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"Even though we're going, we still need to plan everything out carefully. Once we reach the Land of Honey, we'll need a detailed strategy before we act," Shikaku said, nodding.
"Thank you so much!" The bodyguard dropped to his knees and bowed deeply to the group—after all, this was about saving his country.
"We're adjusting the payment to one million. Depending on how things go, it might go up. Just make sure to pay us after we successfully rescue the Land of Honey," Akio said, then turned and got ready to leave.
"Thank you..." Princess Mitsuhime also jumped down from the shadow and bowed in gratitude to Akio and the others.
"Hey... are we seriously doing this S-rank mission? It sounds super dangerous," Tenten said, following after Akio.
"The enemy's jonin-level strength is probably only around our chunin level. Their chunin are basically genin, and their genin are just regular folks who can throw a few kunai. As long as we scout the terrain properly, strike from the shadows, and reduce their numbers with surprise attacks to prevent them from swarming us, we can pull this off," Akio explained to Tenten.
"You've already thought it all out!" Tenten's eyes lit up. She always knew Akio was smart, but she didn't expect this level of smarts.
"But we can't let our guard down. We have to be prepared for the possibility that someone could get hurt—or worse. So we need to be extra cautious," Akio added with a nod. After all, he had never actually killed anyone before. It was easy to talk about sneak attacks and assassinations, but when the moment came, Akio wasn't sure if he'd really be able to go through with it.
Even though ninja were raised from childhood with the idea that killing the enemy was just part of the job and never hesitated to do it, Akio was still someone from the modern world. His mindset was shaped more by modern values than the shinobi way. Deep down, he believed in not killing the innocent—for him, even the life of a dog wasn't something to be taken lightly.
So if he had to kill someone, he needed to mentally prepare himself first.
At this point, Mitsuhime was too embarrassed to keep letting Akio carry her, so she quietly followed along on foot. Seeing that, Akio recalled his shadow and pulled out a soldier pill from his bag, popping it into his mouth to recover some chakra.
"Why are you eating a soldier pill? Is your shadow jutsu really that chakra-intensive?" Tenten asked, eyeing him curiously.
"Yeah," Akio nodded. "It doesn't just burn chakra—it's physically exhausting too. My shadow walks wherever I do, so I've basically walked twice as far as you guys have." He let out a tired laugh.
"Huh? Then if your shadow gets hurt, you'd feel it too? That kind of jutsu is really dangerous for your own body... it sounds like—"
"Shh." Akio quickly shushed Tenten. Jutsu like this could easily end up classified as forbidden techniques. And Akio really didn't want that. If his first original jutsu ended up being labeled as a forbidden technique, wouldn't that make him the successor to the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju?
And if all his future jutsu ended up as forbidden techniques... well, that would basically mean he was cursed with Tobirama's legacy or something.
"Alright, alright, I won't say anything. But seriously, you should cut back on using this jutsu. It's not worth it just to avoid carrying someone," Tenten muttered, turning into a full-on nagging granny.
"Okay, okay, got it, grandma," Akio replied, nodding dismissively.
"Who are you calling grandma?! You... old man! Ugh, damn it!" Tenten snapped, then suddenly realized something. The way they were bickering—calling each other "grandma" and "old man"—wasn't that kinda like how old married couples talk? Damn it, she'd walked right into his trap again!
"Haha!" Akio laughed.
The group continued their journey. They still had to cross the sea to reach the Land of Honey, but even getting to the coast was a long trek. It took them a full week to finally reach the seaside.
Why so long? Mostly because of the delicate little princess. Every time they walked a little, she'd start whining that she was tired. Even when the bodyguard carried her, she kept complaining. With all the stopping and starting, it took them a week just to reach the coast.
Spending that much time together, they got to know each other better. They learned the bodyguard's name was Yamaomi. Akio's relationship with Team 3 had also improved. Neji finally stopped giving him those cold, hostile stares. Before, Neji had always seen Akio as his rival.
He still kinda did, but now he also saw Akio as a friend.
Once they rented a boat, they set off on their sea voyage. Akio sat on the edge of the boat, staring out at the ocean, lost in thought. The difference between this world and his old one wasn't about technology or magic—it was culture. No skyscrapers, no legal systems. At the end of the day, he was just living in a world someone else had created.
From inside this world, the creator would be the Sage of Six Paths. From outside... it was Masashi Kishimoto.
Mitsuhime's supply pack was already more than half gone, but luckily they were close to the Land of Honey now. She still had enough food to last. The rest of the group had prepared their own supplies too, mostly easy-to-carry, long-lasting stuff like bread and biscuits. The world of Naruto was pretty clean, so getting water was just a matter of scooping it straight from lakes and rivers.
"What're you thinking about?" Tenten asked, lying on the edge of the boat and looking over at Akio.
"Nothing much. Just wondering who I should marry in the future," Akio joked.
"You're impossible..." Tenten rolled her eyes, blushing. Of course she knew he was teasing her.
"We haven't run into any ninja from the Land of Trap this whole time. Looks like the Land of Honey's already fallen. The daimyo's probably dead. When the time comes, comforting Mitsuhime will be your job," Akio said to Tenten.
"Why me?"
"Because you're both girls. You really think Lee or Neji would be good at comforting her?"
"Well..." Tenten tried to imagine it.
"Princess Mitsuhime! Don't cry! Let us forget your uncle and ignite the flames of youth together!" — That'd be Lee.
"Don't cry... don't cry... don't cry... ugh, so annoying..." — That'd be Neji.
Tenten broke into a cold sweat. Yeah, neither of them was cut out for emotional support. If Guy-sensei tried, he'd probably be just like Lee. Shikaku-sensei would say it was too troublesome. And as for Akio... nope. Can't let him do it either! Tenten shook her head.
"Alright, I'll be the one to comfort her," she said with a nod.
Akio had no idea what kind of mental gymnastics Tenten had just gone through, but seeing her agree made him smile. "Mitsuhime probably already knows in her heart that her father's gone. But since she hasn't seen it with her own eyes, she's still holding on to a bit of hope.
Once she hears the truth for sure... she'll probably break down."
"....."