CH - 150 Nonō Yakushi

As a spy ninja for the Land of Grass, she was well-informed about world affairs. The Land of Grass was a small and turbulent country situated between two major nations. During the First Great Ninja War, it gained notoriety for spreading false information about the five major ninja villages and paid a heavy price for its actions, ultimately being destroyed.

In that war, their leader had defied the five major ninja villages and successfully repelled all invading forces when facing the combined might of the four major ninja villages. However, after the war's conclusion, rumors about the Land of Grass started circulating, depicting the nation as being in turmoil, with impoverished and morally corrupt ninjas indiscriminately killing civilians, leading to chaos throughout the country.

At this moment, however, what she saw appeared quite different from the rumors. The country didn't seem as chaotic as the tales suggested; in fact, it looked relatively peaceful. It was the season of the autumn harvest in the Land of Grass, and she could witness the golden fields of wheat and ordinary people working diligently in the fields, alongside... ninjas.

Yes, these were indeed ninjas, though they had youthful faces, indicating they were recent graduates. Yet, this group of ninjas was engaged in farm work. While it wasn't uncommon for ninjas to assist ordinary people with their tasks, the sheer number of them was perplexing. Had the common citizens of the Land of Grass become so well-off that they could afford to hire ninjas for their help? Were the earnings from the fields enough to cover the costs of their mission assignments?

Moreover, what were those peculiar machines she observed? A gentle push from these devices seemed to harvest extensive areas of the fields. Filled with curiosity and questions, Nonō Yakushi quietly approached the scene.

However, as a seasoned spy-ninja, she did her best not to draw undue attention and merely observed the situation. Nonō, using her spy-ninja skills, swiftly approached an elderly farmer who seemed to be dressed casually. She greeted him with a warm smile and asked, "Hello, sir. Why are there so many ninjas around here?"

Before she could delve deeper into her inquiry, the old man raised his head, his expression filled with surprise. "Young lady, you don't know? Are you from another country?"

With her cover identity unexpectedly exposed, Nono didn't panic. She calmly replied, "Yes, I'm a merchant from another country." Such situations were part of the job of a professional spy-ninja.

From the old man's response, she gathered valuable information, it was a common sight to see numerous ninjas assisting with various tasks in the Land of Grass.

She smiled and nodded, saying, "I've heard about the significant changes happening in the Land of Grass, and it piqued my curiosity. So, I came to explore if there might be some interesting business opportunities here. Initially, I heard rumors of turmoil within the Land of Grass, but as I look around now, it seems quite different. It's truly an impressive country."

The old man chuckled and replied warmly, "You express yourself quite elegantly, young lady! Indeed, the Land of Grass was in utter chaos in the past." He pulled out a flask of water he had prepared, took a sip, and looked lost in thought. His eyes appeared misty, and his voice quivered with nostalgia as he continued, "During those times,..."

Nono listened to the old man's heartfelt story, which revealed the stark transformation of the Land of Grass. The farmer recounted the days of chaos when they lived in constant fear of rogue ninjas, hunger, and harsh conditions. But now, their lives have improved significantly, thanks to the leadership of their great leader.

As the old man spoke of their leader's accomplishments, his eyes teared up with gratitude. He expressed profound respect and admiration for the Land of Grass's leader, who had brought about these positive changes.

Nonō couldn't help but ponder the implications of what she had learned. This was a side of the Land of Grass that hadn't been widely known or discussed in the ninja world. It seemed that their leader had not only achieved military success but had also initiated social and economic reforms that greatly benefited the people.

As a spy-ninja, She had some knowledge about the Land of Grass's leader. Like, he had outwitted the five major ninja villages, defeated the Third Mizukage, thwarted the combined efforts of the four major ninja villages, and even captured the formidable Danzo-sama.

After all, This was a person who had earned the praise of Danzo-sama himself as 'no less intelligent than he is' and had been bestowed the title of 'Wiseman' by him. It was evident that the Land of Grass's leader stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world.

