Chapter 21: Land of Earth

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Naruto waited until nightfall and found the cliff he had planned to climb. Channelling chakra to stick to the smooth surface, he ran up the cliff. 

Because the wall was so slick, he had to increase the chakra to maintain his grip. 

Even with his large chakra reserves, Naruto started to feel tired after about 1,000 meters. 

By the time he reached 2,000 meters, he was gasping for breath, and looking down, he couldn't see the bottom of the cliff anymore. 

A fall from this height would surely mean death. Using this much chakra for such a long time would be exhausting for any ninja. 

Naruto understood why the Land of Earth didn't need guards here — getting across this path seemed nearly impossible. However, Naruto had a solution. 

He used Wood Release to grow a tree from the cliffside, securely anchoring the roots into the rock while the branches stretched out to form a platform. 

He quickly jumped onto the tree and rested, pulling out a soldier pill to replenish his chakra.

After about two hours, Naruto had mostly recovered his stamina. He dispelled the Wood Release platform and continued his ascent. 

This pattern continued throughout the night until he finally heard the sound of rushing water. 

Pushing himself harder, Naruto reached the top of the cliff just before dawn. Exhausted, he collapsed and slept until the sun was high.

When he awoke, Naruto started searching for the river. Following the sound of water, he walked less than a hundred meters before reaching another cliff. 

Peering over the edge, he saw the river about 300 meters below, flowing between two cliffs. The current was swift and powerful. 

Looking at the treacherous terrain, Naruto realized that the Land of Earth must be aware of this area. 

Overcoming such natural obstacles alone was nearly impossible unless, like Deidara, one could fly. There was no need for guards here either.

Once again, Naruto used chakra to descend the cliff. This was much easier than his previous climb, and he quickly reached the bottom. 

However, the fast-moving river was no joke. Swimming across would be extremely dangerous, with a high chance of drowning. 

So, Naruto used Wood Release to create a small boat — though it was more like a sealed wooden pod than a traditional boat. 

Even if it capsized, it wouldn't sink. 

Sealed tightly inside his wooden pod, which resembled a basketball, Naruto let the river's current carry him downstream. 

At first, the water's speed was merely concerning, but soon, his boat began to get hit by debris and rocks. 

The impact was so strong that Naruto had to strengthen his Wood Release to prevent the boat from breaking apart. 

The current finally calmed after an eternity of bumps and crashes.

Naruto cracked open a small window and peeked outside. He had reached the wider, calmer part of the river. 

The boat had entered a more peaceful section, and Naruto reshaped the pod into something resembling a local fishing boat. 

He lay down inside and quickly fell asleep, letting the boat drift lazily down the river. 

After such a rough journey, Naruto was covered in dirt and exhaustion, and this was his first chance to truly rest.

Naruto slept for half a day before waking up to the beautiful scenery of the Land of Earth. 

Thanks to the river, the area had plenty of water, and the landscape was filled with rolling hills and flowing streams. 

The local villagers were kind and unassuming, and when they saw Naruto's fishing boat, they didn't give it much thought, assuming he was just another fisherman.

Feeling tired and hungry, Naruto jumped into the river to catch some fish. 

Using Lightning Release in the water, he quickly stunned the fish and filled his boat with a good catch. 

After changing into clothes he had prepared to blend in as a local, Naruto steered the boat to shore and approached a small village. 

He traded his fish for some food and asked for shelter.

"Hello, I'm a fisherman from the village upstream. My name is Kenji. I ended up here while drifting down the river and hoped to stay at your place for a night," Naruto said politely.

Seeing Naruto's humble appearance, the man of the house welcomed him warmly. 

"Ah, so you're a guest from upstream. Well then, welcome. My name is Yamaki, and this is my wife, Keiko."

The family consisted of the couple and their young son, living a simple yet happy life. Being a good host, the man readily agreed to let Naruto stay. 

Pleased with the hospitality, Naruto gave them the rest of the fish he had caught as a token of thanks. 

They shared a meal with Naruto's fish and their usual food that evening. 

During dinner, the boy strongly liked Naruto, likely influenced by his parents' kindness and natural curiosity.

As they ate, Naruto casually asked about daily life in the Land of Earth, explaining that he had drifted down from an upstream fishing village. 

The family didn't doubt his story, as such occurrences had happened before. 

Seeing how friendly and welcoming they were, Naruto decided to stay for a few days, hoping to immerse himself in the local lifestyle and make himself seem like a true citizen of the Land of Earth.

At the boy's insistence, Naruto took him fishing the next day. 

Naruto had the boy wait on the boat while he jumped into the water, using Lightning Release to stun more fish and throw them into the boat. 

The boy was ecstatic, cheering, "Uncle Kenji is amazing!" After they filled the boat with fish, they returned home.

While the father was out working, the mother was surprised by how quickly Naruto had caught so many fish and praised his fishing skills. 

Still innocent and full of energy, the boy kept pestering Naruto to teach him his advanced techniques. 

Naruto smiled and said, "If you want to learn to fish like me, you first need to grow strong." 

"Make sure to eat a lot at lunch today, and once you're bigger, I'll teach you how to catch fish. Deal?"

The boy's mother laughed at Naruto's playful teasing and said, "You better listen to him! One day, Uncle Kenji will teach you the ways of fishing."

Naruto stayed with the family for three days, fishing, eating, and chatting. 

At times, he enjoyed this simple life, but he knew his main goal was gathering information on the Land of Earth. 

