Underground Bounty Office

On the way to the Sand Shinobi Battlefield, Iruka seemed quieter than usual. With Iruka less active, Kato Osamu also noticed that the atmosphere in this team was somewhat abnormal.

"Perhaps even the same people, walking the same path, will experience different levels of growth..."

Kato Osamu didn't care too much; everyone probably has their own path to walk.

At the start of the war, the Sand Shinobi Battlefield was not in its current location, but much deeper into the heart of the Land of Fire, even extending beyond the southwestern border.

The Sand Shinobi had been plotting for a long time and launched a sudden attack, catching Konoha off guard. However, with the pacification of other battlefields, the Sand Shinobi's offensive has begun to decline sharply, and the battlefield has gradually shifted to the Land of Fire.

Perhaps only Tsunade and Minato Namikaze, as commanders, were fully aware of the overall battlefield layout, but the Sand Shinobi's decline was something every participating ninja could sense, especially after Minato Namikaze to provide support.

"The Sand Shinobi is different from the Mist Shinobi. The Sand Shinobi excels in poison techniques and Puppet Technique, followed by Wind Release Ninjutsu. I hope the knowledge you received at the Ninja Academy will allow you to survive until the last Kunai fired by the Sand Shinobi..."

As they approached the Sand Shinobi Battlefield, Kato Osamu fell silent, slowed his pace, and gradually extended his senses, searching for various traces in the jungle.

The lush forests are suitable for the growth of all things, but they are also suitable for burial. Kato Osamu did not want his bones to be buried in the green mountains and forests.

It should take about another day's walk to reach Konoha's camp.

As if sensing something, Kato Osamu's nostrils twitched slightly, a hint of confusion and strangeness flashing in his eyes. He suddenly raised his hand, and everyone instantly stopped in their tracks.

"Itachi, can you feel it?"

"..."

Itachi concealed his presence, the bloodshot in his eyes resurfacing, yet he remained frowning. After a long while, he couldn't help but turn his gaze back to Kato Osamu.

"About five kilometers away at seven o'clock, there's a small, ordinary town..."

"Teacher Xu, we're still within the Land of Fire, hundreds of kilometers from the Sand Shinobi Battlefield. Isn't it normal to see some villages there?"

Uzuki Yugao asked in confusion, but she still didn't put down her long sword. She glanced at the puzzled Itachi Uchiha, and muttered to herself, "What normal ninja has such an abnormally wide sensory range?!"

"Something's not right. There are ninjas in that area... I can sense a strong fluctuation of Chakra..."

"Do you want to come with me?"

A flicker of interest flashed in Kato Osamu's eyes. In addition, his Soulfire Insect sensed a unique aura that seemed quite familiar.

"..."

Yugao couldn't help but roll her eyes. These three small fry, although they were within the Land of Fire, were not safe right now.

Moreover, Kato Osamu is their team Jonin. How could they possibly leave him and go to the Konoha camp on their own? Without mission documents, they would probably be arrested immediately.

"Let's go..."

Iruka, unusually calm, seemed to have been deep in thought these past few days, with a hint of doubt often appearing in his eyes. Upon hearing this, he remained silent, simply following behind Uzuki Yugao.

If productivity remains constant without significant breakthroughs, we might assume that the total amount of wealth in the world is fixed. In that case, when one party gains a portion of the wealth, another party will inevitably lose their assets.

For individuals with abundant resources, it might not seem like much, but for the poor, it could cost them their lives, especially in a world with extraordinary military power.

The small town on the border of the Land of Fire is probably just another grain of sand crushed by time in this struggle.

Near the border of the Land of Fire, the town is in ruins due to the impact of war. Few people live here anymore. Every household that cannot leave for various reasons has completely locked its windows and doors or is hiding underground.

Even though the Sand Shinobi had retreated, they showed no joy or victory, only remaining silent as they continued to serve as the lowest 'pigs and sheep' in this world.

No ninja would care whether they lived or died.

"Knock knock..."

A crisp knock suddenly rang out in the town. Passersby hurried by glanced discreetly at the group of four, their brows furrowed as they gestured towards an unknown direction.

"Um..."

