In the autumn of Konoha Year 34, Konoha Jonin Jiogan, Anbu codename Ame, headed to 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 all year round. That's why it has produced so many Water Release ninja. You could say that Kirigakure alone accounts for eighty percent of the famous Water Release ninja in the Ninja World! I'm really looking forward to this!" At that moment, Jiogan was already aboard a ship bound for the Land of Water's main island.
This time, he was once again posing as a merchant to board the ship, but he had no intention of infiltrating Kirigakure under that identity!
Upon arriving at the port on the Land of Water's main island, Jiogan spotted a large number of Kirigakure ninja, both in the open and in hiding. "Hah, as expected of Kirigakure's headquarters! There are quite a lot of hidden ninja here!"
After checking into an inn, Jiogan sensed that ninja had already begun watching him. Only after they sensed no Chakra from him did they withdraw!
Kirigakure's policies were certainly closed-off, but it did not interfere too heavily with ordinary people's normal trade. After all, the Land of Water was isolated overseas, and many supplies had to be imported through outside trade!
Jiogan had hidden his Chakra through the effect of qi in his Dantian! Even Sensor Ninja could not sense his Chakra! This was one of the reasons his mission success rate had remained one hundred percent over the years!
The next day, Jiogan joined a merchant caravan and left the port town by carriage, heading toward other towns deeper within the main island.
Finding an opportunity to evade the detection of all Kirigakure ninja, Jiogan made his way outside Kirigakure and waited for a chance to infiltrate!
At last, he found an opportunity with an escort convoy close to Kirigakure. The Kirigakure ninja were transporting daily necessities rather than any important supplies, so the escort ninja were not of particularly high rank. Their leader was only a Chunin.
With Jiogan's strength, he easily avoided the escort ninja's notice and transformed into one of the many daily supplies. At the same time, the presence of qi allowed him to effortlessly pass the inspection of Kirigakure's Sensory Barrier!
"This shipment of daily supplies will be enough for our Terumi Clan for half a year. Captain, I heard the clan head's daughter has been born! Will we get a chance to see her?" one of the escort ninja asked.
"Yeah. The young lady should meet the clan members when she reaches her first month. At that time, other ninja clans and friends from the village will also be invited to attend her Full Moon Banquet. This shipment includes supplies for the banquet!" the leading Chunin said.
Listening to the escort ninja's conversation, Jiogan thought, Oh? They're ninja from the Terumi Clan? This is the bloodline clan that produced the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi!
The convoy headed toward the Terumi Clan's compound, undergoing another two rounds of inspection along the way.
"Damn, Kirigakure's inspections are way too strict. Their reputation for being hostile to outsiders is well deserved! In Konoha, no one would inspect ordinary supplies like this again and again!" Jiogan complained.
Fortunately, nothing went wrong. The convoy had all the proper documents and belonged to the Terumi Clan. After the routine procedures, it entered the Terumi Clan compound.
After the Chunin in charge of the escort handed everything over to the steward, the escort team's mission was over, and they returned to their rooms to rest. The supplies, meanwhile, were carried by ordinary clan members to their designated locations or storehouses.
Jiogan had already made up his mind to hide within the Terumi Clan!
For a long-term infiltration, Jiogan set his sights on ordinary people who would not leave the village to carry out missions. Of course, not only would such ordinary people not leave the village, they would find it difficult even to leave the clan compound.
For an ordinary spy, this definitely would not have been suitable. But for Jiogan, who possessed the Qi Sensing Technique, whether he could leave the compound or not did not matter. On the contrary, it made him safer!
After observing the Terumi Clan in hiding for several days, Jiogan made his move on a young kitchen worker. He sealed the corpse into a scroll, transformed into the worker's appearance, and began his life as an undercover agent!
"A Xin! Hurry up and serve the dishes! Don't delay the young lady's Full Moon Banquet! There are a lot of guests today!" Uncle Kang's voice rang out from the kitchen.
"Uncle Kang, I'm coming!" Jiogan answered, immediately getting to work!
A Xin and Uncle Kang were both kitchen staff. Uncle Kang was the kitchen manager and head chef, primarily responsible for the clan head's family's three daily meals. Although they were ordinary people without ninja talent, they were both collateral blood relatives of the Terumi Clan and were greatly trusted!
It was worth mentioning that not every descendant of a bloodline clan could awaken a Kekkei Genkai. Many did not even possess the talent to become ninja. From the era of the Sage of Six Paths until now, a thousand years had passed. The Sage Bloodline had long since become diluted and scattered throughout the entire Ninja World!
Even the Senju Clan and Uchiha Clan had large numbers of ordinary clan members!
Within Kirigakure, the Terumi Clan could be considered a near first-rate bloodline clan. Their inherited Kekkei Genkai was Boil Release, and nearly every clan head had been a ninja who awakened Boil Release. Though they kept a low profile and were less famous than the Yuki Clan's Ice Release, the Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku, and the Hozuki Clan's Water Transformation, their strength was not to be underestimated!
Inside the Terumi Clan's reception hall, the current clan head, Miho Terumi, was entertaining the guests. It was the Full Moon Banquet for the Terumi Clan's little princess, and nearly every clan in Kirigakure had sent direct-line members to show their regard! Although the Third Mizukage had not come in person, he had sent a trusted subordinate to offer congratulations!
Disguised as A Xin, Jiogan was currently serving food to the guests. He was extremely busy, working with both hands and feet. After Uncle Kang finished his work in the kitchen, he also came to the front hall to help serve the dishes.
After the food had been served, the two returned to the kitchen to rest. Clearing the dishes was not their responsibility; other attendants would handle that. The two only needed to cook and serve the food!
"Ah, there were so many people today! This old man's spatula nearly caught fire from all the stirring! I'm exhausted! A Xin, clean up the kitchen a little more. This old man will go rest and catch his breath first!" Uncle Kang said to Jiogan.
"Alright! Uncle Kang, go get some rest! Leave the rest to me!" Jiogan nodded in agreement.
Uncle Kang nodded and returned to his room, while Jiogan turned and went into the kitchen, thoroughly cleaning the place!
The highest realm of acting was to truly become the role! That was Jiogan at that moment. He was no longer Jiogan—he was A Xin, a kitchen worker!
Before long, Jiogan finished cleaning and returned to his own room to rest. Though the room was not large, its decor was simple and elegant, full of the Terumi Clan's style. "As expected of a major Kirigakure clan. Even the rooms where ordinary clan members live are so refined," Jiogan sighed.
After washing up, Jiogan lay down on his floor bedding, seemingly asleep and resting.
In truth, Jiogan had already used the Qi Sensing Technique to investigate the situation at the banquet in the reception hall!
By then, the banquet in the reception hall had entered its final stage. Security around the area remained extremely tight, making Jiogan nod to himself. "The Terumi Clan's defenses are solid. Even someone with Kage-level strength would find it difficult to succeed in an assassination! This is the foundation of a major clan!"
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