Chapter 10: WHAT THE JUTSU?!
The rest of the journey was uneventful. Three days later, Chiyo and Hiiro Rinko arrived at Sunagakure as planned.
Unlike the short rests they took in other villages, this time, Chiyo didn't take Rinko on a tour of the Land of Wind's customs. After a quick registration at the Village gate, they rushed straight to the Kazekage Tower.
Chiyo's detour to the forge was purely accidental, as she was already on a mission. She had informed the Village of her route beforehand, so now she needed to return quickly to report the 'mission results.'
Rinko naturally had no objections; settling down early was a good thing for him too.
Besides, truthfully, there wasn't much to see in Sunagakure.
As mentioned before, Sunagakure and the entire Land of Wind are 'both rich and poor'—rich in resources but unable to convert them into usable wealth. Coupled with the harsh environment, there was none of the imagined prosperity here.
Even the shinobi clans didn't have privileged living conditions. The buildings used for residence and work, like those in other villages and towns, looked like adobe houses piled up from sand and earth; they were simply larger.
These round houses, blending seamlessly with the desert, were interconnected. Almost all social activities took place indoors to avoid the wind and sand, and the streets only served for transporting goods.
Or, for rushing like they were now.
Rinko, held under Chiyo's armpit, watched the roadside scenery blur into streaks. His eyes were clear.
For physical enhancement, Chakra, whose main components include body energy, was far superior to his former Cursed Energy. Without special techniques, using Cursed Energy for reinforcement could only be maintained briefly, even by the most elite Cursed Users.
So, specializations in different fields, I suppose…
Thinking this, he began to ponder the potential applications of Cursed Energy in this world.
Rinko hadn't attempted to refine Cursed Energy earlier, mainly because it would be difficult to explain to Chiyo how he, an Uzumaki specializing in Yang Release, could produce such an extreme form of Yin Release-leaning spiritual energy.
But after enrolling in the Academy, he could openly attempt it under the guise of 'researching various techniques'.
It's like soliciting funding: you can't just walk in with a bare concept and ask for money. You have to cite sources and precedents. It doesn't matter whether the citations have anything to do with your pitch; as long as you can bluff your way through, it's enough.
Rinko was a pro at this, completely in his element. He couldn't help it; research needed money.
'Ah, speaking of which, didn't I have a few projects left unfinished?'
The thought of funding suddenly reminded him that he had left a pile of unfinished outsourced projects before his death. They were likely blasted into the sky along with his workshops and labs by that bastard Gojō Satoru.
Sigh. Those investors suffered a great calamity because of Gojō Satoru's reckless behavior in his past life. They were truly pitiful.
Muttering a silent apology in his heart, Rinko completely ignored the fact that he was the wicked, mad researcher who frequently created dangerous experiments and forced Gojō Satoru to clean up his messes across the world.
Just then, he noticed the rush of wind beside his ear had stopped. He looked up to see that Chiyo had brought him to their destination: the Kazekage Tower.
Though called a tower, the rounded building was barely taller than the other structures in Sunagakure. Due to the economy's heavy reliance on the mining industry, the Land of Wind's underground construction technology was highly developed, and Suna was no exception.
The intricate underground network not only served as a natural barrier against external enemies but also allowed the fragmented and narrow habitable land of the Land of Wind to accommodate the largest population among the Five Great Nations.
Bending down to brush the accumulated sand from his messy hair, Rinko followed Chiyo into the descending staircase.
This spiral staircase was not narrow; several people could walk abreast. Along the way, Rinko saw many shinobi rushing past them, turning into the horizontal corridors on various floors.
Everyone was busy. A nod and a greeting to Chiyo, an elite Jōnin, was enough to fulfill social etiquette.
As for Rinko, the small child? Ignore him.
Since Chiyo brought him back, there must be a good reason for it.
This wasn't to say that all Sunagakure shinobi were completely self-absorbed; it was mainly because the desk jobs were stressful.
If they met on the surface pathways outside the underground city, they would all be happy to chat for a bit longer.
Although the ventilation system was excellent, the underground was still the underground, and the stuffy air could never compare to the outside. Coupled with the fact that the lighting was subpar compared to normal buildings, no one wanted to waste precious rest time there.
After descending about five floors, Chiyo brought Rinko to the door of an office.
"Brat, wait outside for a moment, just a few minutes. If anyone asks you anything, just say you don't know and tell them to come find me."
Between knocks, Chiyo leaned down to quietly caution him. Seeing him nod, she rapped on the office door, then walked in alone with a solemn expression.
Rinko had no issues with this arrangement. As Suna's elite Jōnin, whether she was debriefing her mission or discussing his situation, she wouldn't bring him inside.
However, her warning just now seemed a bit protective. Given the current political situation, he wondered what her true intentions were.
Rinko leaned against the wall, tapping his fingers against it, and thought with narrowed eyes.
After nearly ten minutes, he still hadn't found an answer. Instead, Chiyo walked out, her expression still grim.
Under Rinko's questioning gaze, she knelt down in front of him, placed both hands on his shoulders, and wore an extremely serious face.
"Hmph… Brat…"
"W-what is it, Sensei?"
Seeing Chiyo look like this, Rinko felt a little uneasy for the first time.
What does this mean? Are they going to take me directly to the lab for dissection? Or are they going to extract my memories immediately? I don't remember a ninjutsu for that!
All sorts of thoughts sprang up in his mind like a fountain. They grew heavier as Chiyo maintained her silence, and his eyes began to shift nervously.
Finally, just as the atmosphere reached its peak intensity, Chiyo suddenly flashed a triumphant smile.
"Come on, call me 'Mom' once."
"…Huh?"
"Huh what? From today onward, you are my adopted son. Is that so hard to understand?"
"—Ah, I get it now. Have you finally lost your mind, you Old Hag?!"
"You wretched brat! I'm only thirty-five years old! How dare you call me an Old Hag!"