Naruto：Immortality and the Eight Inner Gates[Double agent]

On a winding forest path, a large merchant caravan was making its way on foot.

At the rear of the caravan, a group of ragged children followed the footsteps of the caravan members.

They varied in age, some as old as fifteen or sixteen, others as young as three or four, taking difficult steps, struggling to keep up with the caravan.

Though thin and sickly, not a single child fell behind. They supported each other, the older ones protecting the younger ones, moving forward with determination and resilience.

They were orphans from the Land of Hot Water, children who had lost their parents.

Ever since the God of Shinobi, the First Hokage of Konoha, Hashirama Senju, passed away, the entire ninja world seemed to have fallen into an eerie calm.

Although the Five Great Villages maintained peace on the surface, countless conspiracies were brewing beneath.

The catalyst for all this was the recent loss of intelligence from Amegakure.

Hanzō of the Salamander, having lost important intelligence, not only sent out a team of young undercover agents, including Rinjin, but also, feeling insecure, deployed a large number of ninja along the borders of the Land of Rain. This directly led to significant movements from the three great nations bordering the Land of Rain: Fire, Wind, and Earth.

Although a small village like Amegakure wasn't considered a threat by the Five Great Nations, the restless Second Tsuchikage, Mū, seized this opportunity to challenge Kirigakure of the Land of Water.

The Second Tsuchikage believed that Amegakure was under the control of Kirigakure, preparing for a secret attack on the Land of Earth.

The Land of Earth and the Land of Water had long-standing grudges, with conflicts dating back to before the Warring States period. Even a small gesture could be misconstrued as an act of aggression by the other side.

Kirigakure, seeing the Land of Earth throwing mud at them, didn't even bother to explain. The Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki, stated: "I don't want to argue with you. Come on, let's fight!"

Both countries tacitly sent out large numbers of ninja, gathering in the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Sound between the two countries.

When great nations fight, small countries suffer.

The Second Raikage, A, seeing the two countries fighting intensely, immediately slammed the table in dissatisfaction.

"You, Second Tsuchikage, who looks so honest and simple, how dare you start a fight without inviting us, the Cloud Village big brothers? That's not very brotherly of you."

So he promptly launched a surprise attack on Konoha.

Thus, four of the Five Great Nations were engaged in a life-and-death struggle in the narrow strip of land that was the Land of Hot Water.

Fortunately, the ninja from the four great nations were generally of high quality and didn't stoop to the inhumane acts against civilians like those from Amegakure.

However, the power of ninjutsu was beyond the capacity of this era to handle.

On one side, a careless Fire Release technique burned down houses;

On the other side, an accidental Water Release technique flooded a village.

In this back-and-forth, a large number of war orphans were freshly created.

Moreover, because the Hidden Hot Water Village in the Land of Hot Water had always been tolerant and peace-loving, they simply sealed off their village, not allowing outsiders in or insiders out.

The orphans were at a loss.

The Land of Water had too much water; without boats, they could only swim across by hand.

The Land of Lightning had high, treacherous mountains and high altitude, making them gasp for breath after just a few steps.

Thus, the tree-rich Land of Fire became the top choice for many orphans fleeing for safety.

This caravan was a microcosm of the countless children escaping hardship.

Fortunately, the ninja guards in the caravan were from Konoha, and Konoha ninja were generally of good character.

Although they didn't deliberately care for this group of orphans, they tacitly accepted the fact that the children were following them.

Occasionally, a pretty kunoichi would show kindness by giving some food to these children.

At the front of the caravan, Rinjin, carrying a backpack as tall as himself, was chatting with a boy dressed as a merchant.

"Nihongi, didn't you say we'd reach Konoha by this afternoon? It's already noon, and we still can't see any sign of the village."

"What's the rush, Rinjin!"

"I'm not exaggerating, I, the great Nihongi, have walked this road from the Land of Hot Water to Konoha countless times. When I say we'll arrive in the afternoon, we definitely won't arrive at night."

Great? You're calling yourself great at twelve years old? Has your beard even grown in yet?

Rinjin rolled his eyes at the confident Nihongi.

"I wonder who was bragging last time, saying there were huge statues of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha at the Valley of the End. When I excitedly ran there to look, all I saw were two bald heads staring at each other."

"Ahem..." Nihongi stumbled, almost falling flat on his face.

"Damn you, Rinjin! That... that was delayed by the war! Otherwise, it would have been completed long ago!"

"Heh~"

Rinjin sneered.

"If you try to fool me again, I'll tell Miss Yuriko that you peeped at her while she was bathing yesterday."

