Naruto: I Roamed the Ninja World as a Woman

Chapter 166 Kushina Uzumaki [Wandering Wanderer]

Matsusaka Town, on the border of the Land of Wind.

This is a coastal town. As one of the largest outlets to the sea in the Land of Winds, the air here always carries the salty smell of the sea breeze, a stark contrast to the scorching desert.

Of course, this is due to the underdeveloped state of the Land of Wind.

There are no large ports here, and most of the boats coming and going are fishing boats, making it seem more like a large fishing village.

He "defected from Konoha" for nearly a month.

Kushina Uzumaki has gradually gotten used to living alone.

Actually, she didn't have many friends when she was in Konoha.

So she adapted to this kind of life quite quickly.

If I had to say something different—

The girl touched the ninja headband on her head.

The symbols on it have changed from the whirlpool that previously represented Konoha to the rain that represents Amegakure.

She carefully kept the item close to her body, placing it together with the Grim Reaper mask her grandmother had left her.

During my stay in the Land of Wind, this headband did indeed save me a lot of unnecessary trouble because of the newly signed peace treaty between the two countries.

However, we might encounter Kirigakure ninjas when we set sail later—so I can't bring them along anymore!

"Would you like to take a boat, little girl?"

The fisherman in the distance could tell from her hesitant manner that she was a potential customer.

But as she drew closer, the fisherman noticed the ninja tool pouch at her waist, and his expression quickly became respectful: "So you're a ninja master!"

Kushina Uzumaki didn't put on airs or look down on the other person's humble status. Instead, she stepped forward with a smile and asked, "Old man, where can you take me?"

"Reporting to Ninja Master, any nearby island is fine."

The fisherman felt honored by her enthusiasm and hurriedly replied, "But for the water kingdom on the other side, or even further afield to the sea kingdom, we would need larger merchant ships—"

Fearing that the ninja might not understand the details, he added, "Because a small boat like mine not only has limited capacity to carry supplies and is risky for long voyages, but it is also difficult to withstand the wind and waves near the Land of Water and some large sea monsters."

"Sea creatures" is a general term used by local fishermen to refer to large fish.

In fact, the environment of the Water Country is indeed very strange and unusual.

For example, the people there not only have some fish-like physical characteristics, but the sea animals and fish there are also unusually fierce.

They will even attack humans when they are hungry!

Kushina Uzumaki nodded.

She mentally recalculated the distance and ultimately gave up the idea of ​​taking the small boat.

My childhood memories are already somewhat hazy.

Therefore, Kushina did not rush to set sail these days, but instead inquired about news from the Land of Whirlpools.

She has now determined the location of the Land of Whirlpools, which is situated in a sea area north of Kirigakure.

But the distance—

It's a bit far, to say the least!

At least, small sampan-sized fishing boats definitely can't reach that destination.

"If we want to take a big ship, where should we go?" the girl asked.

"If you want to take a large ship that can sail far at sea, you need to go to Port No. 2."

The fisherman pointed to the other side and replied, "However, I heard that fighting has broken out again in the Land of Thunder recently, so large merchant ships are basically setting off in groups, and there might not be any left now—"

Before he could finish speaking, Kushina pointed behind her and interrupted, "Is such a big ship enough?"

On the sea, a brand-new, large ship, as if it had just rolled off the production line, was slowly sailing into the port.

The boat was moored in the dock, and several people got off and went into the market in the distance, seemingly to buy something.

The fisherman looked it over for a while, then exclaimed in surprise, "This boat is definitely big enough! But this boat—"

He turned his head away.

Suddenly realizing that the ninja had disappeared, he had no choice but to swallow the rest of his sentence.

The material of this ship's hull looks a bit unfamiliar!

The fisherman thought to himself: I've been fishing here for decades and have seen hundreds of kinds of shipbuilding timber, but I've never seen wood like this before!

And this ship, it always gave him a strange feeling—

It's as if it was made by hand without any design drawings!

It was not the bustling scene I had imagined.

The deck of this large ship was surprisingly empty; there were hardly any sailors, not even Kushina Uzumaki, who was in charge of the ship.

