Passing On The Message

"Tama should be here right now. I'll go look for him, but if you're in a hurry, I can relay your message to Lord Ryuzan." The staff member was extremely humble. Xing Ran noticed he wasn't wearing an Iwagakure forehead protector. He was an ordinary person without ninja talents, which explained why he was so cautious facing a ninja, even one from another village.

"No need to trouble Mr. Ryuzan. I just wanted to discuss matters regarding my audience with the Tsuchikage with Tama." As if I'd look for that scrawny middle-aged guy. He'd only be a hindrance if I'm trying to save Kabuto's life.

The staff member quickly left, and Xing Ran peacefully engaged with his fried noodles.

Just as Xing Ran was halfway through his plate of fried noodles, Kabuto appeared outside the door.

"You've arrived at the perfect time. Hmm, I have some details about meeting the Tsuchikage today that I need to ask you about. Hmm, this lobby isn't very convenient. Let's go for a walk in the courtyard ahead." Xing Ran finished the last two bites of food on his plate and, without waiting for Kabuto to speak, took the lead and headed outside.

Kabuto was puzzled. What did this Konoha ninja want with him? So annoying. All Konoha ninjas are annoying. I haven't seen Mama Nonō in years, and it's all Konoha ninjas' fault.

Kabuto cursed inwardly, but outwardly, he maintained his usual gentle, smiling demeanor, as if he were overjoyed to be of service to this Konoha ninja.

The front courtyard of the inn was not an ideal place for a secret conversation. However, there were many Iwagakure-style stone carvings. Xing Ran had noticed one sculpture early on. Due to its angle, it was perfectly hidden from the view of the main entrance and the lobby. As long as they were mindful of any potential observation from upstairs, it was a barely acceptable place for clandestine activities.

"I wanted to ask if you know anything about that female Anbu from yesterday? Don't misunderstand, I'm just... hmm, her hair color and the eyes I saw through her mask are very similar to mine. I'm just a little curious, hahaha." Xing Ran walked, leading Kabuto behind the stone carving. Along the way, to avoid suspicion, he asked seemingly unrelated questions, like a chuunibyo teenager looking for relatives.

"Hmm, that Anbu? Sorry, I don't know anything about her either." Kabuto's mind was about to explode. He was a ninja working for Konoha, but was the intelligence he risked his life for only to serve these idiots? It wasn't just that ninjas from the same village couldn't easily expose information; Anbu were kept secret even from their own comrades. What kind of education produced ninjas like you who went out on missions?

Just as Kabuto was struggling to contain his frustration, they arrived behind the stone carving. A small, tightly crumpled piece of paper was quickly stuffed into his hand. Judging by its weight, it contained a lot of information.

Kabuto's eyes flickered wildly before quickly returning to calm. Their movements didn't falter; it was as if they were just taking a normal stroll. Less than two seconds later, they emerged from behind the stone carving without breaking stride, continuing their walk and chat in the inn's front courtyard. Both acted as if nothing had happened, maintaining a facade of formal closeness mixed with unintentional distance.

Xing Ran asked about the customs and traditions of the Land of Earth and Iwagakure, as well as some fun places in Iwagakure. He even suggested that after meeting the Tsuchikage, they could take him and his companions around Iwagakure and buy some local specialties to take back.

Two hours later, the three-person Konoha delegation met the Third Tsuchikage, Two-Day Roc, Onoki. Xing Ran was surprised that Onoki already looked like he did during the Great Ninja Wars in the original story, just a bit younger, with some black hairs still visible in his beard.

The mission this time was for the Konoha Anbu duo to deliver a letter of state, clarifying the recent incident on the Konoha border. They stated that Konoha had determined the group involved were not genuine Iwagakure ninja or rogue ninja, but someone else entirely. Konoha did not reveal who, only emphasizing that peace between the two nations remained effective and that cooperation could be deepened.

Xing Ran's main task was to answer the Tsuchikage's questions. It wasn't complicated; he mainly had to explain the details of the annihilation. Xing Ran repeatedly emphasized that the enemy was very inept at Earth Style ninjutsu during the attack.

As for other leading questions, such as the enemy's proficiency in Water Release or the characteristics of the Night Moon clan on their skin, he said nothing.

This was something Yamaki Atsushi had stressed during their journey. The Hokage did not want the matter to escalate further.

Therefore, the entire explanation to the Tsuchikage focused on dispelling the suspicion of Iwagakure ninja.

Whether the Tsuchikage believed Konoha's story was of no concern to Xing Ran. The Tsuchikage was a shrewd man and would not easily initiate conflict, even if he suspected Konoha of staging the event.

The reason for the convoluted process was a matter of attitude: to convey Konoha's desire for peace with Iwagakure and show the sincerity of Konoha to the higher-ups and advisors of Iwagakure.

While Xing Ran was going through the motions of the mission, the Iwagakure ninja boy named "Tama" was in his small room, looking at the paper ball he had received from the Konoha ninja that morning.

The paper ball was carefully unfolded, and dense handwriting met Tama's eyes. The very first sentence made the eyes of the boy, who had extensive experience as a spy, contract sharply.

Kabuto. No one had called him by that name in a long time. Only his orphanage friends and a few people from Root knew that name. Was this Konoha ninja a member of Root? Was there another mission? Why didn't his usual contact reach out to him?

As time passed, Kabuto quickly finished reading the entire content. It wasn't a mission, but help from a kind person.

Everything I've worked for these past few years, the hardships I've endured to ease my adoptive mother's burden, were all lies. That despicable liar Danzo, and that blonde-haired, blue-eyed Anbu... yes, my adoptive mother has those features too. Is everything on this paper ball true? What are the intentions of this ninja named Yamanaka Xingran?

In the small room, suppressed roars and unwilling sobs could be faintly heard. He had been played for a fool for so many years, and his adoptive mother had been deceived just like him. Danzo even wanted them to kill each other. Unforgivable.

Kabuto wouldn't completely believe Xing Ran's words, but the situation described was highly plausible. Having been a spy in Root for so long, he was well aware of Root's methods. If his adoptive mother had been deceived like he was back then, then the situation described on the paper ball had a high probability of occurring.

Damn it, I need to find Nonō as soon as possible.

At noon, when the three-person Konoha delegation returned to the inn, the boy Tama, who had received them, had taken leave. No one knew what he had gone out to do.