Ameyuri Ringo's past

—If the other villages knew about the existence of these little snails, they would go crazy," was Pakura's conclusion after I finished explaining their functioning and how to take care of them. It wasn't very complicated, so it turned into a brief explanation of less than five minutes. "This speed in transmitting information is enough to change the outcome of a war!"

It's normal for them to react this way because this is a world where technological fronts are entirely inconsistent. As long as it's not something that can affect the ninja, there are hardly any significant technological advancements on a civilian level. Not only that, due to the tendency to keep secrets and lack of communication, there are technologies that can be present in one country while absent in another.

They don't even have real phones or a simple telegraph! People are content with sending letters because it's what they've always done, and it works for them. Ninjas, on the other hand, are distrustful of this technology and consider using scrolls delivered by messengers more reliable and secure.

The technological level equipped for my village is separated by hundreds of years from the rest of the world, so I also have to be careful if I ever bring non-permanent guests here.

"How far can they function?" Ameyuri asked with interest.

"It depends on the village's location," I replied. "These larger ones are used to amplify the range. Right now, they should easily cover the entire Kirigakure area and parts of the coast of the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. The coverage can only increase when more of them are born."

"That's a quarter of the world!" Pakura exclaimed in surprise again. If the range was from Kirigakure to one of the nearby islands, it was already an incredible surveillance tool. But if it could cover such a large area, it could be considered an ultimate war resource!

"Each one can have a snail; to call, just follow the instructions I've given you," I said as I distributed the den den mushi. What followed were several calls from different places on the island to familiarize themselves with their operation.

If I were to distribute all the large den den mushis I have now around the world in strategic locations, I could have global coverage in no time. However, I'm not going to do that for one simple reason. There are too many ninjas moving on land, and I'm sure that sooner or later, someone would notice them and try to kill them or study them. It's better for them to stay safe in the village and focus on increasing their population while we maintain the monopoly.

...The next morning...

I went down to the ground with Ameyuri after bidding farewell to the duo who were training. I asked her if she had other plans besides picking up her things since I intended to go to Kusagakure to take a look, and for that, I had to cross the sea and then traverse the entire Land of Fire from one end to the other, literally. Even traveling in my elemental form, it would take me a while to cover that distance. If she only planned to make a quick stop, I would accompany her and then bring her back to the Sky Island for greater convenience. If she intended to spend a lot of time, I would go on my own and pick her up on the way back.

"I don't have many things, so it won't take me too long," Ameyuri said as I lowered her from my arms to the ground. "I don't want to have to wait once I'm done, so come with me," she demanded while holding my gaze.

"Will I be allowed into the village?" I asked, puzzled. Kirigakure should still be acting under the control of Obito's Mizukage. My idea was more to wait for her in a nearby place to avoid unnecessary problems. And by unnecessary problems, I mean killing the idiots who try to attack me, because there would surely be some.

"I'm one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. I have enough prestige to bring an invited person with me if I want," Ameyuri replied, irritated by my doubt, despite understanding the reason why I asked the question. "And if anyone has any complaints about my husband, they can stick their opinion up their…"

"I got it," I interrupted her, admitting my mistake and enjoying how quickly I'm occupying an important place in her heart, whether she's aware of it or not. "Just let me know if you want me to restrain myself if necessary."

Ameyuri considered it for a moment and nodded, although she didn't think it would be necessary. While most of the people in Kirigakure could go and die for all she cared, there were still a few people she would prefer to keep alive.

We took the paths that only the ninjas of Kirigakure were familiar with, and it didn't take us long to reach the village. As I expected, people were unable to avoid turning their heads to look at me. This time, perhaps it was more because I was walking beside Ameyuri as an equal rather than behind her as a subordinate, which undoubtedly aroused their curiosity.

It seems her prestige is higher than I expected. I watched as people moved away from her path, their gazes filled with a mix of respect and fear. I looked around with interest as it was the first major village I had visited since coming to this world.

Initially, I imagined the place with tall trees and houses built in them, but the reality is quite different. While it's true that Kirigakure has dense forests, the village is situated amidst mountains.

