Jinshi lowered his head slightly and said, "Yes. Now we only have tasks inside Minami City. Some protection contracts were agreed half a year ago. Other commissions are trivial—finding chickens, chasing ducks, catching cats, walking dogs. Nothing external at all."
Shigeo knew why. A year and a half ago, after the Sky Ninja raided the Five Great Villages, he had moved Wuwang City overseas and built a new country. To protect the people, Wu Youhua sealed the nation tight.
The land was veiled in year-round mist. Barriers guarded every approach. The only exit lay past reefs and hidden islands, a single channel.
For over a year, investigators had come south to look for Sky Country. All failed.
And Wu Youhua, determined to keep him here, had used the most extreme measures.
Shigeo still remembered it vividly.
A year and a half ago, after leaving Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha, he returned to distant Wuwang City, not yet renamed Minami no Kuni.
Word spread quickly of his escape from the Uchiha of Konoha, injuring many shinobi and ANBU of the Five Villages. Soon Wu Youhua heard.
She pleaded for three days and nights, circling him, begging him not to leave.
At that time, Shigeo had returned only to say farewell, planning to become a wandering shinobi. He did not want to burden Sky Country. But Wu Youhua blocked him. In front of the entire city, she threatened to leap to her death if he left.
Tens of thousands gathered beneath the city tower, kneeling, weeping. Wu Youhua stood on the ramparts, gripping little Wu Qianling's hand, her face resolute.
"If not for you, we would already be dead. In life we are yours, in death your ghosts. If you go, we go. If you die, we die. The Five Villages are hunting you. If you leave, we'll follow you to the ends of the world! Choose!"
Wu Youhua clutched Wu Qianling's tiny hand, gambling on Shigeo's heart, gambling the future of Wuwang City.
"We're not forcing you to protect us. We only don't want you to walk into death. One year. Stay one year. After that, go wherever you like. I won't hold you."
Before the entire city, Shigeo promised aloud. He would not leave for one year.
Over that year, outside rumors spread wildly, but the Five Villages never found the real Shigeo. Friction cooled.
Later, the Five Great Nations asked themselves: if they did find him, could they truly defeat him?
No one knew if he had spared them, or if they were lucky.
Though ANBU still searched, no village ever issued a kill-on-sight order.
His legend spread, admired but doubted. Could one boy truly oppose five villages? None could say.
Now Shigeo stared at his three aides. "Damn. No external missions at all. How are we supposed to live?"
"The ten chests of jewels you gave last time still last. The village has three water pumps and generators now. Don't worry. We're improving fast," Jinshi answered calmly.
"That's not the point. Whatever. Maybe a mysterious Minami no Kuni is fine too." Shigeo rubbed his brow and rose. He had to respect the people's will.
"Chief, where are you going? So many files left unsigned," Jinshi asked.
"Fishing."
Mist drifted across the sea. A lone boat floated. Shigeo lay on the deck, fishing rod in hand, eyes closed, already dozing.
"Help… help… someone save me…"
A faint plea echoed, soft and sorrowful. Shigeo sat up, scanned around. His line floated idle, waves rolling gently. No one was there.
He opened his mirror-sense. The ninja isle, the sea, the reefs, ten li around—all normal. A dream?
He shook his head. His bait was gone. He reset the hook and cast again, reclined, eyes closed.
"Help me… someone, is anyone there… save me…"
A woman's voice. Suppressed, desperate, quiet but laden with sorrow.
Shigeo stood. Not a dream.
He had woven a barrier of mist five hundred li across, sealing three hundred li around. He sat at its center. Normally, no one could enter.
His sensing range was ten li. He had just checked. No signs.
Then the voice came from beyond.
Normally, no one should pass the barrier. They'd have to cross the reefs first. Still, it wasn't impossible.
Shigeo reeled in his rod, guided the boat forward, eyes closed, feeling. Only waves lapped.
"Who's calling?" he asked softly.
"I… I'm here…"
The answer came, starry, ethereal, faintly echoing over the water.
"Chief, still fishing? It's late. Time to go back." Evening fell. The western sky glowed red-gold. Two fishing boats passed, waving.
Villagers.
"Oh, you go ahead." Shigeo waved back. Then he asked, "By the way, did you hear anything strange while fishing? Someone calling for help?"
"No, Chief. Maybe you dreamed again." The fishermen laughed.
(End of Chapter)
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