"Nobuyuki, draft two reports for Lord Kazekage. One with the truthful account, and another claiming that these individuals were ambushed and killed by shinobi from Konohagakure!"
Sōmi glanced briefly at the faintly visible, graceful figures on the bed before continuing, "As for these women, send them back to where they came from."
"Understood!" Nobuyuki's face was filled with satisfaction and admiration. As someone from a civilian background, he had often endured bullying from the privileged clan offspring.
Now, seeing someone dare to challenge the oppressive power of these great clans, Nobuyuki's resolve to follow Sōmi grew even stronger.
The slightly trembling wooden bed finally stilled at this moment.
"And you... do you still want to return to the village?" Sōmi walked to the corner of the room, where a young girl, as delicate and frightened as a startled bird, crouched pitifully.
During the earlier battle, Sōmi had deliberately controlled the gold sand, ensuring that this corner remained untouched.
The girl pulled the blanket around her even tighter, glancing at the grotesque remains of the young man. Her eyes reflected a complex mix of emotions—fear, hatred, and relief.
Finally, the youthful girl spoke softly, "No, I don't want to go back. My father sold me here! There's no one left at home..." Her voice was gentle and melodious.
After a moment of thought, Sōmi said, "Would you like to live in a new village?"
"I'll help you find a job and start a new life there."
"Mm..." The girl fluttered her long lashes and nodded in agreement.
After patrolling the central area of stone houses, Nobuyuki couldn't help but express his indignation. "These people are despicable! They've sold off almost all the grain!"
"And judging by the recent grain prices, the amount of money doesn't even add up..."
Sōmi maintained a calm expression as he said, "Just report it truthfully. What happens next is for Lord Kazekage to decide."
Suddenly, Sōmi seemed to sense something. He turned his head and immediately broke into a smile.
"Scorpion? What brings you here?"
The newcomer had striking red hair and was cloaked in a loose black robe.
Scorpion's expression was indifferent as he got straight to the point. "The matter you asked me to monitor has shown some movement."
Sōmi's smile faded as he turned to give Nobuyuki a few instructions.
Then, Sōmi and Scorpion disappeared in a flash, leaving Nobuyuki alone.
Nobuyuki's expression grew resolute as he thought to himself, "Lord Sōmi trusts me so much; I can't let him down!"
Between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water lies not only the Land of Bears and the Land of Artisans but also several small islands scattered across the vast sea.
The Land of Artisans exports a large number of tools daily to various countries, especially during the current wartime.
Orders for ninja tools from all nations were continuously transported via land and sea routes.
The ongoing escalation of conflict between the Land of Fire and Iwagakure naturally made the Land of Fire one of the biggest buyers.
At the coastal border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Bears, a major transportation route had given rise to numerous towns.
Among them, Yagen City stood out as a prominent example. Built on a plain, it was a large city with a dense population, surrounded by vast fertile lands and crisscrossed by several winding rivers.
In the city, the noise from a tavern could be heard even from the street outside, undeterred by the door curtains.
Passersby, hearing faint, amorous sounds coming from the second floor of the tavern, felt their hearts itch as if scratched by a cat. They instinctively paused but, faced with the reality of their empty pockets, could only sigh and move on.
In a secluded private room on the tavern's first floor, three men were seated. Two of them were none other than Sōmi and Scorpion, dressed in silk garments and looking like ordinary wealthy young men.
Sōmi's sitting posture was the most peculiar—he was seated directly on the small table.
The third man was a middle-aged individual in his thirties, wearing a forehead protector from Kirigakure.
"Kirigakure has issued an action order. We are preparing to launch a surprise attack on Konohagakure. The vanguard will likely be the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist," the middle-aged man said respectfully, kneeling on the floor.
Hearing this, Scorpion turned to look at Sōmi. After all, when the two of them acted together, Sōmi was the one who usually made the decisions, and Scorpion preferred not to bother thinking about it.
"Let him return for now and continue to remain undercover," Sōmi instructed.
With a slight wave of Scorpion's hand, the Kirigakure shinobi immediately stood up and left, his expression as calm as ever, showing no signs of being manipulated.
This was the terrifying aspect of Subconscious Sand Manipulation!
Sōmi spread out a map and began studying it carefully, his slender fingers tracing the terrain.
After a while, Sōmi took a deep breath and said to Scorpion, "If the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are forced to retreat, this route will be the shortest."
"If they need to return to the Land of Water, the port near Yagen City will be a necessary stop!"
"However, if Kirigakure has set up a hidden port nearby for support, things could get tricky..."
"The Kirigakure shinobi under your control didn't have any information on that, so it's unlikely..."
"Since the Seven Ninja Swordsmen have already been deployed, we need to act as well. Let's lie in wait at the mountain pass ahead of Yagen City. In an emergency, it's the optimal choice."
"Once they pass through here, the terrain behind them will be an open plain..." Sōmi explained eloquently.
"How can you be so sure the Seven Ninja Swordsmen will retreat?" Scorpion asked.
"Because, at present, Konohagakure's strength far surpasses that of the other nations..."
"They are a very unique village. Jōnin and Kage Level shinobi aren't necessarily the strongest. Sometimes, the power unleashed by a Genin can be utterly devastating..."
"If the Seven Ninja Swordsmen dare to launch an attack, there's no way they'll leave unscathed!" Sōmi said casually, crossing his hands behind his head and looking completely relaxed.
Scorpion knew that Sōmi must have obtained this information from some unknown source, so he simply nodded without pressing for details.
"Let's go, Scorpion!"
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen might be quick to act, but their return will be even quicker. We need to intercept them and make sure they don't escape," Sōmi said, suddenly standing up, stretching his neck, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Whether or not the Seven Ninja Swordsmen would encounter Might Duy, Sōmi couldn't be certain, as the timeline had already deviated from the original story.
However, the overall trajectory of events shouldn't change too much. Sōmi's activities had primarily been confined to the Land of Wind, so events in other nations should proceed as they were meant to.
As the sun dipped lower, casting a blood-red glow across the horizon, the trees on the ground were bathed in a crimson hue.
Atop the tallest tree, two young men were intently watching the distance.
Suddenly, one of them, a black-haired youth, shuddered and turned to his companion. "They're here, Scorpion!"