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A black-clad figure darted swiftly through the forest, clad in a short black kimono and wearing a peculiar white mask that bore an unsettling half-smile. This was none other than "Mu," also known as Miao.
Today, he had taken on another mission from the underground bounty office—a simple escort mission to accompany a merchant caravan to the Land of Lightning. The reward was decent, but the risks were undeniable. In this chaotic world, it was nearly impossible for a merchant convoy to safely travel between countries without hiring ninja protection. Without such safeguards, the likely outcome would be losing both their lives and goods. After all, aside from bandits and highwaymen, there were also rogue ninjas to contend with—many of whom were essentially bandits themselves.
Miao was now en route to a small border town in the Land of Fire, where the caravan was currently resting. After half a day's journey, he finally arrived at the bustling town. Situated on the border, the town thrived on commerce, serving as a transit hub for goods entering and leaving the Land of Fire. Merchants, wandering ninjas, samurai, and travelers from various nations frequently passed through, making the area lively and diverse.
The streets were lined with shops of all kinds—taverns, inns, gambling dens, and more. Many foreign merchants and even shinobi from other villages could be found here. It wasn't uncommon for wealthy traders or nobles from other lands to hire foreign ninjas to escort them to this point. Of course, Konoha shinobi were stationed in the area to monitor these outsiders, ensuring no trouble arose. Any foreign shinobi entering under the guise of a mission had to submit paperwork and undergo strict verification.
However, the checks weren't overly stringent. There were countless ways to infiltrate the Land of Fire unnoticed—dense forests and hidden trails provided ample cover. Most foreign shinobi avoided drawing attention anyway. Rogue ninjas, on the other hand, didn't need to worry about such formalities since they weren't part of any official village roster. And given the sheer number of rogue ninjas already scattered throughout the Land of Fire, Konoha's forces often turned a blind eye unless something blatantly harmful occurred.
As Miao entered the town at noon, he immediately sensed several pairs of eyes observing him from the shadows before quickly losing interest. He knew they were checking whether he was a foreign shinobi. If he were an official ninja from another village, Konoha shinobi would have approached him to demand his entry documents.
It was midday, and the rendezvous time with the caravan wasn't until the afternoon. Taking advantage of the break, Miao headed to a nearby tavern, rented a private room, and ordered a lavish meal along with a bottle of sake. He ate and drank leisurely, savoring the moment as the sun gradually dipped toward the west. By the time the afternoon arrived, Miao rose and made his way to the designated meeting spot for the merchant convoy.
When he arrived, the caravan was already gathered outside a large inn. Several cargo-laden wagons were neatly parked by the entrance, flanked by a refined-looking middle-aged man, a few bodyguards, and several Konoha shinobi. Among them were two jounin and three chunin. These Konoha shinobi had been hired by the merchant to ensure safe passage. Clearly, the merchant hadn't skimped on security, opting to hire both official Konoha shinobi and independent bounty hunters like Miao.
This arrangement was quite common due to cost considerations. Hiring shinobi from major villages, especially prominent ones like Konoha, was far more expensive than hiring freelance bounty hunters. For those who felt uneasy relying solely on a single group but couldn't afford additional high-ranking shinobi, hiring renowned bounty hunters like "Mu" was an ideal compromise. Not only were they cheaper, but their success rates were often comparable to those of elite village shinobi.
Miao had worked alongside official shinobi before, though never with members of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. As he approached, his gaze fell upon the two leading jounin. To his surprise, he recognized them instantly—having seen their likenesses in the anime during his past life.
One was a strikingly beautiful woman with long black hair, fair skin, and wine-red eyes. She wore a Konoha forehead protector and exuded an air of quiet confidence. This was Yuhi Kurenai, recently promoted to jounin rank.
The other was far more eccentric. His shiny bowl-cut hairstyle and garish green spandex suit were hard to miss. Over his outfit, he wore the standard green flak jacket of a Konoha jounin, and his face was plastered with a dazzling grin. His appearance alone screamed individuality. This was Might Guy, the self-proclaimed "Blue Beast" of Konoha and a taijutsu master renowned for his unorthodox style.
As Miao drew closer, his brow furrowed slightly beneath his mask. Konoha shinobi?
Miao harbored deep disdain for Konoha and its shinobi. He held no affection whatsoever for anyone hailing from the Hidden Leaf Village. That this mission required him to collaborate with Konoha shinobi was entirely unexpected.
Thinking of Konoha, Miao's mind wandered to the ancient stone tablet hidden beneath the Uchiha clan's Naka Shrine. His father had once told him about it—the sacred artifact passed down through generations of the Uchiha clan. It supposedly contained cryptic inscriptions left by their ancestors, detailing the origins and secrets of the Sharingan, as well as the deeper mysteries of the Uchiha bloodline. Miao was deeply intrigued by the tablet; his instincts told him that the Uchiha clan still concealed greater secrets waiting to be uncovered.
"It seems I'll need to pay Konoha a visit sometime soon."
"For now, though, it's not worth antagonizing them over trivial matters. Konoha's strength isn't something to trifle with, and revealing myself prematurely would only lead to unnecessary complications. Better to bide my time." With his thoughts aligned, Miao strode confidently toward the caravan.