Chapter 300: Konoha Village's Stray Dogs
"Huff... huff..."
Kiba Inuzuka panted urgently, legs moving constantly, frantically running forward through the forest.
"Woof, woof..."
Akamaru running beside him suddenly stopped, loudly barking toward one side.
Kiba's group hastily braked, drawing kunai while facing that direction in battle-ready formation.
"Tch, truly annoying mutts!"
A lazy voice transmitted from behind bushes, immediately making several people more tense.
Following rustling footsteps, a shinobi squad parted bushes, striding out. Just looking at their forehead protectors revealed them as Sunagakure people.
That lead Sunagakure's gaze swept across Kiba's group before sneering contemptuously:
"You truly look pathetic!"
"No bounties on you, no bloodline users in your team—truly no value killing you!"
"I have no interest killing you, but you can't make us come for nothing."
"Hand over all valuables you're carrying. Then I'll let you pass."
"Damn it!" Kiba bit his teeth tightly, feeling deeply humiliated yet not daring to act out.
Since Konoha Village's dissolution, all village shinobi became like stray dogs—bullied everywhere they went.
They'd considered fighting back to the village. But the current village had been occupied by monsters called "Enlightened." Ordinary shinobi couldn't even approach.
As for everyone cooperating to clear out monsters? Could only imagine.
The village currently not only lacked Hokage—even Lord Kazuma couldn't be found.
Those daimyo and nobility leaders had indeed sent people attempting to gather everyone, planning to recapture Konoha Village.
But village shinobi had long since lost trust in these people, completely disbelieving their words—fearing being used as cannon fodder sent to die in the village.
Even if some shinobi considered the bigger picture, wanting to follow nobility orders—the entire village had scattered. Many people's whereabouts remained unknown, disappeared somewhere. Completely unable to organize.
Moreover for unknown reasons, those people sent by nobility always mysteriously got killed.
After repeated occurrences, the daimyo side stopped sending people, merely letting willing obedient people report to Fire Country's capital, entering under the daimyo's command.
But all clan family foundations remained near Konoha Village. The capital sat thousands of miles distant. How would livelihoods work after going there?
Could families henceforth survive solely on task commission fees?
That little money probably couldn't even afford dog food!
Though Konoha Village fell, surrounding ranches, farms, and such places remained safe—merely needing nearby management.
So some unwilling clans connected with familiar friends, finding a secluded valley a hundred miles from Konoha Village for temporary settlement.
A group huddled for warmth, hoping to preserve family wealth as much as possible.
But good times didn't last. After news of Konoha Village's dissolution spread, greedy hyenas swarmed here, beginning to treat this as their hunting ground.
Not only did the other four great nations send people looting—even bounty hunters dared coming for a share.
These Konoha Village survivors, if hiding inside the valley, relying on considerable manpower that other shinobi didn't want risking attacking, could live stably.
The problem was the valley lacked supplies. Wanting normal life required traveling between surrounding farms, ranches, and such.
But once leaving for business, they'd immediately be targeted by various forces. All kinds of ambushes and attacks. Casualties piled up.
Everyone knew this was slowly bleeding them. But had absolutely no solution.
Finally, after persisting awhile, they couldn't hold on.
After deliberation, everyone decided abandoning local assets, carrying portable supplies while breaking through encirclement, fleeing toward Fire Country's capital.
Naturally, they received interception from various forces.
In the chaos, Kiba's squad got separated from the main force, escaping into this forest. But ultimately this Sunagakure squad still caught them—now being extorted.
"All supplies were seized by that wave of Cloud ninja we encountered earlier. We currently have nothing left."
Kiba spoke sullenly with a dark expression.
"Hm?"
After listening, that Sunagakure immediately grew unhappy. Raising his brow, he cursed irritably:
"Truly a bunch of useless trash! Don't even know to carry more valuables when fleeing!"
"Also, when escaping, scatter valuables to attract enemy attention. Can't understand such simple logic!"
"Actually gave all valuables to Cloud ninja in one go, completely benefiting those barbarians. Truly stupid!"
"We don't regularly flee. How would we understand such things?" Kiba retorted irritably.
Seemingly hearing the sarcastic meaning in Kiba's words, that Sunagakure's expression immediately darkened, speaking ominously:
"I think you're lying to us!"
"You definitely still hide ninja tool scrolls containing valuables. Let us search you obediently. Otherwise you won't leave here alive today."
"What?" Kiba's group immediately grew furious, raising weapons. "Don't think we're truly afraid of you!"
"We simply don't want fighting you. Otherwise, why not come try? Let's see who wins!"
That Sunagakure tightened his puppet grip. His gaze circled Kiba's group, feeling fighting these poor wretches truly wasn't worthwhile. He simply retreated half a step.
Snorting coldly with dark expression, he barked:
"I'll believe you truly have no valuables. But we can't come for nothing."
"Whatever valuable ninja tools, explosive tags you're carrying—hand them all over. Otherwise don't blame us for being impolite!"
"You..." Kiba's group nearly exploded with fury. But after repeated consideration, they decided continuing to compromise.
They weren't village shinobi anymore, had no missions—completely no reason continuing to fight.
Even if truly winning, it held no meaning. Subsequent Sunagakure forces would continuously come avenging these people.
Yet they had no Konoha Village reinforcements to rely on.
Moreover, fighting here would alarm other predators, who'd definitely rush over—creating bigger trouble then.
The village was gone. What could be more important than their own lives?
After briefly consulting, several people removed spare daggers, kunai, explosive tags from themselves, tossing them aside on the ground in a pile before retreating several steps, awaiting Sunagakure people taking them.
That Sunagakure person frowned. His gaze swept across daggers in everyone's hands. Seeing their vigilant appearance, knowing impossibly making them completely disarm, he didn't continue forcing—merely waving dismissively.
"Scram!"
"Next time leaving, remember bringing more toll money. Otherwise I won't be so easy-talking next time."
Kiba's group bit their teeth tightly, feeling utterly humiliated yet not daring to speak. They could only lower their heads while quickly leaving, continuing fleeing toward Fire Country's capital.
****
70+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces