[System Notification: Host has successfully traversed.
The World Gate is now on cooldown. Duration: 1 month.
Current World: The Outcast – Branch Timeline. Time Period: 19th Century.
This is a branch world. No higher-dimensional attention detected.
Anchor to the Sacred Timeline of The Outcast has been set. Future traversals will land accurately.]
Good news: The traversal went smoothly. They had successfully crossed the boundaries of time and space.
Bad news: This wasn't the world they had expected.
Hikaru let out a quiet sigh but ultimately accepted the system's explanation.
Just one month. He could afford to wait.
Then, a slight smirk crept onto his lips—he clearly thought of something amusing.
The system had described this as a branch world, which meant… he could afford to cut loose a little, right?
A scheming thought took root: If I don't make those arrogant little "islanders" regret their behavior, it'd be a disgrace to my title as a transmigrator.
Just then, Tobirama had finished surveying their surroundings. Frowning, he muttered,
"Hikaru, this place looks a lot like the Warring States-era Land of Fire."
Hikaru exhaled softly. This era was, without a doubt, full of hardship and instability.
"It can't be helped," he said calmly. "Every otherworldly realm has its own history and trajectory. We just happen to be at a rather backward point in this one."
As they continued their conversation, they started to feel more and more eyes on them.
Clearly, their clothing and appearance stood out too much and had begun to attract attention.
"We need to find a place to gather information," Hikaru said decisively.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Under his lead, they quickly exited the narrow alley.
As they made their way forward, the scenery gradually shifted, challenging their first impressions of the town.
Yes, some parts were rundown—but it wasn't all decay and poverty.
Especially when they arrived at a bustling market square, the sight before them was filled with vibrant energy.
Street vendors called out their wares; the shouting, bargaining, and laughter all merged into a lively urban symphony.
Weaving expertly through the crowd, Hikaru led the group to a fairly grand-looking tavern.
While it wasn't overly luxurious, compared to what they'd seen so far, it was a world apart.
They had just taken their seats when a sprightly waiter rushed over, beaming from ear to ear.
"What'll it be, honored guests?"
Tobirama, Orochimaru, and the others instinctively looked toward Hikaru.
Being newcomers to this unfamiliar world, they naturally relied on his judgment.
After a brief pause, Hikaru replied, "Bring us some of your local specialties. Money is no issue."
While he didn't carry this world's currency, he had brought along plenty of gold.
And gold held value everywhere—it would be more than enough to secure them a comfortable stay.
Hearing that, the waiter's grin widened. "Right away! Please wait just a moment!"
He rushed to the kitchen, leaving the group to wait.
Before long, he returned with several steaming hot dishes and carefully laid them out on their table.
A mouthwatering aroma spread instantly, awakening everyone's appetite.
Hikaru glanced over the food and nodded in satisfaction.
Simple as they were, the dishes carried an authentic local flavor—clearly specialties of this town.
He gestured for the others to dig in, then picked up his own chopsticks for a taste. The flavor was rich, the texture excellent.
But even while enjoying the food, Hikaru didn't forget their true purpose.
Scanning the tavern, he noticed several groups of customers scattered about, chatting quietly and laughing occasionally.
Perfect chance to gather intel.
He wiped his mouth, set down his chopsticks, and turned to the others.
"You all enjoy. I'll step out for a bit."
With that, he rose and approached one of the nearby tables.
There sat a middle-aged man drinking alone—he looked approachable enough.
Hikaru took a seat with a smile.
"Sir, you've got that glow of a regular. I bet you know this place inside and out."
The man blinked in surprise, then laughed heartily.
"Hah! Sharp eye, kid! That's right, I've been around here a long time. Why, got something on your mind?"
Hikaru kept his tone casual.
"To tell you the truth, we just arrived and aren't too familiar with this town. If it's not too much trouble, could you tell us a bit about the place? Of course—we wouldn't expect you to talk for free."
He discreetly pulled out a small gold piece and handed it over.
The man's eyes lit up—but then he waved his hand dismissively.
"No need, no need! That's too generous for such a small favor! Come, sit, I'll tell you everything."
Hikaru didn't decline and took a proper seat.
The man began chatting enthusiastically.
From his explanation, Hikaru learned that this town was called Luoxia Town, a remote yet crucial trade hub connecting several major cities.
Though small in scale, it was bustling with commerce, drawing merchants and travelers from far and wide.
That alone gave Hikaru a better understanding of this era.
The town sat at a crossroads—but the uneven development showed just how hard life could be in certain places.
He also asked about other local details—what year it was, whether any major events had occurred recently.
These bits of information were vital to orient themselves in this world.
After some more idle talk, Hikaru stood up to leave.
The man grinned as he pocketed the gold, calling out cheerfully,
"Come back anytime, kid!"
Hikaru returned to the table and relayed everything he'd learned to the others.
After a moment's thought, Tobirama said seriously,
"So… this place is caught in wartime as well?"
His voice carried a barely noticeable tinge of sorrow.
Hikaru nodded, confirming the suspicion.
Orochimaru, however, was less interested in the conflict. What caught his attention was this world's power system.
He asked directly,
"Does this world have any equivalents to us shinobi?"
Before anyone could respond, the entire group suddenly turned toward a single direction.
From there, they all sensed it—
A foreign energy, distinctly different from chakra.
"…Wanna go check it out?"