First Arrival in Kirigakure!

Autumn, Year 34 of the Konoha Era. Konoha Jonin Jiogan, codenamed Ame in the Anbu, set off for Kirigakure to carry out an undercover infiltration mission.

"Kirigakure is located on the main island of the Land of Water, isolated overseas and shrouded in mist year-round. This has given rise to a vast number of Water Style ninjas. You could say that out of all the famous Water Style ninjas in the ninja world, Kirigakure accounts for eighty percent! I'm truly looking forward to this." At this moment, Jiogan was already aboard a ship heading toward the main island of the Land of Water.

This time, he was once again disguised as a merchant to board the ship, though he did not intend to use this identity to infiltrate Kirigakure.

Upon reaching the dock on the main island of the Land of Water, Jiogan immediately spotted a large number of Kirigakure ninjas, some visible and others hidden. "Ho, as expected of the Kirigakure stronghold! There are quite a lot of hidden ninjas here."

After checking into a hotel, Jiogan sensed that ninjas were already tailing him. They only withdrew after perceiving that he possessed no Chakra.

While Kirigakure's policies were indeed isolationist, they did not overly interfere with the normal commercial trade of ordinary people. After all, the Land of Water was isolated overseas, and many supplies were imported through trade with the outside world.

As for Jiogan, he had suppressed his Chakra through the power of the Qi in his Dantian. Even sensory ninjas were unable to detect his Chakra. This was one of the reasons why Jiogan had maintained a one-hundred-percent success rate on his missions over the years.

The next day, Jiogan joined a merchant caravan and took a carriage to leave the town where the dock was located, heading toward other towns within the main island.

Finding an opportunity, he slipped past the investigations of all the Kirigakure ninjas and made his way to the outskirts of Kirigakure, waiting for a chance to infiltrate.

Finally, he found his opening with a transport team heading near Kirigakure. The Kirigakure ninjas were transporting daily necessities, not any critical supplies, so the rank of the escort ninjas was not high; the leader was only a Chunin.

With Jiogan's strength, he easily evaded the sight of the escort ninjas and transformed himself into one of the many crates of supplies. At the same time, the presence of his Qi allowed him to pass through the Kirigakure Sensory Barrier with ease.

"With this shipment of daily supplies, our Terumi Clan will have enough to last half a year. Captain, I heard the Clan Head's daughter has been born! Will we have a chance to see her?" one of the escort ninjas asked.

"Indeed. The young lady should be meeting the clansmen during her full moon. At that time, they will also invite other ninja clans and friends in the village to attend the young lady's Full Moon Banquet. This shipment of supplies includes the items for the banquet," the leading Chunin replied.

Listening to the conversation between the escort ninjas, Jiogan thought, Oh? Are they ninjas from the Terumi Clan? This is the bloodline family that produced the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi!

The convoy headed toward the Terumi Clan compound, passing through two more rounds of inspections along the way.

"Damn, the inspections in Kirigakure are way too strict. Their reputation for being xenophobic is well-deserved! In Konoha, no one would conduct round after round of inspections like this for daily supplies," Jiogan muttered to himself.

Fortunately, there were no complications. The team had all the proper paperwork and belonged to the Terumi Clan, so after the routine procedures, the convoy drove into the Terumi Clan compound.

Once the leading Chunin finished handing over the goods to the steward, the escort team's mission ended, and they went off to their respective quarters to rest. The supplies, meanwhile, were handled by ordinary clansmen who moved them to their designated locations or warehouses.

Jiogan had already made up his mind to go undercover within the Terumi Clan.

For a long-term infiltration, Jiogan targeted an ordinary person who would not be sent out of the village on missions. Of course, ordinary people not only stayed within the village, but they even found it difficult to leave the clan compound.

For a typical undercover agent, this would certainly be unsuitable, but for Jiogan, who possessed the Qi Sensing Technique, whether he left the compound or not was irrelevant—in fact, it was actually quite safe!

After observing the Terumi Clan for a few days, Jiogan made his move on a young kitchen hand. He sealed the body in a scroll, transformed into the appearance of the kitchen hand, and began his life as an undercover agent.

"A Xin! Go serve the dishes! Don't delay the young lady's Full Moon Banquet! We have a lot of guests today!" The voice of Uncle Kang, the kitchen manager, rang out.

"Uncle Kang, I'm coming right away!" Jiogan responded and immediately went to work.

A Xin and Uncle Kang were both members of the kitchen staff. Uncle Kang was the manager and head chef, primarily responsible for the three meals of the Clan Head's family. Although they were all ordinary people without ninja talent, they were all collateral branches of the Terumi Clan bloodline and were highly trusted.

It is worth noting that not all descendants of bloodline families can awaken a Kekkei Genkai. Many do not even possess the talent for ninjutsu. A millennium has passed since the era of the Six Paths Sage, and the Sage's bloodline has long since become diluted and scattered throughout the ninja world.

Even the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan have a large number of members who are ordinary people.

In Kirigakure, the Terumi Clan is considered a quasi-first-rate bloodline family. Their ancestral Kekkei Genkai is Boil Release. Basically, every successive clan head has been a ninja who awakened Boil Release. Although they maintain a low profile and their fame does not match the Ice Release of the Yuki Clan, the Shikotsumyaku of the Kaguya Clan, or the Water Transformation of the Hozuki Clan, their strength should not be underestimated.

Inside the guest hall of the Terumi Clan, the current clan head, Miho Terumi, was entertaining guests. Today was the full moon banquet for the little princess of the Terumi Clan, and almost every clan in Kirigakure had sent direct family members to show their respect. Although the Third Mizukage did not attend in person, he sent a trusted subordinate to offer congratulations.

Jiogan, disguised as A Xin, was busy serving the guests, moving swiftly and efficiently. After finishing his work in the kitchen, Uncle Kang also came to the front hall to help with the service.

Once the serving was finished, the two retreated to the kitchen to rest. As for clearing the tables, that was not their concern; other service staff would handle it. Their only responsibilities were cooking and serving the food.

"Ouch, there are so many people today! I've worked the spatula until it's smoking! I'm exhausted! A Xin, you go ahead and clean up the kitchen. I'm going to go rest for a bit and catch my breath," Uncle Kang said to Jiogan.

"Understood! Go ahead and rest, Uncle Kang! Leave the rest to me," Jiogan nodded in agreement.

Uncle Kang nodded and returned to his room, while Jiogan turned back to the kitchen to thoroughly clean it.

The highest realm of acting is to truly become the character. At this moment, Jiogan was no longer Jiogan; he was the kitchen hand, A Xin.

After quickly finishing the cleaning, Jiogan also returned to his room to rest. Although the room was not large, the decor was simple and elegant, very much in the style of the Terumi Clan. "As expected of a major clan in Kirigakure, even the rooms for ordinary members are quite refined," Jiogan sighed.

After a simple wash, Jiogan lay down on his futon, appearing as if he had fallen asleep.

In reality, Jiogan had already activated his Qi Sensing Technique to scout the situation at the banquet in the guest hall.

At this point, the banquet in the guest hall was nearing its end. The surrounding security remained extremely tight, which made Jiogan nod involuntarily. "The guards of the Terumi Clan are very thorough. Even for someone with Kage-level strength, an assassination attempt would be difficult to pull off. This is the foundation of a great clan!"