LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Killing Three Birds with One Stone
Time flew by, and a week passed in the blink of an eye.
During this week, Rinjin and a dozen other children had been learning various spy skills from Mizuguma, or what could be called "The Art of Being a Double Agent."
This included expression control, how to blend into groups effectively, a hundred ways to join conversations, how to play dumb, and how to use their young age as an advantage to gather information.
All in all, it was like a crash course in salesmanship.
The training covered not just micro-expression control and child behavioral studies, but even social psychology - it was ruthlessly comprehensive.
Throughout this week, Mizuguma had shed his usually serious demeanor and transformed into a strict teacher. Any mistakes from the students were met with harsh criticism, giving off quite the ascetic vibe.
If only he weren't a man - if he had been a beautiful woman, Rinjin would definitely have pursued a romance with her, the kind where you'd take maternity leave together.
The week-long training had ended, and the students were gradually returning home to pack under the supervision of ninja escorts. Only Rinjin remained, leisurely sitting in Mizuguma's office, casually sipping tea.
It wasn't that he didn't have a supervising ninja - his supervisor was Mizuguma himself.
"Now that classes are over, I'll be leaving tomorrow," Rinjin set down his teacup, his face showing undisguised contentment.
"Hmph, so eager to leave the village?" Mizuguma snorted coldly, his expression stern.
Seeing this, Rinjin carelessly tapped the table.
"Come on, drop the act, everyone's gone. Besides, isn't my leaving the village what Kanda and Lord Hanzō arranged? What could I do to resist?"
Hearing this, Mizuguma fell silent, his mature face drooping.
Truthfully, whenever Mizuguma taught these children and saw their anxious young faces, he felt incredibly tormented inside.
Only when he was with the playful Rinjin did his guilt subside momentarily.
At first, he had been very dissatisfied seeing Rinjin's eager attitude, but as time passed and he spent more time with these children, he found it increasingly difficult to look into their innocent eyes.
He especially dreaded them asking him innocently, "Teacher Mizuguma, will we ever be able to return to the village?"
He remembered when Lord Hanzō had told him: "Protect the village and its children with all your might, and when facing death, smile as you pass on the will to protect the village to the next generation."
But now, Lord Hanzō, claiming it was for the village, was turning the village's children into spies.
What kind of existence was a spy? One that couldn't see the light of day, one that had to sleep with one eye open, one that lived in constant anxiety.
Lord Hanzō! Hanzō! Hanzō of the Salamander! You! You've lost your conviction!
With tears in his heart, Mizuguma grew increasingly silent.
Seeing Mizuguma's gloomy expression, Rinjin's face also gradually darkened.
"Bang!" The table exploded with noise as documents flew everywhere. Rinjin suddenly stood up and grabbed Mizuguma's collar.
"Come on, I'll help you regain your conviction!"
With that, he used his brute strength to drag Mizuguma toward Kabukichō District One.
At this moment, he no longer concealed his immense strength.
After all, he was leaving the village tomorrow. Then he'd be free as a bird, and no mere *Brain Inserting Technique* could stop him. Most importantly, Mizuguma was his only connection in Amegakure, both a teacher and a friend.
He didn't want his good friend to constantly teeter on the edge of darkness.
Being dragged by Rinjin in an extremely embarrassing position,
"Wait, put me down! Hei! Put me down, you brat, who goes to Kabukichō in broad daylight?!"
At this moment, Mizuguma had forgotten all about conviction - his mind was filled only with embarrassment, social death, and the fear of never finding a wife.
Being dragged by the collar by a seven or eight-year-old child straight into Kabukichō - the scene was almost artistically tragic.
Thinking about permanently losing his right to choose a spouse, Mizuguma's tiger eyes filled with tears as he covered his face and wept bitterly.
Damn it all, to hell with the village and the children, what about my happiness for the rest of my life?!
Seeing Mizuguma crying with such vigor and grandeur, Rinjin felt relieved, thinking to himself: Kabukichō really is a wonderful place - it cleared Mizuguma's mind of all distracting thoughts in an instant.
With this in mind, Rinjin became even more energetic. Ignoring the strange looks from passersby, he pushed forward with renewed strength and rushed straight to the entrance of "Amei Free Information Center."
"Keep it up, aim to clear your mind of all distractions, achieve enlightenment, strengthen your conviction, go for it!"
With that, he shoved Mizuguma through the doors of the "Amei Free Information Center."
Seeming to realize he had no face left to show in public, Mizuguma half-willingly rushed inside.
Following Mizuguma's footsteps, Rinjin entered through the doors.
Inside, instead of Mikiko who had "privately committed herself," it was Mizuguma's old flame, the girl called Miya, who stood in the front hall.
"Hello, Sister Miya," Rinjin greeted her with an innocent face.
"Hello, little brother." Miya returned his smile, then glanced at the time outside and asked curiously, "Why are you here so early today? Sister Yukiko hasn't even finished getting ready~"
"Ah~" Rinjin's eyes rolled as he smiled sheepishly.
"Teacher Mizuguma said he couldn't wait any longer and wanted to see you right away, to fall into your embrace~"
"Really? Little boys who lie will wet their pants~" Miya looked at Rinjin with an ambiguous smile, clearly not believing his words.
In their line of work, they heard too many sweet words. Such ordinary-level sweet talk like Rinjin's, neither explicit nor subtle, and lacking sincerity, had long since ceased to affect her.
"It's true." Rinjin nodded solemnly, and added with a seemingly defiant look.
