The sky had just brightened when Sato Fan arrived at the Village entrance.
There was no helping it; he was only a Genin, and he couldn’t keep his superior waiting.
The morning mist was heavy, obscuring the distant Hokage Rock until only a blurred outline remained.
He tightened the straps of his backpack and waited under a dead tree at the Village entrance.
Less than five minutes later, a figure emerged from the mist.
Morishita Kunihiko, thirty-five years old, a Chunin.
He wore a dark blue jacket, a short sword tucked behind his waist, and a gray marching pack on his back.
There was nothing unusual about his gait; his pace was steady, neither fast nor slow.
Only upon closer inspection would one notice that he paused slightly when his right leg touched the ground, as if instinctively controlling how he applied force.
Section Chief Yamada had introduced him—Morishita had retired from the front lines with a leg injury that prevented long-distance forced marches, though his combat strength was still at the elite Chunin level.
He had been helping in the Logistics Area for several years; if they weren’t short-handed, he wouldn’t have been sent on this trip.
That made sense, after all, they had even sent out a Genin like him.
Morishita Kunihiko walked up to Sato Fan and looked him up and down.
“Sato Fan from the Materials Section?”
“Yes.”
“I am the Chunin Morishita Kunihiko, responsible for accompanying you on this mission.
Let’s go.”
Handing the Village exit permit to Konoha’s two gate guardians, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, Sato Fan took a good look at them.
These were legendary figures!
When Pain invaded, the entire Village was destroyed, but the gate remained unscathed.
In his past life, netizens had dubbed them the ones “not even Pain dared to enter through the main gate.”
However, jokes aside, these two were actually quite capable.
The opponents they faced in later stages were Kage-level powerhouses, yet they survived.
They eventually became Special Jonin and served as bodyguards for the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi, and their current strength was elite among Chunin.
Without further pleasantries, Morishita Kunihiko turned and walked out of the Village, with Sato Fan following behind.
The two of them, one after the other, passed through the morning mist and onto the main road leading to the capital of the Land of Fire.
This was Sato Fan’s first time leaving the Village, and it felt quite novel.
As the mist thinned, he could see the rice paddies on both sides of the road and the hills in the distance.
The rice ears had turned yellow, rustling in the wind.
Occasionally, a few birds flew overhead, their crisp calls carrying far across the vast, open fields.
Morishita walked in front, and Sato Fan followed behind.
The two walked for nearly an hour without a word spoken between them.
When the sun reached its zenith, the two stopped to rest under a large tree by the roadside.
Morishita Kunihiko needed a rest; no wonder an elite Chunin was stuck in logistics. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
A Ninja who couldn’t travel…
“Senior Morishita.” Sato Fan spoke up, intending to strike up a conversation.
“Hmm.”
“Where will we be staying when we reach the capital?”
“Matsuya.
It’s in the commercial district, close to the suppliers,” Morishita said.
“We start visiting the ones on the list tomorrow.
Today, we rest once we arrive.”
Sato Fan nodded.
He pondered the matter of Lukjiao Town in his mind.
Granny Cat said Lukjiao Town was to the east, and the road from Konoha to the capital passed nearby.
They weren’t going that way today, but they could take a detour on the return trip.
The problem was, how could he get Morishita Kunihiko to agree to a detour?
With the way he stopped every few steps, a detour would be difficult for him.
Perhaps he should wait for the next opportunity?
He would see how things played out once they reached the capital; there would always be an opportunity.
Morishita didn’t speak again.
He finished his rice ball, brushed the grains off his hands, and stood up.
“Let’s go.
We need to reach the capital before dark.”
When the sun began to slant westward, the two finally saw the walls of the capital.
This was his first time leaving Konoha since arriving in this world, and despite Sato Fan’s mental age being greater than his physical one, he couldn’t help but look around with curiosity.
Morishita Kunihiko took a cigarette from behind his ear and put it in his mouth.
“We’re here,” he said.
“Stay close to me, and don’t get separated.”
Sato Fan hitched his backpack higher and followed behind him into the city gate.
As soon as they entered the gate, a wave of noise hit them.
The streets were twice as wide as those in Konoha, and shops were packed densely on both sides.
Signs hung down from the second floor—red, blue, yellow—dazzling to the eye.
The streets were crowded with people: merchants, samurai, commoners, and occasionally, Ninjas wearing forehead protectors—not Konoha’s, but those belonging to the Daimyo, with the character for “Fire” engraved on them.
“Yo, two Ninja lords, come over and have some fun!”
A seductive woman in a kimono stood at the entrance of an alley, calling out to them.
Sato Fan took an interested look before hurrying to catch up.
“This is the capital’s pleasure district.
If you’re interested, you can go take a look, just be careful not to let pickpockets steal your money.”
Hearing Morishita Kunihiko’s words, Sato Fan’s mouth twitched.
This senior wasn’t as serious as he looked; he had only been curious and taken a couple of extra looks.
“No, no, I’m still young.”
Morishita led the way, turned down two streets, and stopped in front of an inn.
The storefront was small, with “Matsuya” written on a wooden sign.
He pushed the door open and entered, with Sato Fan following behind.
A woman in her fifties sat at the front desk, her hair neatly styled, wearing a dark blue kimono.
Seeing Morishita Kunihiko, she quickly greeted him.
“Welcome, guests!
Would you like a room?”
“Two single rooms.” Morishita Kunihiko took money from his pocket and placed it on the counter.
The woman took the money, retrieved two keys from the wall, and handed them over.
“Second floor, on the left.”
Morishita gave one key to Sato Fan.
Sato Fan took the key, went upstairs to drop off his luggage, and when he came back down, Morishita Kunihiko was already sitting on the steps at the inn entrance, chewing on that unlit cigarette.
“Senior Morishita, how are we arranging the work for tomorrow?”
Morishita took the cigarette out of his mouth.
“You are more familiar with the specifications, prices, and quality of the supplies.
I’m only responsible for security; I’ll wait for you at the door.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t let them rip you off,” Morishita Kunihiko said, glancing at him.
“Merchants in the capital are very shrewd.
Seeing how young you are, they might try to haggle you down.”
Sato Fan nodded to show he understood.
In the evening, the two ate a bowl of ramen at a small noodle shop next to the inn.
Morishita ate quickly and stood up as soon as he finished.
“Get some sleep early.
We leave at eight tomorrow.”