Peaceful Coexistence

The scorching month of June.

The waves rolled with the sea breeze, carrying the salty dampness of seawater and the fresh scent of coconuts. Schools of fish leaped from the surface, tracing arcs through the air as their silver scales caught the sunlight, dazzlingly bright.

The fish leaped and sank again and again, as if a circus lay hidden beneath the sea, its dedicated acrobats tirelessly performing a fish-juggling act for the underwater audience.

Seagulls let out long cries. The girl stood on the beach with her shoes in hand, watching the waves wash over her bare feet with a look of wonder.

Just as she had never seen the sea before.

The people nearby had likewise never seen a human with such a mysterious pair of white eyes.

"Going to the Land of Waves." A voice pulled the old boatman's gaze away from the girl. He looked at the youth who had appeared before him at some point, several layers of black cloth wrapped around his eyes.

Was he blind?

The old boatman was curious, but after glancing at the long sword on the youth's back, he held back his question and said,

"Thirty ryo per person."

The price of half a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen.

The youth nodded and took sixty ryo from his pocket, handing it to the old boatman.

"We'll set off in ten minutes." The old boatman caught the money in his straw hat and spoke slowly.

The voyage from the border of the Land of Fire to the Land of Waves was not short. The old boatman had to wait until the time came, or until the ferry had enough passengers, before setting out. That way, he could carry as many people as possible on each trip.

However, the youth before him seemed to be in a hurry. He said,

"Let's leave now. I can pay extra."

What kind of rich young master had run over here?

It was the first time the old boatman had met someone who could not even wait ten minutes. He scratched his head, but still said,

"No, this isn't about the money..."

It was not that the old boatman did not want to earn money. It was simply that he could not think only of making money for himself.

Shipping was the Land of Waves' only connection to the outside world. There were only a few ferries each day, running at fixed times and locations. There were not many passengers, but they were all neighbors. If he made one fewer trip today, someone might not be able to catch the next return ferry, or might have to take a longer route elsewhere and pay a higher fare.

After hearing this, the youth nodded and did not insist further. This gave the old boatman a favorable impression of him.

Ten minutes was not a short time. One after another, quite a few darkly tanned villagers arrived at the dock carrying bottles, jars, and other goods.

"Oh, Kesha, business was good today. You sold all your fish so early?"

"Haha, I didn't catch many fish today to begin with, so of course they sold quickly."

"Kesha, why did you buy a stuffed toy?"

"It's a gift for my son Inari. It's his birthday today."

"How nice. So you went home early today to celebrate his birthday."

The villagers boarded one after another, chatting about what they had gained that day. All kinds of miscellaneous goods soon filled the entire cabin—rice, oil, salt, and firewood carrying the smell of fish.

It was not that the Land of Waves did not produce such things, but it was ultimately a resource-poor island nation. Goods from the mainland of the Land of Fire were more affordable.

When the girl and the youth boarded, the villagers' voices noticeably lowered. In silence, they stacked their goods together and left the two a spacious area large enough to stretch their legs. Then, they exchanged subtle looks that conveyed the villagers' simple curiosity and friendliness.

The well-dressed pair seemed to belong to a completely different world from the villagers aboard the boat.

It was not as though the Land of Waves lacked wealthy people, but what rich person in the Land of Waves would not have their own pleasure boat? Why would they squeeze in with ordinary people like them?

In any case, all the passengers had gathered. Smiling, the old boatman pushed the fishing boat away from the dock. Yet not long after they set sail, a large passenger ship clearly headed straight for them from afar blocked their path.

The passenger ship even relied on its sturdy hull to ram the old boatman's small fishing vessel, sending it rocking violently and nearly breaking it apart!

"Turn back—" A cold command came from the passenger ship.

With no other choice, the old boatman steered the fishing boat back to the dock.

Everyone aboard cursed angrily. Many of the goods they had planned to bring back had nearly been smashed, and even the stuffed toy Kesha had bought for his son Inari had been knocked into the water. Kesha had jumped into the sea to retrieve it.

Once the fishing boat had finally stopped, the villagers led by Kesha immediately prepared to demand an explanation.

"What are you trying to do? People could die!" Kesha roared in fury.

"What are we trying to do? I should be asking what you people are trying to do!" The group that came down from the passenger ship were clearly thugs. The muscular man at the front pressed a metal baseball bat against Kesha's face and sneered. "This is an exclusive shipping route of Gato Company. Who gave you permission to ride this illegal boat?!"

He then turned toward the old boatman. "Old man, our boss told you people a long time ago that you weren't allowed to keep running this illegal boat business. So many people got the message, but you're the one who refuses to listen, huh?"

"This is already the third time, old man. Don't blame me this time!!"

"Brothers, smash it!"

Seeing that they were badly outnumbered, Kesha and the old boatman immediately raised their fish spears and guarded the fishing boat as they cursed,

"You bunch of robbers!"

"Bandits!"

"Who dares?!"

Bang!

