A few moments earlier,
Izuna changes Kimimaro's appearance by using the art of disguise he learned in Anbu.
'This disguise art is still handy, but Kiri anbus will be able to identify it quite easily. So, I need to tweak it a little to make it more natural.
If my memory serves me right… then there must be something in my storage scroll which could help me.'
Izuna starts to search through his storage scroll and finally fish out a beautiful small box.
'Found it!'
He takes the small box and opens it to reveal a make-up kit.
'This make-up kit was my present for Kushina Nee-san… sigh… I was unable to give it to her.'
Izuna sighs and reminisces about his memories with Kushina and Minato.
'Soon… I will heal both of you, soon. Once I master the Six Paths Sage Art… I will heal both of you with the Yang Sage energy.'
He clenches his fist tightly. Kimimaro silently stares at Izuna's face.
'Messenger-san seems to be worried about something. I hope all of his problems are solved.'
Izuna shakes his head and pats Kimimaro's head.
"Ok! Let me apply this make-up on your face to hide your markings. I will use some seals to change your chakra signature, and this make-up will hide your brows.
Transformation techniques aren't suitable for the infiltration task, as in some situations when you lose concentration they might dispel."
Izuna applies make-up to Kimimaro and himself.
"Good… we are ready to go!"
Both of them walk towards the Kiri borders. They easily cross the border and enter the forest.
'I will infiltrate the Kiri village as a traveling merchant. I just want to learn some new Kekkei Genkai and hone my nature transformations skills. I don't care about the politics and power struggle of Kiri. On the off-hand, it will be my source of entertainment.'
Izuna makes plans for his Kiri infiltration as he trod in the forest.
'I will visit Land of Demons after Kiri. Just what kind of demons are present in it to get such a name?'
BOOM… BOOM…
Multiple sounds of explosion interrupt his thoughts.
'The war with the Kaguya clan members is over with all the Kaguya clan members dying in the process. Kimimaro narrated the entire incident to me… So… what's going on now?'
The sound of battle piques Izuna's interest.
'I will take a sneak peek at the battle.'
Izuna makes some hand signs.
'Light Style: Camouflage Cloak'
He cloaks Kimimaro and himself into a light illusion as they walk in the direction of the battle.
Boom… boom…
Izuna notices a giant dome of water covering a large part of the forest.
Huh…
He senses multiple chakra signatures in the water dome.
'It looks like the 'Giant Water prison jutsu of Kiri and from the chakra mixed in the jutsu… It is a co-operation jutsu. Well, not many people have the same amount of chakra as me and Naruto… Let's get a closer look.'
He walks near the Water prison and spots multiple people in Anbu robes engaged in a fight against some shinobis.
'These Anbus with that mask and getup… they seem to be the Hunter-Nins of Kiri… They are usually deployed to hunt down powerful missing-nins who have sensitive intel about the village.'
Izuna notices Mei and her squad. He raises his eyebrow and ponders.
'They are attacking Mei Terumi. Well, Yagura is still the Mizukage… so Mei is just a normal jounin. Looks like… things are more interesting than my expectation.'
Pluck… Pluck…
Izuna feels a tug on his clothes. He turns towards Kimimaro with a questioning gaze.
Kimimaro points towards Mei and her subordinates and speaks.
"She was the leader of the group who attacked and killed my clan members. She fought against our clan leader and killed him in the battle. Later, after his death, all of us escaped from them but I was the only survivor."
Kimimaro narrates the entire incident of Mei's battle with Izuna.
'Oh! I haven't mastered Lava Release and Boil Release yet. I have to learn from her.'
Izuna silently stares at the battle as one by one Mei's teammates get picked off by Anbus and are killed in the battle.
'Somehow… this seems quite ironic… if I remember the original Naruto plot. Anbus were the elite shinobis of the village who are a cut above jounin, but somehow a genin like Naruto and Konohamaru can deceive and beat them… heck, they serve as cannon fodder in multiple incidents.'
Izuna ponders over the capabilities of Kiri Anbus.
'They aren't as skilled as my Anbu team. My team will slaughter them in seconds. Guess, my harsh training regimen paid off for them.'
Another member of Mei's team dies in battle.
'Should I help her or should I let things play out as usual? Well, Mei did become the Fifth Mizukage… so she should be able to survive this…'
"Water Release: Five Hungry Sharks"
The Anbu leader launches five water sharks towards Mei, who desperately struggles to get out of the water prison.
'Nah!... I can't wait for any miracle to save her. Guess, I have to save her. As for infiltration… I will think of some other plans. I just want to do things casually.'
Izuna makes a hand sign and takes a deep breath.
"Ice Release: Frost Breath"
He releases a large volume of cold air from his mouth. The surrounding temperature lowers as the water starts to freeze.
Snap… Crackle…
The entire water prison forms an ice dome, and all the Anbu members freeze in the ice.
"Yare Yare Daze"
Izuna reveals himself as he walks towards them.
"Seems like, I made it on time."
Snap…
Izuna snaps his finger and the ice around Mei and her group shatters. The group falls to the ground. Izuna stretches his hands and catches Mei.
He flashes a friendly smile at Mei and questions her.
"Are you alright, Miss?"
He gently places her down. Mei and her group frown as they warily stare at Izuna.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Mei questions him.
"Earlier during the fight, I never saw your figure while fighting with these Anbus. Tell me, where were you hidden all this time?"
Mei takes out a kunai from her holster and points it at Izuna.
"Hold it right there." Izuna raises his hands in surrender.
"I am just a passerby. I was on my way to Kiri village with my younger brother when I saw you in a pinch." Izuna pulls Kimimaro in front of him.
Kimimaro emotionlessly looks at them. Mei frowns as she looks at Kimimaro.
'Did she figure out the disguise? My make-up skills aren't that bad, right?'
"Indeed… he is as pale as you. So, I believe he is your younger brother." Mei nods her head.
"…"
'Have I applied an extra coat of foundation on my face?' Izuna touches his face.
Haha...
Mei chuckles at Izuna's antiques. Izuna scratches the back of his head and a weird smile appears on his face.
Mei's expression turns serious as she holds up the Kunai against Izuna's throat.
"You may have saved my life earlier… but this doesn't warrant you suspicion free. If I sense any lie in your words… then I won't hesitate to kill you right here."
Gulp…
Izuna gulps his saliva.
'Well, she is a kunoichi after all… so I must have expected this. I can't use my identity as a traveling merchant anymore with that Ice Release.
But… I recently heard rumors about the extinction of the Yuki clan. I can use that identity… also with the Ice Release… it will make more sense.'
Izuna churns the gear of his mind as he replies to Mei.
"Wait… wait… listen to me first. Let me explain. But first… can you remove this kunai from my neck."
