"So… can we head back now?"
Yahiko looked at the three ninjutsu scrolls in his hand.
They were all Water Release—
But technically, the mission was complete.
Hunt Amegakure ninja.
Obtain ninjutsu scrolls.
"…I guess it counts?" Nagato said uncertainly.
His eyes wandered around—
Trying to locate Arin.
But their teacher never appeared.
No one knew what he was planning.
"Then let's go back," Konan said.
"And check on the bases we built along the way," Yahiko suggested.
They had established quite a few settlements.
By now—
They should have stabilized.
Maybe even started rescuing others.
That was what Yahiko wanted to see.
With that decision made—
Nagato and Konan didn't object.
The three turned back along their original route.
They passed the last base they had helped.
It had only been a short while since they left—
The people there had even gifted them a cart.
Turning back immediately felt… a little awkward.
Along the way—
They passed three settlements.
Everything matched their expectations.
Those bases had already achieved self-sufficiency.
They could sustain themselves.
They had even begun repairing the cities.
"If this keeps up, the Land of Rain will recover," Yahiko said, rubbing his nose proudly.
This—
Was their achievement.
They didn't stop at those three bases.
Of the leaders there—
Only one welcomed them.
One tried to recruit them.
Another even fought them.
But none of that mattered.
As long as the settlements could develop—
That was enough.
However—
At the fourth base—
Something was wrong.
They were stopped in the ruins of a broken city.
A group of soldiers—
Wearing rusted armor—
Blocked their cart.
To avoid trouble—
The three had used Transformation Technique to appear older.
But the soldiers showed no friendliness at all.
They raised their weapons—
Pointing them directly at the trio.
"Get down!!" the leader barked.
Yahiko jumped off the cart, frowning.
"Why are you stopping us?"
The leader smirked.
"This cart belongs to us now."
"And you—"
"You're our slaves."
"Perfect timing. We've got plenty of work for you."
"What?! We're just passing through!" Yahiko protested.
Spears were immediately leveled at them.
Not wanting to escalate—
Yahiko raised his hands.
"Passing through?" the leader sneered.
"Once you enter our territory—"
"Everything belongs to Lord Caoshan."
"People. Goods. Everything."
"…Caoshan."
Yahiko fell silent.
He knew that name.
That man—
Was originally chosen as the leader here.
But—
Why was he doing something like this?
Sensing something was wrong—
The three exchanged glances.
They chose not to resist for now.
Nagato and Konan got off the cart.
All three were shackled.
They needed to find out what had happened.
"Move!" the leader ordered.
The cart was taken away.
Meanwhile—
They were escorted through the city.
"Behave yourselves," the leader warned coldly.
"My weapon doesn't have eyes."
Konan subtly nodded to Yahiko and Nagato.
She had already left a marker on the cart.
They could find it later.
They walked through familiar streets.
The city was still in ruins—
But near the base—
There were more buildings.
Yet—
The streets felt emptier than before.
"Where is everyone?" Yahiko asked.
"None of your business," the leader snapped.
They continued forward.
Soon—
They saw soldiers storm into repaired homes—
Dragging people out.
Yahiko's expression darkened with anger.
Nagato and Konan both placed a hand on his shoulder.
They were taken to a prison.
Inside—
Many people were locked up.
The newly captured civilians were thrown in as well.
"Get in!"
The leader shoved them into a cell—
Then left without another word.
The three stood silently—
Looking around.
Old.
Weak.
Injured.
Even corpses lay on the ground.
Yahiko clenched his fists, suppressing his anger.
"…Can someone tell me what happened here?"
"It shouldn't be like this."
No one answered.
Finally—
A young man chewing on a piece of grass spoke helplessly:
"What else could it be?"
"We've all been turned into slaves."
"This place sells people in exchange for supplies."
"WHY?!" Yahiko demanded.
"This place could've developed just fine!"
"Why do this?!"
The young man looked at them strangely.
"You're outsiders, huh?"
No.
This place—
Was built by them.
And in just a few months—
It had become like this.
The young man sighed.
"You're unlucky."
"Getting caught here…"
"Why don't you resist?!" Yahiko asked.
"Resist?" the man sneered.
"How?"
"Lord Caoshan has three powerful ninja under him."
"Anyone who disobeys—dies."
"…Ninja."
Yahiko nodded slowly.
That explained everything.
Against ninja—
Ordinary people stood no chance.
"Then what if we defeat those three?" Yahiko said.
"You?!" The young man stared at them.
Others also raised their heads.
"Hey! What are you making noise for?!"
A guard slammed his stick against the bars.
"Shut up!"
Everyone lowered their heads again.
"Nagato," Yahiko suddenly said.
Nagato raised his hand—
Aimed at the cell.
"Shinra Tensei!"
BOOM!
The wooden door was blasted apart.
The guard collapsed in terror.
"W-What are you doing?!"
Yahiko stepped out.
Cracking his fists together.
"Now that we understand the situation…"
"Let's save this place—again."
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The three dispelled their transformations—
Returning to their original appearances.
The prisoners looked on in fear.
The young man muttered:
"…Aren't these three working for Lord Caoshan?"
But the trio didn't hear him.
They had already charged out.
No one in the camp could stop them.
They tore straight through—
Heading directly toward the so-called lord's mansion.
That structure—
Hadn't even existed before.
And the soldiers?
They barely resisted at all.
The three advanced without obstruction—
Charging straight into the city lord's residence.
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