chapter 23: Incident

In the ninja world, the five major countries, each with its own esteemed ninja village, lack concrete borders. Instead, several small countries serve as buffer zones between them, among which is the River Country. This small nation, nestled between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, lacks its own military force, specifically a Ninja Village, as a result of the strategic suppression by the two larger nations.

However, following the Second Ninja World War, the Sand Village and Konoha formed an alliance, which led to a relatively stable period for the River Country in recent years.

In addition to this, the territory of the River Country is rich in waterways, benefiting from abundant water resources, and its climate is quite similar to that of the Land of Fire. As a result, it has become a vital resource transfer point for the Land of Wind.

Furthermore, since both the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind possess resources that the other side needs, the River Country also plays a significant role in the transportation of goods between the two nations.

This vibrant commercial atmosphere attracts numerous caravans to the region.

At this moment, a small caravan was journeying towards the Land of Wind.

The caravan was managed by an elderly man—or rather, it could be deemed a slight exaggeration to call him old, as he was merely in his thirties. However, years of hard travel had weathered his skin, giving him an older appearance.

Apart from the manager, the caravan consisted of over a dozen apprentices of various ages and two wandering warriors.

Among these warriors was one who was tall and muscular, portraying an intimidating figure, while the other seemed quite ordinary, the type of person one might overlook in a crowd.

This unremarkable figure was Baishi, who had adopted this appearance through his Wood Release technique: Wood Transformation.

More than half a month had passed since he left Konoha.

Thanks to a recent rainstorm, his whereabouts had been effectively concealed, allowing him to evade the Root's searches initially.

Once he confirmed that he had successfully evaded them, he planned to find a secluded location and remain hidden for a few years.

However, just two days prior, he detected the scent of Aburame Ryoma, which unnerved him.

After conducting a thorough investigation, he determined that the other party hadn't discovered his presence but had pinpointed his approximate location.

With little choice, Baishi decided to relocate.

After weighing his options, he settled on heading towards the Land of Wind.

The disappearance of the Third Kazekage had plunged the Land of Wind into chaos, exacerbated further by invasions from the Land of Cloud.

Ironically, this disorder made it easier for him to hide.

To escape detection and avoid the Root ninjas, he altered his appearance and took on the role of a guard for the caravan.

His stance as a guard was not unusual; not every caravan could afford a ninja, and not all goods warranted a ninja escort.

Small caravans often found that hiring one or two warriors sufficed to maintain appearances.

In the economically prosperous atmosphere of the River Country, Baishi's identity was decidedly low-profile.

"Uncle, do you think we will encounter vicious bandits?"

A bright, innocent voice chimed, revealing a naivete untouched by harsh realities.

The speaker was a young girl, around six or seven years old— Akari hino, the granddaughter of the caravan's manager.

She had insisted on accompanying her grandfather to visit her parents in the Land of Wind, much to his chagrin.

Her spirited nature provided Baishi with a welcome distraction throughout the journey.

She had been pestering a fellow wandering warrior with questions, and while Baishi absorbed the casual banter, he remained reticent, choosing to minimize his engagement with the troupe.

Before he could respond to the young girl's question, the caravan manager turned around and reassured her, "Don't worry, Akari. If we encounter bandits, we can simply pay them off."

Baishi couldn't help but think that the girl wasn't frightened; rather, she appeared excited at the prospect.

It seemed she was holding onto the hope that the guards would heroically fend off the imaginary villains, just as portrayed in fairy tales.

In any case, the old man's calmness astonished Baishi; not only was it unwise, it also felt almost bewildering that the bandits would merely accept money without engaging in violence.

Yet, upon deeper contemplation, he recognized the underlying dynamics in such dealings.

The Land of Wind was a place suffering from severe resource scarcity and was vitally reliant on imports. The bandits, consequently, understood the value of the commerce facilitated by caravans and thus chose not to disrupt the shallow fabric of merchants' livelihoods too severely.

With this unspoken consensus, the Sand Village, the bandits, and the caravans had struck a tacit understanding.

"Haha~, this is convenient," he reflected.

Just as these thoughts settled in, Baishi's expression shifted from calm to alert; he scrutinized the dense woods lining the roadway ahead and muttered to himself, "This can't be a coincidence."

Suddenly, the sound of metal clanging echoed through the air. Dozens of bandits, wielding swords and knives, sprang from the underbrush, effectively barring the caravan's passage.

Upon seeing them, Baishi's intuition screamed that these men were far from benevolent.

While the elderly caravan manager lacked Baishi's keen perception, his years of experience told him that these danger-laden figures were decidedly hostile.

Determined to safeguard his cargo, he hastily doubled the toll he had prepared to offer and displayed it before the bandit leader while bowing submissively, "Gentlemen, I'm the caravan manager. I request your kindness in sparing our journey and humbly offer this as a token of goodwill."

One particularly menacing bandit stepped forward, snatched the offered money bag, and casually tossed it in his grip. As he stepped past the caravan manager, he inquired, "Hey, old man, what are you hauling?"

The manager followed cautiously, providing a hasty reply. "Master, it's nothing unusual—just some coarse grains."

While attempting to alleviate the situation, he hurriedly unfastened a pocket, attempting to show the bandit his wares.

The bandit chief glanced at the grains, gripped a handful, and carelessly cast them to the ground, still unperturbed.

The caravan manager swallowed his outrage, realizing the futility of protest. Unfortunately, the little girl, affronted by the bandit's careless actions, voiced her thoughts without constraint. "You're a bad guy!"

This outburst startled everyone, particularly the bandit leader, who turned his focus towards the child with an unsettling grin. "Oh ho, a pretty little girl! You've got some guts."

In response, the old man panicked and quickly interjected, "Master! Please forgive her wayward words! I will handle this girl right away!"

He placed himself protectively in front of the bandit leader, risking his grandchild's safety.

The little girl, unfazed and steadfast, retorted, "How come? You're the bad guy!"

Through gritted teeth, Baishi mentally prepared himself for an inevitable confrontation. "This clearly won't end amicably."

How right he was! The bandits erupted in laughter, clearly entertained by the verbal exchange. "Boss, they're calling you a bad guy! Haha!"

In this moment of chaos, it was clear that the undercurrents of tension had escalated quickly. Baishi steeled himself for action; this was no ordinary encounter, and he had a vital decision to make.

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