"Ok! Go ahead." Mei nods her head and pulls her kunai back. She still has her guard.
"It is like this… we both are members of the Yuki clan. My mother fled the village with me and my brother when our clan was hunted down seven years ago… We lived in a remote village far away from Kiri. A few days ago… my mother died because of her illness."
Izuna's expression turns sad as he shed fake tears from his eyes.
'Water release has this use too.' Izuna thinks in his head.
Mei's expression softens a little as she lowers her kunai.
'Mother also died when I was young.' Mei remembers her mother.
"At her death bed… mother's last wish was to bury her ashes in Kiri. So, to fulfill her final wish… I returned to Kiri… and on my way, I saw your group in a pinch… you know the rest."
Izuna finishes his explanation.
'I just pulled that from my ass. I hope she falls for it.'
Mei nods her head in affirmation.
"I still do not trust you. But I will spare you for now." Mei lowers her guard and turns towards the Hunter-nin corp.
"As for you bunch… don't expect any mercy from me. You came here to kill me… so don't mind if I do the same."
Mei turns towards Izuna and asks him.
"Can you only freeze their body while removing the extra ice?"
"I can do that." Izuna nods his head. He makes some hand signs and separates the frozen Anbus from the enormous chunk of ice.
Mei makes some hand signs while looking at the group of Anbus.
"Lava Release: Molten Catastrophe"
Hold on a sec… don't you need to interrogate them or something?" Izuna stops Mei from finishing them off.
Mei shakes her head in denial.
"It doesn't matter… I already had an idea of the perpetrator… besides… the moment you free them… they will commit suicide. So, it is better for me to kill them."
Mei finishes her hand signs and slams her hand on the ground.
Izuna secretly activates his Sharingan to copy the jutsu.
'I have got a gist of Lava Release… I just need some practice to learn it.'
"Lava Release: Molten Catastrophe"
Boom…
The ground beneath the Anbu group trembles, creating a small rift. The rift erupts and releases a large amount of lava. The lava engulfs the Anbu groups and turns them into ashes.
The rift on the ground closes and everything returns to normal.
'Hmm… It is a quite powerful jutsu… but it is not feasible for quick fights. The time required to cast this jutsu is quite large.'
Izuna shakes his head as he analyses the weakness of jutsu.
Sigh…
Mei sighs in relief and turns to Izuna.
"I still have my doubts regarding you... but you have my gratitude for saving our lives."
"Miss Mei… Miss Mei…."
A frantic voice fells in their ears. The group turns around and notices a group of Anbus rushing towards them.
Mei and the group raise their guard for an unexpected enemy.
"It's us, Miss Mei…"
One of the Anbu members in front removes his mask to reveal his face.
"Uncle Wakan…"
Mei lowers her guard as she greets the newcomer. Izuna nonchalantly looks at the group.
His attention is drawn by Ao, who is standing in the middle of the group. He curiously stares at Ao… or to be more accurate at the sealing talisman tied around his ears.
'Strange… very strange… I have never seen such strange Fuinjutsu seals. I generally use seals on a scroll… but I have never seen such sealing Talisman.'
Izuna secretly activates his Sharingan and closely inspect the talismans.
Shiver…
A chill runs down Ao's spine as he warily surveys his surroundings.
Humm…
Ao senses a gaze focused on him. He looks around to search for the intruder. Ao notices Izuna staring at him. He frowns and scrutinizes Izuna.
Ao brings his right hand in front of his right eye and makes a hand seal.
'Byakugan'
Ao activates his Byakugan and inspects Izuna's chakra signature. Blue chakra flows through Izuna's chakra system.
'There is no problem with his chakra system. His reserves are on par with a high-level jounin… which is quite normal for many clan members. But… why I feel a threat from this guy?'
Ao turns to Mei and speaks.
"Sorry, Miss Mei... for interrupting your discussion."
He points towards Izuna and Kimimaro and questions.
"Who is this person? There is no report of him being a part of the squad."
"Oh! He is… he is…" Mei frowns as she couldn't remember his name.
"What's your name again?... Earlier… I forgot to ask your name."
"…"
Izuna speechlessly looks at Mei.
'I saved your life, and you didn't even bother to ask the name of your savior.'
Ahem…
Izuna clears his throat and introduces himself.
"I am Yuito Yuki, a member of Yuki clan."
He points at Kimimaro.
"This little guy over here is Yuto Yuki… my little brother."
Mei nods head in approval as she narrates the entire event to Ao and Uncle Wakan.
Uncle Wakan turns to Izuna and bows his head in gratitude.
"Mei is like my daughter. You have my gratitude for saving her life."
Izuna shakes his head.
"It's fine. I was just passing by when I heard the sound of battle. So, I hid nearby to see the situation. After I figured out the situation, I helped her."
Kimimaro silently stares at Izuna and the group.
'So… If I want to become like Messenger-san… I have to learn how to fool people.'
Kimimaro jots this down in his memory.
"If you don't mind… I will continue my journey to Kiri." Izuna holds Kimimaro's hand and walks away from the group.
'I don't want any more trouble. Staying near them will spell more trouble for me in the future. I better stay away from them.'
He hastily walks towards Kiri.
"Wait… wait a sec!"
A sweet voice fells in his ears.
'Here comes the trouble.'
Izuna turns around and feigns confusion.
"Do you need something from me… Miss?"
Mei shakes her head and points out.
"Since both of you are moving towards Kiri and we are also returning to Kiri… so… so why don't we move together?"
'Sigh… I can't refuse this… can I? If I refuse... they might turn suspicious of me. Why did I even bother to stop by and interfere in the fight when Ao and his group were on their way?'
"Very well… we will tag along."
Izuna and Kimimaro join the group as they walk towards Kirigakure.
Ao walks near them and starts to question Izuna.
"Yuito… right?"
Izuna nods his head in affirmation.
"So… you are a member of now almost extinct Yuki clan. What made you return to Kiri… that also of all times?"
Ao stops and looks at Izuna's expression before he continues.
"Kiri is at its most chaotic time… the infamy of the village as 'Bloody Mist' is spread throughout other nations. Many Shinobis are abandoning the village to leave a relatively peaceful life.
It was the reason… Kiri created the Hunter-Nin Corp of Anbu to hunt down these deserters. So, why of all times are you returning to the village?"
Ao continues to observe Izuna for any change in his expression.
'Is he doubting my credibility? But I haven't done anything suspicious to warrant his doubt. I never knew Ao was such a meticulous person.'
"He is here to bury his mother's ashes," Mei explains to Ao before Izuna could open his mouth.
Ao nods his head and maintains his distance from them. He is still monitoring Izuna for any suspicious activity.
