After arriving at their destination town, Kato settled the final payment as if fleeing for his life, then hurriedly vanished around a street corner together with his caravan and guards.
The look in his eyes made it seem as though he had seen some kind of humanoid beast—terrified that if Ruichi became displeased, his round head might be added to the pile of trophies.
"Phew… it's finally over." Ichi let out a long breath, his whole body relaxing. The bloody scene from yesterday still left his mind feeling hazy.
Makire leaned against a wall, his face pale. Clearly, he hadn't fully recovered from his first true life-and-death battle.
Anko looked at the state of her two students and shook her head helplessly.
"Look at you two, so fragile. Fine—let's rest in this town today and head back to Konoha tomorrow."
"Oh yeah! Long live Anko-sensei!" Ichi immediately cheered.
Ruichi, however, had already planned his next move. He glanced at the loot piled in the cart and said calmly,
"Anko-sensei, you guys go find a place to rest first. I'll take care of this stuff and see if I can trade it for some pocket money."
Anko's mouth twitched as she waved her hand.
"Go on, just don't cause trouble. And try not to kill anyone if something happens."
She wasn't worried about Ruichi's safety at all—she was worried about the safety of anyone foolish enough to provoke him.
Ruichi rolled his eyes. "Do I really look that bloodthirsty…?"
At that, Anko, Ichi, and Makire all rolled their eyes back at him, even more speechless.
---
Ruichi walked alone through the town's streets.
He could clearly feel the gazes of passersby—fear mixed with curiosity, and even a few tinged with greed.
After all, it was hard not to attract attention when a young ninja was dragging around a bloodstained bag and a cart full of weapons, armor, and assorted spoils.
So annoying.
Trouble was what Ruichi hated most.
He slipped into an empty alley, quickly forming hand seals.
"Transformation Jutsu!"
Bang!
White smoke dispersed, and the handsome white-haired youth disappeared.
In his place stood a nearly two-meter-tall bald brute with a fleshy face and fierce eyes. A thick gold chain hung around his neck, and a massive longsword—crafted with Earth Release—was strapped to his back.
Now everything was perfect.
Peace at last.
When he reentered the street, pedestrians hurriedly made way. The ill-intentioned gazes from before vanished without a trace.
"Big Brother Baldy" nodded in satisfaction.
This was the street experience he preferred.
He found a blacksmith, sold the scrap metal looted from the bandits in one batch, and exchanged it for a respectable amount of cash.
After asking around, he confirmed that the rogue ninja indeed had bounties on them. To collect those, he'd need to go to the Daimyō's Estate.
The estate was in a nearby city. At a ninja's pace, he could get there quickly.
It was a hassle—but making money was always worth it.
---
As soon as Ruichi entered the city, he frowned.
Outside the city gates, refugees and beggars in tattered clothes lay everywhere. Their faces were yellowed and thin, eyes dull and lifeless.
In stark contrast, the district surrounding the distant Daimyō's Estate boasted high walls, grand courtyards, and towering vermilion gates.
Tsk. Same in every world.
Ruichi wasn't a saint, nor did he care to save the world.
But scenes like "behind vermilion gates, wine and meat rot, while the people outside freeze and starve" always left a bad taste in his mouth.
The guards at the Daimyō's Estate didn't dare give trouble to such a fierce-looking man. Still, after announcing him, they made him wait in the reception hall for a full half hour.
Finally, a bloated, luxuriously dressed fat man waddled out, looking more like a farm pig than a ruler.
This was the Daimyō of the Land of Rice Fields.
He glanced at the heads Ruichi tossed on the ground, then sized him up with a look of disdain, as if inspecting livestock.
"You're the ninja who killed those mountain bandits? You've got some brute strength, I suppose. Here's the bounty. Take it and get lost."
A guard casually tossed over a bag of money.
It felt less like paying a bounty and more like tossing alms to a beggar.
Ruichi was displeased, but getting angry at a pig wasn't worth the effort.
Take the money and go. Save the trouble.
He picked up the bag, weighed it, and turned to leave.
"Wait."
The Daimyō spoke again, his tone laced with hostility. "A man of unknown origin like you would do well to behave yourself and not stir trouble in my territory."
Ruichi didn't turn around. He only glanced back, flashing a chilling smile.
"Oh?"
In his mind, he was already calculating whether sneaking into the estate at night for a big haul would be worth it.
---
Ruichi had just left the estate, deep in thought about a plan of "robbing the rich to help the poor (himself)," when—
"P-please wait, sir!"
A timid voice called out from the side.
Ruichi turned to see a little girl with long black hair running out from an alley.
She looked eight or nine years old, her small face pale and thin. Though a bit disheveled, her clothes were of good quality, and her demeanor didn't resemble that of the displaced people outside.
More importantly, she had the courage to approach him in his current, terrifying guise.
"What is it?" Ruichi asked.
The girl shrank back slightly, but forced herself to speak.
"My name is Kin Tsuchi. Sir… thank you. Thank you for avenging my parents."
Kin Tsuchi?
Ruichi remembered her.
One of Otogakure's ninja. The girl who used senbon during the Chūnin Exams. Later… a sacrifice for Edo Tensei under Orochimaru.
"My parents were merchants," Kin Tsuchi said, tears streaming down her face. "A few days ago, when we passed through the canyon, those mountain bandits… wuwu… They fought to the death just so I could escape."
"I went to the Daimyō for help, but he didn't care at all. He only posted a token bounty…"
She sobbed as she spoke, her words coming out in fragments.
Ruichi listened quietly, quickly piecing things together.
Even if the Daimyō and the bandits weren't directly colluding, there was at least a tacit understanding between them—using each other for convenience.
"I saw you come to claim the bounty, and I knew my parents had finally been avenged!" Kin Tsuchi wiped her tears and suddenly knelt before him.
"Sir! I have nowhere left to go. Please take me in! I'm willing to serve you and repay your kindness!"
Ruichi rubbed his smooth chin.
Serve him, huh?
At least her attitude was better than those who said things like "I'll repay you in my next life" or "I have nothing to offer but myself."
Of course, she wasn't just trying to repay him—she was also seeking protection.
A lone little girl with no backing wouldn't have a good ending in a place like this.
So that's how she ended up in Otogakure…
She needed protection. And power.
But Otogakure hadn't even been founded yet, and Uncle Snake was still busy with his own plans.
Ruichi's mental abacus began clattering.
If he wanted to continue living a laid-back life, having someone manage miscellaneous affairs for him would certainly reduce trouble.
If he ever opened a side business—say, a dessert shop—he'd also need someone trustworthy to run it.
Kin Tsuchi was a merchant's daughter. Growing up in that environment, her business sense shouldn't be bad.
In the original timeline, she passed the Forest of Death at fourteen—meaning she went from an ordinary civilian to near-chūnin level in under five years with limited resources.
Not a cheat-level genius, but undeniably talented.
If he took her in now and raised her from a young age…
Loyalty wouldn't be a problem.
Ruichi nodded slightly to himself.
Hmm… this actually might work.