Land of Rice Fields

Although the Land of Rice Fields bordered the Land of Fire, its geographical location was quite favorable. It was also a major grain-producing nation, and its people enjoyed relatively prosperous lives.

To the north lay the sea; to the west was the Land of Iron, a permanently neutral nation; and to the east was the Land of Hot Water, known as the land of hot springs.

Although the conflict between the Lands of Fire and Lightning continued, it had not spread to the Land of Rice Fields.

Furthermore, the Land of Rice Fields had established Otogakure some time ago and swept away all the wandering ninja within its borders.

This had made the Land of Rice Fields peaceful and tranquil.

At least, on the surface.

Yan did not sneak out of the village this time. Holding the Hokage's written order, he was allowed through directly after the border ninja inspected it.

After crossing the border, he had officially set foot on the soil of the Land of Rice Fields.

It was rather strange.

Although the Land of Rice Fields had established a ninja village and cleared out the rogue ninja within its territory, they had not stationed any ninja at the borders.

Thus, Yan reached a city in the central part of the Land of Rice Fields without much effort, encountering no obstruction along the way.

As far as the eye could see, golden wheat fields stretched outside the city, where many civilians bent over with sickles in hand, harvesting the crops.

Yan smiled and rubbed Kabuto's head beside him, then strode inside as he spoke.

"We're not far from Otogakure now. We'll rest in the city tonight and continue our journey tomorrow!"

"Yes, Lord Yan!"

The five children answered in unison and followed Yan into the city.

Perhaps because it was close to the ninja village, this city was not large, yet it had quite a sizable population.

The streets were bustling. Pedestrians crowded the roads, vendors' cries rose and fell, and all manner of goods dazzled the eye.

Yan slowly walked down the street with the five children.

The children curiously looked around. Even the relatively mature Kabuto and Itachi were no exception.

There were fewer people here than in Konoha, and the goods were not as plentiful either. But this was their first time coming to another country, and some of them had never even left the village before. Naturally, everything around them felt fresh and novel.

Yan smiled faintly at the expressions on the children's faces.

"You can go look around on your own. If there's anything you like, come get money from me. No need to be polite!"

"Really?" Naruki was thrilled, his large eyes sparkling.

"Go on." Yan nodded with a smile. "After all, you'll be living hard lives soon enough. I should give you some compensation."

"Yay!"

Naruki and two other children cheered, then ran toward the snack stalls around them.

Kabuto and Itachi remained where they were.

Kabuto watched Naruki and the others weave through the crowd, his gaze gentle as it followed them, like an older brother watching younger siblings who loved to play.

Itachi, meanwhile, kept a stern face and stood motionless behind Yan.

Yan rubbed Kabuto and Itachi's heads. "You two aren't going? You might not get another chance like this later."

Kabuto shook his head, the gentle smile never leaving his face.

"No need, Lord Yan. Let Naruki and the others have fun. I'll keep an eye on them!"

"Me too," Itachi added. "We're ninja. We should be strict with ourselves and not be tempted by everything in the outside world."

Yan's mouth twitched. Looking down at the two children acting like little adults, he said, "Fine, then keep watch over Naruki and the others. I'll find somewhere to rest first. When they're tired of playing, come find me."

As he spoke, he took several large bills from his pocket and handed them separately to Kabuto and Itachi.

"Yes!"

The two answered at the same time. After accepting the money, they ran in Naruki and the others' direction without asking Yan where he would be resting, as though they could find him whenever they wanted.

What naive children.

Watching their retreating backs, Yan helplessly shook his head before turning and leaving in another direction.

At noon the next day.

Yan woke from his sleep.

He had rested very late the night before, so he had gotten up late as well.

It was not because he had been doing anything improper. Training and keeping an eye on those little brats had taken up a great deal of time.

As for how they had found Yan's lodging the previous night—

Perhaps Kabuto and Itachi had intended to train Naruki and the others, so they had followed from afar without showing themselves.

Only when Naruki and the others still had not found the place late at night did they finally appear and lead them there.

Yet they had not expected that even they themselves could not find it.

They circled the city again and again until Naruki and the others were utterly dumbfounded, tears gradually welling up in their eyes.

At that moment, Kabuto and Itachi seemed to realize what was happening. They could only sigh helplessly and continue onward.

Then, for no apparent reason, they arrived at Yan's temporary lodging.

After each choosing a room, they fell into a deep sleep.

Yan, too, closed his eyes in satisfaction.

After Yan washed up with Water Release and stepped out of his room, Kabuto and the others had already prepared lunch and seemed to be about to call him.

Yan took the bowl Itachi handed him, sat down, and began eating in big mouthfuls as he asked, "Aren't you tired? Getting up so early!"

Itachi shook his head. "As a ninja..."

"Alright, alright!" Yan immediately cut him off. He did not want to hear a lecture while eating!

As Kabuto served Yan some food, he smiled and said, "I'm used to getting up early!"

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Yan led the five children out of the city.

Otogakure was no longer far away. At Yan's command, Kabuto and the others began running at full speed toward their destination.

As the scenery around them sped backward, in just over two hours, Otogakure...

was there.

"Stop! Who are you?"

Just as Yan caught sight of Otogakure and prepared to walk in, several ninja wearing musical-note forehead protectors suddenly leaped out from the nearby forest and blocked their path.

At the sight of those Otogakure ninja, Kabuto and Itachi immediately drew kunai and assumed fighting stances.

Naruki and the others beside them did the same.

Their little faces were extremely serious, their gazes fixed tightly on the ninja.

Yan placed his hands on Kabuto and Itachi's shoulders, signaling for them to calm down. Then he looked up at the Otogakure ninja and said, "I'm here to see Orochimaru."

The leading Otogakure ninja's pupils constricted, his expression filled with shock.

How did he know Lord Orochimaru was here?

His grip around his kunai tightened slightly as he denied it.

"You mean Orochimaru, Konoha's rogue ninja? We don't have anyone like that here. Please leave!"

Yan smiled and shook his head. "Since I came here, I naturally know Orochimaru is here. Hurry up and take me to him."

"Tell him Konoha's future Hokage has come to see him!"

As soon as those words fell, the atmosphere around them instantly became strange.

The future Hokage? Coming to see the rogue ninja Orochimaru?

The leading Otogakure ninja did not fully understand, but he understood one thing.

Konoha's pursuers had arrived!

"Attack!"

With a loud shout, the Otogakure ninja hurled a shuriken straight at Yan.

The surrounding ninja hurriedly followed suit.

For a moment, multiple shuriken flew at Yan and the others like a swarm of locusts.