The Wandering Miko

"A woman dressed as a miko?"

Ingetsu's eyes lit up.

Doctor Nak's expression turned grave as he said in a low voice, "The fact that woman could even cure such a troublesome infant illness proves that her control over medical ninjutsu chakra is incredibly precise. If we invite her over, she might be able to save this guy!"

The Uchihas' expressions shifted slightly. The hope that had previously been scattered began to gather once more.

Everyone turned to look at Ingetsu.

Yager's expression suddenly changed, fear appearing between his brows as he hesitantly said, "It's just that she's a little scary."

Nanfeng asked in surprise, "What happened?"

Yager took a deep breath, composed himself, and responded, "When that woman came up the mountain, large patches of her miko robe were stained red with blood. She was carrying quite a few Rogue Ninja Headbands. I guessed that she had really swept through all the rogue ninjas nearby."

The Uchihas were about to question him further.

But Ingetsu's sidelong glance stopped them. He gestured for Yager to continue.

Yager's pupils contracted. Recalling his first encounter with that woman, a chill immediately ran down his spine. "After she came up the mountain, she walked to our doorstep and knocked very politely.

"I opened the door.

"The smell of blood was overpowering.

"When I saw her face beneath that white hood, she was very beautiful. It was just that her lenses were stained with blood, her eyes were narrowed, and there was a gentle smile on her lips. She was also carrying several white bundles that were constantly dripping blood.

"She spoke softly and only said that she wanted to stay the night. She even stuffed a lot of money into my hands and asked me to handle her meals.

"At the time, I...

"I wanted to refuse.

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

"So I forced myself to suppress my fear and led her to the vacant wooden house on the right side of my home.

"In the middle of the night, she heard my child crying in pain and came over on her own initiative, helping us cure the child.

"That shows she should be a good person.

"So tonight, I took people out hunting because I wanted to catch some game for her as thanks. Otherwise, we normally wouldn't 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 with the lights on, a hundred meters to the right after entering?"

The Uchihas' eyes trembled slightly. They had not expected Captain Ingetsu to have memorized the surrounding terrain the moment he arrived.

Even Mikoto, who had always been known for her meticulousness, could not help shooting Ingetsu a surprised look. Even during her years as a full-time ninja, she had never been this thorough.

Izumi clicked her tongue inwardly, feeling a lingering sense of dread. Night, a blonde beauty, drenched in blood, carrying human heads in her hands... no matter how she looked at it, it sounded like the beginning of a ghost story.

"Yes." Yager nodded, his expression grave, as though he had made up his mind.

"Nanfeng, bring people with me. Izumi, you stay here and guard the place." Ingetsu gave a brief order.

Crisp and decisive, he led the others out of the wooden house. Looking toward the rugged mountain path, he saw that candlelight still shone through the paper windows of that wooden house.

The four figures turned into black shadows.

They arrived at the wooden house's entrance.

Bang—

Nanfeng kicked the wooden door open. The two subordinates behind him broke out in cold sweat, inwardly sighing that their captain was as straightforward and decisive as ever.

Ingetsu wore a strange expression as he looked at Nanfeng and calmly said, "We came to invite someone."

"Sorry... sorry..."

Nanfeng looked apologetic and even reached out to pull the door shut, intending to do it again properly.

But the subordinates had already followed Ingetsu inside.

A wooden bathtub stood in the main hall, its surface covered in pink petals as steam rose from it.

Water droplets were scattered across the floor.

A bed with clean bedding stood farther inside.

Beside it lay a bloodstained black-and-white miko robe, along with two purple lace undergarments embroidered with classical patterns and trimmed with hollowed-out edging.

The room smelled as fragrant as a secluded orchid.

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

Ingetsu swept his gaze over the wooden house, now devoid of any other belongings. His eyes passed over the woman's clothes, and he arrived at an assessment.

Dignified on the outside.

Repressed and flirtatious within.

Skilled at disguising herself with kindness and compassion; her methods were no different from a ninja's.

"Where is she?"

