Hikaru and the others rode atop Chōmei, crossing the vast land at an astonishing speed. Before long, they arrived before a quiet little town.
Originally, they had planned to land directly in the town—quick and convenient.
But Nonō Yakushi thoughtfully reminded them:
"Chōmei's appearance might be a little too eye-catching. We'd better land some distance away and walk in."
Hikaru found this reasonable. While he didn't care what others said, there was no need to invite unnecessary trouble with their arrival.
So, he nodded and signaled Chōmei to set them down some distance from the town.
Following the order, Chōmei slowly descended and landed smoothly in a secluded forest.
The group jumped down from Chōmei's back, gave its massive body a pat, and began walking toward the town.
Chōmei lingered for a moment, gazing at Uchiha Chiri's back. Only after they disappeared from sight did it dissolve into smoke and vanish.
As soon as they entered the town, Tsunade rushed ahead, eager to see something different from Konoha.
However, the sight before her was disappointing.
The streets were narrow and desolate. The buildings on either side were worn and dilapidated. Few people walked the roads, and the alleys lacked any sign of life.
Looking around, Tsunade found none of the bustle and prosperity she had imagined. Instead, the air was heavy with depression and stagnation.
She frowned. She had hoped this mission would let her see more of the world and experience different customs, but this town dampened her enthusiasm.
Hikaru scanned the area, his face showing surprise.
He couldn't understand why a town so close to Konoha would be in such a state.
By all logic, being this near to the village should mean good security.
Moreover, after Konoha's performance in the last Chūnin Exams, many people from across the land should have been coming to commission missions, boosting the economy of nearby areas.
In theory, this town should have been lively and prosperous.
But the reality before him was the complete opposite of what he had expected.
It left Hikaru deeply puzzled. He had no idea what could have happened here.
If he didn't understand it, the three women certainly didn't.
Uchiha Chiri glanced at Hikaru, disappointment flickering in her eyes.
She had been curious and eager to see the outside world too, but this scene was disheartening.
"Is the outside world all like this?" she asked.
Hikaru was silent for a moment.
He knew the three had grown up in Konoha and didn't know much about the world beyond.
As a princess of her clan and a granddaughter of her family head, Tsunade, like Chiri, had little concept of money—not because they were careless with it, but because they simply didn't care about it.
Only Nonō Yakushi might have understood a bit more about such situations, but even she had never weathered much hardship.
After thinking for a moment, Hikaru decided to be honest.
Even with him here, this journey would still bring them face-to-face with many unknowns and difficulties.
If they weren't mentally prepared now, they might find it even harder to accept later.
"This might actually be considered a good situation," he said slowly.
The three looked at him in disbelief.
But then his tone shifted:
"Still… something here is definitely wrong."
He explained the reasoning that had just crossed his mind.
Seeing them fall into thought, Hikaru added,
"This place is practically Konoha's front yard. Leaving it like this isn't good. Let's head in and investigate."
He took the lead, walking deeper into town.
The three followed, their footsteps echoing in the empty streets.
The roads were deserted and lined with weather-worn buildings, as if time itself had stripped them bare.
They passed only a few hurried pedestrians, all with blank expressions.
As they walked, Hikaru observed closely.
Most of the shops were shut tight, windows and doors closed.
Following his lead, Tsunade and the others began to notice the same.
Not only was there a lack of people, but the town's buildings and storefronts had no vitality at all.
After some distance, they arrived at an inn.
Hikaru eyed the entrance. A tattered sign hung above it, reading "Welcome."
He pushed the door open and stepped inside, the three women following him.
Inside, he realized that battered sign outside might be the newest thing in the entire inn.
The interior was dim and aged, with peeling walls and worn decorations giving off an air of decline.
Yet, despite the shabby appearance, the inn was surprisingly clean.
Just then, an elderly woman with a kindly face approached.
"Welcome. Are you here to stay?"
Hikaru glanced at the three women and gave a small nod.
It was still early, and they could have traveled farther, but since they planned to investigate this town thoroughly, staying here made more sense.
And this old woman might be the perfect starting point for their inquiries.
"Yes, please prepare a few rooms for us," Hikaru said politely.
She nodded and turned to lead the way.
As they followed her deeper inside, Hikaru caught a fleeting, unusual look on her face.
He asked cautiously, "Has something happened here? Why is it so deserted?"
The question seemed to hit a nerve.
She froze, turned sharply, and fixed her eyes on them.
When they saw the sudden ferocity in her expression and the anger in her gaze, they were startled.
She glared at them as if trying to confirm their identity.
When her eyes fell on the Konoha headbands they wore, her anger erupted.
"Go! Get out! We don't serve ninja from Konoha here!"
Her voice dripped with hostility and resentment, as if she bore a deep grudge against the village.
Hikaru was taken aback by the outburst, but quickly regained his composure.
He met her gaze and said calmly,
"I'm sorry. We mean no harm. We only want to know what happened here, and see if we can help."
Hearing this, her expression softened a little.
She glared for a moment longer, then sighed.
"You should leave. This isn't something you can get involved in."