A Visitor in the Wind and Snow

"I'll go myself!"

The Third Raikage punched the wall behind him, instantly creating a large hole.

Cold wind poured in through the hole, and the whistling wind blew the scraps of paper around the room like snowflakes. The white-haired man Kuroe, reached out and caught a scrap of paper that had landed on his forehead. He moved to the side to avoid the wind, for not everyone was as strong as the Lord Raikage, fearless of the cold and heat.

"Sir, this is the sixth time this month. The maintenance budget is almost gone. If you keep doing this, we'll have to deduct your salary again."

"Haha, no problem. It's a good opportunity for the little brats to get some exercise, and it also gives the craftsmen an extra job to supplement their income. It's a win-win situation." The Third Raikage smiled sternly.

"Tsk!!"

Kuroe made a disrespectful smacking sound.

"You just couldn't control yourself, that's all. This excuse is too far-fetched."

"... I think I still need to go to Mount Baiyue in person." The Third Raikage abruptly changed the subject.

"Are you sure you can handle some of the risks? If possible, it would be best to bring a few people with you. Maybe Konoha has set a trap based on your temperament," Kuroe asked, no longer dwelling on the hole in the wall. He knew perfectly well that he could just find two craftsmen to repair it later.

"No need, I can go alone much faster. Traps and snares are meaningless to me; they can't hurt me!"

The Third Raikage's smug smile was full of confidence.

"When do we set off?"

"Now."

Kuroe's face showed an expression of "I knew it."

"Shouldn't we inform the Elder Council?"

"No need, no need, those old men are too long-winded and troublesome." The Third Raikage waved his hand and walked to the center of the room.

"But if you do that, I'll be the one they nag. Last time they dragged me in for a heart-to-heart talk, and my head was buzzing for a week afterward." As Kuroe spoke, his hands steadily Hand Seals. He glanced at the tall Lord Raikage and asked, "Are you ready?"

"Let's get started! Send it directly to Mount Baiyue."

The Third Raikage nodded, his expression calm yet tinged with seriousness, his hands clenched into fists.

"The Heavenly Transfer Technique!"

Kuroe completed the final hand seal, Chakra.

A bright ray of light rose from beneath the Third Raikage's feet, seemingly severing a portion of the space enveloped by the light from the world in an instant. The light distorted and changed, and the Third Raikage's figure vanished in an instant.

"Mount Baiyue... looks like there's going to be some excitement!"

Kuroe stood in the freezing room and shivered.

"Someone, go find a bricklayer! Lord Raikage has damaged the wall again!" He opened the door, grabbed a random passerby, gave him the order, and then stood at the doorway for a moment, pondering before quickly leaving. This couldn't possibly be kept secret from everyone; if anything happened to Lord Raikage, even a thousand deaths wouldn't be enough to atone for his sins.

We still need to discuss this with someone and arrange for people to support Lord Raikage.

Mount Baiyue.

The blizzard had subsided considerably, but the dark clouds in the sky had not yet dispersed. Although it was only a little past ten in the morning, the sky was as dark as six or seven in the evening.

A beam of light appeared silently in the snowstorm. The Third Raikage glanced at it and landed steadily on the snow slope. His heavy body crushed the snow, and half of his body was buried in it. Fortunately, it did not trigger an avalanche, although an avalanche would not have been enough to hurt him.

"Mount Baiyue —it's been so long since I've been here."

The Third Raikage pulled himself out of the snow and stood lightly on the ground without sinking in again. With his Taijutsu skills, it wouldn't be difficult for him to walk on snow without leaving a trace. However, with such a heavy snowstorm, there was no point in doing so, as all traces would be erased by the snow.

The path down the mountain was hard to find, and the wind and snow severely impaired his visibility. Fortunately, Mount Baiyue was very steep, and he could just walk down the slope. Although he might not be able to reach Baiyue Town by chance, once he got down the mountain, he could go to Baiyue Town from there.

The burly man, as imposing as an iron tower, moved with the agility of a snow rabbit, leaping and bounding across the hillside before disappearing into the curtain of wind and snow.

Down the mountain, at the hotel.

"Why isn't the snowstorm stopping? It's been snowing all night..."

Kushina tucked her legs inside the kotatsu, lying on the tatami like a salted fish, turning her head to look at the wind and snow outside the window, her expression full of frustration.

"I asked the landlady, and she said the snow might stop this afternoon, then we can go out." Otome was hunched over the table revising her notes while chatting with Kushina.

"Afternoon? Time seems to be passing so slowly... Why didn't this afternoon come sooner... Ouch, ouch, ouch, it hurts so much!!!"

Kushina waved her arm idly, then slammed it against the corner of the table. Instantly, she curled up in pain, like a shrimp, clutching her right hand and screaming.

Putting down her pen, Otome sighed and looked at Kushina, saying, "If you're so bored, why don't you go train with Katsuki? What's the point of staying cooped up in the house?"

"No way! Going out in this cold weather is just asking for trouble." Kushina refused righteously, even though tears were welling up in her eyes from the pain, she still added, "Only that idiot Katsuki would go looking for trouble."

"······"

The Otome shook her head, remained silent, and picked up her pen to continue revising the article.

Meanwhile, Katsuki, who was being treated like a fool, was training her body in the pine forest outside the town, braving the cold wind and frost.

He was shirtless, and arcs of lightning danced across his skin. Snowflakes melted before they even got within half a meter of him, thanks to the heat emanating from him.

"Call······"

The hot breath he exhaled was clearly visible, like a writhing white snake. Katsuki punched the round stone pillar, without unleashing the destructive power of Lightning Release Chakra, simply training his physical strength.

The dull thuds continued, leaving shallow imprints on the stone pillar, a testament to his efforts.

"Ring ring--"

"Smack!"

Katsuki turned off the alarm clock with a flick of her wrist. It was eleven o'clock. Looking up at the sky, the persistent Kumogakure showed signs of receding, and the howling snow was gradually weakening. Snowflakes the size of fingernails swirled and drifted around. It looked like the snow would stop soon.

"Huh?"

With eyesight sharpened to its limit, it pierced through the curtain of wind and snow and spotted a black shadow speeding down the hillside toward the pine forest.

"Who would go up the mountain in this weather?"

Katsuki frowned in confusion. The distance was too great, and he could only vaguely make out an outline, unable to identify the person. However, he instinctively sensed a dangerous aura; the newcomer was no ordinary person.

"Mind's Eye of the Kagura".