Chapter 96
As the village continued to grow, it became clear that expansion was inevitable. Relying solely on the nearby lands for food was no longer sustainable. Every month, people had to be sent to other villages to purchase supplies, which was not only troublesome but also a significant drain on manpower.
Zixu had originally planned to announce the village's existence to the wider shinobi world soon, but he had been waiting for the right opportunity. However, before that moment arrived, he was once again called away on a mission, causing the matter to be put on hold.
Now, that opportunity had finally come.
A figure clad in a black cloak adorned with red clouds loomed in the night sky, like a ghost drifting through the darkness.
He sat atop a massive bird sculpted from pure white clay. The avian construct hovered silently above the village, its beady eyes surveying the land below. Small white spiders rained down from the bird's wings, creeping toward the forest's edge.
Perched on the bird was a peculiar figure—short, barely reaching 1.3 meters. His exposed skin was dry and cracked, resembling the withered flesh of a dying old man.
"This should be the place. Is it hidden by a genjutsu? Let's go down and take a closer look, hmm." The figure muttered to himself as he controlled the clay bird to descend.
The wind from their descent blew away the wide-brimmed hats they wore, finally revealing their faces.
The short man's appearance was unsettling, to say the least. His complexion was an unnatural, ashen yellow, and the lower half of his face was concealed by a black cloth. His narrow, lifeless eyes gave off an eerie aura.
The most striking feature, however, was his bald head, where a few curved, blade-like protrusions jutted out. His wrinkled scalp twitched sporadically, making him look even more grotesque. Anyone seeing him for the first time would surely lose their appetite.
The other figure was far more normal by comparison. His unruly blond hair gave him an energetic appearance, though his left eye was concealed beneath his long bangs, adding a nonchalant, rebellious flair.