People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

Just as the boy was about to launch another attack, he suddenly clutched his head.

"Get out of here! Without that guy... I won't be able to control myself and start killing..."

The boy seemed to be having an internal struggle, sometimes wanting to fight Yosuke, and sometimes stopping himself.

Ye Cang frowned: "Does this boy... have a split personality?"

"Blood Demon Art? Dark Entanglement!"

Yosuke used ropes woven from blood to bind the boy, then placed his hand on the boy's forehead to sense his condition.

After examining the boy, Yosuke discovered the problem: "This boy lost his mind because he absorbed too much of that unique power. However, this boy is different from the experimental subjects outside. This power is something he was born with."

Yekura asked in confusion, "Isn't this boy one of Orochimaru's experiments?"

Yosuke removed his hand from the boy's forehead: "It shouldn't be. There are no traces of experiments done on his body."

The boy struggled incessantly, but the more he struggled, the tighter the blood-stained ropes binding him became.

The boy then stopped struggling, as if he had regained consciousness.

Yosuke asked, "Are you called Jugo?"

Jugo nodded.

In this state, Jugo was still able to communicate. Yosuke released the dark binding and asked, "Do you know what the cursed seal researched at this base is all about?"

“I am the originator of the cursed seal, and everything here is a failed copy of me.”

Yosuke continued, "With the destructive power you just displayed, this iron gate couldn't have stopped you at all. Why didn't you leave?"

Jugo clutched his head in terror: "I can't leave! I can't control my urge to kill! I don't want to kill anymore!"

Is it because you don't want to kill that you restrain yourself...?

Yosuke's gaze softened considerably as he invited Jugo, "Would you like to come with me?"

Jugo became extremely agitated: "I don't know when I'll want to kill someone again, leave me alone!"

"Don't worry, I'll stop you," Yosuke said softly and gently.

Jugo completely ignored Yosuke's words and rushed back into the cage: "The only one who can stop me from acting impulsively is Kimimaro. Without Kimimaro, I'm not going anywhere!"

Yosuke immediately entered the form of the Demon King and then walked into the cage.

Jugo stared blankly at Yosuke's posture, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

"Believe me, Shigeo, I am confident that I can stop your impulse. There is no one alive here except you. If you stay here any longer, you will only destroy yourself."

Yosuke extended his hand to Jugo: "Come with me. Perhaps if you can control the power that your body is automatically absorbing, your murderous impulses can be resolved."

Looking at Yosuke's sincere expression and the aura that made him tremble, Jugo subconsciously grasped Yosuke's hand.

Yosuke helped Jugo up from the ground. Jugo followed Yosuke and Yokura outside the base. Jugo asked Yosuke, "Why did you help me?"

Yosuke replied with a smile, "If you ask why, it's because of your self-control."

...

Meanwhile, in an underground base in the ninja world.

Kabuto Yakushi was reporting to Orochimaru that several bases had been destroyed recently.

"It's about time we met with Yosuke Ubuyashiki, Kabuto. Following the route Yosuke took to destroy the base, where's the next stop?"

After analyzing the map of the ninja world, Kabuto Yakushi said, "The next stop should be the base on the islands off the coast of the Land of Whirlpools."

Orochimaru sneered, "Kabuto, come with me to greet the guests. I'm really looking forward to seeing his expression when he suddenly switches roles with me, the one he used as prey."

Chapter 257 The Moon Kingdom in War

Yosuke, Hakura, and Jugo arrived in the Land of the Moon for a temporary rest.

The Land of the Moon is a rich country. To the south of the Land of the Moon lies a place called Crescent Moon Island, where it is summer all year round. It boasts abundant natural resources and the captivating tourist destination, Coral Coast.

Meanwhile, the Moon Kingdom was in turmoil.

During the war between Konoha and other ninja villages, the king of the Land of the Moon originally supported Konoha and wanted to provide Konoha with a large amount of supplies.

However, the ministers of the Moon Kingdom, led by Prime Minister Shabadaba, disagreed with the king's opinion, leading to a division.

Shabadaba believed that Konoha was already at its last gasp and its defeat was inevitable. Rather than cooperating with Konoha any longer, it would be better to assist other ninja villages in attacking Konoha.

Although the Land of the Moon is rich in resources, it does not have its own ninjas. Perhaps through this war, the Land of the Moon will be able to establish its own ninja village and have its own ninja army.

Sabah's proposal was endorsed by most of the ministers.

However, the king firmly disagreed. He advocated governing the country with people as the foundation, and his desire to support Konoha was only because he had received help from Konoha in the past. But if it came to joining the war, the king would resolutely disagree.

But once the seeds of ambition are sown, they will sprout sooner or later.

When Konoha was being targeted by all four major ninja villages, Saba had no choice but to act. If the war ended, how could he realize his ambitions?

So Sabadaba, together with other ministers, plotted a rebellion and overthrew the king from the throne.

Fortunately, the king's confidants had noticed in advance and informed the king of Sabadaba's plot to rebel.

Just in case, the king sent his son and grandson away from the Moon Kingdom, to return and inherit the throne once things had settled down.

However, an unexpected event still occurred: Shabadaba hired wandering ninjas and established an unshakeable force. The king's forces were no match for them and were quickly defeated.

To avoid their wrath, the king had no choice but to temporarily evacuate the capital.

Meanwhile, Prince Yueman of the Moon Kingdom, who was away from home, and his son Guang, upon learning of the situation in their country, also hired a large number of wandering ninjas to return to the Moon Kingdom to support the king.

However, the king still died, and now the Kingdom of the Moon is divided into two sides: the Kingdom of the Moon's prince, Yueman, is on one side, and the minister, Shabadaba, is on the other.

