Land of Hot Water, The Population Mystery

The Land of Hot Water, a small country nestled between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, is dotted with hot springs and is a famous tourist and health resort in the Ninja World.

After Second Shinobi World War, their own ninja village shrank continuously due to the Daimyo's reduction of military spending, and it quickly became a tourist town.

The various missions and commissions they were given within their own country were naturally divided between Konoha and Cloud Village.

This phenomenon continued until the later stages of the Third Shinobi World War, when Konoha completely defeated Cloud Village. As the victor, Konoha monopolized all official missions and commissions from the Land of Hot Water.

This is also why Taiichi saw this official from the Land of Hot Water's Daimyo's Mansion in the Land of Hot Water in the Hokage's Office.

"I never imagined that the legendary White Reaper of the Ninja World would be so young. I am Fukuyama Akira, Advisor to the Daimyo's Mansion. Nice to meet you."

The Advisor, named Fukuyama Akira, was extremely polite, even courteous. Without the Hokage's introduction, he stood up and bowed to Taiichi.

His actions made Taiichi feel embarrassed. Taiichi in returning kindness tenfold, so since the other person was being so polite, he wouldn't be impolite.

Taiichi bowed slightly to the other party and said, "Advisor Fukuyama, you're too kind. 'White Reaper' is just a nickname my colleagues use for me. Please just call me Taiichi."

Taiichi stood up and looked at the Fourth Hokage, awaiting his instructions.

Without wasting any words, Minato took out Mission Scroll and handed it to Taiichi.

"This is a mission directly issued by the Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water. Recently, there have been several cases of missing persons in the Land of Hot Water."

At first, it was just a few individuals disappearing, but the number of missing people has continued to grow, and now it has developed into entire villages Civilian together.

To date, at least 500 Civilian from two villages have disappeared in this incident.

The situation is serious, and the Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water is also very anxious. I've thought of making a round, and right now, your abilities are the most suitable in Konoha; you can complete the mission in the shortest amount of time—"

Taiichi opened the scroll, listening to Minato's explanation while reading the contents. Once Minato had finished explaining, he finished reading and closed the scroll again.

"Okay, no problem, leave it to me!"

Decisive, efficient, and without any unnecessary words, it's simply a matter of "I can handle things with confidence"—that's the confidence that comes from competence.

Minato smiled and nodded. "Alright, your mission is to investigate the truth and completely eliminate the hidden culprit."

After saying that, he looked at Fukuyama Akira and asked, "Advisor Fukuyama, is there anything else you want to say?"

"No, that's all. If possible, please depart as soon as possible. The Land of Hot Water can no longer afford such losses."

Fukuyama Akira stepped forward and bowed deeply to Taiichi at a 90-degree angle, his face full of earnest pleading.

"Okay, I'll pack the supplies right away and we'll set off immediately."

Since the employer had gone to such lengths, Taiichi didn't hesitate. After responding, he gestured to the three high-ranking officials of Konoha, then immediately turned and left the office. Before the door was even closed, he used the Flying Thunder God to return home right in front of everyone.

"Don't worry, Advisor Fukuyama, at Taiichi's speed, he'll arrive at your daimyo's Daimyo's Mansion today."

Seeing that Fukuyama Akira was still looking worried, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up to offer some words of comfort.

"Please excuse my poor performance, all three of you. Now that Taiichi has made it to the Daimyo's Mansion today, I must return as soon as possible. I hope that by the time I arrive, Taiichi will have already resolved the issue. Farewell!"

As he watched Fukuyama Akira leave the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed slightly.

"Minato, what's your opinion on the recent disappearances in the Land of Hot Water? Could it be related to Madara Uchiha?"

"Probably not. Judging from their past actions, they are currently focused on concealment. Such a blatant and large-scale abduction of people is not like their style."

"I hope so!" Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. These are truly turbulent times!

While the two Hokage were still discussing the mastermind behind everything, Taiichi, having finished packing his supplies, had already arrived in the Land of Land of Hot Water.

As a ruthless individual who traveled to various battlefields during Third Shinobi World War, Land of Hot Water's Flying Thunder God Mark naturally remains in the Land of Taiichi Springs.

Having chosen a location closest to the Daimyo's Mansion, Taiichi shifted space, determined his direction, spread his wings, and sped towards the Daimyo's Mansion.

The clouds rushed past beneath me, and the mountains and rivers became blurry patches of color.

Taiichi heightened his perception to the extreme, carefully discerning the terrain features below.

Speed was Taiichi's greatest asset at this moment. In just over half an hour, the Capital of Hot Water Land of Hot Water, shrouded in the mist of numerous hot springs, was already in sight.

He retracted his wings, transforming into a streak of blue light, and landed precisely in front of the heavily guarded Daimyo's Mansion of the Daming Mansion.

The guards were on high alert, their spears instantly aimed at the uninvited guest who had fallen from the sky.

But when Taiichi calmly revealed the Konoha Headband and Mission Scroll, shock quickly replaced vigilance.

