Chapter 48: Heading to the Land of Water
"The Land of Water is an island nation with a unique culture.
"Hidden deep within mist-shrouded mountains, the country is made up of islands of every size. Even the islands surrounding the mainland preserve their own distinct customs, and many islanders still live according to those ancient traditions."
After reading the passage aloud, the Orange Cat licked its nose, rubbed its paw twice through Asuka's hair, and complained,
"I have a feeling you only put me on your head to block the sun."
"Nonsense."
Asuka rolled his eyes.
"Stuffing you inside my shirt is too hot, and making you run beside me is too much trouble. After thinking it over, the only reasonable place left was on my head.
"That way, you don't get tired, and I don't overheat.
"It's a win-win."
"...That actually makes sense."
The cat nodded and continued flipping through the Land of Water Travel Survival Guide resting in its paws.
"Taboos of the Land of Water.
"First: Never enter the Hidden Mist Village.
"The last tourist who wandered in out of curiosity merely glanced at someone before being dragged into the dense fog, never to be seen again.
"Second: If someone from the Land of Water throws themselves at you... don't lose your head.
"There was once a traveler who spent several passionate nights with a woman from the Land of Water. Afterwards, despite her tearful pleas, he abandoned her like a worn-out shoe.
"It is said he, too, was dragged into the mist...
"...and never came back."
The Orange Cat paused before looking down at Asuka in confusion.
"This guide isn't fake, is it?
"Why does it specifically warn people about women from the Land of Water?"
"It's not warning you about the women themselves."
After crushing a scorpion that had burst from beneath the sand into a perfectly flat scorpion pancake, Asuka took a drink from his portable water flask before continuing,
"The Hidden Mist has... rather unusual customs.
"As you know, the village has a long history of persecuting Bloodline Limit users. Naturally, many ordinary citizens there don't think highly of people with bloodline abilities either.
"But the major bloodline clans don't have enough members to marry only among themselves.
"If they marry ordinary citizens, there's always the risk of being reported.
"So...
"Some of them began targeting foreign travelers instead."
"Oh..."
The Orange Cat nodded, only half understanding.
Among all the hidden villages in the ninja world, only the Hidden Mist was twisted enough to persecute its own Bloodline Limit users.
"Hey! Hey!"
Seeing Asuka prepare to turn right, the cat hurriedly tugged on his hair and pointed left.
"Pakura's scent is over there. You're going the wrong way."
Asuka shot it a skeptical look.
"You're sure?"
The Orange Cat tucked the guidebook beneath its backside, folded its front paws proudly across its chest, and declared,
"A cat's sense of smell is better than a dog's. We have twenty million more olfactory receptor cells.
"Never question my nose."
The instant it finished speaking, Asuka exploded into a sprint.
The sudden burst of speed nearly flung the cat off his head. In panic, it dug its claws into his hair, streaming behind him like a flag in the wind.
"Hey! What about Third Brother?"
"Relax. I've already prepared the money.
"When Old Third's family holds the funeral banquet, I'll take you there for a feast."
"The way you said that...
"...it sounds like you're looking forward to him dying."
"Don't be ridiculous."
As one man and one cat disappeared into the distance, the desert gradually fell silent once more.
Their footprints were quickly swallowed by the shifting sands.
---
The Land of Water.
Setting aside its countless eerie and unsettling places, the scenery truly resembled a fairyland.
Towering mountains pierced the heavens.
Dense mist lingered throughout the year.
The air carried a faint hint of salt.
Seen from above, the main island resembled a giant mushroom—high in the center, with the land gently sloping toward the sea.
The capital had been built into the mountainside, climbing upward in terraces. The deeper one ventured into the city, the higher the elevation became.
Along the road leading to the Daimyō's palace stood fortress after fortress, gate after massive gate.
Visitors had to pass through nearly a hundred checkpoints before reaching the palace at the summit.
For that reason, the capital was also known as the Mountain City.
The moment he entered the city, Asuka found himself swept into the crowds.
In truth, civilians across the ninja world weren't all that different.
Most were thin and exhausted, wearing lifeless expressions with dull, resigned eyes.
The ones whose eyes constantly darted from side to side...
...were usually thieves.
Cough... Cough...
