Encountering the village

Chapter 131: Encountering the Village

The faint morning mist filled the

dense forest as Kiba and the others, led by Morino Shinsuke, navigated through

it. This time, Morino changed their route, heading straight to a small village

on the border of the Land of Grass. This village was where the bandits were

last seen in their mission.

The Land of Grass borders both the

Land of Fire and the Land of Earth. It is a small country that survives amidst

the larger nations.

Kiba felt the impact of this

reality as soon as he stepped into the Land of Grass.

At this moment, they arrived at a

dilapidated village with about seven or eight families. Beside the houses,

there were several ruined walls, which seemed to have been the villagers'

residences. The houses bore marks from kunai, shuriken, fire, and electric

shocks. The green grass was overgrown, making the village seem abandoned if not

for the villagers walking around and lighting fires.

The villagers looked blank,

wearing only linen clothes. Even the children sat lifelessly at the doors of

their houses, heads buried in their arms, looking at the four ninjas with

cloudy eyes that showed hunger.

Whether it was Kiba, Morino

Shinsuke, Kiuchi Taketo, or Fujiki Shigeru, all of them felt a sinking feeling.

For Kiba, this scene was almost

unbelievable. It was the first time he had seen such misery.

He was born in a peaceful era in

his previous life. His family's life wasn't luxurious but it was comfortable,

without worries about food and clothing. Even as an orphan in Konoha, he had

more than enough food and shelter.

Stepping into the Land of Grass,

Kiba had mentally prepared himself to see traces of war, but he hadn't expected

such a scene.

The adults looked like walking

corpses, and the children looked lifeless, almost dead.

Kiba felt it immediately.

This village was dead.

Although it still existed, it was

dead.

This is war.

"Teacher Shinsuke..."

Kiuchi Taketo glanced at Morino and murmured.

"You guys wait here,"

Morino said, his face calm but his eyes showing pity, shame, and guilt.

Kiba and the others watched him

walk into the village and talk with the adults.

After a while, Morino returned

with a sullen face. "Let's go. The bandits have already left. They were

heading towards the Land of Fire. That direction should be Shandeng Town in the

Land of Fire. They were probably planning another raid."

So, they were planning to rob Shandeng Town before

we encountered them? After ambushing us, where will they go now?

Kiba thought.

"Let's leave here first. All

the food and money have been taken, and even the able-bodied have been

plundered. For the bandits, this place has no value, and they won't stay

here," Morino said.

"Captain Morino, we..."

Kiba started to say but was interrupted.

"Kiba, this is not our

country, there's nothing we can do," Morino said.

Kiba opened his mouth but then

looked at the lifeless villagers.

You can help temporarily, but you can't help

forever.

But then, Kiuchi Taketo suddenly

ran out towards a house in the village.

"Are you okay?" Kiba

turned to see Kiuchi holding a little girl about twelve or thirteen years old,

preventing her from fainting. Kiuchi had spoken those words.

The little girl's face was dusty,

and she looked very embarrassed. She was holding a baby about one or two years

old and looked weakly at Kiuchi.

It turned out that the little girl

had walked out of her room but fainted as soon as she stepped out, nearly

falling and crushing the baby.

"Be careful next time."

Kiuchi, unusually gentle, straightened the girl and then ran back.

The little girl looked at him in

surprise.

"I'm sorry, we can leave

now," Kiuchi said when he came back.

"Let's go," Morino

nodded and left first. Kiba hesitated but finally followed.

On the way, Kiba looked at Kiuchi.

When he supported the girl, he had

slipped all his wallet and dry food into the baby's swaddle. Though ninja's dry

food is highly concentrated and unpalatable, it could save the little girl and

the baby.

Kiuchi had been thoughtful,

ensuring it went unnoticed to avoid making the girl's situation worse.

This time, my opinion of Kiuchi Taketo has changed.

Though he is impulsive and always talks about geniuses, he has a good heart.

"What's wrong?" Kiuchi

asked, noticing Kiba's gaze.

"It's nothing," Kiba

said, smiling slightly.

Kiuchi turned his head, slightly

unnaturally.

Did he find out?

Speeding along the road, they

entered the territory of the Fire Kingdom. This mission was entrusted by both

the Grass and Fire Nations. Passing some codes, they freely crossed the

borders.

In Shandeng Town, Morino left Kiba

and the others in a meatball shop to inquire alone.

Shandeng Town felt like heaven

compared to the hell of the village in the Land of Grass. Though it had

experienced robbery, it recovered well and remained prosperous.

Kiba's appetite dropped, thinking

of the Grass village. He couldn't eat the meatballs, and Kiuchi seemed to have

no appetite either, silently staring at the red bean soup and meatballs.

Fujiki Shigeru was more subdued,

silently glancing out from time to time.

About two hours later, Morino

returned and immediately ordered them to set off, having found the bandit's

base.

Kiba and the others looked at each

other and then left.

Under Morino's leadership, they

rushed towards a specific place in the direction of the Land of Rain.

After they left, a burly

businessman walked out of the meatball shop, looking at the disappearing four.

A slight smile appeared on his mouth.

It's almost time to arrive! You can tell Bi-sama to

act!