"Yuito… so that's your name. It... it lacks manliness."
"…"
'Did I choose the wrong name? I thought it would go quite well with my Yuki clan identity. Haku looked like a trap with his voice, name, and appearance.'
"My mother wanted a baby girl… but I was born instead. So… she gave me such a name."
Izuna explains to Mei. Mei nods her head.
"With that appearance… I think it quite suits you."
"…"
Izuna speechlessly looks at Mei.
They continue their journey towards Kiri as Ao constantly monitors Izuna's every move.
'Damn… this half-ass pirate is staring at me like a hawk. Should I gauge out that Byakugan of his? If he stares at me for again… then I will surely pluck out that Byakugan in the future.'
Izuna is pissed off by the continuous hawk-like gaze of Ao.
Shiver…
Ao feels a chill run down his spine. He immediately turns away from Izuna.
'Strange'. He mutters to himself.
Finally, they reach the entrance of the Kirigakure.
A giant arc of rock appears in their vision. There is a giant blue circular engraving with a symbol for 'Water' in Kanji carved on the arc.
The entrance is covered in mist as any Ninja patrols the walls of the village.
'So.. this is Kiri. It is my first time here in Kiri.'
Izuna inspects Kiri. He notices several cylindrical buildings erected all over in Kiri.
At the entrance of the Kiri, a middle-aged man and an old man waits for the group.
The middle-aged man notices the group and hurriedly approaches them. He hugs Mei and immediately questions her.
"Mei… are you alright?"
"I am alright Father." Mei nods her head and explains the entire incident in detail.
Fuji turns to Izuna and thanks him.
"Thanks for saving my daughter."
Fuji curiously inspects Izuna but couldn't find any extraordinary feature except his handsome face.
'His face is way too girly. Well… all Yuki clan males have such features.' Fuji shakes his head and continues the conversation.
"Since you are the savior of my daughter… I will allow you to enter the village without any exception. Kiri is in a pretty chaotic situation nowadays… so always be on alert. Also… as my gratitude, I will provide you with lodging."
Fuji signals a nearby shinobi. The shinobi leads Izuna and Kimimaro inside the village.
After their departure, Genji slowly walks up to Fuji and addresses him.
"You should keep an eye on him. Ao is suspicious of him. I have never seen Ao so guarded against somebody."
Fuji nods his head.
"Yes… I can't be lenient anymore. They have attempted assassination on my daughter."
Fuji turs towards Wakan and orders him.
"Wakan… you are one of my most trusted partners. I would like you to send someone to keep an eye on that Yuito. Also… send someone to the village he mentioned to investigate his background. I want to know if he is telling the truth or not.
If he is telling truth… then we can rope him in. There are no powerful Ice release users among our ranks. He can prove to be a worthy asset in our cause."
"Yes, Fuji-san." Wakan bows his head and turns towards his Anbu team.
He sends one of his Anbu members to keep an eye on Izuna and sends another to validate the background of Izuna.
On a nearby tree,
'So… that's what they are planning. I can never lower my guard... can I?'
Izuna is eavesdropping on the conversation of the group by using his invisibility.
"Well, I need to take care of this chore."
The shadow clone follows after the anbu.
Inside Kiri,
The subordinate of Fuji Terumi leads Izuna towards a small house. He gives keys to Izuna.
"This would be your temporary residence. If you need something... you can always find me."
"Ok!"
Izuna nods his head and grabs the keys.
Click…
He opens the lock and enters inside.
Cough… cough…
Kimimaro coughs from the excessive dust inside the house.
"Looks like the house needs some cleaning. Rest is fine!"
He turns towards the shinobi and thanks him.
The shinobi looks around to make sure no one is listening to their conversation before he advises Izuna.
"I would advise you to not reveal your identity as an outsider. Kiri is going through chaotic times and if anyone gets suspicious of you. They will send assassins after you. Also, my name is Akasuki."
"I will keep that in mind." Izuna nods his head in gratitude.
'Well… I won't mind if someone tries to assassinate me.'
He enters the house and notices Kimimaro who is cleaning the floor.
"There is no need to waste your time with such chores. You should instead focus on your training."
Izuna makes some hand signs and blows away the dust out of the house.
Kimimaro silently stares at Izuna and takes out a small diary from his pocket and writes something on it.
Izuna frowns as he notices the diary.
"What are you doing?" He curiously questions Kimimaro.
"I found this diary inside one of the closets in the house. I want to write down all the instructions and guidance in the diary."
Izuna nods his head. He makes some hand signs and places various silencing seal around the house. He turns to Kimimaro and continues his explanation.
"I have heard about the abilities of the Kaguya clan and it seems like your Kekkei Genkai is strongest among them all. Your body and chakra are centered around your Kekkei Genkai… so it would be a waste to train you in other ninjutsu."
Kimimaro silently nods his head as he listens to the explanation.
"…. So we will focus on Taijutsu. You will be able to push your Kekkei Genkai to limits if your body is stronger."
Izuna takes out some Fuinjutsu tags from his pocket. He makes some hand signs and places them on Kimimaro's legs and arms.
Puchi…
Kimimaro falls on the ground as he struggles to stand up. He continues to struggle for a while before he regains his balance and stands up.
Huff… Huff…
He breathes heavily and takes support against the wall.
"These tags are Fuinjutsu tags with gravity seals on them."
Izuna removes his bandages to reveal three tags around his right arm.
Kimimaro's eyes widen as he stares at Izuna's hand with shock.
"… these tags will constantly apply two times the normal gravity on your body and will effectively act as weights. Once you can walk normally with them on… we will start the next step of your training. Till then, get used to these weights because this is just the beginning."
Kimimaro wobbles as he struggles to walk.
Izuna looks outside the house and notices an Anbu member monitoring his house.
"Looks like they still don't trust me. I don't care either way… I am here as a spectator… but I hate stalkers. So… I will mess with him a little."
Swoosh… blink…
Izuna disappears from his position and reappears in front of the Anbu member.
"What the…" The Anbu member's eyes widen.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan"
Izuna cast a genjutsu on him before he could utter any more words. He places his hand on Anbu member's head and reads his memory.
"So… this is the gist of Kiri's situation. I still have to reach the root of the matter to know more."
Izuna shakes his head and manipulates Anbu memory.
"Now he won't trouble me anymore."
Swoosh… blink…
Izuna disappears again and reappears inside the house.
'I will stay here for another month or two. I want to pamper my cute little sister.'
Izuna smiles as he thinks about his sister.
'She is still a baby but it won't be long before she grows up.'
Hah…
'Now I have to think of a way to prolong my stay in Kirigakure… But the excuse which I made up won't last that long. They will turn suspicious of me.'
