, Mr. Tatsuma Sakamoto, thank you for reminding me. But we're directly under the eaves, so it'll drip water. You should put your straw hat on."

"."

Tatsuma remained silent, but Mei Terumi had already released his hand and turned around, saying, "Then I'll go in. Mr. Tatsuma Sakamoto, please wait for me a moment, don't get lost."

"Haven't you heard of the name Sakamoto Tatsuma?"

Tatsuma felt inexplicably disappointed. Mei Terumi turned around and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Mr. Tatsuma Sakamoto, I don't know much about samurai. You must be a great samurai. Please forgive my rude reaction."

If you have the chance, would you be willing to share your story with me?

"Alright, then I'll start by talking about my other identity."

Tatsuma spoke, and Terumi Mei glanced at him, then looked back at the embassy separated by a wall, hesitating whether to interrupt the samurai, when she heard him say, "Takasugi Shinsuke."

"Takasugi Shinsuke!!!"

Terumi felt a sudden alarm bell ringing in her mind. She instinctively turned around, but her neck suddenly ached and her vision went black.

(End of this chapter)