章 42: Land of iron
"How long has it been?" Arata asks the fellow clan member beside him, irritation and annoyance clear in his voice as his breath is visible in the cold.
"A week, Arata-san," the ninja beside him answers with a deep sigh, his own breath also visible in the chill.
Arata lets out a deep sigh as he stares at the snowy terrain before him, the sound of the horses' movement the only noise breaking the silence of the snow-covered forest.
"When we get back, make sure to tell Yamamoto-san everything that happened. I want to see if he can still smile in the face of Yamamoto-san's blade," he says, his words sending a chill down the spines of the surrounding ninjas as they silently wish Iroh good luck.
"How long till we reach our destination?" Arata asks, putting thoughts of Iroh to the back of his mind.
"An hour or so," the ninja beside him answers, gripping the reins of the horse tightly.
A moment of silence falls over the clansmen as they travel through the forest, their eyes constantly scanning for any signs of danger.
"Do you think they can do it?" the ninja beside Arata asks, breaking the quiet.
"I don't know, but if there's one thing I've learned these past five years, it's to always believe in your clansmen. I'm sure they're going to succeed," Arata answers, his words prompting nods from the others, a small smile spreading across their faces.
After an hour or so the view of the capital city was coming to view, its towering walls and glistening rooftops emerging from the horizon, reminding the Hima clan ninjas that their destination is near.
"Just a reminder before we get there: although the samurais and the Land of Iron are a neutral force, it doesn't mean we should act disrespectfully or disorderly in their territory. Make sure to be on your best behavior and follow my orders. We are only here to meet Lord Shizune to sell some iron, that's all," Arata warns the clansmen, receiving nods of understanding in return.
(A/N: for those who are confused Shizune is an Oc since I don't know who was leader before Mifune I decided to create one)
very soon they reach the front gate of the city where they are promptly stopped by the samurais guarding the entrance.
The guards, clad in traditional armor that gleamed even in the dim light of the cloudy sky, eyed the group with a mixture of suspicion and authority.
Arata stepped forward, adjusting his stance to convey both respect and confidence.
"Greetings," he called out, ensuring his voice carried across the snow-covered ground.
"We are here on business regarding iron trade with Lord Shizune. I would like to request passage into the city."
One of the samurai stepped closer, scrutinizing Arata's clan emblem emblazoned on his chest, the clan symbol looking quite unknown to him.
"Your intentions must be verified before you proceed," he replied sternly, crossing his arms over his chest. Arata nodded in understanding; protocol was paramount when dealing with such a powerful force as the samurais of the Land of Iron.
He gestured for one of his clansmen to step forward and present their travel documents—carefully prepared papers detailing their purpose for visiting and assurances that they meant no harm. The guard took a moment to examine them closely before glancing back at Arata. (A/n: I do not know if they actually collected travel documents but I decided to add it just to make it look more real, tell me if you think it doesn't fit in)
"You may enter," he finally declared after what felt like an eternity under scrutiny.
A wave of relief washed over Arata's group as they moved past the gates into the bustling streets beyond—vibrant shops filled with goods from distant lands lined either side while townsfolk went about their daily routines amidst laughter and conversations that echoed through alleys.
As they moved through narrow pathways leading toward Lord Shizune's estate, Arata couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation mixed with anxiety for what lay ahead—the negotiations not only involved precious resources but also held implications for alliances between the clan and the land of iron during these uncertain times, if Yamamoto and his team failed to complete the mission in time their say and stance in this upcoming negotiation would reduce a lot.
"Stay alert and watchful," he reminded everyone quietly as they approached Lord Shizune's estate.
Just as they were about to reach the gates, a loud and familiar laugh interrupted them.
They looked ahead to see Iroh and Lord Shizune coming out of the gate, each with a hand on the other's shoulder, laughing heartily.
A look of shock and confusion appeared on the group's faces as they struggled to understand what Iroh was doing there and how he came to meet Lord Shizune.
"Iroh-sama?" Arata called out, his face also filled with shock, but unlike the rest, he quickly recovered.
"Ah, there you guys are! I was wondering when you would come. What took you so long?" Iroh asked as soon as he spotted the group, his laughter growing.
"That's not important now. How did you meet Lord Shizune, and how did you get here before us?" Arata asked, his questions pouring out one by one.
"Ah, that's a long story. The short version is that my friend and I share a similar taste in tea and a love for stories," Iroh said, his words bringing...
the group's attention back to Shizune whose earlier laughing had reduced a little.
"Apologies, Lord Shizune. We were just on our way to meet you for a potential transaction between our clan and the Land of Iron. We deeply regret not greeting you sooner," Arata says, bowing deeply to show his sincerity.
Shizune watches him for a moment, her eyes scanning him and the group of ninjas before a wide grin spreads across her face as her gaze shifts to Iroh.
"He sure is a stiff one, isn't he?" Shizune says, her words making Iroh grin as well.
"Haha, that's what I keep telling him! He should learn to relax sometimes," Iroh laughs, giving Arata a hearty pat on the back. Arata's face twists, not in physical pain, but in embarrassment—having a woman as pretty as Shizune call him stiff stings. 'It's hopeless… I'm going to be a virgin for the rest of my life,' he thinks, a small tear slipping from his eye as he shakes slightly from Iroh's relentless pats.
"Hahaha, oh and that transaction, me and Iroh were talking about it a while ago," Shizune says laughing along with Iroh gently wiping the tears dropping from her face
"I would be willing to trade with your clan. After all, I trust Iroh and his strength—especially since he beat me in our recent sparring match," Shizune says, her laughter fading as she shoots Iroh a murderous glare, her trait as a sore loser on full display.
"And besides, who would refuse to trade with a clan capable of producing a ninja who could go toe-to-toe with a tailed beast and survive?" Shizune adds, her words shocking the entire group, including Iroh, as this was the first time any of them had heard of this.
"Oh, you didn't know?" Shizune asks, a mischievous glint in her grin as she considers teasing Iroh, but decides now isn't the right time. "His name is Yamamoto Hima, also known as the Inferno King. They say that wherever he goes, the temperature rises by a hundred degrees. He's also rumored to be the cause of that explosion that's been causing a stir in the ninja world. And, they say he's a master swordsman. As a samurai, I'd love to spar with him one day," Shizune recounts, sharing what she's learned. Her words leave the group increasingly shocked, realizing that the clan head's plan has been unfolding in unexpected ways.
'Eijisai… you just had to show off, didn't you,' Iroh thinks with a resigned smile, wondering when it will be his turn to have a cool nickname too.
"Anyway, let's head inside. We've got a lot to discuss," Shizune says with a laugh, already guessing what's on Iroh's mind as she pats his back. She leads the way into the estate, with the group trailing behind, still in shock from what they had just heard.
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