A/N: I am grateful to call of duty Mitsogon and Ainz for becoming patron on my Patreon. Your contribution are greatly appreciated, and they enable me to continue creating and providing valuable content. Thank you for your support and belief in my work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The notion that the Village Hidden in the Grass had its own ninja academy left the Iwa-nin feeling incredulous and bewildered. How could such a small village justify the existence of an academy? It seemed like an inefficient use of resources and manpower, especially considering their limited number of ninjas.
Indeed, the Iwa-nin were taken aback by Mubuki's claim. Established ninja academies were typically associated with the Five Great Shinobi Villages, which possessed significant power, resources, and a large pool of skilled ninjas. The idea that the Grass Village, known for copying jutsu from others, would dare to operate its own academy appeared almost laughable.
Despite their skepticism, Kitsuchi couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity about the Grass Village. Since they currently lacked an opportunity to negotiate with the Grass-nin leader, they decided it would be wise to gather intelligence about the village, potentially considering its resources for future use.
As the Iwa-nin arrived at the Grass Village Hope Academy, the sound of students reading aloud filled their ears. The words "Virtue for virtue, grudge for grudge..." echoed through the air. The Iwa-nin couldn't help but exchange perplexed glances. Was this really the Grass Village's ninja academy? It certainly didn't fit their preconceived notions of what a ninja academy should be like. The scene before them left them dumbfounded, questioning how such a place could be considered a ninja academy.
They couldn't help but question the absence of ninja teachers and the absence of structured classes. Instead, they observed students reciting quotes that seemed unrelated to ninja skills. They exchanged nonchalant glances and couldn't help but wear playful expressions. It was certainly far from what they had expected from a ninja academy.
Intrigued by the scene, Mubuki also cast a glance inside the academy and let out a sigh. "Oh, these kids? It's their reading time, so they're studying. It seems they are quite disciplined today, demonstrating commendable self-discipline."
The Iwa-nin wore expressions of bewilderment as they questioned the purpose of the Grass Village's ninja academy. One of them couldn't help but exclaim, "What's the point of all this?"
Mubuki, feeling a bit disheartened, shrugged and replied, "Well, I don't know! Our leader insisted on establishing this academy, and everything, including the teaching, is arranged by our leader. We follow a strict routine, starting with morning reading as soon as the sun rises, followed by various exercises and miscellaneous classes until sunset when school is over!" He pointed at the prominent characters hanging on the academy wall, grimacing.
The Iwa-nin, accustomed to a different experience at the Iwa Hidden Village Ninja Academy, also found themselves surprised. They gazed at the large characters on the academy wall, still bewildered. The characters spoke of cultivating well-rounded students in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, physique, and personality.
One young ninja standing next to Kitsuchi couldn't hold back his skepticism and pouted, saying, "What's the use of all this? Ninjas should focus on learning ninja skills! Why bother with these miscellaneous subjects? It seems like the Grass Village has nothing to teach, so they created this academy to deceive people!" As he finished speaking, he received a stern look from Kitsuchi, who quickly intervened, slightly embarrassed. "I apologize! Marubachi didn't mean to say that."
While Kitsuchi held similar views deep down, believing that ninjas should only learn what is essential to their craft, he couldn't express such thoughts in front of their hosts.
Mubuki waved his hand nonchalantly, smiling at the young man, and said, "It's alright! What he said does make sense! Iwa Hidden Village is truly the breeding ground of geniuses! This young ninja here looks like a potential candidate for Tsuchikage! So many talented individuals! Truly worthy of the title 'Iwagakure!' "
"Of course! I am Kamizuru Marubachi, a prodigy from the prestigious Kamizuru Clan of Iwagakure! I will become the next Tsuchikage!" Marubachi proclaimed confidently.
Kitsuchi gave Marubachi a stern look, causing the young ninja to quiet down, and then turned to Mubuki, slightly embarrassed. With a glance, Kitsuchi conveyed his message to Marabuchi, indicating the need to stay focused on their mission. Losing face in front of the Grass Village ninjas was not an option for the Iwa-nin.
Seemingly unfazed, Mubuki continued to smile and said, "Since no one seems interested, let's move on to another location!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Kitsuchi didn't dwell on his subordinate's silence any longer and refocused on the task at hand. He looked at Mubuki with a serious expression and said, "I'm counting on you."
To be honest, Kitsuchi's initial curiosity had waned. It made sense to him now—how could a small village lacking its own exclusive ninjutsu establish a reputable ninja academy? While the academy might hold promise for the future, for now, it wasn't worth their attention.
However, amidst the strange voices reciting phrases like "Never give up!" and "Strive hard!" Kitsuchi couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity about the academy. He glanced at it once more, but Mubuki's call brought him back to attention. "Lord Kitsuchi!" Mubuki called out, snapping him back to reality.
"I apologize for zoning out!" Kitsuchi quickly refocused his attention on Mubuki, wearing a smile on his face. He hesitated and said, "Those phrases... What are they?"
Mubuki casually explained, "Those are the new Grass Spirit slogans created by our leader! They embody the indomitable will of the Grass Village, encouraging everyone to strive hard and never give up!"
"Grass Spirit?" murmured Kitsuchi, his curiosity fading upon hearing this. He no longer paid further attention to the academy, believing that the Grass Village's spirit was merely lofty and positive-sounding, lacking substantial significance.
Looking to continue their exploration, Kitsuchi asked Mubuki, "May I ask, Advisor Mubuki, where will you be taking us next?"
