Chapter 79: Receiving our New Weapons; Chieftess

The days flew by again since we had little to do; the hunts were easy and relatively uneventful, but quite fruitful, as we now had two scrolls filled with what I was calling Mid-Grade Beast materials.

Many wolves, panthers, and deer fell to us, as did some snakes, eagles, owls and even a raven.

Those materials were for Konoha, while the other scroll we had was to be traded to Dragaia for some more Chakra Metal Ingots.

All the raw materials and ingots would be likely used for Lord Third, Kakashi, maybe even some set aside for both Naruto and Sasuke as rewards for reaching Jonin.

However, I doubt that anyone else might be allowed to receive a weapon made from Chakra Metal, both because of its rarity in the Elemental Nations, and also because it would alert the other Villages that we had somehow gotten a large supply of valuable metals and materials.

I could almost guarantee that they would try to either steal or 'negotiate' for the materials, inching us closer and closer to another war.

Leading everyone towards the smithy, we noticed that a few of the warriors around the village were now keeping a close eye on us, or more specifically...

"So she noticed."

Hearing Cameia, I nodded, not turning to look at her.

"Seems like the Chieftess, or maybe Hailyte, noticed how... close you've gotten to us."

Anko sighed, glancing around the bustling market as we walked past it.

"Most likely we'll need to do something else for her, as a 'payment'."

We nodded, before entering the smithy.

Dragaia was slouched on her table, a large clay pot in front of her, reeking of alcohol.

"Dragaia..?"

"Hm..? Aha~ Kokowo~ Have you come around yet~ Hyup..."

Staggering to her feet, the smith stumbled towards me, only to frown as she saw everyone else.

"No..? Hah... that sucks... was looking forwards to bedding you! Haha~! Oh well, I'll just find me a good... good..? What was I talking bout?"

Dragaia looked to her feet, pursing her lips as she swayed around, before returning her gaze to us.

"Ah ha! That's what I was... no... not that..."

Biting her thumb, she pouted as she muttered to herself, making me sigh.

"Dragaia, weapons?"

"Oh yeah... yeah, I finished those hehe~! Over there~! See 'em? See 'em? Aren't they... preeeeeeeeety?"

She stumbled backwards, falling back onto her bench.

Sighing again, I looked over at the wall, where my short sword, Kurenai's kunai, and Anko's club hung, each a brilliant silvery-blue.

Lifting them off the wall, I handed them to my wives, sliding the shorter sword beside the other longer one on my back.

"Cameia, are you able to appraise the materials we have? Do it accurately as well."

Handing her the scroll, she sat down at the table, withdrawing the materials and inspection each one, creating piles on the empty surface.

Watching her sort everything, Dragaia sat beside Cameia, her eyes wide as she stared intently at the materials.

"Whoa... that's a pretty big feather!"

Anko chuckled, observing the woman with mirth in her eyes.

"I can't remember the last time I got that fucked up..."

"Miss it?"

"Nah, not really. Hangovers are the worst, and honestly? Alcohol is too tied to bad memories for me now. No need to drink to enjoy life, y'know?"

She smiled over at me, setting my heart aflutter.

Standing beside her, I rested my head on her shoulder, Kurenai standing on Anko's other side and leaning into her as well.

"I love you both, so, so much..."

Kurenai and I stared at Anko in surprise, not used to her being so... open and honest.

"We love you as well..."

Anko smiled at Kurenai, and I placed a quick peck on her cheek.

"No fair~ I wanna smooch too!"

Dragaia tried to get to her feet, only to be pushed back down by Cameia.

"Stay seated; you're drunk."

"And~?"

"Stay down."

"No."

"Dragaia. Stay. Down."

"Make me~!"

"Fine."

Cameia snapped her fingers, creating strands of solid darkness chakra, tying Dragaia up.

"Huh..."

The smith strained agains the ropes, only to pout as she realized she couldn't break free.

