The middle-aged woman paused but still ran out the door without looking back.
She only left behind a hurried remark: "Risk my life? I'm trying to save it! The Uchiha of Slaughter who massacred his entire clan is about to arrive from Midoriwa City!"
The last few words were muffled because the middle-aged woman had already rushed out of the inn and blended into the bustling street.
Seiya and the others had not yet fully processed the news when their thoughts were interrupted by the innkeeper's loud cursing.
"What kind of nonsense woman! Making a huge fuss over a little rumor, like she's lost her mother and son!"
The boss spat toward the woman's retreating, then turned back with a forced smile, bowing to Seiya and the others.
"Esteemed guests from afar, please don't listen to the casual rumors of ignorant country folk. Rest assured, you'll be safe staying here!"
Seiya was unmoved and asked, "Boss, is what that woman said true?"
"..."
The boss's expression froze.
He was greatly conflicted. He glanced at the boy's Kumogakure headband, realizing he couldn't afford to offend him, and sighed.
"It's just a rumor, really!"
"The neighbors are all talking about a Shinobi Swordsman of the Seven, who looks like a shark, in a nearby city. They say it's Kisame Hoshigaki, who kills with a drawn sword over the slightest argument. And beside him is a missing-nin wearing a Konoha headband, who is young and resembles the wanted poster of Itachi Uchiha."
"But who can say for sure? Shinobi always face risks when they travel. Should we be panicking because the person is supposedly the Uchiha of Slaughter? Or be worry-free if the person is an unnamed nobody?"
"Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and good fortune may conceal misfortune. Life must go on as usual, don't you agree?"
The boss spoke earnestly, racking his brain to keep the business.
Seiya nodded slightly and went upstairs.
The boss's face, wreathed in a fervent smile like a chrysanthemum, stood there and watched the four figures disappear at the top of the stairs.
He let out a long sigh of relief, then scurried to the doorway.
The middle-aged woman was no longer in sight on the street.
"That wretched woman! How unlucky! She almost ruined my business!"
The boss cursed under his breath.
When he saw new travelers approaching, he quickly plastered on a smile and warmly welcomed them into the inn.
Across the street, in a dark, narrow alleyway not far from the inn, the middle-aged woman peeled off a lifelike mask and put on a completely different one.
She simply applied eyeshadow and eyeliner, put on a pair of frameless square glasses, donned a light blue coat, exchanged her cloth shoes for leather ones, threw the gray cloth bag into a trash can, and then slowly walked out of the alley.
She went to the restaurant opposite the inn and ordered three dishes and a soup.
Under the pretense of eating lunch, Yakushi Nono watched for fifteen minutes but never saw Seiya and the others leave the inn.
Her heart immediately sank, worried about the arrival of Itachi Uchiha.
Three years ago, Itachi Uchiha made a deal with the Konoha elders: he would massacre all Uchiha clan members to maintain the Village's peace, but he must spare Sasuke Uchiha's life.
Itachi Uchiha had largely completed the mission, but there was one omission-Uchiha Mikoto just happened to be taken out of the Village by Kushina Uzumaki for an outing that day.
Upon learning that her entire clan had been wiped out, Uchiha Mikoto defected and disappeared without a trace.
Danzo Shimura was greatly displeased and had spent the past few years arranging for Root Shinobi to search for Uchiha Mikoto's whereabouts.
Yakushi Nono, serving as a master spy, constantly traveled between the nations and Hidden Villages of the Shinobi world.
A month ago, she happened to pass through the city of Suigyoku in the Land of Grass and accidentally discovered Uchiha Mikoto's trace.
Apart from her friendship with Megumai, Yakushi Nono had no good feelings toward the unruly Uchiha clan.
As a spy, she had no sense of so-called justice in her heart. The trace of Uchiha Mikoto was a major, clearly-priced credit for Root. Without hesitation, Yakushi Nono sent a message to report it.
Danzo Shimura immediately contacted Itachi Uchiha, demanding that he complete the mission he had failed to finish years ago.
Yakushi Nono, as the first witness, was responsible for staying in Suigyoku to monitor Uchiha Mikoto's movements and liaise with the incoming Itachi Uchiha.
This was not a difficult task.
Yakushi Nono was relaxed, treating it as a vacation in the Land of Grass.
However, during her surveillance of Uchiha Mikoto, the most handsome and dazzling young man among the pedestrians caught her eye.
The image of Megumai's son was not circulated in the Shinobi world, but Yakushi Nono was confident that the boy was Megumai's son!
First, the age matched; second, his features showed a resemblance to Megumai; third, black hair, black eyes, and a Kumogakure headband.
If not Megumai's son, then who else could it be?
Yakushi Nono recognized Seiya, and she couldn't help but feel worried.
If I can recognize the boy as Megumai's son, Itachi Uchiha probably can, too!
After all, ever since she defeated the Sannin and defected to Kumogakure, Megumai became an S-rank wanted missing-nin of Konoha, and her wanted poster was widely circulated.
Young Seiya was also placed on the wanted list.
Although there was no image, his name was noted.
Now, ten years have passed, and the Shinobi world knows that Kumogakure has two defected Uchiha descendants.
Compared to Konoha, which only has one single successor, Kumogakure now looks more like the home of the Uchiha clan, which is ironic.
Itachi Uchiha was even willing to kill his entire clan for the sake of Konoha's peace.
Now, if he were to meet Seiya, would he spare the Uchiha defector who served an enemy village?
Obviously not. He would surely clean up the mess ruthlessly!
With this thought, Yakushi Nono couldn't help but secretly complain.
Megumai, honestly! Why did you let your son run around like this? And without you personally accompanying him for protection!
What good is the perfect Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails? Can she beat a Mangekyo Sharingan user?
Kisame Hoshigaki, known as the Tail-less Tailed Beast, is traveling with Itachi Uchiha. If a fight breaks out, Seiya has no chance of survival!
Yakushi Nono complained while desperately trying to figure out how to resolve Seiya's crisis.
Clearly, the best way was to get Megumai's son to leave Suigyoku.
It was true that Suigyoku had a large population, and the chances of Itachi Uchiha running into Seiya were slim.
But Yakushi Nono was a cautious person and habitually prepared for the worst.
After all, she was the one who accidentally encountered Uchiha Mikoto in Suigyoku.
Through the shape of her earlobes, the Shinobi-like aura she unconsciously emitted, and her sensitive reaction when hearing news about a missing-nin, Yakushi Nono was utterly confident in confirming her identity!
Uchiha Mikoto had disguised herself, changed her appearance, dyed her hair, wore colored contacts, and was practically a different person, yet she still could not avoid being recognized.
How much more so for the prominent and eye-catching Seiya?
His black hair, black eyes, and Kumogakure headband were practically a beacon for Itachi Uchiha!
Yakushi Nono felt deeply worried. Just as she was thinking about how to get Seiya to leave Suigyoku, she was surprised to see the group walk into the inn where she and Itachi Uchiha had arranged to meet!
The situation was becoming increasingly serious!
In her desperation, Yakushi Nono's mind raced.
She immediately rushed downstairs, feigning fear and panic to escape.
She hoped this would pique Seiya's curiosity and subtly pass on the information.
Even if Seiya wasn't curious, she would pretend to be helpful and notify everyone to flee from Itachi Uchiha.
The information was delivered very smoothly.
However, for some reason, Megumi's son did not leave and still checked into the inn!
PS.
Author's Note: The setting in this work is: Uchiha Mikoto is not the mother of Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha. Kushina Uzumaki is not the mother of Naruto Uzumaki.
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