The Land of Lightning had stable order and excellent security.
The caravan had a smooth journey.
After crossing the border into smaller nations, problems gradually arose.
A few rogue Shinobis provoked trouble, and Seiya dealt with them decisively.
On Yugito Nii's suggestion, he hung the Shinobi's head at the very front of the caravan.
The bloody head deterred many rogue Shinobis who coveted the cargo, making them hesitant to approach.
The number of times the caravan encountered bandits was thereby greatly reduced.
Seiya's workload was lightened, giving him free time to enjoy the exotic scenery along the way.
This was his first time leaving the country since he was old enough to remember, and he found the outside world strange and fascinating.
Yugito Nii occasionally imparted essential geographical knowledge for a Shinobi to Seiya.
Samui, sitting nearby, listened silently.
Although she was twelve years older than Seiya, she had actually traveled less than him.
After all, ever since graduating from the Academy, she had been scouted by Megumai and dedicated herself to medical arts.
She had never executed a mission or left the Village, so her scope of activity was very limited.
Even before graduating from the Academy, that is, before the age of sixteen, she had not left the Village.
The reason she graduated at sixteen was that the Third Great Shinobi War broke out shortly after she started school.
Some talented students were fast-tracked for training and sent to the battlefield.
Most students with average talent were too subpar to even serve as cannon fodder, so they simply stayed in the Village and wasted a few years.
Samui was one of them.
Later, when the Shinobi world was peaceful, she made up for the lost years of schooling.
During one of her visits to the hospital, Megumai spotted her talent.
After eight years of training, she successfully became a Medical Jonin.
In short, Samui had never left the Village and knew very little about the outside world.
Now, as Yugito Nii imparted knowledge, she was quite interested, listening attentively and quietly memorizing what she heard and saw.
Seiya, the formal disciple, did not learn as deeply as Samui, the accompanying jonin.
A month later, after passing through several small nations and Shinobi villages, they neared the border of the Land of Grass.
Unlike the Great Nations, the borders of small nations were largely undefended, with basically no troops stationed there.
They were like public toilets, where anyone could leave their mark like a wild beast.
Many rogue Shinobi and missing-nin habitually ambushed near the borders of small nations, waiting for unsuspecting targets to risk their lives for wealth.
Therefore, as the caravan approached the Land of Grass border, the number of bandits encountered gradually increased.
The so-called Shinobi heads could no longer scare off desperate outlaws living on the edge of a blade.
Seiya's hand grew numb from killing, and he was very puzzled as to why these highwaymen rushed forward to their deaths one after another.
If the ten carts of medical agents were put in front of him and his Academy classmates, they probably wouldn't warrant a second glance.
Yet, along this journey, one group of Shinobi after another fought desperately to steal them.
While the medical agents were certainly valuable, how could they be worth risking one's life?
Seiya was completely baffled.
Yugito Nii explained, "These Shinobi are accustomed to using force to seize wealth. Those who fear death would not engage in this line of work. It is their luck that they have managed to rob safely until today. Falling into the hands of others is an inevitable destiny."
"Why don't they find safer work to make a living?" Seiya wondered.
Yugito Nii smiled gently and patted his head.
"Is there any safety for a Shinobi, Seiya? They are no different from us; they simply pursue different things."
"The reason you subconsciously think we are safe is because you have been overly protected and do not understand the cruelty of the Shinobi world."
"Most of these wandering bandits have not received a formal education. They may have lived in chaotic and disorderly environments since childhood, and the law of the jungle is the only rule of survival they have learned. In their eyes, honest work is difficult and may not be as easy as picking up a blade and fighting desperately. They live wildly and die quickly."
Seiya fell silent, deep in thought.
At less than thirteen years old, he truly realized for the first time that the Shinobi world consisted of more than just the Five Great Nations.
Half a month later, the caravan safely reached the Land of Grass and drove toward the city of Suigyoku.
Soon after entering the country, Seiya once again sensed that they were being followed.
Yugito Nii whispered, "Same old rule: stand firm and wait for the enemy to lose patience and show themselves. You do the killing, and I'll protect Samui and the caravan."
"Understood."
Seiya nodded slightly, the tomoe in his eyes slowly spinning as he scanned the surroundings for traps and ambushes.
Fifteen minutes later, the caravan entered a valley.
Hundreds of poisoned senbon needles shot out from the mountain walls on both sides. Then, over a dozen Shinobi appeared, leaping down and charging toward the caravan.
Seiya's eyes narrowed. Chakra surged within him, and electrical sparks flashed across his body.
He immediately leaped out of the carriage, summoned his family's katana, and lunged toward the rain of senbon, swinging his blade to deflect them all.
Yugito Nii sat by the window, arms crossed, watching quietly.
The young man was handsome, his movements were swift, and the fight was quite enjoyable to watch.
In front of the Sharingan, the body movements of this group were completely exposed.
In front of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, this group's jutsu execution speed was too slow.
In just a moment, Seiya cleanly finished them off.
The caravan continued forward.
Returning to the carriage, Seiya sighed, "Instructor, they were really weak!"
"They were," Yugito Nii agreed, a smile in her eyes and a slight nod.
Then she added, "Would a powerful Shinobi casually become a bandit?
Furthermore, the trade in such a backward small nation is too poor to support powerful bandits.
Only genin level can find anything worthwhile here."
"This escort mission is perfect for you, having just graduated from the Academy. Mabui put a lot of thought into this."
"I still wish I could encounter slightly stronger bandits. Otherwise, it's just not challenging enough," Seiya said.
His Lightning Release Chakra Mode had made some progress, but he hadn't met an enemy to practice against.
He felt quite regretful.
Yugito Nii offered a gentle smile of reassurance.
"Don't worry, take it slow. There are many powerful Shinobi in this world, and you will eventually..."
Before she could finish, a sharp cry for help suddenly came from outside the carriage.
The voice sounded young, perhaps around ten years old.
A peer!
Seiya was slightly startled.
He quickly lifted the curtain and looked out the window.
Ahead, a girl with a Kusagakure headband and striking red hair came sprinting toward them.
"Instructor, should we..."
Ready to help a stranger in need, Seiya was about to ask for advice when Yugito Nii interrupted him.
"Don't ask me. Judge for yourself and decide for yourself."
"..."
Seiya was silent for a moment, his mind filled with the girl's desperate, frightened, deer-like eyes.
In the next moment, the tomoe appeared in his eyes, and he rushed out of the carriage.
His mother had emphasized many times that one must act benevolently within one's means and beware of the farmer and the snake.
With [Purification] protecting me, I definitely have the right to draw my sword to help someone.
If this girl in glasses is a snake, I'll cut her down later.
Until then, my life is in my hands!
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