After Shiyu resolved the issues in the village, three days passed. This was the day the bandit group sent messengers to collect grain.
Shiyu used Transformation Technique to transform into the leader of a thief gang.
"I'd like to see what kind of situation your band of thieves is, that you think you're some kind of local tyrant?" The actions of the bandit gang had crossed the Shiyu could tolerate.
Soon, the bandits in charge of requisitioning grain arrived.
"Where is your leader? Get your leader out here! This month's grain is due again. We gave you a one-month grace period; you should hand over last month's grain along with it. Don't tell me you have no grain at all."
The thief messenger gave everyone a heads-up as soon as he appeared, and some of the young thieves were quite frightened by his presence.
"Don't worry! Our leader has already made arrangements for you. Just go find him," Xiao Liang said, mustering his courage.
The thief's messenger walked up to Xiao Liang and then smiled.
"Haha! That's good! That's good! Our boss will be very happy to know!" The thief messenger laughed, then walked towards the thieves' camp.
Shiyu naturally threw a large bag of white rice at the thief's messenger.
"This is what we've achieved this month and last month," Shiyu said.
The thief messenger weighed the heavy bag in his hand and immediately beamed, "Excellent! Such a big bag of white rice, very good. I will definitely put in a good word for you on behalf of the leader. Don't worry, I know the rules, I'll only take a little."
The thief messenger chose to come and collect the grain because he could also make a little extra money from the job; after all, not only the villagers but also the thief gang needed to eat.
Shiyu immediately said, "Wait, I'm going back to the thieves' group with you this time."
"Ah? What do you want?" the thief's envoy asked warily.
"The grain requisition was not going smoothly at first, and they didn't have much food left. We burned down the villagers' houses and kidnapped their children."
"But then a ninja came. He was polite at first, then used force. He gave us a big bag of rice, rescued all the children, and told me never to harm the villagers again."
"I tried, but I was no match for him. I had no choice but to see the leader first." Shiyu fabricated a reason, but it was a mix of truth and falsehood, without a single loophole. Clearly, the bandit envoy had no suspicions whatsoever.
"Alright, alright, I thought you were going to postpone it for another month. Since you've handed over the grain, it's still useful. I think the chief won't stand idly by. Come on, come with me to see the chief." The thief's messenger had no doubts and allowed Shiyu to accompany him.
Shiyu had already told everyone that as long as he left with the bandit leader, they would immediately burn down the mountain stronghold, return to his parents, and never do bad things again.
Shiyu then left with peace of mind. He didn't say much along Shiyu way, as the saying goes, "Too much talk leads to mistakes." Shiyu hid himself very well, and the thief's envoy didn't notice anything wrong with Shiyu at all.
Finally, the thief's envoy led Shiyu south into the Land of Rivers. Shiyu thought to himself, "As expected, the location of this thief's group is not much different from what I guessed. They should be hiding in the Land of Rivers."
After walking a long way, the bandit leader finally said, "We're here. The leader's location is in that cave ahead. Remember, I'll be in charge of speaking. You absolutely mustn't say a word, not a single syllable. The boss is a very suspicious person."
Shiyu nodded with great suspicion; he had never heard of any thief gang with such strange people.
After agreeing to the thief's request, Shiyu went into the cave with him. Several thieves were guarding the entrance.
At this Shiyu clearly saw that everyone was wearing Forehead Protector, and Forehead Protector had a cut on it, indicating that this bandit group had a rogue ninja in charge.
"Who goes there?!" Shiyu and the thief messenger were stopped before they could even enter.
"You don't know who I am?" the thief messenger asked.
"Of course we know who you are, we just don't know who this person is," the rogue ninja said.
Before Shiyu could speak, the thief messenger immediately spoke.
"He is the leader of the area I'm in charge of requisitioning grain for. Because a ninja threatened him, he wanted to seek the leader's protection, which is why I brought him here."
"I see. I must report this to the leader." The ninja on guard immediately went to report.
Shiyu fell swoop, but he decided to assess their situation first. However, it seemed that the bandit group was a very cautious organization composed of rogue ninja.
Soon, the guard came out and said, "The leader has allowed this chief to enter. Sir, please go back and rest."
In a surprising turn of events, the bandit leader prepared to meet Shiyu, but instead drove away the bandits' grain requisitioners.
"It seems I'm quite popular with the leader," Shiyu said with a smile.
"Being likeable? There's nothing I can do about it. Good luck to you. I hope you survive." The messenger didn't dare say anything more and immediately left.
Shiyu, led by the guards, walked step by step into the cave.
"We've arrived. This is the leader. Leader, I'm leaving now." The guard then turned and left, leaving only Shiyu and the leader behind.
At this Shiyu could not see the face of the bandit leader, but could only hear his voice.
"I heard a ninja attacked you? Do you know his name?" The leader's voice sounded somewhat sarcastic, and it was impossible to tell whether he was male or female.
"He said his name was Uchiha Shigure," Shiyu replied.
"What!? You said Uchiha Shigure? Are you sure you didn't mishear?" The leader's voice trembled slightly, whether from excitement or fear, it was hard to tell.
"I didn't mishear. He said his name was Uchiha Shigure, known as the Light of the Shinobi World, and that we shouldn't mess with those villagers anymore, or they would definitely come after us," Shiyu's thought.
"You're not lying to me, are you? Why would Uchiha Shigure care about such trivial matters? He's a big shot in the Shinobi World!" The leader expressed his complete disbelief.
"I'm not lying, this is the first time I've ever heard the name Uchiha Shigure either, "Shiyu lied again.
"Ha, I see. Since he left his name, he must be planning to take charge of this matter. Who knows, this guy might have come with you. You or the grain collector might be Shiyu in disguise!" The leader was very vigilant and seemed to know Shiyu's style very well.
"Who exactly is this person?" Shiyu wondered.