In the Empire's history textbooks, the timeline is divided into two distinct periods. From the emergence of the ninja class to the establishment of the Empire, everything in between is called the Old Ninja Era. After the Empire's foundation, the world entered what is known as the New Ninja Era.
Menma had learned about these distinctions in school, but the concepts had felt abstract. Now, however, he was starting to truly understand.
In the Old Ninja Era, ninjas seemed to possess great power. But in reality, they were nothing more than tools.
Everything revolved around missions. Even Kage-level shinobi like Konoha's White Fang would be vilified if they failed a mission, regardless of the reason. Even if it was for saving their own comrades.
Tools. Nothing but tools for missions.
Meanwhile, Kakashi's expression grew increasingly confused as he listened to Menma's ramblings.
"Old Ninja Era? Empire? Your Majesty? What are you even talking about?"
Clearly, Kakashi had never heard of anything resembling the Empire. As far as he knew, the ninja world was divided into five major villages and several smaller ones. Anything else was pure fantasy.
He was about to ask more questions when he noticed something approaching from the distance.
At the entrance of the bridge, a large group of figures began marching toward them.
"Wait... That's..."
Tazuna's face turned pale, and he stumbled backward in fear. "It's Cardo! Cardo is here!"
Ahead of them, among a group of rough-looking ronin and samurai wielding various weapons, a short man in sunglasses stood at the front, leaning on a cane with an arrogant smirk plastered across his face.
"Well, well, if it isn't Momochi Zabuza," Cardo said, his voice dripping with contempt. "You look like a mess. Seems like all the money I spent hiring you was a complete waste. You couldn't even handle a few Konoha shinobi. What a worthless failure."
Cardo's grin widened, his arrogance bolstered by the crowd of thugs at his back.
"So, who's that guy?" Menma asked, sounding more curious than concerned.
Kakashi answered, his gaze steady. "That's Cardo, a wealthy businessman who practically controls the entire economy of the Land of Waves. He's the one who hired Zabuza to kill Tazuna."
After listening to Kakashi's explanation, Menma raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but does Cardo have any powerful subordinates?"
"No," Kakashi replied. "Just the mercenaries he's hired. He's not a ninja himself."
Menma turned his attention to Zabuza. "Then why doesn't he worry about you killing him? You're clearly much stronger than anyone here."
Zabuza scowled. "What kind of stupid question is that? As a ninja, if I go around killing my employers, I'll never get hired again. You should know how the system works."
Menma glanced at Kuro Kakashi for confirmation.
"This is how things are in this world, Menma," Kuro Kakashi explained. "In the Old Ninja Era, ninjas were just tools for hire. They were the violent enforcers who produced nothing of their own. Even after the First Hokage established Konoha, the fundamental nature of shinobi didn't change."
During the Warring States Period, ninjas were hired by clans and nobles. In the era of ninja villages, they were employed by villages and feudal lords. The essence remained the same.
"I see..." Menma said slowly. "I've read about it before, but seeing it firsthand is something else."
As the conversation continued, Cardo's patience finally snapped.
"Hey, Zabuza! You useless trash! If you can't finish the job, then give me back my money!" Cardo's cane shook with each furious swing as he pointed it toward Kakashi and the others. "And you Konoha shinobi! Are you trying to interfere with the Land of Waves' internal affairs? If so, I'll report this to our Daimyo!"
Cardo spoke with confidence, assured that his status as a wealthy businessman and his supposed influence with the Daimyo would protect him. After all, the Land of Fire's Daimyo wouldn't risk offending the Land of Waves over a simple bridge builder.
Most of the time, just invoking the name of the Daimyo was enough to make these big village shinobi hesitate.
But today was different.
"Huh?" Menma tilted his head, his voice laced with irritation. "This guy's got some nerve."
"They've forgotten something important," Kuro Kakashi said with his arms crossed. "In this world, the oldest and truest rule has always been violence."
Kakashi stared at them with rising panic. "What are you planning to do?"
"Nothing much." Menma grinned, glancing at Kakashi. "I'm just going to show them what a Genin from the Empire can do."
Before anyone could react, Menma raised one leg and slammed his foot down with earth-shattering force.
BOOM!
The entire Wave Country Bridge trembled violently, a massive crack tearing through the stone surface.
The fissure snaked its way from under Menma's foot, stretching all the way to the crowd of mercenaries standing with Cardo. The tremor sent most of them sprawling to the ground, their weapons clattering uselessly against the cracked bridge.
The split in the bridge stopped right beneath Cardo's feet. His eyes widened, mouth trembling as he stared at the shattered ground.
For a moment, the air was filled with nothing but silence and terror.
Menma's figure blurred and reappeared behind Cardo, his arm hooked around the man's neck. He spoke softly, but his voice carried an icy menace.
"If you don't want to die, get lost."
The crowd of thugs around Cardo hesitated for a heartbeat, then broke into a full-blown panic.
"RUN!"
They scattered like leaves in a storm, tripping over one another as they fled down the bridge, screaming in terror.
"You... you... you..." Cardo's whole body trembled, his voice quivering with absolute fear. As he watched his hired muscle disappear, he realized he was utterly alone.
The bridge grew quiet once more, save for Cardo's shallow, ragged breathing.