Wok Shadow Ninja

Chapter 111: Changing Plans

For Ino, who had just begun to master the art of the Steam Explosion Release, there were very few problems that couldn't be solved with money. If a problem couldn't be solved, it simply meant that the amount of money offered wasn't enough.

Escorting Shibuki to Konoha had been agreed upon as a C-rank mission. Since the journey to Konoha was considered a private job for Ino, it couldn't be officially recorded in her mission history. Fortunately, she had already completed eight missions, so she wasn't particularly concerned about her ninja record. As long as the payment was good, she was satisfied.

The reward for a C-rank mission typically ranged from 30,000 to 100,000 ryo. Given that Konoha and Takigakure were allied villages, the payment was usually set at the lower end 30,000 ryo. When Ino heard that the reward was only 30,000 ryo, she turned to leave. However, Shibuki quickly raised the offer to 100,000 ryo, and she agreed.

Ino was well aware that most of Shibuki's wealth had already been taken by Tsunade. Still, she didn't mind the smaller sum. As someone who valued every penny, she believed in the principle of "little by little, a little becomes a lot." Making money wasn't something to be ashamed of!

The two set off for Konoha.

At first, Ino didn't think much of Shibuki's name. It was rather ordinary. But when Shibuki revealed his true identity, she was genuinely shocked.

"What? You're saying the previous leader of Takigakure was your father?"

Shibuki nodded sadly.

Ino couldn't help but remark, "Wow, another guy who could write 'My Father, the Village Leader' in his essays."

However, the leader of Takigakure couldn't be called a "Kage" like in Konoha or Kirigakure. They were simply referred to as the village leader. Ever since Kakuzu stole the Earth Grudge Fear, the village had been in decline.

Ino didn't bother to flatter him. So what if his father was the village leader? The Ino-Shika-Cho trio's strength was on par with that of mid-sized villages like Takigakure. Shibuki's timid demeanor didn't inspire much respect either.

Not long after leaving the town, the expected and entirely predictable ambush occurred.

Three individuals without forehead protectors charged from three different directions, each looking fierce and menacing, their kunai gleaming coldly.

Shibuki let out a scream and immediately crouched down, covering his head with his hands and closing his eyes tightly. His posture was utterly pathetic.

Ino was stunned. Your father, the village leader, probably died from sheer frustration at your cowardice.

"Stay back!"

"Stay away from me!"

"Be careful, all of you! I'm really scary when I'm angry! I'll kill you!"

Shibuki's words were bold, but his posture completely undermined any sense of threat.

Ino, however, had a strong sense of professionalism. Since she had taken his money, she was determined to protect him.

"I knew this money wouldn't come easy!" she sighed, then formed hand seals.

If this were Team 7 under Kakashi, they would have charged in without a second thought. But as a member of Team 10, trained by Asuma, a former Guardian Shinobi, Ino remembered his constant reminders: During a mission, always prioritize protecting the mission target.

She immediately used the highly defensive Water Release: Water Wall.

A swirling wall of water blocked the three attackers. The trio was baffled, trying to stab through the water wall with their kunai, only to find it impenetrable. They couldn't find a way around it, leaving them stuck in an awkward situation.

These three were, at best, genin-level fighters, far beneath Ino's notice. She turned to Shibuki and said, "Wake up! Stop shaking! Hey! I'm talking to you! Yes, look at me! These three outside they're definitely connected to you, right? Do you want them alive or dead?"

Shibuki gritted his teeth for a moment before replying, "They're all accomplices, scoundrels who covet our village's… If possible, just knock them out."

"Got it."

Ino didn't object to her employer's request. She quickly formed hand seals and unleashed a Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet. The water dragon sent the three attackers flying into the air. When the dragon dissipated, the three fell to the ground like dumplings, their legs broken, and they lost consciousness on the spot.

"That technique… was that the Water Dragon Bullet?" Shibuki asked, showing more knowledge than Ino had expected.

"Yes."

"I know that jutsu too. Your hand seals… they seem incredibly fast."

Ino smiled without responding. Shibuki realized he might have overstepped and awkwardly looked down.

The two continued their journey. By evening, they arrived at a valley. Ino used a summoning jutsu to call forth the still ghostly form of the chameleon, Shukaku, from the Shukaku Castle.

The sudden appearance of the massive castle left Shibuki, who was holding a cold rice ball, utterly stunned.

On the way from Shukaku Ridge to the Land of Waterfalls, Ino had stocked the castle with plenty of food and daily necessities rice, oil, salt, and more. She changed into fresh clothes and politely invited Shibuki to join her for dinner.

"Alright, there are plenty of rooms on the first floor. Feel free to pick one and rest. I'll be on the second floor. If there's nothing else, get some sleep. We have a long day ahead tomorrow."

"Yes, yes."

Shibuki chose a room closest to the door.

As a ghost castle with a fifty-year history, Shukaku Castle had claimed the lives of many travelers and adventurers. The castle had numerous rooms, and while Ino had cleaned up some of the more obvious skeletons, she hadn't done a thorough, meticulous job.

Shibuki couldn't sleep at all. The castle felt eerie, as if something was watching him. Summoning his courage, he searched the room and eventually found a grinning skull under the bed.

Throughout the night, the windows occasionally made creaking sounds, and faint footsteps and sobbing could be heard outside the door.

If given the choice, he would have preferred sleeping in a tent outdoors rather than staying in this ancient castle.

He tried to leave but found that he couldn't locate the door.

The next morning, a thoroughly exhausted Shibuki crawled out of the castle just as Ino dispelled the summoning jutsu.

Being the son of a village leader, he had some basic knowledge. He glanced at the empty space where the summoning beast had disappeared and silently calculated the size of the creature and the amount of chakra required.

The final number was staggering.

He looked at Ino as if she were a monster. Is this what a Konoha genin is like? Do all Konoha genin have this kind of power? It seems our village elders were right to keep Takigakure out of the spotlight.

As they continued their journey, Shibuki suddenly called out to her, "Wait! Hold on, please stop!"

The birds in the forest were startled by his shout. Ino immediately became alert, scanning her surroundings and using her sensory abilities to detect any threats. Finding nothing amiss, she turned back.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you shouting so loudly?"

"Sorry, sorry," Shibuki said, looking ashamed. After a long pause, he finally revealed his intention.

"Actually… the reason I'm going to Konoha is to hire ninja to escort me back to Takigakure."

Ino nodded slightly. She had already guessed as much, given the pursuers they had encountered.

Shibuki continued, embarrassed, "I was thinking… since you're so… capable, maybe we could skip Konoha altogether. Could you just escort me back to my village directly?"

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