Lilith Village, historically known as the Savage's Land, is the most populated location in the Land of Lightning, even surpassing Kumogakure. It is on the southern edge of Gosho Island, east of the Kumogakure, and north across the Land of Water.
The village's complicated past was hardly forgettable, having earmarked many corners of the village.
Naruto, Jiraiya, Mizuki, and Yatsu were riding a ship, closing to the imposing black wall.
I see a pantheon of a hideous creature, carved into the cliffside of the wall. According to Yatsu, those creatures were the King of Succubus, and the village had long tried to erase them, but they could only succeed most, it's like a stain that couldn't be ridden.
Also carved into the cliff is a channel that permits ships into the village's interior.
"What are those?" I point at two huge statues flanking the channel.
"Fuuma Kotaro and Hattori Danzo, the two leaders of the heroes who fought against the King of Succubus, even know they are still protecting the village."
"What do you mean?"
"The village can erect a massive chain net between the statues and the lighthouse, closing off the only narrow navigable lane."
"I see... that prevents assault."
"Yes, but the village can take advantage of it to rob people and merchants with their taxes."
"Hmm..." I put my arms on the ship's rail, then rest my chin on them.
Two big statues, huh... it's like the statues in the Valley of the End...
"Urgh," I clutch my heart, remembering it is like having nail pricks inside. And Sasuke did shove his hand into my chest, although the wound heals, it'll never be the same.
"Naruto, are you alright?" I hear Mizuki's voice. She's been like that ever since Pervy Sage told me about my father...
Namikaze Minato... the Hero of the Third Shinobi War... the Hero who performs a noble sacrifice to save Konoha...
The man who causes all of my sufferings.
It's still etched in my mind... the powerful hatred from all those people... their long-lasting grudge.
Why me? Why his own son?
I... want family the most... it's true.
But not him.
"Yeah," it's the only... no, perhaps it's the best response I can muster.
The ship docks, but when we walk toward the gate, it is blocked by a crowd of people.
"What's going on?" Pervy Sage asks.
"I think those are the survivors of the recent bandit' attacks, it has plagued the village for several months," Yatsu says.
"Why the village did nothing?"
"They tried their best, but the bandit is intimidating, their leader Doto Kazahana is an impressive warrior."
"What do you know about him?"
"Not much, but rumor says he's a cast out of one of the eight clans, he's building power and influence to seek revenge."
Mizuki slips between people, and soon she returns, her face is a bit down, "the village's entrance is closed due to overload of refugees."
"Is there no way to reach the island?" Pervy Sage says.
"We can try to climb the mountain, but we'll be facing beasts and bandits," Yatsu knits her eyebrows, "and at least it'll take another day before we arrive."
"Aren't you a princess, can you do something?" I feel a bit irritated, I don't fear beasts or bandits, but obviously, every minute count.
"I am not that kind of princess," Mizuki snorts.
"What kind are you? A useless one?"
"You want me to shoot you?!"
"Enough you two," Pervy Sage places his hands on our heads, "I'll try to talk with the guard."
Then he submerges with the crowds, honestly, Pervy Sage is huge, he stands out from the rest of the people.
While waiting for him, I walk around the dock, it's quite suffocating with all of the refugees.
"Mom, how long should we sleep here?"
There is a kid, about 3-4 years old, sitting on the ground with his mother, their clothes are worn out.
"It's not long, we can soon enter," his Mom smiles.
"But... you say the same thing yesterday..."
"Really? Maybe you're mistaken, how could Mom lie to you?"
"..." I walk past them, their talks are mortifying, and it's pretty much everywhere at the docks.
I don't understand much, but Pervy Sage once talk about taking action for the greater good, one of the important lessons to becoming Hokage. The village may have no choice but to seal up the gate, sacrificing these people for the good of its people.
... Is it the best solution tho? I think the village should rid of the bandits once and for all, so they won't cause trouble anymore.
"Ouch!" I bump into someone, and she almost falls but I quickly support her.
She's short with long red hair and yellow eyes, she should be Mizuki's age.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" she stammers. There is fear in her eyes. She's about to run, but I hold her arm, it is skinny.
"Wait, are you alright?"
"Let me go, I... I..." she struggles to break free, before I can ask, the answer has come on its own.
"Stop, thief!"
Two adults approach us; one wears a blue coat and has afro hair, the other wears a green jacket and has a beard, and they have katana on their waist. The girl jumps behind me.
"Hand over the girl, she's stealing our food," the guy with afro hair says.
"Did you?" the girl shakes her head.
"Of course, she won't admit it!" the guy with a beard says.
"If she did steal, will it be enough if she just returns the food?"
"It's up to us what we are going to do with her!" afro guy unsheathes his katana.
The girl clutches my shirt, apparently terrifies beyond words.
"I'll pay for the food, please let her go."
"No one steal from us! Get him, Yusaku!" they rush while brandishing their katana...
... and I beat them to submission.
"We are sorry..." they say while sitting on their legs, swelling and bruised faces.
"No, it's my fault..." the girl says while returning their bread.
