Chapter 13
It was early evening. Hare was walking through the light crowds of people.
Why are the people so quiet? I heard something really bad happened, but what? Maybe everybody is sad. Sad about the bad thing that happened. That man is staring at me, with a not mean look. Why do they stare at me like that?
Why does almost everybody hate me? What have I ever done? Other than the occasional prank. But they hated me even before then. Why does almost everybody hate me? Gramps likes me. Some of the masked men are nice. There was the doggy one, the bird, and, and the old one with strange hair. There were the Teuchi and Ayame who sold ramen.
Why can't I have friends. There are only six people that don't look at me meanly. It seems like others have so many people that like them. Why does so many people be mean to me. Why am I..
Nighttime. We move out in ten minutes. Crow is still asleep. He will probably wake up in five minutes. I'm going to stretch a little bit.
Hare went through several stretches, most likely to ease any aches from resting on rock. Crow came up behind Hare. He then pulled out a kuni, and then held it on Hare's neck. Hate then froze. "Really Bunny, what if I some big bad Cloud ninja?"
There was a moment's pause, before Hare responded, "Then you would have never had the honor of being on your own level."
A sniffle was heard. Crow then spoke, full of emotion, "Hare, I'm so proud of you. You have after all these years finally progressed beyond the terms bastard or ass. You have finally gone one level above twit."
Hare chose not to respond. "If you two are done with your bonding time, we still have a mission," a voice, Bear spoke up.
Crow responded, "Bear, I understand that you bear a great desire for bare bonding time, which with your features your barely have a chance to have, but don't make such false thoughts about Hare an I's rapport." Bear sputtered in response. Crow continued, "Alratelineht, back to mission. Silence from now on."
Bear and Hare nodded, and then the group of three continued their trek. After several hours of travel, the group arrived on the outskirts of Lily's Gate.
Lily's gate formed after the Tiger Eye Canal was created. It was a choke point for trade where Lightning country placed tariffs on all trade passing through. The ways to avoid it were either instead of going east after the canal, go south, but have a high chance of a pirate attack, or not even go on the Tiger Eye canal.
Lighting made a lot of money from the action.
Despite how young the city was, it was bustling with people. Crow signaled to his team, 'Change into civilian gear, make sure to hyper conceal chakra, but don't completely suppress it. Make sure to have your passes at all times.'
The group of three changed, before and then started walking towards the city. As they enterted the city, a group of samurai stopped them, the apparent leader speaking to them, "Show us your passes."
"Here they are," Crow, or Ta'ke Namerei said kindly, while the other two disguised ANBU did the same.
The Samurai looked over the passes before asking, "What is your business here?"
"I am here with my associate," Crow stated, pointing at bear, "Hiro Masana to observe a large business transaction," and then pointing at Hare, "and I am bringing my nephew to teach him the trade, as he is much more interested than my useless son."
The samurai nodded, before recording what was said. "Isn't he a little young for such work," he asked?
"I believe that when it comes to business, it is best to introduce it to them early, that way they have more experience than all the people their age," Crow stated firmly.
The samurai nodded, responding, "My apologies Namerei sir, your passes check out, you may enter the city."
Crow nodded before saying, "Thank you, and my apologies for my tone samurai sir."
The group entered the city, which was full of people going about their business. The team walked to the traders guild, and entered and rented a room there from a hotel. Crow then spoke, "Hare, Bear, create a shadow clone of yourselves stealthily," to which after a few moments of focus, three clones materialized. "Good, the chakra sensors didn't go off. Send the clones to do our business. We will meanwhile investigate. Bear, look at grain imports. Figure out where they're going. Hare, investigate iron imports. I will investigate all exports."
With that, to the casual observer, three civilians left the hotel room to do business. In reality, it was three clones that looked like civilians, and three invisible ANBU. At the exit of the hotel, the ANBU went their separate ways.
Iron imports. Those are brought in at dock seven, since only dock seven has the proper equipment to handle the weight. We know that Lightning has increased its grain imports. Although suspicious, it is not a sign of increased militarism. Increased iron imports would be.
Hare slid his way through the city undetected. Suddenly, he froze in his approach to dock seven.
Jonin in the area. I pray they are not ANBU. Movement will cause me to be more easily detected. Two jonin. One a hundred yards out west. The other a hundred and ten yards north. Neither are converging in on me. Most likely not ANBU. Still, I need to be careful. I need to swing to that building. Jonin one is moving south east. I hope he didn't detect me. I need to alert Crow and Bear.