Kimimaro stares at Izuna and notes down something in his diary.
"…"
Izuna looks at Kimimaro scribbling something in his diary and shakes his head.
He rests on a cot as he looks out of the window.
'I have turned 17 this year. It has been 17 years since my rebirth in this world. I have a family and made many new friends.'
Izuna closes his eyes and falls asleep. Kimimaro slowly stands up and covers him with a blanket.
Izuna raises his eyebrow as he notices Kimimaro.
'What's with this situation? Kimimaro is turning into a nanny. Never mind… I need to sleep.'
--
Bang… bang…
A faint vibration disturbs his sleep as the entire house is shaking. Izuna opens his eyes and stares at the door.
'Who is bothering me this early in the morning?'
He activates his X-Ray vision and looks through the door.
Mei is slamming his door with anger.
'Ops! I forgot to remove the silencing seal.'
He immediately gets up and opens the door.
"What took you so long? I have been knocking on your door for the past 15 minutes." Mei angrily questions him.
Izuna scratches his head as he replies.
"I was pretty tired from the journey yesterday… so I overslept."
"…"
"Ok… never mind that… father wants to meet you. He sent me here to fetch you."
Mei turns around and walks away.
'Oh! Looks like they are quite satisfied by my backstory.'
He silently follows after Mei.
--
Inside a small mansion,
Fuji inspects a scroll as the Anbu reports to him. Elder Genji is seated beside him and Wakan is standing behind him.
"Fuji-sama… as per your orders I went to the nearest village to investigate his background. His story seems to be correct. His family did live in the village and his mother died recently because of an unknown illness."
Fuji reads the content of the scroll about Yuito's past. He turns to Elder Genji for the suggestion.
Elder Genji nods his head and advises.
"Try to recruit him. He is a member of the Yuki clan with its powerful Ice Release. With him… in our ranks… we will get an advantage against the forces of the noble clans."
Elder Genji pauses for a while.
"Send your daughter to call him here."
Fuji frowns as he questions Genji.
"Elder Genji… are you trying to rope him through my daughter."
Elder Genji nods his head.
"Your daughter is of marriageable age. If we could recruit a powerful shinobi by engaging with her… then we should try it."
Fuji's frowns deepen as he raises his voice.
"I won't turn my daughter into a pawn. And besides… we had yet to test his capabilities. What if… he is just talk… with no actual strength. I don't want to marry my beloved daughter to a random weakling."
Sigh…
Elder Genji sighs and continues.
"Political warfare isn't won through emotions. It is won through wits. The noble clans are clearly making a move against you. They are already aware of their failed attempt and I am sure this won't be their first attempt…"
Fuji calms down as he listens to Elder Genji and ponders.
"… your daughter is your successor. If anything happens to her... then our faction will lose its future. So, I want to make sure there is a strong bodyguard beside her."
"That seems plausible." Fuji nods his head in agreement.
"… as for his capabilities. We will let that matter to Noble clans to handle."
Fuji frowns as he thinks for a while.
"Elder Genji… you mean to say that the noble clans will be pissed by this new variable and they will try to eliminate him."
Elder Genji nods his head.
"Correct… I am sure they don't want any powerful ally to join you. Also… the next village meeting for new elders is around the corner. I am sure they will try every means to usurp your seat."
Fuji thinks for a while before he nods his head. He summons Mei over and sends her to Izuna's place.
--
Inside a large mansion.
Bam…
Akifumi slams his hand on a table as he listens to the report. He quickly dismisses the Anbu and made sure he was alone in the room.
"Madara-sama must be disappointed by me. I failed to fulfill his objective."
Akifumi clenches his fists as veins pop out from his head.
"Ten elite Anbu members. I lost ten of my most elite Anbus in that fight with no success."
Bam…
He slams his fist on the table and destroys it.
"The perpetrator must pay for his insolence. He dared to interfere with Madara-Sama's order."
Akifumi angrily stares at a drawing of Izuna as Yuito. He picks up the drawing and turns it into ashes.
"Men!"
Akifumi yells in anger. A few anbus immediately enters the room.
Izuna quickly follows after Mei. Mei ignores him for the entire duration.
They reach the foothill of a small hill surrounding by many shinobis. There is a middle-sized mansion on top of the small hill.
The shinobi guard recognizes Mei and allows her to enter. Mei turns towards Izuna and questions him.
"You must have heard of the Terumi clan right. We were former allies."
Izuna nods his head.
"Yes, our Yuki clan was a close aide of Terumi clan. One thing led to another and my clan is on the verge of extinction. Sigh…"
Izuna sighs depressingly. Mei looks at Izuna with conflict and chooses to remain silent.
Izuna turns towards Mei and speaks.
"But I was surprised when I came to know about your identity. You are that famous princess of the Terumi clan.
Then that makes me the knight on the white horse who saved the princess. Haha.."
Izuna chuckles at Mei.
Humph…
Mei snorts and turns around.
"Don't get too cocky. If I wasn't exhausted from my previous fight... then I would have dealt with them. Also, with that scrawny body and girly face… I can't imagine you as a knight on a white horse. So… stop with your fantasies."
"…"
She harshly rebukes Izuna. Izuna raises his hand and silently follows after her.
Soon, a ninja walks in front of them.
"Miss Mei… I will take it from here. You must be exhausted from your previous mission."
Mei nods her head and walks in another direction.
'I am both mentally and physically tired from that fight. I will take a break in hot springs.'
After Mei's departure, the shinobi turns towards Izuna and snorts.
"Don't foster any fancy ideas for our princess. She is destined to be the next leader of the Terumi clan. A homeless and reputation less person like you is nothing in front of her."
The Shinobi has a pervert expression on his face as he is lost in his fantasies.
"…"
Izuna looks at the buffoon shinobi and wonder.
'They even have such kind of people in their security.'
Cough… cough…
Izuna coughs to gets his attention.
"Can you lead the way?"
Ahem…
The shinobi clears his throat and takes him inside the manor. Izuna curiously inspects the mansion.
'Although the mansion doesn't look special from outside… it is quite fortified inside. There are various traps and seals in places. I guess… Kiri has an entirely different power system from Konoha.'
He curiously turns towards the shinobi and questions him.
"Then… who do you think is most suitable for Miss Mei? It certainly isn't you... right." Izuna smiles at the shinobi.
"No… I am nowhere close to her status." The shinobi shakes his head in depression.
"But… but If would have to say a suitable candidate... then there are quite a few people."
The shinobi ponders over the name of suitable candidates for Mei.
"There is no suitable candidate for her in Kiri… if it was before then maybe Fourth Mizukage... but he is a little old for Miss Mei despite his young appearance."
The Ninja shakes his head in denial.
