After sending Sasuke away, Shinju embarked on the journey to find En Oyashiro alone.
By this time, he had arrived at a port in the Land of Fire, preparing to head toward the isolated islands in the international waters.
Thinking that his attire was a bit too conspicuous and made his identity easily recognizable, he turned his red hair black and used his bangs to cover the Rinnegan in his left eye...
This way, he had a bit of Sasuke's flavor!
Walking around with Sasuke's identity... that seemed to work too!
Sasuke had defected from Konoha back in the day and spent a few years as a rogue; wandering around outside was quite reasonable!
Thus, Shinju used this disguise with a clear conscience, deciding that if he did any bad deeds in the future and had to give a name, he would give Sasuke's.
After spending a huge sum to charter a boat, Shinju started the engine...
Just then, a girl's shout came from behind.
"Hey~ Boatman, wait a sec~"
Shinju looked back upon hearing the voice and found a tall, sturdy man with a seven or eight-year-old girl.
"I'm not running a passenger boat. I don't take riders."
After replying coldly, Shinju intended to leave.
But after seeing Shinju's face, the girl and the man didn't give up and continued,
"We know where you're going. We're coming with you."
Hearing this, Shinju became interested.
"Did you investigate me?"
The girl put her hands on her hips.
"No need to investigate. Seeing that Rinnegan, we guessed your identity. You're Uchiha Sasuke, right? ( ˝ᗢ̈˝ )"
"You're heading out to sea now to investigate the recent human bomb incidents involving Konoha, aren't you?"
"We're here to investigate that matter as well."
Hearing the girl's words, Shinju's expression became strange.
These two suddenly approaching him and wanting to travel with him—their behavior was too suspicious!
The two on the shore seemed to sense Shinju's suspicion and began to introduce themselves.
"My name is Chino, and this big guy is Nowaki. We are traveling street performers and low-class ninja..."
As the little girl spoke, seemingly afraid Shinju wouldn't believe her, she used Water Release to blow a beautiful bubble...
Shinju continued to ask with a look of curiosity,
"Then why do you want to investigate the human bombs? If you're performers, just stick to performing!"
Hearing this question, anger appeared on Chino's small face.
"This story goes back to two days ago... We passed through a village while performing and received warm hospitality from the villagers. The next day, that village was attacked by an exploding ninja. According to the villagers, the culprit was Fūshin of the Lightning Group, and Fūshin used to work under En Oyashiro... To avenge the kind villagers, we decided to find Fūshin! Ծ‸ Ծ"
Shinju nodded upon hearing this.
"I see. I don't believe you. I'm leaving! ╮(╯▽╰)╭"
After saying that, Shinju manned the rudder and sped away!
"We'll pay for the ride!" Little Chino seemed to have made a great resolve.
Shinju stopped the boat. "How much?"
Chino: "Five hundred..."
Shinju: "Ryo?"
"Then I'm definitely leaving! ¯\(ツ)/¯"
The tall and sturdy Nowaki chimed in,
"Fifty thousand. That is the limit of what we can afford. We hope to receive your help..."
Hearing this, Shinju pondered for a moment.
He remained skeptical of their story, but if it was true, they could exchange information...
After all, Orochimaru had only revealed the name En Oyashiro to him! (ー_ー)!!
Finally, Shinju decided to let them stay. "Get on!"
...
The small boat sailed quietly on the sea surface.
Shinju chatted sporadically with these two suspicious characters.
"Is the income high for performing ninja? Is the monthly salary around this figure..." As he spoke, Shinju held up five fingers.
Chino: "Fifty thousand? Sasuke, you overestimate us. It's good enough just to be fed and clothed as performing ninja. The fifty thousand for the boat fare is something Nowaki and I saved for several years!"
Hearing this, Shinju looked moved. "You were actually able to go to such lengths for the people in that village. That's truly remarkable."
Chino patted her chest proudly. "Of course. Ninja walk the world relying on loyalty and honor! The people in that village treated us to several meals, so if they run into trouble, we definitely have to help! ୧⍢⃝୨"
"Sasuke-kun, if you encountered such a thing, you would definitely stand up for them too."
Shinju: "Why do you call me Sasuke-kun..."
Although Shinju was currently using Sasuke's identity, being addressed like that all the time still felt a bit grating!
Chino looked smug. "Because I'm older than you. (ﾉ∇︎〃 )"
Shinju: (≖╻≖;)
For a little girl to say this, she was either psychologically mature or a child-like hag!
Soon, Nowaki's words confirmed Chino's identity as a child-like hag!
"She looks like a child, but her actual age is already..."
Shinju: ◝₍ᴑ̑ДO͝₎◞
That exaggerated!
Then her calling him by that nickname was actually quite reasonable!
As they were chatting, a massive wooden bridge intruded into their field of view!
Chino: "Shinju Bridge. It connects the continent and the Land of Waves. It's the longest cross-sea bridge on the continent. Cool~"
Hearing someone praise the bridge felt just like someone praising him; Shinju found it very enjoyable. (´つヮ⊂︎)
"I heard this bridge was named to commemorate Shinju-sama, who saved the ninja world. It fits very well," Nowaki added in agreement.
At this moment, Chino looked toward Shinju beside her.
"Sasuke-kun, you have a pretty good relationship with Shinju, right? What kind of person is he?"
Shinju: "Him? He's simply a vase—useless aside from being handsome. (๑`･ᴗ･´๑)"
Chino looked puzzled. "Useless aside from being handsome... Is he even more handsome than you, Sasuke-kun? I think your looks are already close to perfection."
Shinju spoke in his capacity as Sasuke,
"Naturally. In terms of looks, a hundred of me put together couldn't compare to one of him! o(〃--0027▽--0027〃)o"
Chino: "If you can't compare, you can't compare. Why are you laughing while saying these things?"
Shinju: "..."
"I thought of something happy..."
"Alright, don't disturb me. I need to focus on driving the boat!!"
...
Shinju drove the boat peacefully at the helm while Nowaki and Chino whispered to each other.
Chino: "Is this guy really Uchiha Sasuke? I heard Uchiha Sasuke was incredibly cold and aloof..."
Nowaki: "Personalities can deceive, but that was clearly a Rinnegan in his left eye socket..."
Chino: "But I heard that while Uchiha Sasuke is handsome, he's only moderately handsome. He shouldn't be this handsome, right?"
Nowaki's tone revealed determination.
"We just need to focus on the Rinnegan in his left eye! As long as he has that feature, then he is Uchiha Sasuke!"
At this time, Shinju, who was driving the boat, silently listened to their discussion.
According to these two, they had business with Sasuke and had mistaken him for Sasuke solely because of the left Rinnegan.
So now the question was, these two were eager to find Sasuke; what were they planning...
While pondering in his heart, Shinju looked back at Chino at the stern of the boat.
Also, the chakra inside this little girl was a bit strange...
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