Chapter 337: The Wandering Miko
Iwagakure, the Land of Earth.
Under the moonlight, a lone figure darted swiftly through the dense forest.
After an indeterminate period of time, she finally stopped before an unremarkable tree. With cautious precision, she surveyed her surroundings, then reached into a small, hidden tree hole and retrieved a scroll.
Using the faint moonlight, she unrolled the scroll and read its contents:
"End of mission in Iwagakure. Hurry to the Land of Rain."
Once she had finished, she set the scroll ablaze, watching as it burned to ash.
"Finally, I can leave," she murmured. "But when will I be able to go back?"
Her gaze lifted southeastward, toward Konoha. After a moment of quiet reflection, she gathered her emotions and turned away, heading back to her lodging.
Her residence was remote, chosen for convenience and discretion. The small apartment building lacked even basic lighting on its perimeter.
With the sound of her key turning, she opened the door. A card slipped to the ground, and she bent down to pick it up before entering the room.
After switching on the lights, the room's simplicity was revealed. Apart from the essential furniture, it was sparsely furnished, embodying practicality over comfort.