"Don't!" Nihongi hurriedly covered Rinjin's mouth, his boyish face turning bright red.

Boys of twelve or thirteen, just beginning to experience the first stirrings of love, are both shy and bold, and most afraid of having their secrets exposed.

Just as Nihongi was about to beg for mercy, a mature, deep voice sounded from behind.

"Nihongi, are you bullying Rinjin again!"

"I'm not!" Nihongi instinctively shouted, turning his head angrily, and yelled back defiantly.

"Dad! It's clearly Rinjin who's bullying me!"

"I didn't see that! I only saw you bullying Rinjin."

At this point, Rinjin also turned around, wearing a shy smile.

He said to the white-haired but still robust caravan leader, "Uncle Katō, it's nothing. Nihongi and I were just joking around."

Hearing this, Nihongi rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath.

"Damn Rinjin, always playing dumb and fooling the old man."

Seeing that his youngest son was still not convinced, Mr. Katō tiredly rubbed his brow and ignored him.

Looking up at the sunlight filtering through the trees, Katō turned and called out to the caravan behind him.

"Stop moving forward, let's rest here and have lunch.

Everyone, let's push on! We'll reach Konoha by this afternoon! When we get there, I'll treat everyone to barbecue!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the workers cheered happily, taking off their heavy packages and sitting down by the roadside to eat their dry rations.

At the rear of the caravan, the children who had been trudging along also stopped moving forward, their eager gazes all turning towards a little girl in the center of the crowd.

The girl was about four or five years old, wearing black three-quarter length pants and a sky-blue pullover. Although her clothes were a bit big, they looked very clean and tidy compared to the worn hemp clothes of the children around her.

Moreover, the girl's chubby face and plump little hands stood in stark contrast to the surrounding children.

"Big Sister Rie, do you have any food left?" a girl with a dirty face asked timidly from the crowd.

The other children nodded too, looking longingly at the mini backpack on Rie's back.

Hearing this, Rie turned her head slightly to look behind her, her exceptionally cute little face scrunching up.

"I... I need to count." Her clear childish voice tugged at every child's heartstrings.

Saying this, Rie walked to the roadside, clumsily and adorably taking off her backpack, unfastening the clasp, and taking out a small white package.

She muttered to herself continuously.

"We have twenty-one people, yesterday morning there were thirty-one food pills in the package, and we ate twenty-one yesterday."

"Uh..." As she calculated, the little girl started counting on her fingers.

"One... two... um... ten... eleven left!"

After saying this, she opened the small package and started counting one by one.

"Huh? How come one is missing! There are only ten now!"

"Not... not enough!" Rie suddenly stood up, her little mouth pouting long.

In the crowd, the children's eyes gradually dimmed.

For so many days, they had been relying on this little girl in front of them. Although they felt ashamed, they were helpless in the face of hunger.

"I don't want any! It's no big deal to go hungry for a day! Big Sister Rie! Give the rest to Mebuki and the others!" a boy shouted.

"Yes, give them to the girls!"

Other older boys also expressed that they didn't need any, after all, they would reach Konoha this afternoon.

However, they had no idea whether they would be able to eat their fill once they reached Konoha.

If Konoha didn't provide them with food, that one food pill from yesterday would be their last meal for the next few days!

"Big Sister Rie, although it's unreasonable of me to say this, please give the remaining ones to the younger children!" The girl named Mebuki also stepped forward.

It was clear that she desperately wanted the small pills in Rie's hand, but she still resolutely chose to give the chance to the younger children.

Seeing everyone swallowing their saliva while giving way to each other, Rie's cute little face wrinkled up.

"I'll go ask my brother!" Her crisp voice interrupted the children's yielding.

"Don't go!" Mebuki hurriedly spoke up.

"Big Sister Rie, have you forgotten how that person scolded you last time?" As she spoke, Mebuki fearfully glanced towards the front of the caravan.

The other children also chimed in.

"Big Sister, better not go. It's no big deal for us to go hungry for a day. If you get scolded, we'll really die of shame."

Seeing everyone looking at her with concern, Rie suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. Her little face turned slightly red, her toes scuffing the ground as she said shyly:

"Brother, brother scolded me last time because I made a mistake in arithmetic, not... not because I went to ask for food pills."

Beside her, Mebuki was immediately torn between laughter and tears.

"But... you just made a mistake in arithmetic again!"

Obviously, she knew that 31 - 21 = 10, not 11.

"Maybe brother didn't hear it~" Rie pouted, looking like someone who had done something wrong but was still being stubborn.

