On their way to the mission destination, Momonosuke and his entourage hired several carriages to transport an enormous amount of luggage, slowing their pace significantly. Even while walking, Tōshirō and the others could easily keep up.
As they traveled, Jiraiya, who only had a superficial understanding of hosts, remarked enviously, "Man, I really admire hosts. All they have to do is chat with pretty girls to make money."
"If you truly understood this profession, you probably wouldn't think that," Tōshirō replied.
Tōshirō , having heard some rumors, knew a bit about the host industry.
Even in societies with relatively robust legal systems, the industry had its share of issues. In a world like this one, where the rule of law was practically nonexistent, the dark side of hosting could only be worse.
Hosts often presented themselves as inspirational and disciplined individuals.
However, the more someone lacks something, the more they flaunt it.
When you talk about emotions, they manipulate you into drowning in debt or taking out high-interest loans. While hosts appear glamorous on the surface, they often thrive on exploitation and deceit.
This wasn't just a stereotype. The locals in the very birthplace of the host culture often held deep animosity toward them, which spoke volumes about the industry's reputation.
Had it not been for Orochimaru's insistence on taking this mission as his first S-rank assignment, Tōshirō wouldn't have bothered dealing with such scum. In fact, not robbing them blind was already an act of restraint on his part.
Whenever he had the chance, he would secretly target shady hosts with poor reputations, redistributing some of their ill-gotten gains to the impoverished while keeping a portion for himself.
Possessing power creates temptation, and Tōshirō wasn't immune to it. His mindset was simple: as a ninja capable of using transformation jutsu, he could always fabricate an airtight alibi after a heist.
Why don't more ninjas do this? he wondered. Transformation jutsu isn't exactly advanced.
As he fantasized about his next target, his grin widened uncontrollably.
"You look like you're up to no good," Jiraiya teased.
"Nonsense. This is clearly a kind and friendly smile," Tōshirō retorted.
The two were bantering when, out of nowhere, a sudden explosion echoed through the canyon. Nearby rocks collapsed with a deafening roar, tumbling down from both sides.
Tōshirō and Jiraiya reacted instantly, forming seals to create protective walls—one of ice and one of earth—to block the falling debris.
Before they could catch their breath, another wave of attacks came from all directions, a mix of kunai and shuriken.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
Orochimaru quickly formed seals, creating a wind pressure around himself that blew the incoming projectiles away.
The horses, terrified by the chaos, bolted with sudden bursts of strength, galloping wildly down the road.
Inside one of the carriages was their escort target, Momonosuke. Tōshirō and the others moved to give chase, but several dark figures emerged from nowhere, blocking their path.
"We can't let you pass," a female ninja wearing a headband said casually.
"I'll go after them!" Jiraiya volunteered, charging through the blockade like an untamed horse, unstoppable and reckless.
"What a hothead," Tōshirō muttered as Jiraiya disappeared from sight.
Though the enemies weren't exceptionally strong, they weren't weak either. Defeating them all at once proved challenging for Tōshirō and the others. After a brief skirmish, the attackers retreated, seemingly having completed their mission.
Jiraiya returned shortly after, looking dejected. "The target's been captured."
Hearing this bad news, Kin'emon immediately lashed out at the Leaf ninjas: "What's the point of hiring you if you can't even protect someone properly? You just stood there and let them get taken!"
Orochimaru was about to explain when Tōshirō stepped forward, countering sharply, "Don't get it twisted. The failure of this mission isn't on us. It's on you for withholding information about the mission's true difficulty. Judging by the scale of the ambush, this is far beyond a B-rank mission."
No way I'm risking my life for a B-rank payout, Tōshirō thought.
You get what you pay for. Want better results? Offer better rewards. Trying to fleece me? Forget it.
Caught off guard by the accusation, Kin'emon's face turned sour.
With a cold smile, Tōshirō added, "This Momonosuke fellow isn't just any ordinary host, is he? Otherwise, why would such a large-scale ambush be staged?"
Judging by their well-trained skills, it was evident these weren't ordinary bandits.
Kin'emon's face darkened as he nodded in acknowledgment.
