Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

Everyone traveling through the desert winds wore thin sand cloaks to shield themselves from the blowing grit.

Visibility in the yellow sandstorms was terrible.

Without Maki guiding them, Naruto and the others would likely have lost their way long ago.

"We're here! Right up ahead!"

Walking at the front, Maki suddenly brightened and pointed toward a settlement emerging through the swirling sand.

"This is the final village on our planned route."

"If there's still no trace of Akatsuki here, then they've probably already left the Land of Wind."

"This is the last one?"

"Are there really that few villages and towns in the Land of Wind?"

Naruto stepped forward, squinting at the outline of buildings ahead.

He couldn't help asking.

Compared to Konoha, this place was tiny.

Even the small villages around the Land of Fire were larger than the settlement before them.

Like the other villages they had seen in the Land of Wind, it had been built against towering stone cliffs.

According to Maki, this helped block the sandstorms.

There was usually an underground water source nearby as well.

"Well... you've seen our country's environment during the journey."

Maki scratched her cheek awkwardly.

"We simply don't have many places suitable for large settlements."

"Nothing like the Land of Fire."

"Let's head inside first."

"The sandstorms have been getting worse these past few days."

Mei suggested.

The group entered the village.

Protected by the rocky walls, the winds couldn't reach inside.

For the first time in days, they could remove their sand cloaks.

As usual, they split up and spent several days investigating.

On the final day, they regrouped in an inconspicuous tea shop after finishing their inquiries.

"Well?"

"Any results?"

Naruto looked around.

Hinata shook her head first.

"Nothing on my side."

"The answers were the same as before."

"No one has seen the people we're looking for."

"...Same for us."

Sasuke's response was equally brief.

Naruto sighed.

"We've been searching the Land of Wind for more than three months now."

"It's completely different from the Land of Water."

"There aren't even rumors of Akatsuki."

"Forget finding them—we can't even find information about the people we're looking for."

"Things really aren't going well."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"I think they probably received advance warning."

"The guy who escaped from Kakashi-sensei knew his teammate would eventually be interrogated."

"There's a good chance they withdrew from the Land of Wind beforehand."

"Looks like this mission is going to end without results."

Maki sighed as well.

When the Kazekage had assigned her this mission, he'd clearly hoped they would uncover Akatsuki's whereabouts.

Looks like she would be disappointing him.

"Speaking of which—"

Mei smiled as she sipped her tea.

"Didn't your Kakashi-sensei say he'd come join us?"

"We've practically reached the final stop, and there's still no sign of him."

"It's Kakashi-sensei."

Naruto shrugged.

"The King of Tardiness."

Investigation missions usually had deadlines.

This mission had been scheduled for six months from the moment Kakashi handed over leadership.

They had already spent nearly half a year in the Land of Water.

Add the three months in the Land of Wind plus travel time, and they were approaching the mission's limit.

The Land of Wind was vast and sparsely populated.

Villages capable of supporting daily life were scattered around oases.

Because of that, following the route arranged by Maki had been the most efficient method.

If Akatsuki had truly been active within the country, it would've been difficult for them to leave no traces.

After all, unless they were monsters, they would still need supplies.

And supplies meant contact with settlements.

Unless...

They could survive indefinitely out in the endless desert.

If that were the case, only Sunagakure itself could conduct such a search.

Even if Naruto's team searched for five years, they might never cover the entire country.

"So?"

Maki clapped her hands.

"You've come all this way."

"How about treating the next couple of days as a vacation?"

"Take a look around and enjoy yourselves?"

Mei glanced at her.

She's actually pretty kind.

Maki was both their guide and Sunagakure's observer.

Technically, once the mission concluded, her job should have been to escort them back to the border.

Yet she could clearly see how disappointed Naruto's group was.

This suggestion came from genuine concern.

"Well..."

Naruto was obviously tempted.

"You're the captain."

"You decide."

Mei took another sip of tea.

The Land of Wind's environment was awful.

Its tea, however, was surprisingly good.

"I'll continue searching a bit longer."

Sasuke glanced toward Naruto.

"Just don't forget."

"I won't."

Naruto answered seriously.

"I've remembered the whole way here."

Then he immediately turned toward Maki and Hinata with a grin.

"Let's go explore!"

Naturally, Hinata had no objections.

So under Maki's guidance, Naruto and Hinata set out to experience the local culture.

Eventually, Maki brought them to one of the village's busiest areas.

Unlike the previous settlements they had visited, this place was lively and crowded.

Merchants wrapped in sand cloaks stood beside wagons and camels, displaying their goods while greeting customers with cheerful smiles.

Large signs had been erected nearby, listing prices and trade information.

The system was simple and efficient.

There were too many travelers for constant verbal negotiations.

"Looks like we're lucky!"

Maki's eyes lit up.

"A merchant caravan must have arrived recently."

"The sandstorms have delayed them, so they're staying here for a few days."

"You can often find really interesting things when that happens."

As someone born and raised in the Land of Wind, Maki had always loved visiting villages whenever merchant caravans arrived.

For a resource-poor nation like theirs, merchants played an important role in converting local resources into valuable trade goods.

People naturally viewed them favorably.

The fact that the village maintained such a large open trading square instead of building shops there proved that.

The marketplace buzzed with activity.

People bought and sold goods.

Others chatted.

Some played instruments and sang.

"Wow!"

"So many wagons and camels!"

Naruto's eyes sparkled.

Clearly fascinated.

Meanwhile, Hinata allowed herself to be led by the hand through stall after stall.

Every so often, she would glance down at their intertwined fingers.

A sweet warmth filled her heart.

Seeing this, Maki smiled knowingly.

Then she quietly wandered off toward another stall.

After all—

Third-wheeling too hard was never popular.

Before long, Naruto found himself drawn toward one of the larger merchant groups.

The caravan was impressive.

Among its members was a red-haired songstress seated nearby with a harp in her hands.

As her fingers gently plucked the strings, a beautiful melody drifted through the marketplace.

"From atop Loulan rises a radiant light,

The glorious sun shines bright,

Flowers dance in splendid bloom,

Passing down the light within the spiral's embrace..."

Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/AiraTales7 (replace @ with a)