Merchant Ship!

"Hmph, you're quite lucky to be alive."

Inside the hollow tree, Kusama Shigeo was treating my lower leg. The wound felt numb and itchy, slowly knitting itself back together as time passed.

He already knew about the Chakra Spider Silk. Even though he had been saved by Hyuga Makoto, he was still harboring a belly full of resentment.

"I'm fine now. Go treat the captain." I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked at the wound on my leg; only a faint scar remained.

As much as I disliked him, Kusama Shigeo's medical ninjutsu was undeniably effective.

Watching the pale green glow, I suddenly remembered what Fugaku had told me when he was introducing the various clans of Konoha. It seemed the Kusama Clan had joined Konoha later than most. After their arrival, the medical department had undergone several reforms, absorbing many medical ninjas from the Kusama Clan, which was how they had managed to secure a firm foothold in the village.

Looking at it this way, the Kusama Clan was indeed a capable family; at the very least, they were worthy of being called a "rising star."

"Does the captain still need my treatment?" Once he finished with me, Kusama Shigeo withdrew his hand. As he looked toward Hyuga Makoto, the light on his palms extinguished naturally.

"Since he is a Jonin, he shouldn't need the help of Genin like us, right?"

I looked up. Hyuga Makoto was sitting quietly at the entrance of the tree hollow. He had already removed his Military Headquarters harness, revealing his upper body wrapped in blood-stained bandages. His white eyes were fixed silently on the dark night outside. The wound he had sustained to save me still stretched across his cheek, the blood on his mask already dried and crusted.

"Captain, I—" I wobbled to my feet, wanting to go over and help, but Hyuga Makoto suddenly spoke up:

"Once we finish resting, we continue moving."

He didn't even glance at us, his gaze remaining fixed on the outside. His tone was as cold as ever, sounding like a command.

"..." Both Kusama Shigeo and I wore expressions of disbelief.

Traveling at night was always a taboo, and after just experiencing the Chakra Spider Silk, moving forward now was no different than walking blindly through a forest filled with traps.

Kusama Shigeo looked back at me, and I looked at him. As we locked eyes, neither of us voiced any opposition.

Because time was tight.

The deadline set by our teacher was ten days. One day had already passed, and we were still lingering on land; it was impossible not to feel anxious.

"Since that's the case—"

Kusama Shigeo let out a cold snort and was the first to climb out of the tree hollow.

"Then let's keep moving. It's not like I'm the one who's injured."

He stepped onto the tree trunk triumphantly, taking advantage of the moonlight to look down at us from above.

"Some people had better not come begging me for help when they step on a trap and can't walk anymore!"

"I won't help you!"

I frowned, finding myself disliking Kusama Shigeo even more.

Medical ninjas were supposed to save the dying and heal the wounded, usually possessing a heart for the world and kindness toward others. But him?

Petty, vindictive, and constantly looking for trouble—he was a small-minded man through and through!

Taking advantage of the moment Kusama Shigeo left, I walked over to Hyuga Makoto and took a few pills from my ninja pouch, handing them to him.

"Captain, these are for stopping bleeding and relieving pain. You can apply them to your wounds. I have plenty more; please, take these."

He shifted, his white eyes moving to my palm. He paused for a moment, then turned his head away and said coldly, "I don't need them."

He stood up and walked away.

Fortunately, the rest of the journey went smoothly.

Because the Land of Bears was relatively small and we had entered not far from the coast, we reached the edge of the forest before dawn.

The moment we rushed out of the forest, an endless expanse of sea lay before us.

From here on, we would have to take a boat.

The sea breeze blew in waves. The sun had yet to rise, and the surface of the sea was a deep blue-purple, rippling like silk. The sky was dark and profound, with a faint white line separating the sea from the heavens.

A single pair of eyes could never fully contain such a vast expanse of sky and water.

The sight was so broad and deep that both Kusama Shigeo and I were left stunned.

I suddenly felt happy, filled with anticipation for the journey ahead. I even fantasized about bringing Kuixing and little Itachi here to see it one day!

They would definitely love it!

