Yuki Akira

With the prewar mobilization over, the next step was war.

As ANBU Vice Director, Yoru naturally had plenty of work to do. But after discussing the attack plans with Yagura and returning to his tent, he found several figures blocking the entrance.

He glanced at the Yuki Clan crests on their collars and paused briefly, his tone indifferent.

"What is it?"

The group exchanged looks. Their leader spoke in a low voice. "The Clan Head wishes to see you. Please come with me."

Yoru scoffed. Ignoring the idiots, he continued toward his tent.

His dismissive attitude immediately brought a trace of anger to the leader's eyes.

The Yuki Clan's temperament was nothing like their Kekkei Genkai: they weren't cold and detached. As one of Kirigakure's top Kekkei Genkai Clans, renowned and even rivaling the Kaguya Clan, they weren't much better tempered than that clan of battle maniacs.

After being ignored like this, the leader had already begun gathering chakra in his hand.

But the instant his chakra appeared, a suffocating chill suddenly swept over them.

He looked down in disbelief. At some point, his entire lower body had been frozen solid in ice.

"When did..."

"I didn't sense any chakra."

The ice continued to spread. Before long, everything below his neck was encased in ice, leaving only his head exposed.

Yoru walked into his tent as if nothing had happened. The Yuki Clan members hurriedly carried the human-shaped ice block away in a fluster.

Before Yoru could finish handling a few documents, someone else came to visit.

They were from the Yuki Clan again.

This time, however, the visitors were a beautiful woman who looked about twenty and a man.

Though they were at the front lines, she wasn't wearing a Kirigakure flak jacket. Instead, she wore a gorgeous white kimono and moved with graceful, light steps.

Her long black hair fell over her shoulders. Beneath the kimono, her mature, shapely figure was captivating, and her cool demeanor gave her the unusual beauty of an ice rose.

She was Yuki Akira, an elder of the Yuki Clan. The man with her was Yuki Hyōji, the newly appointed deputy commander of Kirigakure's Second Division.

The two waited quietly at the entrance. Yoru let them in only after he had finished reviewing the document in his hands.

"Wait outside for now."

"Yes."

With permission granted, Yuki Akira answered calmly. Yuki Hyōji nodded silently and waited at the tent entrance.

Since they were inside the tent, and Yoru had risen to the rank of ANBU Vice Director, he wasn't wearing his ANBU mask. His youthful, handsome face, still bearing a hint of boyishness, was visible, along with the small, pure-white mask over his right eye.

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

"It's nothing." Without looking up, Yoru picked up the next document and continued working.

At the level of ANBU Vice Director, Yoru had left the ranks of ordinary shinobi and entered the upper echelons. That meant he had to start handling administrative affairs.

These documents had been delivered by ANBU just after his appointment.

After reviewing a few, Yoru realized they dealt not only with ANBU matters, but also with village and local affairs—and there were quite a few of those.

The document in his hand now concerned a Momochi Clan Chunin who had taken private jobs without authorization. Taking private jobs was bad enough, but he had also killed the Jonin in his own squad, then taken the man's head to the Underground Exchange to collect the bounty...

[Rank-A Missing-nin, wanted, pursue and kill]

After writing a few words on the document, Yoru looked up at Yuki Akira.

"If you came only to check on me, then I've received your concern, Lady Akira. I'm busy with official business, so please excuse me."

"..."

His distant manner didn't make Yuki Akira impatient. Instead, she asked softly, "Vice Director, Lord Yagura said you've awakened Hyoton?"

Yoru looked at Yuki Akira impassively. "The personal information of Kirigakure's leadership is confidential. You should know that."

"But I'm an elder of the Yuki Clan. I have both the responsibility and the right to oversee and verify the details of every Yuki Clan member..."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Yoru interrupted Yuki Akira.

"I was kicked out of the Yuki Clan the year I was born. If you don't believe me, Lady Akira, you can return to the village and look through the Yuki Clan family records. See whether the name Yuki Yoru appears there."

His indifferent gaze made the Yuki Clan elder press her lips together.

"I'm only worried about your health, Vice Director."

"To awaken Hyoton, one must have the innate chakra natures of both water and wind. But you have only one chakra nature... Vice Director, you're an indispensable force for us. If your health..."

"I'll remind you once more, Yuki Akira."

Yoru's icy voice cut her off again. His exposed left eye radiated a chilling, murderous intent.

"Don't confuse your duties with your authority. Investigating confidential information about the village leadership without authorization is a violation of Kirigakure law. And during such a sensitive period, if you continue these actions, I'll have no choice but to subject you to an ANBU investigation."

"...I understand."

Yuki Akira slowly rose and bowed deeply to Yoru. "I'm sorry for disturbing your work, Vice Director. I'll take my leave."

Yoru said nothing. He simply lowered his head and resumed reviewing the documents.

The conversation in the tent hadn't been kept particularly quiet. Outside, Yuki Hyōji stood guard, his face dark and fists clenched.

When Yuki Akira emerged from the tent with a complicated expression, Hyōji immediately said grimly, "That brat is so insolent. Lady Akira is not only a candidate to become Clan Head, but also his elder! Treating his own elder like that—he has no manners at all!"

Yuki Akira didn't answer. She seemed lost in thought.

Hyōji fumed beside her, muttering about disrespecting one's elders and being ill-mannered. He'd only just awakened Hyoton, yet he was already so arrogant. It was outrageous.

Yuki Akira smiled wryly. "You heard him, too. His name isn't even in our Yuki Clan family records. What makes us his elders?"

Hyōji froze, stammering as he struggled to find an answer.

Yuki Akira shook her head and said nothing more.

"Go get ready for the operation. I need to report Yoru's situation to the Clan Head."

"...Yes, Lady Akira."