"Then what about other villages?"
Izuna curiously questions him.
"Humm… another village that's not possible. Kiri will never rely on outsiders to grow stronger..." The shinobi immediately refutes Izuna's question.
"But… if I had to pick... then there are only a handful of powerful shinobis from other villages suitable for Miss Mei…"
He ponders for a while before replying.
"… then it must be Izuna Uchiha 'The Shinigami'. He is just way too powerful with such a huge bounty on his head. As for his strength... that is undeniable. But many higher-ups of Kiri hate him. They have suffered quite a few losses under his hand.
Izuna Uchiha has assassinated many shinobis from our village. So this hatred is unreconciled."
The shinobi has a fervent expression on his face.
"If only it had a percentage of Izuna Uchiha's ability... then I am sure I would be able to impress Hana."
"…"
Izuna speechlessly stares at him.
'I wonder what his expression would be if I reveal my identity.'
Izuna shakes his head to discard such useless thoughts. They arrive in front of a room.
The shinobi bows in front of the door and speaks.
"I have brought him here… Fuji-sama."
"Hu… you may return now."
The shinobi bows his head and retreats.
"Yuito Yuki… I summoned you here to have a little discussion with you."
The door opens up, and Fuji Terumi greets Izuna.
"It's my honor to have a conversation with you... Fuji-san. I would like to know the reason for our meeting. I am sure you haven't called me here for an ideal chatter... right?" Izuna calmly speaks to him.
Humph…
Wakan frowns at Izuna's nonchalance.
'Such disrespect… and to address Fuji-sama in such a casual manner.' Wakan is about to lash out my Elder Genji stops him and shakes his head.
Wakan returns to his position as he angrily stares at Izuna.
"Quite the blunt person… are you?" Fuji chuckles as he stares at Izuna in the eyes.
"Then… I will be straightforward with you. I investigated your background and found your story to be true. Now... since you have lost your family and friend and have nowhere to go… then why don't you join us?"
Fuji raises a proposal to Izuna.
"I am sure with your Ice Release… you will be an asset for our faction and also you will be able to rise in ranks and get a stable position in future safeguarding your brother."
'Hmm… so he is sweet-talking me to join his faction... but at the same time he is also threatening me using Kimimaro… well... this is how power struggle works. They don't want any spy or traitor among their ranks. Since I am here on infiltration or to say vacation… I will accept the deal. Also… I am restricted to Ice Release… it will help me further improve my control over Arctic Release.'
Izuna ponders for a while. Fuji and Elder Genji calmly stare at Izuna's expression.
'Has he figured out the meaning behind my words? If yes… then he can be a valuable ally… if not then he can only be a second rate disposable pawn in this battle.' Fuji thinks to himself.
"Fine… I will join your faction… as for my brother's safety… you don't have to bother with it."
Izuna stares in Fuji's eyes.
The temperature of the room falls.
Clatter… clatter….
Some Anbus clatters their teeth as they shiver from the cold.
"Very well… it's fine with us. You can return for now… I will summon you when I need you to do a task."
Fuji nods his head as Izuna walks out of the room.
After making sure no one was around, Fuji turns to Elder Genji and speaks.
"Seems like… he is not a fool. If his abilities are as described by Mei… then we have got our hands on a powerful ally. It is our chance to seize the position of another elder in this meeting."
Fuji clenches his hands.
Swoosh… swoosh…
An anbu member silently flickers near Elder Genji. He passes a scroll to him before disappearing.
Elder Genji opens the scroll and reads its content. He tosses the scroll towards Fuji.
"You don't have to wait long to test his abilities. You will know it tomorrow."
Fuji frowns and catches the scroll and reads its content.
"So… the Noble clan has made their move. To think that they will send the 'Night Reaper' to assassinate him."
Elder Genji nods his head as he explains.
"It may seem unnecessary… but the Noble clan wants to assert their dominance over us… they wanted to show their power. If the 'Night Reaper' is successful… then it will serve as a warning for us. But if he fails… then the Noble clan will be forced to take more drastic measures."
Elder Genji burns the scroll to ashes.
'Either way… it is an opportunity for us to test the capabilities of our new ally. If he fails and dies... then we can only lament the loss of a pawn... but if he lives… then we would have much more to see in the future. In any case… it is a win-win situation for us.'
"Very well…" Fuji turns to Wakan.
"Wakan… go and personally monitor the situation tonight. I want you to assess the ability of our new member. You will only spectate the assassin… you will not interfere with it."
"Yes… Fuji-sama." Wakan nods his head and flickers out from the room.
"Wakan maybe a little hot-headed… but he is one of my most trusted companions. We lived through the Second Shinobi war and I saved his life on one occasion. He is still grateful to me for that."
Fuji chuckles as he places a Shogi board on the table.
"How about a round of Shogi… elder Genji?"
The assassin pulls out a special transparent kunai from his pocket as it glistens with sharpness.
--
Later at Night,
The Assassin finally makes his move.
'It's time to finish him off. I have to perform the assassin without making my noise. I am not called 'Night Reaper' for nothing.
The Assassin makes some hand signs and calmly clasps his hand.
"Night Release: Endless Night Jutsu"
He releases some black mist from his body. The mist fuses with the surrounding as darkness intensifies. The moon slowlyfades away from the vision and the house is completely covered in darkness.
'It's about time to finish itoff.'
The assassin pulls out the glistening Kunai from his holster and enters inside the house.
'Night Release: Hiding inNight Jutsu'
His figure turns into black particles and fuses with the darkness. The assassin slowly crawls through the house.
He spots Izuna and slowly creeps his way to him.
--
A few minutes earlier,
Kimimaro is silently sleeping on the bed. Izuna looks at Kimimaro and sighs.
'This kid has quite an endurance. He has been struggling non stop for almost the entire day to get used to those heavy gravity weights. At this rate, he will able to walk normally by next week or so.
I will relieve some stress from his body. Izuna closes his eyes and absorbs Nature energy.
He transfers the Nature energyto Kimimaro to rejuvenate him.
Umm… mmm…
Kimimaro moans in his sleep as the Nature energy slowly rejuvenates his body. The bones in his body absorb the Nature energy and turn into a shade of Grey before returning to normal.
Izuna notices the anomaly.
'Interesting… his body or to be more precise… his bones have some affinity with Nature energy. I wonder if he will be able to learn Sage Mode.'
Izuna curiously inspectsKimimaro's bones and shakes his head in frustration.
'His Kekkei Genkai is an inherent ability. I can't learn it.'
Hmm…
Izuna raises his head and feelssome vibrations through the roof. He has gained the ability to sense vibration and waves by utilizing shock release.
