Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

The Five-Tails Jinchūriki, Han, left Iwa Village accompanied by three Iwa-nin in a standard squad formation.

A White Zetsu clone tracked the team closely. Although it was unclear what their mission was or the strength of the three Iwa-nin, their direction was clear, though their ultimate destination remained unknown.

Clang!

A heavy, bright red suit of armor covered Han's muscular frame, producing a grating sound with each movement.

It was rare for ninjas to wear armor since it hindered movement and created noise whenever they moved, a loud alert to any nearby enemies of their location.

For a ninja, such noise was a significant disadvantage.

Instead of wearing a standard ninja vest suitable for combat, Han wore a cumbersome crimson armor that revealed his blunt personality.

The vibrant red color and frequent sounds made his attire exceptionally noticeable, drawing enemy attention immediately.

Enemies typically attacked Han first, making him a primary target. Yet, despite countless battles, Han remained unscathed and had claimed numerous enemy lives.

To Iwa Village, Han was both a Jinchūriki and a vital part of their combat force. His kill count was a testament to his prowess.

However, due to his Jinchūriki status and several instances of losing control and harming Iwa-nin, most in the village viewed Han with disdain.

The three accompanying Iwa-nin followed behind him, expressions of deep-seated dislike visible as they looked at his back.

All three were Jōnin, but low-ranked among Jōnin in terms of combat strength.

They were men of similar age, around 25 or 26, dressed in the unique yellow and red battle gear of Iwa-nin, with red headscarves—standard attire for Iwa-nin—unlike Han's.

Perhaps due to the environment, these three shared similar features: large eyes, square noses, and rugged faces.

Being assigned to Han's squad didn't sit well with them, but orders were orders. Even if unwilling, they had no choice but to comply.

Although they moved in the same direction, they kept about 30 meters behind Han.

Han wasn't oblivious to this obvious distance, but he was used to it.

He hadn't chosen to become a Jinchūriki. Even though he fought for the village, no amount of service erased his past mistakes.

Sometimes, this realization filled him with frustration, and during such moments, he could feel the unstable chakra of the tailed beast within him.

To avoid losing control again, he tried to suppress his negative emotions.

It was exhausting.

If not for Ōnoki, he might have fled the village long ago, unwilling to live this way.

The group of four left Iwa Village, passed through the Land of Takigakure, and continued toward the Land of Iron.

The Land of Iron was a firmly neutral nation without a ninja system. Long ago, ninjas agreed not to attack it, and the Land of Iron never interfered in shinobi affairs.

As a result, the Land of Iron avoided several shinobi wars. Though it lacked ninjas, its military strength wasn't weak, with a formidable group of warriors known as "samurai."

The country boasted an independent culture, governance, and military structure—a staunchly neutral nation.

Ninjas seldom entered the Land of Iron; some would even detour through the Land of Fire to avoid it.

But this time, the Iwa-nin weren't just passing through—their destination was the Land of Iron.

They were headed there to hunt snow bears, a rare species within the country.

The Land of Iron was extremely cold, covered in snow year-round, making it a true winter land with limited wildlife.

Snow bears, at the top of the food chain in the Land of Iron, were few in number.

In this icy land, each animal's meat was uniquely tender and flavorful, but snow bear meat was considered the best, especially its paw.

The Iwa-nin team was sent to hunt snow bears for the head of a wealthy family in the Land of Earth, who had a penchant for snow bear paws. Occasionally, he would offer a handsome reward to have Iwa-nin hunt one for him.

Money was a resource every ninja village needed, and this low-risk, high-reward mission was something Iwa rarely passed up. Han was chosen to lead the hunt due to his specific abilities.

Snow bears were large, powerful creatures with chakra. They could move easily through snow, and their bodies were highly resilient, with only a vulnerability to high temperatures.

Some Iwa-nin used Fire Release, but it wasn't suited for hunting snow bears; only Han's abilities could efficiently counter them.

Han's group's movements remained under White Zetsu's surveillance.

Once Ye Zi learned their general direction, he and his two companions moved faster from the Land of Fire's border, aiming to intercept the Iwa-nin squad in advance.

As Han's team approached the Land of Iron's border, Ye Zi's group was already in the Land of Iron.

Snow blanketed the ground, continuously falling from the sky, covering everything in a white shroud. Everywhere they looked, they saw only white.

The low temperature, intensified by the wind, felt like icy blades cutting against exposed skin, stinging from the cold.

Ye Zi's group wore thick white cloaks, blending seamlessly with the snowy landscape around them.

The terrain was already relatively flat, and with the snow's cover, it looked like an endless snowfield.

On the snowfield, several trees stood tall against the snow and wind, covered in snow and turned into "snow trees." Large rocks lay across the ground, similarly shrouded in white.

"What's the situation?" Ye Zi asked suddenly through the wind and snow.

Beside them, the upper half of White Zetsu's body emerged from the snow, replying calmly, "The Jinchūriki is still beyond range, but…"

"But what?" Ye Zi inquired.

"A big creature is coming."

Ye Zi glanced at him. "Explain."

Kotoe and Shin looked puzzled.

"It seems… to be a bear, and a big one," White Zetsu chuckled, pointing in a direction that was just a blur of white.

"A bear?" Ye Zi raised an eyebrow and looked in that direction, barely making out a white figure moving closer.

White Zetsu added with a slight smirk, "That big fellow seems to have taken a liking to you."

In other words, it was eyeing them as potential food.

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Currently on Chapter 405 - The Dead Still Have Secrets To Tell