In theory, the journey from the Land of Frost to Unming City, the capital of the Land of Lightning, should take less than half a day at a ninja's pace.
However, that theory applies to normal people. It does not apply to the directionally challenged.
Because they had no idea where they were on the map, they found the crude, hand-drawn chart utterly incomprehensible. After sitting in a heavy silence by the campfire for quite some time, Ren Uchiha's bizarre little squad finally opted for the most primitive method.
Both the Land of Frost and the Land of Lightning bordered the ocean. As long as they followed the coastline north, they were bound to enter Lightning territory eventually. Although they encountered several Cloud sentry posts along the way, bypassing them was a trivial task for three individuals with skills far exceeding the average shinobi.
After crossing through war-torn, desolate zones and skirting coastal outposts, they finally found a village. Well, not exactly a village—more like a group of former fishermen who had pivoted to a career in mountain banditry.
After interrogating the locals for detailed route information and "requisitioning" some funds, the trio finally arrived at the Land of Lightning's largest capital at noon the following day.
Unming City.
However...
"The city is locked down? No entry or exit for now?"
"The Immortal Cultists are rioting? They raided the execution grounds with a team of nearly a hundred people?"
"Wait, so you're saying everyone at the execution site except the executioners was an enemy?"
Upon reaching the city gates and eavesdropping on the grumbling travelers stuck outside, Ren learned of this ridiculous situation. He felt a bit dazed. Jashinism is a tiny cult; since when did it gather so many 'men of ambition'? Is this the power of religion?! The obscure cult that had been stagnating in the Land of Hot Water seemed to be blooming everywhere in the Land of Lightning.
Standing under the eaves of the gate, Sasori, wearing his bamboo hat, spoke flatly: "As I expected."
Ren scratched his head and glanced at him. "What do you mean?"
"At this point in time, there are many people who want the Lightning Daimyo's head," Sasori said, watching the wanted posters plastered on the gate with a frown. "To the other Great Nations—excluding the Land of Fire—it's ideal if Lightning continues its assault on Fire. But now, due to the info leak, continuing the invasion of Konoha isn't in Lightning's best interest."
"Kumo has three choices now: First, raid smaller nations while the Great Powers fight, resting and recovering for the next war. Second, cross the sea to attack Kirigakure, which is currently in a state of civil unrest and weakened from its clash with Iwa. Third... well, that's likely impossible." Sasori shook his head, trailing off.
Ren glanced at Sasori, who was currently acting as the team's strategist. "Tsk, you're being cryptic. This is a Daimyo we're talking about—a noble with actual power. How would a fight between hired shinobi affect him? Who would dare risk universal condemnation by killing the Lightning Daimyo?"
As he asked, Ren pointedly ignored the fact that both he and En Oyashiro were there for that exact reason. The structure of the ninja world hadn't changed for centuries. Aside from someone like Ren, who viewed the system as irrelevant, or En Oyashiro, a direct victim of it, most shinobi were habituated to the separation of military and civil rule. Who would even think about revolutionizing such a system?
"Heh..." Sasori let out a cold laugh, thinking of the desperate straits back in Sunagakure and the higher-ups who seethed with unspoken rage against the Daimyo's constraints. "People eventually get angry. And the anger of a shinobi, compared to a civilian, is like a thunderbolt. The ninja world is built on a balance of regulations. Do you really think the leaders of Hidden Villages are content with their wallets being controlled by 'ordinary' nobles?"
"In the past, no one had set such a precedent... But now, Ren Uchiha has already started doing it."
Sasori paused, looking at the city with an air of detached emptiness. "But all of this is ultimately tedious. Success or failure—both are just ripples in the river of time. Only things that are eternal can truly be called—Art!"
Unlike most, Sasori viewed things through the lens of art and time, making him more of an outside observer. He saw the situation clearly, but he had zero interest in changing the social order.
Hearing Sasori mention his name, Ren froze for a second before realizing he was talking about the public version of 'Ren Uchiha'—the one Hidan was currently impersonating and using to strike the first blow for a changing world.
Ren scratched his head. Originally, I just wanted to fake my death for an insurance payout. I didn't want to save the Uchiha, and I didn't want to change the world. How did it come to this?
"Look," Sasori said, tilting his head toward the main road. He gave a wicked smile. "The people who really want the Daimyo's life have arrived."
En Oyashiro, who had been quietly holding his daughter, flinched. He wondered if Sasori had figured out his true mission. Was this toy-making kid about to report him?
But when he looked back, he saw a three-person team slowly approaching along the highway.
The leader was an old woman in a wide black robe with a white sand-veil around her neck. She had wrinkled skin and shoulder-length lavender hair. Flanking her were a young woman with distinctive green and orange hair in a backless outfit, and a goateed young man with a turban.
Ren blinked, immediately recognizing them. The leader was Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure—someone he had a deep "history" with. Beside her was Pakura of the Scorch Release, whom Ren had inadvertently saved from being sold out by Rasa and the council. The third was Yura, an Elite Jonin who looked like he was already under Sasori's Brainwashing Sand control.
Just then, the long-closed city gate creaked open. A herald in Cloud attire stepped out and shouted:
"Welcome to the envoys of Sunagakure and Iwagakure! Only the envoys may enter. All others, continue to wait!"
Ren peered past the Suna team and saw two more shinobi approaching. The leader was a massive man with a round face in Iwa's red uniform and brown vest. Beside him was a bearded man with red hair wearing a purple monk's robe over his armor.
Ren knew these two as well. One was Kitsuchi, the son of the Third Tsuchikage—a powerhouse capable of punching a V2 Jinchuriki and suppressing the Gedo Mazo. The other was Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki who could utilize the Lava Release.
"Wait... this lineup is enough to take the Raikage's life," Ren whispered, looking at Sasori in shock. "And you're saying they're here for the Daimyo? So, assassinating the Daimyo really is a 'take a number and wait in line' situation?"
"Let's go, Yan-zu. That troublesome old woman is here..." Sasori frowned, turning around and gesturing for Ren and En to follow him. "When I was in Unming City last time, I secured a temporary base. We'll head there first."
Ren felt a brief surge of satisfaction at being called "Yan-zu," but a detail in Sasori's sentence caught his attention. "Wait, you've been here before? Then how the hell did you get lost on the way?!"
Sasori wasn't about to admit that he'd kidnapped a guide last time and had spent the entire trip tinkering with Hiruko, trying to build a mobile puppet vehicle because he'd never walked such a long distance in his life. He flared with embarrassment and glared at Ren.
"Shut up!"
En Oyashiro followed, chuckling as he held his daughter. He shot Sasori a weird look. "Tsk, tsk. Shinobi these days... been here once and can't even remember the road..."
Heh, En thought, looks like I haven't lost my touch after all. At least I can remember a path I've walked once.
"You shut up too, you fossil!" Sasori snapped.
Note: Support me and get early access to chapters on Pat reon.com/XareonMTL
very cheap btw