Chapter 112: Hidden Frost Village
Kael descended outside a town and asked around for the specific location of the Hidden Frost Village.
Before long, he was back on the Thunder-Wind Eagle, hovering above the Hidden Frost Village.
This was a relatively remote area of the Land of Frost. At least within a hundred-mile radius, this was the only settlement.
The Hidden Frost Village looked exactly like an ordinary village. If Kael hadn't clearly seen the words "Hidden Frost Village" inscribed on the stone monument at the entrance, he would have doubted he was in the right place.
Thud!
The Thunder-Wind Eagle lowered its head, and Kael lightly leaped down, landing on the ground.
He surveyed the inconspicuous little village, then looked at the stone monument beside him. A sudden urge to turn around and leave surged within him.
A place this tiny... I could send any random subordinate here, and they'd probably become the king of the hill!
Just as he was about to turn back, various thoughts flashed through his mind. He looked at the few wisps of cooking smoke rising slowly into the sky and ultimately decided to walk into the village.
He used the traditional mantra of his people to persuade himself: "Forget it, I'm already here..."
Thinking this way, Kael felt much better. He had nothing else to do anyway, so a visit wouldn't hurt. Seeing the local customs of the Shinobi World wasn't a bad idea.
Walking along a yellow dirt road crisscrossed with ruts from pedestrians and carriages, the number of houses finally began to increase.
At this point, a sense of vigilance rose in Kael's heart.
As a ninja, one should always remain alert, no matter the situation.
This was something Inoshita Rino had taught him in class back at the academy, and Kael naturally hadn't forgotten.
While continuing toward the house with the cooking smoke, Kael glanced around occasionally, his ten fingers unconsciously rubbing together slowly.
He was keeping his fingers flexible so that if anything went wrong, he could form hand seals instantly.
Arriving at the mud house with the smoke, Kael put on a friendly smile and prepared to knock. But just as he extended his right hand, he pulled it back.
The next moment, the wooden door was pushed open from the inside, and a boy in tattered clothes with a sallow complexion walked out.
He was holding a basin of steaming, fragrant, slightly burnt rice crust.
"Ah!"
Pushing the door open to find a stranger standing there clearly startled the boy.
Fortunately, his hands were steady, so the rice crust didn't fall.
Kael smiled gently at him and looked him over.
The boy appeared to be about ten years old, dressed in coarse linen clothes. He looked thin and sallow, clearly suffering from long-term malnutrition.
He looked much like Kael did when he first arrived in the Shinobi World.
Thinking of this, a pang of pity rose in Kael's heart, and his gaze became more sincere.
"Little friend, are you delivering that rice crust to someone?"
Kael beamed at him, but his mind was racing.
"Is the Hidden Frost Village this poor? Even the children look like they don't get enough to eat..."
The boy didn't speak, nor did he close the door. He just stood inside, looking at Kael with curiosity.
His bright, large eyes looked Kael up and down. The next moment, he seemed to think of something. He glanced toward the village entrance, then at the few surrounding houses with no smoke, and a look of realization dawned on his face. He whispered:
"Are you a refugee here too? Did you find this place because you saw the smoke from my chimney?"
Seeing the boy's certain expression, Kael couldn't bear to crush his confidence.
So he nodded approvingly.
"You guessed it perfectly!"
"Sigh! You're lucky. I borrowed some rice from Uncle Haru next door today, which is why I could steam this much rice crust. I was just about to take some to him."
After a brief moment of pride, the boy's face gradually darkened.
Thinking that he would have to share the already scarce rice crust with this pitiful young man, his heart filled with reluctance.
It had been a long time since he'd had a full meal...
Kael didn't know what the boy, whose mood changed so quickly, was thinking. He just subconsciously followed the boy's steps toward a house a few dozen meters away.
Knock, knock, knock!
As the boy knocked, the dilapidated wooden door opened to reveal a gaunt man.
His features were square, with bangs hanging naturally over his forehead. His gaze was sharp, but it softened instantly when he looked at the boy.
The next moment, he saw Kael behind the boy, and his eyes suddenly turned dark.
He had never seen this young man in the village before!
Before coming, Kael had removed his Hidden Hot Water forehead protector, and he was intentionally suppressing his chakra.
Unless one was a sensory type ninja, it wouldn't be easy to discover his identity.
"Who are you? Why are you following Seven?"
The gaunt man shouted sternly at Kael. The hostility was so thick that even the boy named Seven could clearly sense it.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
He sensed faint chakra fluctuations from the man. His gaze then instinctively went to the man's forehead.
No forehead protector!
This puzzled Kael even more.
Suppressing his doubts, Kael flashed a harmless smile at the man and spoke softly.
"I was just passing through by chance. I was hungry and saw smoke coming from a house, so I came to beg for some food..."
The gaunt man's expression softened slightly, but his gaze still swept suspiciously over Kael's clean, neat clothes.
At this point, the boy between them quickly spoke up.
"Uncle Haru, he's not a bad guy. He's a refugee too..."
The gaunt man smiled noncommittally but didn't contradict the boy.
He wasn't a child; he didn't trust people's words easily.
"I don't know if he's a bad guy, but he's definitely no refugee!"
The man muttered to himself. He had never seen a refugee dressed like Kael!
Thinking this, he patted the boy's head and smiled gently.
"Seven is the smartest. Go inside, I'll have a chat with this young man."
"Oh..."
Seven nodded and carried the rice crust into the room.
The warmth on Haru's face vanished instantly. He turned to Kael, the corner of his mouth hooking up as he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.
He spoke coolly.
"Talk. Young man, what are you doing in the Hidden Frost Village?"