Within the Land of Fire
Sakura led her three teammates and arrived at Kikyō Town in the evening.
Kikyō Town was located in the western part of the Land of Fire, bordering the Land of Rivers, with the Land of Rain to the northwest.
Kikyō Town was the first fortress the Sand ninjas would encounter when entering the Land of Fire. South of Kikyō Town lay a continuous mountain range, the Kikyō Mountains. Therefore, the fastest route for the Sand ninjas to enter the Land of Fire was through Kikyō Town.
Due to Kikyō Town's location as a necessary passage from the Land of Wind to the Land of Fire, Konoha ninjas were stationed there year-round. The town's geographical position also made its people rather tough; most civilians knew some martial arts, and some who were on good terms with ninjas even knew simple ninjutsu.
When Team 7 arrived at Kikyō Town, they were stopped by the guards at the gate. Normally, the checks weren't this strict, but Konoha was currently on high alert, so all travelers and merchant caravans were thoroughly inspected.
Sakura presented the mission scroll from the Fifth Hokage to the guards, and they told Team 7 to wait a moment.
"What the heck? Why won't they let us in?" Naruto complained, his hands behind his head.
"Konoha is currently in a state of war readiness, and this is the border, so naturally, they'll be stricter," Sakura said, understanding the situation. It was like the border guards in her previous life.
"Hmph, we're clearly wearing Konoha headbands," Naruto said, adjusting the headband on his forehead.
"A headband doesn't prove anything. Enemies can disguise themselves too. Without them, we wouldn't have a peaceful life in Konoha," Sakura explained.
While Team 7 was waiting idly, a ninja wearing a Konoha headband walked out from the gate. He had his hair tied in a ponytail, a scar on the right side of his lip, and a determined look on his face.
"Which one of you is Haruno Sakura?" the ninja asked sternly, looking at Karin and Sakura.
"I am," Sakura stepped forward and replied.
"Hello, Haruno Sakura. I am the guard captain here, Jonin Hayama Shirakumo. The Fifth Hokage has sent word about your mission. The Sand Village representatives haven't arrived yet. You may stay here for the time being. I'll inform you when the Sand Village personnel arrive," Hayama Shirakumo said.
"Thank you very much," Sakura said quickly, thanking him.
"You're welcome. It's my duty. Please follow me. There's a temporary rest stop for ninjas established by the village here," Hayama Shirakumo said in a businesslike manner.
"Okay, let's go, Naruto, Sasuke, Karin," Sakura called to her three teammates, following Hayama Shirakumo into the town.
"Captain Hayama, does this place often experience warfare?" Sakura asked, noticing that there were very few people on the town streets, not many shops, and some houses were modified and reinforced, clearly different from the buildings in the village.
"Yes. Because it's on the border, the Land of Rain is not far to the northwest, and the Land of Rivers is to the west, and further west is the Land of Wind. Therefore, we are often attacked by bandits and robbers," Hayama Shirakumo said.
"Robbers? Not ninjas?" Sakura asked curiously.
"There are ninjas among the robbers," Hayama Shirakumo replied, still maintaining his stoic demeanor.
"Oh," Sakura understood. They were probably rogue ninjas, but... "Captain Hayama, with your Jonin-level strength, can't you deal with them?"
"No, I'm not stationed here permanently. I'm here temporarily because the village is on alert," Hayama Shirakumo shook his head. "But those bandits and robbers aren't difficult to deal with. The village often sends new recruits here for training."
Sakura understood now. The village, in the end, didn't care about the life or death of this border town. It was just using it as a training ground. Its greatest value was as an early warning system and for training.
This place wasn't a natural stronghold either. Apart from the Kikyō Mountains, there was a vast plain behind the town leading to the Land of Fire, making offense and defense equally balanced.
It seemed that only when war broke out would this place be considered a fortress. Normally, the village wouldn't care about the lives of the civilians here.
No wonder the houses here were modified this way. They weren't to defend against ninjas, but to defend against bandits and robbers.
The ninjas usually stationed here were probably mostly Chunin. Jonin were a scarce resource and couldn't be stationed here long-term.
"We're here. You can rest here tonight. If the Sand Village representatives arrive, I'll send someone to inform you," Hayama Shirakumo said, pointing to a building that looked like an inn.
"Thank you, Captain Hayama," Sakura said politely.
"Mm, you're welcome," Hayama said, and then he left.
"I'm so hungry, Sakura," Karin said, rubbing her stomach.
"Hehe, finally, I don't have to cook," Naruto said, looking expectantly at the inn.
"Let's go," Sakura called to her teammates, heading towards the inn with a sign that read "Rest Stop". The name was... very straightforward.
The architectural style of this inn was different from the reinforced houses on the street. It was just an ordinary building, without any modifications or reinforcements. It was probably because it was officially established by the village, and those bandits and robbers wouldn't be so foolish as to rob this place.
"What!!!... We still have to pay!!!" Karin pointed to the headband on her head. "Look closely, we are Konoha ninjas, Konoha ninjas!"
"Stay or leave, it's your choice. If you stay here, you have to pay," the stout woman behind the counter said impatiently, waving her hand.
"Damn it... Sakura, let's go find that captain from earlier. Why do we, Konoha ninjas, have to pay to stay here? Isn't this an inn established by the village?" Karin said, fuming and about to storm out.
"Wait a minute," Sakura quickly pulled Karin back and said to the woman, "We are Konoha ninjas here on a mission. This is our proof."
The woman didn't even glance at the mission scroll and snorted coldly. "Hmph, little girl, you're barely out of diapers and you're trying to get a free stay? Even if the Hokage came here, they'd have to pay. No money, no stay. Go back where you came from."
Sakura's eyebrows twitched, and a vein popped out on her forehead. "We're not trying to get a free stay. I just want to know why Konoha ninjas have to pay here. Isn't this a rest stop established by the village?"
"Yeah, it's for ninjas, not for some blonde brat like you. Just because you wear a headband doesn't make you a ninja. You're far from it," the woman said, looking down at Sakura with disdain.
"Damn it, don't look down on people. I'm a very powerful ninja!" Naruto jumped onto the counter and said to the woman.
"Where did this wild child come from? No manners, no upbringing. Are your parents dead?" The woman looked at Naruto, who was looking down at her, with disgust.
...
"Hehe, I'm not angry... I'm not angry... I'm... Screw being angry!"
Hearing Naruto being insulted, Sakura couldn't hold back any longer. She pulled Naruto down from the counter and then punched the counter.
The counter, struck by Sakura's monstrous strength, shattered into pieces, revealing the stout middle-aged woman's obese body behind it.
Sakura rubbed her fist and surveyed the inn, "Sasuke, Karin, get ready. We're going to wreck this place."