This got a surprise from my students since they didn't know that Konoha was planning on doing an exchange program with the Hidden Sound. After all the curriculums were much different, one on being that the sound village had a Genjutsu specialize program where you could learn Sound Genjutsu, which was rare and advance and hard to neutralized. On this program they would also teach you to play a specialize instrument of your choice that you could use with your genjutsu and ninjutsu. Also the specialization of wind techniques were abundant here on the land of Sound since Lord Danzo also help expand the wind styles jutsus by also releasing his own Vacuum style wind release ones alongside other he had collected from the wars and his spy networks.
Danzo has tried to keep up with Konoha, since he also had a sword program academy known as the Shimura's Blade Academy, where he had people instructing on his Shimura 13 moves swordsmanship alongside teaching extreme speed, and Paper Dodge from the Kings techniques as an introduction if they wanted to later join the Root Anbu program for higher learning.
While we were strolling around we notice allot of novelties. As there was a big plaza on the middle with allot of stores and stands of food. There was also a stage where there was people singing and playing instruments while the audience was on chair with tables eating from food they ordered form some of the stands as they enjoy the music. The place look very lively like if it was a festival, but it looks like was a common occurrence in this area.
We found stores that most likely you wouldn't found on Konoha and most likely you would find more on modern earth. One such store was [Build Your Bear] store, where they had several kinds of frames and buttons other decorations where you could customize you teddy bear along also get them customize clothing and such stuff. I was even wondering, was there other reincarnated people besides me from modern earth? Or this was just a coincidence?
As for Shikamaru found a hobby shop where they sold packages of Yu-gi-oh cards, shogi boards, Ninja and Dragons books, boards and maps alongside figurines and other board games. Shikamaru ended buying some Yu-gi-oh booster packs, a new set of shogi board and a rubix cube puzzle that was 12 sided. He even bought a chain pendant of a reverse pyramid with an eye on the middle it was not big but not small either and look kind of kool.
As for Choji we stop at the popular Shimura's Restaurant, and ended going to the all you could eat buffet. I knew this was the best option since I knew Choji's big appetite; we ended getting out of the place 3 hrs later. With the staff looking at Choji like he was a monster for all the food he chugged in. I got to say the pizza was fantastic it reminded me of my past life, they even had different condiments one's, they had classic, peperoni, the 3 meat pizza, the hawaian pizza but they call it the fruit pizza, and the Spinach 3 cheese pizza, which was one of my favorites in my past life.
After that we stop near the blacksmith shops, since we needed to get a decent sword for Shikamaru since he was now practicing SwordGod Style. In there we found several style blades you would now found in Konoha. One of it being a Kukri blade since those you needed to custom order at our local blacksmith, but here they were hanging as if it was one of their specialties. We ended getting a sturdy black iron Gladius sword. Which I found funny to find here since this type of weapon belong to the style of the romans, but none the less it is one of the best swords out there for combat, at least better than a katana which is more fragile to break.
As for Guy Hatake, he stopped near the herbalist stores, and drug stores in the town. It looked they had some ingredients not available in Konoha here, alongside we also found a specialist store that sold chemistry, and medical tools alongside other stuff like microscopes and other educational tools like protractors, portable pens, etc.
I got to say I got impress with the herbalist store, since it look they also sold off different kind of Medicinal plants (weed) that were grown in different environment and methods. Making them much more different, in taste and smell. I ended buying 10 of everything since I wanted to check them out, and maybe share some with my Dad at home. Ended up wasting more than half of the money I brought with me, including buying stuff for my students and their meals.
Not wanting to be stingy, one of the things I know for sure to check was the local bars to check what type of alcohol they sell. I found out they got some specialties that was only brew here in the Sound Village, they got the Fire Whiskey which was a strong beverage that would make you feel like you could breathe fire and Frost Vodka which was serve cold and could give you a decent chill just drinking it. So I order 4 bottles to go as I wanted to share this with my wife and some to my dad as a souvenir.
Getting everything pack I store most of all of our souvenirs and the gift basket from Lord Danzo on a storage scroll. Which then I store on one of my storage seals on my wrist for safe keeping.
By the end of the day we return to the Musical Inn very happy, since the Inn also included dinner on our lodging we had some nice dinner of Italian spaghetti with bologna balls and some nice black tea. Choji having to ask for 2nds and even 3rds plate for him. Me having to pay just a little bit more for the extra servings he got.
Next morning we took a shower complementary from the Inn an after that we departed to the gates. Having to confirm who we are with the pass we got when we got in. After everything was clear we finally left the Hidden Sound Village. I got to say Danzo was doing a fine job as ruler on this place. It in deed had more stuff that we couldn't explore in a single day. No wonder it was a place that had become a center for innovation and becoming an important trade route for merchants.
Since we were taking our time to return to Konoha it took us about 5 days of travel as we were not in a hurry. By the time we return to Konoha eventually the traveling took a toll on my students. They have never travel out before and this trip took us about almost 2 weeks. We ended delivering the gift basket to my dad from Lord Danzo and delivering his message of him visiting in a months' time. After that I pass on the envelop of mission completion verification, having our accounts and records added, since this mission ended up as a B-rank mission on our books.
Since It was a long journey I gave my team 3 day break before resuming doing some D-rank missions in town and to return to our daily training schedule. They took it fine even Shikamaru since it look the peace of mind on being in home ground and having his house nearby gave him a relax mind as the tension of traveling wear off.