As I was admiring the scenery, I suddenly felt a shadow move behind me. I turned to look and saw a figure standing on a reef, gazing out at the sea. His silhouette was so ethereal it seemed to melt into the wind.

I froze.

Sunlight broke through the clouds, casting a golden glow. The boy's eyes looked even more transparent, his black hair dancing in the wind. Between the black and white, something seemed to be surging—much like the Gentle Fist of the Hyuga Clan, a sharp, explosive power hidden beneath a slender, calm frame. From afar, it looked like a calm river and a wide sea, but up close, white waves were churning.

It was just like the ocean.

I was almost dazed, and it took a long time for me to come back to my senses, unable to help but chuckle.

Should I say it was to be expected of the Hyuga Clan?

Even without seeing his face, he possessed an air of true nobility.

"We board the ship from the east."

"Yes, Captain!" I quickly replied and jumped onto the reef to follow him. Meanwhile, Kusama Shigeo made a "tsk tsk tsk" sound for a long time, still mocking in a shrill, sarcastic tone: "Yes~~ Captain~~"

Lunatic!

Seeing that we remained unmoved, he grew even more arrogant, his mouth running incessantly: "Tsk tsk, the Byakugan is just so useful. No time to even rest; it only took a day and a night to get on a boat."

"Hmph..." I mimicked his tone to mock him back: "Indeed. If we had let someone else lead the way, perhaps we would have already arrived at Sunagakure by now."

"You!"

I ignored him and followed closely behind Hyuga Makoto, running across the beach, feeling the incoming sea breeze—damp, slightly cold, and refreshing!

An entirely different atmosphere.

Truly worthy of being the great ocean; it really is nothing but water!

After running for a while, as we drew closer to the shore, I saw rows of large ships in the rising morning mist, looming like small mountains. There were many guards standing watch along the coast, as well as commoners boarding the vessels, which made me instantly excited!

A boat, we're going to ride a boat!

We approached along the jagged coastline, and as the crowd came into clearer view, we hid beneath a reef.

"Senior, which boat are we taking?" I peeked out from behind the rock, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Hyuga Makoto said nothing. He first activated his Byakugan to observe the situation by the sea for a moment, then took a scroll from his ninja pouch and broke the seal with a hand sign.

With a bang, three garments appeared in his hands.

"We are taking a merchant ship."

He dropped this bombshell in a calm tone.

"What did you say? A merchant ship?!" Sure enough, Kusama Shigeo exploded. "What do you mean? Are you saying we have to ride that crowded, broken-down tub?" He was practically going crazy—"We're going to the Land of Water to carry out a mission, and we don't even have our own boat? Is the Military Headquarters really that stingy?"

Hyuga Makoto offered no explanation; he didn't even lift his eyes. He simply handed a white garment to me and commanded, "Put it on."

"What is this?" I took it, puzzled, and discovered it was a tattered cloak, complete with a hood.

Hyuga Makoto tossed a gray one to Kusama Shigeo, completely ignoring his livid expression, and donned the final black cloak himself.

"The route runs every five days. Decide for yourselves."

In just a few breaths, Hyuga Makoto was fully dressed. In his black traveler's attire, complete with a pack he'd produced from nowhere, he looked exactly like a youth making a living by the sea! At a glance, he was indistinguishable from the people boarding the ships.

This is actually interesting!

"I'll go with you, Senior." I didn't hesitate for a second and immediately put on the clothes. "I'm here to complete a mission, not to enjoy myself."

"You—!"

Kusama Shigeo's fists clenched until they creaked. I thought he would explode, but to my surprise, after glaring at us for a long time, he forced himself to endure it. He even stepped forward, grabbed my clothes, and gritted his teeth: "I won't lose to you, brat!" He then snatched up the cloak and quickly put it on!

I had no time to bicker with him. At this moment, the shouts of sailors and the sound of anchors being raised were already drifting across the sea. My original clothes were already a bit large, and adding another layer made me fumble in a panic. Just as I was about to pull up the hood, a hand suddenly reached over, moved to the back of my head, and gave a gentle tug, causing my hair to fall loose and cover half my face.

