After several days of traveling through the dust and wind, Yue Yan and the others were finally approaching Roroku. Before officially entering the city, Minato Namikaze told everyone to take off or cover up anything with the Konoha symbol. After all, they were infiltrating another country for an investigation, so they had to be careful.
After Yue Yan took off the Konoha Forehead Protector tied to his arm, he saw Minato Namikaze handing him an animal mask.
"To avoid being recognized, it's better to wear a mask."
Hearing this, Yue Yan looked at Minato Namikaze's bright blond hair and his own distinctive black - red hair with a bit of annoyance. How many people in the ninja world have such unique hair colors? Wearing a mask doesn't seem to make much sense, does it?
Although he was complaining inwardly, Yue Yan didn't plan to argue. However, when he saw the pig - headed mask Minato Namikaze was offering, the corner of his mouth couldn't help twitching.
"Senior Brother Minato Namikaze, don't you have any other styles?"
"What's the problem?" Minato Namikaze asked in confusion. "I just bought a few masks from a store randomly before. There aren't any others."
"Then forget it. I'll wear my own."
Saying that, Yue Yan took out his Scroll and removed the evil - spirit mask from it, then put it on his face.
This evil - spirit mask was actually the Shinigami Mask that Yue Yan had obtained from the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools. As long as no chakra was injected into it to activate it, it was just an ordinary mask.
Although it was the Shinigami Mask enshrined in the Uzumaki Clan's shrine, this kind of ogre mask similar to a traditional Japanese demon mask was quite common in the ninja world. Therefore, Minato Namikaze didn't suspect anything. He just thought the mask looked strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was so odd about it.
"How about it, Senior Brother Minato Namikaze? Isn't my evil - spirit mask cooler than those abstract animal masks you're wearing?"
"Uh... haha..."
Minato Namikaze forced out a couple of awkward laughs. To be honest, he really didn't think this evil - spirit mask was cool at all. He thought it was more likely to scare people.
Although it was a bit strange to have an evil - spirit mask mixed in among the three animal masks, their purpose was just to cover their faces. So, Minato Namikaze and the others didn't dwell on it.
"So, Yue Yan likes this kind of style."
Minato Namikaze secretly noted down Yue Yan's possible preference, thinking that when Yue Yan got married or needed a gift from his senior brother in the future, he could use this as a reference.
Sure enough, as expected of the little sun, he was so thoughtful.
Roroku was a magnificent city standing in the desert of the Land of Wind.
As everyone entered the city, what greeted their eyes were towering towers and buildings with intricate patterns painted on them. Together with the strange statues around, they formed this magnificent and awe - inspiring city.
As they gradually got closer to the city, Yue Yan couldn't help blinking, and an exclamation of "Wow!" slipped out of his mouth.
Seeing Yue Yan so surprised, Minato Namikaze, who was also a bit shocked, began to explain.
"Roroku was just a city with little fame before, but somehow it entered a stage of rapid development. By the time everyone realized it, it had become so prosperous."
After saying that, Minato Namikaze turned to look at the others.
"To gather more information, let's split up for now and meet here in four hours."
After everyone nodded in agreement, Yue Yan and the others separated to conduct investigations.
When Yue Yan walked alone on the deserted street, he took off his mask. After all, according to the original story, in the current Roroku, men were captured and taken to underground factories to make Puppet parts, while women went into hiding. Except for Centipede, also known as An Lushan, and Queen Sara of Roroku, there were hardly any living people on the surface.
As he passed by the square, Yue Yan could see the backs of many people cheering. Knowing that they were just Puppets, he couldn't help but shake his head.
In any world, those named An Lushan are definitely not good people. The once prosperous Roroku had turned into a ghost town.
As Yue Yan walked around, he suddenly heard some sounds.
"The rising sun, the passionate longing."
"The Dragon Vein that ought to be protected."
A girl's clear singing voice echoed in the empty building. The red - haired girl sang, her eyes full of longing for her Mother.
After finishing the song, the girl turned to look at a crooked - necked tree beside her. She took a deep breath to compose herself, picked up two vines from another tree, and used a knife to turn them into ropes. Then she connected them to a wooden board to make a swing.
Yue Yan, who had already found this place using Electric Grid Perception, quietly watched as she hung the swing on the crooked - necked tree and then started to amuse herself.
Recognizing the girl as the Queen Sara of Roroku, Yue Yan couldn't help but sigh.
Not only did the great Queen have no guards around her, but she could only play by herself. Judging from how skillfully she turned the vines into ropes, her life in other aspects probably wasn't going well either.
Sitting on the swing and swinging by herself, Sara showed a smile on her face. Maybe it was because it was the first time she made a swing and the ropes weren't tied tightly. Sara, who had fallen from a height, suddenly lost her balance and spun around wildly like a top.
Hearing Sara's scream, Yue Yan twitched the corner of his mouth. He originally thought she was as capable at skills as Bear Grylls, but he didn't expect things to turn out like this.
Just as Sara was screaming, she suddenly felt someone supporting her, and the swing stopped swaying.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a girl who was incredibly good - looking.
It should be said that red - haired girls are naturally a bit thick - skinned. When Sara saw Yue Yan, she blurted out without thinking.
"Hey, what a cute little girl."
Yue Yan: (?言?)
I shouldn't have stuck my nose in. I should've just let you take a tumble and learn your lesson.
"I'm a boy."
"Oh, what a cute boy."
"Seriously, if you weren't a girl, I would've taught you a lesson long ago."
Sara didn't notice Yue Yan's urge to beat someone up at all. Now that she finally saw someone, she tugged at Yue Yan's clothes and pointed at the swing.
"My Mother said that swings are only fun when someone pushes you. How about I push you later and we take turns?"
"No, swings are for kids."
Hearing this, Sara tilted her head and looked at Yue Yan in confusion.
"Aren't you just a kid?"
Sara was about sixteen or seventeen years old, indeed older than Yue Yan. Moreover, she was also taller than Yue Yan, so what she said was spot - on.
Yue Yan was a bit speechless when he caught the meaning in her words. Oh well, might as well humor the kid.
"I won't play. If you want to play, I can push you."
"Great!"
As she said that, Sara readjusted the swing. This time, it was tied tightly and there definitely wouldn't be a repeat of what had just happened.
Looking at Sara's expectant little face, Yue Yan helplessly stepped forward to push her on the swing.
While having fun on the swing, Sara didn't forget to ask where Yue Yan was from.
"Me? I heard that Roroku was having a celebration, so I'm a traveler who came here to join in the fun."
"I see. But if you want to attend the celebration, it's better to stay on the outskirts. You can see better that way."
"Yeah, I heard before that Roroku was able to develop into what it is today thanks to a guy named An Lushan."
"Minister An Lushan is a good guy. Thanks to him, Roroku is as prosperous as it is today."