Uchiha Nanpu glanced around the wooden house, which could be seen through at a glance, and asked anxiously.

An Uchiha member sighed. "Even if someone had been here, Captain Nanpu's kick probably scared them off."

Nanpu immediately looked embarrassed. He said nothing more and silently looked toward the expressionless Ingetsu.

Splash—

Ingetsu brushed his right hand across the water's surface in the bathing tub. The petals instantly parted to either side. Feeling the water temperature between his fingers, he found his answer.

"She likely left before we arrived," Ingetsu said. Then he pressed his hand against the bathing tub, concentrating as he attempted something.

"Captain Ingetsu, I'll take some men and bring her back—" Before Nanpu could finish, his pupils widened.

The other two Uchiha also wore strange expressions.

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

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

"She didn't want to make a move, nor did she want to see us. Let's go. Finding a ninja capable of roaming the shinobi world in these desolate mountains would take a great deal of time."

Ingetsu analyzed.

After speaking, he ignored the shock on Nanpu and the others' faces and turned to leave the wooden house.

As for the bathing tub and its bathwater, they now lay quietly inside his Storage Space.

Ingetsu already knew who this miko was.

He simply hadn't expected it.

She was on Mount Kikyo.

Golden hair, round-framed glasses, miko attire, exceptional looks, and skilled in medical ninjutsu.

Naturally, she was Yakushi Nonō, the former Root Organization member renowned throughout the shinobi world.

Around the time of the Uchiha Night of the Clan Annihilation.

She had not yet died.

As for why she had appeared here.

By the time Ingetsu and the others returned to the wooden house, he had formed a rough guess.

Seeing Ingetsu's group of four return empty-handed.

Izumi, Mikoto, and the other Uchiha immediately dimmed, and even Yager felt dejected for them.

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

Everyone's grief only deepened.

While the four had been away.

Under Doctor Nak's guidance, Izumi learned some bandaging techniques. With materials provided by Yager, she made a simple stretcher for Tamao.

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

He did not explain further.

Yet Yager solemnly nodded, showing that he trusted Ingetsu, before hurrying into the kitchen.

The Uchiha packed up simply. Two of them carried Tamao out of the house.

Yager ran out carrying a large pile of food and said urgently, "Captain Ingetsu, take these with you!"

Ingetsu turned back.

Yager hurried over, panting heavily. He carried ten pounds of smoked wild boar meat, as well as a bag of chicken and duck eggs.

The Uchiha suddenly felt warmth fill their hearts.

Back in Konoha.

Whenever they walked the streets, they had to endure the villagers' contemptuous looks. Yet because of their captain, a displaced wanderer was treating them with genuine sincerity.

Yager stuffed the food into Nanpu and the others' hands, then pulled a sheet of rough paper from his clothes and handed it to Ingetsu. With a chuckle, he said:

"Captain, I don't know what mission you're carrying out, but I personally surveyed and mapped this area. I hope this map can be of some help!"

Ingetsu did not refuse his goodwill. The corners of his lips rose slightly as he smiled. "Go back. Take good care of your wife and child."

Yager smiled and nodded.

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

"Mr. Yager, we're confiscating your Kirigakure Rogue Ninja Headband. Don't pretend to be rogue ninja out in the wild again. Within the Land of Fire, even at the border, that's an extremely dangerous thing to do."

Yager scratched his head awkwardly. "It was only meant to intimidate bandits. But we'll try to make ourselves stronger and stop relying on such petty tricks."

Seeing that they took the advice well, Izumi nodded in satisfaction.

Doctor Nak also hurried out after them.

Watching the group leave, the doctor let out a long sigh of relief. Those walking disasters were finally gone. What a relief!

Beneath the pitch-black night sky, Ingetsu and the others swiftly headed northwest. After several leaps, they blended into the darkness and vanished at the end of the mountain road.

In the middle of a desolate wilderness.

In the forest, beneath the moonlight, a mature, curvaceous figure sat on a tree branch.

She was wrapped in nothing but a snow-white bath towel.