At the residence in Fire Source City.
"Izumi, come with me for a moment."
In the training room, Uchiha Mikoto interrupted the sparring between Uzuki Yugao and Uchiha Izumi and called Izumi out alone.
"Yes, Aunt Mikoto."
Uchiha Izumi agreed and then looked at Yugao, "Keep practicing by yourself."
Without waiting for Yugao's reaction, Izumi followed Mikoto out.
"Aunt Mikoto, what's the matter?"
"I need you to take Shishou to the Land of Demons."
"The Land of Demons?"
"Yes, the priestess of the Land of Demons has requested assistance from Konoha. Mikoto wants to check out the situation and needs someone to guide him."
"Why me?"
Hearing the girl's question, Mikoto smiled and explained:
"He originally wanted me to accompany him, but since Konoha will also send people, Yugao and I might encounter acquaintances. That's why I recommended you."
"First, no one in Konoha knows you've awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan."
"Second, Konoha has very little information on you, making you a safer choice."
Uchiha Izumi nodded, indicating her understanding.
Due to the urgency, after visiting Uzumaki Eri and Karin, Shishou quickly set off with Uchiha Izumi.
They would participate as mercenaries.
The priestess of the Land of Demons had not only sent out a call for help to the Five Great Shinobi Villages but also issued a bounty to the mercenary market.
However, despite her special status in the Land of Demons, the priestess could only offer a few million ryo. Given the description of Moryo's terrifying power on the bounty, very few were willing to take the risk for such little reward.
Shishou wasn't interested in the bounty; he was more intrigued by the priestess's sealing techniques. He also wanted to see if his Phosphorescent Bad Bug could consume this so-called extradimensional demon, Moryo.
If possible, he wouldn't have to worry about what to feed the Phosphorescent Bad Bug in the future.
This trip was exceptionally dangerous, and with Konoha also sending people, if Shishou knew the way to the Land of Demons, he wouldn't bring anyone along.
"Here, wear this."
"This will hide your Sharingan."
On the centipede, Shishou handed Uchiha Izumi a pair of colored contact lenses, then put on a pair himself.
After looking at the lenses in her hand and watching Shishou demonstrate how to wear them, Uchiha Izumi began to put them on. After some time adjusting, her eyes finally felt comfortable.
She took out a mirror from her pocket and confirmed that her activated Sharingan was indeed hidden.
She quickly realized how convenient this would be for the Uchiha clan.
With these, those who had activated the Sharingan could hide it and not fear others coveting their eyes.
Unfortunately, there were now only a few dozen Uchiha left...
Why does he always solve things that have troubled me for so long so easily?
If I had these earlier, I wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble hiding my Sharingan.
Thinking about this, Uchiha Izumi felt a bit resentful towards Shishou, but she also realized her anger was unreasonable.
She hadn't known Shishou back then.
"Don't think that just because you're beautiful, you can keep staring at me."
"If you keep looking, I'll charge you an 'eye candy fee'."
Shishou gave Uchiha Izumi a puzzled look and teased her.
Blushing at his compliment, Uchiha Izumi quickly turned her head and muttered softly.
"What's an eye candy fee?"
Hearing her murmur, Shishou smiled and started talking nonsense.
"Everyone loves beautiful things; appreciating beauty makes people happy. Men enjoy looking at beautiful women, and women like handsome men too."
"But everything has a cost. Looking at handsome guys also comes at a price, hence the eye candy fee."
Hearing Shishou's nonsense, Uchiha Izumi was speechless and challenged him.
"So how do you charge this eye candy fee?"
Hearing this, Shishou smiled and looked at her pretty face.
"By looking back, of course."
"With Izumi being so beautiful, every glance is a huge profit."
Hearing such blatant praise, Uchiha Izumi's face turned red again, and she turned her head away, clearly not intending to let Shishou "collect" the eye candy fee.
However, her raised lips revealed her good mood.
...
The Land of Demons is located between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.
To get there from the Land of Fire, they had to pass through small countries like the Land of Rain and the Land of Birds.
These small countries were filled with bandits and rogue ninjas, making passage difficult.
Especially the Land of Rain.
Shishou knew that the leader of the Akatsuki, Nagato, was in the Land of Rain.
Facing this self-proclaimed "God," Shishou wouldn't dare provoke him.
Not to mention, he had the angel, Konan, by his side.
After Hashirama's death, until Madara and Sasuke gained the power of the Six Paths, Nagato was undoubtedly the strongest in the ninja world.
This was despite his physical disability, controlling only puppets.
If it were his true body, even Naruto in Sage Mode and Killer Bee as a perfect Jinchuriki would be no match for him.
So, when passing through the Land of Rain, Shishou and Uchiha Izumi didn't ride the centipede but walked.
"These rains are so annoying."
Uchiha Izumi complained softly, drenched from head to toe.
Why do I find this rain quite nice?
Shishou thought guiltily, averting his eyes from her soaked figure highlighting her curves.
After buying two raincoats from a vendor in the Land of Rain, Shishou and Uchiha Izumi continued their journey.
Because they wore no village insignia, they encountered no trouble.
"Looks like the Land of Rain is doing quite well under Nagato's rule."
Along the way, Shishou took in the scenery of the Land of Rain.
Though still poor, the Land of Rain, under Nagato's protection, had no bandits or rogue ninjas within its borders.
Peace was apparent, and with continued development, it would surely thrive.
Recalling the Land of Rain's decline after Nagato and Konan's deaths in Boruto, Shishou couldn't help but sigh.
"The ninja world still respects strength above all."
Passing smoothly through the Land of Rain, Shishou and Izumi entered the Land of Birds.
Unsurprisingly, without wearing any village insignia, Shishou and Uchiha Izumi were promptly ambushed.
"Tsk tsk tsk, just in time. My Phosphorescent Bad Bug is hungry."
Seeing the dozen rogue ninjas before them, Shishou motioned for Izumi to step back.