Chương 31: The Chashan Gang

"Lady Tsunade, you were far too rude!" Shizune finally couldn't hold back her complaint once Shuji left.

"Saying things like that right from the start, and even getting physical."

"Hey! That brat wasn't being particularly polite either, alright?" The Senju princess waved her hand dismissively.

"Besides, the kid himself didn't even mind, so stop nagging."

"Return to the village... What difference would returning make?" Princess Tsunade's gaze drifted toward the swaying emerald bamboo stalks in the courtyard. It would merely mean facing those heavy stares once again, those silent, burning expectations. What could someone who couldn't even stand the sight of blood... possibly do? Unable to bear anything, and unable to endure anything. That was why she wanted to meet Shuji, to confirm whether this kid truly possessed that power.

The brief confrontation inside the small courtyard caused no ripples outside. When Shuji stepped out, Wasabi Jirocho remained waiting respectfully under the corridor eaves, his face bearing an impeccably polite posture, as if the muffled crack of shattering flagstones earlier had merely been a roof tile blown down by the wind. He led Shuji through winding corridors into an elegantly arranged reception room in the front house.

"Regarding the Chashan Gang, do you have more specific details?" After sitting down, Shuji got straight to the point without mentioning Tsunade, steering the topic back to the mission. Jirocho sat upright with a grave expression: "The terrain at Wild Tea Slope is complex, long serving as a haven for wanderers and fugitives."

"In the past, their numbers were small, and both my family and the Wagasuke Family would send men periodically to clear them out, barely maintaining peace along the trade routes." He paused, his brow furrowing deeply.

"Until four months ago, when the situation abruptly changed. A wandering samurai suddenly appeared, using heavy-handed methods to consolidate all forces occupying Wild Tea Slope. They expanded rapidly, even openly building a stronghold on the hillside."

"At the time, both our families realized the severity of the situation, recognizing that our own strength was no longer enough to resolve it. Yet the clearance commission we submitted to Konoha received no response for a long time." Jirocho's tone carried a trace of helplessness.

"Left with no alternative, we could only dispatch extra men to strengthen patrols along the main trade routes, barely scraping by."

"The turning point occurred half a month ago," his voice lowered.

"The Wagasuke Family suddenly announced to the public that they had successfully wiped out the bandit threat at Wild Tea Slope! At the same time, they claimed to have recruited a group of elite guards to fully secure Dehashi Port. Almost simultaneously, an envoy from the Daimyo's estate arrived, sternly reprimanding my family for 'poor governance, allowing bandits to grow strong,' while lavishly praising the Wagasuke Family for 'eliminating violence and bringing peace to the region.'

Full administrative rights over the port for the next four years were transferred entirely to the Wagasuke Family."

"After securing the Daimyo's approval, the Wagasuke Family appointed a man named Jubei as the city defense captain." Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"What followed was that those newly recruited guards were actually the original members of the Chashan Gang, and Jubei was the wandering samurai who consolidated them." Shuji listened quietly, his fingertips tapping rhythmically on the edge of the smooth low table. The situation was more complex than anticipated.

"How strong is this Jubei?" Jirocho's expression turned grim as he phrased his words cautiously: "This man is extremely dangerous and strikes with ruthless cruelty. As for his specific capabilities... my apologies, even after exerting every effort to inquire, we only gathered vague rumors. It is said he displayed power and speed far beyond ordinary men during the bandit clearance, and even... some mentioned he might possess abilities resembling jutsu. However, we failed to obtain actual proof."

He bowed slightly in apology.

"Hmm..." Shuji pondered briefly before shifting the topic to another key element.

"What about the Heishizhong? Have you heared with this name?" A barely perceptible hesitation crossed Jirocho's face, as if weighing his words. After a few seconds, he spoke slowly: "I have indeed heard of them. It was roughly two months ago. At that time, the sea route from Dehashi Port to Naki Island suffered frequent raids from a fierce band of pirates, incurring heavy losses. The Daimyo's estate was furious over the matter.

Soon after, word arrived that a squad of rogue ninja called the Heishizhong accepted a commission from the Daimyo and successfully eliminated those pirates." He paused briefly, observing Shuji's reaction before continuing: "After that incident, the Heishizhong seemed to vanish. No further reports of their activity in Dehashi Port. Perhaps they departed after collecting their reward." Once again, the Daimyo...

"I understand," Shuji nodded.

"Thank you for providing this information, Mr. Wasabi. It is quite valuable."

"I am glad to be helpful." Jirocho bowed slightly, then probed cautiously, "May I ask what are you planning to do next? If there is anything the Wasabi Family can assist with, please do not hesitate to contact us."

"If possible, please continue gathering information regarding the Chashan Gang." Shuji stood up.

"I need to return to the inn to make some arrangements first." He had originally come out of concern for Jirocho's safety. However, with Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin; present here, even if Tsunade found it inconvenient to act, Shizune possessed Jonin-level capability. Such a concentration of strength was more than sufficient to deal with any assassination attempts targeted at Jirocho.

"If an urgent situation arises, feel free to send someone to notify us at Haifeng Pavilion at any time."

"Yes, I understand," Jirocho acknowledged, personally escorting Shuji out of the reception room. Down at the docks, Anko Mitarashi leaned lazily against the base of a wall, the corner of her fresh dark-purple trench coat fluttering in the breeze.

She chewed idly on a blade of grass pulled from the roadside, her gaze scanning the surroundings with apparent carelessness: porters shouted as they loaded and unloaded cargo, while a few scattered men in guard leather armor patrolled listlessly, their eyes constantly lingering over high-value freight. A few heavily laden wagons rumbled near the docks, flanked by several guards.

The owner of the cargo was speaking in low tones with a port official, who quickly waved over laborers to give priority handling to this particular shipment. Hiroyama Makoto wore an indignant expression, muttering under his breath. Anko pricked up her ears and caught a few phrases.

"Dammit, they get arranged for loading as soon as they arrive..."

"My goods..."

"If I'd known, I would have purchased some weapons as well..." Hearing the word "weapons," Anko immediately grew alert and walked over to Makoto's side.

"Mr. Hiroyama, who are those people?"

"They are weapon merchants. For some reason, it seems someone is stockpiling weapons, so those goods get priority departure while my shipment has to wait several days. Miss Anko, please..." Makoto proceeded to offer further pleas for her protection and care. With Shuji gone for the moment, the safety of the cargo rested entirely on Anko and Itachi. Since Itachi ultimately looked too young, the cloth merchant had no choice but to bother Anko.

Anko gave absentminded replies, her hand tucked behind her back quietly flicking. Beneath her wide trench coat sleeve, a slender, finger-thin gray shadow slithered out silently, gliding along the ground and darting with extreme speed into the shadowed gaps between cargo crates and wagons, vanishing without a trace.