"Wood... Konoha ninja? So fast?"

The guard Captain's voice changed. From receiving the mission in Konoha to arriving at the Daimyo's Daimyo's Mansion of Land of Hot Water, a regular ninja team would need several days to travel, but this guy's journey would take less than half a day!

The news spread like wildfire throughout the mansion.

A moment later, the heavy gates of the Daimyo's Mansion slowly opened.

A middle-aged official, dressed in fine clothes and with a refined appearance, strode out to greet them.

His face was filled with disbelief and shock. He glanced left and right and quickly locked his Taiichi at the door.

"Ninja-sama, you—you are incredibly fast! Please come in! His Daimyo the Daimyo has been waiting for you for a long time!"

Led by a middle-aged official, Taiichi passed through the heavily guarded corridors and entered the core area of the Daimyo's Mansion.

The mansion was luxuriously decorated, with hot spring water flowing gently through an exquisite stone channel, carrying a faint sulfurous mist. However, a tense and oppressive atmosphere permeated the air, and the servants hurried about with worried expressions.

Inside the reception Reception Hall, at the head of the table Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water, an elderly man with white hair and beard and a hunched back, who was struggling to sit upright with the help of his attendants.

His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, and his eyes revealed deep fatigue and worry. Every breath he took seemed somewhat labored.

Seeing Taiichi enter, he forced a smile, his voice hoarse. "So swift, Konoha, as reliable as ever—I, a citizen of the Land of Hot Water, thank you."

Taiichi bowed slightly and said, "Your Excellency is Daimyo. I am Taichi Matsushita Taiichi, Konoha Ninja, here to investigate a case of missing persons."

"Oh, so it's the White Reaper," Daimyo said breathlessly, "Alright, alright—please take your seats."

The attendants immediately set up a seat for Taiichi in the VIP section, right next to the Daimyo's right.

Taiichi sat down, his gaze quickly sweeping over everyone present.

The first seat on the left was occupied by a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He had a dignified appearance and a refined air similar to that of the Daimyo, but his eyes were filled with anxiety and urgency. According to the introduction, he was the Eldest Young Master and the rightful heir.

At this moment, he was looking intently at Taiichi, his gaze filled with undisguised anticipation.

Opposite the Eldest Young Master sat another young man, slightly younger, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a handsome face and more luxurious and refined clothes. A gentle and proper smile was habitually on his lips. This was the Second Young Master.

However, under Taiichi's keen spiritual perception, this smile was like an exquisite mask, with an extremely subtle sense of rejection and hostility lurking in the heart of this Second Young Master like a venomous snake.

Although he concealed it very well, even casting friendly glances at Taiichi, Taiichi perceived the hostility as clearly as Fire Fly in the Taiichi.

Taiichi didn't understand, but he figured it was just some petty squabbles among nobles, and he didn't care about it.

Several high-ranking officials from the Land of Hot Water were also seated at the table, each with a solemn expression and remaining silent, creating a tense atmosphere.

As the banquet began, exquisite dishes were served in a continuous stream, mostly hot spring cuisine and seafood characteristic of the Land of Hot Water.

The Eldest Young Master clearly took on the main responsibility for receiving guests.

He took the initiative to introduce the dishes to Taiichi, and then eagerly got to the point, his voice trembling with urgency. "Taiichi, the situation is extremely urgent! At first, only a few travelers went missing, and we thought it was the work of bandits or wild animals, so we even sent troops to clear out the mountains and forests."

But later, the number of missing persons grew larger and larger, from a few people to a dozen, and then to—the entire village!

The Eldest Young Master's voice trembled with excitement, "Last month, in Tsukimi Village, near the northern hot springs, all 173 people in the village vanished without a trace overnight! There were only a few signs of a battle at the scene, and other traces were very scarce."

He took a swig of his drink and continued, "We immediately blocked the news, dispatched more elite Samurai and ninja squads to investigate, and even sealed off the surrounding area. But—"

The Eldest Young Master's face showed a mixture of fear and anger. "The people we sent out have vanished without a trace!"

Even more terrifying is that the enemy seems to know everything about our actions in the Daimyo's Mansion! No matter how secretly we move our troops, they always manage to avoid us in advance, or even ambush our isolated groups! It's as if there's a pair of eyes watching us from within this mansion!

Daimyo listened to his son's account, he closed his eyes in anguish, letting out a heavy sigh, which made him appear even older and weaker.

Taiichi listened quietly, then picked up a piece of tender fish and put it in his mouth.

He chewed and swallowed without making a sound, his gaze sweeping casually over the people at the table.

The Eldest Young Master was speaking intently, his heart filled with worry; the Daimyo closed his eyes and breathed heavily, seemingly exhausted, or perhaps sighing; several high-ranking officials bowed their heads in silence, not uttering a word, but their actions also revealed their anxiety.

