The sudden appearance of the young beggars was merely a minor interlude for Shinichi and the others. Shinichi didn't dwell on the matter.
Although he was surprised that the monk's begging bowl could be exchanged for money, since the Great Monk himself chose not to pursue it, Shinichi had no intention of interfering. As traveling ninjas, it was always better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Guided by the monks, the group soon arrived at a temple in the city. The temple was not very large. The front hall, in addition to housing Buddha statues, also featured memorial tablets inscribed with specific names, lending it an indescribable sense of solemnity. Beyond the front hall, the side halls housed statues of Vajra Arhats. Their assigned quarters were in the back courtyard.
The temple had over a dozen monks. When Shinichi's group arrived, the monks were chanting scriptures in the main hall. The middle-aged monk who greeted them, known respectfully as Master Wuzhen (悟真), was the abbot of this temple. After settling Shibi Aburame and the others into their quarters, he left them to their own devices, making the temple seem genuinely like an inn.
The wing room was nearly twenty square meters and set up as a large communal sleeping area. The room was permeated with a strong scent of "incense," which was soothing.
"That Master Wuzhen doesn't seem simple!" Shibi Aburame briefly inspected the surroundings of the room, then quietly closed the door and spoke to the group.
"Not simple? How so?" Might Guy was pleased about the free accommodation and had a great impression of the monk. Hearing Shibi's comment, he asked, puzzled.
"That monk is very powerful! My insects can sense it." As he spoke, Shibi Aburame raised his hand, where a Kikaichū rested lightly on his fingernail, subtly vibrating its wings. Guy heard this, scratched his head, but wasn't overly concerned.
In this world, ninjas were not the only ones who had mastered the use of chakra and possessed combat power far exceeding that of ordinary people.
Samurai, monks, and even some ordinary civilians had the opportunity to learn how to use chakra and master jutsu.
In the Land of Fire, besides the ninja village system cultivating ninjas who use chakra, many well-established temples also taught monks to use chakra for self-protection.
However, the focus of different systems varied. From what Shinichi knew, there were at least two monks with formidable power: Chiriku of the Fire Temple and the first Jinchūriki of Shukaku, the old monk named Bunpuku.
Hearing that Master Wuzhen was extraordinary, Shinichi was not surprised.
"Whether the monk is simple or not... should be irrelevant to our mission, right?"
"We just need to..." Shisui was speaking ,but suddenly paused, as if realizing something. Why would a Great Monk, whom Shibi rated as "not simple," be knocked down by a small beggar? And even have his livelihood stolen? A question arose in Shisui's mind, and he furrowed his brow in thought.
At this point, besides Might Guy, the others also sensed an unusual vibe.
"It shouldn't be related to our mission, but we still need to maintain our guard."
"It's still early. After we quickly organize ourselves, we'll meet the informant."
"If things go smoothly, we'll act tonight!" Shibi Aburame spoke up, interrupting their thoughts. The most pressing matter was their mission.
After quickly sorting their gear, the group left the temple while there was still some daylight. Their movements were naturally observed by the monks in the temple, but no one came forward to inquire or interfere.
After the group left, a monk went to the front hall and reported to the abbot, Wuzhen, who was kneeling before the Buddha statue: "Master, they have left."
"But they left their things behind."
"What should we do next?"
The young monk's words caused a brief silence in the hall. The monks stopped their chanting, and all looked towards Wuzhen. Wuzhen gently shook his head, continued chanting, and offered no reply.
"Master, are we just going to let them leave like that?" The disciple pressed further. Only then did Wuzhen slowly open his eyes and reply, "They will be back." He then continued his chanting.
After leaving their temporary lodging, Shibi and the others asked vendors on the street for directions. After questioning two or three shop owners, they finally confirmed the address of the informant. The group navigated several twists and turns in the alleys, and after nearly half an hour, they knocked on the door of a residence.
The door was opened by a middle-aged man with a weary face, about forty years old. He was skinny, his eyes were sunken and lifeless, and he exuded a faint aura of death. Seeing the people outside the door, his gaze lingered on Uchiha Shisui and Shinichi for a moment, then he asked:
"Who are you? Who are you looking for?"
Shibi Aburame quickly assessed the middle-aged man, then took a letter from his chest and handed it to the man, smiling: "We're looking for Mr. Hayata."
Hearing his name, the middle-aged man trembled slightly, as if remembering something. Focus returned to his eyes, and he hastily accepted the letter, quickly stepping aside and inviting them in. After ushering them inside, Hayata carefully surveyed the empty alley before closing the door.
Hayata Tano, the informant for this mission, was a Konoha asset. Bandit suppression missions within the country's borders usually didn't offer a reward, as it was one of Konoha's duties in cooperation with the Land of Fire.
The group was invited inside. While Hayata Tano poured water for them, they quickly assessed the house. It was a standard two-room layout, about sixty square meters. The living room wasn't very large, and the furnishings were simple.
As soon as Hayata Tano poured the water, he immediately bowed low to the floor toward the group, pleading with a heart full of grievance:
"Sirs... Ninjas of Konoha, I beg you, please, please help me!!!"
The sudden, profound gesture surprised everyone. Shibi quickly went to help him up, soothing him at the same time:
"Don't worry, we will definitely clear out that group of bandits."
"There's no need to be so polite, please get up quickly."
Shibi thought the man was bowing for the bandit situation, but the man shook his head and cried out sorrowfully:
"No... it's not that..."
"I'm begging you, please help me find my daughter."
"She's gone missing. No matter how much I search, I can't find her. Please help me!"
"She is only ten years old. Since my wife died, it's just been my daughter and me relying on each other. I can't live without her!"
Tears streamed from his eyes as he spoke, and Hayata frantically knocked his head on the floor, terrified of being refused.
"Your daughter?"
"We are here for... ahem, if you don't mind, tell us about your daughter?" Shibi Aburame wanted to ask for information regarding the Konoha Missing-nin, but seeing the man's distress, he knew it would be difficult to get any useful intelligence without agreeing first. The informant's emotional state was too volatile; he needed to be stabilized.
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