Chapter 51


    The Land of Waves is located in the eastern sea of the Land of Fire, wedged between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. It is a very inconspicuous ind nation with very little information about it.


    Since the end of the Third Shinobi World War, Kirigakure in the Land of Water has be increasingly isted, withdrawing from external contacts. After probing unsessfully, Konohagakure gradually let down its guard against Kirigakure and simultaneously reduced the intensity of intelligence gathering in the eastern seas.


    As a result, the Land of Waves, situated at the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, effectively became an isted ind with scant information about it. Kirigakure, due to its pursuit of missing Nin, might have more details. Still, Konohagakure''s knowledgegged significantly, with thetest intelligence on the Land of Waves dating back to a rough survey conducted a year ago.


    A Konoha ninja incidentally carried out this survey while executing an assassination mission. This ninja''s name was:


    Neji.


    After someone destroyed Konoha''s intelligence database before defecting, all that remained were the vague memories of Konoha shinobi about the Land of Waves.


    After the Fourth Shinobi World War, Konoha would inevitably rebuild its intelligence on the Land of Waves. By then, Neji''s whereabouts would be unknown, even to himself.


    Neji took out a key and opened the gate to a courtyard sealed for a year.


    "Is this your home here, Neji?" Hanabi asked, running her fingers over the dusty desk. In an instant, her hand turned ck. She couldn''t help but exim, "Yuck!""No, it belonged to a friend," Neji replied calmly, pulling some rags from a cab and handing one to Hanabi. "Clean your room."


    "What happened to your friend?" Hanabi asked while starting to clean. Due to her short stature, she had to drag a stool around to reach the high furniture.


    "He died."


    Hanabi paused, looking at Neji hesitating.


    "I killed him," Neji continued, watching her busying around.


    "Why?" Hanabi couldn''t help but ask.


    "Because he defected from Konoha like I did. But he was weaker than me, so he died by my hand."


    Neji formed a cross with his index and middle fingers on both hands.


    Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!


    Suddenly, the courtyard was filled with clones, each wearing ck eye masks and cleaning.


    It didn''t take long for the ce to be spotless, transformed from its dusty state.


    "From now on, this will be our base," Neji dered.


    Hanabi looked around, excited. Though the ce was simple and nowhere near as luxurious as the Hyuga n''s main house, the sunny beach and gentle sea breeze were much better than the oppressive, hostile atmosphere of the Hyugapound.


    Most importantly, there was no one else here.


    Just "us."


    Excited, Hanabi didn''t notice that when Neji said "base," she saw the courtyard, but Neji envisioned the entire Land of Waves.


    This small country, with a poption of just over 50,000 and no funds or need to establish a shinobi vige, relied heavily on imports for resources.


    Because of this, the maritime trade routes were the country''s lifeline. Whoever controlled these routes held the nation''s future and people''s lives.


    Neji considered the entire Land of Waves as his base or experimental ground.


    Fully upgrading his eyes would take about half a month. Neji wasn''t in a hurry. He went to the basement to arrange the valuable items he had gathered from Konoha, such as Byakugan, Sharingan, and sealing scrolls. Meanwhile, a clone stayed in the courtyard to train Hanabi.


    "Hanabi, your movements on the ship were too noticeable…"


    Inari sat by the dock, idly feeding mud to the fish and constantly looking toward the setting sun, waiting for his stepfather Kaiza''s return.


    "Inari, do you know the legend of the ghost ship?" a voice said behind him, making Inari jump.


    He turned and saw his grandfather, Tazuna.


    "Grandpa, that was mean!" Inari pouted.


    Tazuna, tipsy from his drink, loved teasing the youngsters. Heughed heartily, "Kids staying outte by the sea will be taken by the ghost ship and nevere back! You know, a ship filled with ghosts, and you might even see your grandmother there!"


    "That''s just to scare kids!" Inari protested.


    "Aren''t you a kid?" Tazuna teased.


    "But I turned four today!"


    "Oh, you''re a grown-up now, huh?" Tazuna mussed Inari''s hair with calloused hands, which was ufortable. Inari soon got annoyed and jumped away, loudly protesting.


    Tazuna saw him escape, chuckled, and said, "Come home early. We''re waiting to celebrate your birthday!"


    "Okay, I''lle back with Kaiza!"


    The Land of Waves was small, and everyone was local. Inari was a strong swimmer, so Tazuna wasn''t worried. Inari admired his stepfather, Kaiza, and the two shared a deep bond. Tazuna didn''t mind Kaiza beingte, thinking he was preparing a birthday gift for Inari.


    After reminding Inari, Tazuna headed home with his hoe.


    "Grandpa just likes to scare me," Inari muttered, feeling the cool evening breeze. He walked along the shore, kicking stones into the sea.


    "But when will Kaizae back?"


    Young love is straightforward and intense. Inari sighed. The wind blew his hat away, and he chased after it, but his steps slowed.


    A huge shadow loomed over him.


    Inari looked up, wide-eyed.


    His hat hadnded on the mast of a beached ship, like a head hanging high.


    Unidentified red stains spread through the nearby water and sand.


    "Is anyone there?"


    No response.


    Inari climbed a nearby hill, stood on tiptoe to look at the deck, then peered through a porthole into the ship.


    He froze.


    It was as if his brain had finally processed the visual signals from his eyes.


    He looked again at the deck, then at the cabin.


    Bodies covered the deck and filled the cabin.


    Blood seeped from the cabin to the ground.


    A…ghost ship!