Hunting a Serial Killer

On the Kitsuchi road, passersby would quickly move aside when they saw the carriages and horses, some even jumping into the roadside ditches to avoid bumping into the powerful figures inside, lest they suffer the consequences.

Even if those seated there are not nobles from the Land of Fire, nobles are still nobles. As long as they do not fall into ruin, they will always be worlds apart from commoners.

This is a carriage belonging to the Kitajima family, capable of trading grain across borders. The Kitajima family are not ordinary merchants, but one of the powerful families in the Land of Grass.

It was precisely through the inexplicable and subtle connections between the powerful figures of Shinobi World nations that he was able to obtain enough food to sell in the Land of Fire.

The Land of Grass also produces grain, but it can only meet its own needs and there is not much surplus. However, the grain obtained from the Land of Fire can be resold to the Land of Earth and the Land of Stone in the north, where the grain production is extremely low, and ten times the profit can be obtained.

"But Shisui- sensei, I didn't see any food. Could it be that they packed it away with a sealing scroll?"

Naruto held the back of his head with both hands and asked, puzzled.

There was only one carriage in the procession, with Kitajima Tora sitting in it, and a group of guards and servants following around the carriage.

Shisui, along with Naruto others, also walked alongside the carriage, providing protection.

"Haha, what a naive brat! What are you thinking? Sealing scrolls are so expensive, you want to use them to store food? Are you stupid?"

Kitajima Tora leaned out of the car window and mocked Naruto mercilessly.

"Grandpa, how are you transporting the grain? You didn't come to our Land of Fire just for sightseeing, did you?"

After being reprimanded by Shisui, Naruto had gained some insight. Now, facing Kitajima Tora's sarcasm, he was not angry, but calmly asked a question in return.

"Hey! It's only been a short while, and you're not angry anymore, kid? You were jumping up and down in anger just now!" Kitajima Tora looked at the calm Naruto with surprise.

"Well! It's not that I'm not angry anymore, it's just that you're so old, Grandpa, you don't have many years left to live. If I accidentally make you die of anger, I won't be able to sleep at night."

"You brat, you really dare to say that!" Kitajima Tora cursed, but there was no anger on his face; instead, he wore a faint smile.

"It's alright to tell you, the grain was transported directly from the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass. It was originally your Border Defense Force's old grain, but now that the new grain has been harvested this summer, they've resold it to me."

Kitajima Tora had nothing better to do, he ended up chatting with Naruto, who was always talking nonsense.

"I come to Konoha every year around this time, and as long as there's no war, I usually make a fortune every time."

"Isn't it said that selling grain is more profitable during wartime?" Shuyuan couldn't help but ask.

After observing for a while, he figured it out: the old man was just sharp-tongued and had no other intentions. He could tell just by looking at Shisui- sensei didn't stop Naruto from talking to him.

"War? Heh heh, you brats only know how to memorize things from books." Kitajima Tora sneered, but still said, "Everyone knows that you can make money selling things during wartime, not just food, but also weapons, clothes, even idols. But how many of you have the life to do it? Making a fortune from war can easily get you killed."

"I've lived to such an old age because of three secrets. Do you want to know them?"

Shuyuan and Naruto nodded subconsciously, while Sasuke, who couldn't bring himself to do it, also perked up his ears.

Kitajima Tora chuckled, "First, moderate your drinking; second, moderate your womanizing; third... just don't court death. This old man never gets involved in such rotten things as profiting from war."

When Shuyuan heard the second point, her face turned red. Sasuke and Suzuran next to her also blushed, but Naruto, that idiot, was completely oblivious.

"What? I thought it was something special. It's pretty much the same as those three forbidden ninja rules my mom told me about: drinking... women, and... borrowing money. They all sound the same."

Naruto counted on his fingers.

"Hey, you're not bad, kid." Kitajima Tora laughed heartily, seemingly getting along well with Naruto.

Shisui watched the four little ones communicate with their employer without interrupting. Ninjas on missions not only have to deal with danger, but also have to learn to deal with all sorts of employers.

With its foul breath and eccentric temperament, the Kitajima Tora could be a great training subject.

He followed the carriage at a leisurely pace, his eyes scanning the pedestrians on the road and the trees and bushes on both sides.

"This must be a scam! Why would we be hunting down some murderer? We're just fresh-graduated Genin! Is it really appropriate to assign us such a dangerous mission?"

Sakura sat on a large, exposed tree root, complaining incessantly, while secretly glancing at her teacher sitting not far away.

"Rindou, what should I do? I'm not good at dealing with girls!"

Miki Uchiha looked miserable, unsure of what to do as he watched Sakura complain incessantly.

As Otoha's third son, unlike his arrogant and haughty cousins, he didn't have that kind of bad temper, because he had a carefree and irresponsible father.

"I don't know either! I can't even understand what my little sister is thinking. She's only eight years old, but she keeps saying she likes handsome guys and stuff..."

Rindou Uzumaki also looked worried. He was also somewhat concerned, but not about the murderer. Instead, he was quite troubled by Sakura's constant complaining.

Unfortunately, their own supervising Jonin remained indifferent, as cold as ice.

Kimimaro Kaguya, the most outstanding genius of the Kaguya Clan, was also the Lord Hokage's favorite student, becoming a super genius Jonin at a young age.

The Uzumaki Clan and Kaguya families have a very close relationship, so he had long heard of this genius from the Kaguya family. He believed that with Kimimaro leading them, a mere murderer was nothing.

Sakura, his female teammate, is what troubles him more. The three of them are on a team, and for a long time, they will have to advance and retreat together. If Sakura can't be stronger and braver, it will be very troublesome.

If you lack strength, you can work hard to improve your skills, but the real problem is that you don't even have the courage to engage in actual combat.

"Don't overthink it. Not everyone is given real combat experience like you are. The first step is to see blood, and your courage will gradually develop."

Without a sound, Kimimaro Kaguya appeared behind Rindou and Miki.

"Teacher Kimimaro".

The two hurriedly stood up, somewhat in awe of this icy-cold instructor.

"Let's rest and continue on our way. The area where that serial killer roams is quite large; if we're unlucky, it will take a long time to find him."

Kimimaro said calmly.

"Yes, teacher."

"OK."

The four of them set off again, not taking the main road, but instead speeding through the forest in a straight line.

Although Sakura looked worried about the terrifying serial killer, she still mustered her courage and stayed close to the group. (To be continued)