Chapter 36
"Senior Brother… Senior Brother…"
Leo, who was about to experiment with his next ninjutsu, suddenly heard a familiar voice nearby. He immediately stopped forming hand seals and disappeared from his spot with a few quick leaps.
"Sora, what's the matter?"
Leo jumped down from a high branch, landing right in front of Sora, who had been calling out.
Seeing Leo appear, Sora replied nervously, "Senior Brother, Sister Kina is here at the temple. She says there's an urgent matter to discuss with you."
"Alright, I understand. Thank you for running over here to tell me. Next time, I'll have Kina bring you some snacks."
Leo patted Sora's head and smiled warmly before leaping away towards the Fire Temple.
Sora stood there, watching Leo's departing figure with a look of admiration. Brother Chuan was the only person in the entire temple, apart from Master Chiriku, who didn't look at him with disgust. Additionally, Leo was incredibly strong, having learned ninjutsu for less than a year, yet no one in the temple could defeat him in daily sparring sessions.
"Kina, what's so urgent?"
In the backyard of the Fire Temple, Leo hurriedly returned to find Kina waiting.
After respectfully bowing, Kina spoke, "Your Highness, Lady Shijimi's cat, Tora, has gone missing. She is about to head to Konoha to issue a mission to find it. Also, the bounty office has posted a mission related to the Wave Country's Tazuna, and it has already been accepted."
"Then let's proceed with the plan!"
Leo's eyes lit up upon hearing this news.
Lady Shijimi was the wife of the Daimyo, making her his aunt. Her cat, Tora, was missing, and combined with the bounty office's mission, he could deduce that Kakashi's Team 7 from Konoha was about to undertake the Wave Country mission.
The Wave Country was a small island nation with nearly no ninjas, a poor economy, and impoverished people. It was currently under the control of the evil shipping magnate, Gato.
Because Leo had been spending heavily to acquire ninjutsu, his considerable fortune was beginning to dwindle. Although he had established a trading caravan, it was still not meeting his satisfaction.
In his future plans, money was an indispensable resource.
Though the Wave Country was small, it was still a country. If he could handle things properly and get his trading caravan established there, it could bring in substantial profits.
Controlling a nation's economic lifeline wasn't much different from controlling the nation itself.
This mission would also provide him with valuable combat experience against skilled opponents, making it a win-win situation.
After giving Kina her instructions, Leo approached Chiriku.
"Master, I wish to go on a journey to gain more experience."
"A journey? Hmm, with your skills, it's about time you went on one."
Hearing Leo's request to go on a journey, Chiriku was initially surprised but then nodded in agreement.
He knew that to become a truly powerful ninja, one couldn't just stay in the Fire Temple and train. The Fire Temple didn't have a mission system, so traveling was a good way to gain experience.
In Chiriku's eyes, Leo's chakra level had reached that of an average chunin, and with his exceptional combination of five-element chakra ninjutsu and taijutsu, he was undoubtedly top-tier among chunin.
Therefore, as long as he didn't encounter a jounin-level opponent, he should be safe during his travels.
Additionally, Leo's status as the prince of the Land of Fire meant that if he encountered any significant danger, revealing his identity would ensure protection.
Currently, in a time of peace, Leo's noble status as a prince was a protective shield. No one would want trouble in their territory.
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The Land of Fire was situated centrally among the Five Great Nations, in a fertile hilly region with abundant forests. Due to its advantageous geographical location, it had the most developed economy among the Five Great Nations.
Konoha Village was located just below the Land of Fire's capital, not too far away, ensuring the ninjas could provide immediate support if needed.
The Wave Country was situated to the west of Konoha Village.
Leo didn't go to Konoha but, after getting Chiriku's approval for his journey, donned a standard Fire Temple monk robe, a straw hat, and a staff specially crafted in the capital, heading straight for the Wave Country.
His trading caravan also set off at the same time.
Knowing that Lady Shijimi would issue the mission in Konoha and that it would take a few days for Team 7 to reach the Wave Country, Leo wasn't in a hurry. He took his time, enjoying the sights of different towns in the Land of Fire.
The Land of Fire was vast, with many towns and villages apart from the capital and Konoha Village.
"This world's technological development is really strange."
On the third day after leaving the capital, in a town near the border, Leo sat at a roadside stall, eating snacks and watching a shadow play of ninja battles. He marveled at the neon lights opposite him.
It was a world where advanced technology coexisted with ancient lifestyles. You could see neon lights, coin-operated slot machines, and even computer-like devices. Yet, the architecture and living conditions were reminiscent of ancient times.
It was quite puzzling.
"Stop! Stand still! Pay back the money!"
A commotion from the street corner caught Leo's attention as he ate his snack and watched the shadow play.
He jumped onto the roof and quickly understood the situation through his binoculars.
It turned out two women, owing money, were being chased by a group of men wielding clubs.
"Debtors not repaying? Could it be?"
Initially uninterested, Leo suddenly thought of something and raised his binoculars again.
One woman, with long blonde hair and a purple diamond mark on her forehead, had an impressive figure. The other, with short black hair, held a cute pink pig.
"Based on their appearance, it really is Tsunade!"
Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, the most powerful medical ninja, the granddaughter of the First Hokage Senju Hashirama, and a princess of the Senju Clan, would become the Fifth Hokage.
She loved gambling but had terrible luck, earning her the nickname "Legendary Sucker" in casinos.
Due to the deaths of her loved ones in war, she had left Konoha and renounced her ninja status.
Recalling his memories of Tsunade, Leo put away his binoculars and ran towards the commotion.
Since he had encountered the future Fifth Hokage, he definitely had to make contact. Establishing a good relationship now could bring him benefits when Tsunade eventually returned to become Hokage.
According to Kina's message, Lady Shijimi had just returned to the capital with her cat in the morning, meaning Team 7 had probably just set out from Konoha. Delaying a bit would still give him enough time.