Wandering Shrine Maiden

"A woman dressed as a shrine maiden?"

Ingetsu's eyes lit up.

Doctor Nakku's expression turned solemn as he sighed in a low voice:

"That woman can even cure such a difficult infant illness. It shows that her control over Medical Ninjutsu Chakra is incredibly precise. If we invite her here, she might be able to save this man!"

The Uchihas' expressions shifted slightly, the hope that had been crushed earlier gathering once again.

Everyone looked toward Ingetsu.

Jaeger's expression suddenly changed. Fear showed between his brows as he stammered:

"She's just a little frightening."

Nanfeng asked in surprise, "What happened?"

Jaeger took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and replied:

"When that woman came up the mountain, large patches of her shrine maiden robes were dyed red with blood. She was holding quite a few forehead protectors belonging to rogue ninja. I suspect she really did wipe out all the rogue ninja around here."

The Uchihas were just about to ask more questions.

But they were interrupted by Ingetsu's sidelong glance. He motioned for Jaeger to continue.

Jaeger's pupils contracted. Recalling his first encounter with that woman, he immediately felt a chill:

"After coming up the mountain, she walked to our door and knocked very politely.

I opened the door.

The smell of blood was pungent.

When I saw what she looked like beneath her white hood, I found her very beautiful. It was just that her lenses were stained with blood, her eyes were narrowed, and a gentle smile curved her lips. She was also carrying several white packages that kept dripping blood.

In a soft voice, she only said that she wanted to stay the night. She even stuffed quite a bit of money into my hands and asked me to handle her meals.

At the time...

I wanted to refuse.

But reason told me not to act rashly, while my instincts told me that she truly meant no harm and only wanted a place to stay.

So I endured my fear and took her to the vacant wooden house on the right side of my home.

In the middle of the night, she heard my child's painful cries and came over of her own accord, healing the child for us.

From this, it was clear that she should be a good person.

That was why I took people out hunting tonight, hoping to catch some game for her as thanks. Otherwise, we wouldn't normally go hunting at night.

Captain Ingetsu...

You can't tell her that I told you all this."

Ingetsu nodded and asked, "Is it the wooden house a hundred meters away on the right after entering, the one with the light on?"

The Uchihas' eyes trembled slightly. They had not expected that Captain Ingetsu had already committed the nearby terrain to memory when he arrived.

Even Mikoto, who had always been meticulous, could not help looking at Ingetsu in surprise. She had never been this thorough even during her time as a full-time ninja.

Izumi clicked her tongue inwardly, feeling a lingering fear. A dark night, a beautiful blonde woman, blood covering her body, a human head dangling from her hand... However one looked at it, it seemed like the opening to a ghost story.

"Yes." Ge Ye'er nodded, his expression solemn, as if he had finally steeled himself.

"Nanfeng, come with me. Izumi, you and the others stay here." Ingetsu made a brief arrangement.

He acted swiftly and decisively, leading the others out of the wooden house. Once outside, he looked toward the rugged mountain path and saw that candlelight was still shining through the paper window of the wooden house.

The four of them turned into black shadows.

They arrived at the entrance of the wooden house.

Bang—

Nanfeng kicked open the wooden door. Behind him, the two subordinates had black lines over their heads and sighed inwardly. Their captain was still as direct and decisive as ever when handling matters.

Ingetsu's expression turned strange as he looked at Nanfeng and said calmly, "We're here to invite someone."

"Sorry... Sorry..."

Nanfeng wore an apologetic expression and even reached out to pull the door shut, intending to start over.

But the subordinate had already followed Ingetsu inside.

A wooden bathing tub sat in the main hall, its surface covered with pink flower petals as hot mist rose from it.

Water stains were scattered across the floor.

A clean set of bedding lay inside.

Beside the bed were a bloodstained black-and-white set of shrine maiden robes, along with two pieces of purple lace undergarments embroidered with classical patterns and trimmed with openwork.

The room carried a faint, secluded orchid fragrance.

Clearly, a woman had been bathing here earlier, but upon hearing the commotion, she had fled in a panic, not even having time to put on her clothes.

Ingetsu scanned the otherwise empty wooden house, his gaze passing over the woman's clothes as he formed an assessment.

Solemn on the outside.

Sultry on the inside.

She was good at disguising herself with kindness and compassion, but her methods were no different from a ninja's.

"Where is she?"

Uchiha Nanfeng anxiously looked around the wooden house, which could be seen through at a glance.