Hearing a fit of violent coughing somewhere in the crowd, Asuka glanced sideways at the Orange Cat, which had already put on a tiny mask, and teased,
"You're a cat.
"A ninja cat, no less.
"So why are you so timid?"
"The mist here is poisonous."
The cat's tone turned unusually serious.
"People here breathe this stuff every day. The average lifespan in the Land of Water is much shorter than elsewhere."
As it spoke, it produced another mask and dangled it in front of Asuka.
"Put this on."
"No."
Seeing Asuka refuse, the cat swept its gaze across the bustling streets before twitching its whiskers.
"My nose is overwhelmed by the smell of urine and the unique scent of the Land of Water's mist.
"Give me half a day to adjust.
"I can feel it.
"I'm getting close."
"Fine."
Asuka nodded.
Pakura really was astonishingly fast.
Aside from reserving enough chakra for combat, he had devoted almost everything else to traveling at full speed, chasing her all the way to the Land of Water...
...and still hadn't caught so much as a glimpse of her.
That evening, he checked into a local inn.
"This climate would be perfect for selling luosifen."
After finishing a steaming bowl of snail rice noodles to warm himself against the damp air, Asuka lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling as his eyelids slowly grew heavy.
Before he could fall asleep, violent coughing erupted from the room next door.
At the same time, the muffled sounds of men and women enthusiastically entertaining themselves drifted down from upstairs.
In this miserable country... do people really have no hobbies besides making babies?
Annoyed, Asuka sat up and opened the nearby window.
The instant it swung open, thick white smoke poured into the room.
Within moments, the entire room looked like the dwelling of an immortal.
Leaning out the window, Asuka saw several people gathered below, burning offerings while chanting prayers.
"Great Evil God... please accept our sacrifice..."
"The Evil God?"
He immediately slammed the window shut, climbed back onto the bed, and muttered,
"Could that be the Evil God worshipped by Hidan's cult?
"Why would they have followers in the Land of Water?
"This rotten place really isn't fit for human habitation.
"As soon as Fatty's nose adjusts, we're leaving tomorrow."
The words had barely left his mouth when the room's door swung open.
A cold sensation touched his throat.
Lowering his eyes, Asuka looked at the kunai pressed against his neck and let out a helpless sigh.
"Ninja-sama...
"Could you actually hear me through the door?"
"Shut up!"
the visitor snapped.
Meeting Asuka's calm gaze, she pressed the blade harder against his skin.
"Who are you?
"And what did you mean by the Evil God?"
"The Evil God is worshipped by an extremist cult.
"Some people in Yugakure believe in it."
"Oh?"
The Hidden Mist kunoichi nodded thoughtfully.
A moment later, as though recalling something, she tightened her grip on the kunai once more.
"How do you know that?
"Who exactly are you?"
"Me?"
Asuka blinked innocently.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke."
Genjutsu: Sharingan!
The three tomoe within his crimson eyes began to spin.
The instant the Hidden Mist kunoichi met his gaze, her heart lurched.
Before she could react, her body went completely rigid.
The kunai slipped from her fingers and landed softly on the bed.
"Sigh..."
Looking at the vacant-eyed kunoichi, Asuka let out a long sigh before poking the still-sleeping Orange Cat awake.
"Fatty.
"Your favorite part's here.
"Interrogation."
Following Asuka's finger, the cat looked at the blank-faced Hidden Mist kunoichi.
Its sleepy expression vanished in an instant.
"Isn't Uchiha Sasuke supposed to be Uchiha Mikoto's unborn son?
"What, are you suffering from a lack of maternal affection?
"Anyway...
"What do you want to know?"
Asuka's mouth twitched.
He got dressed, climbed out of bed, and shot the sharp-tongued cat an exasperated glare.
"If you can't say something normal, don't say anything at all.
"I'll leave everything about the Hidden Mist, Sunagakure's negotiations, and this Evil God cult to you."
"Mm."
The Orange Cat nodded solemnly.
Its eyes drifted toward the flat-chested Hidden Mist kunoichi, and a look of grave determination spread across its feline face.
It understood exactly what Asuka meant.
Every scrap of information...
...except her body measurements...
...was essential.
Today's interrogation would truly put its feline talents to the test.