She climbed to the bow of the boat and looked around. She saw an elderly man with graying temples standing alone at the bow, holding the handrail and gazing into the distance.

"Old sir!"

Kushina Uzumaki stepped forward and shouted, "Excuse me, are you the owner of this ship?"

Hearing the voice, the old man slowly turned around and glanced at her.

In that very instant.

Kushina Uzumaki felt a chill run through her body, as if she were being targeted by some kind of demonic beast!

She seemed to be frozen in place, her feet rooted to the spot, and the cells in her body seemed to stop breathing. She was completely immobilized and unable to move!

But this feeling came and went quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it vanished without a trace, leaving only a dazed Kushina, gasping for breath.

What—what's going on?

She patted her slightly heaving chest, feeling confused and somewhat suspicious.

That situation didn't seem like being under the influence of ninjutsu or genjutsu, and everything around seemed normal—

Kushina couldn't help but think absurdly: Could it be that she has some kind of heart condition?

"I am the owner of this ship."

The old man spoke, shattering her whimsical thoughts: "What do you need?"

Kushina Uzumaki suppressed the pounding in her heart.

The girl took a few steps closer, then organized her thoughts: "It's like this, sir. I wish to travel to the Land of Water, but there are no suitable boats nearby, so I would like to board your ship—"

After saying that, he took out his wallet again: "Don't worry, I'll pay!"

The old man remained silent, simply looking at her with a strange, unreadable expression in his eyes.

Kushina Uzumaki thought the other party was going to refuse.

She bowed deeply: "Uh, I'm so sorry to bother you—"

But then suddenly he heard the other person's voice again: "Come on up!"

Kushina Uzumaki blinked.

The old man said calmly, "However, the place I am going to is the largest island in the Land of Water, which is also the legendary Hidden Mist Island where the Hidden Mist Village is located."

He glanced at Kushina: "Where are you going?"

The girl waved her hand, feeling relieved.

Anyway, I only see the Land of Water as a transit point.

It doesn't really matter where you disembark!

"The Island of Hidden Mist is in the same direction as where I'm going!"

She chuckled, meeting the old man's gaze with anticipation in her voice, "As for me? I'm going home, yay!"

With her return home imminent, Kushina couldn't help but slip up in her verbal tic in her excitement.

"Cough cough cough!"

The old man was about to speak when he heard this.

But suddenly a series of rapid coughs caused his body to tremble violently.

Upon seeing this, Kushina Uzumaki immediately stepped forward to support him, patting his back to help him catch his breath.

"You're quite old, you could be my grandfather."

"So they still have to keep going out to sea and working hard to earn money?"

Once the old man's coughing subsided, Kushina Uzumaki advised, "I think you're getting on in years; it's time for you to go home and retire!"

The other party looked quite imposing, but only when you touched him could you feel how thin and bony this old man was.

His arms and back were as thin as matchsticks; there wasn't a single ounce of flesh on his body!

The old man pushed away her support and said solemnly and seriously, "I'm not going to sea this time to make money, but for my ideals."

Kushina Uzumaki was immediately delighted.

Hey!

That old man!

Make money, that's all. Why are you talking to me about ideals?

She didn't argue with him about it, but instead asked with a smile, "And what about your children?"

The old man said calmly, "I have no children."

Before Kushina could continue speaking, he calmly added, "I have no brothers or relatives either. My only friend from back then—is long dead!"

Kushina Uzumaki was stunned.

Who is this person?

They're actually doing even worse than me!

Before, he at least had Mikoto as a friend, and after his defection, he still had Ayane as a member of his clan.

That's true. Given the current situation, making money might be his only remaining dream.

The girl remained silent for a long time, then, with a mix of sympathy and embarrassment, said, "Uh—sorry!"

As night fell, the moon shone brightly in the sky.

The ship sailed quietly on the sea.

At this moment, all was quiet except for the faint sound of the ship cutting through the waves.

A dark shadow quietly emerged from the deck.

He transformed into human form, entered the cabin, came to a bed, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Lord Ban, everything is ready."

The room was completely silent, as if he were talking to thin air.

After a long while.

An aged voice slowly rang out: "I understand."

>