Tsunade asked, "Who is he, really?"
After a brief hesitation, Kin'emon replied, "He's actually a prince."
Jiraiya thought it was a joke. "You've got to be kidding. That 'prince' thing is just a nickname, right?"
Kin'emon's tone grew serious. "I'm not joking. I'm being completely honest."
Hearing this, Tōshirō began to piece things together.
The mention of Momonosuke and the identity of a fallen prince—it had all the makings of a cliché "fallen royal" redemption story.
And sure enough, Kin'emon launched into a woeful tale, recounting a sorrowful series of events.
The gist was this: the Land of Wano was once a peaceful nation. However, its tranquility was short-lived. One day, a man seized power, and his accomplices were none other than members of the Uchiha clan.
This had happened before the establishment of the Hidden Leaf Village.
At this point in the story, Kin'emon glanced intentionally at someone in the group.
Tōshirō stared blankly, lost in thought.
So the Uchiha clan really did wipe out someone's entire family, huh?
But then again, what did that have to do with Tōshirō ?
Besides, it wasn't as if they'd left no survivors. One managed to escape, grow up, and even become a host. Honestly, his current life didn't seem all that bad.
Patting Kin'emon's shoulder as if to console him, Tōshirō said, "My condolences."
"Hey, after hearing my story, shouldn't you all rush to rescue Lord Momonosuke? It's still part of your mission, isn't it?"
That comment triggered something in Tōshirō .
By normal standards, protecting someone as important as a prince should start at A-rank difficulty. But here they were, dealing with a disguised identity.
By masking the true nature of the mission, it had been labeled as B-rank, ensuring only B-rank payment was provided.
Well, isn't that clever? Exploiting loopholes, Tōshirō thought sarcastically.
"Look, this is your country's private affair. Mishandling it could lead to diplomatic issues. Besides, who's to say how much of your story is even true?"
Tōshirō refused bluntly, then turned to Orochimaru. "Captain Orochimaru, what's your take on this?"
Ultimately, it wasn't solely Tōshirō's decision to make. Orochimaru was the official leader, and it was his call to make the final decision.
Orochimaru, deep in thought, remained silent for a moment.
As Tōshirō pointed out, they needed to approach this decision carefully—whether to abandon the mission or press on required serious consideration.
One of Momonosuke's attendants, a man named Kurozumi, who was skilled at reading people, noticed that Tōshirō held significant influence within the team. Without hesitation, he fell to his knees before Tōshirō , pleading, "Please, I beg you to save Lord Momonosuke! I've watched over him since he was a child. Though born into royalty, he lost his parents early and has lived as a fugitive in a foreign land, constantly on edge. His life has been filled with hardship."
Tōshirō looked at the kneeling man, unimpressed. "Are you out of your mind? You're a servant, yet you don't feel pity for yourself, only for your master who's been living a life of luxury?"
He recalled that Momonosuke was a well-known host with a substantial income. Hardship, my foot.
Tsunade, unable to stand Tōshirō's attitude, interjected. Though sharp-tongued, she had a kind heart and a strong sense of justice.
But Tōshirō stood firm. "If you want to go, go ahead. I'm not going. How do we even know how much of their story is true? Sure, the ninja we fought weren't particularly strong, but even a tiger can fall victim to a swarm of monkeys."
Kin'emon's voice deepened. "If that's your concern, you needn't worry. Truthfully, in preparation for the day we overthrow the tyrant Dokai, we've been funneling money back into Wano to gather allies. With our call to arms, the people will surely rally behind us."
Tōshirō remained unconvinced, his expression laced with disdain. "Hah. A mob of rabble. No matter how many you gather, they're still useless."
Tsunade grew frustrated with Tōshirō's cold attitude. "Hey, Tōshirō, don't you think you're being too heartless?"
Raising his hand to calm her, Tōshirō replied, "You've got me all wrong."
"Wrong?"
"A mission this dangerous can't possibly be handled by the four of us alone. So…"
"So what?"
Tōshirō shot a pointed look at Kin'emon, his voice dropping. "You'll have to pay extra!"
(End of Chapter)
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