The Land of Hot Water.
Because of its abundant geothermal resources, the overall climate is mild and humid.
Moreover, the country has countless hot springs of all sizes, resulting in hot spring hotels and resorts being almost ubiquitous throughout the Land of Hot Water.
Yugakure is situated on a large hot spring resource site, and its style is pacifist and averse to war.
This indirectly and directly exposes Yugakure to the Shinobi World, regardless of whether you are a ninja from another village or a tourist.
You can enter Yugakure directly, just avoid certain areas within the village that are explicitly prohibited.
In Hagoromo's opinion, it was simply incomprehensible how Yukage could have conceived of issuing such an order.
If it weren't for the Land of Hot Water's advantageous location, it might have long since become like the Land of Whirlpools.
However, the advantage of this was that it made infiltration by Hagoromo and the others far too easy.
Inside an inn in Yugakure, Hagoromo slowly walked into a room.
After confirming that nothing had been tampered with, Hagoromo finally felt relieved.
I went to the window and peered through the small crack at the crowds coming and going on the street outside.
"Yugakure certainly has an odd feel to it."
After all, the elder's message was that Yugakure was already in dire straits.
However, from the moment Hagoromo stepped into this place, all she saw and heard was an atmosphere of tranquility and peace, untouched by worldly strife.
It's not that it's bad, it just feels a bit unrealistic.
It's as if... this village has been Infinite Tsukuyomi...
???
Yu Hagoromo, who had suddenly thought of this, was startled, and then her expression turned serious.
Before Hagoromo could think any further, her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
She walked slowly to the door, opened it a crack, and saw Yutoshi and the others standing outside. Only then did Hagoromo open the door completely.
The Yutoshi entered the room one by one, and Hagoromo slowly closed the door.
Just as Yamanaka Kokone was about to speak, Hagoromo stopped her with a gesture.
His ten fingers moved rapidly, forming several hand seals, which he then slapped down onto the ground.
"Ninja Art: The Netherworld Formless Realm!"
A surge of Chakra rippled out, and two streams of Chakra flowed across the ground, forming a barrier that rotated in opposite directions inside the room.
Having completed all Hagoromo, Yu Yi stood up and looked at the Yutoshi who were looking at him with a puzzled expression.
"Better safe than sorry. Yugakure feels extremely eerie to me."
Having just had that idea, Hagoromo naturally couldn't remain inactive.
Hearing Hagoromo's explanation, the Yutoshi nodded in agreement, as their approach was understandable.
"Kokone, what were you trying to say?"
Hagoromo turned to look at the Yamanaka Kokone and asked, "Since entering the village, the group has split up to explore."
Hagoromo stayed where she was, ready to provide immediate support should anything happen.
"Hagoromo, we've all gone to Detection out a hot spring mentioned in the intelligence report."
"That place has resumed operations now, and it's bustling with people; it doesn't feel like a typical 'site' anymore."
Hagoromo nodded; this was roughly what he had estimated.
After all, if the elder in Yugakure wasn't in charge of this matter, there would be no need for him to send out special information.
The hot spring mentioned in the intelligence report has been dealt with by the Yugakure authorities.
This indirectly confirms that Hagoromo's idea was correct.
However, this also means that finding this elder will be much more difficult.
After all, without the elder's information, Hagoromo and the others wouldn't be able to know for sure what had happened in the village.
"However..." Yamanaka Kokone looked troubled.
"What's wrong?" Hagoromo asked directly. Right now, whatever the information, it was all about the future of this operation.
"I tried to find some information there, but instead I unexpectedly read traces of intense pain and fear."
"Logically speaking, this is almost impossible."
Yamanaka Kokone shook his head and said that even though he was only Chunin at the moment, it was only temporarily due to some shortcomings.
Otherwise, he would have been Special Jōnin long ago.
Therefore, he believed that his secret techniques among the Yamanaka Clan were no less than those of most of the tribesmen.
"Why is it impossible?" Hagoromo Yi tilted her head, somewhat puzzled.
"If the so-called 'mark' is a strong presence of a corpse or head in that place, then I can understand that."
"However, the surrounding area has been completely cleared away, and I don't know what happened to the people at that scene."
That's why these spiritual imprints linger there for so long.
With the explanation from the Yamanaka Kokone, Hagoromo and the others gradually understood.
If what Yamanaka Kokone said is true, then this is the strangest thing.
Hagoromo stroked his chin and asked Aburame Muta and the Yutoshi, "Have you found anything?"
Aburame Muta nodded and stretched out her hands, gesturing for the others to look.
Seeing this, Hagoromo and the others also gathered around.
A strange undulation was visible in the palm of Aburame Muta's hand.
Immediately, a large number of Kikaichū crawled out, densely packed.
Hagoromo blinked; even though she had expected it, the shock of seeing this scene was still unexpected.
On the contrary, the Yutoshi, the only girl in the team, pulled out a pair of surgical tweezers in surprise and looked at Aburame Muta.
After seeing Aburame Muta nod in agreement, the Yutoshi then used tweezers to pick up a Kikaichū.
Hagoromo Yi looked at the Kikaichū held in the tweezers with curiosity. The Kikaichū was trembling and seemed to be trying to break free.
"This Kikaichū is actually already dead."
Aburame Muta, standing to the side, uttered a statement that seemed determined to shock.
"Indeed, that's what surprised me too," the Yutoshi said, picking up another Kikaichū.
When an insect dies, its legs lose blood supply and can no longer remain taut, causing the limbs to relax.
In this situation, the body can no longer support itself, and it flips over, landing on its back.
"These Kikaichū were already in the state I described when they first emerged, but in the blink of an eye, they turned over again."
As the Yutoshi spoke, he kept picking out the Kikaichū from Aburame Muta's palm and placing them on the floor.
Meanwhile, Aburame Muta had many Kikaichū crawling out from her feet, and she surrounded these selected Kikaichū.
Upon contact, these Kikaichū, selected by the Yutoshi, launched a frenzied attack on the Kikaichū released by Aburame Muta.
Even though it was just an insect, the Yamanaka Kokone felt terrified.
After all, the Kikaichū selected by the Yutoshi were attacking with utter frenzy, and it seemed that Aburame Muta's Kikaichū were also being gradually affected.
"There seems to be something left at that scene, and this stuff has corrosive, hallucinogenic, and infectious properties..."
"It should be said that this infection has been confirmed."
Aburame Muta looked at the Kikaichū on the ground and said with a serious expression.