Konoha Notes

Chapter 34 Undercurrent
Hiroyama Makoto stood beside the gangway of the cargo ship about to set sail, his face beaming with smiles, though the fine beads of sweat on his forehead glistened slightly in the sunlight. He held Shuji's hand tightly.

"Junior Ninja Shuji! I can't thank you enough! If it weren't for you this time..." His voice was loud, but his eyes darted uneasily towards the shadows of the dock warehouse not far away—several men in leather guard armor stood with their arms crossed, "The goods are finally on the ship, and my heart can finally rest!" He wiped his sweat, his voice suddenly lowering, "But, are you really not going with the ship? I think those men are holding a grudge against you... about what happened at the city gate..."

Xiu Si smoothly withdrew his hand, his face as calm and expressionless as ever. "Don't worry, Mr. Hongshan." His gaze swept over the guards, who instinctively looked away when their eyes met his.

"Ah! I'm relieved to hear you say that!" Hong Shancheng's worry was instantly replaced by a fawning smile, as if his previous concern was just an illusion. He rubbed his hands together. "I've paid for five days' worth of rooms at Haifeng Pavilion! You can all stay here without worry! I wanted to treat you well to repay your kindness, but the ship can't wait... Please accept this small token of my appreciation!" He magically produced a bulging money pouch and stuffed it into the pouch.

"It's my duty, Mr. Hongshan, no need." Xiu Si raised his hand and gently refused the money.

Hongshan Cheng withdrew his hand and said gratefully, "If I have any more requests, I will definitely seek out the ninjas of Konoha. In that case, I will take my leave."

He climbed the gangway, looking back every few steps, until the cargo ship sounded its dull horn, slowly sailed away from the berth, and merged into the busy waterway outside the harbor, before he finally disappeared completely from the ship's side.

Almost at the same time that the Hongshan Cheng cargo ship sailed out of sight, in the heart of Chujie Port, inside the Wasabi family's home, the atmosphere was heavy.

The dimly lit Japanese-style room was filled with a tense atmosphere that even the finest incense couldn't completely suppress. Seven or eight men of varying ages, impeccably dressed, sat upright on the tatami mats. They were prominent figures in Izuku Port, besides the Wasuke family, who controlled the fishing guild, the dockworkers' union, and several of the largest trading companies. At this moment, their gazes were all focused on Wasabi Jirocho, who sat at the head of the table.

Jirocho was dressed in a dark gray formal kimono, his back straight as a pine tree. His lean face lacked its usual humility, replaced by a solemn resolute air. On the low table in front of him lay a thick scroll of documents and several blurry but recognizable rubbings of portraits.

"Gentlemen," Jirocho's voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the silence of the room, "I have taken the liberty of inviting you here today, only to expose a lie that concerns the life and death of Desai Port!"

He picked up a rubbing, which depicted a face with a muscular, scarred expression. "This man is Xiong Zhu, a notorious bandit from the Wild Tea Slope Tea Mountain Gang. Three months ago, his men robbed three caravans coming from Nan Shou Yi, killing and wounding seventeen!" He picked up another rubbing, "And this one..."

One by one, rubbings were displayed, and the fierce faces looked particularly grotesque in the dim light. Jirocho's voice was filled with suppressed grief and indignation: "These people, along with their nearly three hundred ruthless henchmen, have not been wiped out as the Wajiki family claimed! They are right under our noses! They are entrenched at the city gates, docks, and streets! Under the guise of special tolls, they are squeezing every last drop of blood from passing merchants; they are destroying this city!"

A suppressed gasp and a slight commotion filled the room. The old chairman of the fishing association couldn't help but speak up: "Jiro, this is no small matter! Words alone are not enough..."

"The evidence is here!" Jirocho slammed the thick document on the table. "From the tokens left behind at the Wild Tea Slope camp, to the confessions of the forced laborers who were coerced into joining but managed to escape, to the comparison of the tattoos that couldn't be erased from their bodies!"

He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the astonished and uncertain faces of the crowd, and emphasized his tone, "More importantly, the collection and verification of this evidence was completed with the assistance of the ninja squad led by Jonin Shuji, who was on a guard mission in Konoha!"

"Konoha?!" This word was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, instantly creating even bigger ripples. The previously somewhat skeptical looks immediately became complicated.

“Indeed,” Jirocho said in a deep voice, noticing the change in everyone’s eyes. “I have already sent men with evidence and letters to the capital to report to the daimyo! I hope that after you return, you will prepare your men and weapons to completely wipe these jackals out of Ichigo Port!”

