The convoy, laden with goods, was slow and clumsy, unable to move as quickly as Ninja.
After departing from Konoha, it took a full ten days of travel. Minato and Kakashi had already repelled two waves of ordinary mountain bandits, finally escorting the merchant caravan to the border.
Once across the border, the road quickly became wider and smoother, like a docile, pale ribbon sprawling across an open field.
Even with the continuous drizzle, the road surface was not muddy and difficult to traverse. The carriages still moved steadily, and the caravan's speed was even a few points faster than in the Land of Fire.
"Quite impressive," Minato observed, lowering his head. He noticed that a layer of fine gravel had been specifically laid over the flat, solid earth to improve drainage and prevent mud.
Under extremely limited conditions, the Akatsuki had indeed done everything it could.
As the merchant caravan delved deeper into the Land of Rain, the number of roadside shops, inns, and taverns grew, and enthusiastic shopkeepers eager to attract business were frequently seen.
Once passersby showed any intention of stopping, they would all come forward, smiles beaming on their faces, making everyone feel that this perennially rainy country was becoming increasingly vibrant... The Land of Rain is not large, and after just one day, the merchant caravan arrived at the handover point.
Minato handed the documents to the opposing Ninja. Upon receiving them back, he saw the Akatsuki's insignia on the seal left by the other party.
"Forgive my impertinence, but are you the Akatsuki? The organization that built this trade route?"
"Yes," the black-haired, short-haired Ninja replied with a smile, "My name is Kasa, and we will be responsible for the latter half of the escort mission."
Minato looked back at the smooth road that stretched all the way to this point: "This is truly an incredible undertaking."
Kasa also felt a slight sense of nostalgia. Although many days had passed, the days of exhaustion, busyness, and immense inner fulfillment seemed to still be vivid in his mind.
While the merchant caravan still needed to rest, allowing for a brief moment of conversation, he began to explain to Minato how this road was built.
As a mid-to-high-level member of the Akatsuki, Kasa was intimately familiar with the details.
"Actually, the Akatsuki was in a very difficult situation back then, barely able to offer any remuneration. However, our leader still mobilized many Ninja and civilians, and everyone worked together to complete it in a very short time."
"Since its completion, everyone who travels to and from the Land of Rain says it's very convenient. Large numbers of merchants and travelers pass through, and everyone's lives have improved. Even the number of wanderers has been halved."
"The leader mentioned in a casual chat that this wasn't his idea; a friend proposed it... What was his name again?"
Scratching his hair, Kasa frowned, struggling to recall. Suddenly, a light bulb went off, and he clenched his right fist, tapping it against his left palm.
"It was probably Naraku."
Kakashi, who was keeping watch nearby, suddenly looked up.
Although he wasn't looking in this direction, Minato knew he was listening.
Throughout the journey, whenever Naraku-related people or events came up, Kakashi reacted this way.
It gave Minato a rather strange and awkward feeling, as if staying away from Naraku was a task deeply ingrained in his mind, one that he absolutely had to complete, no matter what.
Yet, outside of that task, in the deepest part untouched by some 'curse,' his heart would always gravitate uncontrollably towards the direction where Uchiha Naraku existed.
Uncontrolled, unstoppable.
Minato tentatively asked, "Have you met this person named 'Naraku'?"
"Unfortunately, only the leader and two other adults have met him."
Kasa noticed that the merchant caravan had finished forming up and was preparing to depart, and he bid farewell to the two Konoha Ninja with a lingering sense of unfulfillment.
"We must go."
"Hmm, I wish you a smooth journey."
Minato responded very kindly.
-- Completely identical names, similar mission times. It can't all be a coincidence, can it?
-- So, did Naraku meet the Akatsuki's leader during that mission to bring back Kana?
Minato and Kakashi thought to themselves, and when their gazes once again fell upon the road, their mindset had subtly shifted from before.
From the road they had traveled, they saw countless Ninja and civilians working together in a phantom, and behind these people, that incredibly familiar young man was smiling at them.
It felt very strange.
A young Ninja from Konoha Village was actually able to leave such a significant mark within the Land of Rain, thousands of miles away.
The merchant caravan left with the Akatsuki's Ninja, heading towards the more distant Land of Wind, gradually becoming tiny black specks in the vast landscape.
Minato watched their receding figures until the very last person disappeared from sight, then turned around and said softly.
"It's time for us to return."
... While Minato and Kakashi were traveling to and from the Land of Rain, Konoha, on the surface, was calm and peaceful.
Since moving in with Uchiha Mikoto, Naraku had lived a very disciplined life.
Every morning, he would leave on time, heading to the Hospital to care for Sakumo, accompanying him, talking to him, and using Medical Ninjutsu to maintain his physical condition.
After returning home, he would diligently read books, practice Mystical Palm Technique and Healing Seal, making more noticeable progress each time.
In the evening, Mikoto would even pull him out for a walk, and they would pick up some sweets that most Uchiha Clan Member loved to eat, returning home with the sunset for an extra meal.
The only slightly troublesome thing was that during their evening walks, the streets were full of Clan Member, and the combination of the kind and gentle Clan Head's wife and the reclusive genius youth always attracted a lot of attention.
Especially Naraku, because most ordinary Clan Member didn't know much about him, only that he was a genius personally acknowledged by the Clan Head, who promised the Clan would fully support his growth. Thus, many curious glances always fell upon him.
It wasn't that the Clan Member were to blame; it was simply that Naraku had too little contact with the Uchiha Clan as a whole.
In his early years, Uchiha Shinji's residence was remote, and he was introverted, only barely knowing a few neighbors.
Later, when he became Sakumo's disciple, Naraku hardly ever returned to the Clan grounds, only occasionally being called for private meetings by Fugaku.
By the time he began to stand out by awakening his Two-Tomoe Sharingan and was eligible to attend Clan meetings, the failed Land of Rain mission and the Sakumo incident followed... In short, the Clan Member had never been able to spend extended time with him and were completely unaware of his true personality, what he had experienced in the past, or why he possessed such extraordinary talent yet became a disciple of an outsider.
Now, their own genius Ninja named Naraku had returned to the Clan grounds, temporarily residing in the Clan Head's home, finally providing an opportunity to get to know him properly.
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