High crime rate, poor relationships between neighbors, little to no job opportunities, no financial prospects, high population outflow, a deep-rooted fear of the Mist Ninja, and a general distrust of authority...
If Yagura were playing one of those city-building simulation games from his previous life, he'd probably be thinking:
"A bunch of troublesome villagers!"
But unlike the NPCs in those games, artificially designed to increase difficulty, these people were real. They struggled to survive in a harsh world, enduring genuine suffering.
...
Yagura spent nearly two hours chatting with the innkeeper, casually asking whatever came to mind.
Inns, taverns, and casinos—these kinds of places were the best sources of information. As the proprietor of this inn, the woman naturally had access to all kinds of news.
Her customers weren't locals, they were travelers stopping for the night. Meanwhile, she had lived in this town for decades. Whether it was the situation in this town, the broader conditions of the Land of Water, or even the nation's political climate, she could speak on all of it.
If it weren't so late and if she weren't already looking tired, Yagura would have liked to keep talking.
"It's getting late. Let's call it a night."
Yawning, Yagura waved a hand to cut off the conversation. "Time to sleep. Gotta work tomorrow."
His tone was so natural, so much like someone who had actually held a job, that the innkeeper couldn't help but chuckle. The exchange made her feel unexpectedly close to him.
"You're different from the other ninjas I've met."
She had seen many before, but none like Yagura—none who would willingly lend a helping hand or sit down to converse as equals, without an air of arrogance.
"Of course I'm different."
Yagura gave her a warm smile. "I'll take that as a compliment. Thanks."
"Alright then, please rest well."
She handed him a key card. "Consider this a gift. My way of showing appreciation. Please don't refuse."
"Alright. Thanks~"
Yagura accepted it. It worked out perfectly—three people, two beds.
Sharing a bed with Ringo Ameyuri? Not happening.
Sharing a bed with Mukumo? A disaster waiting to happen.
The only person he'd ever shared a bed with was Mangetsu. A dedicated man, truly loyal~
...
Yagura found his single room on the first floor, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. Lying on the bed, he mentally reviewed all the information he had gathered about the Land of Water's current state.
...Sigh.
To put it simply—poor and brutal.
It wasn't just Kirigakure, the entire nation was suffering. According to the innkeeper, this town, being relatively close to the Hidden Mist, was considered one of the larger settlements in the Land of Water.
And yet, even a "large" town looked this rundown.
No wonder the official Naruto world-building guide rated both the Land of Water and the Land of Wind's economies at just two stars.
For reference: the Land of Earth also had two stars, while the Land of Fire had four, and the Land of Lightning had five.
This was Yagura's first time leaving Kirigakure. Until now, his grandfather had kept him on a tight leash.
But some things had to be seen firsthand to truly understand what "two stars" meant.
"Wasn't there a certain elder managing the village's economy...? But I suppose the overall nation's affairs fall under the Daimyō's control."
He sighed.
These were problems far beyond his reach.
Stretching out lazily, Yagura decided not to dwell on things he couldn't change yet.
Exhausted from the day's events, he quickly drifted into a dreamless sleep...
...
Next Morning
8:00 AM.
A ninja's internal clock was precise.
7:45 AM, wake up.
Five minutes to freshen up, five minutes to take the shower he skipped last night, five minutes to handle personal needs.
Right on the dot at 8:00 AM, he opened his door and greeted his teammates: "Morning!"
Retrieving the backpack he had left with Mukumo, Yagura grinned at Jinin Akebino.
"Didn't keep you waiting, did I?"
The second hand of the quartz clock on the wall ticked precisely to the 12.
Not late.
Yagura, master of perfectly timed arrivals for thirty years.
Jinin Akebino scoffed but couldn't argue. "Enough talking. Let's go."
The innkeeper was still asleep, and the main doors remained shut.
But for shinobi, scaling walls and sneaking in or out was second nature.
Leaving behind the key, the four of them slipped away silently.
Two hours later, the innkeeper finally woke up. Realizing the time, she rushed to the front desk, only to find the key cards neatly placed there.
"They've already left..."
Her initial worry faded, replaced by a strange emptiness.
Sighing, she got to work—cleaning the lobby, tidying up, beginning another routine day like any other.
"Hmm? What's this?"
Underneath the key cards lay a note.
[I forgot to introduce myself last night. I am the Fourth Mizukage (future) Karatachi Yagura. Remember this name well—we may meet again~~]
...
A baby's wail broke the silence.
"Waaah! Waaah!!"
"Alright, alright, I'm coming!"
Carefully folding the note and locking it away in a drawer, the innkeeper let out a rare smile before turning to soothe the crying child.
"Honestly, what's with you? Can't be away from your mom for a second?"
...
Leaving the town, the squad spent an entire day traveling on foot.
By nightfall, they arrived at their mission target's residence.
A massive estate.
Yagura couldn't help but curse.
The mansion in front of him was taller than the Mizukage's office.
"Halt!"
Two guards unsheathed their swords, barring Jinin Akebino's path. Their gazes were wary.
"Identify yourselves!"
Jinin didn't even bother looking at them. "Shinobi."
The guards didn't lower their weapons, and Jinin's dismissive attitude only irritated them further.
"This is the estate of Minister Ashikaga! No one enters without permission!"
"Hah? Your master didn't inform you?"
Jinin barely restrained himself from slicing them in half.
"Your boss hired Kirigakure shinobi for a protection detail. I'm the one who accepted the mission."
The two guards exchanged looks.
"Wait here. I'll report inside."
One of them sheathed his sword and hurried into the mansion.
"Tch, missions like this are a pain," Jinin grumbled.
He much preferred assassinations, massacres—anything quick and direct.
"You three, scout the area."
Turning to his team, he ordered, "Map out the surroundings and bring me a sketch in an hour."
Aside from shuriken physics, cartography was a must-learn skill for shinobi.
Yagura, meanwhile, was utterly clueless about how to draw a map.
Before he could even react, Ringo Ameyuri and Mukumo had already split up, swiftly assigning themselves zones to scout.
Well, since he didn't know how to map the area...
Might as well slack off.
Using the cover of night, Yagura scaled the mansion walls and infiltrated the estate. His designated area was this massive residence—large enough to house countless overworked salarymen.
Silently sprinting across the rooftops, he observed the numerous guards patrolling below.
Some were personal retainers of the estate's owner, while others were hired ronin.
Judging by their clothing, the difference was clear—the retainers looked professional, while the ronin appeared as if they hadn't bathed in days.
"Seems like this young master knows he's being targeted."
Glancing at the ragged-looking mercenaries, Yagura ducked lower, blending into the roof's shadows.
Waiting.
For the big fish to take the bait.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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