Envoy Token

Samui rested her head on Mingyou's shoulder and gave a soft hum.

"I understand. From now on, I won't interfere in your affairs anymore."

"All right, get some rest." Mingyou raised a hand and gently stroked her silky hair. The two embraced beneath the tree and soon fell into a deep sleep.

They had thought that after rushing all the way to the Land of Hot Springs, they would finally be able to rest properly.

Yet no one had expected that once they arrived, time would become even more pressing.

Having gone a full day and night without rest, Mingyou quickly fell sound asleep.

It was not until the next morning, when the glaring sunlight shone into his eyes, that Mingyou awoke from his deep slumber.

Looking down, he saw Samui lying in his arms, still sleeping soundly.

A thin trail of drool had even run from the corner of her mouth onto Mingyou's robe.

It looked rather comical.

"Wake up. It's time to get moving."

Mingyou raised his hand and gave Samui's perky backside a firm pat, waking her from her dream.

"Mmm~~" Samui reluctantly opened her eyes, stretched her arms wide, and let out a sleepy murmur as she stretched. She still looked half-asleep.

"Let's go. Once we're on the ship, you'll have plenty of time to sleep."

Mingyou stood up, forcibly pulled Samui to her feet, and headed out of the forest.

Logically speaking, after Mingyou had caused such a scene on the Fourth Raikage's territory, the coastal border of the Land of Hot Springs should have already been filled with ninjas lying in ambush.

Yet after Mingyou brought Samui to the shore and hid nearby to observe for quite some time, he found nothing out of the ordinary.

No matter what, Mingyou still chose caution. After using the Transformation Technique, he boarded a passenger transport ship at the coastal harbor.

Coastal countries on the ninja continent generally had this kind of passenger transport vessel.

Over the years, although the ninja continent had remained embroiled in war,

the custom of people traveling and conducting exchanges between nations had been preserved.

Especially in coastal border regions, people could choose to sell their local specialties to other countries and earn a little money.

The journey from the Land of Hot Springs to the Land of Water was even farther.

After sailing at sea for nearly half a month, the passenger transport ship finally entered the waters of the Land of Water.

Of course, this did not mean they had arrived in the Land of Water. Rather, three warship-like vessels had appeared ahead, blocking the sea route.

"Whooo~~"

As the warships sounded a warning horn, the passenger ship Mingyou was on shut off its engines and slowly came to a stop.

"Mingyou, what do those people want?"

The disguised Samui stood at the edge of the deck, tugged at Mingyou's arm, and asked in confusion.

"I don't know. Let's see how things play out." Mingyou frowned slightly and carefully examined the group.

Just as the warships stopped, more than a hundred ninjas wearing Land of Water forehead protectors rushed from their cabins and lined up neatly on the decks.

Then, a tall man leaped onto a high point of the deck. Holding a loudspeaker in his hand, he began shouting toward the passenger transport ship.

"I am Amakawa Hiroshi, maritime inspector of the Land of Water."

"You have entered the territory of the Land of Water. By order of the Fifth Mizukage, all transport vessels entering the Land of Water must undergo a routine inspection."

"All merchants and passengers aboard, please gather on the deck and give the ninjas of the Land of Water fifteen minutes to conduct the inspection. Otherwise, your ship will not be permitted to continue onward."

Ignoring the passengers' chattering discussion aboard the transport ship, the tall man waved a large hand and issued an order to the Land of Water ninjas.

"Move out!!"

"Yes!! Inspector Amakawa."

Swish~~

More than a hundred Land of Water ninjas leaped off the deck and landed directly on the sea. Their feet stood firmly atop the water as they ran toward the merchant ship.

Very quickly, some of the Land of Water ninjas rushed into the cabins to conduct a search.

The others remained on deck, registering and questioning the merchants and passengers.

"So the Land of Water's sense of territorial control has reached this level already."

Samui lightly covered her mouth, somewhat stunned by the efficiency and methods of the Land of Water ninjas.

"That's normal. As one of the Five Great Nations, it isn't strange for them to be capable of this."

Mingyou shook his head slightly. Instead, he felt that cooperating with Mei Terumi this time had been an extremely wise decision.

This alone showed that the Land of Water's national strength was not something those small countries could compare to.

"Let's go. Let's meet that inspector, Amakawa Hiroshi."

Mingyou brought Samui with him and, after several quick leaps, jumped from the deck onto the water.

"Hey~~ What are you two trying to do?"

The Land of Water ninjas on deck noticed the two's unusual movement as well. Four or five of them immediately rushed forward in pursuit of Mingyou and Samui.

They drew their weapons, seemingly intending to stop the two.

"Before you make a move, I advise you to think carefully about whether I'm someone you can afford to offend."

Mingyou frowned slightly, pulled the black token Mei Terumi had given him from his sleeve, and held it high above his head.

"That is the Water Shadow's Envoy Token?"

Amakawa Hiroshi's eyes widened. With his sharp gaze, he was the first to notice the black token in Mingyou's hand.

"Stop!!"

Amakawa Hiroshi gave a deep shout, halting the Land of Water ninjas.

Then he leaped down from the warship, swiftly arrived before Mingyou, bent at the waist, and gave a deep bow.

"Lord Envoy, we were disrespectful just now. Please do not take offense."

"Oh?" Mingyou was slightly startled by the token's effect.

He had only intended to reveal his identity and prove that he was acquainted with Mei Terumi.

Yet he had not expected the maritime inspector, Amakawa Hiroshi, to offer such a grand salute the moment he saw it.

"There's no need to be so formal. I shouldn't have acted so rashly just now either."

Mingyou smiled awkwardly. Since the man had treated him with courtesy, he could not reject the gesture.

After all, Mingyou was completely unfamiliar with the Land of Water.

If someone could guide and introduce him around, that would naturally be a good thing.

"Lord Envoy, do you have urgent business to attend to during this return to the country? If so, please feel free to give me your instructions."

Amakawa Hiroshi remained respectful, speaking to Mingyou with great politeness.

"Um, Brother Amakawa, I need to go to an island near the Land of Water. Can you take me there?"

Mingyou took out the map Mei Terumi had given him and pointed to an island on the outer edge of the Land of Water's territory.

During the journey here, Mingyou had also given the matter careful thought.

Mei Terumi might truly intend to accept the Uchiha Clan, but in a country as large as the Land of Water, Mei Terumi was not the only one who had the final say.