A certain bath in the inn had been reserved by four Konoha shinobi.
Sarutobi Yutaka lay in the hot spring, guarded on the shore by an Ino–Shika–Chō team.
The three Ino–Shika–Chō members wore shinobi flak jackets; the Akimichi shinobi held an iron staff, protecting Sarutobi Yutaka in the pool.
The Nara shinobi said: "Yutaka, let's push through and enter the Land of Fire tomorrow. Once we reach the border outpost fortress, we'll be safe."
"Mhm." Sarutobi Yutaka said:
"Shimura Sumi actually died in the Land of Grass, and they still haven't found out who killed him.
To dare assassinate a Shimura clan shinobi about to be promoted to Jōnin... when Danzo-oji finds the killer, he'll definitely hand him over to 'Kō' for experiments."
Sarutobi Yutaka was Sarutobi Hiruzen's nephew, a highly promising rising star within the Sarutobi clan.
He had lived up to the Sarutobi clan's expectations, about to be promoted to Jōnin at 19 years old.
Given another ten years, he might even become an Elite Jōnin.
Sarutobi Yutaka placed a towel on his forehead and slowly sank into the hot water.
He suddenly felt a darkening to his side as a figure emerged from the water, charging towards the Ino–Shika–Chō trio behind him!
People bound by the Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal struggle, exerting force secretly, leaving blurred, strange-looking footprints.
To conceal his identity, Yōkō did not use the Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal.
After appearing via Water Body Flicker, he instantly threw six kunai at close range, severely wounding the three Ino–Shika–Chō shinobi.
He then quickly finished them off, killing the three Ino–Shika–Chō members one after another.
The sound of hand seals came from behind.
Sarutobi Yutaka jumped out of the water and formed seals, using a ninjutsu on Yōkō.
Yōkō initially intended to continue killing, but upon seeing Sarutobi Yutaka's hand seals, he paused in surprise.
Did Sarutobi Yutaka just use Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique with only three seals?
The Dragon Fire Technique he learned required seven seals.
Was the Sarutobi clan actually hiding secrets?
Yōkō suddenly remembered the intelligence he had found: Sarutobi Yutaka was extremely proficient in Fire Release.
Originally planning to deliver a killing blow, Yōkō allowed the Dragon Fire Technique to engulf him.
Sarutobi Yutaka had a special understanding of the Dragon Fire Technique; Yōkō felt that perhaps he could extract a 'Mastery' rated Dragon Fire Technique from him.
Sarutobi Yutaka was stunned and bewildered. Why did the assassin swiftly kill the three Ino–Shika–Chō members, then stand almost motionless and let himself be burned to death?
Could it be that his target wasn't him, but the three Ino–Shika–Chō members?
—
Yōkō's vision went black, the scene changing from a sea of fire to Kyōi's bedroom behind the izakaya.
Kyōi felt her ear was a bit hot, a bit itchy.
It was Kōji kissing her.
She changed her position, snuggling into Kōji's embrace.
After the war ended, Kōji rarely left the village, which made her feel much happier.
[Mochizuki's Arc activated!
The host has only one resurrection opportunity per month, reviving at the time of the previous full moon night upon death.
Reward: One lottery draw opportunity:
1- Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning (Beginner);
2- Jōnin-level Chakra Reserve (Stackable);
3- Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique (Mastery).]
The first two options were immediately excluded. The third option made Yōkō's eyes light up.
As expected, this technique could be upgraded to Mastery.
Yōkō chose the third option and obtained the Mastery level Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique.
Entering the underground training room, he eagerly tested the technique.
When using the Dragon Fire Technique now, the chakra pathway operation changed. Certain chakra meridians were cleared, requiring only one hand seal to execute the Dragon Fire Technique.
This greatly enhanced the strength of his second identity, the alt "White Ghost," used for carrying out revenge.
In the middle of the night on the third day, after receiving the contract chakra notification, Yōkō arrived at the border of the Land of Hot Water.
He skillfully found the hot spring inn's water tower and used Water Body Flicker to enter the bath where Sarutobi Yutaka was.
