Chapter 2 Koizumi Town
. The Land of Rivers, in Shuji's previous life's analogy, is like a demilitarized zone in the ninja world.
It has a ruling daimyo, bureaucratic bureaucracy, and even a group of samurai with swords. But it has no ninja villages.
In this world dominated by chakra power, this is tantamount to walking naked among wolves.
Once trouble exceeds the scope of a samurai sword, one can only submit a letter of request to Konoha, Sunagakure, or even Amegakure, exchanging money for foreign military force.
This peculiar political ecology has given rise to a deformed yet vibrant border town like Koizumi Town.
The town has no towering walls, no imposing checkpoints, only a winding dirt road.
Spices from the Land of Wind and delicacies from the Land of Fire converge here, the air always filled with the unique aroma of exotic goods.
Uchiha Itachi sits in an unassuming restaurant, a steaming bowl of fragrant stewed beef before him, but a barely perceptible hint of confusion in his eyes.
The journey proceeded smoothly: a safe arrival at the border, handover with local officials, receipt of a briefing on the bandits, and then, as usual, a visit to the local chamber of commerce.
"Just a bunch of petty thieves," said the guild leader, a well-maintained, smiling, and prosperous-looking middle-aged man, stroking his neatly trimmed beard, his tone nonchalant.
"Although they robbed several caravans, it did cause a little trouble for trade." This was followed by lengthy pleasantries and empty wishes, the core demand being nothing more than hoping the Konoha ninja would resolve the issue quickly.
Faced with this almost perfunctory attitude, Senior Shuji's face remained unmoved.
He routinely recorded the information provided—information identical to that on the mission scroll—before naturally changing the subject: "Koizumi-cho gathers products from three countries; surely it has everything?"
"Of course, of course!" the leader replied with a beaming smile.
"I've heard the beef from the Land of Rivers has a unique flavor?" Shuji's tone was as casual as discussing the weather.
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically recommended, "You have excellent taste, Ninja! If you want to taste authentic flavors, Zaemon's stewed beef is the town's signature dish—you absolutely must try it!"
At this point, Shuji seemed to instantly lose interest in continuing the conversation and politely took his leave. Now, they were sitting in this small shop called "Zaemon."
Itachi's gaze fell on the ceramic bowl before him. The amber broth rippled gently, revealing large chunks of perfectly stewed beef, their tender texture revealing distinct fibers with a light touch of chopsticks.
The reddish-brown pieces of meat were soaked in the thick broth, glistening with an enticing sheen, garnished with vibrant green scallions. The rising steam carried the rich aroma of star anise, cinnamon, and other spices, intertwining with the mellow flavor of the beef—the aroma alone was enough to awaken the taste buds.
"Senior," Itachi finally couldn't help but whisper, "Aren't you going to complete the mission?"
"The mission is of course on," Shuuji replied casually, steadily picking up a trembling piece of beef and putting it into his mouth.
As the incredibly tender and succulent meat melted on his tongue, the rich aroma of meat, accompanied by a subtle spiciness, instantly filled his mouth, and he couldn't help but squint his eyes in satisfaction.
The ninja world was tense and oppressive, but after eating this piece of beef, Shuuji suddenly felt that the world wasn't so bad after all.
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Itachi reluctantly picked up his chopsticks and muttered, "I'm starting."
Seeing this, Shuji's lips curled into a slight smile, and he gestured to the busy figure behind the counter, "Boss, another serving, please."
His gaze fell on the lean shopkeeper carefully wiping the ceramic pot, his eyes revealing genuine appreciation: "The control of the heat is superb, the sauce is just right, neither overpowering nor understating, perfectly highlighting the natural flavor of the beef."
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper, Zaemon, his bronze face immediately glowed.
He wiped his hands with his faded apron, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out: "The customer is truly an expert! We use the finest beef delivered from the ranch every morning, slow-cooked for hours to achieve this flavor. Mastering this balance requires no less effort than studying a sophisticated ninjutsu." He noticed the Konoha mark on the boy's headband and deliberately used a metaphor that a ninja could understand.
"Would you like to try our grilled beef? We still have two cuts of the best left today," Zaemon enthusiastically suggested.
"Then I'll trouble you," Shuji readily agreed.
A small charcoal grill was quickly brought to the table. The shop owner personally served, laying the meat slices on the grill: "This is short rib, rich in fat; this is ham, tender and juicy. Would you like me to grill it for you?"
"Thank you, please." Shuuji smiled and nodded, his gaze falling on the sizzling, dripping meat slices. He casually asked, "I heard things have been a bit unsettled around Koizumi lately, with frequent bandits. Is your beef supply still running smoothly?"
"Bandits..." Zaemon skillfully flipped the meat slices on the grill, the fat dripping onto the charcoal, making a cheerful sizzling sound and rising with fragrant smoke. "That's true, but I heard it's mostly newcomers, unfamiliar with the area, who suffer. Our suppliers are all decades-old ranches, familiar with the routes and well-connected, so they haven't been affected much. Don't worry,"
"Besides, caravans are very cautious now, usually setting off with a full complement of people and rarely stopping along the way."
Itachi's hand holding the chopsticks paused almost imperceptibly—the head of the merchant guild had never mentioned the crucial information that bandits were "selectively" robbing.
"Please
enjoy your meal." Zaemon divided the perfectly grilled beef onto their plates. After Shuji leisurely finished the sumptuous meal, the two left the restaurant. The setting sun had already bathed the rooftops of Koizumi Town in a warm orange glow. The streets were thinning out, and the distant shouts of caravans unloading their goods could be faintly heard. A gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees from the edge of the forest, mingling with the comforting aromas of food lingering from the market. Shuji took a deep breath of this unique atmosphere of the border town.
The food was indeed delicious, but the cost was considerable—a hefty 750 ryo bill—equivalent to several days' wages for an ordinary person according to his memory. However, considering the reward for completing the mission was 30,000 ryo, this lavish meal was within acceptable limits.
"Senior, should we investigate the attacked caravan next?" Itachi quickly followed Shuji out of town.
"No need." Shuji continued walking, his gaze fixed on the distant Shirakawa Village, where lights were gradually illuminating the twilight. "I discovered two things today."
"First, the bandits deliberately avoided the caravans with close ties to the locals. So, while the local merchants outwardly cooperated, they weren't truly concerned, and their intelligence was perfunctory."
"Second, those bandits initially escaped to the Land of Rain, yet they risked returning to the border of the Land of Rivers, where they were being hunted, to commit crimes again. Such unusual behavior points to only two possibilities—"
Shuji looked out of the city, where the scattered lights of distant villages resembled stars in the deepening night.
"Either, they fled in such haste that they left behind extremely important valuables that they had to retrieve." His sharp gaze pierced the twilight, landing on the familiar outline of the village. "Or, the answer is simpler—they were originally from here. It's not that they didn't know the danger, but… their home is here."
(End of Chapter)