To catch that slippery eel, Shigeo even used a Fūinjutsu (Sealing Technique) to suppress all his chakra, and asked Cheng-da to arrange for him to join a grain-smuggling caravan trading between the Land of Rain and the Land of Earth.
Grain—no matter the time or place—is always the most sought-after resource.
Especially for traders who cross borders. As long as they reached their destination safely and kept the cargo dry and mold-free, they could sell it at a fine price.
Shigeo had joined the caravan with only one hope—to encounter Ame-Neri.
"Hey! You lot, can't you push harder? The mountain path's rough enough, and you're crawling like slugs! If the goods are late, will you take responsibility? Move! Push faster, damn it!"
The man shouting was named Chen Mazi, a temporary team leader. The original leader had been injured, so the task fell to him. He was petty and vile—fawning on those stronger than himself, yet bullying the weak mercilessly. He treated the laborers like dirt beneath his boots.
Along the road, the others bore it in silence, unwilling to stir up trouble.
After many days of travel, the caravan finally left the rain-soaked region of the Land of Rain and neared the border of the Land of Earth. Ahead lay the Beiling Pass, mountains rising to block the way. At the checkpoint, Iwagakure (Hidden Stone) ninja examined their cargo and travel papers before letting them through.
Heading farther north, then west, the conditions worsened.
Though the terrain beyond Beiling Pass flattened out, with plenty of farmland, the soil here was barren. Still, compared to the rocky north of the Land of Earth or the endless deserts of the Land of Wind, this region was far better suited for farming.
But the land lay desolate. The villages they passed had only a few skeletal elders left behind. When the caravan appeared, the old folk knelt by the road, pleading:
"Please… are there any ninja among you? We'll give everything we have. Please save us…"
Seeing this, Shigeo asked, "Why are you looking for ninja, old man? If you need help, you can go to Iwagakure, can't you?"
"We can't walk that far… are there ninja in your group?"
Crack!
As Shigeo spoke, Chen Mazi stormed over and lashed at him with his whip. "Bastard! Who told you to talk to them? Keep your mouth shut unless you're tired of living! If you want to die, I'll help you right now—better that than dragging the rest of us down!"
The front members turned, eyes flashing with anger.
Da Zhuang stepped in and blocked the whip, forcing a smile. "Captain, calm down. Don't worry, I'll talk to him. We won't cause trouble. Here, take this, Captain…"
For days, Chen Mazi had been picking on Shigeo—borrowing money, demanding bribes to "keep him" in the caravan. After Shigeo refused several times, Chen only grew nastier.
Now Da Zhuang handed him something wrapped in cloth. Chen Mazi snorted and opened it—a pair of thick silver bangles, women's jewelry but heavy enough to fetch good money. He grinned.
Da Zhuang had looked after Shigeo the whole journey. But now, seeing him offer gifts on his behalf, Shigeo's patience snapped.
"What are you doing? That's my problem, not yours!" Shigeo reached to snatch the bangles back, but Da Zhuang caught his hand.
"Can you calm down for once? Life isn't that simple. Look around—everyone's just trying to survive. So I'm begging you, please understand the situation!" Da Zhuang shoved him aside and walked back toward the wagons.
Chen Mazi laughed. "That's right. Learn some sense, boy. Life will be much easier for you."
Shigeo's anger burned. He stormed after Da Zhuang, grabbed his collar, and snarled, "Who asked you to meddle? I handle my own problems."
"If I didn't, you'd already be dead! Do you even know where we are? North of Beiling Pass—bandit territory! If Chen Mazi tosses you out, you're done for. You saw those villages, right? Why do you think no one farms and all the young men are gone? Because this place isn't safe. The old folks beg ninja for help because bandits raid them constantly. But no ninja bothers coming here. When they do, the bandits vanish. When they leave, the bandits return to rob and kill. You're thirteen, maybe fourteen. Who could you possibly fight? Who could you protect?" Da Zhuang's voice rose in fury.
Up front, the others looked back but said nothing. Only Chen Mazi smirked. "Now that's a smart lad. We need more people like Da Zhuang in this caravan!"
Shigeo let out a cold snort and glared at the taller boy. "Don't make yourself into a joke."
Then he turned away.
Da Zhuang clenched his teeth. "Don't be ungrateful. I was only trying to help…"
Shigeo said nothing. He knew the boy meant well—but he didn't need anyone's help if it meant bowing to scum.
That night, the caravan found an abandoned village to camp in. At last, they wouldn't have to sleep in the open.
They unloaded the carts into one hut and tied the horses in a ruined sheep pen. A few men took turns keeping watch while the rest squeezed into a single room to sleep.
In a corner, Shigeo tossed the pair of bangles onto Da Zhuang's blanket. "Take them back," he whispered. "I'm not one for pointless pride, but I don't humor men like Chen Mazi. I have my reasons. Don't underestimate me."
His voice was low, but Da Zhuang heard every word. He tucked the bangles away and murmured, "Sorry. I didn't mean to humiliate you. I've been with the caravan four years. I know what kind of man Chen Mazi is. More than a few kids have died because of him. I just didn't want you to be next."
He spoke barely above a breath, as though afraid someone else might hear.
(End of Chapter)
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