With Ryoma's team traveling without rest, it took three days for them to finally reach the border of the Land of Fire.
Of course, Ryoma and the others had not been idle during the journey.
Chōza did his best to explain how to use various terrains to set up ambushes and traps against enemies in the wild.
At the same time, he also taught Ryoma and the others several methods for identifying enemy ambushes and traps.
The effectiveness of much of this experience-based teaching could not be gained from books, yet it could often produce miraculous results in combat.
In short, in this world, apart from those anomalies who could rampage freely across the ninja world as they pleased,
the vast majority of ninja were still in a state of high offensive power but low defensive capability.
This meant that whether you were a Genin, Chūnin, or Jōnin, as long as you were sufficiently underhanded and acted quickly and accurately, you could beat them to the point they couldn't even pass the review~
Therefore, before being able to sweep through the ninja world, learning some knowledge about ambushing others and preventing being ambushed was still particularly important.
Chōza, at the front of the group, raised his hand, and Ryoma and the others instantly halted beside him.
Chōza pointed toward a guard post in the distance and spoke in a low voice: "Over there is our Leaf Village's border guard post. We'll go there soon to resupply and rest for a few hours, then prepare to enter the Land of Grass."
After speaking, he looked at Ryoma and the others and reminded them: "This area is already border territory. From now on, everyone must be twice as vigilant and constantly observe the surrounding situation. Once we enter the Land of Grass, be even more prepared to face battles that could break out at any moment!"
"Yes!" *3
...
After several hours of rest and resupply, Ryoma and his three companions set out on their journey again.
From the dense forests at the border, they entered the territory of the Land of Grass.
Because the Land of Grass is adjacent to the Land of Fire, the terrain and environment on the side near the Land of Fire were quite similar.
This made it easy for Ryoma and the others to conceal themselves.
But the closer they got to the Land of Earth, the surrounding forests began to thin out, and the terrain became increasingly similar to the Land of Earth, turning barren and filled with rocky cliffs.
Thus, the movements of Ryoma and his group became harder and harder to hide.
After several days of arduous travel,
Team Six finally approached their mission location safely, though not without some close calls.
It was a small town located on the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth,
a place where many merchants came and went for trade, and where many rōnin made a living.
In the shadows, there were not only spies and intelligence units planted by various villages, but also missing-nin from those villages gathered here.
It could be called a chaotic place, a real melting pot of diverse and unsavory elements.
By this time, Ryoma and his three companions, having carefully disguised themselves, had already entered this small town.
Since a group of four was too conspicuous, under Chōza's arrangement, Ryoma and the others split into two separate groups to infiltrate the town.
...
On the streets of the town at that moment, two young boys of similar age, covered in dirt and grime, walked while looking around.
Having wandered all the way here, they were looking for a place to scrounge up a living and get a meal.
At the other end of the town, a greasy, obese man who looked just like a butcher, his eyes carrying a fierce brutality, was walking through the town with a timid little girl.
The little girl appeared cautious and wary, following behind the fat man as if she was terrified of him.
The people around were unaccustomed to this; whether it was human traffickers or scoundrels, this place never lacked them.
...
At that moment, the two young boys, after wandering around, arrived in front of a tavern.
A large notice was posted on the tavern's door, reading "Hiring Menial Staff."
The two exchanged glances, and one said, "How about we try here?"
The other responded feebly, "Don't have much choice. I don't want to starve to death on the street."
With that, the two walked into the tavern together.
A little while later, the fat butcher and the little girl also arrived at this tavern from another direction.
Smelling the aroma of food wafting from inside, the fat man's mouth began to water uncontrollably.
After glancing back at the timid little girl behind him, a cruel glint flashed in his eyes as he led her into the tavern without hesitation.
Inside, a server enthusiastically greeted them.
All sorts of people came to this place every day, good or bad, virtuous or evil. The owner's principle was: whoever comes here, once they walk through the tavern doors, they are all guests and must be attended to diligently.
The fat man headed straight for an empty table with the little girl, picked up the menu, and started ordering,
ordering with great extravagance.
After ordering a full table of food and drink, the fat man began to gorge himself ravenously.
The little girl beside him, looking timid and afraid, ate her food cautiously and carefully.
...
Meanwhile, the two kids looking for work had already come before the tavern manager. The older manager's gaze swept up and down, scrutinizing them.
The manager spoke, asking: "Thinking of working here as menials? It's very hard work. Can you handle it?"
The two nodded without hesitation and promptly said, "Just give us food, enough to eat, that's all."
Hearing this, the manager chuckled softly, then asked, "Where did you wander in from?"
One of the boys thought for a moment, then answered carefully, "Can't remember too clearly. Just remember coming from the southeast, through a very large forest, and then we arrived here."
The manager listened to the boy's answer, a gleam of insight flashing in his eyes, and asked casually, "No other family members?"
The boy answered, "You flatter us. If we had family, we wouldn't keep wandering."
"Hmm... Since that's the case, you two can help out in the storeroom for now. Someone there will show you the work. No wages, just meals."
The two boys, showing expressions of gratitude, followed the manager out of the room and to the storeroom.
An older man, even more aged, sat inside the storeroom. The manager looked at him and greeted him, "Uncle Kondō. These two kids wandered in from the southeast. They're with you now. 'Teach' them what needs to be 'taught.' If they do a bad job, kick them out immediately! Don't waste my food here!"
The old man called Uncle Kondō looked at the two with clouded eyes, nodded, and said nothing more.
...
By now, the fat man had finished all the food and drink on the table, reeked of alcohol, and was leaning back in his chair recovering.
Then, feeling he had rested enough, he grabbed the little girl, stood up, and prepared to leave.
The server, noticing the commotion at this table, quickly chased after them, calling out, "Sir, you haven't paid your bill yet."
The fat man turned his head, his gaze towards the waiter fierce and brutal, and snarled, "Pay? Pay for what? I never pay for my meals."
Having said that, he turned and continued to leave.
The server hurried forward to try and stop the fat man's bulky frame, but was no match for him.
In a moment, several burly men rushed out from the shop, swarmed him, pinned the fat man down on the street, and brutally beat him.
A nearby server spat on the fat man's face and said disdainfully, "Damn, you dare to eat here without money? Think our tavern is some charity? Beat him! Beat him hard! Teach him a lesson he won't forget!"
Soon, the fat man was beaten until his face was bruised and swollen, while the little girl stood to the side, crying loudly and helplessly.
After the server had vented his anger, he led his men back into the tavern indignantly, grumbling as he walked, "What a fucking jinx!"
Shortly after, the fat man slowly got up, yelled at the little girl, "What are you crying for? All you know is cry! If it weren't for you, you worthless expense, would I have ended up like this?!"
Having said that, he dragged his obese body, limping step by step, and slowly moved away.
The little girl, yelled at, dared not cry anymore. With her face covered in tears, sobbing, she hurried after the fat man, who showed no intention of waiting for her.
The people around were unaccustomed to this,
just a useless, alcoholic deadbeat father who only knew how to blame his daughter.
Such people were not rare here.
And so, their figures gradually faded away...
---
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