Under the cover of night, Firefly Star and Summer Star lay prone across from the wooden hut, watching intently.
Only after Sōmi and Scorpion left did Firefly Star finally exhale a deep breath of relief.
But after a moment, he spoke again, his voice tinged with concern. "Why did they happen to head in the direction of the Star Hidden Cemetery?"
Summer Star, noticing his unease, comforted him. "It's just a coincidence. Don't overthink it. Besides, with their strength, even if they really wanted to take the star by force, the few dozen ninjas in our village wouldn't be able to stop them."
"Are those two really that powerful?" Firefly Star found it hard to imagine. Had it not been for his sudden illness, he believed that he and Summer Star together might have stood a chance against them.
"Yes," Summer Star nodded. "That young man with the black staff can freely fly on that golden cloud and possesses advanced skills in sealing techniques and medical ninjutsu. His strength is evident."
"But even more dangerous is the silent red-haired man. His eyes are filled with indifference toward life, and his Chakra reserves are immense. If he were provoked, our village would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses."
Firefly Star fell silent. If even the more powerful Summer Star said so, he could only be grateful that he hadn't acted rashly earlier. Otherwise, it might have brought disaster upon the village.
Perhaps it was best to let things end peacefully like this...
As Firefly Star sighed inwardly, Summer Star suddenly spoke up. "But what that black-haired man said does make sense. The village has suddenly lost its foundation for Chakra cultivation, and we don't have a proper method for refining Chakra..."
"If things continue this way, Hoshigakure's path will soon come to an end. Those ambitious people dreaming of making the Star Hidden Village the Sixth Great Hidden Village—how could they accept such a fate?" Summer Star furrowed her brows, recalling Sōmi's words to her earlier.
"So what? That was nothing but their unrealistic fantasy to begin with. If the price of becoming the Sixth Great Hidden Village is for every generation to sacrifice their lives, then such a title isn't worth it!" Firefly Star said with a rare sense of detachment.
He paused and turned to Summer Star. "Are you seriously considering that guy's suggestion? To leave the place where our ancestors have lived for generations?"
Summer Star shook her head, but Sōmi's casual words had already left a deep impression on her. His predictions about Hoshigakure's future seemed all too plausible.
"Let's go home and see Subaru!"
Firefly Star's words pulled Summer Star back to reality. The innocent and adorable face of her son immediately filled her mind. A loving smile spread across her face as she followed Firefly Star back toward their home.
...
In the spring breeze, the bamboo forest swayed in waves of green, its vibrant leaves falling gently onto the water's surface. Countless waterfowl flitted through the trees, their forms faintly visible. A flock of geese suddenly took flight, crossing the distant mountains before returning to this warm waterway, creating a serene and harmonious scene.
"Get up! Wake up! Are you all dead? Can't you see the ship is here?!"
A voice, as grating as a broken gong, shattered the peace.
From the distance, a merchant ship emerged, rippling through the water as it sailed out of the light mist. Upon spotting the ship, Yūsuke Miyake immediately began shouting.
He hurriedly drove the laborers toward the dock.
"Yūsuke! Looks like you've got some good luck this time—a big one's coming your way," said Kento Naganuma, squatting idly on the other side of the dock with a dozen other men. His tone was laced with sarcasm.
This particular dock in the Land of Iron was controlled by two factions, with Yūsuke Miyake and Kento Naganuma serving as the respective leaders of each side.
They had fought countless times over control of the dock before eventually agreeing to take turns receiving shipments.
"Heh, luck indeed!" Yūsuke Miyake, a man in his thirties with a sly appearance, stood of medium build. Two wisps of yellowish facial hair adorned his mouth, and his receding hairline seemed to lament his hardships.
"You always hire a bunch of kids to do the work. Can they even handle the cargo? Want me to send over some of my men to help you out?" Kento Naganuma, with his broad build and rounded belly that could rival that of a pregnant woman, exuded a fierce aura thanks to his towering stature and thick beard.
"No need, brother. Don't underestimate them. Even though they're young, they're strong!"
"Besides, the younger they start, the better for their bodies. Otherwise, how will they earn a living in the future?" Yūsuke Miyake chuckled, stroking his mustache.
Soon, the ship docked beside the pier. Once it was secured, a wide plank was lowered from the ship's side, connecting it to the dock.
One by one, heavy burlap sacks slid down the plank. Despite the dock's age, the planks were made of sturdy materials and were spacious enough to accommodate two large ships simultaneously.
The sacks landed heavily on the planks, each impact producing a dull thud.
"Move it! Start carrying! Are you all playing dead now? If you delay the unloading, forget about lunch!" Yūsuke Miyake barked at the laborers near the dock, his tone harsh.
Though he had nearly thirty laborers under his command, most of them were scrawny boys.
These boys, dressed in tattered burlap clothes and covered in grime—some even shirtless—had to muster all their strength just to lift the chest-high sacks. Their bodies trembled as they staggered to carry the sacks to a nearby clearing. Only after all the cargo was unloaded would they move it to the respective merchants.
Among them, however, was an exception—a seemingly frail-looking boy whose strength was astonishing. Even the sacks that gave grown men trouble were easily hoisted onto his shoulder. In no time, he had carried the sacks to the clearing, his speed several times faster than the average adult.
Yūsuke Miyake narrowed his eyes as he watched the boy, whose face was covered in dirt and grime. "He's really good at this..." he thought to himself. The boy was simple-minded and easy to manipulate, and his wages were the same as the other boys—less than a third of what adults earned.
However, during mealtime, his terrifying appetite always sent chills down Yūsuke Miyake's spine. He had tried giving the boy a normal portion of food, but the result was that he became as weak as the other frail boys.
After doing some calculations, Yūsuke Miyake decided it was more cost-effective to increase the boy's food supply while cutting down on adult laborers and hiring more boys. This way, his overall expenses would decrease!
Before long, the cargo was fully unloaded, and several simple wooden ladders were lowered from the deck.
The passengers aboard the merchant ship, having completed their sea journey, began to disembark one by one.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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