"Advisor Mujie…" one of them began, but before the words were finished, Mujie cut in with a serious look.
"Please call me Tour Guide Mujie now! Kusa Inn is a legitimate inn. you're just tourists visiting the Land of Grass!"
That explanation actually made sense. The Iwagakure shinobi raised their eyebrows, impressed by the Kusa shinobis clever trick.
No wonder the Kusa shinobi were known for their tactics! Just then, seeing the group still staring at him, Tour Guide Mujie whistled sharply, clearly impatient. "Keep up! You signed up for a group tour, no dawdling!"
"All right! Okay!" they responded.
"Right ahead is Kannabi Bridge, a natural stone bridge in the Land of Grass. Its incredibly strong and sturdy, able to handle large shipments! It connects directly to the Land of Fire and is a vital trade route in the region.
Once you cross from Iwagakure into the Land of Grass, you can bypass the stone walls and reach this spot. The massive rocks around here act as natural barriers, making the area secluded and keeping shipments safe!"
With that, Mujie continued the tour.
"Now, let me show you the massive rocks beneath Kannabi Bridge," Tour Guide Mujie began.
"Hidden within these tangled stones are secret paths that branch off in every direction, perfect for staying hidden! When the Land of Grass retreats, no one will ever know you passed through here. You can start from this spot and sneak around this huge rock..."
Before he could finish, "Wait! Wait!" Kodo shouted, clutching a small notebook. "Slow down, please! I havent even finished taking notes!"
Mujie shook his head with a playful grin.
"you're really slow! Its almost noon, anyway. How about we take a break? Everyone, spread out and stretch a little. Come back when you hear my whistle."
"Thank you! Thank you!" Kodo said, looking at Mujie with genuine gratitude.
Detailed explanations, a hands-on field tour, and now a break to explore, this trip was worth every penny. No wonder the Kusa shinobis intelligence service was thriving during the First Great shinobi War. Their attention to detail and professionalism really stood out!
Under the enthusiastic guidance of Mujie, the Land of Grasss tour guide, the Iwagakure shinobi explored the entire Kannabi Bridge from end to end, wandering beneath and above its bizarre, crisscrossing rock formations. The unique scenery of Kannabi Bridge was impossible not to admire, truly a masterpiece shaped by nature itself.
A few days later, their trip to the Land of Grass came to a successful close. On the final day, Mujie, the senior advisor of the Land of Grass, warmly hosted a barbecue for them.
However, there was one small issue: Mujie kept praising his subordinate, Maruho Kamizuru, right in front of the Iwagakure jounin, taking every chance to compliment him. This gave off a subtle impression that the Land of Grass might be trying to recruit the Iwagakure shinobi.
Of course, that was impossible! The Kamizuru clan was a prestigious family in Iwagakure, so how could Maruho consider leaving for this relatively unknown Land of Grass? Maybe Mujie was just genuinely proud of his subordinate.
Could Maruho Kamizuru really have the potential to become Tsuchikage one day? Eventually, the pleasant visit came to an end.
The next morning, under a crisp autumn sky, the group prepared to return to Iwagakure. With the shinobi world growing increasingly tense, and as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Iwagakure sensed something was off in the other villages. They needed to be ready for whatever lay ahead.
Unfortunately, they never got the chance to meet the lord of the Land of Grass. Honestly, they were willing to cooperate with the new lordship here. Compared to the old, traditional Land of Grass lordship, this new one seemed less likely to betray them.
"Mujie, you Don't have to see us off anymore. Its time for us to leave," Kodo said softly, a hint of emotion in his voice. "This cooperation…"
"Eh? Why so formal? Its just a trip! Don't you get it? you're here for tourism!" Mujie cut in, clearly not pleased with the serious tone.
"Is it really necessary?" Kodo asked, glancing around to make sure no other shinobi were nearby. There was nothing to worry about, after all.
Yet, as a seasoned jounin, he still nodded in agreement. "This trip to the Land of Grass has been unforgettable. I hope that next time we come, Mujie will be the villages next lord, "
"Stop! I already told you, I'm completely loyal to the current lord. I have no ambitions to take his place!" Mujie snapped.
Kodo fell silent. 'Despite being a bit sly and greedy, this advisor from the Land of Grass was decent, just a little timid.
If he's like this, why bother hiding things right in front of us? Does he really want to be lord? I doubt many shinobi here would accept that.'
The Iwagakure shinobi exchanged looks of quiet disdain but, seeing it was about time to leave, they prepared for their final farewell. "Goodbye!"
"Why not stay a few more days? Theres still plenty of fun to be had here in the Land of Grass!" Mujie said, sounding regretful.
Then, lowering his voice to a whisper, he added, "Want to buy some intel? We can get you information on the entire shinobi world, at a 20% discount for Iwagakure! Even our brothers in Konoha Don't get that deal!"
"Thanks, but no thanks," Kodo replied, raising an eyebrow as Mujie slipped back into his usual sales pitch. The service had been good, but they just couldnt bring themselves to buy intel from the Land of Grass.
With a polite smile, Kodo said, "Its getting late. We should be going."
"Is that so? Well, if you need anything, just come back and buy! Buy ten reports and I'll not only give you the 20% discount but throw in one free!
Maruho boy, next time you come, I'll give you a discount, too! Ive even got some extra versions of the Three Princesses you can buy cheap!"
Maruho noticed his companions giving him strange looks and quickly stood up. "let's go! Lord Tsuchikage is waiting for our report!"
"Goodbye, and come visit us again!" Mujie called after them as they left. "Feel free to drop by anytime!"
Mujie waved enthusiastically, smiling as he watched them disappear from sight. Once they were gone, he lowered his hand and shook his head with a touch of regret. The trip had been productive, and it seemed Iwagakure had forgotten about the ten machines they'd ordered.
Still, the plan to steal shinobi from Iwagakure had failed. Well, it was to be expected, stealing from one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages Isn't exactly easy.
"The lord… always has some wild ideas," Mujie muttered.