Chapter 25: Guren
After the count was finished, neither Shisui nor Itachi accepted Ryūya's proposal to split the spoils. All 1.6 million-plus went straight into Ryūya's pocket.
Once the division was settled, the three of them sat down by the campfire to rest.
"Brother Ryūya, are you really that short on money?"
After a long silence, Itachi suddenly looked at Ryūya and asked curiously.
To be honest, both Shisui and Itachi came from powerful clans in Konoha, and since childhood they had never really had to worry about money. All their expenses were uniformly allocated by their families.
So Itachi couldn't quite understand the level of desire for money that Ryūya—who also came from a prominent Konoha ninja clan—was showing.
"Of course! I'm very poor right now!"
Ryūya nodded, answering without the slightest hesitation.
For this mission alone, his wallet had practically been emptied.
If he didn't earn more money to make ends meet, Ryūya figured he wouldn't even be able to support himself and the Azure Serpent anymore.
With money, there were simply too many things he could do.
However, there were many things he still couldn't say outright to Shisui and Itachi.
Hearing this, both Shisui and Itachi fell silent, looking at Ryūya with eyes full of disbelief.
"The secret techniques passed down in my family are a bit special. Training requires consuming a huge amount of food, and that all takes a lot of money.
I'm not from the main line of the family either—I don't have the full support of the clan like you two do, where all you need to do is focus on training.
Hehe, if it weren't to earn a bit more money, I wouldn't have shamelessly asked to team up with you in the first place. Shisui, you're strong—by following you and completing more high-level missions, I can earn more money!"
Seeing their reactions, Ryūya chuckled and added this explanation.
Shisui could only shake his head helplessly and smile bitterly.
After spending this time together, Ryūya's roguish nature had already been fully exposed.
He treated both Shisui and Itachi just like ordinary friends, with none of the distance or guardedness that other ninjas in the village usually had when interacting with them.
In this regard, Shisui and Itachi were actually quite happy to accept it.
However, they didn't completely believe what Ryūya had just said. Although Ryūya's daily food consumption during this period was indeed far greater than theirs, it definitely wouldn't require such an exaggerated amount of money just to buy food.
Everyone has their own secrets. Since Ryūya didn't want to explain further, they didn't press him.
After a night of rest, the caravan set out again the next day.
Two months later, the capital of the Land of Rice Fields.
In front of a magnificent and lavishly decorated grand estate, a huge caravan slowly came to a stop at the gates.
"The master is back!"
"Milord!"
…
At the entrance, the guards on duty saw the lead carriage and hurried forward respectfully. Inside the estate, more than a dozen beautifully adorned women, draped in gold and silver, also came out upon hearing the news.
A lively and bustling scene indeed.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and Yoshida Jin stepped down.
The moment they saw Yoshida Jin, the servants and concubines all froze.
Compared to before, Yoshida Jin had clearly lost several sizes.
Though thinner, he looked far more energetic.
"Brother Ryūya, please, come inside quickly!"
Ignoring everyone in front of the carriage, Yoshida Jin strode toward the rear and warmly greeted Ryūya and the other two, who had just gotten down.
"Then we'll trouble you, Lord Yoshida," Ryūya replied politely.
"Not at all! Not at all! Being able to invite three outstanding young talents from Konoha Village to visit is my great honor!"
Yoshida Jin's face was split into a wide smile, wrinkles forming as he beamed with enthusiasm.
Hearing this, Ryūya smiled lightly and said no more. Together with Shisui and Itachi, he followed Yoshida Jin into the estate.
Seeing this scene, the members of the caravan were already used to it, but the servants and concubines who had come out to welcome them were all stunned.
Yoshida Jin was a top-tier merchant in the Land of Rice Fields. When had they ever seen him treat others with such courtesy—especially three youths who were clearly quite young?
After more than two months of constant travel, Ryūya and the others were exhausted and planned to rest at Yoshida Jin's estate for a day.
The next morning, refreshed and energetic, the three of them walked through the streets of the capital of the Land of Rice Fields.
The Land of Rice Fields lies north of the Land of Fire, together with small nations like the Land of Moon, the Land of Waterfall, and the Land of Hot Water, at the intersection between the three great powers: the Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning, and the Land of Earth.
After the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War, the chaotic fighting between the three major countries had also spilled into the Land of Rice Fields.
Walking through the streets, one could see emaciated refugees everywhere. Most of them wore expressions of numb despair, their faces gaunt. Continuous warfare had destroyed their homes and their hope of continuing to live.
On both sides of the street, only a few shops were open for business. The entire city was permeated with a strong sense of decline and desolation.
Looking at these scenes, all three maintained calm expressions. No one spoke.
Having come to the ninja world for a year already, Ryūya had seen far too many scenes like this.
Peace was still nowhere in sight.
"I'll see where you run now—beat her hard!"
"You dare steal from my house? Let's see how many lives you have. Beat her to death!"
…
From around a street corner came a barrage of shouting, curses, and the sounds of fists and kicks landing.
Looking up, Ryūya saw five burly men surrounding a corner, relentlessly beating a curled-up figure on the ground.
Nearby, a young man dressed in fine brocade stood there, continuously hurling insults.
The person being beaten wore ragged clothes, had a very small frame, and looked quite young.
Facing the savage beating from five or six fierce men, the person didn't cry out or beg for mercy, only curled up and silently endured the blows.
On the street, passersby all watched with cold indifference. Some even deliberately kept their distance, afraid of getting themselves into trouble.
The beating went on for seven or eight minutes before it finally stopped. Only after the small figure on the ground was completely unable to move did the young man in brocade leave with the five strong men.
On the cold bluestone street, the small figure lay motionless. Blood seeping from the body had already stained the stones beneath in red.
If no one came to help, this person would likely die here in silence.
Seeing this, Ryūya sighed softly in his heart and stepped forward.
Behind him, Shisui and Itachi both showed slight changes in expression and followed closely after him.
Turning her body over, Ryūya discovered that this person was actually a girl of around ten years old.
At this moment, her body had suffered severe injuries all over. A large amount of blood overflowed from the corner of her mouth, and her breathing was extremely weak.
Yet, right up until she completely lost consciousness and fell into a coma, the little girl's teeth were still clenched tightly against her lower lip, her face filled with determination and defiance.
Moved, Ryūya quickly picked her up. After exchanging a glance with Shisui and Itachi, the three of them hurried back to Yoshida Jin's estate.
That evening, the girl gradually awoke from her deep sleep and struggled weakly, trying to sit up.
"You're awake. What's your name?"
A low voice sounded in the room.
The girl lifted her eyes toward the source of the voice, and Ryūya's figure came into view.
After a moment of silence, the girl spoke:
"Guren."
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