In the midst of continuous battles, neither side could gain the upper hand, and in the end, they could only remain locked in a stalemate.

The once prosperous and wealthy Moon Kingdom has declined due to internal strife and has never regained its former glory.

Yosuke learned this information from a group of refugees who were displaced by the war.

Yekura sighed, "The king of the Moon Kingdom is really pitiful. He only wanted to support Konoha, which had helped them in the past, but his own subjects opposed him and even wanted to overthrow his rule."

However, Yosuke had a different opinion: "In my opinion, both the King and the ministers of the Moon Kingdom are foolish people who do not understand the situation and disregard the lives of the people of the Moon Kingdom."

The Land of the Moon is geographically adjacent to the Land of Lightning, and separated from the Land of Fire by the Land of Rivers. It is utterly absurd that the king would choose to support the Land of Fire.

Even if Konoha had helped the Land of the Moon in the past, the Land of the Moon could not openly support Konoha, because no matter what the outcome of this war was, it would be irrelevant to the Land of Lightning. However, the Land of the Moon's support for Konoha would definitely cross the Land of Lightning's bottom line.

The Land of the Moon, located next to the Land of Lightning, supporting Konoha is tantamount to opposing the Land of Lightning and the Hidden Cloud Village. After the war ends, the Land of the Moon will gain nothing and will instead be regarded as an enemy by the Land of Lightning. Moreover, the Land of the Moon does not have its own ninjas, so it does not even have the right to negotiate with the Hidden Cloud Village.

Then there were the ministers, who wanted to overthrow the king and participate in the war so that the Moon Kingdom could have its own ninjas. This wasn't inherently wrong; the mistake lay in hiring wandering ninjas. If the wandering ninjas had successfully helped the ministers seize power, or helped the king repel the ministers' forces, would they have simply left?

Yekura guessed, "Yosuke, do you mean that those wandering ninjas are likely to get a share of the spoils after the war is won?"

Yosuke nodded: "It's not a possibility, it's a certainty. Wandering ninjas accept employment for profit. The Land of the Moon doesn't have its own ninjas, so it's like a hot commodity that can be slaughtered at will."

As a small country, it should have the awareness of a small country. Without the resources, it has no right to take sides and can only choose to compromise in the cracks. Even if it wants to support a certain country and hopes to benefit from it in the future, it should do so quietly rather than letting everyone know.

But the real trouble begins after the war ends. Regardless of which side wins, they cannot avoid their neighbor, the Land of Lightning. In the Land of Lightning's eyes, the Land of the Moon is their vassal state, their territory, and the Land of Lightning will not allow the Land of the Moon to become a destabilizing factor.

Ye Cang's voice was filled with regret: "It's really a pity. In the end, it's still these innocent people who suffer."

Although the surrounding buildings are in ruins, one can still vaguely imagine how happy the people of this country once were.

However, all of that is now in the past.

Yosuke didn't want to get involved in these matters; they were domestic affairs of their own country and had nothing to do with him.

Just as Yosuke, along with Yekura and Jugo, were about to pass through the refugee procession and leave the Land of the Moon, three people dressed as ninjas suddenly appeared in front of the refugee procession.

The three people dressed as ninjas were wandering ninjas hired by Minister Shabadaba: Ishidate, Kongo, and Kinrenka.

Looking at the refugees who were terrified, Kim Yeon-hwa said with interest, "Who knows, there might be some rebels among these refugees who support Wol-man."

The burly King Kong chimed in, "Jin Lianhua is right. After all, it's better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free. If they die, we can only blame their king."

With a hairstyle similar to Jiraiya's, Ishidate smiled cruelly and said, "Then let's do it. Kill them all, leave no one alive!"

No sooner had Shi Li finished speaking than Jin Gang and Jin Lianhua charged into the crowd and began their killing spree.

Yekura asked, "Yosuke, what do we do now?"

Yosuke sighed helplessly, "We were just passing by, but now it seems we've been forced into becoming their target."

Seeing the splattered blood, Jugo gasped for breath, muttering repeatedly, "Kill...kill..."

Yosuke knew from Jugo's state that Jugo was about to be dominated by his violent second personality, which had murderous tendencies.

Before Yosuke could stop him, Jugo had already charged forward, laughing maniacally.

Chapter 258 A Mysterious War

Just as Jugo charged forward, Yosuke used the Blood Demon Art: Dark Binding to bind Jugo.

If Jugo is left to his own devices, these refugees will very likely die at his hands.

Since Yosuke had promised Jugo to stop him from killing, he had to keep his promise.

"Shigego! Calm down!"

Jugo struggled incessantly, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, saliva constantly dribbling from the corners of his mouth.

Ishidate, who was watching the battle, noticed Jugo's unusual behavior and instantly appeared in front of Yosuke and the other two.

Shi Li looked at the crazed Jugo with great interest: "It seems there are indeed traitors among these refugees. You are wandering ninjas hired by that fat bastard Yue Man, right?"

However, Yosuke didn't even glance at Ishitate, and continued to soothe Jugo's emotions along with Yekura.

Ignored, Shi Li's forehead veins bulged: "You're about to die and you still don't realize it!"

Shi Li took out a kunai and threw it at the nearest Yosuke.

With a "ding".

Ishidate's kunai was knocked away by Yokura.

Ye Cang looked at Shi Li with disdain: "You're the one who's about to die and doesn't even realize it, you idiot."

Several fireballs created by the Scorching Release technique appeared around Yekura.

Shi Li, who was initially arrogant, gradually became serious because he sensed a strong threat from the fireballs surrounding Ye Cang.