Chapter 476: Whoever Dares to Touch My Puppet, I Will Scatter His Ashes

After Yagura's visit, no one else from the Mist Village disturbed Shinki, allowing the caravan to stay undisturbed for a few days.

During this time, Shinki and Pakura remained at the inn, uninterested in exploring the Mist Village.

Frankly, there wasn't much to see. The business environment in the Mist Village was even worse than that of the Sand Village. Their xenophobic tendencies severely hindered economic development.

Excessive exclusion stifles commerce, and without commerce, the economy cannot grow.

But this was the Mist Village's problem, not Shinki's. He had no interest in meddling in their affairs.

With nothing of interest in the Mist Village, Shinki used the downtime to rest. After all, the caravan's next destination was the Cloud Village, which promised more opportunities for leisure.

When the caravan finished its business in the Mist Village, they set off again, heading toward the Cloud Village.

The journey was uneventful. No one dared to attack or obstruct the caravan ship, which sailed smoothly across the sea and safely reached the Cloud Village.

The ongoing war had affected the Cloud Village as well, dampening its once-thriving commercial activity. The lack of merchants and tourists was noticeable.

Although the war caused financial losses, the Cloud Village's wealth and resources allowed it to weather the storm better than most.

The Third Raikage was absent, and the Cloud Village granted the caravan special passage. Due to the circumstances, there was no formal reception for Shinki and his team.

Despite the subdued atmosphere, Shinki and Pakura enjoyed their time in the Cloud Village. Once the caravan concluded its business there, they began their journey back to Konoha, successfully delivering the caravan to its destination without incident.

The joint caravan had traversed the Land of Wind, Water, and Lightning without harm, meeting Konoha's high standards for safety and earning the promised high commission.

With the mission completed, word quickly spread among the merchant circles about Konoha's impeccable escort services.

Back in Konoha, Shinki headed straight to the Hokage's office to finalize the commission. After the caravan representatives left, Tsunade raised an eyebrow at Shinki, who had made himself comfortable on the office sofa.

"This commission was... interesting," Tsunade remarked.

"Interesting? More like boring," Shinki retorted. "Good thing I had the foresight to bring Pakura along."

While the commission wasn't particularly challenging for Shinki, it was undeniably time-consuming.

"What are you planning now?" Shinki asked, noticing Tsunade's hesitant expression. Her demeanor suggested she was hiding something.

Tsunade coughed awkwardly, avoiding his gaze. "Nothing! It's just that... after your successful escort mission to the Cloud Village, many caravans want to issue similar high-value commissions through Konoha."

Shinki frowned. "Go on."

"These merchants are willing to pay substantial rewards, but they all have one condition: they want you to personally handle the escort missions."

Tsunade sighed. "I'm conflicted. The village is short on funds, and these commissions could greatly benefit Konoha. But I also understand it's unreasonable to overburden you."

Shinki's frown deepened. "So, you're treating me like a pack mule now?"

Tsunade hesitated, unsure how to respond.

Before she could explain further, Shinki stood up abruptly and strode toward her.

Tsunade's heart skipped a beat. "Wait! We can discuss this! I'm not forcing you to accept these commissions!"

She raised her hands defensively, fearing Shinki might lash out. Shinki wasn't one to hold back his displeasure—even against her.

To her surprise, Shinki slammed his hand on her desk and interrupted her, his voice firm.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Accept all those commissions. Don't reject a single one!"

Tsunade blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"You heard me. This kind of work brings in a lot of money and promotes the development of the village's mission system. Why would we refuse?"

"Are you... serious?" Tsunade asked, still stunned.

Shinki crossed his arms. "Do I look like I'm joking? The village needs these commissions. Send a senior ninja to oversee them, and I'll use my puppets to handle the escort missions."

He explained, "My puppets can ensure the safety of the caravans. Regular threats can be handled by the puppets and the accompanying senior ninja. If something major happens, I can possess the puppets remotely and resolve the issue myself."

Shinki smirked. "Besides, who in the ninja world dares to mess with my puppets? If anyone so much as lays a finger on them, I'll scatter their ashes!"

His confidence was palpable, and Tsunade couldn't help but feel reassured.

"So, the village can accept these commissions without worry?" she asked, her expression still a mix of surprise and relief.

"Of course," Shinki replied nonchalantly. "This isn't just about the money—it's about building Konoha's reputation. High-value tasks like these show that we're reliable and capable. It's a win-win situation."

Realizing the opportunity before her, Tsunade's worry melted into excitement. "Alright, then! I'll start organizing everything immediately."

Shinki nodded. "Good. Just make sure you don't miss any details. Efficiency is key."