First Arrival in the Land of Fire

"Splash..."

Another wave of seawater slammed against the hull, and Qi, sitting in the cabin, was starting to feel nauseous just from the sound of it.

Qi had traveled by boat in his past life, but those were on lakes or, at most, rivers; sailing on the vast ocean was an entirely different matter.

If it weren't for the fact that this current body of his was fairly well-conditioned, he would have been vomiting since day one.

The Land of Water was tucked away in a corner, surrounded by sea on all sides and filled with numerous large islands. The ship had been stopping and starting for over a month, yet they hadn't even covered half the distance.

It was just... so boring.

Consequently, practicing the Water Release ninjutsu he had obtained from Unma became the main focus of Qi's daily life.

Aside from that, there was nothing else for him to do; it wasn't as if he could practice taijutsu on a boat...

As for Ogata, the man had seemed like a different person these past few days, remaining silent the entire time.

They didn't need to worry about steering the ship; although there were no other passengers, Unma hadn't been so negligent as to not arrange for a boatman. After all, between the two of them, who would even know how to sail?

Master hasn't spoken much lately; he's probably thinking about that man named Unma. Despite his cold words, that man is a person of deep sentiment. I owe him a debt...

Watching Ogata snoring nearby, Qi fell into deep thought.

For Unma to let them go so easily and even provide a ship—even as the head of the Anbu, the "price" he would have to pay upon returning to the village would certainly be heavy.

The rules of the ninja villages were incredibly strict. Even someone as formidable as the White Fang of the Leaf had been driven to suicide for a single mistake, let alone an act like openly releasing an enemy.

If we meet again... will there even be a next time? To have a brother-in-arms like that, what more could one ask for!

Qi blinked and reopened the scroll Unma had given him.

Each of the Five Great Ninja Villages had its own strengths in ninjutsu. For instance, the Fire Release of the Uchiha Clan in Konoha was famous throughout the ninja world, while the Kirigakure ninjas were naturally skilled in Water Release.

Being "skilled" didn't just mean having many techniques. The same Fire Release jutsu would simply be more powerful when used by an Uchiha; likewise, the Kirigakure ninjas possessed their own unique advantages in the execution and application of Water Release.

Except for the Second Hokage of Konoha, it seemed no one had ever surpassed Kirigakure in Water Release, and that was saying nothing of the others.

What Unma gave Qi was exactly this kind of knowledge. Although Qi possessed the secret techniques of the Yuki Clan, the Yuki's Water Release was powerful only because it was built upon their bloodline limit. Kirigakure, however, had perfected Water Release without relying on bloodline limits, and Qi naturally stood to benefit more from that.

The pity was that Kirigakure didn't have much insight into Wind Release, and it was impossible for Qi to obtain the unique knowledge of the Sunagakure ninjas. He would just have to hope for a chance to learn it elsewhere in the future—Konoha would be best, though he deeply doubted he had the luck for that.

To put it bluntly, he was just a poor wretch with no clue about his future, muddling through one day at a time.

"Water Release: Water Whip!"

Qi performed a Water Release technique frequently used by Kirigakure Anbu. He wrapped water around his hand and lashed it toward the sea, sending up a spray of water along the way.

What a pathetic effect...

But that was normal. This technique was used by Kirigakure ninjas to capture people—first binding them with the water whip, then giving the poor guy a "lightning therapy" session with Lightning Release, leaving them like a dead pig. However, there was no way Qi would ever be able to use Lightning Release in this life.

Qi was only using this technique to kill time.

Thus, he happily whipped the water around, sending splashes flying everywhere...

Of course, his joy was short-lived. Ogata, who had been quiet for who knows how long, appeared behind him like a ghost and slammed a fist onto his skull.

"Ouch! Who the hell— cough, cough... Master, you're out..."

"You brat... focus on your training!"

Ogata glared at the bored Qi.

"What's the matter? Won one fight and think you're hot stuff?"

"Well... heh heh..."

Qi rubbed the spot where he'd been hit, feeling awkward. To be honest, he was indeed feeling a bit smug.

