106. Hotsprings Summit

(Powerstones for a Double Release!, Also tell me how you are liking TCE so far, this arc should be the second best in the entire series(If not the best), so do be thrilled 🔥)

Shikamaru continued, "So, even if the guy your clone killed accidentally didn't hesitate to try and kill what he thought was a child barely six years old, he still had a small chance of redemption. But in the heat of battle, we don't always have the luxury of making perfect moral choices."

"I see," Sora replied, his expression thoughtful. The weight of responsibility settled on his small shoulders, a stark reminder of the path he had chosen as a ninja.

As they finished their discussion, the tracking team arrived to take away the prisoners. Shikamaru gave them a brief oral report about the encounter, his tactical mind already analyzing and learning from the experience.

With the prisoners secured and the immediate threat dealt with, the team regrouped around their cart. The skirmish had cost them valuable time, and they needed to adjust their plans accordingly.

"Alright," Shikamaru addressed the group, his tone back to its usual lazy drawl. "We've lost some time with this little detour. We need to make up for it if we want to reach the Land of Hot Springs before nightfall."

Ino nodded in agreement. "Should we increase the chakra output to the cart? I can take the next shift if you're tired, Shikamaru."

"No need," Shikamaru replied, a hint of a smirk on his face. "I've been working on an upgrade to the seal system. It should allow us to maintain our current speed while using less chakra. We'll be able to go for longer without needing to switch."

Sora's eyes lit up at the mention of seal upgrades. "Ooh, can I take a look? Maybe I can help optimize it further!"

Shikamaru considered for a moment, then shrugged. "Sure, why not? Your input could be valuable. Just don't add any exploding tags or turn it into a prank, got it?"

Sora put on his most innocent expression, which fooled absolutely no one. "Who, me? I would never!"

As they all climbed back into the cart, Choji spoke up, his voice muffled by a mouthful of chips. "Hey, Shikamaru, do you think we'll run into more trouble before we reach our destination?"

Shikamaru sighed, leaning back in his seat as he began channelling chakra into the cart's seal system. "It's troublesome, but we should be prepared for anything. The fact that we were attacked by a fairly large group suggests that word of our mission might have leaked somehow."

Ino frowned at this. "But how? The mission details were supposed to be confidential."

"Information has a way of spreading, especially in the ninja world," Shikamaru mused. "It's possible that Dorobou Hikari has spies or informants keeping an eye on Konoha's movements. We'll need to be extra cautious from here on out. or maybe I am overthinking and this was a coincidence."

As the cart began to move, picking up speed rapidly, Sora was already examining the seal system with intense concentration. His small fingers traced the intricate patterns, his mind working overtime to understand and improve upon Shikamaru's design.

"Hey, Shikamaru," Sora piped up after a few minutes of silent study. "What if we incorporated a fluctuating chakra frequency into the seal? It could make it harder for sensor-type ninja to detect us from a distance."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, impressed by the suggestion. "Not bad, kid. That could work. How would you implement it without disrupting the main power flow?"

As Sora launched into a detailed explanation, complete with excited hand gestures and the occasional diagram drawn in the air with chakra, Ino and Choji exchanged amused glances. Despite the seriousness of their mission and the recent battle, Sora's enthusiasm was infectious.

The cart sped through the landscape, its occupants a curious mix of lazy genius, mind-walker, gentle giant, and pint-sized prodigy. As they travelled, they discussed strategy, shared snacks (mostly courtesy of Choji), and prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead in the Land of Hot Springs.

As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange and pink, Team Shikamaru crossed the border into the Land of Hot Springs. The air grew warmer and more humid, carrying the faint scent of mineral-rich water and blooming flowers.

"We're here," Shikamaru announced, bringing the cart to a gradual stop. "Let's set up camp for the night and start our search in the morning. Sora, can you set up a perimeter with your seals?"

Sora nodded eagerly, already pulling out scrolls and ink from his seemingly endless supply of hidden pockets. "Leave it to me! I'll have this place locked down tighter than Tsunade-baachan's sake stash!"

As Sora scampered off to secure their campsite, Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru began the familiar routine of setting up tents and preparing a meal. The mission to capture Dorobou Hikari was just beginning, and they would need all their skills, teamwork, and ingenuity to succeed where even ANBU had failed.

As the team set up camp on the outskirts of the Land of Hot Springs, the humid air clung to their skin, carrying the faint scent of mineral-rich water and blooming flowers. The landscape around them was a lush tapestry of verdant forests interspersed with steaming pools and gently bubbling streams.

Sora, having finished setting up his intricate seal perimeter, flopped down dramatically next to the others. "Phew! It's like a sauna out here! Is the whole country this steamy?"

Shikamaru, ever the font of knowledge, began to explain. "The Land of Hot Springs, also known as Yu no Kuni(Land of Hot Water), is famous for its geothermal activity. The entire region sits atop a network of underground hot springs and volcanic vents, which give rise to its unique climate and geography."

Ino chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I've heard that the hot springs here have incredible healing properties! They say that ninja from all over come here to recover from injuries or replenish their chakra."

"That's right," Shikamaru nodded. "The mineral content in the water is said to have special properties that can accelerate healing and enhance chakra flow. It's one of the reasons why this land has managed to remain neutral in most ninja conflicts – both sides want access to these natural resources."

Choji, who had been quietly munching on his chips, spoke up. "I heard they have some pretty amazing food here too. Something about the volcanic soil making the vegetables extra flavorful."

Sora's eyes widened with interest. "Ooh, tell me more about the food! I'm starving after all that seal-making!"

Choji grinned, always happy to discuss cuisine. "Well, they're famous for their 'onsen tamago' – eggs cooked slowly in the hot spring water. And there's a special type of sweet potato that only grows here, called 'yu-imo'. They say it's so delicious that it once stopped a war!"

"Stopped a war? Now that's my kind of potato!" Sora exclaimed, his imagination running wild with visions of ninjas battling with giant sweet potatoes.

Shikamaru cleared his throat, bringing the conversation back on track. "The Land of Hot Springs is also known for its unique political structure. Unlike the Five Great Ninja Villages, Yu no Kuni doesn't have a hidden village or a Kage. Instead, it's governed by a council of elders, each representing a major hot spring resort."

"No hidden village? Then who protects them?" Sora asked, genuinely curious.

"They have a small force of trained ninja," Shikamaru explained, "but their main defence is their neutrality and their value to other nations. Many countries have a vested interest in keeping the Land of Hot Springs safe and independent."

Ino nodded thoughtfully. "I remember learning about this in the Academy. They have a unique form of diplomacy here, don't they? Something about 'hot spring summits'?"

"That's right," Shikamaru confirmed. "The Land of Hot Springs often hosts diplomatic meetings between other nations. The idea is that the relaxing environment of the hot springs helps ease tensions and promote peaceful negotiations."

Sora snickered. "I bet it's hard to argue when you're all pruney and relaxed!"

(Danzo would be able to argue even in that condition)

As the team continued to set up camp, Shikamaru delved deeper into the history and culture of the Land of Hot Springs. "The first settlements here date back over a thousand years. Legend has it that a wandering monk discovered the healing properties of the hot springs and established the first onsen resort."

***

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