"Hmph. Fine. I'll stay here. Boring. Stupid. Hmph!"

So Dragaia was this kind of drunk...

Hopefully she doesn't drink a lot... praying for her future mate.

Once Camia sorted through all of the materials, she said "Dragaia, I'm trading this for thirty ingots. Is that fine?"

"Hmph. Hate you."

"Dragaia..."

"Yes, yes, now go~! I have some more wine to drink~!"

She grinned at the pot on the table, making all of us sigh.

Cameia released the woman, leading us outside as she placed the ingots into the scroll.

As we stepped outside we were greeted with the sight of Hailyte and Sacoybe, the two Priestess' staring intently at Cameia.

"Come."

The older woman gestured for us to follow, which we did.

Entering the large temple, we walked towards the throne that the Chieftess lounged on, her golden eyes narrowed as she stared at Cameia.

"Cameia... what are your intentions, hmm?"

"To stay with my mate, Texanta. That is my intention."

"Mate..?"

The surrounding Priestess' stared at me in surprise, before returning their gazes to Cameia.

"Are you sure about this, Cameia? Do you really want to leave?"

"I do. Sure, I grew up here, but I never... felt anything here. Now, however, I feel something with her... So I'll go. And you can't stop me, Texanta. You know that."

"Aye, I do know... Hah... well, you know how it works, old friend. You have two choices. Pick."

Cameia turned to look at me, before saying "What needs to be hunted?"

"Not a creature this time, but Uymeia. She fled from the village once her sister was killed, and considering her families past... well, I don't won't her creeping around this forest."

"Uymeia... from the family that utilizes Shiki?"

The Chieftess nodded, adding "Uymeia was never perfect with their control, but even a child with a kunai is dangerous; whether it is to themselves or to others is always a mystery."

"Where is she?"

Pursing her lips, Chieftess Texanta looked towards Hailyte, who stepped forwards to say "Off to the west. Likely in the furtherest temple from here. That is the direction she fled, but we haven't seen her since then..."

"Very well. However, once this is over, I am leaving."

Texanta smiled mirthlessly at Cameia, sighing as she nodded.

"Fine, fine. Leave us, live your life. However, you need to do this first."

Cameia nodded, before taking me by the hand and leading me outside.

Anko and Kurenai were behind us, and we approached our house.

"Cameia, what was the other option for you to leave?"

The expressionless woman looked away, muttering "Spread my seed among a few healthy mates to produce a replacement."

"That's..."

"Primitive. Effective though."

I glared at Anko, who just shrugged.

"Well, how hard is killing this Uymeia going to be?"

"Easy. Her individual strenght is mediocre, however she has a technique thats tricky."

Entering the house, we all sat at the table, and Cameia continued.

"She can create Shikigami, a kind of spirited puppet. Their family can funnel a roaming spirit into a puppet of their creation, and it does whatever they command them to. The theory was to create an unending, unkillable army of puppets to send out into the forest to keep the village safe."

Anko scoffed, crossing her arms as she said "That obviously didn't happen."

"No, no it didn't. Using a Shikigami placed a strain on the soul, and too many at the same time..."

Pausing, Cameia stared at my right arm, saying "Fractures the soul, leaving them insane."

"Well, good thing I'm getting my arm healed huh?"

The other two nodded, while Cameia continued to stare at me.

Yet again being pinned under her golden eyes, I froze as my heart sped up, asking "W-What?"

For a few moments she remained silent, before getting up.

"We should get something to eat then go to sleep. That temple is around a half day away..."

Kurenai and I nodded as Cameia moved towards the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

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This'll be the last stretch for the Lands of Demons.

Thinking it through, I was honestly wanting to get back to Konoha more than anything else, so if this chapter seemed rushed, sorry.

The whole Uymeia thing will take a chapter or two, then the return will be its own chapter, meaning we should be back in Konoha around Chapter 84~

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