I was stunned, realizing only a beat too late that my hair tie had been undone.

"Senior, what are you doing?"

The hand's movements didn't stop. The youth's fingers brushed through my hair, then descended to my ear, leaving a trail of cold. His pure white pupils shifted over me, seemingly in deep thought.

"What is it, Senior?" I stammered, nervous and afraid to move, fearing there was something wrong with my attire, so I stood at attention.

He scanned me up and down, frowning as if unsatisfied, then shifted his gaze to the beach and scooped up a handful of mud and sand.

"Close your eyes."

I obeyed. The moment I shut my eyes, a coarse, icy chill hit my face and body. That hand wiped across my face, smearing me with a face full of mud!

Ughhhhhhh, what is he doing?!

Seeing this, Kusama Shigeo nearby sneered, took some muddy water himself, and splashed it over his own body, turning into a mud-man in no time.

"Let's go."

Muddy water had seeped into my eyes, and my hair was wet and sticking to my face, making me incredibly uncomfortable. Just as I was rubbing my eyes, before I could react, my right hand was grabbed, and I was dragged straight toward the cargo ship by the sea.

Wait, are we just going over like this?? I'm not ready yet!

"Hey, who are you people! Where did you come from?"

Before we even reached the hull, several guards approached with weapons in hand. I was incredibly nervous and instinctively gripped the Murasame hidden inside my cloak, but then I heard a clear, bright voice from above.

"We are the children of fishermen. Our father went out to sea and never returned, so we want to go to the Land of Water to find our only remaining kin."

Hearing this, I was left dumbfounded.

I really couldn't tell—you kid have a whole repertoire of lies! And you spout them off without a second thought! Truly worthy of being one of Orochimaru's subordinates!

Beside me, Hyuga Boy chatted with them calmly. After only a sentence or two, the cold, rigid atmosphere began to thaw, and they even started to warm up, losing that "strangers keep away" air entirely.

In the gaps of their conversation, I looked up secretly along the hand that was holding mine. I could see a sliver of his jawline, and amidst the sound of the crashing waves, hearing the faint murmur of their talk, I felt inexplicably at ease.

"You said that one is your younger brother, then who is this child?"

I was shrinking back in a daze when a broad palm patted my shoulder, signaling me to look up.

"This is my younger sister."

The cold, clear voice carried a note of certainty. As soon as I heard those words, the corners of my mouth twitched uncontrollably. However, with several people gathered before me, I had no choice but to blink my eyes in feigned ignorance, lift my head before the group of adults, and slowly shuffle back behind my brother, hiding away in fear.

"Apologies, she is a bit timid."

Seeing my behavior, the lingering hesitation in the eyes of the guards dissipated, replaced by a different emotion—one filled with pity.

"It really hasn't been easy," the lead man said, reaching out to pat my head. "To have gone through such things at such a young age... it's truly pitiful."

"Forget it, you may go aboard."

Hearing those words, my eyes widened in shock.

Suc, success?

It was really that easy?

Without losing a single soldier or drawing a weapon, just by saying a few words, we had managed to snag three tickets?

This left me, who had been fully prepared for a fight, feeling utterly bewildered.

"You will take this ship. It's a merchant vessel bound for the Land of Water. There are many people on board, so no one will notice you." After saying this, the man patted Hyuga Makoto on the shoulder and urged, "You are the pillar of your family; you must take good care of your younger brother and sister."

"Yes, sir. Thank you very much."

The man nodded and turned to whisper something to his subordinates. They all nodded in agreement, and one female guard even stepped forward to gently comb through my hair, picking out clumps of mud.

The more she tidied, the gentler her movements became, yet I grew increasingly stiff, terrified that my true identity would be discovered.

At that time, I still hadn't fully grasped the power of the Uchiha clan's looks.

I had no idea that even covered in mud and sporting a bird's nest for hair, the beauty of the Uchiha clan still shone through—it was practically a "get-out-of-jail-free" card!

And just like that, with a heart full of disbelief, I lowered my head and, resigning myself to fate, tugged on the clothes of my two 'brothers' and joined the boarding line under their pitying gazes!