Megumi went to where the money was kept, counting to see how much remained.
10,000 ryo.
"Hey, System… can I keep my money inside your inventory?" Megumi asked aloud. He was alone so why bother talking in his head?
[ Why should I help you? ]
[ You have the Shadow Box. Just use that brain of yours and think positively for once. ]
"Tell me, what else can you give me apart from trying to control my body?" Megumi roared, his eyes burning with frustration.
[ You want me to take control? I don't force you, Host. ]
"Forget it," Megumi muttered, tired of losing arguments.
Just then, a knock came at the door, freezing him in place.
Opening it, he found a young girl around his age with a bag in her hand. She had red, fang-like markings on her cheeks.
Seeing her, Megumi wasn't sure who she was. He eyed her suspiciously, especially the bag she carried.
"Hi," she broke the silence, noticing how the boy was staring at her with what she thought was a perverted gaze.
"Hello," Megumi quickly composed himself.
"Sorry, I'm looking for the woman who owns the wolves," she said timidly.
"She's on a mission. I'm her son. What can we help you with?" Megumi replied.
"My name is Hana Inuzuka. I was told to deliver some healing medicine for her summons," she said, trying to peek inside.
"Ok, I'm Megumi Nara. Nice to meet you," he introduced himself with a smile.
Unable to bear his teasing look, Hana immediately handed him the medicine and left without another word.
"Why did she leave like that?" Megumi was dumbfounded.
[ Well, not only are you shameless,you're developing into a full pervert, Host. ]
"Whatever."
Megumi locked the door, closed the windows, and began creating crows from his shadow.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he studied the shadow crows carefully, trying not to make mistakes.
The five crows stood in a line, waiting for their master's orders.
"You go to the Nara clan forest. Look for places we can hunt rabbits and fish. The rest of you, just fly around the village. Now, stay inside my shadow. I'll release you when it's time."
Megumi felt pleased, but then his stomach growled.
"Let's go eat." He walked out, locking the front door, sticking close to the building wall.
Finding a dark alley, he released the crows, instructing them to move in the evening.
Heading to the ramen shop something he had missed dearly he thought about his budget. With only 10,000 ryo left, ramen was the only meal he could afford.
He entered the crowded shop, full of both civilians and shinobi, and grabbed a seat left vacant by a departing customer.
"Hey, ramen man! Give me the usual!" Megumi shouted loudly.
The ramen cook looked up, surprised by the voice, and recognized the boy. After all, Megumi and his mother had once been regular customers.
"Hahaha! Megumi, where have you been these days?" the man laughed warmly, happy to see the loud boy who always talked about protecting his mother.
"I'll make you the best. And don't worry the bill's on the house. Consider it a promo just for you."
"Here you go. Enjoy your meal." The ramen man placed the steaming bowl in front of him.
---
Meanwhile, Kaede was already on the road. She had left early, serving as a jōnin escort for a convoy bound for a neighboring village.
She had little money. Even the 10,000 ryo left at home was all that remained.
The shinobi life was expensive.
Sitting beside the carriage, she thought about how Megumi would manage. She only hoped to finish the mission quickly, to return by his side, and not let the elders threaten him again.
As they crossed the border into the Land of Lightning, they were ambushed by rogue ninjas disguised as bandits.
She saw through their disguise instantly. But there were many. three jōnin, four chūnin, and five genin.
On her side were three jōnin, one chūnin, and six genin.
"We should let our genin take on theirs," she commanded coldly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
To the chūnin and jōnin she said, "Hold their chūnin, but make sure to cover the young ones if they get overwhelmed."
Unsheathing her blade, she positioned herself. She didn't have the stamina to face three jōnin head-on. her best chance was teamwork.
"Kikiro, I'll attack. You support," she said firmly, ignoring his sulking since morning all because he hadn't been chosen as leader.
"I know you don't like me being in charge, but listen carefully: fight, and we win. Then we all return alive. Or act like a fool, and you'll die like a chicken."
Kikiro Inshikabi gritted his teeth. He hated the way Kaede treated him like a child. I'll make you regret this, he thought bitterly.
The rogue leader smirked. "Why don't you surrender? Leave the goods, and you can keep your lives."
"Now!" Kaede shouted.
"You don't know when not to play heroes. Kill everyone except the woman. She's beautiful. I want her tonight," the rogue leader sneered.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
Kaede struck first, unleashing a roaring wave.
The battle raged. The Konoha team fought valiantly, already felling three genin, two chūnin, and one jōnin by Kaede's blade.
But her condition was weakening. The water technique had drained her.
Seeing this, one of the enemy jōnin called out mockingly, "Hey, man! You're letting a woman give you orders? Pathetic!" He was trying to break their unity.
He knew the man wasn't the threat the woman was. She had already killed one of his comrades. She was dangerous, but her strength was fading.
"How about this," the enemy jōnin sneered at Kikiro. "Help us kill her. Then you go back to your village as their leader."
"Shut up! You'll die by my hands!" Kikiro charged with a kunai, creating a shadow clone. He and Kaede jumped the enemy jōnin together.
But just as Kaede was about to deliver the finishing blow, Kikiro's kunai came flying at her. She barely dodged, suffering a slash across her stomach.
Her eyes widened. Kikiro had betrayed her.
"Why, Kikiro? How could you betray your own village?" she growled in fury, clutching her wound.
"Shut up! You've always been a problem bossing me around like you're my parent!" Kikiro snapped.
"You'd better kill her now," Kikiro barked at the enemy. "And don't you dare go back on our deal!"
But the rogue jōnin smirked, receiving a nod from his leader. He stabbed Kikiro through the chest.
Blood gushed as Kikiro gasped in shock. "We… had a deal…"
"Why would I trust a man who betrays his own village?" the rogue sneered.
Kikiro collapsed, lifeless.
The rogue turned toward Kaede, who was on her knees, clutching her wound.
"Boss, I'll help the others. But leave some fun for me—" His words were cut short as his head was severed clean off.
"Huh?!" the rogue leader's eyes widened. Even Kaede was stunned.
Standing before her was the Divine Dog: Totality—the same beast she had seen nearly two years ago.
She hasn't summoned them, but she can only summon the Black and white and use them for tracking . How had it appeared?
Then, ten crows burst from her shadow with a piercing cry.
Charrk!
They shot into the sky. The rogue leader realized too late that she had never trusted her comrades.
He substituted himself with a wooden log, barely escaping into the trees. He laughed, celebrating his escape—only for a crow to charge at him from behind the shadow with a speed he can't react to defend himself. The next seconds he explodes into pieces.