Chapter 22: We're Pretty Awesome, Aren't We?

Hidden Grass Village.

Natsume had no idea where Karin and her mother were, or even what they looked like.

There was no way to find them through normal means.

But since Karin and her mother were essentially walking blood bags, any injured ninja would definitely seek them out.

So the solution was simple:

Block the way.

The main road into the Hidden Grass Village.

Natsume, Kakuzu, and Sasori stood smack in the middle, looking as arrogant as could be.

It didn't take long before a squad of Grass ninjas appeared.

"Hey!"

The chunin in front shouted with a cocky look, "This is the Hidden Grass Village! Are you blind? How dare you block my way?"

Natsume and Kakuzu ignored him.

Sasori raised his left arm, revealing a hidden cannon.

"???"

All four Grass ninjas wore confused expressions.

Has the world changed?

The next second, the cannon fired a cylinder.

It exploded overhead, turning into a rain of needles.

Cold, icy rain lashed their faces.

All four screamed and fell, blood pouring from every exposed patch of skin.

"Get lost!"

Natsume barked, "Don't ruin our mood."

The four scrambled away, fleeing for their lives.

"We just need to follow them now," Natsume said, watching their retreating figures.

Kakuzu and Sasori found it a hassle, but if you pay them, they'll do the job.

The Grass ninja squad rushed back to the village, heading straight for a wooden hut.

"Hurry, let me bite!"

The chunin said anxiously.

He'd realized Sasori's needles were poisoned. In just a few minutes, half his body was numb.

He lunged at a pale, beautiful woman—but skidded to a halt, freezing.

He'd spotted Natsume and his companions again.

This time, Sasori didn't hold back. His scorpion tail flashed, impaling the chunin and spraying blood everywhere.

The three remaining ninjas tried to run, but couldn't escape, and were swiftly taken out.

The beautiful woman turned white as a sheet, trembling in the corner.

But she didn't run.

Her newborn daughter lay on the bed nearby.

Besides, after seeing Sasori's strength, she knew escape was impossible.

All she could do was pray they'd spare her.

After all, they had no grudge against her.

Natsume turned around and his eyes lit up.

She was quite pretty.

You could tell by looking at Karin.

Of course, pretty wasn't the important thing.

After living with Tsunade for so long, Natsume was mostly immune to beautiful women.

What impressed him most was Karin's mother's aura.

Two words: delicate and pitiable.

With her pale face and teary, terrified eyes, it was even more obvious.

Given her tragic background, pitiful didn't even begin to cover it.

"Where's your husband?"

Natsume glanced at the baby and asked.

"He's dead," the woman replied shakily.

She didn't sound sad—her trembling was fear of Sasori and the others.

Which made sense. In the Hidden Grass Village, where would she find true love?

"Take your daughter and come with me."

Natsume didn't ask her name—he worried if she said "Uzumaki," Kakuzu and Sasori would get suspicious.

The woman froze, not knowing what to do.

"What? Are you that attached to the Grass Village?"

Natsume saw her hesitation and distrust. "You don't want your daughter to end up like you, do you?"

Her heart clenched.

Her life was already miserable.

If she stayed, her daughter would suffer the same fate.

Things couldn't get worse. She might as well go with these mysterious strangers—maybe there was hope.

"Someone's coming," Kakuzu said, glancing at the door. "Quite a few. All ninja."

Karin and her mother were valuable—like medical-nin. Of course there'd be people watching.

And since this was the village core, any trouble would be noticed fast.

"I'll leave it to you two," Natsume said calmly.

After all, it was Kakuzu and Sasori.

The three of us are just that awesome.

Unless we run into someone with plot armor, we can walk all over the ninja world.

Hidden Grass Village, you're really weak.

But the woman looked terrified and pitiful.

The next moment, her eyes went wide.

Kakuzu kicked the door open, formed hand seals, and black tendrils sprouted from his shoulders.

A mask appeared among the tendrils—then a blast of fire.

In an instant, everything outside the hut was engulfed in fierce flames—except for the building where Natsume's group stood.

Ninjas she knew turned into roast corpses.

She froze for a few seconds, then grabbed Karin and followed.

Smart people know when to yield.

Hesitating now would only be insulting these three's strength.

Who knew what they'd do to a defenseless woman and her baby?

Obedience was the safest bet.

Natsume walked ahead.

Kakuzu and Sasori flanked him, and any Grass ninja who got close died within seconds.

The woman clutched Karin, shivering and praying.

The four of them and the baby left the Hidden Grass Village without a hitch.

No one chased them—everyone had been slaughtered or scared off by Kakuzu and Sasori.

After a few rounds, the Grass ninjas realized the three were invincible.

"Got any smoother puppets?" Natsume glanced at baby Karin. "I'll pay extra—200,000 ryo."

Sasori's soulless eyes flicked, and he casually tossed out a puppet.

It looked like some kind of reptile.

At least it was rideable.

Sasori wasn't as obsessed with money as Kakuzu, but since he'd joined Akatsuki, he had to do his part.

Besides, making puppets cost money.

They were like figurines or Gundam models—expensive.

How could he refuse free cash?

The woman was surprised.

200,000 ryo wasn't a small sum.

Especially in the poor Grass Village, it was a fortune.

But Natsume handed it over without blinking, showing how rich he was.

"Come on up," Natsume said, climbing onto the puppet and waving.

She didn't hesitate and climbed up, too.

Panels rose around them, blocking all wind and sand.

Natsume's eyes sparkled.

Now this was a 200,000 ryo ride.

"What's your name?"

"Uzumaki Hinae," she replied, then nervously asked, "Sir, what do you plan to do with us?"

"Relax. I won't treat you like the Grass Village did."

Natsume waved it off. "You'll find out in a couple of days."

Uzumaki Hinae didn't dare ask more—she just waited anxiously for her fate.

She could only hope he was telling the truth.

If she could escape the Grass Village, it would be a blessing.

A moment later, Karin started to cry.

Uzumaki Hinae quickly said, "Sir, please don't blame her. My daughter was just born and must be hungry."

She blushed, turned away, and began to feed Karin.

Soon, the crying stopped—and a faint sweet scent drifted through the cramped compartment.