Chapter 110: The Saintly Miko
The Miko and her maid moved quickly. Before the returning ship had even left the harbor, she had already bid farewell to the capital of the Land of Water and re-boarded.
"Still three Ryo."
The sailor recognized the woman who had disembarked and then quickly returned, but he had seen many strange passengers before. His profession kept him from asking questions. After collecting the money, he arranged for her to be in the same cabin as before.
After Nonō Yakushi boarded, a man with shark-like teeth, small eyes, and a large sword wrapped in bandages on his back also boarded the ship. His destination was different from hers. He was going to a small island on the front lines of the Land of Water, where a secret mission awaited him.
He was assigned the cabin next to the spy Miko. Since there was still some time before departure, Nonō put down her luggage and returned to the deck, coming to the ship's rail to gaze into the white, misty distance.
She didn't want to stay near that monster. The chakra of that man, who, based on his appearance, should be a new member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kisame Hoshigaki, was so immense that Nonō felt as if she were facing a Tailed Beast rather than a human.
Although the other's appearance was indeed not quite human, more like a shark-like demi-human.
The shark-toothed man seemed to have noticed Nonō's deliberate avoidance of him. He also came out onto the deck and observed this woman carefully.
"You don't seem to be from the Land of Water."
The spy Miko was currently disguised as a black-haired woman in linen clothes, no different from an ordinary villager.
"I am from the Land of Fire."
Understanding that her Land of Fire identity could certainly not deceive the astonishingly intuitive Seven Ninja Swordsman, she decided it was better to admit it openly. She had indeed been on Kirigakure's wanted list before, but that was a long time ago. Now, even if she showed her true face, it was questionable whether Kisame Hoshigaki would recognize her. He wouldn't go so far as to attack someone who looked like an ordinary person from the Land of Fire.
"It's wartime right now. You're very brave to come here."
"I have relatives who live here. I just came to visit."
After saying this, the spy Miko appropriately showed her intention not to continue the conversation. She turned sideways and focused on looking at the sea. Beside her, Kisame Hoshigaki, shouldering Samehada, returned to his room.
Around two o'clock in the afternoon, through the dark clouds and mist, sunlight shone down, forming the famous "Jesus Light," also known as the Tyndall effect, in the sky.
The sacred light shone down perfectly on the ship. This rare sight in the Land of Water made everyone's eyes widen. Even the captain and sailors indoors stopped their work and prayed silently.
Kisame Hoshigaki walked to his door. He also saw this scene that could make one let go of all worries.
But what right does someone like me, who has killed his own comrades, have to bathe in such a light?
With a self-deprecating laugh, the shark-toothed man intended to close his door, to isolate himself from this light, lest it add to his sorrow.
After all, from today onwards, he would be a rogue ninja of Kirigakure.
Before the door was completely closed, he saw the woman who had claimed to be from the Land of Fire close her eyes, tilt her head up, and face the light with a serene expression.
Why can this woman face such a dazzling light so calmly?
Kisame Hoshigaki, having completely closed the door, was full of confusion. That woman's expression was completely different from the other sailors'. The others all had a look of prayer and reverence, as if facing a god.
Gods do not exist. Kisame Hoshigaki was certain of this point.
That's why this woman's posture was so suspicious.
This light... it was as if it had appeared for this woman.
By the time the ship had sailed away from that area, he still hadn't figured it out.
The ship arrived at the location he needed to be. The three people who were to carry out the mission with him had been waiting for a long time. That guy named Akebino Jinin had worked with him many times. As a fellow member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he was Kisame Hoshigaki's senior in terms of experience.
But why did you have to sell intelligence to other countries?
When the Fourth Mizukage found him and told him the news, Kisame Hoshigaki, for the first time ever, falsely agreed.
By killing him, my debt of gratitude to Kirigakure will be repaid. Being a rogue ninja is no big deal.
Waiting for the ship to move far away, the shark-toothed man finally unwrapped the bandages from his sword.
"Water Release: Five Feeding Sharks!"
Standing at the stern, Nonō Yakushi could also see from here the sudden surge of waves, as if a giant creature had plunged into the sea.
It's that Seven Ninja Swordsman from before.
The world might have one more ninja who has left their hometown, the spy Miko lamented.
After several more hours, she stepped onto the soil of the Land of Fire again. Changing back into her white-robed Miko appearance, she put on her glasses and hood, took out a map, and plotted a route that was least likely to encounter Konoha patrols and pursuers. She ate two military ration pills and set off on the road to the Land of Rain without stopping.
If she was determined to hide, unless Konoha sent the Hyuga clan to track her, it would be impossible for them to find her.
Nonō had this confidence as Konoha's strongest spy.
But contrary to her wishes, those pursuing her were not just Konoha ninja and Anbu, but also bounty hunters.
"50 million Ryo."
In the eyes of the "immortal ninja" Kakuzu, money was the best way to measure a person's life. A ninja, if their bounty was less than 5 million Ryo, couldn't even be considered a ninja, no different from an ant on the side of the road.
No one knew why this monster with five hearts was so obsessed with money. Maybe it was because he had lived too long and needed an obsession, or maybe he was poor in his early years and was now frantically making money in his old age?
It was even more likely that he was like the dragons in fairy tales: no reason, just interested in valuable things.
It was just that there were no princesses for him to kidnap here.
No princesses, but there was a Miko.
After finally finding a trace of this moving 50 million, Kakuzu followed her route all the way and finally found the woman at the border of the Land of Rain.
This woman was going through the soldiers' inspection, trying to enter the Land of Rain.
I'll just kill her here directly.
Earth Release: Hardening Technique!
A mutilated corpse would be greatly discounted. Usually, Kakuzu was accustomed to using taijutsu to deliver the final blow to his enemies. This way, he could maintain the integrity of the corpse to the greatest extent and get the best price.
His body became as hard as stone. The immortal ninja quickly lunged forward. This woman, who was not strong, had only one way out: death.
However, he overlooked the presence of a seemingly insignificant figure with bangs covering his eyes, wearing a black robe with red clouds.
In the next instant, he was sent flying back faster than he had come.
"Shinra Tensei."
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