"Anyway, I'm going to ask!"

With a noisy shout, Rie put on her little backpack and bounced towards the front of the line.

The people in the caravan all smiled kindly at this angel-like, kind, and adorable girl.

If it weren't for her and her brother, the children behind wouldn't have been able to keep up with the caravan intact, let alone have the strength to persist until now.

Although they couldn't do it themselves, it didn't prevent them from showing goodwill towards this.

By the roadside, a pure-looking short-haired girl in ninja attire waved at the approaching Rie.

"Rie, are you going to find Rinjin again?"

Rie nodded and gave the girl in front of her a sweet smile.

"Yes, I'm going to find my brother. Sister Yuriko, you look even prettier today!"

"Really? I guess it's because of the hot spring bath yesterday." Yuriko smiled, "By the way, Rie, why didn't you come yesterday?"

Hearing this, a flash of panic crossed Rie's face.

"Uh... that... oh right! Brother was testing my arithmetic yesterday! So I didn't... didn't come!"

The truth was, last night, Rinjin had taken Rie to help Nihongi keep watch; while Nihongi took the opportunity to peep at Yuriko bathing.

Thinking of this, Rie secretly glanced at Yuriko in front of her, a flash of smugness passing through her eyes.

Hmph! Mom is much prettier than you, and I, Big Sister Rie, will be as beautiful as mom in the future, captivating my brother completely, hehe~

Thinking of this, Rie no longer paid attention to this defeated sister, politely apologized, and ran towards Rinjin.

She hadn't forgotten that her little brothers and sisters were still hungry!

With a quick trot, Rie came to Rinjin, who was leaning against a big tree with his eyes closed, resting.

Rie reached out her little hand, shook Rinjin's knee, and leaned close to his ear.

"Brother, brother, stop pretending! You don't need to sleep!"

Hearing this, Rinjin slowly opened his eyes, rolled them without hiding it, and reached out to flick the little girl's forehead hard.

"Where's your brain? Where's your brain? Think before you speak!" Rinjin scolded, frustrated.

"I know, I know!" Rie covered her forehead with both hands, her little mouth pouting.

"Um... brother, the little pills you gave me were so delicious, I... I ate them all! Can you give me some more?"

"Sure." Rinjin nodded expressionlessly, reaching into his man-high backpack and pulling out a handful of food pills, holding them in his hand.

"By the way, Rie, I have a question for you."

Rie was staring longingly at the food pills in Rinjin's hand at this moment. Hearing that Rinjin had a question, she nodded instinctively.

"What's thirty-one minus twenty-one?"

"Uh..." Rie was suddenly dumbfounded, realizing that her brother already knew about her miscalculation.

Seeing Rinjin smiling and staring at her, Rie instinctively took a step back, her big eyes blinking, trying to muddle through.

To this, Rinjin firmly shook his head, smiling even more brightly.

"Okay, I'll calculate, I'll calculate."

Seeing that her charm offensive had no effect, Rie sighed like a little adult, and clumsily started counting on her fingers.

"One... two... three..."

"I know, it equals... nine! Yes! It's nine!"

Looking at the little one glancing around proudly, Rinjin almost spat out a mouthful of blood ten meters away.

"Damn it!" Rinjin stood up abruptly.

"To think you're the child of a blacksmith, thirty-one minus twenty-one equals nine?! Where did the other one go?! Are you trying to kill me with anger?!"

The little girl stuck out her neck, staring at Rinjin without backing down: "Then it's eight!"

"You're killing me, that's even further off!"

"It's eleven!"

"Oh my god, you're driving this old man crazy! I'm going to give you a good spanking on behalf of your mother today! Don't run!"

For a while, there was chaos.

After a good while, Rie, with a slightly red face and panting, clutched a handful of food pills and rushed into the group of children.

Rinjin covered his eyes and sat back down under the tree, on the verge of tears.

"This! This good child, usually so well-behaved, why does she become like this when learning math?!

Could it be the so-called: 'No lessons, father and son are harmonious; one lesson, all hell breaks loose'?"

However, watching Rie seriously distributing food pills among the children, the bitterness in Rinjin's heart largely

Back then, the little girl spent countless sleepless nights, weeping quietly in her sleeping bag.

Now, at least her small face was no longer shadowed with sorrow. She would occasionally break into cheerful smiles and had made many friends her own age.

Thinking of this, Rinjin lifted his gaze to the sky, where Rie's mother seemed to be smiling down at him. He heaved a sigh and gave a wry smile.

"You really know how to make things complicated for me, don't you!"