The war finally ended. There were still some occasional skirmishes but the full-blown war was finally over.
This increased the influx of escort missions as the number of people trying to profit from the conflict by turning to banditry was high even in the Land of Water. And so, Rei and Konan found themselves on their very first mission.
D-rank, escort to a merchant, heading to the capital of the Land of Water. The ranking was different than when Rei remembered from canon. There were very little 'chore' missions. Most of these were not approved since it was after war and ninja were in low supply, stretched thin.
"Hurry up, hurry up, load it!" A pudgy man hurried Rei and Konan as they entered his warehouse. He was pointing at a pile of goods he wanted to be loaded onto the cart.
Rei looked at the man with a raised eyebrow.
"Hurry! I didn't hire you to lose my time!" The man stomped his foot to the ground.
Rei shook his head in disbelief. The merchant saw it and was about to deliver a proper verbal thrashing to what he perceived as lowly genin when Rei disappeared.
Enhancing his body with raiton chakra, Rei appeared behind the man with a burst of speed, holding a kunai to his throat. The companions of the merchant froze with their eyes bulging out.
"You hired us to protect you from bandits. Not as an errand boy." Rei coldly stated, pressing the kunai deeper to his throat, drawing blood. "I could slit your throat and be done with it. So, you WILL shut up and stop ordering us around."
The merchant quickly understood his position.
This was not Konoha that put civilians first. Clients were important but even Konoha, the 'gentler' of the big five, had fail-safes in case the clients were too unruly. Merchants could be grumpy, mocking, even condescending. Ninja would bear with it. But every ninja had his limit that when reached, he could say f.u.c.k it. For example, no merchant could s.e.x.u.a.lly harass or ask for s.e.x unless it was a part of the mission. After all, merchants were merchants, not nobles.
Unless they were connected with Daimyo which would most likely be a B-rank mission done by jonin or high-rank chunin. But even then the village had a list of willing kunoichi if the man was known for desiring entertainment during the mission. After all, these missions paid a lot more than the standard.
But unless it were these merchants, then it didn't matter even if they completely bombed a D-rank. All it would do was a black mark in their records that nobody would care about. Not even a fine would be administered. D-ranks are for those that can't pay. It shows the low social status and nobody important would pay for one unless that person CEASED to be important and wealthy. Hell, some nobles even pay C-ranks for babysitting, all to show their importance!
"Next time you want to ask something of us, you will ask it nicely. Are we clear?" Rei asked with steel in his voice. He may be young but no two-bit barely above average merchant is going to boss him around! He survived in a war-zone and he didn't do it only to be looked down upon.
It was not that he had something against the menial work. It was the attitude of the merchant that irked Rei.
"Yes." The merchant fearfully admitted as sweat was flowing down his forehead, his legs shaking. Rei's killing intent made the man see himself die numerous times already and it was the worst experience of his life!
Rei put the kunai away from the merchant's throat, making him flop down onto the ground with his eyes shaking and teary. Rei casually walked closer to Konan as she was floating the goods with her paper and put it on the wagons.
They sat on the edge of one wagon, Konan's head leaning onto Rei's shoulder as she sat in his lap, both on guard.
Needless to say, the journey was mostly quiet after the little show in the warehouse.
...
The journey was boring. Rei just created twenty water clones who killed off any bandit in the vicinity. He didn't even need to care if they are guilty or not. The peasants were poor but they were not so poor as to not be able to afford food. The current Daimyo was selfish and greedy but he was not as bad as to make his subjects starve.
...
The capital of the Land of Water was... unexpected. It showed the wealth of the country. This country was in the exact same situation as Ame before the war, just... bigger. The capital was rich while anything else was poor. Both situations were created due to the leaders. While yes, Daimyo of Water would gladly pay for 'recruitment' of new ninja and Kekkei Genkai by hiring merchants and promising a hefty sum for it... that just meant he valued the safety of his country, his safety.
As for the peasants? It was obvious he didn't see the need to care. Only the Capital had electricity. Only the capital had a massive, luxurious looking port. Only the capital had proper marble roads. Only the capital had marble statues. Only the capital had a… Simply put, it was not yet the canon time. It really hammered down the point that this was a 'past' of what Rei remembered from the Naruto series.
Rei was actually quite awkward about all the wealth he was shown. In the years in this world, he got used to living practically in the wilderness. When he came to a city that actually HAD electricity? He could only wryly laugh.
Konan was indifferent. She didn't care either way if the people around her had happy or miserable lives. She looked at Rei's face, smiled, and sprang up, kissing him fully on the lips while licking them, getting his mind away from whatever plagued it. Only when she felt Rei's gentle hand on her head did she pull back and gave a death glare at the gawking merchants they were supposed to protect.
...
The wagons stopped in front of a warehouse for goods. It was different from the one in Kirigakure. This one was bigger and clearly made of expensive wood.
"Could you please help us with unloading it?" The merchant asked politely and Rei looked at him impassively. Flinching, he added quietly. "Please."
Konan nodded and the paper yet again floated the goods to the warehouses, stacking them.
"The confirmation." Rei asked and the merchant nodded, signing off his name on the paper confirming the mission was fulfilled.
Rei and Konan had two days to spend in the capital of Mizu no Kuni. They decided to enjoy them!