Kana visited Fumori's house often, moving around as if it were her own home. She approached the study and knocked softly. A voice came from inside, "Is that you, Kana-chan?"
"Yes," Kana replied. "You recognized me so quickly, Masaki-Nii "
"I'd recognize those footsteps anywhere. It's been a while since I've heard them," Fumori Masaki said, opening the study door and greeting her with a warm smile. "It's not right to chat here, let's go to the living room."
The two made their way to the living room and sat across from each other. Masaki looked at Kana, noting the distinct air about her. Her demeanor now resembled that of the upper class, different from the usual Konoha ninja. Her refined clothing and bearing reflected the noble circles of the Fire Country. Among Konoha's clans, perhaps only the Hyuga clan could compare, but they still clung stubbornly to tradition, far removed from the capital's influence. Kana, however, embodied the contemporary elegance of the aristocracy.
"so, is there something you need today?" Masaki asked.
"Masaki-Nii, can't I visit you without a reason?" Kana teased, smiling.
"Of course, you're always welcome," Masaki replied, chuckling. "If you're just here for a visit, I'd love to hear more about your experiences in the capital."
Kana laughed softly. "You're always interested in such things, Nii-san. No wonder you come up with such fresh ideas."
In Kana's eyes, Masaki was a wise man. When she was young and inexperienced, he had shown her the path to her future. His insights helped her in the capital, where her understanding of the Ninshū philosophy impressed many, though she knew it was really thanks to Masaki. He had provided her with the ideas, she simply wrapped them in new words.
Masaki hadn't directly given her guidance, rather, he used discussions to gradually offer insight. Over time, she'd begun to recognize this. So, despite their close relationship now, she still addressed him with respect.
Kana sometimes wished Masaki would call her simply by her name, she feel embarrassed to be treated like a little girl. But this unspoken understanding had continued between them and would likely endure.
"You give me too much credit," Masaki said humbly.
Kana covered her mouth with her sleeve, chuckling. "Nii-san, you're too modest. Honestly, you should come with me to the capital. There are people there who would be thrilled to know you."
"I'm not quite ready to go to the capital," Masaki replied with a shrug, though he thought to himself, But one day, I'll make it there.
Hearing this, Kana fell silent. She regretted that someone as insightful as Masaki was bound by his role as a ninja. He was capable of so much more and deserved a broader stage.
"Actually, Nii-san, I do have something to discuss with you today," Kana said. "It's an assignment—one I believe you'll find interesting."
"Oh? What is it?" Masaki asked, intrigued.
"You may know that the Book of Ninshū has gained popularity in other countries as well, and there's been a growing interest in Ninshū's teachings," Kana explained. "Some countries have even started searching for ancient Ninshū scriptures. Recently, one of them found something."
Masaki's eyes narrowed slightly. "What did they find?"
"They discovered a ruin—apparently a former Ninshū site from centuries ago. It may contain Ninshū scriptures that have long been lost. But the team encountered unforeseen dangers within the ruins. Without a ninja village or powerful warriors to handle the threats, they sought help from the Land of Fire," Kana elaborated.
"So, they're requesting a ninja to investigate?" Masaki asked, his curiosity piqued. "If these ruins do contain undiscovered scriptures..."
He trailed off. Having seen Ninshū's texts through Kana, he had longed to uncover the true teachings of the Six Paths Sage. If there was a chance to find hidden scriptures, he couldn't ignore it.
"I understand. I'll take on this mission," Masaki said.
"Wonderful! You know, this country holds a unique position in the ninja world. If they embrace Ninshū, it would greatly support the philosophy's revival," Kana replied excitedly.
"Which country is it?" Masaki asked. "I don't recall hearing of a country with such an interest in the ninja world."
"This is the Land of Demons. It may sound eerie, but its cultural climate is much like the Fire Temple," Kana explained. "In the Land of Demons, there's a revered position called the 'priestess,' who holds great status. It's said that this role originated from Ninshū teachings thousands of years ago."
"The Land of Demons…" Masaki's pupils dilated slightly. He knew of this country. According to certain records, it was linked to a powerful entity, Masaki recalled the priestess tradition of the Land of Demons but hadn't realized it had connections to Ninshū. Considering that the Sage of the Six Paths influenced all aspects of the ninja world, he found it plausible.
"Have you heard of it before?" Kana asked, noticing his reaction.
"No, not until you mentioned it," he replied, recovering his calm. "So, was this mission commissioned by the priestess of the Land of Demons?"
"Yes. I was worried that you might decline since Konoha typically takes assignments from the Fire Country. But I hoped this one would be an exception," Kana said.
Given that the next generation of Konoha ninjas was still in training, they had no need to take on outside commissions. This mission was unusual, but Masaki agreed to it.
"In the future, perhaps private commissions like this will become more common," he added.
"Thank you, Nii-san! Originally, the princess of the Land of Fire wanted to go herself, but her brother forbade it due to the danger. She's very disappointed," Kana said.
"That's unfortunate," Masaki replied, thinking of the princess—a devoted follower of Ninshū. Not seeing the site firsthand must have been hard for her.
"Chiharu-Hime asked me to oversee the development of the site on her behalf," Kana said, her eyes bright with excitement. "But I need Tobirama-Oji's approval to accompany you. Can you help me convince him?"
Masaki pondered the request. He recalled a demon named Moryo from the Land of Demons—a dangerous entity—but that wouldn't arise for many years. Based on Kana's description, the people causing trouble were likely just bandits, so there shouldn't be much danger.
"All right, I'll speak with Tobirama-sama and try to get permission for you to join us," Masaki promised with a smile.