Chapter 120: Setting Out

Outside the tent.

"Is that treasure you mentioned, the... whatever it was, actually real?" Kakuzu stared at Shiroki with bloodshot eyes.

Nonou was listening intently as well.

"Of course it’s real! You’re my dearest friend, my brother-in-arms, how could I ever lie to you?" Shiroki patted Kakuzu’s shoulder heavily. "Should I swear on my character to prove it?"

"No, I don’t trust your character. You have to swear on *her*." Nonou pointed at the cat, A-fei.

A-fei grinned wide.

"That vicious? You want me to swear on my own mother?" Shiroki’s eyes widened.

"Yes!" Nonou was planning to send this intelligence back; she had to be certain of its authenticity.

Shiroki suddenly straightened his face, reached out, and flicked Nonou’s forehead repeatedly. "You wicked creature, have you forgotten your place? How dare you talk back to me! Have you finished writing the draft? Did you wash the clothes?"

Nonou clutched her forehead and fell silent.

"Slaves these days aren't disciplined well enough; they're starting to think they can ride on their master's back," Shiroki said, hands on his hips, cursing loudly.

"Slave, talking back, discipline, riding? Is Master calling for me~?" Fuka emerged from some dark corner and began rubbing against Shiroki’s leg.

"Get lost!!!!" Shiroki kicked Fuka away. She simply crawled back into a dark corner, staring at Shiroki through a small gap while drooling.

...

"Prophet, please come in," Rasa’s voice came from inside the tent.

The three of them entered once more.

"How has the Kazekage considered it?" Shiroki was extremely confident; a group of desert bandits could never resist the allure of the treasure.

"After deliberation, we have agreed to this operation. Considering you may not be familiar with the desert environment, we will have Baki and Pakura accompany you," Rasa nodded.

"Many thanks, Kazekage. May Lord Cthulhu bless us... and help us all get rich." Shiroki grinned. Giving him Pakura as a guide? That was like letting a rabbit lead a hungry wolf.

Then again, this woman had never held any affection for him; it would be a challenge to even save her.

"No time to waste, let us depart immediately. I will have Baki lead you to the location where the Jinchuriki is being held." Even Rasa could hardly wait.

...

Traveling through the desert is an exhausting endeavor. The daytime heat, soaring up to fifty degrees, turns the sky into a steamer, constantly draining the body’s moisture. One has no choice but to wear heavy, loose robes to escape the sun.

When the trio first arrived at the edge of the desert, it hadn't been this extreme. But traveling to the Temple of Wind, where Bunpuku was imprisoned near Sunagakure, was no short journey. It could take half a month if they hit a sandstorm. Furthermore, that old poisoner Orochimaru had poisoned the oasis wells, forcing them to take much longer detours to find tribal wells for water, potentially extending the trip to a month. Traveling on foot would exhaust a person to death, so a caravan of camels was an essential travel companion.

There were ten camels in total: one for the leader Baki, one for Shiroki’s group, one for Pakura, and the rest were loaded with supplies and food.

"Teacher... didn't you just get back? Why are you leaving again... How long will you be gone this time?" A young girl with painted markings on her face clutched Pakura’s hand tightly, her face full of grievance.

Shiroki’s ears twitched; he could almost hear the crisp clinking of gold coins.

"Maki, this mission might take longer. Practice what I’ve taught you well while I’m gone. Never act tough in a fight—if you can’t win, run. I’ll be testing you when I return," Pakura patted Maki’s head, her face more stern than smiling.

"I will... These are medical bandages I made. You must use them, Teacher." Maki nodded and handed over a roll of medical bandages.

Pakura paused, rubbed Maki’s head, and smiled faintly as she tucked them into her ninja pouch.

"Yo, little sister, that’s not how you should phrase a gift," Shiroki jumped out from nowhere.

Pakura crossed her arms, her expression clearly saying, "What does this have to do with you?" Because of Fuka, her initial impression of Shiroki was already in the negatives.

"Teacher... who is this?" Maki looked at the stranger with suspicion.

"I’m your teacher’s teammate for this mission. Maki, what I mean is, when giving medical bandages, you should say you hope she *never* has to use them. That way, it means your teacher won’t get hurt," Shiroki patted Maki’s head as well.

"Tch, unnecessary..." Pakura ignored Shiroki’s self-indulgence.

"Oh... I see. Then, Teacher... I hope you never have to use them," Maki bowed to Pakura again.

"Yes, thank you, Maki," Pakura smiled slightly, then immediately pulled her face back into a mask of indifference.

"Thank you, big brother!" Maki bowed to Shiroki as well.

"Maki is such a sweet talker. Big brother will give you a book—make sure you read it," Shiroki pulled out a copy of the Black Scripture.

"Go to hell, you pedophilic pervert!" Pakura landed