Chapter 84: The Merchant Caravan
Of course, Masahiko didn't have a sword left in the hot spring. He simply found a secluded spot and took a long sword out of the sealing scroll he carried with him.
This sword was the one he had bought when he accompanied Hashirama and Tobirama to the Land of Iron for the Five Kage Summit years ago. It contained chakra-conducting metal. Masahiko had originally planned to extract the metal and forge two special shuriken, but he had kept putting it off. He never expected it would actually come in handy now.
Slung diagonally across his waist, Masahiko adjusted his clothes and nodded with satisfaction. "Now, I look like a Ronin..."
Returning to the Guard Recruitment Office, he found that besides the scar-faced man, another young man had arrived.
Scarface was speaking. "A Chunin? Acceptable. I've recorded it. We'll test everyone once we have enough people... You actually came back!" He looked up and saw Masahiko walk in.
Masahiko nodded with a smile. "Scarface, I'm back to apply. Let's talk about the pay..." Although Masahiko wasn't short on money, he was a frugal man...
Scarface stood up and glared at him viciously. "Let's go! With the two of you, we have enough. Follow me to the caravan's camp. Someone will test you there, and we'll discuss payment afterward." He darkened his face as he added, "If anyone lied about their strength, the testers won't be merciful."
However... despite the threat, Masahiko still wore a carefree smile, while the young man beside him was trembling with fear.
On the way to the caravan camp, following Scarface, Masahiko smiled and spoke to the young man beside him. "Little friend, how old are you? First time out on a mission?"
The young man looked nervous, but hearing Masahiko's words, he puffed out his chest. "I'm not a little friend! I'm 17!" His expression then fell. "I'm a civilian ninja from the Land of Hot Water. This... is indeed my first time leaving the country..."
Masahiko nodded, sighing inwardly at how peaceful the Land of Hot Water was. First mission at 17?
"But is being this comfortable really a good thing?" Masahiko muttered, falling silent.
"Big Brother, don't you want to ask why I took this mission?" Seeing Masahiko's silence, the young man spoke up proactively.
However... Masahiko chuckled inwardly. "I haven't been 'Big Brother' for many years... If you spoke like that in Konoha, you might get beaten to death."
"What is there to ask? It's one of two situations. Either you have a sick mother at home and desperately need money, hoping to move me so I'll protect you during the escort; or you're unwilling to be mediocre and want to train yourself, hoping I'll admire your spirit and look out for you..."
Young man: "..."
Scarface, walking in front, turned his head upon hearing this and actually smiled, which made Masahiko shudder...
The rest of the journey was silent. The group of three left the bustling village and arrived in the open wilderness.
From a distance, Masahiko saw a caravan stationed there. There were nearly a hundred people and over a dozen carriages.
Masahiko frowned. "The caravan is quite large, but the wheel tracks are sunk so deep. What are they transporting?"
From the caravan, a small old man walked over and spoke to Scarface. "Nobushige, why did you return with only two recruits?"
Masahiko sensed him. The old man had no chakra and his physique wasn't strong; he should be an ordinary person. Yet, facing Scarface, he spoke as an equal, which meant he was either the steward or the owner of this caravan.
Sure enough, Scarface's next words confirmed Masahiko's guess.
"President, that young man with blonde hair claims to be a high-ranking samurai. If that's true, we barely have enough people..."
The old man frowned and looked at Masahiko, clearly skeptical. However, he didn't question him directly but said calmly, "Then test his strength, along with the five recruited earlier."
Scarface nodded and turned to Masahiko and the young man. "First, let me introduce myself. I am Sanada Nobushige, the captain of the caravan guards, and a high-ranking samurai." He glanced at Masahiko. "Not 'Scarface'."
"Alright, Scarface." Masahiko didn't care about that.
Scarface's expression stiffened, while the old man looked amused.
"You said your name is Masayi, right... Come with me. I will personally test your strength." He then shouted, "Okita! Come here! Take this young man and test his strength along with the five I brought earlier."
A delicate-looking samurai trotted over and led the nervous young man away.
"Where are we testing?" Masahiko asked with a smile, showing no sign of nervousness.
"Right here. President, please step back a bit."
The old man nodded and retreated about ten meters.
"Make your move..." Scarface said calmly, letting Masahiko strike first.
Masahiko shrugged. He didn't decline, drawing his sword and slashing forward.
Scarface frowned as he blocked it, not countering. "Are you really a high-ranking samurai? The force is decent, but your angle is wrong, and even your grip is wrong. It's not too late to quit now."
Masahiko blushed. He really hadn't practiced swordsmanship.
"This is a special sword style. Do you want to learn?" Masahiko denied it.
Scarface fell silent for a moment, then his eyes widened. He slashed out, and Masahiko actually felt the illusion of facing the Hatake Clan Head from years ago.
"Impressive aura. But no chakra reaction. A Traditionalist samurai...?" Although Masahiko didn't know swordsmanship, he relied on his superior physical attributes to easily block Scarface's strikes.
Scarface fell silent, nodded, and sheathed his sword.
Masahiko thought the test was over, but Scarface shouted, "Iai! (Quick Draw)"
The draw was lightning fast. Masahiko reacted instinctively, channeling raw chakra without elemental change into his sword. He moved later but arrived first, blocking Scarface's sudden attack.
Scarface snorted coldly. "So you're a New School samurai. And with quite a bit of chakra. No wonder you dared to call yourself a high-ranking samurai with that kind of swordsmanship!" He turned and walked away.
Masahiko scratched his head, not knowing how to respond.
The old man walked over, smiling. "Nobushige's sudden attack earlier was to prevent unidentified ninjas from infiltrating the group. Don't take offense. As for the conflict between New and Old School samurai... the scar on his face was left by a New School samurai, so..."
Masahiko nodded, understanding.
"Then, welcome, Masayi... that is the name, right? Welcome to the caravan! This is half of the payment for this trip, 500,000 ryo. I'll give it to you now. The other half will be paid upon delivery of the goods."
Masahiko frowned slightly, but quickly smiled and accepted it, officially joining the caravan.
"Since when did they pay in advance...?"
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