(A.N: 100 powerstones, thank you so much guys )
***
After three days of travel, the vigilance of the three genin grew dim. They took turns maintaining watch while the others rested periodically. A similar attitude was common among the Daimyo's guards, but the eight jonin still maintained proper vigilance,
Scouting the route and surroundings before the caravan and then following behind. Shisui occasionally activated his Sharingan, and Jiraiya periodically scanned the area with the help of natural energy. The chances of being ambushed were close to none.
As they passed through various small villages, Kaida couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the capital's wealth and the poverty-stricken areas they traveled through. It wasn't apparent during the first three days, likely because the villages near the capital were not as poor, perhaps for appearances.
But as they moved farther away, the villages became increasingly impoverished. The villagers looked worn, with tattered clothes and weary faces. Children ran barefoot in the dirt, and the houses were barely holding together.
"It's hard to believe these villages are part of the Fire Country," Kabuto muttered, his sharp eyes observing the harsh conditions.
"Most of the villages in the Land of Fire are like this," Itachi added, his voice low but laced with concern.
"With all the wealth in the capital, it's a shame these people are forgotten," Kabuto said. The image of the bustling capital and the Daimyo's palace, which shone like gold, was still vivid in his mind—a stark contrast to what they were seeing now.
Kaida nodded in agreement, his Sharingan briefly activating as he scanned the surroundings. He couldn't fathom how the Daimyo, with all his resources, could ignore the suffering in his own country. Despite his ability to help, the ruler appeared indifferent. Even now, as they passed through such villages, neither the Daimyo nor his ministers spared a glance at the villagers' condition.
'No matter which world I'm in, corrupt people at the top are everywhere, especially here,' Kaida thought.
As they traveled further, the reality of the situation became even more apparent. Village after village showed signs of neglect. The farther they went from the capital, the more they saw villages neglected to the point that the people no longer even looked up with hope—they were too accustomed to being ignored.
Kaida's fists clenched. 'How can the Daimyo turn a blind eye to this? If this is the state of villages within the Fire Country, I can't imagine what it's like in the other nations.' The thought simmered in his mind, but he kept silent, knowing that voicing his frustration wouldn't change anything at this moment.
The Fire Country was the most prosperous among the nations, but one thing puzzled him.
"The fields are so full of crops, and the weather is good for agriculture. Then why are these villages in such poor condition?" Kaida asked.
"They're on the outskirts, right in the range where ninja skirmishes are common. These people have to pay heavy taxes for their safety—not only to the Fire Daimyo but also to some 'rogue' ninjas from Kumogakure for protection. After paying so much, they're left with just enough to survive," Itachi explained.
"But shouldn't our village eliminate those rogue ninjas for them?" Kabuto asked.
"We can't. Even if we kill the current ones, new ones will take their place, and next time, they'll eliminate half the villagers. We can't protect them all the time," Itachi said.
The group went silent after that, not wanting to discuss it any further.
The journey continued like this, and by the end of the fourth day, they had swiftly left the Fire Country and entered the Land of Lightning. The group, who had thought the villagers of Konoha were pitiful, now realized what true hardship was.
The Land of Lightning, already not as well off, invested heavily in its military, especially Kumogakure. As a result, the taxes paid by the villagers were not only unreasonably high but also deadly during times of war, leading to much worse conditions than normal.
Unable to bear the sight of children drooling as they watched the guards eat jerky, Kaida, Kabuto, and Itachi shared some of the food they had prepared for their journey. Some children ate the food on the spot, while others clutched it in their little hands and ran to share it with their families, even though they were hungry themselves. They hadn't forgotten about their families.
However, their stash had its limits. After visiting two or three villages, their storage seals were emptied of food. Shisui, seeing this, gave up his share as well, knowing how difficult it was to witness such scenes for the first time.
People like him and Jiraiya, though not heartless, had grown numb to such sights. No matter how much you try to help, you can't change the world. You can give food for a day, a week, or a month, but what happens after that? These people would still live in these conditions once the generosity or money ran out.
But they understood that it was difficult for someone seeing this for the first time to ignore such things. That's why neither Jiraiya nor Shisui stopped the three. As for the Daimyo and his ministers? They didn't pay any attention whatsoever.
…
After ten days of travel, they finally reached Kumogakure. As they crossed into the Land of Lightning, the towering mountains of Kumogakure came into view, their peaks shrouded in clouds. The contrast between this land and the villages they had passed was striking.
The rocky terrain was dotted with waterfalls cascading down the mountainsides, adding an ethereal quality to the village hidden among the clouds.
Kumogakure itself was built into the mountains, its structures blending with the natural rock formations, making it seem as though the village had grown directly out of the earth.
The tall, imposing buildings stood in harmony with their surroundings, but there was an unmistakable militaristic feel to the village. Even from a distance, Kaida, Kabuto, and Itachi could see shinobi patrolling the area, their sharp eyes scanning for any sign of trouble.
As the caravan approached the gates of Kumogakure, they were met by a group of Kumogakure officials and shinobi. One of the officials, a tall man with a stern expression, stepped forward to greet the Fire Daimyo.
"Welcome to Kumogakure, Lord Daimyo," the official said, bowing respectfully. "We are honored to have you here. The Raikage has prepared a special reception for you and your entourage."
The Daimyo, still exuding an air of detachment, gave a small nod. He dismounted from his grand carriage, followed by his ministers and servants. Jiraiya and Shisui stepped forward, exchanging a brief glance with the officials before turning back to their team.
The official gestured toward a path leading up the mountain. "Please, follow us. The Raikage awaits you in the village."
As they began to ascend toward the village, the group was led to a spacious, well-guarded area where the Daimyo and his ministers would stay. The Daimyo explained that four jonin from Konoha would remain with him for his protection.
"Lord, sorry to overstep my boundaries, but we are more than capable of providing the best security here. You don't need to keep these four jonin with you. After such a long journey, they may be tired and could use some rest," one of the ministers, who had a muscular build unlike the scrawny ministers of Konoha, said, carefully phrasing each word.