He had actually defeated the future Fifth Mizukage. This feeling of "trampling" on an original character was something only a transmigrator could truly appreciate... it was too satisfying!

"Your feathers haven't even grown in yet, and you're already trying to fly."

Ogata could see right through Qi's little schemes. He sneered, "A rookie beat another rookie; what's there to be happy about? The place we're heading to is the Land of Fire! The war between the four nations is raging there right now!"

He held up a finger and shook it.

"I'll tell you straight: during wartime, the protocol for ninjas of any country when they spot a suspicious person is to strike first and ask questions later! Someone like you? A Konoha patrol ninja could crush you with a single finger!"

"Heh heh... well, I have you, Master... Besides, Konoha ninjas wouldn't be that cruel, would they?"

Qi swallowed hard; he was genuinely scared this time.

They can't be that savage, right? Attacking the moment they see someone before even asking a question? Is this really Konoha? Aren't those guys supposed to be all about 'humanity' and such?

"Not cruel? Why do you think the Five Great Villages are called the strongest? Because they kill the most people! Konoha's killing is no more polite than any other village. Back in the day, the White Fang of the Leaf didn't even spare women and children!"

Ogata gave a sinister laugh.

"If you slack off now, you and I can just wait to be buried. I don't care much for myself, but I'd hate to see you throw your life away!"

Ogata's words were undoubtedly meant to scare Qi, but they weren't entirely lies.

The Land of Fire was located in the center of the continent, facing enemies on all sides during every major war. This made Konoha ninjas exceptionally sensitive during wartime, putting them in a state of mind completely different from times of peace.

People who were usually gentle could be terrifying when their tempers flared; by the same token, the usually mild-mannered Konoha was incredibly brutal once they picked up their weapons to fight!

In such times, infiltrating enemy territory to conduct sabotage in the rear was a tactic commonly used by all nations. The most monstrous of them all was none other than the White Fang of the Leaf. Back then, he had not only wreaked havoc upon infiltrating the Land of Wind, but he had also managed to retreat unscathed!

To this day, the person the Sunagakure Ninja hate most remains the White Fang. If even the Sunagakure Ninja feel this way, how could Konoha Village, the very creator of such tactics, not know how fatal a fire in the rear could be?

Therefore, Konoha's patrol squads were often even more brutal than their frontline troops. If they saw a foreigner, they wouldn't ask questions—they would simply strike first.

If they couldn't kill the target, they would call for reinforcements to finish the job. Either way, the outcome was either death or capture for interrogation.

So, Ogata's words weren't entirely meant to scare him. If Qi's skill level were too poor, he might not even last long enough to be captured before being hacked to pieces by a Konoha patrol.

After all, he was only a specialist in taijutsu. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't face a Konoha patrol head-on. Konoha's ninja units were organized with the highest excellence and possessed formidable team combat capabilities; without support, he was destined for tragedy.

In short, having finished this half-truth, half-scare tactic, Ogata stopped wasting his breath. He left the stunned Qi behind and returned to the cabin. In the days that followed, he never once urged Qi to practice his ninjutsu again.

However, even though he stopped urging him, Qi became ruthless on his own.

He had no choice; he was terrified. He had already died once, and that was a taste he absolutely did not want to experience again!

Qi was lucky, for he had obtained the best external environment during a period when ninjas progressed the fastest: wartime.

The vast majority of ninjas were not lacking in talent, but because they grew complacent after achieving a little success, they ultimately lost the chance to secure a seat among the strong.

The best thing to temper a ninja is not talent, nor does it matter how excellent their master is. Even Konoha, which boasted the most advanced system, could only provide a relatively comprehensive training structure.

What truly trains ninjas is slaughter. Only in desperate situations can people overcome their own inertia and break through their limits. Of course, the risks are high; if you aren't careful, you become nothing more than a stepping stone for others.

Yet, the vast majority of the ninja world's powerhouses rose during times of war. Take Konoha, for example: from the First Hokage to Uzumaki Naruto, who might one day become Hokage, which of them progressed in a stable environment?

Although there were those with freakishly good natural gifts, such people were too rare. At the very least, Qi was not such a monster.