Hare, unseen to any other, put his hand to his ear, and then whispered, "Crow, Bear, I detect two jonin in the area. I am two hundred and forty yards away from dock seven, at two-hundred forty degrees. Jonin one is moving south east, approximately ninety yards from my position. Jonin two is stationary one hundred ten yards north of my position."
Crow then spoke over the comm, "Roger, continue your mission, but don't take any risks. Stay put incase jonin one has detected you. Bear, stay frosty."
"Roger," Bear replied.
Hare stayed stationary until jonin two stopped.
That is approximately where a sushi restaurant was. It is also the breakfast hour. He is likely eating his morning meal. It is safe to continue my route. Jonin two is still stationary. I need to give him a wide berth. Can no longer take bearing sixty. I need to go about one-hundred twenty degrees. Then I can shift to a sharper angle to get to the dock.
Hare slowly began his new route to dock seven. After half an hour of stealthily making his way through the area, Hare arrived at dock seven. The dock was huge, over two-hundred yards long, and at least a hundred wide. Three vessels were currently docked, with one unloading cargo.
From the roof that Hare laid, he fiddled with his mask.
To far away to see effectively. Need to activate zoom function. That's better. As expected, they're unloading iron shipments. I will need to find ship manifests to know fully how much.
Hare turned invisible, and started moving towards the boat that was unloading.
I need to get on without chakra, and without using the gangplank. So annoying.
Hare wove his way around several people as he approached the dock. After a short while, he made it, and walked up to the boat, mindful not to run into anyone.
I also can't use any of the mooring lines. I can use the crane when it returns to pick up more cargo. I'll have to be careful when doing so. Hare with some difficulty crept near to where a large metal box full of iron was being placed. Avoiding the sailors, he jumped onto the box silently and climbed up the chain a few feet.
The sailors detached the crane's hook, and then after raising for a moment, swung over to pick up more cargo. Hare silently dropped onto the side of the ship as the crane passed it and stayed still for a few moments.
I need to find the Captain quarters. With this style of boat, it is most likely... there.
Hare approached what he presumed to be the Captain's quarters.
I can't sense anyone within. Ah, a small piece of metal to signify if anyone enters. Can only be placed from the outside...by normal means. I will have to risk using chakra. Wait, this is manganese. It is reactive to chakra. This just became more difficult. Someone approaches.
The person that approached was in a blue uniform. He walked up to the room, and entered it, while picking up the small piece of metal.
Damn. I can't possibly enter the room while he is in there. He has samurai levels of chakra, I can't catch him in an effective illusion. Not to mention the wall blocking me. I need a distraction. But what can I use that won't arouse to much suspicion. The sailors here seem to be experienced ones. I can't stage a mishap easily. There, a greenhorn. I can use him.
Hare silently walked up to the fledgling sailor, non-existent to all.
His chakra levels are low enough that my illusions can affect him. But can I risk using chakra? It would be best to avoid that. The boat is slightly rocking. There is a mop there. I can have the mop fall down and trip him. It wouldn't be enough. It would have to be a man overboard, and that would arouse too much suspicion considering how far the edge of the boat is.
Another green horn there. He is close to the edge, but how can I trip him. He is moving away from the edge now. Annoying. Wait, he is scaling the ratline. A perfect opportunity. I have to scale the mast itself though. This will be fun.
Hare began his ascent of the mast, outpacing the young sailor who was climbing the ratline. Hare stopped at the first boom, and waited to see where the sailor would go. The sailor kept going, so did Naruto. The sailor stopped at the second boom, and then started eating some salted pork. Hare came up next to him.
Perfect. I have to wait until a breeze comes by. I don't have to worry about him feeling me push him, he'll die from the fall. He will die from the fall. Just a small push.
A substantial breeze passed. Naruto did nothing.
It is so simple to kill him. I just have to wait for the perfect moment. Any moment now.
A gust came by, and the sailor had to hold himself steady. The sailor adjusted himself, causing him to be more secure on the boom.
I am an ANBU, killing people is an inevitable part of my job. I have to do this. For the mission. For the Leaf village. To protect those I care for. I will do whatever is necessary. All I do is a simple push. He will die from the fall.
A gust of wind passed. A scream was heard. A man fell to his death, falling from the second boom due to a gust of wind.