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On the official road leading to Konoha, the daimyo's motorcade appeared.
However, the speed of their advance was very slow, not like they were in a hurry to travel.
Inside the spacious carriage, the scent of incense intertwined with the unique fragrance of women, making one's heart slightly stir.
Uchiha Kasumi knelt beside Shin, her slender hands pouring him a cup of sake.
"My lord, please have a taste. This is something I specially warmed for you."
Her voice was seductive to the bone, her breath like orchids.
Shin took the cup and drank it in one gulp.
His peripheral vision, however, fell on Kurenai Yuhi, who was sitting upright opposite him.
The young girl was clearly very uncomfortable with this luxurious atmosphere.
Her small hands were nervously clasped on her lap, her gaze drifting out the window, pretending to look at the rapidly receding scenery.
But her earlobes had already subtly flushed red.
"Yuhi, we're almost home. Why are you still nervous?" Shin's gentle voice sounded, with a hint of teasing.
Kurenai Yuhi's body trembled slightly, and she quickly turned her head, meeting Shin's smiling eyes, her cheeks growing even hotter.
"No... no, my lord," she argued softly, but without much conviction.
"Is that so?" Shin chuckled softly, handing the wine glass back to Uchiha Kasumi. "I thought you were already thinking about what to say after returning home."
He still remembered the girl's courageous appearance when she asked to travel with him yesterday.
He also remembered the brilliant smile that bloomed on her face after he agreed.
The teasing at this moment was more like a harmless joke.
Having her thoughts exposed, Kurenai Yuhi lowered her head even further, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of the carriage wheels on the road. "You're making fun of me, my lord..."
"What's there to be made fun of? It's just human nature."
Shin waved his hand casually, playing with Uchiha Kasumi's soft, boneless hand, his gaze also turning to the window, seemingly appreciating the scenery.
"When you go back this time, relax properly."
A simple sentence warmed Kurenai Yuhi's heart, and her taut nerves relaxed a little.
She could feel that this high and mighty daimyo was expressing concern in a way she could accept.
"Yes, thank you for your concern, my lord." Her voice was still soft, but her words were much more sincere.
Shin nodded slightly, then closed his eyes and leaned back on the cushion, pretending to nap.
In reality, his perception had already extended outwards, monitoring every blade of grass and tree within several miles around.
Inside the carriage, for a moment, only the faint sound of the wheels rolling remained.
Just as Kurenai Yuhi thought this silence would continue, a cup of fruit tea with a sweet aroma was suddenly handed to her.
She looked up and met Uchiha Kasumi's smiling, foxy eyes.
"Sister Yuhi, don't be nervous. Have some fruit tea." Kasumi's voice was soft, with a natural sense of closeness.
"Ah... thank you, Sister Kasumi." Kurenai Yuhi took the teacup, a little overwhelmed.
Uchiha Kasumi took the opportunity to sit beside her. "What silly things are you saying?"
She intimately linked her arm with Kurenai Yuhi's and chuckled softly. "We are sisters. We should look out for each other."
"Speaking of which, we both came from Konoha, so we're practically from the same hometown."
One sentence instantly closed the distance between the two.
Being from Konoha made Kurenai Yuhi feel much closer, and the slight distance and unease in her heart gradually faded.
Looking at this charming older sister, who was incredibly friendly to her, she immediately developed a good impression.
"Mm! Sister Kasumi is right!" She nodded vigorously.
Shin, who was resting with his eyes closed, subtly curved the corners of his mouth.
Smart women always know what to do.
On the other side of the carriage, Uchiha Kasumi was leaning into Kurenai Yuhi's ear, softly telling her some interesting stories about Konoha.
Every now and then, it would cause the thin-skinned girl to let out one or two suppressed giggles, and the atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant.
The slow pace of the motorcade naturally could not escape the Guardian Shinobi, who were elite shinobi.
An hour later, Asuma finally could not hold back.
He moved a few times, landing in the middle of the procession, walking alongside Nara Shikato.
"Hey, Shikato, this speed... isn't it a bit too slow?"
Nara Shikato glanced at the steadily moving carriage ahead and whispered. "Have you ever seen a fisherman in a hurry to pull in his net?"
Asuma fell silent instantly.
He gripped the chakra blade at his waist and silently retreated to his original position.
Nara Shikato looked at his back, scanned the quiet forest around them, and a wry smile appeared on his face.
Using oneself as bait to lure the snake out of its hole.
This daimyo's courage truly made one look at him with new eyes.
No wonder he could speak such bold words.
Just then, his peripheral vision caught a fleeting glimpse of a shadowy figure almost merged with the tree shadows.
That shadow flashed and disappeared in the distant woods.
It was a Shadow Guard.
Nara Shikato's eyes narrowed instantly.
What terrifying concealment techniques.
As a colleague, he knew of the existence of this unit.
But it was only now, witnessing them move like ghosts in broad daylight, that he truly understood the terror of this force.
Ostensibly, the daimyo was protected by the Guardian Shinobi Twelve.
But secretly, it was a net woven by the Shadow Guard.
And the daimyo himself served as bait, attracting potential enemies.
From the very beginning, they were here to hunt.
At the end of the motorcade, Orochimaru extended his tongue and licked his lips, also noticing the figures moving in the shadows.
He chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes.
The journey ahead should be very interesting.
The autumn wind was cold, stirring up fallen leaves everywhere.
The daimyo's motorcade continued its unhurried advance.
At Konoha, in the Hokage's office, Minato was discussing the arrangements for receiving the daimyo with two elders.
Just then, an Anbu reported that the daimyo's motorcade had left the capital and was heading towards Konoha.
Minato nodded and asked. "What about the guards? How many did the daimyo bring?"
The Anbu said. "Ostensibly, only the Guardian Shinobi Twelve. I dared not inquire further about the others!"
"Hmm!" Minato realized he had made a foolish mistake and quickly asked again. "How long will it take for the daimyo to reach Konoha?"
The Anbu replied. "At the current speed, it will take at least two days to arrive."
Minato's brows furrowed instantly, and he paced back and forth in the room.
From the capital to Konoha, a normal carriage ride would certainly not take this long.
Even though he knew the daimyo's purpose for this trip was to fish.
Yet, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"What about the shinobi we sent to meet them?" Stopping his pacing, Minato asked again.
"They are expected to meet up with the daimyo's motorcade around noon today."
"Understood." Minato waved his hand. "Continue to scout. I want to know every rustle of leaves along the way."
"Report every hour."
"Yes!"
The Anbu's figure once again turned into an afterimage, disappearing from the office.
It was only then that Homura said with concern. "Minato, the daimyo has taken on the responsibility that should be ours. We must ensure the daimyo's safety!"
"Don't worry!" Minato reassured him, then asked. "Are all the preparations for the reception in the village ready?"
Homura nodded, his expression serious. "Everything has been prepared according to the highest standards."
"That's good!" Minato nodded slightly, and only after confirming there were no omissions did he relax a little.
His gaze turned to the window. The village appeared peaceful and serene in the sunlight.
In the depths of his blue eyes, a cold glint flashed.
He hoped those from Kumogakure wouldn't do anything foolish.
Otherwise... he, the Yellow Flash, wouldn't mind making them recall the cruelty and terror of war once more.