Therefore, in the remaining time, Qi dared not waste a single second. He poured out every ounce of his strength, desperately practicing Water Release. He wouldn't dare stop until his chakra was completely exhausted.

Even so, he insisted on completing the muscle-training regimen Ogata had taught him before he dared to sleep. Incidentally, although he was exhausted to the point of death, he discovered that training his muscles while his chakra was completely depleted was actually more effective.

The people of this world truly had monstrous bodies; they didn't even seem human anymore.

Amidst this intense and compact training, Qi finally reached his destination: the Land of Fire.

Though the journey sounded passionate, it was actually quite miserable. The ship carrying Qi and Ogata had the misfortune of running into a massive storm, and the vessel, which was supposed to dock at a harbor, ended up sinking near a coastal beach hundreds of kilometers off course.

"Alright, kid, get up. Do you want to sleep in this water?"

Ogata didn't care; he swam to the shore in a few strokes.

As for the boatmen, they had long since vanished in the storm—to this day, Qi still didn't understand how the weather had turned so suddenly.

"Speaking of which, Master, does this count as illegal entry?"

With a bitter smile, Qi, soaked in seawater, also climbed onto the beach. A man's luck couldn't be this bad; it was simply unreasonable.

"It's a pity about those boatmen. It's rare for them to have brought us this far."

Looking back at the sea, Qi pressed his palms together and bowed slightly. "May you find happiness in your next life."

"Enough with the hypocrisy. Those people were dead men walking. Don't forget, they were hired by the Mist Ninja. If we want to get close to Konoha, we cannot have any ties to the Mist Ninja. Even without the shipwreck, I would have killed them all anyway."

Ogata was impatient with Qi's actions. "In this world, without power, you are an ant! Those who possess power must be prepared to be killed by someone stronger than themselves at any moment!"

He looked coldly at the stunned Qi. "If you don't want to be killed, then hurry up and get stronger by any means necessary! Happiness? Heh... you only know happiness when you don't have to worry about who you are going to kill or who is going to kill you. These people? I doubt they'll ever get a chance at that in their next lives!"

Qi said nothing. He looked indifferently at the sea before him and followed Ogata away from the shore.

Suddenly, he felt that the boatmen dying in the shipwreck was actually a blessing.

This was the ninja world he had once been infatuated with. Behind the flashy and cool battles, were there countless corpses of people like these?

He felt that he could finally understand the mindsets of people like Orochimaru and Pain.

But let it be said first: he would absolutely never become a "monster," a profession that usually ended in a miserable death!

"What are you dawdling for! Do you want to be discovered by a patrol in this state!?"

Ogata's roar came from ahead. "With this much commotion, someone will be here soon. Move!"

These words immediately cut off Qi's wandering thoughts. He quickly pulled himself together and followed.

Yes! He could not die such a pathetic death! On the contrary, he would live! And he would live more freely than anyone else!

Ogata was right. Less than a quarter of an hour after the two had left, a Konoha patrol arrived at the scene.

In wartime, efficiency was paramount. More than a dozen Konoha ninjas quickly gathered on the beach using various communication methods.

"We have intruders!"

A man brushed the sand a few times and said decisively, "One adult, one child, they just left!"

Before he could finish, a female ninja arrived at the scene and nodded to the group.

"There is a shipwreck in the nearby waters. It must have been caused by last night's storm."

"Are they refugees? Or..."

The ninja who appeared to be the leader furrowed his brows.

"The style of the vessel belongs to the Land of Water."

The female ninja replied, "I discovered ninja tools on board!"

"Good grief, regardless of who they are, one thing is certain: they aren't ordinary people!"

Upon hearing the words "ninja tools," the leader's voice turned icy.

"We cannot allow such people to enter and exit the Land of Fire at will. Relay the news to the nearby garrison units, and we shall track the trail they left behind! Since the other party consists of ninjas, we cannot afford to be careless. Prepare for combat!"

Ogata was truly a jinx; not only did the Konoha personnel discover them immediately, but to make matters worse, because of a kunai that the careless Qi had inadvertently left on the boat during the shipwreck, the Konoha patrol had branded them with a rather troublesome label—the enemy!

[Status: Hostile]