Traveling Together

Thirty li east of Tanzaku Town, at Shizukawa Wharf, a medium-sized ocean-going merchant ship was preparing to set sail.

Its hull was painted deep blue, its masts towered high, and its sails were already half-raised, snapping loudly in the evening river wind.

Its destination was Cloud Thunder Port in the Land of Lightning, passing through the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Water, with a voyage expected to last several months.

At that moment, Tsunade and Shizune sat on the deck outside the upper passenger cabins, watching dockworkers carry cargo like ants.

The setting sun dyed the river molten gold, while the outline of Tanzaku Mountain blurred in the evening haze.

"It's been a year already!"

Beside her, Shizune suddenly sighed and fed Tonton a rice cracker.

"Yeah."

Tsunade drank the sake provided by the ship. It tasted mediocre, but it was better than nothing. "What do you think of that kid?"

"You mean Sōji?"

Shizune thought for a moment. "He's very clever, very patient, and his perseverance far exceeds that of ordinary people."

"Sometimes, I feel like his thoughts run too deep for someone his age. But when it comes to treatment and training, he's exceptionally focused and cherishes every opportunity. He's a complicated person."

"Complicated is troublesome."

Tsunade swirled her sake cup. "His illness may be cured, but what's in his bones hasn't changed."

"The Kaguya Clan's love of battle, mixed with that gloomy chakra, plus his excessive maturity and scheming... Tch. I always feel like he'll make something big happen someday."

"But his gratitude toward you is genuine, Lady Tsunade."

"What the hell is gratitude good for?"

Tsunade snorted. "In the Shinobi World, gratitude is the cheapest thing there is. Still, he paid the compensation he promised you without hesitation."

The two million ryo had long since arrived in the account, and not a single coin was missing from the additional payment for easing the symptoms. That kid truly had an excellent reputation when it came to money.

"He said it was integrity."

Shizune replied with a smile. "He also said that if we ever needed help anywhere in the future, we could contact any branch of Yamada Trading Company."

"An empty promise."

Tsunade curled her lip, but said no more.

Just then, the ship gave a slight shudder. The mooring ropes on shore were untied, and the gangplank was swiftly pulled aboard.

"Whooo—whooo—"

The ship sounded a deep whistle as it slowly left the wharf and headed toward the middle of the river.

Lights gradually lit up along both banks, while the brilliant lights of Tanzaku Town's gambling houses slowly shrank into a hazy glow behind them.

"Next stop, the Land of Iron."

Tsunade stretched lazily. "I heard two new gambling houses opened beside the swordsmiths' shops there. The games are different..."

As she spoke, footsteps suddenly sounded from the stairs leading to the cargo hold, accompanied by that familiar, gentle voice.

"The Tamahagane bound for the Land of Iron and the hot spring care medicine headed for the Land of Hot Water have both been checked against the manifest. You can rest assured, Captain."

"As for the medicinal herbs for the Land of Lightning, I suggest storing them in the middle hold, where they can be kept away from light and moisture..."

Hearing this, Tsunade and Shizune turned their heads at the same time.

A silver-haired youth was walking up the stairs. He still wore that plain deep-blue traveler's outfit, and his eyes remained covered by black cloth.

He held a cargo manifest in one hand and was speaking to the ship's steward behind him. The evening breeze lifted the loose strands of hair across his forehead, his expression focused and serious.

Only then did he seem to notice the two women on the deck. He paused, then put on a deliberately surprised smile.

"Lady Tsunade, Miss Shizune, Tonton."

Yamada Soji gave them a slight nod, his tone as natural as though he had run into neighbors while shopping for groceries. "What a coincidence!"

He walked a few steps closer, his smile unchanged.

"I happen to be responsible for escorting and inventorying this ship's cargo."

"Yamada Trading Company just took over freight operations for this route, so I have to accompany it the entire way to the Land of Lightning."

At that moment, the river wind suddenly strengthened, making the sails rustle loudly. The sun completely sank behind the distant mountains, leaving only a dark red trace across the horizon.

The merchant ship cut through the golden river water, sailing downstream, toward the sea, toward a broader route.

On the deck, Tsunade's hand holding the sake cup froze in midair. Her pupils contracted slightly as she stared at the gently smiling youth before her.

