Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Unsaid Rule In Accepting Private Commissions
Nestled along the coastline, where the Land of Fire meets the vast expanse of the Land of Whirlpools, lies a haven for fishermen known as Awa. Though not officially recognized as a village, its reputation echoes far and wide.
This is the destination of Jiraiya and his party. Since the destruction of Uzumaki Hidden Village, Awa has had fishermen going to the Uzumaki Country ruins to "hunt for treasure" from time to time.
During the final months of the fishing ban, it emerged as a crucial source of income amidst the period of financial drought.
The individual who inadvertently breached the seal this time is none other than Shigeru, a seasoned fisherman hailing from Awa. Unfortunately, scant details are available about him, as previous ninja investigations into Awa yielded no tangible intel.
For this particular mission, the trio opted against disguises, recognizing that their target wasn't a ninja, nor even human. Disguises would only drain their mental reserves without substantially aiding the mission.
Out at the outskirts of Awa, Jiraiya took on the role of a culinary instructor, guiding his companions in the fine art of fish grilling. While it's unconventional for ninja on a mission to light a fire and cook fish, given the risk of drawing attention from adversaries or wild creatures, the allure of piping hot food is undeniable.
Tatsuma, in particular, relishes every bite, finding this experience far more satisfying than their last mission where they subsisted on Military Rations Pills for an entire week.
"Ah~ I'm stuffed! Minato, please attend to the cookware, and Tatsuma, let's get a fire going for some tea," Jiraiya commands, contentment evident in his tone as he savors the camaraderie and simple pleasures of their makeshift meal.
At the sandy junction where the beach embraces the shore, Jiraiya sprawls comfortably on the ground, his hand idly tracing circles on his belly as he issues instructions to his attentive disciples. Without a word of protest, the duo promptly make their way to the river mouth to procure fresh water.
Minato assumes a squatting position, diligently commencing the task of cleaning the cookware, while Tatsuma went back to the campfire, retrieving a stash of tea leaves from his backpack.
Notably absent from their initial provisions, these tea leaves were a gracious offering from a caravan they aided just yesterday, successfully warding off a menacing wolf pack. The caravan, appreciative of their assistance, bestowed upon them not only the tea leaves but also an array of seasonings tailored for fish grilling, all presented as tokens of gratitude.
Originally, the caravan had intended to compensate them with money, but Jiraiya swiftly vetoed the idea, emphasizing the importance of avoiding formal commissions. As Konoha ninja, they were bound by protocol to undertake missions exclusively through the Hidden Leaf Village, refraining from private arrangements.
Tatsuma took out three wooden bowls that he had just made while waiting for the fish to be grilled. He put a little tea leaves into each bowl. After the water boiled, he carefully poured the water into the wooden bowls.
Meanwhile, Minato completed the task of washing the cookware, joining his companions as they settled down to leisurely sip tea, basking in the tranquil embrace of the summer sunset.
Amidst the serene moment, Jiraiya casually posed a question to his companions, "Have either of you noticed anything out of the ordinary?"
Tatsuma and Minato both affirmed with nods. Jiraiya singled out Minato with a gesture, prompting him to share his insights.
Minato, acknowledging the cue, concisely articulated his observations, "There are too many fishing boats on the shore. It is early August now, the fishing ban has just passed, the fish are getting rich, and the weather has been very good recently, there have been no typhoons or tsunamis.
But throughout the whole day today, I saw almost no fishermen going out to sea, and no fishing boats returned. The fishing boats were all parked on the shore. This is definitely not right. "
Jiraiya nodded in affirmation, acknowledging the accuracy of Minato's astute observations. He then turned his attention to Tatsuma, inviting him to contribute his thoughts, "Tatsuma, what are your impressions? Is there anything you'd like to supplement?"
Tatsuma shook his head thoughtfully before responding, "Without venturing into Awa itself, our ability to gather additional clues remains limited. Nevertheless, I harbor suspicions that this anomaly might be attributed to either a potent Genjutsu or it misleads the fishermen's thinking."
Jiraiya, taking a contemplative sip of his tea, interjected with a probing question, "Indeed, but are you sufficiently prepared for such a task? Let's not forget, Awa boasts over a thousand fishing households. Can you withstand a Genjutsu capable of simultaneously influencing such a substantial populace?"
In response, Tatsuma nodded resolutely. While his expertise in Genjutsu was not his forte, he prided himself on his proficiency in Genjutsu Release! Regrettably, in this world devoid of smartwatches, there existed no convenient reminders to trigger Genjutsu Release! at regular intervals, a notion he found himself ruefully pondering.
"When do you reckon would be the opportune moment for us to infiltrate Awa?" Jiraiya inquired once more, not out of ignorance but rather as a means to gauge the strategic acumen of his two protégés.
Tatsuma promptly offered his insight, "Let's go to night. If it is really a ninja beast that uses illusions to control fishermen, then its schedule should be consistent with the fishermen.