'Oh! Looks like… Mr. Assassin is about to make his move. I suppose… he has found an apt opportunity.'
Izuna lies down on his bed as he patiently waits for the assassin.
'I can kill this guy instantly... but then I won't be able to see his abilities. I have to learn some new abilities to further my understanding of Kekkei Shi.'
Yes… Kekkei Shi. That's the name Izuna came up with a nature transformation involving four Nature elements. Kekkei Morainvolves Five or more nature transformation whereas Kekkei Tota involves three nature transformations.
There is a gap between both of them and Izuna never found any record involvingNature transformations.
It is considered impossible to combine Four elements in a unique proportion to create an entirely different transformation.
Even the Kekkei Tota 'Dust Release' is the pinnacle of Nature transformation mastered by any human. The First TsuchikageIshikawa started his research on three Nature transformations during his adulthood and failed to achieve success during his life.
His research was then pickedby his student Mu... who became the Second Mizukage. Mu finally finished the research and created the first-ever Kekkei Tota. He thenpassed the secrets of his research to the grandson of First Tsuchikage Onoki.
'Now… I want to go beyond the limit of humanity. It is uncharted territory for me... and I am ready to learn everything. Well… I guess… this makes me similar to Orochimaru... who is also after the entire knowledge of Shinobi World. Nah… he is a pedophile… and I am not.
Izuna shakes his head andimmediately denies it.
"Night Release: Endless Night Jutsu"
He hears a feeble whisper. Suddenly, darkness starts to encroach the house and the moon fades away in the darkness.
"Interesting!..." Izuna has a smile on his face as he is fascinated by this new technique.
'I never expected to come across another peculiar Nature Transformation on my second day of stay in Kirigakure. I have to do more research on this.'
Chii…
Izuna activates his Mangekyo Sharingan and starts to inspect the darkness covered around his house.
"This is not Darkness Release asI expected. But it is quite close."
Izuna scrutinizes the darkness as he notices the microscopic black particles covering his house.
"By utilizing the aspect of genjutsu, Yin Release and Water Release… he has created a unique technique. Humm… the microscopic water molecules act as a prism and byusing a genjutsu… the user creates an image of Night… he then imbues the water molecules with Yin Release chakra and cuts off any kind of light from the covered space… thus effectively isolating it from surroundings.
The result being the unique simulation of absolute Night."
Izuna curiously breaks down the complexity of the technique as he analyses it with his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Hmm…
'This jutsu has a weakness. The chakra cost is quite high… so an average jounin can only cast it once before running out of chakra... and the absolute Night won't give the caster any advantages either, unless the person has an ocular power to see through Darkness itself.
As far as I know, only my Mangekyo Sharingan and perhaps the Rinnegan can see through this absolute night. No… perhaps I can use sound and vibrations to keep track of my surroundings… but it won't be that reliable compared to my Mangekyo Sharingan.'
Izuna deactivates his Mangekyo Sharingan and focuses his concentration on sounds and vibrations.
'Now my question is how the assassin will see me?'
Izuna calmly lies down on the bed with his eyes half-open.
Huh…
He notices a black apparition slowly crawling towards him.
'So… that's the assassin. I wonder how is he able to see me.'
The Assassin takes out the special transparent kunai and peeks through the blade of the kunai.
'This kunai is made from a special mineral found deep in the veins of the earth. It allows us to locate see in this absolute darkness and locate our target. My Kamishiro clan utilizes this special technique passed down through generations to fight in battle.
We had a very high aptitude for Genjutsu and Yin release. Thus we created the Night Release technique. Kamishiro clan was famed for their skillful use of Genjutsu. We were feared for our secret assassination techniques, and many other clans and villages hired us.
Our fame spread throughout the entire shinobi world when a few of our members successfully assassinated the First Kazekage... followed by the Second Kazekage during the Second Shinobi War.
Soon, the entire shinobi world saw us as a threat and the hidden villages sent their powerful forces to annihilate our village hidden deep in the Land of Silence.
They annihilated and killed almost the entirety of my clan. Only a handful of people escaped from the village. I was a young teenager at that time. I ran away from the village… starved in hunger for God knows how many days.
Finally, Akifumi-sama found me. He fed me… sheltered me… and to pay my gratitude. I became his hidden blade. A blade that will terrorize his enemies in the wake of night. I became the 'Night Reaper'.'
'Time to die.'
The Assassin raises his kunai and stabs it towards Izuna's heart.
'No one has ever escaped from the deadly Night Release of our clan. Even if the 'Silent Shinigami' of Konoha appears before me… he will also fall under my blade like the rest of the world.'
Stab… clank…
A shard of ice blocks the kunai and deflects it. The assassin panics for a second before he calms down.
'I don't believe he can see me in this darkness. We have assassinated many sensor ninjas and even the possessor of many powerful Kekkei Genkai using this technique. Unless the user has a powerful defense like the Third Raikage or a similar shield… then we are helpless against him.'
The 'Night Reaper' remembers his failed assassination of Third Raikage, where his kunai wasn't able to pierce through the absolute defense.
'That was the biggest humiliation of my life. As a Kamishiro clan member… I failed to complete an assassination. It won't happen again… it must be a fluke. I will try again.'
Izuna calmly looks at the assassination whose entire body is draped in black clothes and his face is covered with a black mask.
'Are we playing some sort of Assassin Creed here? Why does he look like a brotherhood member?'
Swish… Swish… swish…
The assassin flails his hands around to perform some unusual hand signs.
"…"
'What kind of ritual is he performing?'
Swish…
The special kunai flies towards the assassin and falls into his hand. The assassin infuses some chakra into the blade.
'Night Release: Stab of Umbrage'
Swish…
He swiftly moves in Izuna's direction to stab him again.
"…"
"I can see you alright."
Clank…
Izuna blocks another attack with an ice shard as he remarks to the assassin.
"Impossible… impossible! How can this be possible?"
The Assassin yells hysterically.
'No… this can't be true. You are lying.'
Stab… clank…
He tries to stab Izuna again, only to get parried by him.
"Your technique is quite interesting. I have learned a lot from you... I can even see hope for my new technique. But regretfully… you are my enemy."
Izuna sighs and makes some hand signs.
"Wait… wait… tell me… how can you see me in my Night Release?"
The Assassin… aware of his imminent death questions Izuna.
"That's a secret." Izuna smiles at the assassin and makes some hand signs.
"Ice Release: Chilling Touch"
He grasps the head of the assassin. The assassin's body freezes from head to toe with his eyes wide open.
"Let me real quick check his memories to learn more about his technique. If not for my Mangekyo Sharingan and Shock Release… this guy could have done a number on me."
Izuna searches through his memories.
