Mafui said, "It's about the secret technique for enhancing the human body's meridian system. The Anbu has already found something like it. The external physique of Raikage-sama is already strong enough, but the only weakness against the Gentle Fist would be this internal flaw, right?"
"Is it true, Mafui? Quickly tell me, whose hands hold this secret technique?"
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Raikage's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly.
"The Land of Woods, a small ninja tribe called Woods Village... In this village, there is an ancient heritage of secret techniques that are said to strengthen the internal meridian system and organs. If mastered successfully, the threat of the Gentle Fist to Raikage-sama would be greatly reduced."
Mafui answered.
"Great! Immediately prepare the manpower to head towards this place called Woods Village. Anyone who dares to block the way, crush them all!"
The Fourth Raikage, hearing this, had a glint in his eyes, exuding an aura of determined ambition.
◎
"Business seems to be a bit bleak recently."
The white-haired man said to the tavern owner.
The tavern owner glanced at the white-haired man and replied, "Yes, due to the strong rise of the Land of Demons, business in the western part of the Ninja Realm has become difficult."
"Is it that exaggerated?"
The white-haired man asked.
The tavern owner sighed, wiping the glass in his hand, and continued, "It's just that hard. As you know, the Land of Demons has a zero-tolerance attitude towards this part of the market. It's not just the Land of Demons; the underground markets near the Land of Shadow, the Land of Bear, and the Land of Snow have also been hit hard. Many strongholds have been directly destroyed. If things continue this way, it will become increasingly difficult for bounty hunters to make a living."
Seemingly unrelated remarks, but not really.
The tavern is only a facade; its essence is a trading platform for the underground black market.
The customers who come to this tavern are people with special identities—bounty hunters.
The composition of bounty hunters comes from renegade ninjas from various countries, wandering rootless ninjas, and wandering samurais who know how to utilize chakra.
This is a violent group willing to do all sorts of bad things for money.
On the surface, the Ninja Realm is dominated by the Five Great Nations, while in the dark world, it's the underground black market that runs rampant unchallenged.
The connections within the underground black market are intricate and complex. Politicians from various countries and famous merchants in the Ninja Realm secretly fund it. They hire bounty hunters to do unsavory tasks for them.
Thus, the market thrives.
The Five Great Nations turn a blind eye to this.
However, the newly emerging military power, the Land of Demons, is different. The top echelons of their country have a zero-tolerance attitude towards the underground black market.
The underground black markets in the countries surrounding the Land of Demons were simultaneously hit and attacked by unknown individuals.
It's obvious which country is behind it.
In the past, when the countries of Wind and Earth jointly divided the western Ninja Realm, this situation did not occur. As soon as the Land of Demons emerged, the underground black market in the western Ninja Realm was simultaneously attacked... Anyone with insight knows what's going on.
But facing the Land of Demons, which defeated the Wind Country, the big shots on the platform could only yell angrily in their rooms, unable to do anything about it.
Confronting the Land of Demons, who defeated one of the Five Kage, Kazekage of the Land of Wind, it was rumored that Uchiha Ruri summoned a towering giant, and in one stroke, slaughtered thousands of Hidden Sand Ninjas, felling thousands more within ten strokes. Even more terrifying, the military leader of the Land of Demons, Chiba Hakushi, annihilated tens of thousands of Hidden Sand Ninjas with a single ninja technique.
But as a trading platform, the underground black market naturally doesn't have the qualification to clash with a military power.
As a result, due to the severe damage in the west, the underground black market's recent income is two to three percent less than the previous month.
Consequently, the salaries of their personnel have also slightly decreased.
"So, will the bounty for targets be adjusted?"
The white-haired man asked about the issue he was most concerned about.
"That won't happen. If the bounties are lowered, most bounty hunters will be dissatisfied."
The tavern owner laughed.
"That's true. Alright, give me a few tasks worth my attention, I've been a bit idle lately."
The white-haired man also laughed.
"The Insect Man's team's abilities are certainly commendable. Speaking of which, ever since Mr. Kakuzu retired, the Nokizaru Group led by Mr. Insect Man has become our underground black market's flagship hunters."
The tavern owner said in a respectful tone.
"Not at all, it's just our peers appreciating us."
The white-haired man—Insect Man chuckled modestly.
"Not necessarily, with a completion rate of nearly a hundred percent on bounty missions, the Nokizaru Group is a ninja hunter group admired by many important figures. If you were willing to become the vassal of some Daimyo, you'd surely be a guest of honor."
The tavern owner said to the Insect Man with a smile, as if delivering a message from some 'big shot'.
The Insect Man shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Forget it, we're used to our freedom and would feel uncomfortable being constrained."
"True, Mr. Insect Man, you and your team are not yet at the age for retirement. However, I must advise you, being a bounty hunter in the black market rarely ends well. Mr. Insect Man, do consider your future... Well then, that's enough idle chatter. Here's a task that requires the Nokizaru Group to complete."