Spy

They shared intelligence on personnel and ninjutsu, assigned the opponents they needed to deal with, and discussed their plan.

The plan was simple: take each other out within the village.

The date was set for four days later, when a high-level meeting would be held. The elders of all four clans would be there. Mochizuki Gen would lead the frontal attack, Kakuzu would make an appearance, and Yura would assassinate and settle accounts with the four clans.

"I'll get my people out of there. Everyone left in the Hero Clan will be killed," Huan said gravely.

Yura nodded. When the time came, the final act would be Huan, playing the hero, leading her people in driving off the unhinged Kakuzu. Yura would remain hidden throughout. The greatest benefit for her was that she wouldn't be wanted by the shinobi village, making it much easier to join another village.

Mochizuki Gen hesitated before speaking. "I'll complete the mission."

"Then I won't see you out. Prepare for the operation as soon as possible," Yura said, dismissing him.

He looked deeply at Yura, then at Huan, who had fallen into her hands without even seeming to realize it. He was a little worried about Huan's safety...

Mochizuki Gen turned and left.

"Call in all the insider representatives you've recruited," Yura instructed Huan. "I need three people who know the ins and outs of the three clans to lead the way."

"Yes." Huan summoned a beast. An hour later, the moonlit woods rang with the rushing whistle of the Body Flicker Technique. Three figures arrived almost simultaneously and stood on the branches, looking down at Huan in the forest.

"Weren't you sent on a mission, Miss Huan?" asked a blond young man. He had fair skin, delicate features, and a gentle face, and looked to be in his twenties.

The Uji Clan had many handsome men and beautiful women, and they looked like people from the Land of Lightning, with blond hair and blue eyes.

"Shuichi, shut up." The speaker was a black-haired woman in her twenties. Unlike the seductive women of the Qian Gui Clan, she had an ordinary face but a capable air about her. Crouching on a branch, she addressed Huan. "Didn't I tell you not to contact me so casually?"

"Aoi." Huan shook her head. "The time has come."

The three of them heard her and grew solemn at once.

Yura, meanwhile, studied the boy among them. His skin was unusually pale, and he had long, smooth black hair, purple eyeshadow, and golden slit pupils. He was handsome in his own way. Though he seemed a little cold, he wore a gentle smile, like a sunny, cheerful boy.

The Kusanagi Clan...

Yura had seen him before, at the Kusanagi Clan's orphan training camp. He was a year older than her.

"Wait, Huan." The Kusanagi Clan boy remained on the branch and spoke in a low voice. "Aren't you going to introduce the shinobi behind you?"

At that, Shuichi and Aoi were startled. There was someone else?

Huan looked at him in surprise, too.

His gaze was fixed on Yura, who hovered in midair.

"No need for introductions." Yura raised a hand and greeted him with a smile. "Long time no see, Shin-getsu."

"So it really is you..." A grave look appeared in Shin-getsu's eyes. "I thought I was mistaken. It's been a long time."

Unlike Yura, Shin-getsu was an orphan with Kusanagi Clan blood.

"Shin-getsu, you don't strike me as a particularly kind or warm-hearted person."

The Kusanagi Clan was a thoroughly cold-blooded clan. Even relatives had little affection for one another. Back when they'd fought to the death within the clan, Shin-getsu hadn't smiled like this.

"Never mind. Since I've run into an old acquaintance, I won't guess at your ambitions or motives." Yura smiled faintly.

"Heh heh heh..." His smile shifted, his eyes turning cold. In front of someone who knew him well, he revealed the fangs he'd been hiding. Without taking his eyes off Yura, Shin-getsu said to Huan, "Miss Huan, don't let her harmless appearance fool you. Deep down, she's a cruel and heartless woman. You'd better be careful."

I know...

Huan had been beaten up by Yura twice. She knew all too well.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Aoi sneered from the side. "I knew it. The Kusanagi Clan is full of people like him."

"Yura..." Huan tried to smooth things over. "These three are all companions who share our ideals."

"That's why I don't know whether to call you clever or foolish." Yura smiled faintly. "You're an excellent social butterfly, but you're not very good at judging people. You can't handle this man's ambition. But, Shin-getsu, badmouthing me to my face—your mouth is as annoying as ever."

Seeing that hateful face again, Yura suddenly realized that he looked almost exactly like Orochimaru had as a boy.

Ryūchi Cave, the Kusanagi Sword. So that was it...

After stealing his clan's treasure and becoming a missing-nin, he'd taken advantage of the confusion and lack of information in Konoha's early days and joined the village.

So, besides Onikiri, the Kusanagi Clan had another blade, the Sky Tachi?

Yura looked at Huan and smiled. "You don't mind if I deal with this guy, do you?"

"Wait, Yura..." Huan was startled, realizing that Yura was about to attack...

Shin-getsu's expression turned cold, and he immediately drew his Ninja Blade.

"Even in sparring, you couldn't beat me..." Yura crooked a finger and smiled. "With swordsmanship like yours, don't make me laugh, Shin-getsu."

There was no need to spell out what it meant to be chosen for the team tasked with assassinating Senju Hashirama.

"You useless runt of the Kusanagi Clan! What, Shin-getsu, have you forgotten how close I came to cutting you down?"

He couldn't move...

Shin-getsu stared at Yura with a grim expression, unable to tell what had triggered the attack. His limbs and body were bound. He'd known he might not be Yura's match, but he'd never imagined he'd lose so quickly and strangely.

Not far away, the other two looked just as grim. Yura had immobilized them, too.

Well, she'd already made her move.

Huan reached out, then pulled her hand back and hurriedly said, "Yura, they're just three ordinary Chunin. I have everything under control."

"The three of them are getting a little too cocky. They still don't understand the situation." Yura rose and strolled through the moonlit air, stepping forward until she was right in front of Shin-getsu.

"Please spare them, Yura," Huan begged urgently from the ground.

Uji Shuichi looked utterly bewildered. I wasn't being that cocky.

Qian Gui Aoi stared stubbornly at Yura, refusing to utter a sound.

"You managed to see me right away. It seems the clan's brutal training methods have wasted some of your talent."

Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation was a rather subtle technique. An ordinary person without a powerful soul would suffer more side effects than just a weakened spirit if they tried to do what Orochimaru did.

Shin-getsu glared at Yura, his face dark.

"You're in luck, Shin-getsu. I happen to need a spy." She would have him infiltrate Konoha. As she spoke, Yura gently touched Shin-getsu's forehead.

Shin-getsu's pupils trembled. What was she going to do?

In an instant, black strands sprouted from her fingertip, then poured out and burrowed frantically into Shin-getsu's face, eyes, and mouth.

Three agonized screams rang through the woods at once.

The three of them writhed wildly in pain. After a long while, the screams subsided, leaving only their labored breathing.

"I don't really trust them. To keep my information from leaking, I've taken control of them for you, Huan. Is that all right?" Yura asked with a faint smile.

Huan nodded, swallowed hard, and managed a strained smile. "It's fine, Yura."

I have to get this Ghost Princess out of the village!

I have to!

It's such a relief that she's willing to leave on her own!