Shizune held Tonton and opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Sōji stood amid the deepening twilight, the black cloth over his eyes fluttering softly in the wind.

"It seems..."

He smiled and spoke to himself, his voice mingling with the river wind and waves yet remaining perfectly clear.

"We'll be traveling together a little longer than expected."

The air at the Land of Hot Water's port was filled with the distinctive scent of sulfur mixed with sea salt.

In the docking area, wooden piers stretched out toward the azure bay, while rolling hills in the distance continuously gave off wisps of white steam.

The area was dotted with hot spring inns of all sizes.

"The bathing culture of the Land of Hot Water is famous throughout the Shinobi World."

Yamada Soji walked half a step behind Tsunade and Shizune, his voice carrying the perfect air of a guide.

"They say the local milk baths can whiten and nourish the skin. Miss Shizune might like them!"

At that, Shizune looked around curiously, and even her arms around Tonton seemed to loosen slightly.

The little pig also wriggled its snout excitedly, sniffing the scent of food in the air.

"Hmph."

Tsunade, meanwhile, did not even turn around. Her blonde hair drifted in the damp sea breeze as she merely let out an irritated snort.

During the two-day layover, most passengers eagerly went ashore in search of relaxation.

Tsunade's group also followed the crowd onto the stone-paved streets of the port town.

The streets were narrow and crowded, lined with shops selling hot spring buns, sulfur soap, wooden carvings, and yukata.

Steam seeped in thin strands from cracks in the foundations of certain buildings, making the entire town seem soaked in lukewarm mist.

They took a simple stroll around town and ate the local famous hot spring eggs and tofu dishes.

Just after lunch, Tsunade wiped her mouth, her gaze drifting involuntarily toward an alley deep in town lined with red lanterns.

"Um... I have something to do."

Tsunade rose with feigned nonchalance, picked up her money case, and casually tossed down a few bills. "You two enjoy yourselves!"

"Lady Tsunade, are you going to..."

Shizune hurriedly tried to stop her.

"Don't meddle in grown-up business."

Tsunade waved her hand, swiftly disappearing into the crowd. After a few turns, she vanished completely.

Seeing this, Shizune sighed, her shoulders slumping as she gave Sōji a helpless smile. "Here we go again. Every time we reach a place with a casino, she's like this."

Sōji nodded in understanding, then casually asked, "Should we go find her?"

"Of course we should!"

Shizune immediately nodded. She set Tonton on the ground, then expertly took out a corner of one of Tsunade's usual shawls from her small bag and let the little pig sniff it.

"Please, Tonton. Same as always—find Lady Tsunade, and I'll give you extra food tonight."

"Puuyo!"

Tonton squealed excitedly, her black-bean eyes gleaming. With her snout pressed to the ground, she began turning in circles, then swiftly locked onto a direction and dashed off on her short legs with a rapid patter.

Shizune immediately followed, her steps swift. The gentle healer's aura she had shown moments ago instantly turned sharp.

Her blade-like gaze was fixed firmly ahead as she muttered under her breath, "This time, I have to stop her before she loses everything," and, "Otherwise we'll have to sleep in a stable again."

Sōji followed behind her, watching Shizune instantly switch into a berserk debt-collector mode, and could not help feeling a little embarrassed for her.

This seemingly delicate assistant displayed truly astonishing drive and obsession whenever Tsunade's gambling and financial crises were involved.

The two followed Tonton through the bustling market, turning onto a relatively quiet slope.

Just as Yamada Soji was about to quicken his pace and catch up to Shizune, the Six Eyes beneath the black cloth suddenly caught something unusual nearby.

Hostile gazes—and more than one.

From the shadows on the rooftop to his right, from behind a half-open window on the second floor of the bathhouse ahead, from the eyes of pedestrians at the intersection behind him pretending to browse souvenirs...

At least six people. The killing intent they involuntarily leaked clung to his back like cold spider silk.

There was no curiosity in those gazes, no ordinary ninja's appraisal of passersby. There was only cold scrutiny and killing intent.

The texture of their chakra was familiar as well—chilly and stagnant, carrying the bloody aura accumulated over years in the Hidden Mist ANBU.

They had come after all.