Chapter 48: Nara Shikawo, an Enthusiast for Gossiping

  After a moment of silence, Uchiha Ryo broke it, "It's so disgusting. This kind of completely unnecessary tacit understanding is just awful."

  "Ah, as much as it irks me, I agree with you this time," Senju Shigeoki said with a disgusted look. "Rather, it's extremely uncomfortable... There's no point in dragging this on. Shall we go first?"

  "Sure. After all, there are more people with disabilities in your cn, and you're in more urgent need of the medicine," Uchiha Ryo readily agreed and even took a half - step back politely. "So, you go first?"

  Hearing this, Nara Shikawo immediately cursed in his heart, thinking, [This is bad]. When he turned his head, sure enough, he saw the vein on Senju Shigeoki's forehead throbbing.

  Senju Shigeoki took a deep breath and forced a stiff smile. "Your Uchiha cn has declined to the point of sending a blind guy like you on a mission. With a person with a disability like you here, how can I have the nerve to compete with you? You should go first."

  [If a fight breaks out, I'll have to control all of them and then inform the parents of the two cns to come and redeem them. That'll be a huge hassle... They must have colluded to mess with me, right? For sure!] Nara Shikawo looked up at the sky. [It's so troublesome. Why was I born into the main branch of the family? Why do I have to waste time here with these two groups of brats? Why... ]

  Before Nara Shikawo could continue his train of thought, Uchiha Ryo's gentle voice rang out again. "Then I won't be polite. I'm just eager to finish this mission and buy some souvenirs to take home. Should I say that you two are indeed old adversaries who know each other so well? You're really thoughtful."

  Senju Shigeoki clenched his fists tightly, and his body trembled slightly. "You—"

  "Ah, do you still want to make the deal first? Sure. Go ahead. We'll have some time to wander around here. By the way, you came from another route, right? Was the scenery there nice?"

  "I—"

  "Don't worry. I know what you want to say. It must be something about fighting and killing, right?" Uchiha Ryo said with a soft smile, his voice sounding extremely sincere. "And really, it's rare for us to meet without any mission conflicts. Let's not talk about those unpleasant things. There's no need to make ourselves unhappy, is there? Isn't it good to just live in peace?"

  Senju Shigeoki: ...Damn it, let me speak!

  "Alright, Uchiha Yugu, the guys over there have made way. You go and negotiate first. After all, they're being so generous this time. We can't let down their kindness."

  Uchiha Yugu looked up at Senju Shigeoki's livid face, couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle, and clearly enunciated, "It would be impolite to decline."

  On the other side, Senju Ma, the leader of the Senju group, raised his hand to stop Senju Shigeoki, who was already fuming with anger. Frowning, he nodded slightly. "Do as you please. No need to see you off."

  Nara Shikawo immediately let the cn members behind him lead Uchiha Yugu and Rin, who was acting as an escort, inside. After receiving a signal, he then let another group of cn members lead Senju Ma and another silent Senju female ninja in. At the same time, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed that all he had to do today was stay here to keep the peace.

  But just when things seemed to calm down, Uchiha Mori's shoulders started shaking. Finally, he couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into snorting ughter.

  Senju Ming, who remained outside, instantly exploded. She drew out the Tantō from behind her back and shouted, "You stinking Uchiha, don't push me too far!"

  "Come on then! Do you think I'm afraid of you, you midget?" Uchiha Mori's smile was full of Malice as he reached for the hilt of his sword. "As a Senju, you're stunted? Pfft—this is hirious."

  "Mori, that's enough," Uchiha Ryo said, still wearing a smile. "This is someone else's territory. We're here for a deal, not to cause trouble. Put your sword away."

  Hearing this, Uchiha Mori, who had already drawn his sword halfway, immediately sheathed it. But his attitude became even more arrogant. "Come on, midget! Go ahead and attack! Are you scared? Hahaha!"

  Senju Ming scoffed, then sheathed her Tantō, and put her hands on her hips defiantly. "Bullshit! Do you think I'm afraid of you? Your breath stinks so bad it could stink up the pce thirty miles downwind. Did you eat dog shit before you came out?"

  Ignoring the increasingly fierce verbal exchange between the two, Uchiha Ryo turned to Senju Shigeoki and asked, "Are you brother and sister or sister and brother?"

  Senju Shigeoki rolled his eyes. He didn't want to answer at first, but when he saw Uchiha Ryo's blindfold, he couldn't help but snap back, "None of your damn business."

  "How about sharing some information?" Uchiha Ryo chuckled softly. "I'm going to the Land of Lightning ter. Well, want to come and get revenge?"

  Senju Shigeoki's face darkened. "Do you think I'd believe that?"

  "Believe it or not," Uchiha Ryo shrugged, looking extremely rexed, though his hands never left the staff - sword in his hands. "You know, I rarely lie—even to my enemies."

  Senju Shigeoki snorted. "Your words can only fool The Departed. But the Land of Lightning... If you offer a high enough price, I don't mind selling you some local information."

  "Come on, what's our retionship?" Uchiha Ryo ughed. "We're like brothers from different mothers, sharing weal and woe. Isn't it a bit cold - hearted of you to be like this?"

  "Bullshit! Sharing weal and woe?" Senju Shigeoki rolled his eyes again. "Do you call cutting someone open and spilling their guts 'sharing weal and woe'? Can my liver and your gallbdder really 'shine' together?"

  "Well... Sharing weal and woe physically also counts as sharing," Uchiha Ryo's smile widened a bit. "Because you're the first opponent who's escaped from me twice, I remember you very clearly.

  Look at me now. It should be easy for you to attack, right? Want to give it a try? If you win, it's revenge. If you lose, I'll have an extra souvenir for the Senju cn. How about it? It's a good deal, isn't it?"

  “Hehe, then can I just ask you to commit seppuku right away for your loyal sworn brother (referring to me)? Try... If I really go, let alone whether I'll win or lose, can you even let me find you?”

  “Don't be like that. You should be brave enough to try in life. What if you succeed?”

  “...Get lost.”

  Watching Senju Shigeoki, whose temper was roused again by Uchiha Ryo after just a few exchanges, Nara Shikawo couldn't help stroking his chin.

  Compared with the foul - mouthed personal attacks between the other two, it was obvious that the level here was much higher. They exchanged information while scolding each other.

  Oh, you're asking what information they exchanged?

  First, one side asked, “I'm going to the Land of Lightning. Do you have the same pn?” Then the other side replied, “It depends on the situation.” Immediately afterwards, one side said, “If you come, I'll have to deal with you.” The other side said, “It's still uncertain who will win or lose.” Then one side said, “Then come on. Let's see if I can kill you or not.” The other side replied, “I don't have the time for that. You can just mess around by yourself.” Finally, one side asked, “You really won't come?” The other side answered, “I really won't go.”

  Look, look! These two guys are so sly! (They seem to have a thousand tricks up their sleeves!)

  Thinking of this, Nara Shikawo looked at Uchiha Mori and Senju Ming, who were arguing even more fiercely and had attracted quite a few gnces. In comparison, they are still quite inexperienced.