Sarutobi Yutaka, with a towel on his forehead, sank into the water, relaxing.
Yōkō Body Flickered to appear underwater, thrusting a kunai fiercely into Sarutobi Yutaka's throat.
This time he chose to kill Sarutobi Yutaka first.
Blood gushed out in the water.
The hot water mixed with blood, making it appear even brighter red.
After jumping out of the water, Yōkō formed only a single hand seal and, before the Ino–Shika–Chō trio could react, released the Dragon Fire Technique at close range.
A violent fire dragon surged forth, instantly enveloping the three.
The Nara shinobi reacted relatively quickly and actually jumped up.
Infinite terror filled his heart – how could someone use the Dragon Fire Technique with just one seal?
Sarutobi Yutaka, hailed as a Fire Release genius, needed three seals to use the Dragon Fire Technique!
However, the Dragon Fire Technique was a sustained Fire Release. Yōkō slightly shifted its direction, and the fire dragon swallowed the Nara shinobi mid-air.
After confirming the three Ino–Shika–Chō members were burned to charred corpses and destroying their brains, Yōkō then left via Water Body Flicker.
Arriving outside the town, Yōkō held the White Ghost Mask and said: "Yuka, this mask is good. I'm taking it."
"Okay."
Uzumaki Yuka looked at the burning bathhouse, her heart filled with excitement.
The firelight reflected in her pupils, flickering brightly and dimly.
This was the feeling of revenge...
Grabbing Yuka's shoulders, Yōkō said:
"Let's stop the retaliation here for now. I'll first return to Konoha to observe the reactions from all sides.
If the reaction is favorable, then I'll formulate a new plan for revenge.
I'm leaving now. You be careful, return to the Uzumaki clan's hiding place first."
Nodding to Uzumaki Kaichō and Uzumaki Genchō, Yōkō turned into white smoke and disappeared via Reverse Summoning.
Uzumaki Yuka continued to watch the flames until they were extinguished by the townspeople.
She said: "Kaichō-oji, Genchō-oji, next we should strengthen our tracking and infiltration secret techniques, and establish an intelligence system.
This time, Fox gave us general intelligence on the Sarutobi and Shimura clan shinobi, but it took us several days to confirm their tracks.
This efficiency is too low and could lead to the failure of our revenge."
Uzumaki Kaichō nodded and said:
"Alright, after we return, we'll start researching reconnaissance and tracking secret techniques. But regarding establishing an intelligence system, I think we should discuss it with Fox before deciding.
Establishing an intelligence system is very complex, requiring the recruitment and placement of spies. Too much activity can easily lead to exposure.
It's not that we fear sacrifice, but Fox told us not to act rashly.
Fox has his own pace. We should listen to Fox's opinion on everything first."
Uzumaki Yuka nodded, surprised that the two of them listened to Fox even more than she did.
She had the Stone Panda deliver a scroll to Fox, but Fox disagreed with the Uzumaki clan taking the risk of establishing an intelligence system, saying it would lead to the Uzumaki clan's exposure.
Intelligence matters were to be led by Fox; he told Yuka not to rush. Reconnaissance and tracking secret techniques, however, should indeed be developed as soon as possible.
Only then did Uzumaki Yuka relent.
The journey from the Land of Hot Water border to Konoha Village took 5 days.
It took 3 days from the townspeople reporting to the nobility, the nobility dispatching samurai to investigate, the nobility notifying the Konoha Guardian Ninja, to finally confirming Sarutobi Yutaka's death.
Sarutobi Yutaka died 10 days before Sarutobi Hiruzen received the news.
He stared blankly at the scroll. His own nephew, Sarutobi Yutaka, with his extremely high Fire Release talent, had actually died in a hot spring in the Land of Hot Water.
He looked at his assistant: "Go find..."
The assistant saw the Hokage-sama's eyes first show panic, then turn fierce, before finally returning to normal, yet he still didn't say whom to find.
"Go find Danzo and Orochimari!"
***
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(End of Chapter)