Red sand dust

The older and more experienced a senior ninja is, the more he understands that there are not so many so-called coincidences in this world.

There are only a few hundred thousand ninjas in the five major ninja villages in the ninja world, and some of them are genin who are not strong in combat and retired ninjas who are no longer at their peak.

The higher you go, the fewer ninjas you will find who can be called companions, opponents, or enemies.

Ninjas who have survived one or two ninja wars are rarely surprised by unexpected things.

A female ninja wearing a Konoha forehead protector has chakra similar to that of the Sand Ninja puppet. If Sunagakure Village and Konoha Village were not allies, Jiraiya would have doubted whether this pretty little girl was a spy who was instigated to rebel. .

"That kind of armor is a bit like the winged armor I bought from Sand Hidden Village, but its appearance is different from what the intelligence said!" Is it a customized model? 』

Under the puzzled looks of Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto, the little girl found an empty seat, ordered a few well-selling signature dishes, and started eating by herself.

"Hey, lustful fairy, what's wrong with you?"

Uzumaki Naruto asked strangely.

Although it is a bit surprising to meet compatriots from the Leaf Village thousands of miles away from home, it is not something worth making a fuss about, right?

"What's so special about that person?"

"I care a little! But...it has nothing to do with us!"

The footprints of Konoha ninjas are all over the ninja world. It is normal for you to meet them by chance during your travels.

As for coming up to say hello or something like that, it’s not necessary.

There is such a big age difference between the two, and they have not been in Konoha Village for many years. It is doubtful whether the young man can recognize Jiraiya, one of the former "Sannin".

Just when the master and apprentice were about to withdraw their attention, finish eating quietly and leave, two young ninjas, a man and a woman, suddenly burst in from outside.

The male sand ninja was slightly taller and slender, holding a cane half as tall as a man, like a cane entwined with two snakes; the girl was slightly shorter, carrying a long bow that was almost the same height as her body.

The two stood at the door, looking at the diners in the store unscrupulously. After a few seconds, his eyes were locked behind the little girl who had just come in and was eating by herself.

After finding the target, their eyes lit up and they stepped forward quickly.

"It turns out to be Miss Kurama Yakumo. You are finally a ninja. Congratulations..."

"It's you!"

Kurama Yakumo, who drank a few sips of soup and licked the corner of his mouth, raised his head and saw two peers he had met when he was learning how to operate wing armor in Sunagakure Village last year.

"Yan Mi, Wenzi, long time no see! It seems you are doing well..."

Judging from the weapons that the two of them carried, they were not something that civilian ninjas who had just embarked on the ninja journey could afford.

"The commander-in-chief is generous, in exchange for internal contributions..."

Yan Mi replied reservedly.

It’s good that my immediate boss is a senior puppet stylist. The scraps from his usual trial works are all rare and good things outside.

Fragments of chakra metal, shapeless biological materials, old puppet parts that were replaced, and Daimaru were all piled up in the warehouse as "junk".

Daimaru had no use for these materials, which had excellent chakra conduction, so he entrusted his subordinates to handle them on his behalf.

The secondary recycling of "waste", deducting manpower and material resources, actually doesn't save much. Only the puppet master apprentices under his subordinates can get some benefits. The renovated puppets, weapons, etc. are treated as welfare, half sold and half given away.

What Daimaru values ​​most is that young people who are interested in puppet making have a platform to increase their knowledge.

No matter how good a puppet stylist is, he starts by imitating. Unlike rich people who spend money to buy materials for their children to practice, Daimaru can only use this method to give his talents a chance to practice.

In the short term, it is definitely not profitable, and Daimaru does not expect much. As long as it can recover costs and maintain operation, the internal "contribution value" and "merit point" issuance and redemption system is what Daimaru values ​​most. This cycle of in and out allows the fragmented parts of his subordinates to be kneaded into a whole.

"It's because of your ability in doing things that you have such benefits! Daimaru is not a kind and good man. He will not look at you differently unless you create value that far exceeds the harvest..."

The eldest lady of the Kurama family who spoke, ate most of the food in front of her, and after alleviating the fatigue and hunger from the long journey, she said with a smile,

"It's not easy to open up a place in the wilderness, isn't it?"

How can subordinates question the boss's decision?

Yan Mi and Wen Wen looked at each other and said with a smile:

"Fortunately, I have the experience of Awaji Village, so I won't be in a hurry! Miss Yakumo came here at this time, I wonder what happened? Although I am a little embarrassed, we have to remind you that this is already the territory of Sunagakure Village, and other villages Ninja, without a pass, you cannot come in and out at will..."

We had just started to establish a stronghold, but the infrastructure was incomplete and there was nothing to worry about. Suna Ninja's manpower was also insufficient, and the security system had not been fully deployed. So when Kurama Yakumo suddenly appeared, he did not react until most of the food was eaten. Someone rushed over to understand the situation.

"You really can't come in and out at will?"

Kurama Yakumo, who chuckled lightly, turned his head and looked in the direction of Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya not far away.

Immediately, the Suna Ninja, who got the hint, also discovered something unusual about the master and apprentice.

Facing the probing gazes of the three, Jiraiya laughed and replied:

"I'm new to your place. I'm a writer and I'm collecting materials nearby. Any advice?"

The identity recognition of the two masters and disciples is indeed very low at present. Jiraiya wears a forehead protector with the word "oil" on his head. After Uzumaki Naruto practiced and soaked in a hot spring, the Konoha Village forehead protector was temporarily removed.

There were a lot of business travelers passing by every day, and Suna Ninja didn't know how to identify everyone, so the two of them walked in without anyone paying much attention.

But now that he's been targeted and his suspicions are highlighted, he can no longer hide it.

It wasn't that Jiraiya was afraid, he just didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble.

Unfortunately, the disciples around him couldn't understand Jiraiya's thoughts at all. They stood up to meet his gaze and said carelessly:

"I am Naruto Uzumaki, the ninja of Konoha Village, the man who will become Hokage in the future. Why are you watching me and the lustful Sento?"

"Such an idiot!"

Realizing that something was wrong, Jiraiya couldn't help but complain softly even if he didn't have time to stop him.

The outspoken young man couldn't remember the first time he had caused trouble by talking nonsense.

"Konoha ninja again?"

Yan Mi's hand tightened on the cane, and Wenzi also weighed the long bow on his back.

"Uzumaki Naruto? I have an impression!"

After Kurama Yakumo thought for a moment, he understood who was on the other side.

"It turns out to be Lord Jiraiya..."