Bringing Home

"I'm full, Teacher Genma. I'm going out for a bit."

After saying goodbye to a few people, Senba patted his full belly and ambled away, looking like he'd eaten too much.

Uchiha Yue, who was still sitting, pulled Iruka up. Looking at the leisurely Genma Shiranui, she stated they needed to go out and restock supplies. After inquiring with a server bringing sake about the location of the most prosperous shops, she got up and left.

Genma Shiranui, who remained behind to drink alone, offered no comment on the trio's actions. His slightly tipsy eyes revealed a hint of ease. Ninjas, more often than not, needed to use their brains.

Having just finished in the backyard, Senba strolled around with a relaxed expression. A figure fiddling with knives in the distance caught his eye – it was Murakami, the butcher who had shown off his knife skills in the front hall.

Murakami held a bone-cutting knife radiating a chilling aura in his left hand, while meticulously wiping it with a precious silk cloth in his right. He was so focused that he didn't notice Senba approach him.

Senba didn't rashly interrupt him. Instead, he scanned the neatly arranged knives on the table. Judging by the wear on the handles, they had clearly been used for a long time, yet they were still so well-maintained. This could only mean that Murakami was a true knife enthusiast.

"Ninja-sama, have you lost your way back?" Murakami's words were blunt, lacking any subtlety. He wasn't a sociable person.

"These knives are excellent," Senba picked one up and gently flicked the blade with his finger. The crisp, long, and pure metallic ring made his eyebrows twitch. "Mr. Murakami, the design, craftsmanship, and even the polishing and maintenance techniques for these knives are extraordinary. Your skill is truly impressive."

"It's not like that, Ninja-sama." Murakami, his expression still stiff, explained to Senba that the knives were not made by him but were crafted using ancient methods by the oldest blacksmith in Asakusa Town.

A blacksmith skilled in ancient forging methods? That was a truly niche profession. While blacksmithing still existed, it had long since become industrialized. After all, this world had seen distorted technological advancements, otherwise, how could the vast number of ninja tools consumed by ninjas be replenished so quickly?

After chatting with Murakami for a while, Senba had a general understanding of the situation and left without further disturbing him.

Once Senba's receding figure disappeared from view, Murakami resumed his previous actions, carefully arranging the knives before him. Just then, a cough sounded.

"Uncle."

"Murakami, some customers have recently complained that the lamb you cut isn't even. Has your knife become seriously worn? After closing tonight, go to Master Tetzou and have it re-sharpened."

With that, Murakami's uncle turned and left, giving Murakami no chance to reply.

"Seriously worn?" Murakami reached out, picked up a small knife, and gently pressed his thumb against the blade's edge. A thin red line appeared. "There's no problem, is there? Could the customers have been mistaken?"

With that thought, Murakami shook his head. Since his uncle had said so, there was nothing he could do. Besides, he also had some knife techniques he wanted to ask the master about.

While Senba was back chatting with Teacher Genma, at the Senju Ancestral Home in Konohagakure, Senju Yunhua looked at his elder sister with a grave expression. A cold killing intent flickered across her aged face.

"Yunhua, Lord Slug has brought news of little Senba. Take people and bring the child back. Take my guards with you. Don't worry about me. If I die in Konoha, even Hiruzen will have to commit suicide to atone."

Looking at the intelligence in his hands, Senju Yunhua, usually composed, instantly had bloodshot eyes. The seventy-year-old elder trembled with anger.

"Sister, should these bastards be eradicated?"

"No," Senju Momoka, still maintaining her composure, stroked the little slug and rejected her brother's proposal. "The existence of Grass Ninjas to some extent alleviates the conflict between Konoha and Stone Ninja. Therefore, a severe blow is sufficient."

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, if you don't seize this opportunity, then you truly are unfit to remain Hokage."

As she spoke, the elder seemed to have exhausted her strength and lay back on the couch wearily. "We already failed Mito-sister with the destruction of the Uzumaki clan back then. We cannot turn a blind eye to the remaining Uzumaki clan members."

"Remember to bring people who are skilled in Water Release."

With a final instruction, Senju Momoka waved Yunhua away. She then entered a state of semi-sleep, seeming to see Mito Uzumaki with her red hair smiling at her.

I'm really getting old. In recent years, I've seen many old friends in my half-awake, half-dreaming state. How will I face them in the Pure Land in the future?

A sigh echoed in the silent room. Sensing the desolation in her companion's tone, the little slug crawled to her cheek and gently rubbed it in comfort.

That afternoon, Senju Yunhua, under the guise of paying a ceremonial visit to the Land of Fire's Daimyo, led a team out of Konohagakure. Since it was an annual required courtesy, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't think much of it and approved it immediately.

Unaware that his message had angered the two elders so much, Senba, at that moment, was handing his water flask to a gagging Iruka on the outskirts of Asakusa Town, helping him alleviate his stomach discomfort.

"Yue, according to your account, seventy percent of the deceased in the caravan died from a single stab wound?"

After examining the bodies of the deceased with Iruka, Uchiha Yue nodded lightly, recalling the situation.

"Although the bodies have started to decompose, the temperature is very low today, so the trajectory of the blade is still clear. The person who used the knife was skilled, but it's impossible to hit a vital spot with every single blow unless the deceased fell under an Illusion Technique and stood still."

"But the leader of the group was killed after a fight, so they couldn't have been under an illusion. Unless..."

"Unless there was a traitor mixed into their group, and not just one. The method, perhaps, was poison," Senba continued, picking up a nearby dry branch and drawing on the ground.

"So, to successfully complete a robbery, there are three aspects to consider. First, you need accurate sources of information."

Senba drew a circle on the ground, then a horizontal line to the right, and another circle. "Then, you need enough manpower to complete the task. These people might not be considered elites, but they must at least be people who know how to use knives; they can't be a disorganized mob."

"And there must be a link between these two to ensure there are no errors in their information." As he said this, Senba drew another circle above the horizontal line, then drew two branches connecting to the two circles below.

A triangle thus appeared before them. While Iruka was contemplating, Senba wrote their lunch spot inside the middle circle.

And at the information source, he wrote a name, leaving Uchiha Yue and Iruka looking at him in confusion. He's also part of this?

"The act of the thief crying 'stop thief' is quite common," Senba said meaningfully, recalling that plump face.

Genma Shiranui, standing nearby, yawned. He was idly watching the desolate wilderness, thinking that he would probably be able to return to Konoha soon.