One Uchiha team member sighed. "Even if someone had been here, Captain Nanfeng, you scared her away with that kick."

Nanfeng's expression immediately turned awkward. He fell silent and silently looked toward the expressionless Ingetsu.

Splash—

Ingetsu lightly brushed his right hand across the surface of the bathing tub. The flower petals instantly parted to both sides. As he felt the water's temperature between his fingers, he found his answer.

"She probably left before we arrived." After speaking, Ingetsu pressed his hand against the bathing tub and concentrated, attempting something.

"Captain Ingetsu, I'll take people to track her down..." Nanfeng had not finished speaking when his eyes widened.

The other two Uchihas also wore strange expressions.

The bathing tub beside Ingetsu suddenly vanished into thin air without the slightest warning.

The three of them cried out inwardly. As expected, Captain Ingetsu knew the most mysterious Space Ninjutsu!

"She doesn't want to make a move, nor does she want to meet us. Let's go. Finding a ninja capable of moving through the shinobi world in these desolate mountains would take a great deal of time."

Ingetsu analyzed the situation.

After speaking, he paid no attention to the shock on the faces of Nanfeng and the other two, turning to leave the wooden house.

As for the bathing tub and the water inside it, they now lay quietly in his Storage Space.

Ingetsu already knew who this shrine maiden was.

He just had not expected...

Her to be on Kikyo Mountain.

Golden hair, round glasses, shrine maiden attire, stunning looks, and expertise in Medical Ninjutsu.

This could only be the former Root Organization member of the shinobi world, the famous Yakushi Nonō.

Before and after the Uchiha Clan Massacre Night.

She was still alive.

As for why she had appeared here...

After Ingetsu and the others returned to the wooden house, he had a rough guess in mind.

Seeing Ingetsu and the other three return empty-handed,

Izumi, Mikoto, and the other Uchihas' eyes immediately dimmed. Even Jaeger felt dejected for everyone.

Tamao suddenly burst out laughing. "If I die, your burden will be lighter. That's a good thing, so don't be too sad!"

Everyone's grief deepened.

While the four of them were away,

under Doctor Nakku's guidance, Izumi learned some basic bandaging techniques. With materials provided by Jaeger, she made Tamao a simple stretcher.

Ingetsu came to Jaeger's side and instructed him, "We're leaving. Starting tomorrow, take your family to stay at an inn in Kikyo Castle for a while."

He did not explain further.

Jaeger nevertheless nodded solemnly, showing that he trusted Ingetsu, then hurried into the kitchen.

The Uchihas made some quick preparations. Two of them lifted Tamao and carried him out.

Jaeger came running out with a large pile of food and said anxiously, "Captain Ingetsu, take these things with you!"

Ingetsu looked back.

Jaeger hurried over, panting heavily. He was carrying ten pounds of smoked wild boar meat, along with a food bag filled with chicken and duck eggs.

Warmth suddenly spread through the hearts of the Uchihas.

Back in Leaf Village,

they had to endure the villagers' Byakugan even when walking down the street. They had never expected that, because of their captain, a displaced villager would treat them with such genuine kindness.

Jaeger stuffed the food into the hands of Nanfeng and the others, then pulled a sheet of straw paper from his clothes and handed it to Ingetsu with a chuckle:

"Captain, I don't know what mission you're going to carry out, but I personally surveyed and drew a map of this area. I hope it can be of some help to you!"

Ingetsu did not refuse his kindness. The corners of his lips lifted as he smiled and said, "Go back. Take good care of your wife and child."

Jaeger nodded with a smile.

Izumi carried the food bag filled with eggs. After thinking it over, she still reminded him softly:

"Mr. Jaeger, we've taken your Hidden Mist rogue ninja forehead protector. Don't pretend to be a rogue ninja in the wilderness anymore. Within the Land of Fire, even at the border, that's a very dangerous thing to do."

Jaeger scratched his head awkwardly:

"It was only a way to intimidate bandits. But we'll try to make ourselves stronger and stop relying on such petty tricks."

Seeing that he was willing to listen, Izumi nodded in satisfaction.

Doctor Nakku also came running out.

Seeing the group leave, the doctor let out a long sigh of relief. These calamities were finally gone. What a relief!

Under the pitch-black night sky, Ingetsu and the others quickly headed northwest. After a few leaps, they merged into the darkness and disappeared at the end of the mountain path.

Desolate mountains and wilderness.

In the woods, beneath the moonlight, a mature, graceful figure with a beautiful silhouette sat on a tree branch.

She was wrapped only in a snow-white bath towel.