NOVEL WEB Chapter 71: CHAPTER 71
In the middle of the night, a quiet creak echoed as the door to Kimimaro's room opened.
The lights flared on suddenly.
Karin sat by Kimimaro's bedside, casting an unimpressed glance at the figure stepping inside. "I knew it. I figured you'd sneak in. Seriously, Haruna—you're a princess, and the future feudal lord of the Land of Vegetables. Can you try acting the part?"
"I—I couldn't sleep… Too much happened today," Haruna said, flustered. "I just came to check on Kimimaro. Since you're already here, I'll go back. Don't worry, Karin—I'm not going to take him away from you. I know now... I don't have that kind of power."
"Hmph, at least you understand that." Karin stood up, smirking. "You know, you do look pretty good when you're not pretending to be a guy." She stretched, flipping her hair. "Fine. I'll be the bigger person and give you some time. I'm magnanimous. Learn from me."
After Karin left, Haruna muttered under her breath, "She really is... a rare kind of girl."
"Of course," Kimimaro replied calmly. "That's why she's always been at my side."
"I'll do my best too." Haruna stepped closer. "Kimimaro... can I lean on you, just for a moment? I don't mean anything improper—I just want a bit of warmth."
Karin's composure earlier had extinguished any hidden thoughts Haruna might've clung to. Now, she simply leaned against Kimimaro's shoulder, quietly listening to his heartbeat.
The night outside was silent. For the first time in years, Haruna's heart felt at ease.
"I was sent away as a hostage when I was young. This is the first time I've felt safe," she said softly. "Kimimaro, you won't leave me too... will you?"
"I have responsibilities. I can't remain in the Land of Vegetables every day."
Her expression faltered slightly.
"But if what you said earlier is true… then maybe, even if you leave physically, my heart won't go anywhere else."
"That so?" Kimimaro gave a rare smile. "Then it's fine."
"You know," Haruna began, cheeks reddening, "when you struck me earlier... I thought you were terrifying. But afterward, I kept thinking… everything you said made sense. And… I found something else…"
She lowered her head, embarrassed. "You were actually... kind of charming."
(Is she a masochist? Seriously?) Kimimaro thought to himself.
"No matter what you do, I think I'll still like you." Haruna looked up at him. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Did you know my identity from the start?"
"I knew you were a girl when I carried you. As for Kikunosuke and his ninja companion... anyone with real field experience would've been suspicious. I just didn't expect you to be royalty."
Kimimaro wasn't about to admit he'd guessed her true identity. Even if Haruna suspected, as long as he didn't confirm it, she could only doubt in silence.
More importantly, she had no one else to rely on. Trust in her homeland's ministers had long since crumbled.
"Then why… why did you still hold my hand and drag me around afterward?"
Kimimaro gave a short laugh. "Even if you were in disguise, your features were clearly too fine. Why wouldn't I take advantage of that?"
"You...!" Haruna flushed. "But you did admit I'm beautiful! I like how bold you are."
She suddenly leaned forward and gave him a light peck on the cheek, then darted to the doorway. "Kimimaro, I've made up my mind. You're helping me—no backing out! Good night!"
Left alone, Kimimaro shook his head. "Naïve... yet cunning. Tsundere tendencies, masochistic streak, and an obvious desire to secure power through any emotional opening. She's been trained as an heir, no doubt about that. But at least she's not clueless. I prefer that to someone overly idealistic."
The group finally arrived at the Land of Vegetables.
"Is this really... my home?" Haruna asked, stunned.
The thriving nation she remembered was nowhere in sight. The streets were nearly empty, homes shuttered tight. The few villagers they passed looked wary—worn but not quite starving, malnourished yet surviving.
"Civil unrest," Kimimaro said bluntly. "You remember the festivals, the nobles' laughter, but that was just surface polish. What you saw before was what your retainers wanted you to see. You never saw the reality beneath."
Haruna instinctively clung to his arm. Anxiety gripped her heart. She had no idea what awaited her.
Suddenly—
"Ah, no—!" a woman's terrified cry rang out nearby.
Down the street, several armed men were dragging a struggling woman toward a house.
"Ranmaru," Kimimaro called calmly, "handle it."
This was part of Ranmaru's training—and he did not disappoint.
Without activating his Kekkei Genkai, he picked up a blade and swiftly incapacitated all the soldiers. His movements were clean, silent, and precise—no wasted effort.
"We're part of the lord's manor! You'll regret this!" one soldier spat, still defiant even on the ground.
Ranmaru said nothing.
Kimimaro's cold gaze landed on them. "The 'lord's manor'? That term lost its meaning the moment you turned on your people."
Just then, a squad of guards rushed over.
"Who's causing a disturbance here?" the squad leader barked.
One of the locals pointed at the group.
"Officer, these outsiders attacked us without warning! I suspect they're spies from an enemy nation."
"Is that so?" The squad leader narrowed his eyes and unsheathed his blade. "Arrest them!"
"Wait!"
Haruna stepped forward. Unlike most civilians, she had no fear of these soldiers—they used to kneel in her presence not long ago. With calm authority, she produced a small, ornate token engraved with the royal insignia of the Land of Vegetables.
"I am Haruna. Summon your lord."
The soldiers hesitated at the sight of the token. Even if some no longer served her, Haruna's name still carried weight.
The squad leader hesitated, clearly considering the political implications.
"I'm merely a field captain. I don't have the authority to verify this myself. With your permission, I'll escort you to Lord Nogiku's estate. He'll handle the matter."
Shortly after, they arrived at the provincial lord's residence.
"I am Lord Nogiku. Welcome, Princess Haruna," the man said with a polite bow.
Haruna felt a flicker of hope—at last, a proper reception.
But before she could speak, Kimimaro stepped forward and raised a hand to stop her.
"Lord Nogiku, I believe you're mistaken."
"What?" Nogiku looked up, confused.
"The Land of Vegetables is no longer without leadership," Kimimaro said flatly. "Haruna is not merely a princess—she is now the officially recognized feudal lord. Show proper respect."
Nogiku's expression stiffened. A subordinate beside him leaned in to whisper, "My lord… it's true. Princess Haruna's succession was legitimized by the daimyo. She is the rightful ruler."
But before the tension could settle, raucous laughter echoed from outside the room.
"Haha! Takeo, are you senile already?" A sneering voice cut through the atmosphere. "You think she's the feudal lord? The boss already appointed Naibai as the acting lord. Forget about this 'Haruna'—she's just a leftover from the past. I think it's time we handed her over as a 'gift' before the boss returns."
A group of heavily armed thugs entered, their swagger and headbands marking them as mercenaries formerly under the control of the rogue ninja Renga, Jiga, and Ruiga—bandits known to have allied with traitorous factions during the civil unrest in the Land of Vegetables.
Nogiku's demeanor shifted at once, emboldened by their presence.
"Exactly. Princess Haruna, your status no longer holds. Lord Naibai will be enthroned within the week. These men serve to maintain order in the name of Lords Renga, Jiga, and Ruiga."
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