Chapter 32: Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain!

Uchiha Nami looks cold, but Shita Gen-ichi finds him actually easier to get along with than Yamanaka En. Regardless of one's strength, as long as one has a standout quality, it is easy to coexist with him. Of course, Uchiha Nami is still quite arrogant; he generally disdains those he considers beneath him, though he would not go out of his way to bully them.

At this moment, Sakumo Hatake is also very satisfied with Shita Gen-ichi’s performance. The reason he agreed to their sparring match was, in reality, to allow Shita Gen-ichi to demonstrate his strength in front of Sarutobi Shinnosuke and the others. In the world of ninjas, strength has always been the ultimate standard, and it is through strength that one earns respect. Letting Shita Gen-ichi show his capabilities is beneficial for this mission. At the same time, it is also a way to use the clans of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to spread word of Shita Gen-ichi's prowess to others.

The night passed without incident. The following day, Shita Gen-ichi and his team set off again, crossing the border into the Land of Rivers. By evening, they reached the mining area. Standing on a neighboring hill, Shita Gen-ichi could see the area below illuminated with bright lights. Beyond the rows of wooden cabins that clearly served as living quarters, there were many lights and structures at the entrance of the mine, with figures moving in and out. Excavation was still underway.

Turning his head, he saw a Konoha ninja in a green vest handing over duties to Sakumo Hatake. A moment later, Sakumo returned and told Shita Gen-ichi and the others, "Split into two groups. First, familiarize yourselves with the trap zones, patrol routes, and guard posts."

Shita Gen-ichi and the others nodded, and the two squads followed their respective Konoha ninja guides. The mission was to protect the mining site from attack, which meant establishing a defensive depth on the perimeter rather than just huddling inside the site. The original squad had already laid out trap zones, planned patrol routes, and established both visible and hidden sentry posts. Shita Gen-ichi’s team spent the next two hours familiarizing themselves with these arrangements.

When they returned to the mining site, representatives of the wealthy merchants had already prepared hot water, food, and even a few entertainers. It must be said that merchants certainly know how to enjoy themselves; the fact that they brought entertainers along to a rugged mining operation was enviable. However, Sakumo Hatake flatly refused the entertainers. After washing up and eating a hearty dinner, the team rested in their wooden cabins. The formal handover would take place the next morning.

Shita Gen-ichi did not rest early, however. Instead, he spent two hours studying the Nine Hand Seals of the Mantra, recording his insights in a notebook before finally lying down. The night remained peaceful.

At eight o'clock the next morning, after breakfast, Shita Gen-ichi and his team officially took over from the previous squads to begin their protection mission. High atop a large tree, Shita Gen-ichi stood with a monocular telescope, scanning the distance. The vantage point was excellent; no one could approach the mine from any direction without being spotted. Of course, the dense vegetation of the forest meant that even with a telescope, it was difficult to see movement beneath the canopy. However, several clear buffer zones had been cleared around the perimeter of the mine, ensuring an unobstructed view of those areas.

This was not foolproof, as one could not stare indefinitely, making this merely one of many observation points. Sakumo and the others had their own duties—patrolling routes or inspecting traps, which had to be checked periodically in case wild animals tripped them. Additionally, both squads included sensory ninjas like Yamanaka En, who performed periodic sweeps to prevent enemy infiltration. This was a simple yet multi-dimensional defense.

Such tasks were incredibly monotonous. Shita Gen-ichi’s stationary observation meant spending half the day at the top of a tree. Fortunately, he was preoccupied with the Nine Hand Seals, so he did not feel bored. As lunchtime approached, Uchiha Nami appeared. "Gen-ichi, let me take over for you."

Shita Gen-ichi lowered his telescope, nodded with a smile, and descended from the treetop like a bird. After taking ten minutes to grab a quick meal, he returned to relieve Uchiha Nami so he could continue his shift while Nami went on patrol.

"If only I had the Byakugan..." Watching Uchiha Nami leave, Shita Gen-ichi realized just how useful and convenient the Hyuga clan's Byakugan truly was. One could simply sit there and peer for miles without all this exhausting effort.

The first day passed without any surprises. The next morning, Shita Gen-ichi watched as a series of cargo wagons left the mine, transporting the initial smelted iron ore. The wagons were horse-drawn. Shita Gen-ichi felt speechless. The technological level of the ninja world was actually quite high—air conditioning and refrigerators had existed for a long time, and the use of electricity had been popularized as far back as the era of Tobirama Senju. Konoha Hospital was filled with electronic medical equipment; in Shita Gen-ichi's view, it wasn't much different from the modern world he came from. He had even taken graduation photos and group portraits with Sakumo and the others. Cameras, video recorders, and radios were all readily available. In the future, the Hidden Cloud Village would even develop a Chakra-powered star-destroying cannon.

Yet, for some reason, nobles in the ninja world still traveled in palanquins, and cargo was still transported in horse-drawn carts. There wasn't a single sign of cars, motorcycles, or bicycles. Perhaps it had to do with the terrible road conditions? Watching the wagons trundle away, Shita Gen-ichi felt a sense of helplessness. A thought occurred to him: if he were to introduce bicycles or cars to the ninja world, would it be worth the effort?

"Cars might be difficult, but bicycles... that should work." The roads in Konoha were very flat; they were perfect for cycling. Shita Gen-ichi’s eyes lit up slightly. It seemed like a viable venture. He could earn money to fund a research base or perhaps invest in Orochimaru's experiments. He decided that once this mission was over, he would give it a try. Ninjas might not need them, but the common people certainly did. In fact, even within the village, ninjas could use them too.

Before he knew it, the morning was nearly gone. "Huh?" Suddenly, Shita Gen-ichi frowned. Through his telescope, he saw a few disheveled figures running toward the mine along the main road. They appeared to be people from the mining operation. Lowering the telescope, Shita Gen-ichi immediately sounded his whistle—three long blasts and one short. It was a warning. A follow-up whistle indicated the direction.

Sakumo Hatake and Yamanaka En, positioned at the outermost perimeter, heard the signal. Sakumo immediately formed hand seals, creating a shadow clone to depart. Not long after, Shita Gen-ichi received a summoning whistle and immediately created a shadow clone of his own, while his original body remained in place to monitor the surroundings.

Under a large tree, Shita Gen-ichi’s clone appeared before Sakumo and the others. "Sensei!"

Sakumo nodded and said, "The convoy transporting the iron ore has been attacked. There are ninjas involved."

Upon hearing this, a thought immediately crossed Shita Gen-ichi’s mind: "A diversion to draw us away!"