The Afro and beard guys' names were respectively Yusaku and Jiro, they were mercenaries. Before going to Lilith Village, Yusaku and Jiro were hired as additional guards to protect a caravan of some rich merchant and his family, but the bandit ambushed them. The job failed, most of the guards were killed, and the merchant with his family was kidnapped, their fates were unknown.
"So you guys leave them to their fates?" there is strong disgust in my heart. Had it been me, I'm gonna retrieve them no matter what the cost.
A mission is a responsibility, accepting them means taking responsibility, and if the mission is to protect people, you shan't stop until they were alive or dead. This is a principle, Shinobi or not.
"What could we do? The bandits are skilled..." Jiro shouts.
"Yeah, we almost died back then!" Yusaku retorts
"If one of you got kidnapped, won't you hope for the other to rescue you?"
"Of course!"
"They were the same, hoping for your rescue, but you never come."
"..." Jiro and Yusaku decline their head. I disdain to continue to talk with them, so I face the girl.
"What's your name?"
"... Su Jinglei..."
"Jinglei-chan? Alright, where are your Mom and Dad?"
"The bandit took them..." the girl sobs.
"Oh," I sigh. Perhaps she's having it worse than me. Pops was never around, so I have no memories of him. But she got to laugh and smile with hers, that happiness was abruptly robbed.
"Naruto-san," at this moment, Yatsu appears, "Jiraiya-sama got our entrance."
I nod, and I go to Pervy Sage with Jinglei-chan in my hand.
"People come back usually with food, but you come back with a girl?" Mizuki says with amazement.
"Naruto, I did teach you to pick up girl, but it doesn't mean literally..." Pervy Sage muses.
"Shut up," I explain to them about Jinglei-chan's situation. Of course, we can't take her with us to Gosho Island, but maybe we can leave her in the village?
"Then who will take care of her?" Mizuki frowns.
"I can leave a clone behind, it's not like we are going to leave for long."
Shadow Clone can last indefinitely, as long as it is safe from harm and its chakra doesn't run out. Other people may not have the ability to extend the Clone's duration for long, but I'm different; if I tap into the Kyuubi's chakra, the clone can endure days before disappearing.
One of the good things that come out of this nuisance...
They agree, or more like they don't care, we continue into the village, leaving behind the crowd of refugees at the dock.
The village is separated into 6 main areas; the Highland, the Lowland, the Darktown, the Dock, the Barrack, and Gosho Island.
The Highland is the area where the riches and nobles lived, the Lowland is the area where commoners resided, although there are a couple of riches too, the Darktown is where the majority of the poor stay, and the Dock is mostly for ships and warehouses, the Barrack is for the Village's armies, and Gosho Island is Taimanin especially.
The first area we enter after the gate is the Lowland, which connects all the area except the Barrack, it needs us to go to the Highlands first.
"We need a backup," Mizuki suddenly says.
"Akiyama-san, Princess?" Yatsu says, Mizuki responds with a nod.
"Who is this person?" Pervy Sage asks.
"A friend," Mizuki simply says. Then she leads us to the Barrack.
(***)
The Barrack was the Village's army compound, it provided places for the armies to rest, train, and regroup. It also facilitated various institutions of Lilith's government, including the meeting place for the eight clans to discuss and decide on problems.
The army itself is separated into two categories; Squad and Watcher, the Squad is a war combatant, they are trained in the art of war. As for Watchers, they are drilled for the Village's safety, dealing with crimes, and keeping the Village's peace.
Naturally, the area is a restrictive zone, but thanks to Mizuki and Yatsu, we can stroll inside.
In the training facility, there are several arenas, and I see a woman surrounded by men in one of them.
She has blue hair, tied into a ponytail. She sports grey sweatshirts that exposed her long legs and toned midriff.
"Who's next?" the young woman grip tight her sheathed katana, her gazes are sharp.
The men are hesitating, I see several of them exhaustedly sat on the ground.
"Captain, please instruct me!" one of them mans up, he's quite young, maybe not far from me.
The beautiful captain nods, and both of them stand from each other a couple of feet away.
"..." hesitation flashes before the young man, his grip on his sword becoming unsteady.
After bolstering his courage, the young man moves, and he swings his sword diagonally.
"!" the beautiful captain move, without unsheathing her sword, she blocks the sword and hit the man's hand, all in one swift manner.
"Urgh," the young man groans, he doesn't seem to be hurt a lot.
He tries again, this time with a vertical swing, she dodges to the right, then hit the man's waist and legs, stumbling him to his left.
The man's breath is heavy, probably bearing the pain from the last two.
"Continue or stop?" she asks lightly.
"I can... do this..." the young man grits his teeth, then he roars and thrust his sword forward.
The beautiful captain spins, she avoids the sharp tip casually before striking the young man three times; one in the legs, one in the back, and lastly, one in the head.
"Ah!" the young man crashes to the ground, panting crazily.
She put her sheathed katana back to her waist, then walks toward the young man, she crouches beside him.
"You got spirit, put it in the right place, you'll be a fierce warrior someday," she gently says.
"Yes, captain!" the young man smiles, albeit shivering, but it seems the courageous words from her reduce some of his pain.