While being on guard was good, keeping Genta and Shizuru on edge all the time was not. It would just burn them out. I made sure we camped and prepared properly, ensuring they knew I was keeping my senses active and monitoring the campsite and its surroundings so they could rest.
After a long trip, we finally made it to the Land of Grass capital and headed towards the Daimyo's mansion. I noticed the intense atmosphere upon entering the court. Multiple nobles were arguing, only holding in their anger once they saw Konoha shinobi present. However, their red faces and aggressive stares toward us revealed their true thoughts.
We had to wait outside the door for some time, doing our best not to look awkward as the Daimyo was apparently busy with an urgent meeting. While we stayed there, we heard shouts coming from within the room. A noble's voice came through, almost muted but close enough to recognize his words.
"If you do not see how obvious of a Konoha operation this is to make Iwa lose influence in the Land of Grass, then you are more than blind. You are an idiot!"
A moment later, an angered voice replied. "Or maybe Iwa is making it look like that to harm Konoha's influence!"
The first voice came in louder this time. "By killing nobles who advocate for Iwa itself? Now I know what is wrong with you. You are stupid, aren't you?"
The other noble shouted back. "Some nobles who advocate for Konoha died as well. You might be the blind one here!"
Things seemed to ignite further before a powerful voice cut in. "That is enough! I will not allow the Land of Grass to fall into a civil war over the influence of others. I have already made my decision to at least hear Konoha's offer out, and you squawking here like chickens will not solve anything. I have kept the Konoha shinobi waiting long enough. It is time to start moving."
I acted like I did not hear anything, and so did Shizuru. Genta was as oblivious as always, picking at his nose and admiring the swords of the samurai guards at the gates, who completely ignored him.
A moment later, a fat noble with balding hair stepped out. Once he saw us, he bowed slightly. "It is good to see Konoha shinobi here to escort us and our Daimyo. I feel happy that our great leader's safety is in safe and capable hands now."
We bowed back as he left. Then, a tall noble with a huge mustache and dark brown hair emerged. The moment he saw our headbands, he snarled at us before walking away in a rage.
The Daimyo then appeared. He was an elderly man with tired black eyes, greying hair, and pleasant features. He immediately apologized. "I am sorry you had to witness that, but my nobles had to have a last-minute argument before I leave for the Land of Fire to..." He rolled his eyes before continuing. "To state their cases on whether I should or should not embark on this journey for the already planned talks with the Land of Fire."
He sighed tiredly. "I am sorry to have kept you waiting. Let us move so there will be no more delay."
We bowed as the Daimyo led the way. A huge boulder of a muscled man followed closely behind him. He wore the typical uniform of a Samurai from the Land of Iron. He was bald with a mean scar cut across his head. His eyes were dark green and sharp, and he gripped the hilt of an especially long and broad katana that fit perfectly in his massive hand.
He looked us up and down, grunted, and took his place behind his Daimyo. We followed suit, a distinct tinge of annoyance showing on Genta's face.
Shizuru and I knew immediately that this was a calculated act orchestrated by the Daimyo. He wanted to show Konoha exactly how much risk he was taking by even considering an alliance. At the same time, he was proving that Iwa still held a powerful influence in his court so Konoha would not dare offer him disadvantageous conditions during their talks.
I sighed in annoyance at the political games. Shizuru sharply dug her elbow into my side to stop me from showing my true feelings about the display. I coughed, secretly glad that the Daimyo did not notice my reaction. However, his guard's sharp eyes were already observing me closely from the side.
Once we stepped outside, a line of heavily guarded carts stood waiting. They were expertly painted to look ostentatious and bore the crest of the Land of Grass. Multiple servants bowed outside of them while opening the doors. The Daimyo entered first and took the largest carriage, with the noble who supported Konoha joining him inside. Other nobles took the remaining carts as the servants closed the doors.
The samurai guards started to mount their horses at the signal of their leader, who had an aura of dominance radiating from him. Once he was pleased with the arrangement of the transports and ensured the formation was tight and protected his ward, he looked back at me.
"It is not my job to help you deal with any trouble on the way, so do not expect us to," he said. "Our only goal is to protect our wards. If an attack passes through you, then you have failed your mission. Is that clear?"
"That is clear," I replied calmly.
The leader snarled once more before mounting a massive horse prepared for him, taking his place to personally escort the Daimyo's carriage.
I sighed, then flickered on top of one of the carriages. I started to pulse chakra in a wide radius around us, fully utilizing my massive sensory field. Genta took the left flank of the caravan. Shizuru took the right side.
We were about to pick up the pace when I suddenly felt something. My intuition screamed at me, and for a fraction of a second, I sensed death. Sharp chakra ignited my senses, and I immediately looked back at the estate. Multiple nobles stood near the departing carriages, while a crowd of civilians was kept at a respectful distance by the guards, all of them bidding their Daimyo goodbye and wishing him a safe trip. He appeared to be vastly popular for keeping the Land of Grass safe and out of war, especially after they saw what happened to the neighboring Land of Rain.
In the middle of the large, distant civilian crowd, my eyes fixed onto someone. A woman stood among them like a crane resting among crows. She wore the traditional attire of a traveling priestess. Her pure white top was tucked into flowing crimson trousers that shifted like liquid fire with her every graceful movement. Her hair was a flawless cascade of midnight black spilling freely over her shoulders and framing a face of delicate, breathtaking beauty. Her skin was as pale and smooth as porcelain.
Her mesmerizing, piercing violet eyes locked instantly onto me. Her perfectly painted red lips then curved into a stunning smile as she joined her hands and prayed.
I stretched my chakra senses to their absolute limit as I focused on her. However, I only detected the minute signature that all civilians possessed, and hers was even on the lower side of the average scale. She held a beautifully crafted biwa gently against her chest, her slender fingers resting lightly on the strings.
I was extremely confused. I was not sure if my senses were playing a trick on me from the heavy responsibility of leading a team and being on high alert for so long, or if I actually sensed killing intent from her. It felt like she was about to attack me and escape in the ensuing chaos but stopped the moment I noticed her. Or maybe I was just imagining things.
I kept my eyes focused squarely on her as she began to softly chant a blessing for the departing caravan. Her voice was barely a whisper, yet the civilians around her immediately bowed their heads and pressed their hands together in deep prayer. She remained perfectly still in the center of their blind devotion.