Yuki Akira

With the pre-war mobilization concluded, what came next was war itself.

As the ANBU Vice Director, Yoru naturally had a mountain of tasks to handle. But just as he finished discussing the attack formation with Yagura and returned to his tent, several figures blocked his path.

Gazing at the Yuki Clan crest embroidered on their collars, Yoru paused briefly, his tone cold. "Something?"

The group exchanged glances, and the leader spoke in a low voice: "The clan elder wishes to see you. Come with us."

Yoru let out a scoff, ignoring these fools as he strode toward his tent.

This blatant disregard sparked a flicker of anger in the leader's eyes. The Yuki Clan's temperament was far from the cold detachment of their bloodline; as a premier bloodline clan of Kirigakure, rivaling and even outshining the Kaguya Clan, their disposition was hardly milder than those battle-hungry berserkers.

Dismissed by Yoru like this, the leader's hand already began to gather traces of Chakra.

But the moment his Chakra surfaced, a suffocating chill erupted without warning.

He stared down in disbelief—his entire lower body had been frozen solid in ice crystals, with no idea when it happened.

"When did this... I didn't even sense any Chakra."

The ice continued to spread, and soon, all of him below the neck was encased in crystal, leaving only his head exposed.

Yoru walked into his tent without a second glance, while the other Yuki Clan members scrambled to carry the human-shaped ice block away in a panic.

But before Yoru could even process a few documents, another visitor arrived.

More Yuki Clan members.

This time, however, it was a striking woman around twenty years old, accompanied by a man.

Though on the front lines, she wore no Kirigakure ninja vest, instead donning an elegant white kimono, her steps light, graceful, and refined.

Her long black hair draped over her shoulders, and beneath the kimono, her mature, well-proportioned figure was captivating, paired with a cool, aloof aura that gave her the exotic beauty of an ice rose.

Her name was Yuki Akira, a clan elder of the Yuki Clan. The man beside her was the newly appointed Deputy Commander of Kirigakure's Second Division, Yuki Hyōji.

The two waited silently at the entrance until Yoru finished handling the document in his hand before allowing them in.

"Wait outside for now."

"Yes."

With permission granted, Yuki Akira said calmly. Yuki Hyōji nodded quietly and stood still at the tent's entrance.

Because he was inside the tent and had been promoted to Vice Director, Yoru no longer wore his ANBU mask, revealing a young, handsome face with a hint of boyishness, along with a small pure-white mask over his right eye.

Yuki Akira's gaze lingered on his face briefly. "Director, your eye..."

"It's nothing." Yoru didn't look up, picking up the next document to continue working.

At the level of ANBU Vice Director, Yoru had stepped beyond ordinary ninja ranks into the upper echelons, meaning he now had to handle administrative affairs.

These documents had just been delivered by the ANBU after his appointment. After processing a few, he noticed they included not only ANBU matters but also village and regional issues, and in no small proportion.

For instance, the document in his hand now detailed a Chunin from the Momochi Clan who had taken unauthorized private work outside, and on top of that, killed his own squad's Jonin, then traded the head at the Underground Exchange for money...

[A-rank Missing-nin, Wanted, Hunt down.]

After scribbling a few words on the document with his pen, Yoru finally looked up at Yuki Akira before him.

"If this is merely a courtesy visit, then I, This Humble One, have already received Lady Akira's concern. My duties are pressing; I ask for your understanding, Lady Akira."

"... "

The dismissive attitude didn't provoke impatience on Yuki Akira's face. Instead, she asked softly, "Director, Lord Yagura mentioned that you've awakened the Ice Release?"

Yoru gazed at her coolly. "The physical data of Kirigakure's upper echelons is classified—you should know that."

"But I am a clan elder of the Yuki Clan, with the duty and right to oversee and verify all members of the Yuki Clan who..."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Yoru cut her off.

"The year I was born, I was already expelled from the Yuki Clan. If you don't believe me, Lady Akira, you can return to the village, flip through the Yuki Clan registry, and see if the name 'Yuki Yoru' appears on it."

His indifferent gaze made the Yuki Clan elder purse her lips.

"I'm merely concerned about your physical condition, Director."

"Awakening Ice Release requires at least two innate Chakra natures—Water and Wind—but you only possess one... Director, you are an indispensable combat asset to us. If your body..."

"I'll warn you one more time, Yuki Akira."

Yoru's icy voice cut her off again, his exposed left eye radiating a suffocating, fierce killing intent.

"Don't mistake your duties and authority. Unauthorized investigation of village high-ranking officials' information is a violation of Kirigakure law. Especially in this sensitive period, if you continue such actions, I will have no choice but to subject you to an ANBU review."

"... Akira understands."

Yuki Akira slowly rose and bowed deeply to Yoru. "My apologies for disturbing your work, Director. Akira will take her leave."

Yoru said nothing more, lowering his head on his own to resume reviewing documents.

The voices inside the tent were not particularly restrained. At the entrance, Yuki Clan's Hyōshi stood with a dark face, his fists clenched tight.

After Yuki Akira walked out of the tent with a complicated expression, Hyōshi immediately said in a grim tone, "That brat is utterly arrogant. Not only is Lady Akira a future Clan Head candidate, but she is also his elder! Treating his own elder with such an attitude—this kid truly has no manners at all!"

Yuki Akira did not respond, instead lost in thought.

Beside her, Hyōshi fumed indignantly, muttering about disrespect for elders and ignorance of propriety—how someone who had only just awakened Ice Release could be so haughty, utterly clueless.

Yuki Akira gave a wry smile. "You heard it too. His name isn't even recorded in our Yuki Clan's genealogy. In what sense are we his elders?"

Hyōshi's expression froze, and he stammered, unsure of what to say.

Yuki Akira shook her head and said nothing more.

"Go ahead and prepare for the battle. I need to report Yoru's situation to the Clan Head."

"...Yes, Lady Akira."