"Teacher Mizuguma also said that Sister Miya is so gentle and generous, how wonderful it would be to marry her!"
"What?" Miya's beautiful eyes lost their color as she hurriedly asked, "Did... did he really say that?"
"Really, if you don't believe me, go ask Teacher Mizuguma yourself. Just ask him: 'Someone is willing to marry you now, would you be willing to marry her?'"
Hearing Rinjin's words, Miya could no longer harbor any doubts.
For women in her profession, finding a good marriage was already a blessing to thank heaven for. Although Mizuguma's looks were somewhat rushed, just his status as a Special Jōnin and eligible bachelor was enough to make these geisha fight over him.
Moreover, geisha who were used to seeing men's false affections often invested themselves more deeply when faced with genuine feelings, like moths to a flame.
As soon as Rinjin finished speaking, Miya quickly turned and ran towards the inner room, forgetting all about maintaining her image. Soon, he could hear faint breathing sounds from inside.
It seemed his plan had worked!
Since Mizuguma couldn't find a proper wife because of him, why not take a step back and find happiness with a geisha instead.
Besides, Mizuguma himself had said they sold their art, not their bodies.
Just then, another inner door opened, and Yukiko, fully dressed and made up, came out looking confused at Rinjin.
"Little brother, have you seen Miya?"
Rinjin jerked his chin toward the inner room.
Seeing Yukiko about to go in, Rinjin quickly reached out to stop her.
No joke - if Yukiko went in now, that heartfelt confession would instantly become a scene of social death!
With this in mind, Rinjin's mind worked quickly, and he hurriedly spoke up:
"Sister Yukiko, where's your boss? How come I haven't seen her today?"
Yukiko giggled, crouched down in front of Rinjin, and pinched his cheeks.
"Who would have thought you were such a romantic soul? Too bad your Sister Mikiko left this place a week ago."
Seeing Yukiko call him a romantic soul, Rinjin's little face instantly turned black as coal.
Damn it, that woman must have told these two everything about how he had flirted with her! Curse it, how could she just casually share such sweet talk?!
But then thinking about how he would be leaving the village tomorrow, his mood brightened again.
"Left?" Rinjin asked casually, "Will she come back?"
"Who knows~ Maybe she'll be back tomorrow, or maybe she'll never come back~"
Yukiko teased Rinjin with a mischievous smile, feeling that this handsome little boy was even more adorable than her boss had described.
"What's wrong, do you miss her?"
Hearing this, Rinjin nodded.
"Yes, I miss her, just like how Teacher Mizuguma thinks about Sister Yukiko all night long."
Yukiko was younger than Miya and more innocent in her thoughts.
Her face instantly turned rosy, and she shyly glanced at Rinjin, asking softly, "So what does he think about?"
"What else could he think about?" Rinjin sighed with an air of worldly wisdom;
Then he crossed his arms, hugging himself, and while swaying seductively, he said:
"Like this: Rock-a-bye, Yukiko, you're like the village rain, falling in my heart all day long, drowning me, suffocating me, ah~ Subarashii~"
Seeing Rinjin's excessively seductive manner, Yukiko couldn't hold back anymore. Her face turned bright red, and her whole head steamed like a boiling kettle.
"Stop~ stop it, it's so embarrassing~" Yukiko covered her face with both hands, feeling like she might faint.
She had seen clients who liked to get handsy and tell dirty jokes, but those only made her feel sick and nauseated;
Yet these somewhat explicit sweet words coming from Rinjin's mouth didn't disgust her at all, instead making her feel weak all over.
Taking advantage of Yukiko's dazed state, Rinjin suddenly had an attack of conscience and asked:
"By the way, Sister Yukiko, is it true that you all sell your art but not your bodies here?"
Yukiko, her mind in a fog, nodded instinctively.
"Yes, Sister Mikiko is amazing, she protects us very well."
Hearing this, Rinjin's lips instantly curled into a smile as mischievous thoughts began to churn.
"Oh right, Sister Yukiko, Teacher Mizuguma was sleep-talking again the other day."
At the mention of Mizuguma, Yukiko's attention was immediately caught, her gleaming eyes fixed intently on Rinjin.
"I think he said something like, I need to save some money to marry Yukiko.
No, no, it should have been: After becoming a Jōnin, I'll marry Yukiko.
No, that's not right either, ah! I can't remember exactly what he said!
Oh right, Sister Yukiko, don't tell him I told you this~"
At this point, Yukiko's mind was already filled with sweetness, leaving no room for thought. She just nodded happily.
Seeing this, Rinjin laughed inwardly;
Although he would be leaving the village tomorrow and wouldn't get to witness Teacher Mizuguma's hell, just thinking about how he had caused all this made him want to laugh.
Bidding farewell to the dazed Yukiko, Rinjin left the "Amei Free Information Center" contentedly, taking down the "Open for Business" sign and locking the door on his way out.
He could imagine that Yukiko would definitely find a private moment to talk with Mizuguma tonight;
A man and woman alone, talking late at night - what else could they talk about?
Wouldn't they end up talking their way into bed?
With Mizuguma's personality, he might actually marry both women;
That would be good - after all, Mizuguma liked them both, and it would also prevent these poor women from falling deeper into their profession. Besides, with wives to care for, Mizuguma would probably save money and live a good life!
Three birds with one stone - hey! I'm such a clever little devil!
Patting himself on the shoulder, Rinjin smugly left Kabukichō District One, leaving behind this place where dreams had begun.
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