Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 133 Searching for People

Everyone says that Bokseong is a pearl in the desert.

This city is located at the crossroads of the Land of Earth, the Land of Birds, and the Land of Rain. Here, one can simultaneously witness deserts and grasslands, as well as a constant flow of people. Trade is the cornerstone of this city's enduring brilliance; with enough money, you can buy any commodity available in human society.

A few tables of diners were scattered on the ground floor of a fairly inexpensive inn. At one table, the people were similarly dressed; two of them sat together, supporting each other, their faces showing signs of exhaustion and weariness, while another sat alone to one side, facing the door, glancing at it every now and then. Suddenly, the person sitting alone stood up, almost rushing out, but was stopped by a wave from the person at the door.

The two newcomers immediately drew everyone's attention upon entering, for no other reason than their conspicuous Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) ninja attire. While ninjas occasionally appeared on the border, they mostly served nobles and the military, rather than mingling with commoners, inevitably drawing attention.

"Lord Jinlun, Mr. Lao Zi, you've come together." Mo Yu didn't sit down until he had poured tea for the two of them. "These are Ya Li and Tu Nan, little Tu Ya's parents."

Facing two pairs of pleading eyes, Jinlun removed his mask and gloves, and gently comforted the two parents at close range. He didn't care that they had been running around for several days and hadn't thought about taking care of themselves, and that they smelled slovenly. He let them hold his hands and vent their emotions with tears streaming down their faces.

Old Zi's expression was somewhat subtle as he watched this scene. The aloofness of nobles was often feigned; he had never seen the leader of any powerful organization so humble as to speak with the commoners under his rule. As a Jinchūriki, he was far more perceptive than ordinary people. Therefore, he knew that Jinlun harbored no disdain for the commoners, only compassion and encouragement.

"Isn't our boss great?"

Mo Yu's sudden question brought Lao Zi, whose eyes were practically glued to Jin Lun's, back to reality. He turned around and saw the pride on the young man's face. So that's how it is. Jin Lun is indeed the core of this organization, but he relies not on power, but on a heart.

"Hmph, what are you so smug about?" Old Zi refused to admit that he was also moved by that heart, stubbornly sticking to his word.

"Lord Jinlun is the best in the world, no arguments allowed." Mo Yu's demeanor was completely contrary to his usual composure; he uttered these words with a smile, making Lao Zi break out in a cold sweat. Can't you just stick to your aloof persona?! It's terrifying!

"Ahem, Moyu." Jinlun was comforting the parents who had lost their child, not because he was deaf, and he couldn't listen to anything more right now. "The task of protecting them is now entrusted to you."

Mo Yu blinked quickly and asked, "Sir, don't you need a guide who is familiar with the area?"

Jinlun pointed at Lao Zi with his eyes, "Isn't this it?"

Old Zi stared at the teacup without saying a word, as if he could see something amazing in it.

Mo Yu visibly wilted, but still replied, "Yes, I guarantee I will complete the mission."

"Mo Yu, this matter involves issues that may be more complicated than we anticipated. We need to be prepared for a protracted battle. If the victim disappears, who will be responsible for prosecuting the case? Your mission is crucial, perhaps even more important than finding Tuya, understand?"

"Understood! Mission accomplished!"

Old Zi was once again amazed by Jin Lun's linguistic artistry. After just a few words, Mo Yu, who might have been slacking off, was full of energy and even answered in such a youthful manner... This was really quite different from his usual self!

After asking all the questions he wanted to ask and booking two rooms, the guy who had been chasing him like a whirlwind, almost breaking his old bones, suddenly stopped in a hurry and told him to get some rest.

"Aren't you going to ask me anything else, or go out and look for someone?" Old Zi was genuinely puzzled.

However, Jinlun's reply was a faint smile, "Get some rest, I'll talk to you again tonight."

For ninjas, disappearing without a trace is an essential skill. Just as Jinlun said, they set off quietly in the middle of the night, changed into night clothes, and didn't alert anyone in the inn. They even left shadow clones for cover. Lao Zi could understand this caution of not wanting to be exposed, but what he couldn't understand was... how Jinlun was able to pinpoint a hideout that looked completely normal on the outside.

On the surface, this place is just an ordinary car dealership, but once the mechanism is activated, the underground area becomes a bustling hub of activity. Numerous children, ranging in age from teenagers to young children, are imprisoned in cages, categorized into boys and girls, older and younger, good-looking and not-so-good-looking, like commodities.

"...How did you find this place?" Old Zi had never seen such an efficient search. They not only found Tuya, but also a den of child trafficking.

The car rental company is indeed a good cover; they kidnap a child, dump them in a car, and then return here. If they want to move the child, they can simply use another available car to transport them. Perhaps some unlucky car renters unwittingly become accomplices in this way.

“We all have our own secrets. I won’t ask you, and you should remain silent.” The expressionless Jinlun was indeed very imposing. He quickly passed through the tunnel without stopping or looking around, and accurately found the cage where Tuya was imprisoned.

Faced with a group of seven- or eight-year-old girls, Jinlun's expression softened slightly, and he even managed to restrain himself by molding a key from the enhanced clay. Instead of walking directly into the cage, he half-squatted down and gently asked, "Is Tuya here?"

The little girl, whose name was called, opened her eyes wide. The panicked child did not notice that there were two people. When she mustered up the courage to look out, she immediately saw someone who looked very familiar.

"Grandpa Redhead!" Tuya ran out of the cell door at the fastest speed she had ever run and grabbed Old Zi's leg.

The little girl cried her heart out, her shrill voice echoing through the cellar. Old Zi, terrified, quickly picked up the child and tried to soothe her, even taking out the sugar cubes he had specially prepared, thinking that this would surely attract the guards. Strangely enough, they had encountered no obstacles along the way, not a single guard, which was clearly abnormal. Could it be Jinlun, or perhaps he had other men with him?

But Jinlun had already warned him not to ask too many questions. They weren't even on the same side, so he really shouldn't ask too many questions.

“Take Tuya back and hand her over to her parents. We’ll leave the city at daybreak.” Jinlun didn’t care that the child hadn’t chosen him. Meanwhile, many more bright eyes were watching from inside the cage. They timidly moved closer to the cell door, both looking forward to freedom and fearing the unknown dangers.

"Aren't you leaving?" Lao Zi's heart began to race again. His intuition was always accurate, and when he guessed what Jinlun was going to do, he was both pessimistic and somewhat excited. Reason told him that the chances of success were slim, but his emotions unconsciously anticipated some possibility, a groundbreaking possibility.

Jinlun gazed tenderly at the child, but his expression hardened when he turned to him. "Are you ready to defect?"

"..."

"If you don't have it, then let's go."