None of the full-time ninja present had expected such a simple solution could properly settle these commoners.
It wasn't even about material support, but rather a permanent resolution to their problem.
Shen was quite satisfied with everyone's reaction.
Ninjas just didn't have particularly sharp minds—if every conflict and dispute required deadly combat, how could peace ever be discussed?
Was Fire Country going to drive them out again just to force a battle? Even if Shen wanted that, Third Hokage would never agree.
So what if we give these folks proper merchant papers and just march right back into the Land of Fire like nothing happened? Now *that* would be poetic justice, huh?
Thirty years east, thirty years west—the tides sure do turn. Yesterday you ignored me, today you couldn't catch up if your life depended on it.
For someone like me who got dragged from another world, few things beat that sweet sense of revenge.
However, Shen certainly wouldn't let those people in Fire Country off so easily. First he'd gather all their wealth together. Once he had money in his pocket, he could happily go "cause trouble" there—excuse me, I mean enjoy a pleasant trip.
He'd start throwing cash around like confetti ("spreading coins"), then intimidate and tempt those ministers before finally arranging a proxy. Wouldn't Fire Country essentially become Shen Uchiha's personal possession?
"Ahhahahaha!"
The three members of Team One and the injured ninja all looked at him as he suddenly threw back his head laughing, each silently questioning if this person's thought process had gone completely off track.
One moment ago he had been seriously discussing his plan, and the next moment he was laughing maniacally like he had gone mad.
The injured ninja couldn't figure out how his mind worked at all. The fragile sense of trust that had just begun rising within him instantly disappeared completely.
As for Team One, they knew he must definitely be plotting something mischievous again. Even Nawaki believed it surely wouldn't be anything good.
Thus, after some discussion among them, they decided to check out where the commoners were hiding first. As for a certain little *white mouse*, naturally he was knocked unconscious with a single blow and left behind on site.
Shen didn't believe anyone would come to this tumbledown little village. He didn't even bother taking Kusanagi with him, leaving it buried in the earth.
Regarding this decision, Zetsu was extremely excited inside, nearly wanting to kneel down right on the spot.
The number one mole king in the shinobi world declared that he'd make perfect arrangements for the successor to the Moon's Eye Plan.
In the northern part of Fire Country, Team One and the injured ninja traveled northward until reaching land sandwiched between the Land of Iron and Hot Water Country.
Looking at the relatively neat and clean small village before him, Shen immediately smiled.
"It seems these villagers still value personal hygiene pretty well. They're truly not refugees."
Originally he had thought these people would appear like typical refugees, but seeing this clean and bright little village made him feel slightly embarrassed for his previous assumption.
"Kishige has returned, huh? Hmm? Are these people also homeless like us?" an elderly woman said kindly while looking gently at the four members of Team One.
True to his honest nature, Nawaki quickly replied: "Good day, ma'am! We're ninjas sent to assist you."
"Ninjas?" The old woman's face instantly turned panic-stricken. She quickly turned around and shouted loudly toward the direction of the village: "Ninjas are coming! Everyone hurry up and escape!"
After saying that, she turned around and slowly walked into the village with a hunched posture.
Shen immediately understood the hardship this place had endured. The ruined little village they saw earlier must have been their home before—perhaps these people had been migrating northward all these years.
Traveling from the northern border of the Land of Fire all the way here—nearly to the continent's coast—it was clear how crucial a role ninja had played.
Injured Ninja, also known as Kishige, quickly stepped forward and gently held the old woman's shoulder as he said, "Auntie Kazue, they're not like those ruthless ninjas."
"Though they are from Konoha as well, they're not like the ones who came here before," he added while patting his own chest to emphasize his assurance.
Looking at the scene before him, Shen already roughly knew what was going on.
In short, these civilians expelled from the Land of Fire had lived peacefully in one place for a while, as evidenced by this clean and orderly little village.
But this place wasn't peaceful at all. When shinobi conducted missions or rogue ninjas passed through, what would they do when encountering such a group of people?
Those ninjas who failed their missions or had already defected from their villages would naturally take out their frustrations on these civilians.
Raiding alone wouldn't force them to move. It was only when the ninja started killing people that they'd flee—again and again—to save their own lives.
When Auntie Kazue heard Kishige's explanation, her panicked expression gradually softened. Yet, seeing the blood seeping through the bandages across his chest, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Kishige, you've worked so hard—you've taken care of our food and shelter entirely on your own," she said helplessly, tears in her eyes, looking at him with deep guilt.
With reddening eyes, Kishige gently patted the woman's back to comfort her: "Auntie Kazue, it's only right that I do this. You raised me yourself—caring for you now is my duty."
Such a warm scene felt rather ironic to Team One—an individual sacrificing himself to survive alongside an insane battle-madman, just for the insignificant supplies carried by a ninja seeking the Sword of Kusanagi.
"How did this information reach the Land of Wind anyway? Could he have kept it secret?" As Shen silently pondered, watching Kishige and Kazue, he immediately dismissed this suspicion: "Uncle is such a kind man—must have spared some compassionate ninjas, which led to this."
In truth, Kishige knew perfectly well the serious consequences of sparing those ninjas.
Yet, he simply couldn't bear to kill those severely injured by that battle-obsessed lunatic, thus over time, intelligence about the Sword of Kusanagi gradually spread.
Fortunately, the first black-clothed ninja that arrived was defeated by Team One's 'teamwork,' otherwise the villagers might have had to relocate again.
Without his help, many more lives might have been lost along the way.
But this shouldn't be called selfishness—at least, not after everything he'd already sacrificed for them.
Perhaps Kishige had grown weary of everything and chose to abandon resistance when facing Team One, deciding instead to leave behind this harsh world alone.
After Shen came to understand everything, he quietly turned away, giving the two some space, his eyes faintly red.
In this chaotic era, such a warm moment deeply moved him.
"Shen?" Nayou looked at his back, then followed after him.
She didn't know what made her follow that lonely figure.
But she knew that Kishige's and Kazue's actions had profoundly shaken her dear friend.
Orochimaru and Nawaki watched the two walk away. After exchanging glances, they followed suit.
Moments later, numerous figures emerged from within the Village. After confirming there was no threat, they let down their guard and started chatting with Kishige.
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