The architecture consists of several cylindrical buildings with plantations of trees on their roofs, which I assume are designed for proper rainwater drainage and favoring concealment in nature, given the frequent rains and the humid climate, which facilitates the formation of mist.

From the moment I arrived, I could see the Mizukage's building, as it's the largest building located right in the central area of the village. Even the large round plaque with the word "Water" on it was there.

To my surprise, Ameyuri's house was not in the best area of the village, as one might expect given her status, but it wasn't in the suburbs either. It was a simple two-story wooden house built near one of the small streams that crossed the village. It was so close that she only needed to take less than ten steps to go fishing if she wished.

There were no neighbors in the immediate vicinity, but there were several cut marks, explosions, and craters. One could imagine the amount of training Ameyuri must have done in this place over the years to leave so much chaos around.

We didn't enter immediately, and Ameyuri stood silently contemplating the place, knowing that once she left, she would probably never return.

"My father was a pretty good carpenter and built this place shortly before he married my mother," she began to say without taking her eyes off the small house where she grew up. "Even after all this time, I still don't understand how he prevented the wood from rotting due to the humidity in the area."

I didn't say anything, but I put a hand on her right shoulder to convey support. When someone starts an explanation in a situation like this, it means they're sharing something intimate with the listener.

"When I was six years old, my mother let me accompany her after insisting a lot when she went to a blacksmith's shop to order some custom tools, which would become my father's birthday gift," Ameyuri placed her left hand over mine on her shoulder and kept it there, appreciating the gesture. "When we returned, my mother's face changed when she smelled an iron scent in the air. I didn't know what it was at the time and was confused because my father worked with wood, not iron. But I had a bad feeling when I saw my mother's reaction."

Ameyuri's words made it clear that what she was going to say next wouldn't be pleasant to hear.

"My father was kneeling on the floor, dead, and his hands were gone," her hand squeezed mine harder. "Years later, I found out that a construction company wanted the secrets of my father's trade and offered him a large sum of money, but he refused because he wanted to start his own business. Feeling a threat to their profits, the result was a contract for an assassination mission, which was executed by a ninja from the same village."

I could feel Ameyuri trembling at this point, but I didn't interrupt her.

"After the funeral, my mother used all her favors and contacts to discover the identity of the killer and managed to avenge my dad, but she had to pay a price," for the first time since she started talking, she turned away from the house and looked at me. "My mother had the same disease as me, and the fight she had against the assassin was not easy. In her final moments, she managed to inflict a serious wound and poison my mother before dying, but she refused to use the little money we had left to go to the hospital," tears began to accumulate in the kunoichi's eyes. "Just a week after that, I was left alone and started looking for power frantically. Once I became one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, I went and killed everyone involved in the construction company that issued the mission."

Ameyuri approached and hugged me, leaning her head against my abdomen.

"After completing the goal I pursued all my life, I had nothing left to live for, and I only thought about how to die on my own terms with the little time I had left. Dying in a battle against someone strong sounded good in my head. I thought the moment had come when I met you, but here I am," she lifted her head, and I could see tears running down her cheeks as she revealed a vulnerability I never expected from her. "You gave me the life I gave up long ago, stole my first kiss, and gave me both a purpose and a new place to call home. You'd better take responsibility!" After holding my gaze with her teary eyes for a moment, she jumped and hugged my head, kissing me.

Her lips tasted slightly saltier.

I returned the kiss firmly and warmly while hugging her. I sat on the ground with my legs crossed to make her more comfortable, and I could feel her insecurity once she had opened her heart so wide to me. Only a clear response could reassure her and make her feel safe in this moment where her emotions were out of control.

After the long kiss, we shared several smaller kisses to comfort and encourage her, ending with our foreheads resting against each other's while we silently enjoyed this unique moment of unity between us and no one else.

I don't know how much time we spent like that, but we heard something fall nearby, and we turned our heads to see a woman with auburn hair staring at us with her mouth wide open and her light green eyes.