After resting the entire morning, Fenghuo had recovered most of the stamina he'd spent sealing the fire and traveling through the night—about ninety percent by his estimate. Yuhi Kurenai's father, Yuhi Shinku, glanced at him with a mix of surprise and approval.
Later, they met their clients at a local inn in the town: Inoue Chuu and Inoue Yue, a pair of identical twins in their thirties. Despite their formal dress, their faces were long, sallow, and frankly unpleasant to look at.
"Ninja-sama, we'll be relying on you from here on," said Chuu, the elder brother, politely despite an obvious sour mood.
His brother Yue, however, was more irritable. "If anything happens to us along the way, the reward's getting slashed, you hear?"
The twins were merchants who had traveled into the Land of Fire hoping to turn a profit, but had ended up losing money instead. Unwilling to risk further losses along the insecure border, they had scraped together 80,000 ryō to hire shinobi as escorts.
Yuhi Shinku responded calmly, "Don't worry. Fenghuo and I will ensure your safe passage to the Land of Taki."
"What? That brat's coming too? Are you kidding me?" snapped Yue, visibly irritated. "If we get attacked, who are you saving first—us or him?"
Chuu looked equally displeased.
"Relax," Shinku began to explain. "Fenghuo is a trained shinobi—"
But Fenghuo cut him off, raising a hand dramatically.
"Don't be fooled by my youthful looks! I'm turning fifty this year!"
"Nani?" Both Inoue brothers blinked in disbelief.
Even Yuhi Shinku was briefly stunned, before coughing into his hand. "Ahem... Yes, Fenghuo's... training is a bit unusual. It's, uh... a specialized ninjutsu method."
"Seriously? He looks like a kid."
"Is that some kind of immortality jutsu?"
The twins circled Fenghuo in awe.
"Hmph! You two geezers, what are you gawking at?" Fenghuo snapped in a pompous tone. "Pack your things already! We're moving out!"
"Y-Yes, right away!" The brothers, startled, scrambled to gather their things under Fenghuo's scolding.
Yuhi Shinku chuckled and gave Fenghuo a subtle thumbs-up.
The brothers had hired a shabby, beat-up cart and brought along only a few sets of clothing. They seemed utterly indifferent to material loss—declaring bankruptcy without so much as flinching.
Fenghuo found it oddly admirable.
"Hyah!" Inoue Chuu lashed the reins, and the old horse creaked into motion.
Yuhi Shinku and Fenghuo moved to either side of the carriage, watching the terrain vigilantly.
The town they'd departed from was still far from the Land of Taki. With the current weather and the slow pace of the cart, the trip could take up to two months.
Wasting time on the road was out of the question.
Fenghuo created a shadow clone with a puff of chakra and tossed it the book Minato-sensei had given him. The clone leapt lightly to the roof of the carriage and started reading.
Meanwhile, Fenghuo began practicing hand seals again. He had managed to reduce his seal speed to 0.4 seconds per sign, but he aimed to reach three seals per second.
Yuhi Shinku watched with a soft smile.
By nightfall, the group found a flat clearing and made camp.
The Inoue brothers didn't bat an eye when they saw Fenghuo's shadow clone.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Fenghuo gathered dry branches and lit them with a roaring fireball. The blaze quickly grew into a campfire, radiating welcome heat against the winter air.
"We brought our own dry rations. Don't expect us to share," Yue said coldly.
"Young people these days! No respect for elders!" Fenghuo grumbled like an old man, crossing his arms.
Yuhi Shinku stifled a laugh nearby.
Still unsettled by Fenghuo's strange speech and behavior, the brothers awkwardly ate their food by the fire.
The shadow clone continued reading atop the cart, while Shinku quietly took a soldier pill and sat beside the wheel, eyes closed in meditation.
Fenghuo, however, was glancing around restlessly.
Soldier pills were useful, but with no imminent danger, hunting fresh meat seemed like a good idea.
To the left of their camp, a small forest was buried under a thick layer of snow, blending into the white landscape.
Fenghuo darted off toward it.
Cold wind howled past his ears as he entered the forest. The snow was untouched—no tracks in sight. Most animals were likely hibernating.
He searched for tree hollows, burrows, or traces of water and grass.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Frustrated by the lack of game, Fenghuo unleashed a large fireball, scorching several trees.
Crack!
A tree split and toppled, releasing a flurry of snow.
Then—
"Squeak! Squeak!"
A furious squeal echoed from beneath a fallen log.
Fenghuo peeked over and saw a snow rabbit, fat and furry, glaring at him with righteous indignation.
"Don't give me that look!" he growled, and lunged.
Snap!
Back at the camp, the fire crackled warmly, but Inoue Chuu and Yue sat in sullen silence.
Fenghuo returned, skewering the snow rabbit over the flames. He sprinkled some seasonings, and soon the savory scent of roasted meat drifted through the air.
"Gulp." Yue couldn't stop himself.
"Uncle Shinku, rabbit meat's ready!" Fenghuo called.
Yuhi Shinku opened his eyes. Though the soldier pill had dulled his hunger, the aroma was too tempting. He stood up, grabbed a leg, and started eating with quiet satisfaction.
"Wait a minute, brat," Chuu suddenly said. "If you're really fifty, why do you call him uncle?"
"Can't help it," Fenghuo mumbled around a mouthful of meat. "My youthful complexion fools even me."
"You little liar!" Yue snapped.
"What, wanna fight?" Fenghuo raised an eyebrow. "I'll even give you one hand."
The brothers remembered the destruction he'd caused in the woods and wisely reconsidered.
"Hmph. Give us some rabbit meat, and we'll drop the subject."
"Oh, now you care?" Fenghuo sneered. "You wouldn't share your food before. No rabbit for you."
The brothers fumed but knew they'd lost the argument.
Soon, the rabbit was reduced to bones between Fenghuo and Yuhi Shinku.
"Get some sleep. We leave early," Shinku said, patting his belly.
"Uncle Shinku, aren't we keeping watch?"
"Don't worry," Shinku replied quietly. "We've only just left. They won't catch up this fast."
"What are you two whispering about?" Yue snapped again.
"Less talking, more sleeping!" Fenghuo growled. "You're the type who stays up all night and still complains in the morning!"
"Damn brat!" Yue's blood pressure spiked again.
Visit patreon.com/Morgansenpai to get 30+ chapters