For Ino, who had just mastered the Vapor Explosion technique, there were few problems that couldn't be solved with money! If a problem couldn't be solved, it simply meant that the amount of money offered wasn't enough.
Escorting Kawaragi to the Hidden Leaf Village was agreed upon as a C-rank mission. Since the journey to Konoha was considered a private job for Ino, it couldn't be officially recorded in her mission history. However, she didn't mind, as she had already completed eight missions and wasn't concerned about her ninja resume. As long as the payment was sufficient, she was fine with it.
The reward for a C-rank mission typically ranged from 30,000 to 100,000 ryo. Given that Konoha and the Hidden Waterfall Village were allies, the minimum amount of 30,000 ryo was usually offered. When Ino heard that the payment was only 30,000 ryo, she turned to leave. Kawaragi then increased the offer to 100,000 ryo, and only then did she agree to take the mission.
Ino was well aware that most of Kawaragi's wealth had already been taken by Tsunade. However, she didn't mind the small sum. As someone who valued the principle of "little by little, a lot is accumulated," she believed that earning money, no matter how little, was nothing to be ashamed of. With that, the two set off for the Hidden Leaf Village.
Kawaragi's name was rather unremarkable, and Ino hadn't paid much attention to it initially. However, when Kawaragi revealed his true identity, she was genuinely shocked.
"What? You're saying that the former ninja leader of the Hidden Waterfall Village was your father?"
Kawaragi nodded sadly.
Ino couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, this is another guy who could write 'My Village Chief Father' in his essay."
However, the leader of the Hidden Waterfall Village couldn't be called a "Kage" like those of Konoha or the Hidden Mist Village. Instead, he was simply referred to as the village chief. Ever since Kakuzu stole the Jiongu, the village had been in decline.
Ino didn't go out of her way to flatter Kawaragi. Having a village chief as a father didn't mean much to her. The strength of the Ino-Shika-Cho Formation was no less than that of these mid-sized ninja villages, and Kawaragi's timid demeanor didn't inspire much respect either.
Not long after leaving the town, the expected and inevitable attack came.
Three individuals without forehead protectors charged from three different directions, each looking fierce and menacing, their kunai gleaming coldly.
Kawaragi let out a scream and then, with lightning speed, crouched down, covering his head and closing his eyes. His posture was utterly pathetic.
Ino was stunned. "Your village chief father probably died from sheer frustration at your cowardice."
"Don't come any closer!"
"Stay away from me!"
"Be careful, all of you! When I get angry, I'm really dangerous. I'll kill you all!"
Kawaragi's words were threatening enough, but his posture lacked any semblance of intimidation.
Ino, however, was quite professional. Since she had taken the money, she was determined to protect this guy.
"I knew this money wouldn't be easy to earn!"
She sighed and then formed hand seals.
If it had been Kakashi's Team 7, they would have charged in without a second thought.
As a member of Team 10, Asuma, who had been a guardian ninja, had repeatedly emphasized the importance of protecting the mission target during the mission. Ino had taken this advice to heart.
She immediately used the highly defensive "Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
A swirling wall of water blocked the three attackers. The trio was left bewildered, trying to stab the water wall with their kunai, only to find that they couldn't break through it. With no way forward or backward, they were stuck in an awkward position.
These three were at best just Genin, long since beneath Ino's notice. She turned to Kawaragi and asked, "Wake up, stop shaking, hey!? I'm talking to you! Yes, yes, look into my eyes. These three outside must have something to do with you, right? Do you want them alive or dead?"
Kawaragi gritted his teeth for a long time before saying, "They are all accomplices, scoundrels who covet our village. If possible, just knock them out."
"Alright."
Ino didn't object to the employer's request. Quickly forming hand seals, she unleashed a Water Dragon Bullet that sent the three ambushers soaring into the sky. When the water dragon dissipated, the three fell to the ground like dumplings, their legs broken, and they immediately lost consciousness. "That technique of yours is the Water Dragon Bullet?" Kawaragi was more knowledgeable than Ino had expected.
"Yes."
"I can also perform that Ninja technique, but your hand seal speed seems... seems very fast."
Ino smiled without responding, and Kawaragi, realizing he might have overstepped, lowered his head in embarrassment.
The two continued their journey, and by evening, they arrived at a valley. Ino used a Summoning technique to call forth the still Demon Fortress-form of Chameleon Kubisaki.
Seeing the massive castle appear out of thin air, Kawaragi, who was holding a cold rice ball, was utterly stunned.
On the way from Kubisaki Ridge to the Land of Waterfalls, Ino had stocked the castle with plenty of food and daily necessities, including firewood, rice, oil, and salt. After changing her clothes, she politely invited Kawaragi to have dinner.
"Alright, there are many rooms on the first floor. You can choose any one to rest in. I'll be on the second floor. If there's nothing else, get some rest quickly. We have a long journey ahead tomorrow."
"Yes, yes."
Kawaragi found a room closest to the door.
As a Demon Fortress with a fifty-year history, Kubisaki had claimed the lives of many travelers and adventurers. The castle had many rooms, and Ino, busy as she was, had only cleared away some of the more conspicuous skeletons, not thoroughly cleaning every corner.
Kawaragi couldn't sleep at all in the room. He felt the castle was eerie, as if something was watching him.
Summoning his courage, he searched the room and eventually found a skull under the bed that seemed to be grinning at him.
Throughout the night, the windows occasionally made creaking sounds, and faint footsteps and cries could be heard outside the door. Given the choice, he would have preferred to sleep in a tent outside rather than stay in this ancient fortress.
He wanted to leave but found that he couldn't locate the door. The next morning, after a night of torment, Kawaragi crawled out of the castle just as Ino canceled the Summoning technique.
Being the son of the Village Chief, he had some basic knowledge. He looked at the empty space where the Summoning Beast had disappeared, silently calculating its size and the amount of Chakra consumed.
He arrived at a staggering number.
He looked at Ino as if she were a monster. Is this what a Genin from the Hidden Leaf Village is like? Do all your Genin have this kind of strength? It seems the decision of our village elders to lay low was very wise indeed!
The two continued their journey, and as they walked, Kawaragi suddenly called out to her, "Wait! Hold on, please stop!"
The birds in the forest were startled by his voice. Ino first looked around cautiously, then used her Sense ability to detect any threats. Finding nothing amiss, she finally turned back.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you shouting so loud?"
"Sorry, sorry," Kawaragi said, looking ashamed. It took him a while to finally explain his intention.
"Actually, the reason I'm going to the Hidden Leaf Village is to hire a ninja to protect me on my way back to Takigakure."
Ino nodded slightly, having already guessed as much from the ninjas chasing them on the road.
Kawaragi was quite embarrassed. "I was thinking, I mean, you seem pretty... pretty capable. Maybe we don't need to go to the Hidden Leaf Village. Could you just escort me back to my village directly?"