Kesha only saw someone extend a fist from within the crowd. Then he felt an enormous force slam into his chest and send him flying.

The old boatman was outnumbered and helpless. He could only watch as the thugs smashed his beloved fishing boat to pieces, kneeling at the side as tears streamed down his face.

The other villagers stood nearby in terror. Kesha might not have seen clearly amid the chaos, but they had. A ninja wearing a rogue Hidden Mist forehead protector had acted from among the thugs!

With just one blow, he had severely injured the young and strong Kesha. That was the difference between ninjas and ordinary people!

They had no room to resist.

"See that? This is what happens when you run an illegal boat!" The muscular man at the front laughed loudly, then pointed at the villagers nearby. "It's not that we won't let you take boats, but from now on, you can ride Gato Company's ships!"

"We have exclusive shipping authorization granted by the daimyo of the Land of Waves. Does this old man have that? He has nothing!"

"And these little fishing boats will fall apart with a gust of wind. What if people die?!"

The muscular man spoke shamelessly. The villagers were frightened and enraged. They had ridden fishing boats for so many years—how could they not know whether they were safe or whether anyone had died?

Gato Company was seeking to control all shipping routes in the Land of Waves. Many island residents knew about this, but they had never expected Gato Company to establish its monopoly through such violent means.

"Brothers, let's go." The muscular man led his people toward the ship, preparing to leave.

A voice suddenly rang out.

"Hey."

"Hm?" The muscular man turned around, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the youth who had stepped out from among the villagers and called out to him.

The muscular man had noticed the other party long ago.

Among a group of ordinary villagers in short shirts and shorts, he and the little girl beside him were exceptionally conspicuous.

Though the youth's eyes were covered with black cloth, he clearly could see. The standard long sword on his back was also a ninja weapon. Everything about him radiated the air of someone not to be trifled with. Even when the muscular man had ordered the boat smashed, he had waited until this youth emerged before doing so.

What... was he planning to stand up for these peasants now?

Kesha was helped to his feet by the villagers nearby. He looked at the youth with some concern.

The other side had the numbers. Now was not the time to act tough...

"Is there something you need?" The muscular man did not want to lose face, but neither did he want to offend the other party, so his tone softened somewhat.

The youth walked up to the muscular man. While the latter remained alert and on guard, the youth said calmly,

"I'm going to the Land of Waves."

The muscular man froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"The fare is three hundred ryo per person, but this time, I'll let you ride for free!"

The youth nodded gently. Then, amid the bleak gazes of the villagers behind him and the smug grins of the thugs, he boarded the passenger ship with them.

The moving passenger ship soon left that group of ordinary villagers on the shore far behind.

Compared to the small fishing boat, the passenger ship's greatest advantage was its spaciousness. Yet even so, it could not block the malicious and curious stares from around them.

A young man wearing a rogue Hidden Mist forehead protector came over and sat beside the youth.

"My name is Ito Yoshino. You two are Konoha ninjas, right?"

The youth ignored him.

Yoshino was the ninja who had sent Kesha flying with one punch. At this moment, he was trying his best not to let his gaze drift toward the girl's face.

"Did someone hire you to come to the Land of Waves?"

Rogue ninjas from Hidden Mist were only enemies of Hidden Mist. They had no conflict of interest with ninjas from other villages.

Unless their missions clashed.

"No." The girl had been enjoying the sea breeze. Hearing him, she turned and smiled as she denied it.

The girl's pale white eyes seemed to contain some heart-stirring power. Yoshino's breathing stopped slightly, and his gaze naturally settled on her face.

"I see. Then we can coexist peacefully."

He did not care what the two had come here for!

Now he had seen it clearly—the girl's forehead bore none of the green curse mark rumored to control the destruction of the eyes.

She really was a member of the Hyuga Main Family!!

And she was so young!!

They actually dared to let such a young member of the Hyuga Main Family leave the village?!

As a rogue Chunin from Hidden Mist, Yoshino knew perfectly well how strictly Konoha's Hyuga clan controlled their Kekkei Genkai. The only Byakugan ever leaked outside the Hyuga clan was the one possessed by Ao, a Jonin from Kirigakure. Because of it, Ao had even once made it onto Konoha's highest-level wanted list.

Even so, every Hidden Mist ninja still yearned for the Byakugan.

Every ninja skilled in the Mist Concealment Technique knew exactly how powerful the Byakugan was. Their so-called "Hidden Mist" was completely useless before those eyes!!

Ao's ability to firmly hold his position as one of Kirigakure's elder Jonin owed much to that Byakugan!!

Yoshino narrowed his eyes. He did not know what had happened in Konoha for the Hyuga clan to be willing to let a member of their Main Family leave.

But no matter what, since he had encountered her, he felt that he could not let this chance pass by.

That pair of Byakugan was right before him. Yoshino had to consider whether this might be the only opportunity of his life.

"Yes, we can coexist peacefully."

The girl's smile was incomparably sweet.

One chapter owed.