Chapter 221: The Debate on the Creed of Loyalty and Righteousness

The Princess of the Senju from Konoha, and the Mizukage who stands at the pinnacle of the Hidden Mist.

The shock brought about by such a combination is beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

"I see."

After taking a deep breath, Mifune slowly spat out these few words.

Regarding this, he could not judge, nor did he dare to judge lightly.

No wonder the ambassadors of the Bug and Bird Countries met their end at the hands of Mizunuki Ryosuke for their insolence toward Tsunade.

With such a relationship as a premise, any action Mizunuki Ryosuke takes is normal.

At this moment, Tsunade also recovered from the previous stimulation, lifting her pretty face, which was as red as a tomato, from Ryosuke's shoulder.

"Aren't you going to let me go yet?"

A voice filled with feigned anger reached Ryosuke's ears. Looking at Tsunade's flushed earlobes, Ryosuke simply smiled and said two words.

"No."

As he spoke, Mizunuki Ryosuke's arms tightened a fraction, with no intention of letting Tsunade go at all.

Feeling the force around her waist tighten slightly, although Tsunade's expression grew more visibly indignant, her heart, already melted, grew even softer.

Ryosuke's ruthless possessiveness made Tsunade feel deeply flustered.

"You..."

Tsunade was about to say something, but when she inadvertently caught a glimpse of Ryosuke's deep pupils, her heartbeat suddenly stalled. It seemed the little deer in her heart had collided with the walls of her heart too many times and had already fainted.

"Ugh..."

In the end, as if forced to compromise, Tsunade buried her head in Ryosuke's embrace once again.

Ryosuke revealed a satisfied smile.

The sense of achievement a man feels from conquering such a powerful and noble woman as Tsunade is impossible to describe in words.

Boyfriend power MAX!

After finishing teasing Tsunade, Ryosuke finally brought up the real business.

"Let's talk, General Mifune."

The young man's calm, crisp voice reached Mifune's ears, but this time the implication was clearly different.

"Hoo."

Mifune took a deep breath; even with the Mizukage in front of him, he could not lose the integrity of a samurai and the General of the Land of Iron.

"Lord Mizukage, please speak."

Mifune did not look down on Ryosuke because of his youth; on the contrary, his attitude was even more respectful.

That the other party could reach the pinnacle of the ninja world at such an age only proved that he was not simple.

To look down on such an existence is to ignore one's own life.

Mifune was extremely clear about this point.

"Now, I think you can understand why I took action against those two pieces of trash."

Mizunuki Ryosuke's tone was very indifferent, yet the aura he exuded remained extremely powerful.

Because they were so close, Tsunade could hear every word Ryosuke said with absolute clarity.

"As expected, Ryosuke did it because of me..."

Thinking of this, a trace of guilt appeared in Tsunade's heart, but it was immediately followed by a wave of warmth and emotion from the bottom of her heart.

At this very moment, she found herself indulging in Ryosuke's embrace, and in her heart, she was actually reluctant to leave.

"Given the relationship between the two of you, your actions are indeed understandable."

Mifune expressed non-committal agreement with Ryosuke's words, but soon, he shifted the topic again.

"Even so, Lord Mizukage's methods were perhaps a bit too extreme."

"The Land of Iron, as a permanently neutral country, cannot tolerate such things happening."

"Some things cannot be ignored simply because they are understood."

As an old veteran of the ninja world, Mifune would naturally not be intimidated by the identity Ryosuke revealed, nor would he ignore Ryosuke's actions just because there was a reasonable "motive."

To repeat: no matter what, the signboard of the Land of Iron as a "neutral country" cannot be smashed.

The implication in these words was that the Land of Iron would still maintain an attitude of pursuing accountability for the deaths of the envoys from the Bug and Bird Countries.

But pursuing accountability is one thing; how one goes about it is another matter that requires careful consideration.

Mifune was not stupid enough to insist on chasing Mizunuki Ryosuke to demand "blood for blood."

At this moment, the caught-in-the-middle Mifune could only think of a relatively compromise-oriented solution.

Regarding what Mifune said, Mizunuki Ryosuke's expression did not change in the slightest; he naturally understood that it was impossible to make Mifune compromise based on a single reason.

But with this reason established, Ryosuke's behavior shifted from "aggressor" to "victim" in one fell swoop, which was very important for the actions he was about to take.

"General Mifune, the Land of Iron's stance as a neutral country is not wrong."

"But your words just now were still somewhat biased."

"I do not believe my actions were extreme."

Mizunuki Ryosuke said, holding Tsunade's delicate body comfortably, looking somewhat unimpressed.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Mifune furrowed his brows.

Ryosuke's words left him somewhat confused.

Regardless, the public execution of two envoys from small nations was an unchangeable fact.

Even though Mizunuki Ryosuke held the noble status of Mizukage, under the neutral nation's principle of "treating everyone equally," it was clearly impossible to ignore Ryosuke's transgression.

"Things have reached this point; the dead are to be respected."

"No matter what, the facts cannot be changed."

"Even you, Lord Mizukage, cannot change what has already happened."

Mifune continued to speak calmly and seriously, without the slightest wavering.

"Not so."

"Then let me ask you: which is more important, the word 'death' or the word 'righteousness'?"

Ryosuke shook his head gently, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.

As soon as these words were spoken, Sanfune's forehead had already creased into the shape of the character "Chuan."

As a samurai, Mifune naturally believed in the two words "loyalty and righteousness," regardless of whether it was true loyalty or just a slogan.

But on the surface, in the Land of Iron, there was naturally nothing more important than "loyalty and righteousness"; this was the "political correctness" of the Land of Iron.

And the creed pursued by samurai was to "sacrifice one's life for righteousness," so as the leader of the Land of Iron, Mifune had to admit it.

Compared to loyalty and righteousness, life and death were less important.

"Of course, the word 'righteousness' is more important."

Mifune spoke decisively, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"Then, since righteousness is more important, tell me, where exactly was my behavior excessive?"

Mizunuki Ryosuke revealed a harmless smile and then asked Mifune in return.

Mizunuki Ryosuke's question left Mifune stunned on the spot.

"This..."

"Wantonly killing the innocent is 'unrighteous'."

"'Unrighteousness' is naturally an excessive measure."

Mifune's expression was somewhat hesitant; after pondering for a long while, he slowly spoke these words.

"Then tell me, in what way were these two people 'innocent'?"

"And how did I 'wantonly kill'?"

Mizunuki Ryosuke withdrew his smile, his expression suddenly becoming serious, and a powerful aura pressed down toward Mifune.

"This..."

For a moment, Mifune was sweating profusely.

These two were indeed not innocent; they were the ones who provoked first, and Mizunuki Ryosuke only counterattacked to defend Tsunade's honor.

Even if he killed them on the spot, it was a matter of "cause and effect," so the two naturally could not be counted as innocent people.

Added to Ryosuke's act of defending "honor," which was itself an act praised by the samurai creed of loyalty and righteousness, how could Mifune now say this was "unrighteous"?

"I..."

Mifune was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.