Speaking of this unusual covert operation, it was a plan carefully devised by Danzo-sama. Nono vividly remembered the moment when Danzo-sama held a document titled 'Grass Village Talent Introduction Plan' with a sly grin on his face. He had remarked, "The Grass Village leader seems to think he can welcome wandering ninjas, wandering clans, and even rogue ninjas with open arms. How naive! He will pay dearly for his overconfidence. Allow me to educate the Grass Village leader on the complexities of being a ninja."

With his arms folded and a chilling aura about him, Danzo-sama had declared, "Let me demonstrate why they call me the Darkness of Konoha!"

While standing with his hands behind his back and his sole eye focused intensely, emanating an ominous presence, Danzo-sama had cautioned her that, given the wisdom of the Grass Village leader, any careless infiltration on her part would surely lead to her discovery.

That's why Danzo-sama had suggested a bold approach, exploiting the vulnerabilities within the Land of Grass, infiltrating openly as a defector from Konoha.

As for the 'Grass Village Talent Introduction Plan'... Nono had heard that Danzo-sama had picked it up during his return. However, the exact location from which he had acquired it remained a mystery to her.

At that moment, while Nono contemplated the possibility that the Grass Village leader was as remarkable as the Third Hokage, the elderly man continued to speak, his warm smile never fading. He pointed to the bustling field and explained, "Our leader sends these young ninjas to assist during the spring planting and fall harvesting seasons. It's a form of training, and they don't charge for their help. But don't be fooled by the simplicity of it."

Then, as if recalling something amusing, the elderly man's eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. "Let me share an interesting tale with you, young lady. A few years ago, something truly remarkable occurred in the Land of Grass. A powerful ninja passed through our village and decided to lend a hand with the farming. He summoned a massive toad, as large as a two- or three-story building. However, this formidable ninja, in his belief that farming was a simple task, unintentionally wreaked havoc and injured many. In the end, he was apprehended and had to pay a significant fine for his actions."

Upon hearing the mention of 'a giant toad,' Nono couldn't help but wonder if it might have been Jiraiya-sama.

The elderly man continued with a chuckle, "And have you heard about the leader of the Rain Village? Even though they are our closest allies now, there's an interesting story. It's said that he summoned a massive salamander a while ago to assist with farming, but you know what happened? He couldn't grasp the intricacies of farming and ended up inadvertently poisoning some people."

Nono couldn't help but be amazed that even the demi-god of the ninja world had attempted farming.

Nono was left in silent contemplation as she absorbed these stories of incredibly skilled ninjas attempting and failing at farming.

The old man sighed and chuckled again, saying, "So, you see, farming is much more challenging than it appears. Even these mighty ninjas found it difficult."

Nono found herself at a loss for words, pondering the mention of these formidable ninjas and their farming experiences.

The elderly man concluded with a touch of pride, "I should get back to work now. I've kept you long enough."

"Thank you very much, sir. Please go ahead and continue with your work," Nono responded with gratitude.

The old man's eyes lit up as he added with enthusiasm, "Oh, one more thing! I'm not sure where you're headed, but if it's a distant place, you can take the 'Harmony Express.' It's quite fast and efficient. You can easily reach the Grass Village and other locations from here. It's not only speedy but also affordable. I've heard that other countries don't have anything like it."

Nono was intrigued by this unexpected term, 'Harmony Express.' Could it be some kind of vehicle here?

The elderly farmer pointed toward a small town in the distance and explained, "You'll need to head to the town ahead to catch it. Foreigners will have to register their information, but it's not too far away. If you're unsure about the process, you can always ask the nearby patrolling ninjas for assistance. Don't worry; they'll be more than willing to help you. Well, I must get back to work now. And once again, welcome to the Land of Grass!"

Nono observed the bustling field, the elderly man, and the young ninjas with a complex expression. She sighed deeply and muttered to herself, "The Land of Grass..."

She touched the documents in her possession and, after a brief moment of contemplation, proceeded in the direction the old man had pointed out.