Naruto said his goodbyes after dinner with a mission still ahead of him and set out again. 

Before he left, he marked the spot by the river — perhaps one day, he would return to this peaceful village.

Based on Naruto's recent understanding of the Land of Earth. 

He continued travelling downstream by boat, intending to switch to walking once he reached a village and then headed toward a bustling town in the country. 

Along the way, he leisurely ate the dry rations from the kind family he had stayed with earlier, enjoying the relaxed journey. 

Before long, he arrived at a village where he had to disembark and travel on foot. 

As Naruto walked along the main road, he encountered some people from the Land of Earth who were all ordinary citizens. 

He travelled day and night and began nearing his destination by the third day.

Naruto noticed the number of people on the road increasing; some dressed very fashionably. 

Following the crowds, Naruto finally arrived at his destination: the busiest town in the Land of Earth. 

This place was vibrant with markets, shops, and entertainment venues, filled with people from all walks of life. 

Naruto blended in as an unremarkable commoner.

Word of the upcoming ritual ceremony by the Land of Earth's Daimyo (Feudal Lord) had already spread and was a significant event for the country. 

As more citizens travelled to witness the occasion, the town was getting livelier by the day. 

The Daimyo of the Land of Earth was highly respected among the people, having governed the nation into a time of peace and prosperity. 

In recent years, the Land of Earth has thrived, with favourable weather and bountiful harvests, and the people attributed this success to the blessings of the gods.

Each year, after a prosperous harvest, the Daimyo would hold a ritual to express gratitude to the gods for their protection. 

The Daimyo's residence was a well-known landmark. Since assuming his position, the current Daimyo has been very approachable. 

If a citizen faced a problem that local authorities couldn't solve, they could bring their issue directly to the Daimyo's residence, which had open doors year-round. 

Guards stationed at the entrance were responsible for relaying messages, and as long as no one attempted to force their way inside, the guards were instructed not to interfere.

This made the area around the Daimyo's residence a popular spot for citizens to gather, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Daimyo. 

However, the Daimyo was often too busy to appear without a major event. 

Blending in with the crowd, Naruto observed that the residence was grand, architecturally distinct, and designed for security. 

Although it appeared decorative, the structure could house many guards and shinobi who could mobilize instantly in case of any disturbances. 

Additionally, the Daimyo was always accompanied by highly skilled shinobi, making it impossible to attempt an assassination, even for someone of Kage-level strength.

Naruto realized there was no easy way to act and could only wait patiently. 

He spent his days at tea shops, listening to the locals talk about the state of the Land of Earth. 

One day, a citizen said, "I heard that the Daimyo personally intervened to help an elderly man whom local officials mistreated." 

"Not only did the officials apologize, but they were severely punished afterwards. Having such a Daimyo is truly a blessing from the gods."

Others agreed, and another citizen added, "The Daimyo's three sons have all inherited his virtues." 

"I've heard they are quite capable, having assisted in managing the country from a young age. I wonder which of them will succeed him."

A third citizen said, "It doesn't matter which son takes over; any of them will benefit us." 

"These past years have been a rare time of prosperity for our Land of Earth, and I'm confident it will continue." Everyone nodded in agreement.

Naruto quietly listened. These were the voices of the common people, the most genuine opinions. 

The Land of Earth would likely continue to thrive if nothing unexpected happened. 

However, if the Daimyo were to die unexpectedly without naming a successor, the three sons might fight for the position. 

If one son were stronger, it would be easier to settle. But since all three were equally capable, the conflict could drag on, leading to internal strife.

Disguised as a man from a remote part of the country who had come to witness the ritual, Naruto spent his days training in his inn, strolling through the markets, and quietly gathering information in tea houses. 

He also made a habit of visiting the Daimyo's residence every day. The longer he observed, the more concerned he became. 

While the Daimyo's residence appeared open to the public, the security measures were far more sophisticated than they seemed. 

The two shinobi assigned to guard the Daimyo were especially formidable, with strength that Naruto couldn't gauge. 

Though only one of them was on duty at any given time, when the Daimyo left the residence, both would accompany him.

Initially, Naruto had planned to act during the ritual, but after scouting the ritual site, he realized it was even more dangerous than the Daimyo's residence. 

The preparations were already underway, and although the ceremony hadn't yet begun, the level of security was overwhelming. 

Many important figures and powerful shinobi were expected to attend, and Naruto feared that revealing himself in such a setting would spell his doom.

The more Naruto learned, the more anxious he became. 

The ritual was fast approaching, and missing this opportunity would make it much harder to act in the future. 

However, he noticed an important detail by chance: the two personal guards of the Daimyo didn't live in the Daimyo's residence. 

Instead, they took turns protecting him. While on duty, the other would return home or travel with family.

Naruto reasoned that, as highly skilled shinobi, they would naturally prefer freedom. 

It was already exceptional for them to serve as the Daimyo's bodyguards, so it wasn't realistic to expect them to live in the residence full-time. 

Through careful observation, Naruto confirmed that their homes were simple and lacked guards, inhabited only by family members who weren't shinobi and a few servants.

It made sense to Naruto—these powerful shinobi didn't need bodyguards and preferred solitude over a large mansion. 

While this seemed like a normal situation, precisely this normalcy revealed a potential vulnerability. 

However, this was a weakness only someone like Naruto could exploit. 

Through careful study of the two bodyguards' routines, Naruto devised a plan.

<End Chapter>

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