Ambush

Feeling the surging heat within his body, Uchiha Kai was intoxicated by the sensation of gradually growing stronger, his physique becoming ever more solid.

"Feels so good. So this is the hot spring capital famed throughout the ninja world? It truly lives up to its name~" Morino Kei soaked his entire body in the spring, leaving only his head above the water as he exhaled warm breath.

"It's just a shame I didn't get to experience mixed bathing. If only I could soak with Miss Tsurumine."

Morino Kei wore a lecherous grin as pale, tantalizing scenes involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

"Hehehe..."

"Enough, enough. The soundproofing here is terrible. If Rei hears you, she'll give you another two punches."

Uchiha Kai leaned against the edge of the pool, half his body above the water as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the soak.

"Tch~ What am I afraid of? You're the one who should be worried." Morino Kei narrowed his eyes, raised his brows, and poked Uchiha Kai.

"Don't tell me you've never thought about mixed bathing."

At that, Uchiha Kai turned his head and began whistling.

"Morino Kei!"

The furious voice of a girl rang out from beyond the wooden partition.

"Why are you yelling so loudly?! Do you think I'm scared of you?!" Morino Kei shot back without hesitation, his expression brimming with delight.

"Watch yourself! Don't secretly activate your Byakugan! I don't really care, but I'm afraid you're lusting after Kai's body!"

"I'm going to kill you, bastard!"

"Hahahaha! Then come in if you've got the guts~"

The two traded barbs, and even the air seemed to grow more cheerful.

"Sigh~ Kei, you really never learn." Uchiha Kai spoke faintly, his eyes filled with sympathy.

The next instant, a cold mechanical voice rang out. The information appearing on the panel made the boy's expression freeze.

[Mission Accepted: Ambush]

[Mission Details: Face the sudden attack of the Mist Ninja Anbu and survive by any means possible.]

[Reward: Body ×0.2, Water Attribute Mastery (Beginner)]

Uchiha Kai hurriedly climbed out of the hot spring and called out loudly to the other two.

"Enemy attack! Get your equipment ready!"

"What?" Morino Kei froze for a moment. Before his mind could process it, his body had already moved on its own, quickly drying himself off.

The sound of someone leaving the water also came from next door as Hyuga Rei began moving as well.

"There's no time to explain. Just trust me, okay?"

The two quickly dried themselves and rushed into the changing room, speaking as they got dressed.

In barely ten seconds, the two had put on their clothes and readied their equipment, then left the bathhouse together.

The moment they stepped out of the bathhouse doors, they ran into Hyuga Rei approaching from the front. Her hair was still damp, and the flush on her face had yet to fade.

"What's going on?" the girl asked.

"Enemies are lying in wait for us. They'll be here soon. Prepare for battle," Uchiha Kai explained.

As though confirming his words, a massive explosion erupted from the front hall the very next second.

BOOM—

The enormous shockwave tore through the walls, sending sand and stones flying everywhere as the entire bathhouse descended into chaos.

On the street, Yugakure's residents stared dumbfoundedly at the explosion before them, each rooted to the spot and at a complete loss.

In the bathhouse's front hall, at the center of the massive cloud of dust kicked up by the explosion.

As the gray haze gradually settled, a pitch-black sphere appeared at the blast's center. Looking closer, it was actually a protective barrier formed from countless writhing insects, a sight chilling to the bone.

"Oh~ Kikaichū. The Aburame Clan of Konoha." Standing on the bathhouse roof, the tall Kiriki Seiryuu stepped on the eaves and looked down below.

Thud—

Layer upon layer of charred insect corpses crashed to the ground with piercing crackles. The remaining Kikaichū slowly spread out, guarding Aburame Keiichi as they revealed his cold expression.

"Attacking Konoha ninja in neutral territory—do you want to start a war?" Aburame Keiichi's tone was icy. There was more contempt in it than anger.

"Hah? Start a war?" As if he had heard something hilarious, Kiriki Seiryuu convulsed atop the roof and burst into wild laughter.

Yukino, standing behind him, stepped forward and spoke in a sinister voice.

"Who in the entire ninja world doesn't know what Konoha is like now? You've been fighting year after year without rest. First, you were ambushed by the Sand Ninja, who drove straight to your heartland and nearly kicked down your gates."

Yukino's lips curled upward, dangerous light gleaming in his eyes.

"And now you've forcibly gone to war with the Stone Ninja. After being worn down from all sides, how much strength do you have left? How long can your resources last? How much longer can you keep this up?"

Yukino mocked them loudly.

"And you still want to go to war with us?! Can you people, in your current state, bear the wrath of the Mist Ninja?!"

"Still living in Hashirama Senju's era? Konoha, which can only boast of its former glory, ceased to be worthy of our fear long ago!"

"Hehe~ Setting everything else aside, if Konoha still possessed the strength it had during the Second Shinobi World War, we wouldn't dare test them, much less attack them outright."

"What a pity. Weak is weak, and the weak are meant to be at the mercy of the strong!"

Yukino's expression grew increasingly arrogant, and his tone rose higher and higher.

Kiriki Seiryuu followed up smoothly.

"Kid from the Aburame Clan, if you understand the situation, hand over the spy behind you like a good boy."

"Otherwise, the Mist Ninja will take it as a declaration of war against us. You'd better think carefully—because of you, a conflict between our two countries..."

Kiriki Seiryuu grinned, his tone teasing.

"When that happens, what will weakened Konoha face? And what will you face?"

"You'd better think it through..."

Listening to their threats, Chishima Tsurume, hiding behind Aburame Keiichi, wore a conflicted expression. She tugged lightly at Keiichi's sleeve and whispered, "I can't drag the village down because of me... I... I'll go with them..." Her voice was hoarse as she forced out those words with all the courage she could muster.

As she spoke, the girl moved to step forward. Kiriki Seiryuu and Yukino revealed triumphant smiles.

Hehe, what a pair of idiots with bizarre thought processes. Once this stupid woman came over, they would use her as leverage to take down that Aburame Clan ninja.

The two exchanged looks.

One line had hooked two big fish. To think such a buy-one-get-one deal had fallen into his lap—he, Kiriki Seiryuu, was truly blessed by the heavens. When he returned to the village, he would definitely throw a grand feast to celebrate this tremendous stroke of luck.

In the courtyard, battered and ruined by Explosive Tags, Chishima Tsurume's heart sank to the depths. Suppressing her despair, she walked forward.

The next second, a hand that was not particularly large stopped her. It was Aburame Keiichi.

"When did I ever say you could leave? Since when had Konoha's people fallen so low that others could point fingers at them?"

Aburame Keiichi's voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

Light suddenly appeared in Chishima Tsurume's vacant eyes.

The expressions of the two Mist Ninja on the roof changed, then twisted into vicious snarls.

"I see you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit—" Kiriki Seiryuu had barely begun speaking before he was mercilessly interrupted.

"Since when could stray cats and dogs like you bare your fangs at me?"

Aburame Keiichi curled his lips into a grin, revealing a row of neat, snow-white teeth beneath.