198. Roran

In the camp of the Roran Tribe.

A curly-haired man and a shiny bald man strolled side by side along the camp's single, modest street and curiously glanced around.

As he walked, Uchiha Gin noticed that, despite the people here living with little material wealth, their faces were filled with smiles, and their words expressed a love for life.

It moved him to appreciate the simplicity and kindness of the people here.

"Mr. Gin, you truly live up to your reputation as a great traveler! Your experience is extraordinary!"

Throughout their walk, the knowledgeable Uchiha Gin told Shamon, his guide, all about the cultures and customs of other nations, impressing the young man, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity.

He gazed at Uchiha Gin with newfound respect.

"Haha! It’s nothing, really~"

After all, Uchiha Gin had learned all this from TV and manga; every story was credible, so he boasted without worry.

"Mr. Gin, when are you planning to leave? We could help escort you."

Feigning eagerness to depart, Uchiha Gin purchased some supplies, putting Shamon, who was still intrigued, at ease.

Gin then said, "Boss, wrap up that little figurine for me. Um… I’ll set out once I’ve gathered enough supplies, after all…”

He gestured at a rustic doll displayed on a stall, turning back with a look of consideration. Then, as if embarrassed, he muttered in a hesitant tone.

"After all, what?"

Seeing Uchiha Gin hesitate, the naive Shamon pressed for more, completely unaware that he was stepping into a trap.

Sigh "I didn’t really want to say it, but since you’re asking, Shamon brother, I’ll tell you."

Uchiha Gin paused and lowered his voice, adopting a mysterious expression.

"Let me clarify first—I don’t mean to offend anyone. But as you know, I’m a traveler, interested only in secret tales from various lands."

Noticing Shamon’s confused expression, Uchiha Gin stifled his amusement and continued.

"No offense, but, to be honest, your tribe doesn’t seem like the kind of place with interesting secrets. So I’m not all that interested in staying here. My next stop… I’ll probably return to my homeland in the Land of Fire to let my family know I’m safe."

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

A simple reverse psychology tactic had him hooked.

This trick worked every time on innocent natives.

Veins pulsed on Shamon’s shiny forehead as it flushed red with embarrassment. He glared at the seemingly sincere Uchiha Gin, feeling a struggle within.

“Shamon, don’t take it personally. If you ever visit my homeland, I’ll show you the special features there.”

With a friendly pat on Shamon’s shoulder, Uchiha Gin’s genuine expression softened his anger, increasing the young man’s inner conflict.

“Actually, Mr. Gin, Roran has its own secrets that have been passed down for generations.”

In the end, Shamon, too inexperienced to recognize Gin’s tactic, revealed the secrets of his homeland.

“Really? Tell me about them~”

Uchiha Gin’s intense curiosity encouraged Shamon’s pride, who then pointed toward the center of the camp, inviting him to follow.

“Legend has it that a thousand years ago, the Land of Wind was a vast and fertile place, with a pleasant climate and abundant resources. Then, one day, a giant sacred tree sprouted here.”

As they walked, Shamon recounted the ancient tale.

Sacred tree? Could it be that tree of the otsutsuki, Ten Tails?

It was the first time he’d heard about the sacred tree from a native. Uchiha Gin frowned, realizing that Roran’s hidden Dragon Vein (Ryumyaku) might indeed have a connection to the Otsutsuki clan.

“At first, people gathered to worship the sight, thinking it was a divine manifestation. But over time, they noticed that while the tree grew lush, the fertile land around it withered, as if a plague was sweeping the entire Land of Wind.”

Walking ahead, Shamon didn’t notice Uchiha Gin’s strange expression, assuming he was awestruck by the tale. So he continued.

“Unable to adapt, many people left their homeland, while a small group stayed to endure the desert’s hardships.”

Shamon suddenly stopped, raising his hand to point ahead. Following his direction, Uchiha Gin looked up to see a towering black spire.

The spire was encircled by a thick stone wall, with several robust guards patrolling the entrance, showing that this was Roran’s forbidden ground.

“What’s this?”

Even without using his enhanced perception, Uchiha Gin could feel the deep power emanating from the tower, its energy creating ripples in the surrounding space.