Only the Second Young Master, ever since Taiichi entered and announced his name, kept glancing at him with an expression that seemed to go beyond mere curiosity.

"Therefore, Lord Taiichi," the Eldest Young Master finished speaking and looked at Taiichi earnestly, "We suspect that this is not the work of ordinary bandits or Rogue Ninja, but must be hiding a huge conspiracy, and may even involve some kind of evil secret technique or organization!"

Our Land of Hot Water is stretched thin; we can only rely on Konoha, and on you!

Taiichi nodded, put down his chopsticks, and said in a steady voice, "I understand what the Eldest Young Master has said. The enemy's actions are secretive, their methods are cruel, and they have an unusual understanding of the movements of the Daimyo's Mansion, which is indeed extraordinary."

The most urgent task is to obtain more detailed information about the location and time of the disappearance, as well as all the records from your previous investigations. I will begin the on-site investigation immediately.

"Fujiwara!" the Daimyo said weakly.

"Yes, Your Highness!" The middle-aged official who had greeted Taiichi immediately stood up. "All the files and maps are ready and are in the side hall. Taiichi can review them after the banquet."

"Alright—" the Daimyo waved his hand wearily, "Then—please, Taiichi, enjoy—the delicacies of the Land of Hot Water— " His voice grew softer and softer, as if he had exhausted his energy. With the help of his attendants, he slowly rose from his seat and left the table.

With the Daimyo's departure, the atmosphere at the banquet became even more subtle.

The Eldest Young Master immediately leaned closer to Taiichi and whispered, "Your Excellency Taiichi, my father is unwell, please forgive my rudeness. I will personally take you to see the files; some details need to be explained in person." His attitude was extremely proactive, even somewhat overly enthusiastic.

The Second Young Master also rose gracefully, carrying a wine glass, and walked over with an impeccable smile on his face, "The arrival of 'Konoha's White Reaper' is truly a blessing for the Land of Hot Water. My elder brother is right; Father is deeply concerned for his people and is burdened with too much worry. I will rely heavily on you for the investigation. Please feel free to give any instructions if needed."

He raised his glass in acknowledgment, his eyes sincere, as if the previous hostility had been merely Taiichi's illusion.

Taiichi calmly raised his cup in return. "It's my duty, Second Young Master, you're too kind."

He became even more wary. This Second Young Master was extremely cunning and his performance was flawless.

That hostility was not a misperception, but stemmed from a deeper reason.

After the banquet, the side hall of the Daming Daimyo's Mansion was brightly lit, and the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The Eldest Young Master dismissed his attendants and personally laid out a thick stack of documents and a detailed map of the Land of Land of Hot Water in front of Taiichi.

"Taiichi, please take a look."

The Eldest Young Master's finger traced across the map, pointing to several locations circled in vermilion. "These are the areas where the sporadic disappearances first occurred, mostly near remote hot spring trails or mountains. Then—"

His finger moved north, landing on a large red circle. "This is Keishi Village," he said. "Seventy-eight people went missing a month ago." Finally—

His finger jabbed heavily at a spot near the northern mountains, where a glaring red X was drawn.

"Tsukimi Village," all 173 people are gone! And it happened just ten days ago!

He pushed the files on the table forward. "These are the investigation files for all the missing persons cases. Taiichi, you can review them in detail, and feel free to ask me any questions."

Taiichi didn't stand on ceremony. He sat cross-legged on the ground and picked up a scroll to read it.

Time passed second by second. Taiichi put down one scroll and picked up another, until he finished reading the last one.

"What is your opinion, Eldest Young Master, regarding the statement made at the banquet that the enemy is fully aware of the actions of the Daimyo's Mansion?"

Taiichi's fingers tapped lightly on the location of "Tsukimi Village" on the map. He was basically certain that there was a mole in the upper echelons of the Daimyo's Mansion, and that the mole held a high position and had access to core military deployments and investigation plans.

So far, the Eldest Young Master hasn't mentioned any information on this matter.

"We also had our doubts about this, but after extensive investigation, we couldn't find such a person. In order to avoid causing panic, we had no choice but to suspend the investigation."

Taiichi frowned deeply, never expecting that this mole was so deeply hidden; it was truly surprising.

Remembering the fleeting hostility the Second Young Master had shown during the meal, Taiichi decided to ask one more question.

"What position does the Second Young Master hold in the household? He doesn't seem to care about that matter at all?"

"Oh, my second brother is the Minister of State. He was the one who investigated and reported the earliest missing persons report, which was then handed over to me."

Taiichi nodded slightly, closed his eyes to think for a while, and then turned to look at the Eldest Young Master.

"I already know the intelligence."

Taiichi put away the copy of the dossier and the map rubbing. "I will launch an investigation immediately. Eldest Young Master, please restrain the people in the manor. Unless absolutely necessary, they should minimize going out. Strengthen security at the manor. My whereabouts must not be revealed to anyone except you."

The Eldest Young Master nodded solemnly. "I understand! I entrust everything to you!"