Chapter 288: Always a Bad Premonition

Since Second Tsuchikage Mu and Second Generation Water Shadow Guideng Huanyue perished together in the first Ninja World War, the twenty‑something Da Ye Mu became Iwagakure Village's Third Generation Earth Shadow.

Little did anyone know, they were about to begin a political career lasting several decades…

"Teacher, I will definitely avenge you."

In the Earth Shadow Office, Da Ye Mu's eyes flickered with flames of hatred, and they clenched their fists tightly.

Had the Water Shadow Guideng Huanyue not suddenly appeared from behind Earth Country, the teacher would not have died in that battle.

From that moment, Water Country and Earth Country forged a deep hatred.

If possible, they will someday defeat Water Country, sending those guys down to keep the teacher company.

The Tsuchikage taught Da Ye Mu the Blood Trace Elimination Dust Release that merges wind, fire, and earth, and handed them the Stone's Will, intending them to guide the village toward prosperity.

Da Ye Mu, to fulfill the teacher's imparted will, resolved to become an outstanding Kage, thereby leading the village to become the strongest village in the Ninja World!

But during this period, they felt uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen, causing inexplicable irritation and anxiety.

The feeling was like the time the Kirigakure forces launched a surprise attack from behind Earth Country.

"Could Kirigakure Village still be harboring thieving intentions?" Da Ye Mu murmured softly.

After learning from a previous ambush, Iwagakure Village has taken enough lessons; now it has not only strengthened its guards but also dispatched ninja squads to patrol the borders.

To prevent Kirigakure Village from launching another ambush on Iwagakure Village!

For those unidentified outsiders, they are forcibly detained; if a ninja sent by an enemy nation is discovered, they may be killed on the spot without justification!

Each nation's ninja missions have a jurisdiction; if a destination is closest to a particular country, the client issues the mission to the corresponding ninja village.

Cross‑country missions that are laborious and unrewarding will not occur.

If a ninja appears in another nation's territory and is discovered, they will likely be treated as a spy.

If one's identity is accidentally exposed, good luck means being captured and becoming a prisoner, after which the village can pay a ransom; bad luck means there is only death.

"Issue the notice, increase vigilance soon, and have the gate guards verify the identities of all outsiders," Da Ye Mu instructed their subordinates.

Only a few years have passed since the war ended, and the village's wounds have not yet healed; problems cannot arise at a time like this.

He does not want to be like Cloud Hidden Village—after the war, the whole village was left with shortages, and High‑End Combat Power was almost entirely wiped out.

Without a decade or two of cultivation, Cloud Hidden Village could not recover. If Thunder Country were not so well‑funded, it would have been eliminated in the last war.

Da Ye Mu heard that in recent years Cloud Hidden Village has been vigorously developing its economy, yet he does not know where that Raikage brute obtained so much money.

It should be noted that although Cloud Hidden Village has a good geographic setting, its funds are limited. Especially right after the war, theoretically Cloud Hidden Village should have been out of money…

But even with abundant financial support, it would still take several decades.

All this is thanks to Konoha's Deadly Poison Master; fortunately, the teacher switched opponents before the Poison Master rose to prominence, preventing Iwagakure Village from becoming as tragic as Cloud Hidden Village.

"Konoha Poison Master…" Da Ye Mu narrowed his eyes.

That guy can cause massive losses to Cloud Hidden Village, and likewise bring severe damage to Iwagakure Village. For the village's safety, he must find a way to eliminate him!

Unfortunately, he has never seen this enigmatic Poison Master; according to the victim villages Sunagakure and Cloud Hidden—

Those who have seen the Konoha Poison Master have basically been poisoned to death.

Since there is no chance to encounter the Poison Master, it is impossible to eliminate him. They can only develop the village's economy first, and when the village becomes strong, then consider external expansion.

Da Ye Mu does not know that the Konoha Poison Master he mentioned has already slipped silently into Earth Country.

Moreover, that legendary Poison Master has actually been seen long ago.

Inside a caravan wagon within Earth Country.

"Ninja Lord, truly thank you!" the caravan leader looked gratefully at the seated youth and Fat Cat.

They were, as usual, escorting supplies to Iwagakure Village for trade, when they encountered marauding rogue ninjas. The opponents were numerous and powerful; the caravan's escort ninjas were no match.

Had the youth not appeared in time, their group would have been wiped out here.

When the caravan leader learned the youth intended to go to Iwagakure Village, he promptly and enthusiastically invited the youth and Fat Cat to go together.

On one hand, to thank the youth for saving their lives; on the other, to seek the youth's protection to prevent further robberies.

After all, the ninja escorting the caravan was just killed by the rogue ninjas.

If such a situation recurs, they would all be doomed.

"It's no trouble, you're welcome," Lian Ye said with a smile, waving his hand, feeling a bit helpless as the boss had already been thanking him all along.

He had just entered Earth Country when he saw the scene, and casually killed several rogue ninjas, thereby saving the entire caravan's lives.

After the caravan leader's repeated pleas, he finally agreed to accompany the caravan to Iwagakure Village.

With the caravan as cover, he no longer needs to sneak into Iwagakure Village.

"Benefactor, a small token, not as a sign of respect," the caravan leader pulled a thick stack of silver notes from his pocket and handed them to Lian Ye.

"Ha ha, how can I accept that?" Lian Ye laughed, slipping the silver notes into his coat, so quickly the caravan leader couldn't see.

During this period he hasn't taken on missions, so he still doesn't have much money.

He wonders whether he might encounter Jiaodu on the upcoming journey; if he "accidentally" meets him, he could ask for a bit of pocket money.

In the Ninja World, finding Jiaodu isn't hard; as long as one frequents the biggest Exchange House, Jiaodu's presence will eventually be spotted.

Anyway, that guy hoards his earnings and never spends them; better to take them to buy ingredients and develop the latest poison.

He gained some insight from his battle with Shanjiaoyu Banzang, but lacking experimental funds, he had to set it aside for now.

…

The Ninja World acknowledges it as the largest Exchange House.

Just after finishing the assassination, Jiaodu, who was counting money, shivered without warning.

"Damn, there's always a bad feeling!"

He instinctively and cautiously looked around, found nothing amiss, and hurriedly clutched his money and left the Exchange House.

Such a place cannot be lingered in; his intuition told him trouble would arise!

Although he is absolutely confident in his own strength, his intuition tells him it is wiser to stay low‑key.

If you encounter a powerful guy who kills and robs, then he'll truly be finished!

Blind confidence is stupidity; a guy like that hardly lives long, and only those who judge the situation can survive to the end.

As long as he is cautious enough, he will never die!

……

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ps: Jie Jie Jie, I'm back again, I rested for a day yesterday, went to see my sister, Ying Ying Ying……