“Perhaps, moved by their persistence, the gods took action. One morning, everyone awoke to find that the once-massive sacred tree had disappeared. If not for the deep, gaping pit left in the earth, they’d have thought it was just a long nightmare.”

After a brief pause before the tower, Shamon led Uchiha Gin to the entrance, where the guards, recognizing them, respectfully stepped aside.

“Shamon, it seems you’re more than just the captain of the guard, aren’t you?”

Sensing the guards around him, Uchiha Gin realized these weren’t as weak as the ones outside the camp; at least these were at jōnin level. He was surprised that such a barren place could hide so many skilled warriors. Looking at Shamon ahead, he feigned a “shocked” tone and asked slowly, “I had intended to interact with you as just a regular person, but I didn’t expect this suspicion in return.”

Shamon’s face, full of excitement, showed his growing smugness, and he led Uchiha Gin proudly into the black tower. Turning to face him, he raised both arms and loudly proclaimed, “Alright! No more pretending. I’ll lay it out for you—I, Shamon, am a protector of Roran, part of the Blue Dragon Clan that has guarded the Dragon Vein for generations!”

Wow, Shamon, you’re really caught up in this roleplay, thought Uchiha Gin, rolling his eyes inwardly.

“Wow, I had no idea! Shamon, you’re part of the Blue Dragon Clan! My respect to you~”

But, as a good conversational partner, Uchiha Gin played along, clapping respectfully.

“Heh, so our clan’s fame has already reached other countries.”

Shamon accepted the praise with satisfaction, his pride almost radiating from him.

“Well, actually, I hadn’t heard of it before, but it sounds impressive.”

I’m just being honest here.

“Pff! Then why are you clapping?”

Shamon almost lost his temper but calmed himself down.

Annoyed, he confronted Uchiha Gin, who quickly used his “buddy” card to ease the tension.

“Come on, buddy. So, what happened after the sacred tree disappeared?”

Uchiha Gin’s friendly tone eased Shamon’s annoyance.

“Ahem… Mr. Gin, take a look at this pit. This is the very spot where the sacred tree vanished, leaving behind this relic.”

Seeing Shamon so eager to show him, Uchiha Gin leaned over to look into the pit, noticing a faint blue light at the bottom, radiating a mysterious power even from this distance.

“What’s that down there?” Uchiha Gin asked, pointing at the blue glow with a frown.

“After the sacred tree disappeared, those who remained here discovered a powerful force in this pit, nourishing the surrounding land and creating oases. Out of gratitude, the people protected this pit and built a camp over it, eventually forming a tribe.”

Shamon pointed to murals inside the black tower that depicted people protecting the pit, thriving under this energy’s blessing. But what surprised Uchiha Gin the most was the dragon at the mural’s center, with countless Roran ancestors kneeling at its feet.

“Shamon, what’s the story behind that dragon?”

“Mr. Gin, that’s the power that resides below the pit. Since it often appears in the form of a dragon, we in Roran call it the Dragon Vein.”

So, the Dragon Vein is connected to the Otsutsuki clan’s sacred tree. I wonder if it’s a companion force to the tree or if it emerged as a natural counter to the tree’s invasion.

“To prevent the Dragon Vein’s power from being coveted by evil forces, our ancestors instructed future generations to guard this place for all time.”

After sharing Roran’s ancient secrets, Shamon’s small eyes shone with pride. He touched the dragon tattoo on his head and said to the thoughtful Uchiha Gin, “To mark my role as a guardian of the Dragon Vein, I had this dragon tattoo done. Cool, right?”

“Uh, it suits you well.”

Uchiha Gin held back further comment since tastes differ, and not everyone shares the same aesthetic.

After visiting the Dragon Vein, the two didn’t linger long; this was Roran’s forbidden ground, and Shamon had already overstepped by bringing Uchiha Gin for a close look.

“So, what do you think? Isn’t our Roran secret just as fascinating as other nations’?”

As they exited the black tower, Shamon, his head bare and brow lifted proudly, gave Uchiha Gin a wide smile.

“It’s incredible! I’ll make sure to record this. When Roran becomes a tourist hotspot, don’t forget to give me a share of the profits~”