The united caravan truly had audacity. Under such perilous conditions, with such high rewards, even major caravans wouldn't dare venture out. It was too dangerous, and the profit margins were slim.
Yet these small caravans, willing to accept lower profits, pressed on as long as their safety could be guaranteed.
"That's why I came to you."
Tsunade raised her eyebrows proudly. "Don't tell me that with your strength, you can't ensure the safety of this joint caravan."
"..."
Could he guarantee it? Of course, he could. Shinki could use puppets to guard the goods and caravan members from all sides. Passing through war zones wouldn't be an issue, no matter if the threat came from the Mist Village or Cloud Village.
Still, this mission felt like a hassle.
Looking at the mission's reward, Shinki understood why Tsunade didn't want to pass on this commission.
The reward was insanely high.
"Fine, I'll go. It'll take two or three months at most."
"Good. I believe in you."
Tsunade stood up, hooked her arms around Shinki's neck, and planted two kisses on his cheek. Then she added with a smirk, "Oh, and by the way, Kushina stays in the village. Nawaki and Minato, too—they're busy studying with Mikoto and don't have time for distractions."
"Then I can take Pakura, right?"
Protecting a massive caravan by himself? That sounded mind-numbingly dull. Shinki had initially planned to bring Minato along, but with Tsunade's restrictions, Pakura seemed like the perfect travel companion—not only capable of lending a hand but also excellent company.
"Fine," Tsunade agreed nonchalantly. Pakura was already Shinki's personal assistant in the village, so taking her along wasn't a big deal.
Her only condition was simple: don't flirt in front of me.
"Get going. The caravan's been waiting, and their goods can't be delayed."
"Got it. We'll leave soon."
Shinki saw the upside of the commission. The village would gain a hefty reward, he'd make a nice profit, and Konoha's reputation would rise. Aside from the time commitment, there were no major downsides.
Still, no one besides Shinki dared to accept such a mission. Even if Orochimaru or Jiraiya were asked, neither could guarantee 100% safety.
After Shinki left the Hokage's office, Tsunade smirked. She hadn't told him the full truth about the mission.
This wasn't just a one-time commission; the joint caravan had proposed long-term cooperation.
They promised that if this mission went smoothly, they'd continue working with Konoha throughout the war, maintaining high rewards for every commission.
100% safety was the key to securing this deal. If Shinki could deliver, it would solidify an invaluable partnership for Konoha.
"Hehe, you want to slack off and flirt? Then you'll have to work hard for me."
Shinki wasn't one to procrastinate, though he did enjoy his laziness when he could. For missions, however, he was all business. After summoning Pakura, he packed their things and met up with the caravan.
Within two hours, the grand caravan was on its way.
The caravan members, however, were uneasy. While they'd been pleased when Konoha accepted their commission, their excitement turned to worry when they realized only two ninjas were assigned to protect them.
How could just two people ensure safety across war-torn regions?
Tsunade personally came to reassure them, guaranteeing their safety and affirming that Konoha wouldn't have accepted the commission otherwise.
Shortly after leaving Konoha, the leaders of the caravan approached Shinki. They needed to clarify how to proceed and align expectations.
"Lord Shinki, how should we proceed?" one of them asked nervously.
Shinki waved off their concerns. "Stick to the route you've planned. If there's trouble, don't scatter—stay with your goods. I'll handle everything else. Your safety and your cargo are guaranteed as long as you follow my instructions."
The leaders exchanged uneasy glances but nodded.
Backing out now was impossible. Canceling the commission would require paying a hefty penalty, and the caravan, made up of small, struggling traders, couldn't afford it. They had no choice but to trust Shinki.
As the caravan set off, Shinki deployed a batch of puppets to patrol and protect the perimeter. He then climbed into a carriage prepared by the caravan and leaned back comfortably.
Pakura, noticing his relaxed demeanor, shot him an annoyed look. "Seriously? Sitting back in broad daylight without a care? Can't you at least pretend to act professional?"
Shinki laughed, but before he could reply, Pakura slapped away his wandering hand, her cheeks flushing.
"Keep your hands to yourself," she snapped, rolling her eyes.
Despite her irritation, she didn't resist when Shinki eventually pulled her into his arms.
"How's the progress on your Scorch Release techniques?" he asked, shifting the topic.
Pakura sighed, pressing down on his hand before it could stray again. "It's improving, but the more diverse attack patterns are hard to control initially."
"That's normal," Shinki said with a chuckle. "New abilities always require practice to master."