"Wu Qianling, dare you cry? If you shed a single tear, I'll send you back immediately!" Shigeo said coldly.
Everyone around froze. A girl acting spoiled—shouldn't she be comforted? Why threaten to send her away?
The others quietly vanished, even the tall man at Shigeo's side frowned.
Wu Qianling only smiled, her lips curving like a crescent moon. "I didn't come to cry. I came to welcome you, and to say goodbye. My mother asked me to watch over you for a year. That year has passed. From now on, go wherever you want. It's not my concern. But don't forget—you still have a whole village waiting for you to lead. Now that you're back, I can rest easy. I'm returning to the city."
She waved. Someone went to ready a ship at the shore. She gave Shigeo one last smile and turned.
After two steps, she stopped and said, "Don't worry. I won't cry anymore."
Then she walked toward the village gate.
After this brief exchange, Shigeo led the group into the village. The thirty-plus rogue shinobi behind him looked around curiously.
"So this is the former Sky Ninja base? Not what I expected. I heard the Sky Ninja had flying tech. I don't see anything flying."
"You know nothing. Sky Country is hunted by the Five Great Villages. If exposed, they'd be doomed. Didn't you see the mist when we approached? And the barrier around these seas? Only our village chief could weave such a vast barrier. It's for protecting Minami no Kuni."
"Yeah, yeah! No one else could do it. Just thinking of following him fills me with strength. He's my idol!"
Their voices were low, but Shigeo heard them.
He looked at the village. It had been a year and eight months since its founding. Small compared to the great villages, but already taking shape.
Over three thousand residents. About three hundred able to mold chakra.
It looked like many, but in truth, too few for what once was Sky Country's legacy.
Shigeo remembered: one year ago, when Sky Country left the southern shore of the Land of Rivers, the Sky Ninja were disbanded. Anyone who had attacked the Five Villages was expelled. The old power no longer existed.
Minami no Kuni had abandoned the name Sky Country. The past was smoke. Now their task was to grow, and to protect their people.
"Chief is back! This is today's hare from the mountain. Please take it for your meal." A hunter offered a rabbit.
"Chief, here, I caught a grouper at sea. Very tasty. Please accept it!" Another fisherman offered.
"No, no, I have plenty at home. Keep them." Shigeo refused, but the two had already shoved the gifts into his hands and slipped away.
He turned and handed them to Wumang. "Send these to Granny Chen. Add them to lunch for everyone."
"Yes!" Wumang accepted.
The men behind whispered again. "Our chief is so well loved. A kind, warm leader. We'll live well here."
"Yes, yes! I already feel like I belong in this family."
Wumang glanced back, lips curling in a cold sneer, but said nothing.
That afternoon, the village held a welcoming assembly. The hall was lively. The thirty-odd newcomers gave gifts, and the villagers welcomed them warmly. Someone played the erhu, people sang and danced. Joy filled the air.
At night, quarters were prepared for them. Harmony seemed complete.
The next morning, the group gathered again at village headquarters. Shigeo himself received them.
Now they had to choose: to live as ordinary villagers, or as shinobi. As outsiders, they could only join the ninja village proper if they chose the latter. Ordinary life meant fending for themselves.
"We'll be shinobi! That's why we came here! No need to ask, we'll follow you!" they declared before Wumang finished.
Faces glowed with excitement, as if they had already become elite.
Shigeo, seated at the chief's desk, smiled. "Good. I knew you had vision. Then report to the Ninja Academy."
"What? Ninja Academy? Chief, I'm thirty years old! You want me in school?"
"Yeah, we're all adults!"
They shouted in protest. Shigeo was unmoved. "Only a short training. To learn village rules, oaths, and laws. Besides…"
He rose suddenly. His gaze chilled. "Are you certain your ninjutsu needs no learning?"
The words froze not only the thirty, but also Wumang, Jinshi, and Hongyan at his side.
The trio glanced at the newcomers. Silence held until one man stepped forward. "Chief, I won't claim I'm the strongest. But I'm certain I'm jonin-level. I can take missions now!"
Shigeo's brow twitched. His eyes darkened. He glanced at Jinshi. Jinshi shook his head. Shigeo clenched a fist. "Here's how. Report to the academy. Learn the village's laws. In three days, I will test you myself. Pass, and you'll skip further schooling. Any objections?"
"No objections! We'll do our best!" they cheered, filing out.
Shigeo looked back at the mound of paperwork on his desk. He muttered, "This isolation policy is killing our village. We can't even take a single mission from outside."
(End of Chapter)
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