Volume 13 Chapter 260-2 Kazami Rin, The Strongest Proof
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Thanks for coming, Momiji. Or… should I call you Major Morikawa?”
”Gee—! Cut it out. You know already, don’t you? I left the military behind. I’m just a normal woman now, living a quiet life with my daughter… in the fleeting peace those people gave us.”
”At your age, a normal girl? And you?”
”You trying to get yourself killed?”
Later, I realized I had never imagined Kaede-san’s mother and Tookowould be so familiar with each other. I had no clue they were old acquaintances.
Tooko and Momiji-san got along well. I’d even trained with Momiji-san a few times outside the village. She told me she kept her past hidden from her daughter, but her fighting style was another story—an intense blend of military precision, physical prowess, and raw instinct. I remember it vividly… her hits left me just as battered as when Tooko went all out on me.
”Hey. What are you two planning to do with that girl? Gonna train her yourselves and turn her into one of Kukuri-sama’s Garden Guards? She’ll be terrifyingly strong.”
”Not a chance. A ninja should choose their own master. I just got a little annoyed, that’s all. Coming back here and seeing that nothing’s changed…”
It was around then that I started realizing—I had grown up a little.
I no longer thought Tooko was wrong for throwing that kunai at Akimaru.
But there was one thing I should’ve questioned.
How could someone like her—someone with that much skill—miss and only graze Akimaru’s foot?
Tooko had been raised by the village… and ten years had passed since.
”I’m leaving the village, Aki. An old acquaintance invited me somewhere. Just for a while… but I doubt I’ll come back. Rin, what about you? From now on, your life is your own. Live how you want.”
”I’m leaving too. There’s nothing for me here…”
For a ninja, leaving the village was forbidden.
But Tooko must’ve negotiated with the village leader—the old woman who was also the chief’s grandmother.
There was some friction when we left… a one-on-one duel between me and the leader. But in the end, we were granted permission to live as shinobi outside the clan.
It went surprisingly smoothly. Maybe the Kazami clan’s views on the modern ninja world were starting to shift.
No one from the clan came to that duel. It was just the two of us.
”Rin. Remember the test Momiji arranged for you last year? You never went to school, but you’ve got your high school equivalency. If you want to live like a normal person, the next step is college. Remember when I first took you out? You said the girls on TV looked so cool—the ones going to college. Here. This is money for your graduation. It’s enough to get you through college. After that… live how you like. We probably won’t meet again. Stay safe. But if you ever want revenge for Akimaru, come find him. He’ll be waiting.”
That was the last time I saw Tooko.
Until I became a college student.
”Hey! You over there! You dropped this!”
The first thing the saint ever said to me… was when she picked up the strap I’d dropped. The one with Akimaru’s name on it.
It matched the collar I bought for Akimaru. Looking back, I realized—my parents had probably given me that strap to push me into killing him.
When she handed it to me, she stared at it for a second. Then her eyes lit up.
”Wait… I’ve seen this before. Yeah! That’s it! That’s the same collar Akimaru wore!”
”Huh…?”
She opened her flip phone and showed me a photo. Akimaru… wearing that collar.
I reached out, gently tracing the screen. My fingers stopped at the name I’d written on his collar years ago: Akimaru.
He was alive.
My chest tightened.
”What happened to him…?”
”Oh, right. When I was little, I went hiking for bird watching. I found a dog with an injured leg. That was Akimaru.”
I wanted to see him. Right now.
But how could I say that? Was I even allowed?
Seeing the look on my face, she smiled gently.
”Actually… Akimaru hasn’t been eating lately. The vet said he’s old, and probably doesn’t have much time left. So, if it’s okay with you… would you come over? Be his new friend? I think he’d like having more people around to say goodbye.”
I nearly cried.
He must’ve noticed. From the strap.
That’s why, after bringing me to his house, he left for his part-time job and let me stay. I remember thinking—how could someone trust a stranger like that?
But now that I know him, it makes sense.
”Akimaru… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
”Kuun.”
Even after all this time, Akimaru remembered me.
He tried to get up—just to sit on my lap. Even when he was near his limit.
I was happy.
I got to see him, one last time.
Or so I thought—
”Who would’ve guessed Akimaru would recover!! It’s all thanks to Aqua-sama!! Akimaru’s a big fan of busty guys, so when all the men in town took off their bindings after the ‘chest liberation’ movement, he totally perked up! Aqua-sama even heals dogs! He’s the reason our nation’s average lifespan shot up by ten years and the suicide rate hit record lows!!”
Right then, I wished I could take back the tears I cried.
Akimaru was back to full energy, practically glued to her big chest.
”Congrats, Rin-chan!”
”I’m glad you won the Kukuri-sama ticket.”
Snapped out of my memories, I glanced down at the ticket in my hand.
”That’s great, Rin.”
”Yeah… thanks, Ruuna.”
Ruuna and Rinon smiled. Everyone around me celebrated.
Except for one person.
”Grr… grr… Congrats, Rin-chan.”
”Mikoto. Are you trying to be happy for me or mad? Pick one.”
I let out a small laugh at Ruuna’s words.
Yeah… this place really is warm.
Since meeting Saint or Emily-sama, I’d found happiness.
I wouldn’t let anyone take that from me.
”Yes! It’s Shirogane’s milky cheese popcorn!”
While enjoying the Cultural Festival, I suddenly felt it—that gaze. From the rooftop.
It was cold. Familiar.
I headed up alone.
”Oh. You noticed. It’s been a while, Rin.”
”…Shizu. Why are you here?”
Kazami Shizu. The second-oldest of my sisters.
She always resented our eldest sister, Ichii. After I was exiled, she made it her hobby to pick on me whenever we crossed paths.
”You already know, right? There’s a deep connection between our clan and the Women’s Mutual Aid Society. They requested me. Said there’s someone in the way of killing Shirogane Aqua. I didn’t expect it to be you. Honestly, I was shocked. You left the village, and now the organization’s getting soft if they’re struggling with someone like you.”
The surrounding ninjas chuckled.
I recognized them. Former workers from the Kazami mansion.
I stood quietly, taking in the situation.
”Hey! You, quit yapping so much!”
”Shut up! The only one who gives me orders… is me!!”
Notes:
• Tooko – Female. A relative of Kazami Rin who intervened to save Rin from her mother’s abuse. She has a stern appearance and is a skilled ninja. She took Rin under her wing, training her harshly but ultimately helping her grow stronger. Their relationship is complex, as Tooko was also responsible for Akimaru’s death.
• Akimaru – Male. A ninja dog given to Kazami Rin as a birthday gift. He had brown fur and was very loyal to Rin. Their relationship was close, but he was tragically killed during Rin’s ninja training. His death deeply affected Rin.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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