An Anxious Young Girl

Hiruzen Sarutobi left Konoha with the Kusanagi Sword strapped to his back.

His first destination was Seven Herbs Island and Hongzhou Island. They were rich in medicinal herbs and close to "Summoning Island," where countless summoned beasts lived, possibly connected to the Summoning World.

Ninja soldier pills were mainly made from the herbs produced there.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi believed there might be herbs unknown to ninjas in the area. After asking around, he learned that Seven Herbs Island mainly produced Mandrake Grass, Vitality Ginseng, Red Salamander, and Great Creeping Vine.

Those herbs sounded far too weak. Spiritual energy was relatively abundant in the Shinobi World; an island that produced medicinal herbs could not possibly have only such ingredients.

Afterward, Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to head southeast to the Land of Bears, where Star Ninja Village was located. The Land of Crafts lay next door, and the Land of Whirlpools was not far away either.

More importantly, the area was directly behind the Land of Fire and was basically free of danger. At most, he might encounter ninjas from the Land of Water, but Yagura, the Mizukage of the Land of Water, was controlled by Obito, and the Hidden Mist Village was currently in its Village of the Bloody Mist phase.

Obito had turned the entire Hidden Mist Village into a complete mess. Its core forces had all become rogue ninjas and were currently busy fighting among themselves.

After leaving Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi found that the Land of Fire still had a large population, though the differences between regions were extremely obvious.

The more famous towns had well-developed facilities of all kinds, while the countryside still retained the appearance of primitive agrarian civilization.

Fortunately, the Land of Fire was rich in resources, so most people lived fairly comfortable lives without having to worry about hunger or disease.

The farther south he went, the sparser the population became. Villages grew fewer, while wild beasts became more numerous.

He also encountered quite a few bandits along the way. Bandits were among the targets most frequently exterminated by ninjas, yet no matter how many were killed, more always emerged.

Occasionally, bandits even colluded with rogue ninjas and wandering ninjas. After all, most countries had relatively small populations spread across vast lands.

Whenever he could go around them, Hiruzen Sarutobi did so. When he truly could not avoid them, he could only crush them.

After all, given Hiruzen Sarutobi's cultivation, no bandit within the Land of Fire could possibly be his opponent.

The strongest rogue ninja he encountered was only at Chunin level.

Before long, he reached the border of the Land of Fire. To get to Seven Herbs Island, he would have to take a ship.

Fortunately, both Seven Herbs Island and Hongzhou Island to the south produced medicinal herbs that had to be transported by sea into the Land of Fire before being transferred onward to other countries.

As a result, there were many merchant ships nearby. Once Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed that he was a Konoha ninja, several merchant ship owners immediately came looking for him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was eating in a tavern by the sea.

The climate here was hot, but seafood was abundant. Combined with the well-developed sea trade, the economy was actually better than that of inland areas.

At the same time, officials from the Land of Fire oversaw the area. After all, taxes on medicinal herb trades amounted to a huge sum.

However, because of the presence of Konoha Ninja Village, there were more ordinary people here. Even the occasional ninja was quite weak.

"Sir, are you really a Konoha ninja?"

A soft-featured young girl approached Hiruzen Sarutobi's side and gathered her courage to ask.

Holding a wine cup in his hand, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to look at the girl. She appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen, extremely youthful and inexperienced.

Yet her features were exceptionally gentle, giving her the impression of a married woman. Her figure was also remarkably voluptuous.

Women in this Naruto world seemed to have extremely polarized figures. They were either flat as boards or had ample breasts and curvaceous hips.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer, making the girl somewhat anxious.

"Lord Ninja, could you accept my commission? My father has fallen seriously ill and urgently needs medicinal herbs from Seven Herbs Island. But Red Province Merchant Ninjas are active there, and they attack people who go ashore to gather herbs..."

It was a rather clichéd story. It might have been true, or it might have been a conspiracy.

"If you have money to issue a commission, why not buy from the Merchant Ninjas?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi drained the wine in his cup and asked.

"I don't have much money..."

The girl lowered her head and explained.

For most commoners in the Land of Fire, Konoha ninjas represented justice. After all, citizens of their own country received substantial discounts when issuing missions.

Ninjas carrying out missions would generally lend a hand when they encountered commoners in need of help.

That was why she had come to try her luck with Hiruzen Sarutobi. Besides, Hiruzen Sarutobi currently looked exceptionally upright, with thick brows and bright eyes full of vigor. At a glance, he was absolutely a good person!

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the girl. She did not seem to be lying.

"What happened to your father?" He continued asking, hoping to obtain more information.

"I don't know either. He suddenly collapsed, and the doctor in our village said that only the Seven-Star Flower from Seven Herbs Island could cure him."

"I asked around. Seven-Star Flowers are very expensive, so I can only go to the island and gather one myself."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the girl again. On closer inspection, she was somewhat bedraggled. She had probably been here for several days, with no one willing to help her.

There were some holes in the girl's story, but Hiruzen Sarutobi still decided to help her.

If someone truly intended to plot against him, running would not make a difference. They would still come looking for him.

"Make your preparations. I've already found a merchant ship, and we're leaving tomorrow."

A merchant ship had already made arrangements with Hiruzen Sarutobi, hiring him as a guard.

Seven Herbs Island was controlled by Merchant Ninjas and other forces. Those merchant ships were also heading to the island to trade with the Merchant Ninjas.

The Merchant Ninjas did indeed prohibit ordinary people from gathering medicinal herbs, but their strength was lacking. They were only at Genin and Chunin level.

He was definitely going to explore Seven Herbs Island. Bringing the girl along would not be a problem.

"Okay! Lord Ninja!"

The girl was extremely excited and deeply relieved. Konoha's ninjas truly were good people. Her father's illness could finally be cured!

Hiruzen Sarutobi tossed a small money pouch into the girl's arms. She caught it in a panic and held it in her palms.

"Keep your money. Go buy some ingredients and daily necessities. Once we get to the island, you'll be responsible for cooking for me."

"O-Okay!"

To treat her father's illness, she truly did not have much money left.

"Go on. We'll leave tonight and should arrive tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you in this tavern."

The girl lowered her head and gave a deep bow. The glimpse of snowy white skin exposed at her chest made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel momentarily dizzy.

He did not know whether it was the influence of the original Hiruzen Sarutobi, or because his body had regained its vitality, but the desires in his heart seemed somewhat stronger than before.

Perhaps it was because the fusion of two souls had strengthened his spiritual power and intensified his desires. Even immortals possessed the seven emotions and six desires, but Hiruzen Sarutobi could restrain himself with a single thought.

Watching the girl leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not think much of it.

Journeys were always full of accidents, but in the end, there were not many who could accompany you all the way to the finish.

Holding the money pouch Hiruzen Sarutobi had thrown her, the girl quickly bought some ingredients and daily necessities needed for the island, then hurried back to the tavern.

"Lord Ninja, I'm back!"

The girl was full of energy, youthful and vibrant yet sexy and bewitching, creating a striking contrast.