"That's simply impossible. In the meantime, we still need to train. After all, ninjas need to hone their skills to take on higher-ranking missions and earn higher rewards."
Kakashi said at this moment.
"That's true."
The Jonin leading the team nodded.
On the contrary, the lower a ninja's skill, the lower the rank of missions they can take on, and the rewards can barely cover their living expenses.
Thinking carefully, this profession of being a ninja really doesn't have much financial future.
Only when one reaches the rank of Jonin does it somewhat improve.
An A-Class Mission can yield at least a hundred thousand ryo.
And an S-Class Mission, completing one, earns at least several hundred thousand ryo.
"Alright, let's pick up the pace. We must reach the meeting point in the Land of Rain as soon as possible. Be extra careful once we arrive; the environment there is very chaotic."
"Yes."
After the leading Jonin spoke, Kakashi and the others were filled with caution.
Although they had not yet ventured deep into the Land of Rain, they knew that the country was currently in turmoil, plagued by bandits, with renegade and wandering ninjas mixed in, and a variety of other shady elements.
◎
In the Land of Rain, at the northern border.
When the Konoha Ninja Squad arrived, it was already around three in the afternoon the next day.
At the entrance of a small town in the rain, they saw the delegation from the Shion Flower Company from the Land of Demons.
There were twelve wagons used for transporting medicines, each filled with precious pharmaceuticals.
After handing over the task to the four-man squad from Hidden Rock, the leading Jonin from Konoha signed the document, and the Hidden Rock Jonin left with his three teammates.
Subsequently, the leading Jonin looked toward the representative of the Shion Flower Company caravan.
It was a young man, about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, short in stature, wearing round-framed black sunglasses, dressed in a spotless black suit, holding an umbrella.
The young man's name was Kado.
President of the Shion Flower Pharmaceutical Technology Company, a highly skilled businessman in his own right.
In less than half a year, he transformed from an obscure figure to a highly sought-after businessman internationally, and the four from Konoha dared not underestimate this ordinary person who wasn't a ninja.
As a rising representative among businessmen, his head had already been priced at five million ryo on the Underground Black Market.
This is already a very high bounty price for an ordinary person.
Presumably, as the rolling funds of the Shion Flower Company increase, the price on his head will only rise, reaching tens of millions of ryo at least.
Because of Shion Flower Company's sudden entry, many small pharmaceutical companies are on the verge of bankruptcy, encroaching on others' interests, making Kado's bounty on the Black Market utterly expected.
"Everyone from Konoha, let's rest in this small town for tonight. I've already booked an inn, and we can set off early tomorrow morning. How does that sound?"
After a friendly handshake with the leading Jonin, Kado pushed up his black sunglasses on the bridge of his nose and smiled calmly.
"That works too. It's indeed not suitable to travel at night at this hour."
Besides, the wagons are filled with precious medicines, and any accident would be troublesome.
Glancing at the two guards next to Kado, clad in black trench coats with the Shion Flower logo on the back, it was clear that these were not ordinary guard personnel.
Not only that, but beside the twelve fully loaded wagons, there were more than twenty guards, all wearing the same style of black trench coats, with the Shion Flower logo printed on the back.
Indicating they were from the same faction.
Thinking about it, the leading Jonin then understood.
Although the Shion Flower Company was established in the Land of Demons not long ago, becoming a pharmaceutical giant is estimated to be only a matter of time.
There must be a special department dedicated to training armed personnel to ensure the safety of their goods.
But having so many guards suggests that the total value of this batch of medicines is unimaginably high, necessitating extensive guard protection.
In any case, this isn't something he needed to worry about.
Their squad's mission was simply to escort the Shion Flower Company's caravan's delegation safely to Konoha.
Further commercial cooperation would be the Hokage's responsibility.
◎
The next morning, the four-man Konoha Ninja Squad, along with the guards from the Shion Flower Company, set off with the twelve wagons loaded with medicines, heading in the direction of Konoha in the Land of Fire.
Because they needed to escort these valuable medicines, the convoy moved slowly.
It wasn't until two in the afternoon that they leisurely made their way to the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire.
"Mr. Kado, once we pass through the canyon ahead and walk a bit further, we'll reach the territory of the Land of Fire."
The leading Jonin pointed to the gigantic canyon ahead submerged in rainwater, giving Kado the direction.
"Tell the people behind to speed up."
Kado nodded and said to the guard next to him.
That guard then went to convey Kado's orders.
"Once we reach the Land of Fire, we won't have to worry about bandits on the road. At the border, we have Konoha's border defense forces."
The leading Jonin said with a smile.
"The capabilities of Konoha Ninja have always been the best in the Ninja Realm; this is something our company trusts. In fact, we come this time with the attitude of cooperation and mutual benefit."
Kado also responded with a smile.
As they spoke, the convoy slowly entered the canyon.
Here, the rainfall began to lessen, but the road beneath their feet was still muddy, not only making it difficult to walk on foot, but the convoy also needed to slow down to ensure the safety of the medicines inside the wagons.