The Shrine Maiden of the Land of Demons

Konoha, Hokage Building.

Most of the ninjas present hadn't noticed the Anbu hidden nearby.

The two ninjas standing next to the shadows had nearly been scared to death when the Anbu suddenly appeared.

The white-clad Anbu were all elite jonin from the village, skilled in various assassination techniques and able to conceal their presence.

Even Uchiha Itachi couldn't detect this person without any movement to give him away. However, the Sharingan could pick up other signs, so a sneak attack probably wouldn't work.

But none of these concealment techniques worked on Baiyu.

The Mind's Eye was a pair of discerning eyes that could perceive the essence of all living beings. No emotional fluctuation could escape its scrutiny.

Although this Anbu's evasion techniques were superb, even the slightest flicker of emotion couldn't escape Baiyu's notice.

That was how Baiyu knew that this person had been following him ever since his battle with Jiraiya.

This ninja was completely unlike the Anbu who had followed him before. He operated alone and wore a white coat over the distinctive armor of the Anbu. A hood covered his head, concealing his entire figure.

Only a painted mask was visible.

Confident in his own abilities, this Anbu had dared to get so close to his target.

When Baiyu saw through him, the Anbu had clearly been stunned for quite a while. Only after he recovered did he slowly step out.

Ignoring the stunned onlookers, Baiyu followed the Anbu to the Hokage's office.

At the door, the white-clad Anbu knocked softly and announced, "Lord Hokage, Uchiha Shiraha requests an audience!"

"Let him in!"

The Third's voice came from inside. Baiyu pushed open the door and entered.

A beautiful woman was seated at the Hokage's desk. When she saw Baiyu and Itachi walk in, she glanced at them in surprise.

"What do you need?"

the Third asked. Baiyu had just been promoted to jonin, so he assumed Fugaku had called him in for a talk.

Every jonin was a pillar of the village, and jonin from each clan held a certain status.

Even a jonin leading a team could bring a clan several promising young talents.

Other jonin could take on important posts throughout the village.

Every jonin was a valuable asset to the village.

"To take a mission. What else would I be here for?"

Baiyu replied casually. The Third seemed to be meeting with an important guest, but that had nothing to do with him.

"A mission? Your team was just formed. You should take some easier missions to start with. There are plenty of suitable ones downstairs."

The Third offered. New teams usually took on minor missions to get used to working together.

"The pay's too low."

Baiyu replied. What was the point of taking missions if they paid so little and offered no experience?

He had worked hard to become a jonin because he wanted access to high-paying, high-risk S-rank missions with big rewards.

"Who are they?"

The elegant woman, who had been sitting quietly to the side, suddenly spoke.

"Oh? They're newly promoted jonin from the village, currently assigned to the same team."

The Third explained.

The woman stood and walked over to Baiyu, smiling as she said, "Are you looking for a high-paying mission? I happen to be looking for some guards."

The Third spoke up. "I'm afraid Konoha can't get involved in your country's affairs."

The woman furrowed her brows and said softly, "We can pay a great deal."

"Who are you?"

At the mention of a great deal of money, Baiyu's eyes lit up and he asked.

The Third's expression tightened. He glanced at Baiyu.

"Konoha may not be able to take this mission, Baiyu."

"My name is Miroku, the shrine maiden of the Land of Demons. A group of ninjas is currently on the run within our borders. I hope Konoha can send ninjas to hunt them down."

Miroku hurriedly explained. The Third had treated her with great courtesy, but no matter what she said, he refused to get involved in the Land of Demons' affairs.

"The Land of Demons lies between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, several countries away from Konoha. If we ignore our relations with those countries and send ninjas to the Land of Demons, it could lead to a misunderstanding. Shrine Maiden Miroku, you'd be better off visiting Sunagakure and Iwagakure."

The Third explained the difficulties and risks the village faced.

"The Land of Demons is neutral, and we have good relations with our neighbors. I guarantee this won't lead to war. Third, the sealed demon that once threatened our country has been stirring lately. I suspect the rogue ninjas causing trouble within our borders are responsible. If the seal breaks, the world could be destroyed in an instant."

Miroku continued. When she spoke of the demon calamity of the past, it was something that had once been little more than a rumor in the Shinobi World.

Now that the shrine maiden of the Land of Demons had said it herself, the Third sensed that the situation might be serious.

There was a trace of information about the legendary demon in Konoha's records.

The Land of Demons held a very unusual position on the continent. It was ruled by shrine maidens and had no daimyo, so its relations with other countries were unremarkable.

It also had no organization like a ninja village, so its strength was limited. It survived precariously between two great nations.

Hearing Miroku's name reminded Baiyu of something.

The demon Moryo!

A monster that would eventually be defeated by Shion and Naruto. It seemed to be... a spiritual entity?

It also commanded a large army of Ghost Soldiers, an Undead Legion...

Were the rogue ninjas causing trouble now the precursors to that group from the future?

Hearing Miroku's name had made Baiyu think of all sorts of things.

Itachi, sensing that something was wrong, asked, "Is that demon powerful?"

"It's a Tailed Beast without a tail."

Baiyu quietly explained to Itachi.

Moryo was a demon spirit that only a shrine maiden could seal.

But Baiyu thought of something else: he had poison-making skills that could counter spiritual beings and demons.

And poison could kill large numbers of enemies across a wide area in battle...

"Could Moryo's army of the dead earn me a Draw-Sword Technique reward?"

With that in mind, Baiyu decided to accept the mission.

"Third..."

Baiyu looked at the Third. This was indeed a troublesome matter. According to the story, Miroku would give up her life during the sealing to buy a period of peace.

It wouldn't be until the Child of Prophecy came along that the matter would be settled, thanks to the protagonist's plot armor.

Given Moryo's nature, it could never truly die. It had a natural enemy, but could only be sealed.

Now, Baiyu had decided to go.

The Third saw what Baiyu meant. After thinking for a moment, he tapped the desk and said, "If the demon really exists, this is indeed a serious matter. The Land of Demons..."

"The Land of Demons can pay fifty million ryo to hire Konoha's ninjas as guards."

Miroku said.

"Fifty million?"

The Third asked without changing his expression.

"That's the first installment."

Miroku lowered her brows as she replied.

The Land of Demons was small, and fifty million was already a huge sum. The entire country's savings were probably less than those of a single wealthy clan in Konoha.

"Then Baiyu and Itachi can go. Escort the shrine maiden of the Land of Demons back home and clear out the rogue ninjas within its borders."

The Third finally nodded in agreement.

The mission was settled. Miroku nodded and said, "I'll need a day to prepare."

"Of course... No problem."

Miroku had initially doubted Baiyu and Itachi's abilities, but after seeing the Third assign them to the mission, she didn't press the matter.

Having anyone willing to take the mission was already a stroke of luck.