"Kamishiro clan… huh! They are various powerful clans hidden throughout the Shinobi World. Chinoe clan is one such example... and this Kamishiro is another. Guess… I can never lower my guard… not even against a small-fry. Who knows if they might pull out a surprising ability and land a killing blow on me."
Crack… Crack…
Various cracks appear on the 'Night Reaper's body before it shatters into countless ice particles.
The special transparent kunai of the assassin remains intact. Izuna picks it up and examines it closely.
"This kunai is made of chakra. I have never seen such pure chakra anywhere else. And there is a mine of this material hidden in the 'Land of Silence'. Maybe… I should make a trip to the Land of Silence in the future."
Bzzz…
The Sin Seal on Izuna's hand wakes up. Izuna frowns and looks at the seal.
"What's the matter with this guy? It has been pretty obedient in the past few years. Is it revolting or something?"
The Sin Seal activates, and the Grimoire appears in front of him. The Grimoire opens its page and forms a mouth.
Chomp…
It chomps down on the special Kunai in Izuna's hand.
Crunch… crunch…
The sound of munching of kunai echoes in his ears.
"…"
"Give it back… Give the kunai back to me… I needed that for my research."
Izuna frantically grabs the Grimoire and shakes it violently to make it spit out the kunai.
"Oye!... stop with your nonsense. It is making me dizzy." The Yin Kurama growls at Izuna.
"…"
Haha…
"Izuna is still as childish as ever." An apparition of Kushina chuckles.
"What?... Ku… Kushina… nee-san… you can hear me?" Izuna points a finger at the apparition.
"Yes… we can see and hear you, Izuna," Minato replies to him.
"Even you… Minato-san." Izuna looks at the apparition of Kushina and Minato with wide eyes.
"Oye… don't ignore me." The Yin Kurama growls at Izuna.
"Shut up... you pesky fox… or I will feed you to this book like that kunai." Izuna scowls at Kurama.
Brrrr…
A shiver ran through Yin Kurama's body as it stares at the Sin Grimoire with dread. It quietly lays down and closes his eyes.
Izuna turns towards Minato and Kushina and questions him. "Since when…"
Minato and Kushina smile at him.
"We have looked at you all this time. The moment we were sealed by you in this book. This book started to drain chakra from the Yin half of Kurama and used it to heal our damaged souls and with that last addition of pure chakra from that kunai… our souls were completely healed."
Kurama opens one eye and remarks.
"They fed on my body or to say chakra. I never had any chakra in this past few years... and this book is still constantly draining all of my chakras as we converse."
Kurama closes its eyes again.
Haha…
Minato chuckles at Kurama and introduces him.
"The real name of the Nine-tails fox is…
"Kurama… right?" Izuna replies to him.
Kurama's eyes-widens as it stares at Izuna.
Sigh…
"Yes… I am not even surprised anymore." Minato sighs as he continues.
"Since… our chakra and soul were linked together… we were able to converse and reconcile with him. I don't blame him anymore."
Kurama opens his eyes and grins at Minato.
"Give a hug to big sister Kushina." Kushina rushes towards Izuna and hugs him.
"You have turned into a big boy in these past few years. I am sure plenty of girls have fallen for you." Kushina chuckles as she teases Izuna.
"It… it is not like that." Izunahurriedly denies her.
Haha…
Kushina laughs at Izuna's reaction.
"Soon… Kushina nee-san… I will heal both of you soon." Izuna clenches his fist as he promises to Kushina.
"You don't have to push yourself… Izuna-kun." Kushina pats his head.
"Naruto is truly blessed to have a caring big-brother like you. Also… I am waiting for the day… when I will be able to hug him in my embrace and shower him with all of my love."
"Yes… that day will come soon."
Izuna assures Minato and Kushina.
He turns towards the Grimoire and questions.
"What kind of thing are you? How are you able to do almost anything?"
Ptui…
The Grimoire spits out the handle of the kunai, which hits Izuna straight into the face.
Haha…
Kurama burst out in laughter.
"That's what you get for calling her a thing?"
Izuna turns towards Kurama and tilts his head in confusion.
What do you mean by her?"
Rattle… Rattle…
The chains around the sin grimoire rattles. Kurama immediately shuts its mouth and starts to behave like a cute dog.
"…"
Izuna silently stares at Kurama and questions.
"Where is the dignity of the most powerful tailed beast which you boast of so proudly?"
Humph…
Kurama snorts and replies.
"I don't give jack shit about dignity. Besides, it won't help me in this situation."
"…"
'Is he influenced by me? I have been using such kind of cusses a lot.'
Later in the next morning,
Izuna gives some instructions to Kimimaro before departing for the Terumi clan.
He enters inside the Terumi clan mansion. Three people are bowing in front of Fuji Terumi.
Izuna inspects them and recognizes one of them.
'Wait… He looks like Utakata. If I remembered correctly… he is the Jinchuruki of Six-tails.'
Izuna inspects Utakata. He secretly activates his Sharingan to gauge Utakata's chakra.
Hmm…
'He is not a jinchuruki yet. Maybe he will become one in the future.'
Izuna walks over to Fuji Terumi. Fuji notices him and nods his head.
He introduces Izuna to the three shinobis beside him.
"So… the fourth member I mentioned has arrived."
Fuji points towards Izuna and introduces him.
"He is Yuito Yuki… a member of Yuki clan and ice release user. He was the one who saved Mei."
The three members scrutinize him for a second. They notice his girly appearance and lose their interest.
Izuna tilts his head in confusion at Fuji.
Fuji introduces the three of them to Izuna. He points at a spectacled middle-aged man.
"He is Harusame… one of my trusted comrades from the Second Ninja war."
Fuji points at another person with a bamboo hat.
"He is Zengetsu… another trusted subordinate of mine. Last but not the least…"
Fuji points at Utakata and introduces him.
"He is Utakata… a student of Harasume and a powerful shinobi himself. All of you will be the personal guard of Mei and secretly protect her during every mission while completing the mission. Her safety will be your priority."
All of them nod their head and bow in front of Fuji.
"You all should familiarize yourself to know more about each other's abilities."
Fuji dismisses them before returning inside the mansion.
Sigh…
'That girl is so reckless. As a father… I can't help but worry about her future. If only there was no political power struggle… then I would have found a worthy man for her and married her off… I want to see my grandchildren before my death.'
Cough… cough…
Fuji violently coughs for a minute. He wipes the blood from his mouth and enters a room.
Elder Genji is patiently waiting for him. Elder Genji raises his head and notices the taint of blood.
"Your condition is getting worse… I will call one of my medic-ninja now."
Elder Genji knocks his stick on the floor.
Swoosh…
An Anbu member immediately flickers in front of him.
