Ever since the bandits had been dealt with, the caravan's pace had increased drastically. What should have taken two or three more days was completed in barely a day and a half.
"Be a carefree wanderer, live without a care, loaf around and still pull off something grand~"
Walking down the narrow dirt path, Yuki Seisui hummed an unfamiliar tune, his voice light and lazy.
Minato and the others didn't understand the lyrics, but the melody was catchy enough that they soon started humming along with him.
"According to the map," Minato said, "the next stop should be the biggest town in the Land of Hot Water."
"That's a city," Minato corrected automatically.
Seisui gave him a sidelong glance and replied lazily, "Fine, fine. Up ahead is one of the Land of Hot Water's cities, then."
In truth, Seisui never thought much of these so-called cities.
In his eyes, only places like Konoha deserved to be called county-level cities.
Despite being labeled a "village," Konoha's territory was vast, home to tens of thousands of people — maybe even more.
Just the Uchiha clan alone had several thousand non-shinobi members, and counting their ninja ranks, there were at least seven to eight hundred across all levels.
And that was only one clan. Add in the other ninja families and the ordinary civilian ninja, and the population rivaled a decent-sized city.
As for the "cities" Minato referred to, Seisui saw them as nothing more than large towns — clusters of smaller settlements bound together.
Only the capitals of the Five Great Nations, he thought, could truly be called cities.
Still, he didn't bother arguing. After all, Minato's understanding reflected what most people in this world believed.
Just as he was mulling over these thoughts, Seisui suddenly stopped walking.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Interesting."
Uchiha Haru immediately reached for the fan strapped to his back. "What's wrong?"
"There are a few little bugs trailing us," Seisui said lightly. He didn't even turn his head. "Five ninja. They've been following us for a while."
He paused briefly, then added, "Judging by their chakra, they're all genin-level."
At once, Minato gripped one of his tri-pronged kunai, pulling Kushina closer with his other hand. His gaze sharpened. "Should we deal with them?"
He didn't even bother asking why they were being followed. After what happened in Amegakure, he'd learned that in this world, people often didn't need a reason to kill you.
Seisui shook his head slightly. "No need. Let them tail us for now — I want to see what they're after. But stay sharp."
"Got it."
All three — Minato, Kushina, and Uchiha Haru — nodded, their senses instantly heightened.
A short distance behind them, five ninja dressed in dark uniforms followed stealthily through the trees.
"Four Konoha shinobi ahead," one whispered. "They look like genin. Should we strike?"
"Not yet." The leader's voice was calm but sharp.
"The offering isn't ready, and besides…" His eyes narrowed. "Who told you they're all genin?"
He glared coldly at the one who spoke. "The blond one — he's wearing a chunin vest. At least one of them's above genin level. You want to die?"
The subordinate swallowed hard. "N–No, sir."
"Good. Go report to the High Priest. Tell him the mission we posted in Konoha worked — four Konoha shinobi have come."
"Yes, sir!"
"This time," the leader said, his voice rising with fervor, "we'll earn the favor of Lord Jashin himself — and gain eternal life!"
His followers' eyes gleamed with fanatic light as they watched Seisui's group disappear down the road.
"Looks like our little tail is related to that missing-ninja case," Seisui said after a while, shaking his head with a sigh.
He had already sent a shadow clone to observe them, which had overheard the entire conversation.
"So those people behind us," Kushina asked curiously, "they're the ones responsible for the disappearances?"
Seisui nodded. "Yeah. Forget the mission — it's pointless now."
"Turns out the so-called 'requests' were made by those guys themselves. They've been posting fake missions to lure ninjas into their sacrifices for their so-called Jashin."
His tone darkened, the corner of his lips curving upward as a faint killing intent flickered in his eyes. "Unfortunately for them, they picked the wrong targets this time."
He'd always despised cults — even more so now that they'd set their sights on him.
"I'll take care of them," Uchiha Haru said, gripping his clan's war fan and preparing to turn back.
But Seisui caught his arm. "Not yet."
"Let's lure out someone higher up — someone who knows more. Then we can ask questions properly."
Uchiha Haru hesitated, then nodded and reattached his fan. "Got it."
==========
Meanwhile, underground, a white creature peeked up from the soil — White Zetsu.
"Hah, humans really are devious," he muttered, having heard everything that had been said. "I don't get why old Madara wants me to keep watching them."
He scratched his backside thoughtfully. "Man, I really wanna know what having to poop feels like… wonder if any of them ever feel that way?"
Like a praying mantis stalking a cicada — unaware of the oriole behind it — they had no idea another pair of eyes was watching them too.
At the same time, far away in Iwagakure, another storm was brewing.
Inside the Tsuchikage's office, the elderly Onoki slammed his palm against the desk in fury, making the room tremble.
"Two entire squads sent to the Land of Hot Water — and both failed their missions?!" he roared.
"Not a single report back?! Anyone with half a brain would know something's off! Why hasn't anyone investigated this yet?!"
His son, Kurotsuchi's father — the recently promoted jonin Kitsuchi — stood beside him, sweating nervously.
"Kitsuchi!" Onoki barked. "Take two jonin and head to the Land of Hot Water immediately. I want the truth — and if someone's pulling strings behind the scenes…"
A dangerous glint flashed in the old Tsuchikage's eyes.
"Destroy them."
"Yes, sir!" Kitsuchi saluted sharply and rushed out.
He had been promoted to jonin only a few months ago — not surprising, given that he was the Tsuchikage's son.
In Iwagakure, Onoki's word was absolute. And he loved control.
When he finally calmed down, a member of the intelligence division entered, bowing. "Tsuchikage-sama, a new report just arrived."
Onoki snatched it, his eyes scanning the contents — and his face darkened further with every line.
"Those damned Cloud ninja! Always stirring up trouble!"
==========
Back in the Land of Hot Water, Yuki Seisui was blissfully unaware of the chaos spreading across nations.
"This place is livelier than I expected," he said, glancing at the bustling streets around them.
"Of course," Minato said. "It's the largest city here, aside from the capital."
"Boss! Two orders of takoyaki," Seisui called to a nearby vendor, tossing him a few coins.
"Coming right up!" the man replied cheerfully, taking the money and starting to cook.
Minato's words had gone completely unheard.
"Damn it, Seisui!" Minato muttered, puffing his cheeks in annoyance.
Kushina giggled at the sight. "Minato, you look so silly right now!"
"I do not!" Minato's face flushed red. "I just don't feel like stooping to his level, that's all!"
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Kushina said teasingly, reaching up to ruffle his hair. Her smile curved into crescent moons.
Minato froze. Normally, he hated people touching his head… but if it was Kushina, maybe he didn't mind so much.
Just then, Seisui walked over, handing one takoyaki tray to Uchiha Haru.
Seeing Minato's dazed expression, he smirked. "What's this? You like being patted on the head, huh?"
Minato nodded absently before realizing what he'd just done.
By then, Seisui had already conjured a glowing "pat-head" emoji above his own head — flickering rapidly.
"You like it that much?"
"Then, little brother, I'll make sure to pat you even more from now on."
"Alright, little bro?"
"Y–You bastard!" Minato roared, chakra flaring in his hand as he shaped it into a glowing palm.
"I'll pat you back!"
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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