A hush fell over the room. The prominent figures exchanged glances, their eyes conveying unspoken messages. Some nodded vigorously, their eyes blazing with anger; others frowned, their fingers unconsciously tapping their knees.

Finally, the old fisherman's association president slowly spoke: "Since there are ninjas from Konoha as witnesses, and these... physical evidences," he pointed to the documents, "we naturally believe them and will go back to make preparations."

He paused, then changed the subject: "But right now, it's the Kazuki family that's in charge, and those people are appointed by them. We can't act rashly before we get the daimyo's order. But as soon as the daimyo's order arrives, we'll immediately clean up these parasites."

"Exactly."

"Let's wait for the daimyo's orders."

The others echoed his sentiments, their stance clear and unified: they supported Wasabi Jirocho's decision to file a complaint, and they believed the evidence was genuine, but until the daimyo's official order arrived, none of their men would be moved. Jirocho understood, even anticipating this. These old foxes wanted to use him to eliminate the cancerous growth fostered by the Kazue family, yet they were unwilling to take any risk before the matter was settled. He showed no disappointment, instead nodding solemnly: "What you all say is absolutely right. Without a proper name, words cannot be followed; without followed words, things cannot be accomplished. Jirocho understands. Everything awaits the daimyo's decision! I only hope that you all make thorough preparations so that we can strike successfully when the time comes!"

"nature."

"With wasabi in charge, you can rest assured."

Everyone rose to their feet, politely taking their leave, their faces grave and reflecting their own calculations, as they hurriedly departed the Wasabi residence. The tatami room returned to its spacious state, save for the lingering scent of incense.

Almost at the same time that the prominent figures left Wasabi's house, several secret messages, like insects caught in a spider's web, were transmitted through different channels, trembling and escaping.

On the edge of Akuta Harbor, in a dark, shabby room overlooking the sea and with windows facing an abandoned old shipyard, most of the light was blocked by thick oilcloth, and the air was filled with the smell of cheap tobacco. Jubei sat cross-legged in the deepest part of the shadows, his ever-present katana lying across his knees, while a lean man knelt before him, giving a hurried, low report.

"...Wasagi Jirocho gathered people...and brought out a lot of papers and portraits...claiming them as irrefutable evidence...and even saying that Konoha ninjas helped obtain them...and that they're going to report it to the Daimyo...the receipt will arrive tomorrow...and that they'll take action once the receipt arrives..."

Jubei's eyes, which had been closed, suddenly snapped open, and the scabbard in front of his knees seemed to emit a very faint hum.

So that's how it is. So Wasabi Jirocho was looking for Konoha ninjas to get their endorsement...

"Take it to the daimyo..." Jubei's lips curled into a ferocious grin, revealing gleaming white teeth. "Old man, you've got some nerve!"

He wasn't sure what the Daimyo of the Land of Tea would do. Would he stubbornly deny the evidence? Send that elder of the family who was related to the Kazuki clan to investigate? Or, seeing that Konoha seemed to have made a statement, would he abandon the Tea Mountain Gang? Jubei didn't know, nor did he need to know. As long as he killed the messenger and prevented the Daimyo from seeing those things, that would be enough.

Jubei suddenly stood up, his tall figure casting a heavy shadow in the cramped space, making his kneeling subordinates almost unable to breathe.

"Where are the Konoha ninjas now?"

"They are still in the Sea Breeze Pavilion, and we have been keeping an eye on them."

"Go out and arrange for people to keep a close eye on Wasabi's family."

"Yes!"

Watching the person retreat and leave, Jubei ordered from the shadows: "Have Kubiki kill the messenger from the Wasabi family. Genshiki, you keep an eye on the Konoha ninjas."

A man emerged from the shadows, his deep-set eyes adorned with fluorescent green pupils, and a tattoo of a hungry wild dog beneath them; his disheveled hair was mixed with bird feathers and a hairpin made of withered bones, and he held a copper coin between his canine teeth. He wore a cassock made of patchwork cloth, and a bell with the character "食" (food) engraved on it was tied to his wrist.

"Something's not right." Huan Shi's voice was muffled as he kept biting on the copper coin.

The samurai said coldly, "It doesn't matter anymore. We've already invested too much, and we already had plans to deal with the Konoha ninjas from the beginning. This is just a matter of bringing it forward a bit."

(End of this chapter)