Chapter 111: The Ace Has Arrived
The spy Miko recognized the bounty hunter who had come for her. Although she didn't know which rank of ninja he held, seeing his speed, Nonō Yakushi knew she was no match for him.
If it weren't for that strange ninja stepping in to help, she would likely have become a corpse by now.
Nodding to that ninja, the spy Miko did not immediately reveal her identity. She wanted to confirm whether this country was truly as she imagined—different from the Five Great Nations, genuinely striving for peace.
The last time she was here, the one in power was still Hanzo of the Salamander. Danzo had sent her to investigate the distribution of power in the Land of Rain, as well as the recent status of the battle between the Land of Earth and the Land of Rain. It could be said that her intelligence had played a part in Danzo coming to the Land of Rain to incite Hanzo. She also knew of Akatsuki's existence—that once small organization had now somehow absorbed the entire Uchiha clan.
Upon entering Amegakure, an expression of disbelief appeared on Nonō Yakushi's gentle and beautiful face. No matter how you looked at it, modifying the architecture, which was originally so high that only ninja could navigate it by adhering with chakra, into buildings that ordinary people could now enter within one or two years was simply astonishing.
Outside Amegakure, there were many refugees who had lost their homes due to the war, being registered and receiving food. Tents that could shelter them from the rain were set up outdoors. Those with chakra control who could work within Amegakure could be assigned a decent house and become foreign personnel of Akatsuki.
Other than not being able to wear the black robe with red clouds, the foreign personnel of Akatsuki could already freely enter and exit Amegakure and could easily survive in this emerging city.
Their descendants would also have the opportunity to enter Akatsuki's internal training institutions to study.
Although Amegakure did not yet have a formal ninja academy, and the transmission of ninjutsu was entirely dependent on fate, this was already a testament to their values.
This was simply unimaginable during a period of war.
Someone actually cared about the lives of refugees and children.
The spy Miko's dark green eyes shone faintly. She slowly blended into the crowd of refugees. Although her nun's white robe was stained with a lot of mud and raindrops, it still couldn't hide her distinct aura.
She quickly attracted the attention of the person doing the registration. Standing next to this registrar was a formal member of Akatsuki whose beauty was not inferior to her own. This was also the reason she had deliberately exposed her whereabouts.
"What is your name?"
"Nonō Yakushi."
"Where are you from, what professions have you held, and can you use chakra?"
"I am from Konohagakure in the Land of Fire. I have served as the chief of the medical corps, an intelligence collector, a front-line scout, and the leader of the intelligence division. I can use chakra."
This resume startled the registrar so much that his arm trembled. He looked up at the woman before him, whose eyes were curved into a smile, swallowed hard, and continued to ask the questions on his list.
"May I ask if you have ever been in the Land of Rain..."
"Stop. Don't ask any more."
Konan, who had been observing this white-robed woman from the side for a long time, stepped forward and stopped the registrar from continuing his questioning. She pulled the woman aside.
"Were you once a member of Root?"
"Yes. Codename 'The Walking Miko.' Konoha is still hunting me, so I came to this country."
Konan couldn't be sure if this woman was telling the truth, and she was a little worried that she might have other motives. But to appear so openly in Amegakure, she was either extremely confident in her own strength, or she was a defector who had nothing to hide.
Thinking of the Uchiha clan and Kakashi Hatake, who had also come from Konoha, Konan released a white paper that folded into a small bird and flew towards the leader's mansion not far away.
I'll let them verify the truth.
Inside the leader's mansion, Kakashi and Yahiko were still processing the information from the Tsuchikage, Onoki. This old man's ambition was not small. Knowing full well that the Uchiha had only just joined Amegakure a year ago, he had made such a request to borrow men for a war. If they refused, the Land of Earth would turn against the Land of Rain. If they agreed, they would immediately violate Akatsuki's founding principle of peace. This dilemma gave Yahiko a major headache.
He wished he could go to the Land of Earth right now and argue with that stubborn old man again. It is said that the longer one lives, the more one understands the value of life, but why did the Tsuchikage still insist on provoking an irreconcilable conflict?
Kakashi actually already had a solution in mind, but to fundamentally change Akatsuki's philosophy, he needed an opportunity—to convince Yahiko.
A small bird folded from a piece of paper fluttered its wings outside the window. The silver-haired young man opened the window, and the small bird landed on his arm.
"It must be something urgent."
Unfolding the paper bird, turning it back into a sheet of white paper, Kakashi quickly scanned the text. Using his chakra to sense the direction of the city gate where Konan was, he indeed felt an extremely faint, unfamiliar chakra.
"Interesting."
Just as he said he needed an opportunity, one came knocking on his door. It was like getting a pillow just as you're getting sleepy.
"Did something happen?"
"We might be getting a new member."
Leaping out of the window, he dropped straight down from the high place onto the hard ground without cushioning his fall. Kakashi slightly stimulated his body, and in less than two minutes, he arrived at the edge of the city gate and came face to face with the rumored Root spy.
Seeing that Kakashi had arrived, Konan continued to observe the refugees to see if there were any other potential ninja among them.
The sky was drizzling at this moment, a light rain that didn't affect one's mood. Nonō Yakushi took off her white hood from behind, revealing her entire face. This was the first time she had seen this young man up close—the one who had killed Danzo, thus freeing her, and had also aided the orphanage in the Land of Water.
He was about the same as she had imagined, but he lacked the calm stability of the White Fang of Konoha. If his father was a sheathed, sharp blade, then he was like a dagger flashing with a cold light.
Openly righteous, yet also prone to falling into darkness.
This kind of child... needs someone to guide him onto the right path.
"Don't look at me with those eyes..."
This was the first time Kakashi had seen a woman look at him with such a gaze—pity mixed with a trace of care. This woman wasn't much older than him, and her strength wasn't that great either.
What is she trying to do, treating me like a child?
"Kakashi Hatake?"
"To be able to recognize me at a glance, as expected of Root's ace spy."
Not minding the slightly hostile tone of the person before her, Nonō Yakushi soon did something astonishing.
She slowly raised her right hand. Just as Kakashi thought she was preparing to use some fancy ninjutsu and raised his guard, the other's hand landed on his hair and gently ruffled it twice.
"??? Woman, is there something wrong with you?"
Pushing away the second pat on the head, Kakashi was taller than Nonō Yakushi. As long as he paid a little attention, it was impossible for the other to make such a move.
"So similar, your hair color."
"Kabuto? Yakushi Kabuto?"
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 50 advanced chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Leanzin