My Techniques are a bit off

"Go ahead."

Link didn't harshly reprimand Ami for her compassion.

To put it bluntly, if they were to face an opponent beyond his ability to handle, both of his teammates—still slightly below Chūnin-level combat power—would likely become liabilities. Letting them do what they could was better than expecting miracles.

Ami exhaled in relief and nodded firmly. She knew her request was somewhat unreasonable, but she felt a hint of kindness and gentleness in her leader's decision. She stepped forward to aid the most critically injured samurai.

She worked diligently—removing embedded weapons, using chakra to staunch bleeding, and bandaging wounds.

While she fought to save lives, the Land of Fire merchant lounged on the only sofa in the lobby, a look of irritation on his face. The noise of the wounded samurai and the gruesome sight of the bleeding disgusted him.

[Why didn't they just die outside?]

Though selfish and indifferent, he wasn't entirely foolish. He wouldn't dare provoke the shinobi protecting him. So, he kept his thoughts to himself, closing his eyes to contemplate his next moves.

With the other merchants and officials dead, he now had a renewed chance at claiming the gold mine. If he could secure ownership, everything he endured would be worth it. A smile crept onto his face.

Meanwhile, Ami returned, pale and drenched in sweat. Despite her efforts, another samurai had succumbed to his injuries.

The remaining samurai were unconscious, teetering on the edge of life and death. Their survival depended on their own fortitude.

Link patted Ami's shoulder in reassurance. She had done her best, and there was no need to demand more from an eleven-year-old child.

At the door, Iris kept watch, occasionally glancing back at Ami, now slumped against the wall, quickly drifting into sleep from sheer exhaustion. His eyes carried a complicated, unspoken emotion.

Time passed slowly. Over an hour later, Nara Ensui returned. Upon entering, he confirmed that his three subordinates were unharmed, glanced at the snoring merchant, and then observed the treated but injured samurai on the floor.

A subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

…

Late Night – A New Inn

[A mark that instantly boosts chakra reserves and physical prowess... If I'm not mistaken, that was likely Orochimaru's cursed seal.]

Rested and full after a meal, Link leaned against the wall, keeping watch. His mind kept replaying the scene from earlier that day.

The black markings spreading from the middle-aged shinobi's neck—transforming someone on the brink of collapse into a terrifying force—were unforgettable.

Link had initially suspected the attackers were Akatsuki. After all, the organization's conflict with Hanzo the Salamander was irreconcilable. The prolonged civil strife within the Land of Rain only supported this theory.

In the manga, Akatsuki's leader, Pain, had openly stated the need for vast amounts of money.

While the exact purpose was unclear, the cyberpunk-style infrastructure of the Amegakure during Pain's rule suggested substantial investment into development. When Jiraiya infiltrated the village, newly built bars and other structures barely drew notice, likely because such developments were common.

Given Pain's destructive capabilities, it was likely the Amegakure suffered significant damage during Hanzo's downfall. Reconstruction would have been inevitable.

Even Konoha, the wealthiest village, required significant funding from the Land of Fire to rebuild after Pain's Shinra Tensei. It was no surprise that the Amegakure (and Akatsuki) might be strapped for cash.

For Link, Akatsuki targeting the gold mine made perfect sense. The motive was clear—whether for money or to weaken Hanzo's influence.

However, seeing the cursed seal in action brought another potential perpetrator to mind: Orochimaru.

The Sunagakure had its own reasons for launching the Konoha Crush Plan. Poverty had weakened the village, while their ally, Konoha, grew stronger, forcing them to take a desperate gamble.

Whether by defeating Konoha to gain substantial benefits or conquering the Land of Fire outright, the Sunagakure stood to gain a great deal. But such risks required heavy sacrifices, evident in the Fourth Kazekage personally leading the operation, even though his gold dust represented the village's last fallback plan.

Reaching such a desperate state wasn't a result of one or two isolated events. It required being pushed to the brink of collapse.

In this context, Orochimaru had every reason to undermine the Sunagakure, forcing them into a position where they'd collaborate on his plan.

If Orochimaru sought to weaken the Sunagakure's ability to acquire the gold mine and jeopardize their gold dust trade, wouldn't the Land of Fire also pursue the mine?

Link's brow furrowed deeply. This was a clear strategy, one rooted in inevitable conflict. Even if Orochimaru's involvement were exposed, the Land of Fire and Konoha wouldn't abandon the gold mine.

The Sunagakure could send more representatives to negotiate, but destruction was always easier than construction. If sabotaged once, they could be sabotaged again.

Purely a matter of conflicting interests, this was sure to push the frustrated Sunagakure into outright hostility, paving the way for the Konoha Crush Plan next year.

[Someone's approaching!]

Link's thoughts were cut short as he detected movement. He swiftly created a shadow clone and readied himself for battle.

"Relax," a woman's voice called out. Moments later, the female Jōnin from his first B-rank mission appeared before him, followed by two green-vested shinobi landing nearby.

"Red, you're here," Nara Ensui greeted, arriving just slightly later and casually addressing her.

The kunoichi smiled warmly at Link. "Jōnin, Kurenai Yūhi," she introduced herself.

So, it's her—the genjutsu master… or more specifically, Asuma's girlfriend who later gets pregnant.

~~~

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