c34 — Strange Treasure Map
Lu Sen recalled his tragic past, and his already haggard expression grew even more lifeless. It was easy to see how deeply the events had wounded him. After wiping the tears gathering at the edges of his eyes, he continued, "My father found the treasure map purely by accident, deep within a forest that bordered several small nations. At night, the map emitted a faint blue glow something similar to the chakra-reactive materials I've heard shinobi speak of. It was definitely no ordinary map. But no matter what my father tried, he couldn't open it. A strange chakra seal one I'd never seen before blocked it completely. Since he couldn't break the seal himself, he sought help. He never imagined that asking for assistance would spread rumors and invite disaster. People are greedy, and greed makes monsters. Even the closest friends can turn into enemies, and family… family may betray you when treasure is involved."
Lu Sen let out a long breath, forcing himself to speak steadily. "At first, Father sought help from a trusted friend. He believed this man could assist him in unlocking the treasure map's seal. But instead of helping, that man schemed to murder Father and claim the treasure for himself. Father discovered the plot in time and escaped the attempt. But just when he thought he could handle things, he was betrayed by my second uncle, Lu Yuan. That man Father's own brother conspired with Father's supposed friend. Together, they cornered Father and forced him to hand over the map. But my father anticipated danger. He kept the map hidden, and the only people who knew its exact location were him and me."
Hatred flared in Lu Sen's eyes, and he clenched his fists tightly. "They tortured Father, but he refused to reveal the hiding place. In the end… they killed him. When I sensed that something was wrong, I fled under the cover of night. To flush me out, they massacred our entire family over thirty people including infants who had never harmed anyone. Because I fled so quickly, and to avoid being recognized, I disguised myself and lived as a beggar. Later, I learned the truth: everything every death was orchestrated by my second uncle. My father trusted him entirely… and he died for that trust."
Naruto listened quietly before asking, "From what you've said, your family was wealthy. Didn't your father have any influence or power to protect himself?"
Lu Sen shook his head bitterly. "He had many guards, and under normal circumstances, my second uncle wouldn't have stood a chance. But I don't know where he found those shinobi. Under the jutsu they used jutsu far beyond anything ordinary mercenaries could perform Father's guards were helpless. It felt like those ninja weren't just hired; it was more like they and my second uncle had struck some deeper bargain. Otherwise, someone like him could never afford ninja of that level."
Hearing that trained shinobi were involved, Naruto's expression sharpened. Anything concerning missing-nin or secret shinobi dealings was rarely simple. The treasure map Lu Sen described must either hold a powerful secret or be connected to one of the ancient shinobi clans scattered across the Land of Earth and its surrounding regions. The map's blue light and impenetrable seal even reminded Naruto faintly of the chakra barriers seen in old documents describing relics from the Warring States Era. The more he listened, the more curious he became but he refrained from pushing too aggressively.
Unexpectedly, Lu Sen said, "If you promise to help me take revenge, I'll follow you completely. The treasure map… I'll give it to you as a gift."
This was the opening Naruto had been waiting for. He nodded. "In that case, stay with me for now. As for the map, we'll find a safe place and talk through everything carefully before making any decisions. Come with me."
Naruto guided Lu Sen deeper into the forest until they reached a completely secluded area. Placing both hands on the ground, Naruto molded chakra for an Earth Release technique something he had learned during past Anbu training under Danzo. The soil vibrated as he created an underground chamber. The space wasn't vast, but it was the size of a modest household room, enough for shelter and planning. Then Naruto wove Wood Release hand signs drawing on the Hashirama cells Danzo implanted and reinforced the underground structure. Thick, sturdy wooden pillars and panels grew from the earth, forming a stable interior. He shaped them into simple but functional walls, a sleeping platform, and a small table. Afterward, Naruto crafted a concealed exit blocked by a large stone, camouflaged with naturally shaped wooden growths that blended perfectly with surrounding trees. To an ordinary passerby, the place looked like untouched wilderness; even a trained shinobi without sensory skills would have difficulty noticing anything unusual.
"From now on," Naruto said, stepping into the completed underground room, "this will be our temporary base."
Naruto walked in through the opening first and said, "This is your temporary hiding place. It's isolated like the caverns I used near Mount Myōboku, and the barrier seals I placed are similar to the protective tags used in Konoha's ANBU outposts. No one will find it easily. Even if someone wanders close, they'll trigger the traps I learned from Jiraiya-sensei. Don't go out casually during this period. If anything unusual happens, just tell me directly."
To Lu Sen, Naruto's ability was like that of a god. He had watched Naruto set up the shelter with the same ease he had shown when building camps during the Fourth Shinobi War, using enhanced clones and sealing skills to finish in minutes. Lu Sen felt that following Naruto was undeniably the right decision.
Naruto prepared food and daily necessities, enough that Sagi Mori could remain here for several days just as safely as someone hidden during an ANBU escort mission. Naruto was in no hurry to obtain the treasure map. He had only just arrived in the Land of Grass and, remembering how battles in unfamiliar territory once led to complications in the Land of Iron, he chose caution. No matter how strong he was, he still needed information about the local shinobi to avoid unnecessary risks.
They returned to the previous town. First, they needed a place to stay. On the one hand, Naruto could purchase supplies and instantly transport them to the hidden base using the Flying Thunder God kunai he had marked earlier, a technique he inherited from Minato. On the other hand, he could gather information about the region. For ordinary townsfolk, he could rely on shadow clones, since even if they were exposed, the memories would simply return to him when dispersed.
The remaining task was to scout the ninja village. Kusagakure rarely fielded many shinobi, but the few they had were rumored to specialize in binding techniques similar to the chakra-sapping vines used in older Grass missions. Some even practiced sensory jutsu that disrupted chakra flow, so Naruto proceeded carefully. As he neared Kusagakure, he noticed unusually strict patrols. Normally, minor villages lacked the resources to maintain such defenses; even Amegakure, for all its reputation, often struggled with manpower. What Naruto saw here clearly did not match the typical situation. Hiding in the trees much like he once did when tracking the Akatsuki, he observed several shinobi whose posture and movement patterns did not resemble native Grass ninja. Even under disguise, their discipline and step rhythm were closer to trained operatives from the Five Great Nations, something impossible to mask without years of cultural immersion.
Since shinobi from another country were involved, something significant must have happened—perhaps a dispute over territory, or relics like the ones sought during the Great War. The Grass ninja likely could not contain the matter themselves and had summoned foreign support. Yet Naruto could not determine which major village was involved, making things far more difficult. If he caused too much noise and Kusagakure realized an unknown agent was present, the situation could escalate quickly. He was alone, and he could not reveal his identity, so he had to advance carefully, step by step.
Naruto returned to the temporary base with the prepared materials. Seeing him come back, Sagi Mori grew visibly anxious and immediately asked, "Sir, how is the matter going?"
Naruto set the supplies on the ground and replied, "Tell me the exact location of the treasure map first. These are the basic tools we'll need for the operation. Sort them out and get ready. Once we understand the patrol routes and confirm who the foreign shinobi are, we'll find the right moment to secure the treasure map."
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