"Summon Hira. Clan leader Fuji needs medical attention."
Swoosh…
The anbu member immediately flickers out from the room. Fuji turns to Elder Genji and reports.
"Elder Fuji… he surely has some skills to survive an assassin attempt from 'Night Reaper'… but I don't think the Noble clan will give in that easily."
Hmm…
Elder Genji nods his head.
"Now he is one of our men. We can't allow the noble clans to do as they please. Lady Mei's safety is our priority…"
Elder Genji looks at Fuji's conditions for a second before he continues.
"You should slowly train her to handle the responsibilities of the clan and the village."
Sigh…
Fuji rubs his forehead as he ponders.
--
Izuna scrutinizes the three people in front of him while they do also inspect him.
"I am Yuito Yuki." Izuna smiles at them while secretly inspecting their chakra.
Hmm…
'Utakata and Harasume have normal amounts of chakra. But this bamboo hat guy has way more chakra than a normal shinobi. Also… what's with that water bottle ties to his belt.'
The bamboo hat guy removes his hat and re-introduces himself.
"I am Zengetsu Hozuki… of the Hozuki clan."
Zengetsu has a tall and slender stature. He has blonde hairs styled into a pompadour. He has no eyebrows, a very thin mustache, and a triangular goatee.
Izuna notices the pompadour on Zengetsu's head and barely holds himself from laughing.
'He looks hilarious with that pompadour. Is that the reason why… he is wearing a bamboo hat?'
Zengetsu wears his hat again.
'Hmm… but to be from Hozuki clan. He must have some sort of relationship with the Second Mizukage.'
Out of his curiosity, he questions Zengetsu.
"Hozuki clan… one of the most powerful clans of Kirigakure. Even the Second Mizukage was one of the most powerful shinobi of Kirigakure."
Zengetsu nods his head as he reminisces.
"Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki was my Uncle and mentor. He was my idol, and it is my dream to become as powerful as him."
Zengetsu clenches his fists in resolution.
"So… do you want to become the next Mizukage?"
"No… I have no interest in Mizukage's position. I am not qualified enough to become a Mizukage."
Zengetsu shakes his head and denies it.
Izuna turns to the master-disciple pair. Utakata is staring at Harusame's every action like a devotee.
'This guy is fangirling his sensei.'
Harusame adjusts his spectacle with his index finger as he closely looks at Izuna's appearance. He then turns towards Utakata and assesses them with his eyes.
Shiver…
Izuna feels a shiver run down his spine.
'This pair of Master-student seems to have a quite complicated relationship.'
"So… you are an Ice Release user? It has been a while since I last saw someone with that cursed bloodline." Harusame remarks.
"Cursed Bloodline…?"
Izuna frowns as questions Harusame.
"What do you mean cursed bloodline?"
Haha…
Harusame chuckles before he replies.
"I don't want to scare you, kid… but there is a rumor spread across the village…"
Harusame pauses as he looks at Izuna's appearance.
"The male members of the Yuki clan are born with a womanly appearance because of their Ice Release Kekkei Genkai… and none of the male members survives till the age of thirty. Yes… thirty… no known male member of Yuki clan survived past that age… it was also the part of the reason why Yuki clan is on the verge of extinction."
Harusame turns towards Utakata and orders.
"Utakata… I have a task for you."
"Yes… sensei!"
Utakata silently follows Harusame. Zengetsu pats his head and walks away.
"See… you later, boy."
Izuna stares at the back of the bunch and muses.
'I guess I have some interesting days waiting ahead of me.'
He turns around the corner of the room to leave the mansion.
Bump…
He collides with someone and falls on them.
Squish… squish…
He feels a soft sensation in his hand.
'This feels good. It's a perfect size… it perfectly fits into my palms.'
Squish…
Unnghh…
Mei moans as she stares at Izuna in anger.
"If you had enough.. then would you mind standing up."
"I am sorry…"
Izuna immediately leaves his grasp and stands up.
"You have a perfect size." Izuna compliments her.
"Shut up… you pervert!" Mei blushes and immediately runs away from there.
Just now… she eavesdropped on the conversation between Elder Genji and her father. They were talking about her marriage. She bumped into Izuna while running away from the room.
'Marriage… it's still too soon for me. I have to ease some burdens of the father, then only I could think about marriage.'
The girly face of Yuito appears in her eyes.
'No… he is a pervert and also a member of the Yuki clan. I don't about the truth of the Yuki clan's curse, but I don't want to see my loved one die. Also… there is no redeeming feature in him… well… besides his face.'
Mei shakes her head and enters her room.
She takes out a picture of a woman from the closet. The woman has a similar appearance to her.
"Mother… father is trying his best to keep me happy… but I am already aware of his disease. He is trying very hard to hide it from me."
Drip… drip…
Tears fell from her eyes as she clutches the photo.
"I just want the father to live a bit longer."
Knock… knock…
"Mei… Mei…"
Fuji calls her name.
Mei immediately wipes her eyes and cleans her face.
"Come in… Dad."
Fuji enters the room and notices the picture of his wife in Mei's hand.
"So… you were spending some time with your mother. Uh…"
Mei nods her head.
"Hah… Sometimes… I also miss her. Her anniversary is coming soon… both of us will pay a visit to her grave together."
Sigh…
Fuji sighs as he continues.
"Mei… you need to take some of my responsibilities. Your father is growing old and may die someday. I need you to be capable to handle the matters of the clan and the village on your own."
"You are fine, dad… nothing will happen to you. Also… I am ready for the mission." Mei hugs Fuji.
"Ok… ok… now listen. The jinchuruki of the six-tails died mysteriously during the Third Great Ninja War. He was a close aide of Third Mizukage-sama and one member of our faction."
Mei nods her head as she listens to the explanation.
"Now… some of our men have spotted a large influx of chakra gathering at this lake."
Fuji marks a location on a map.
"We believe it to be the revival of the Six-tails. As you know, the greater the number of tails… a tailed-beast has… the more chakra it possesses. Six tails has a tremendous amount of chakra compared to the Three tails… so it took it so long to resurrect."
Fuji rolls the map and passes it to Mei.
"We believe in another month or so… the Six-tails will be fully resurrected. So, we want to capture it and reseal it as soon as possible. I have some qualms regarding the Noble clan on this matter. They are already in the possession of Three-tails… and they will try to lay their hands on Six-Tails too. I want you to oversee the process of the capture of Six-Tails with your team."
Fuji explains the entire situation to her and passes a scroll of all of her team members
"Yes… dad."
Mei nods her head and flips open the scroll to see the individuals in her team.
"Yuito Yuki."
Mei frowns as she notices the name of her team members.
'This pervert is also on this mission. Did he earned father's trust?'
