Chapter 64: One Says I'm Buying, One Says I'm Selling

Shiraki dragged the Akimichi back to the battlefield as if hauling a dead pig; only the gods knew how far the two of them had run, but the trail they left behind was littered with broken trees.

By the time they returned, half an hour had passed.

The battlefield was in a most peculiar state: a group of people were hurling curses and insults at each other, but not a single one was actually fighting.

Shika Nara was leaning against a tree, gripping a hand seal with all his strength. Sweat beaded on his brow, evidence that a fierce battle had just ended. Shadows at his feet stretched out in thick strands, twining around Shangi, whose neck was locked in a vice-like grip. With just a bit more force, he could snap the slender stem of this wildflower.

After all, his clan was famed for their intellect. Even with the extra weight, his mind remained sharp, and he had managed to seize a glimmer of hope in a losing battle—Shangi.

Among a group of fierce, grotesque thugs, the sudden appearance of an unusually beautiful girl was clearly a weakness in their ranks.

Sure enough, the moment he caught Shangi, the rogue ninja’s attacks ceased. But he suspected these bastards had broken radios for mouths, their foul-mouthed bickering an unbearable racket.

On the other side, a one-eyed man held a kunai to Toyono Yamanaka’s throat, blood trickling down his neck.

“The captain’s not dead? He made it back alive?”

“Captain, hurry and think of a way to save Shangi!”

“Shut up, all of you! Who just said I was going to die? I remember your voice!” Shiraki pushed through the crowd, dragging the Akimichi and tossing him to the ground.

“How is he?!” Shika Nara asked urgently.

What a name, Shiraki thought, eyeing the inverted triangle hood on the Akimichi’s head, unable to look directly at it for a moment.

“Relax, he knocked himself out. Now, can we talk trade?” Shiraki placed a foot on the Akimichi’s pudgy belly.

“Trade? How do you want to swap?” Shika Nara frowned deeply. Everyone knew the standard protocol for hostage exchange was one for one, but with two teammates in enemy hands, he had to find a way to get them both back.

“We’re mercenary ninja. Money is what matters out here. Right now, the going rate is one million ryo per hostage. Or, if by weight, five thousand ryo per pound. Add a bit more and you get escort and medical services, too. Pick your deal.” Shiraki rubbed his hands, his eyes greedier than a loan shark’s.

“???” Shika Nara was utterly dumbfounded. Not even his intelligence could process this outcome, so he asked cautiously, “If it’s by the head... two million ryo?”

“Deal. Cash or check? Gold preferred.” Shiraki beamed.

“What about the girl then?” Shika Nara tried to bargain using Shangi.

“Her? For five hundred thousand ryo, you can take her.” Shiraki winked at Shangi.

“Shiraki, you bastard! I’ll kill you!” Shangi struggled and roared.

“That’s not what I meant. I’ll return her to you—how much can you knock off the price?” Shika Nara explained. On missions, they didn’t carry much money.

“In that case... take off three hundred thousand.” Shiraki looked a bit disappointed.

“Bastard! I’m worth at least three million!” Shangi protested indignantly.

“Shut up!” Shiraki snapped, annoyed that she couldn’t see he was helping her, and now she was raising her own price for the enemy.

“One point seven million... but I don’t have that much on me,” Shika Nara said, not feeling the pain of parting with the money—Konoha paid generous wartime salaries, and with their cushy outpost assignment, they’d saved plenty.

“How much do you have?” Shiraki asked.

“One million.” Shika Nara patted his ninja pouch, where a Konoha-issued payroll check was stashed.

“Seventy thousand short... Just owe it until next time. Our mercenary corps trusts Konoha’s word! Hahaha...” Shiraki laughed heartily.

“That’s surprisingly agreeable...” Shika Nara frowned, though mercenary ninja were known for their love of money.

“By the way, interested in intel? Iwagakure intelligence, about this mission. Only a million ryo.” Shiraki poured on the temptation.

“What! You sell intelligence too?” Shika Nara was stunned.

“Sell it! There’s nothing in the world money can’t buy. If you want it and I have it, I’ll sell it for the right price!” Shiraki nodded.

“We’ll take the mission intel, and you will get your money,” said Toyono Yamanaka, who was still being held hostage but maintained his psychic link with the outpost. Compared to these mercenaries, the rising tide of Iwagakure ninja entering the territory was far more worrying.

“Heh... I’d better sell it quick. A few minutes more and it’ll be worthless.” Shiraki grinned.

“Our mission this time is to locate and destroy Konoha’s four outposts. The Iwagakure command used big data analysis to narrow down sixteen possible locations, but I only know the four we’ve been assigned.” Shiraki produced a map scroll, marking four investigation points nearby.

“That mountain ahead is our next target. Hopefully it’s a wild-goose chase. We get paid by the day and don’t want to risk our lives.” Shiraki said.

Shika Nara stared intently at the map in Shiraki’s hand. Even he didn’t know where the other towers were, but he recognized the marked spot: it was the location of his own outpost.

Reverse-engineering the locations by big data... not impossible. After so many years of war and the towers never moving, a web of clues was bound to emerge.

“What is it?” Shiraki shook the scroll.

“Nothing, just didn’t expect Iwagakure to attack out of the blue... Let’s trade now,” Shika Nara said, anxious to return and defend the outpost.

“Alright, Old Blind, let them go.” Shiraki waved his hand. Old Blind was Shangi’s father’s nickname.

The one-eyed old man roughly released Toyono Yamanaka, letting him go free.

Toyono used his psychic power to wake up the Akimichi, who staggered back to Shika Nara’s side with his help.

“We’ll pay you. Go on with your business—there’s nothing there at all,” Shika Nara tried to bluff Shiraki, but honorably let Shangi go as well.

“Let’s do business again sometime!” Shiraki planted a hard kiss on the Konoha check. Whether there was a tower or not, it wasn’t up to them to decide. But seeing as someone came to intercept, it was probably there.

“Mm!” The two supported the wobbly Akimichi, deliberately taking a detour back to the outpost.

“You alright?” Shiraki patted Shangi’s head.

“Next time, sell me for more!” Shangi puffed out her cheeks and stuck out her tongue. She knew Shiraki was helping her—real negotiations could have meant more suffering, and being choked was no fun.

“That’s a first...” Shiraki scratched his head.

“Where’s your mother?” Shangi suddenly remembered the cat who claimed to be Shiraki’s mother.

“Don’t mention it...” Shiraki shuddered at the thought of sending Afei, in spore form, to parasitize the Akimichi.