Mubuki pondered for a moment and then suggested, "Hmm, how about we simply wander around?"
Kitsuchi became speechless for a moment, but then he seemed to remember the purpose of their mission. He raised an eyebrow, hesitated, and replied, "Actually, we came here on the orders of the Tsuchikage for the sake of peace between our two nations..."
Before Kitsuchi could finish his sentence, Mubuki interrupted and pointed ahead, exclaiming, "Oh, we're here! The Land of Grass is in the midst of its autumn harvest, and the breeze here is quite pleasant. Let's all enjoy it!"
Guided by the Grass Village advisor, they strolled through the wide streets and golden wheat fields of the Land of Grass. During their exploration, they came across a peculiar ninja tool in the fields, designed to assist ordinary people in crop harvesting.
The device worked remarkably fast, initially piquing their curiosity. However, they soon realized that it was merely an invention to aid non-ninja tasks and held no relevance in enhancing their ninja abilities. The Iwa-nin quickly lost interest, as their focus remained on their important mission.
Whenever they tried to steer the conversation back to their mission, the Grass Village ninjas would divert the topic and enthusiastically discuss the harvesting machine, attempting to sell it to them. However, the machine had no practical use for ninjas and came with a hefty price tag of millions.
As harvesting crops had nothing to do with their ninja duties, they politely declined. The Grass Village ninjas seemed disinterested upon hearing their refusal and instead took them on a leisurely stroll, showcasing the famous Grass Hill in the land of Grass.
Grass Hill, to be honest, piqued the interest of the Iwa-nin more than anything else they had seen. The hill had made frequent appearances in Grass Village movies, and the Iwa-nin were familiar with the concept of movies, as they were also showcased in various locations throughout the Land of Earth. What intrigued them further was that some of these movies subtly defamed Konoha, adding an intriguing aspect to their perception of Grass Hill.
As they strolled through the Land of Grass, the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the horizon. The Grass Village ninja graciously arranged accommodation for the Iwa-nin, and they found themselves gathered in a small room. Kitsuchi, the leader of the Iwa-nin, broke the silence and expressed his observations, "It seems that the Grass Village is avoiding discussions about our mission. They keep diverting the topic."
One of the female Iwa-nin, sporting glasses, shared her findings with a thoughtful expression, "Based on the information I've gathered, the Grass Village leader enjoys a good reputation among the people of the Land of Grass. Perhaps we should reconsider our views on the Grass Village."
"That could be true! but..."Kamizuru Marubachi, a member of the group, yawned and casually voiced his opinion, "That Senior Advisor Mubuki doesn't strike me as trustworthy."
"That guy is indeed not a good person!" The female Iwa-nin nodded in agreement, her tone frank and direct. The confusion on the faces of Kitsuchi and his subordinates was evident.
Was she being so blunt? The female Iwa-nin sifted through the information in her hands and continued, "According to the secret intel I managed to gather, it appears that Mubuki is an old-fashioned Grass Village ninja—stubborn, foolish, and easily swayed. There may be some underlying dissatisfaction with the Grass Village leader."
"Based on civilian accounts, this Mubuki, as a Grass Village ninja, allegedly betrayed his village and was apprehended by the Grass Village leader. He was imprisoned for over a month before being released. It seems he has maintained a secretive connection with Konoha shinobi, engaging in undisclosed activities." Her raised eyebrows conveyed a sense of intrigue.
She proceeded to share more recorded information on Mubuki's actions. "Civilians on night watch duty in the fields claim to have witnessed Mubuki sneaking out alone and entering a small forest. Soon after, another mysterious figure entered the forest as well. A few days later, this Grass Village ninja was captured and imprisoned once again!"
The Iwagakure ninjas looked surprised at the revelations about Mubuki. The question lingered in their minds, 'If Mubuki is indeed a traitor, why hasn't the Grass Village leader taken action against him?'
"He is not considered a traitor! Moreover, Mubuki hails from one of the two major clans in the Grass Village, and his influence within the village should be significant. It's likely that the Grass Village leader still needs him," clarified the female Iwa-nin. She shook her head, expressing her understanding. "This is the information I gathered discreetly. It seems that Mubuki has developed a strong relationship with Konoha, and the Grass Village leader did not impose severe punishment on him afterward. Perhaps... our mission has encountered an obstacle." She let out a sigh. "The Grass Village places great importance on forging an alliance with Konoha."
Just as the other Iwa-nin were beginning to feel regret, Kitsuchi's eyes narrowed, and a smile formed at the corner of his mouth. He asserted, "No! We have not failed yet! While we may not be able to act against their leader, we can..." He slammed his large hand on the table, capturing everyone's attention. "We can go after this guy!"
His words momentarily stunned the other Iwa-nin, but then they lowered their heads and directed their gaze towards Kitsuchi's hand. They noticed that his hand had landed directly on one of the reports. Their eyes narrowed as they absorbed the information about their target.
[Grass Village Advisor: Mubuki
Evaluation: Suspected traditional Grass Village ninja!]
...
On the other side, after receiving the news arranged by the Iwa-nin, Akihiko lowered his head and examined the information about the Iwa-nin in his hands. His eyes narrowed when he came across the image of the seemingly foolish boy among them. "Kamizuru Clan..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
.
.
You can read +5 chapters ahead of everyone on my patreon
p@treon.com/Kaiszer
(replace ' @ ' with ' a ' for the link)