Chapter Six: The Search for the Three Renowned Warriors

“This is delicious, sir!” Even with his mouth crammed full of cream bread and ham, Yahiko could still manage to speak, though bits of food sprayed out as he did, prompting Karn to wrinkle his brow and edge away.

Noticing Karn’s reaction, the blue-haired Konan quickly addressed Yahiko, “Yahiko, swallow your food before you speak. Sir, I’m sorry—we’re just really hungry, and your bread is so good.”

“Don’t call me ‘sir’. We’re not that familiar. My name is Karn Pent—just call me Mr. Karn,” Karn replied to the three of them, then continued, “So, where are you heading? Which ninja are you hoping to apprentice under to learn ninjutsu?”

“We’re not sure yet,” Yahiko answered with determination. “Last time, we saw a group of Leaf ninja fighting Hanzo, and they survived, so we want to find them, become their students, learn ninjutsu, and then change the Land of Rain.”

Karn listened and shook his head. They were barely ten, after all—innocence was inevitable at that age.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Mr. Karn? Don’t you believe me?” Yahiko asked indignantly when he saw Karn shake his head.

“No, your ideals are admirable. Keep at it,” Karn said calmly. He never bothered arguing with fools—there was no point. The fewer clever people around him, the better.

He then asked, “Do you know where the Leaf ninja are now?”

Yahiko, still somewhat annoyed by Karn’s perfunctory response, was about to argue when he heard the question and answered, “We have an idea. After their fight with Hanzo, there were no bodies left behind. If we just keep heading toward the Land of Fire, we’ll catch up to them eventually...”

“I see.”

Karn nodded, thinking to himself that the ones Yahiko and his friends sought were the Legendary Sannin of the Leaf. If possible, it would be best to anchor his world trading target on either Tsunade or Orochimaru. Before the Third Great Ninja War, they would both remain in the Leaf, while Jiraiya would most likely stay behind to look after Yahiko and the others.

If he could establish dealings with the Leaf, that would be ideal. Building a cooperative relationship would provide stability, and he could even hire Leaf ninja to secure a foothold in the Land of Fire and gradually establish a power base...

After pondering for a while, Karn decided that joining Yahiko and the others in search of the Sannin was a good choice. If the Leaf grew suspicious and tried anything against him, he could simply abandon this world and return to Marvel.

Konan’s gentle voice interrupted his thoughts, “Mr. Karn, is something on your mind?” If only the bread had come in a paper bag, she would have folded him a paper flower.

“It’s nothing. Let’s strike a deal: I’ll go with you in search of the Leaf ninja. If you help me find them quickly, these three cartons of milk and this chocolate will be your reward for travel expenses.”

As he spoke, Karn took three cartons of milk and some chocolate out of his backpack, setting them on the ground before the three children.

“Well?”

Their eyes lit up at the sight—milk and chocolate were rare treats even in times of peace.

Still, Yahiko was a bit wary. “Mr. Karn, why are you looking for the Leaf ninja?”

Karn waved his hand dismissively. “For business. I’m a merchant, and I got lost and ended up here. You don’t think I’m after a ninjutsu apprenticeship like you, do you? Be mature, kid.”

Yahiko felt a pang of embarrassment. He had indeed worried that Karn might compete with them for apprenticeship opportunities, but now realized that was unfounded—Karn was much older, and it was hardly realistic for him to become a ninja.

“All right, we agree—thank you, Mr. Karn,” Yahiko said, immediately collecting the milk and chocolate and dividing them between Konan and Nagato. After so many days of hunger, this was by far their best meal, whether it was the cream bread or the sausage. As for the chocolate, they couldn’t bear to eat it and carefully stowed it away for safekeeping.

“Since we have an agreement, let’s be on our way. I don’t have much time left,” Karn said, brushing dust from his clothes as he rose. He had only a little over a day remaining and still had to consider how to persuade Tsunade and Orochimaru. If that failed, he’d have to anchor his world trading target to Nagato or Konan.

And so, Yahiko, Konan, Nagato, and Karn set off once more toward the Land of Fire.

Though Yahiko was naive, he was clever enough to deduce the route the Sannin might take and follow them—quite the feat for untrained children.

However, their lack of stamina was a problem. Every time the three wanted to rest, Karn would bring out chocolate or other treats as incentives, urging them onward and closer to their goal of finding the Sannin.

Motivated by food, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato pushed themselves as never before. After four or five hours of walking, as evening fell, they finally caught up to the Leaf’s Legendary Sannin.

“They’re just ahead, Mr. Karn. We...”

“Let’s go straight to them. You’re seeking their help, and your only advantage is your youth and sincerity. I’m a merchant—sneaking around would only raise their suspicions and hinder negotiations. Besides, they may have already noticed us.”

With that, Karn walked toward the shelter where the Sannin were taking refuge from the rain.

“Damn, I got careless... Konan, Nagato, hide and wait for me. If things go wrong, run for it,” Yahiko said, then hurried after Karn, the two of them approaching the likely resting place together.

...

“The war is almost over. Once the Sand ninja retreat, we can finally go home and rest,” Tsunade said with a sigh of relief after finishing her biscuit. The endless battles, especially against the so-called Demigod of the Hidden Rain, had left even the three of them mentally exhausted. The war had dragged on so long that even the Leaf’s logistics were becoming strained—they needed to finish off the Sand quickly.

“Even so, let’s just hope the other villages behave themselves, or we’ll never get any rest... Someone’s coming, Tsunade,” Jiraiya said, breaking off as he spotted two figures approaching through the rain, one tall and one short, making no effort to conceal themselves.

Tsunade had already focused her chakra, ready to act at a moment’s notice, but frowned slightly and murmured, “They don’t seem like ninja...”

“Leaf ninja, please don’t misunderstand. We’re not from the Hidden Rain, and we’re only here to talk,” Karn called out while still some distance away—he hadn’t seen Orochimaru yet, and if that man was lurking somewhere, he didn’t want to be caught off guard.

Karn made no move to get any closer, remaining in the rain and waiting for Jiraiya and Tsunade’s reply.

“Come in and speak,” Tsunade’s voice called out after a dozen seconds, and at the same time, Orochimaru emerged from the shadows.