After a moment of silence, as if receiving a signal from somewhere, he lowered his head again, his weathered face regaining its original expression, revealing the same 'numbness' towards life as always, as if immersed in the tragedy of war, before he hurriedly left.

"Knock knock..."

Kato Osamu knocked on the door again, seemingly with a special rhythm. After a few knocks, the door quietly opened, and the three little ones behind her changed their appearance. A hint of surprise flashed in their eyes, and they couldn't help but glance at Kato Osamu in front of them.

"Don't say a word, just follow behind me. This is an 'Underground Bounty Office'..."

Seemingly drawn by this renowned place, even Itachi Uchiha's pupils contracted slightly, and his gaze became even more solemn.

As soon as Kato Osamu stepped into town, he saw the hidden symbols of Underground Bounty Office. The existence of each Underground Bounty Office was uncertain, and they could move at any time. Unless you were a bounty hunter who had accepted a job, or someone who knew the area well, it would be difficult to find their exact location.

If it weren't for Orochimaru, he wouldn't know so much about this kind of place.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the passageway, which opened up into a brighter space deep underground. The main hall of the gold exchange house contained only a few people, all dressed in unremarkable attire, with some even completely covered up without revealing a trace of their bodies.

He glanced at the four people discreetly, then sat down again. Gloom and silence filled the room. On one side of the hall, bounties for missing-nin or criminals were blatantly posted on the wall, their black and gray hues adding to the somber atmosphere.

However, these are generally considered minor figures, and even the highest bounty is only a million taels.

"Snake Eyes..."

From who knows where, Kato Osamu slowly produced a bounty hunter's identity token, which suddenly appeared in his hand. He waved it lightly, and the receptionist at the Underground Bounty Office immediately understood.

He glanced at Kato Osamu silently, then followed her into the cubicle.

Seeing the three people behind Kato Osamu, the receptionist seemed to want to say something, but Kato Osamu's gaze sharpened, and the receptionist shut his mouth and said nothing more.

No one will make a move against Underground Bounty Office shops, but that's not absolute. There are powerful people behind Underground Bounty Office, but not everyone is afraid of them.

It's unnecessary to provoke a powerful person over trivial matters, even if he works for a gold exchange.

"Lord Snake Eyes, according to the rules, these bounty posters can only be viewed by you alone..."

After the receptionist finished speaking, he said nothing more and left the cubicle. Kato Osamu ignored him, flipped through the wanted posters one by one, and casually handed them to the three little ones beside him.

Amidst the curiosity and fascination of the three, wanted posters flashed by one after another.

However, as if he had seen something unbelievable, Iruka's eyes widened in shock, and he suddenly opened his mouth, seemingly remembering Kato Osamu's order, and began to gesticulate wildly.

"It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature." Kato Osamu glanced at him lightly, thinking that he was still too young and had forgotten the pain of past wounds.

"Say what you want to say, no one can hear you..."

His senses had already covered the entire compartment and the Underground Bounty Office. Even White Zetsu could not infiltrate this place without leaving a trace while he was using his full senses.

"Teacher Xu! Isn't this Lord Minato Namikaze?! Here! They actually dare to put Minato Namikaze!"

"Sixty-five million taels!"

"You're kidding, right..."

Yugao's eyes also looked a little unnatural. Even for a major family in Konoha, it would be painful to suddenly spend so much money, let alone for a declining family like hers and Iruka's, or an ordinary commoner family.

"This is..."

Itachi Uchiha was also flipping through the pages one by one. They contained not only bounties but also some basic information, which piqued his interest.

As he flipped through the papers, his gaze suddenly fell on Kato Osamu's face, and he slowly pulled out a wanted poster.

"Teacher Xu..."

"You have a bounty of 100 million taels on your head?"

"One hundred million taels..."

Uzuki Yugao and Iruka couldn't help but focus their gazes on Kato Osamu's face, seemingly unable to understand how a head could be worth one hundred million ryo.

"Thanks to the Fourth Mizukage, his reward is 35 million ryo higher than Minato Namikaze's..."

After saying that, his gaze lingered on the three little devils in front of him.

"If one day you feel you're capable, perhaps you can give it a try and take that 100 million taels back to your own home..."

"One hundred million taels? I'm tempted to buy it myself..."