Unless this ninja beast does not need sleep, or has the ability to still cast illusions after sleeping."
Turning to Minato, Jiraiya sought his concurrence, "And what's your take on this, Minato?"
In agreement, Minato nodded assuredly, "That's what I think too."
Observing the unanimous agreement, Jiraiya nodded in approval, "Very well. Rest up now. We'll depart in four hours."
"Understood!" x2.
Tatsuma and Minato settled in for a brief respite while Jiraiya maintained a vigilant watch. As the appointed hour approached, with the clock nearing eleven at night, Jiraiya roused his companions from their slumber.
After a brisk stretch to shake off any lingering fatigue, the trio, led by Jiraiya, embarked on their journey toward Awa.
Despite the lingering vestiges of summer, the coastal nights exuded a subtle chill. Yet, this also signaled the conclusion of the fishermen's daily endeavors in Awa, as they retreated to their homes for a well-deserved rest.
Upon their silent arrival at the heart of Awa, Tatsuma seamlessly initiated a series of hand seals, activating his Chakra Sensory technique to survey the vicinity. After a fleeting moment of concentration, he subtly shook his head, signaling to Jiraiya that he hadn't detected any anomalous chakra signatures.
Acknowledging Tatsuma's expertise in this domain, Jiraiya refrained from conducting his own sensory scan. Instead, he voiced his perspective, "This might not necessarily be cause for concern. It's plausible that whatever we're seeking isn't present at this moment, which could work to our advantage in our investigation."
Following a momentary pause, Jiraiya issued further instructions, "Tatsuma, survey the surroundings meticulously and pinpoint the residence of the fisherman named Shigeru. Additionally, observe the demeanor of the fishermen, scrutinizing for any signs of irregularity."
The duo exchanged nods before swiftly darting off in divergent paths.
Approximately two hours later, the trio reconvened at their initial rendezvous point, wearing subtly perplexed expressions. Jiraiya turned his attention to Tatsuma, inquiring, "Did your exploration yield any discoveries?"
Tatsuma instinctively cast a glance back in the direction he had traversed before pivoting to face Jiraiya. "I couldn't locate Shigeru's residence," he began, "but I thoroughly assessed the condition of the fishermen. I observed a noticeable decline in their vigor. Furthermore, I noticed an abundance of stones scattered throughout the kitchens, with some even found lodged within cooking pots in certain households."
Tatsuma concluded his report and turned to Minato for his observations. Minato nodded in affirmation before adding, "I encountered a similar scenario during my reconnaissance. Additionally, I made a point to inspect households with pets. Surprisingly, I found stones even in the food bowls of dogs and cats."
"You've been quite meticulous, Minato," Tatsuma commended, offering praise to his fellow ninja almost reflexively. Minato was a little embarrassed by the unexpected acknowledgment. Meanwhile, Jiraiya's expression took on a subtle shift of intrigue.
However, Jiraiya swiftly refocused, shaking off any lingering distractions, and proceeded with his analysis, "My hypothesis is that the Tanuki ninja creature is employing Genjutsu to manipulate all the fishermen, dissuading them from venturing out to sea and instead directing them to Shigeru's residence to purchase fish for sustenance."
"But with no actual fishing taking place, there wouldn't be an abundance of fish available. Hence, the Tanuki resorts to employing Genjutsu to cloak stones as fish, which it then peddles to the local fishermen. This 'benevolent' facade mirrors its previous tactics," Jiraiya explained, drawing connections to the prior recorded encounters with the crafty creature.
Tatsuma and Minato nodded in tacit acknowledgment, their suspicions aligning with Jiraiya's analysis, albeit lacking definitive proof.
"It appears we'll need to revisit this scenario in daylight hours. For now, let's utilize the remaining time to search for Shigeru," Jiraiya declared, resuming their investigative efforts as the night wore on. Despite the daunting task of combing through a myriad of fishermen households, luck favored them, and they stumbled upon Shigeru's house well before exhausting their search efforts.
The three of them left Awa before dawn. After dawn, they returned again and went straight to Shigeru's house. At this time, many people had gathered outside Shigeru's house and were queuing up to buy fish.
Amidst the animated chatter and the hustle and bustle, Shigeru, a middle-aged man with a modest height, slender build, and tanned complexion, was joyfully engaged in conversation with the fishermen. He was none other than the inadvertent liberator of the ninja animal.
Tatsuma cast a glance towards Shigeru and observed that, nestled within his fish basket, were not stones, but rather a collection of lively and plump fish. In that moment, Tatsuma found himself tempted, contemplating the idea of joining the queue to savor the delectable offerings.
"Bang Bang"
Out of the blue, Tatsuma and Minato both felt a swift smacks, accompanied by an immediate influx of Chakra surging through their bodies. Their frames tensed up, and simultaneously, in the distant fish basket, the once lively fish were nowhere to be seen.
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