For Ino, who had initially mastered Steam Impurities Explosion, there were currently very few problems that money couldn't solve! If it couldn't be solved, it was definitely because not enough money was offered.
Escorting Shibuki to Konoha Village, the two agreed that this was a C-rank mission. Since the journey to Konoha was considered Ino's private job, it naturally couldn't be recorded in her mission history. Fortunately, she had already completed eight missions, so she truly didn't care about her Ninja resume; as long as the money was in place, that was fine.
The reward for a C-rank mission is generally between 30,000 and 100,000. Konoha and Takigakure Village are allies, so usually the lowest amount, 30,000 Ryo, is taken. When Ino heard it was only 30,000 Ryo, she turned to leave. Shibuki increased it to 100,000 Ryo, and only then did she agree.
In fact, Ino also knew that most of Shibuki's money had been taken by Tsunade, but she didn't despise this small amount. She was a poor person, and her philosophy was to accumulate small amounts to make a lot. Earning money, it's not shameful!
The two headed towards Konoha Village.
The name Shibuki was unremarkable, and Ino didn't think much of it at first, but when Shibuki revealed his true identity, she was truly startled.
"What? You said the previous Ninja leader of Takigakure Village was your father?"
Shibuki nodded sadly.
Ino sighed, thinking, 'Good heavens, this is another man who can write 'My Village Chief Father' in an essay.'
However, the leader of Takigakure Village couldn't be called a 'Kage' like Konoha or Hidden Mist; he could only be called a Ninja Village leader. Ever since Kakuzu stole the 'Grudge Earth,' this Village had declined.
Ino didn't specifically curry favor. What if he had a Village Chief father? The strength of Ino–Shika–Choji was no weaker than these medium-sized Ninja Villages, and Shibuki's fearful appearance really couldn't inspire much respect.
Not long after leaving the small town, the expected and reasonable attack came.
Three guys without Ninja headbands burst out from three directions, each looking fierce and menacing, their Kunai glinting with cold light.
Shibuki let out a scream, then, with lightning speed, he hugged his head and squatted down defensively, eyes tightly shut, his posture utterly unsightly.
Ino was stunned. 'Your Village Chief father was probably angered to death by your pathetic behavior, wasn't he?'
"Don't come any closer!"
"Stay away from me!"
"Be careful, all of you be careful! I'm very powerful when I get angry! I'll kill you all!"
Shibuki's words were quite harsh, but his posture really lacked any deterrent power.
Ino still had quite a professional ethic; since she took his money, she had to protect him well.
"I knew this money wouldn't be easy to earn!"
She sighed, then formed hand signs.
If it were Kakashi's Team 7, they would have charged in recklessly without a second thought.
As a member of Team 10, Asuma, a former Guardian Ninja, had repeatedly emphasized the importance of protecting the mission target during missions, and Ino had taken this to heart.
She started with the extremely strong defensive Ninjutsu, "Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
A swirling wall of water blocked the three attackers. The three were bewildered, trying to stab the water wall with their Kunai, only to find that they couldn't break through it at all. Unable to find a way through, up, down, left, or right, the three could neither advance nor retreat, feeling strangely awkward.
These three were, at most, Genin, and they were no longer a threat in Ino's eyes. She asked Shibuki, "Wake up, stop trembling, hey hey!? I'm calling you! Yes, yes, yes, look into my eyes. These three outside must have something to do with you, right? Do you want them alive or dead?"
Shibuki gritted his teeth for a long time: "They are all, all accomplices, villains, coveting our Village's... If possible, if possible, just knock them out."
"Alright."
Ino didn't object to her employer's request. After quickly forming hand signs, a Water Dragon Bullet swept the three attackers into the sky. After the water dragon dissipated, the three fell to the ground like Chiaotzu, breaking their legs and instantly falling unconscious.
"Is that Ninjutsu of yours a Water Dragon Bullet?" Shibuki was more knowledgeable than Ino had imagined.
"Yes."
"I also know that Ninjutsu. Your hand sign speed seems, seems very fast?"
Ino smiled without speaking, and Shibuki also realized his words were a bit taboo, lowering his head in embarrassment.
The two continued their journey. That evening, they arrived at a valley. Ino used the Summoning Technique to summon Kubisaki, who was still in the form of a Ghost Fortress.
Shibuki, holding a cold rice ball, was stunned by the sudden appearance of the giant castle.
On the way from Kubisaki Ridge to the Land of Waterfall, Ino had stuffed a lot of food and daily necessities into the castle, including firewood, rice, oil, and salt. She changed her clothes, then politely invited Shibuki to dinner.
"Alright, there are many rooms on the first floor; you can pick any one to rest. I'm on the second floor. If there's nothing else, hurry and rest. We have to travel tomorrow."
"Yes, yes."
Shibuki found a room closest to the door.
As a Ghost Fortress with a fifty-year history, Kubisaki had killed many passersby and adventurers. There were many rooms inside the castle. Ino, busy as she was, only tidied up some obvious bones, without a thorough, corner-to-corner cleaning.
Shibuki couldn't sleep at all in the room. He felt an eerie presence in the castle, as if something was watching him.
He bravely searched the room and eventually found a skull under the bed that seemed to be grinning.
At night, the windows occasionally made 'clack clack' sounds, and subtle footsteps and cries sometimes came from outside the door.
Given a choice, he would rather sleep in a tent in the wilderness than stay in this old castle.
He wanted to get out, but found he couldn't find the door at all.
The next morning, Shibuki, tormented all night, crawled out of the castle, watching Ino cancel the Summoning Technique.
After all, he was the Village Chief's son, so he had basic knowledge. He looked at the empty space after the summoned beast disappeared, secretly calculating the size of the summoned beast and the Chakra consumed.
Finally, he arrived at an astonishing number.
He looked at Ino as if she were a monster. 'Is this a Genin from Konoha Village? Do all your Konoha Genin have such strength? It seems the previous generation of Takigakure Village leaders made a very correct decision to let the Village lie low!'
The two continued their journey. As they walked, Shibuki suddenly called out to her: "Wait! Wait a moment, please stop!"
The birds in the forest were startled by his voice. Ino first looked around cautiously, then used her sensory abilities to detect, and finding no problems, she turned back.
"Are you crazy? Why are you shouting so loudly?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Shibuki looked ashamed, and it took him a long time to express his intention.
"Actually, actually, I went to Konoha Village because I wanted to hire Ninja to protect me back to Takigakure Village."
Ino nodded slightly, having already guessed this from the Ninja who had been pursuing them on the road.
Shibuki was very embarrassed: "I was thinking, I mean, you seem quite... quite powerful. Let's not go to Konoha. Could I ask you to escort me directly back to the Village?"
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