Mu

Yura looked Mu up and down with an inexplicably disappointed expression.

She had come to Iwagakure to see if she could get her hands on a flying technique, but this Light-Weight Rock Technique could fly, just far too slowly.

It was pretty disappointing.

Lucy stared fixedly at Ōnoki. Noticing her gaze, Ōnoki felt the pressure mounting. His breathing grew labored, and as his emotions churned, a violent killing intent suddenly bloomed in his heart. His eyes turned scarlet in an instant.

"Lucy!" Yura said.

Huh!?

Lucy initially stared blankly at Ōnoki, not yet understanding what was happening. Then she immediately turned to look at Yura.

So you do know my name.

Yura waved a hand and said, "Stand down. Don't drive the kid crazy."

Only then did Mu notice that something was wrong with Ōnoki. Alarmed, he stepped in front of him and watched Lucy warily. A surge of chakra quietly disrupted the flow of Ōnoki's chakra.

What kind of technique is this? A dojutsu?

Right! Now that's a real dojutsu!

What was that thing Uchiha Madara had supposed to be?

Ōnoki shuddered and began to fall. A moment later, he regained his levitating posture, hovering in the air and panting heavily. He realized he'd just narrowly escaped death.

"May I ask what you mean by that?" Mu asked gravely.

With a soft laugh, Yura rested her chin on one hand and said, "They're just kids fighting. Surely the adults don't need to get involved too."

Kids? Ōnoki looked at Yura. How old are you? You look even younger than me!

Could this woman be an old lady with a young girl's appearance?

Just how old is she?

A secret.

Noticing Ōnoki's gaze, Yura smiled faintly and held a finger to her lips, signaling for him to keep quiet.

Ōnoki shuddered. Did she read my thoughts!?

He immediately lowered his head, not daring to look any longer into those scarlet eyes.

"May I ask, even so—"

Yura cut him off with a faint smile. "Then let's settle it with our fists. Do you want to fight?"

No! Why aren't you following the script!?

Mu's breath caught. This was troublesome. He certainly didn't want to start a war; he hadn't even fully recovered from his injuries.

He had the Invisible Cloak, a technique with the terrifying ability to conceal his chakra from detection, earning him the title of "the Unseen."

Yet the woman standing before him had sensed and tracked him.

There was no doubt about it. The woman was a monster.

"Let's just treat it as a fight between children, then. My disciple isn't skilled enough, and I hope you'll forgive him." Mu first backed down to defuse the situation, then continued, "May I ask what brings you to the Land of Earth?"

"What if," Yura said, "I told you I wanted to join Iwagakure? Would you believe me?"

A shinobi from another village would at the very least need to be screened. Their background and origins had to be investigated; if even ordinary shinobi faced such scrutiny, a powerful one required even greater vigilance.

The question was whether the village dared to take her in.

Power meant being difficult to control. Being difficult to control meant instability, and instability meant sleepless nights. And if you couldn't sleep—

"Don't joke, if you please," Mu said. "Is there something about Iwagakure that appeals to you?"

What are your real intentions?

"The people here must be really talented," Yura said. "I'm quite interested in Earth Release."

This was the interview stage. Yura had to make a good impression, so she decided to be honest.

Beneath his bandages, Mu looked utterly at a loss.

You're only interested in Earth Release?

Do you think I believe that?

"Iwagakure can't let you join." Mu looked toward Lucy and said earnestly, "Senju Hashirama is still alive, and the Five Great Villages have already agreed on a deal to distribute two Tailed Beasts to each village. I'd be happy to have another one, but I'm afraid Senju Tobirama wouldn't agree. If word got out, Iwagakure would have a hard time explaining itself to Konoha."

"You're that timid?" Yura said bluntly.

Beneath his bandages, Mu looked as if he'd swallowed something foul.

"I have to admit, for someone on her own, you must be incredibly powerful to capture a Tailed Beast."

At present, Lucy was the only Jinchuriki in the Shinobi World, and Senju Hashirama hadn't delivered the Tailed Beasts yet. The villages had already assessed how powerful a Jinchuriki could be.

"But I'm afraid you don't yet understand the terrifying power of the God of Shinobi," Mu said gravely.

"I know," Yura replied with a faint smile.

Mu froze. You really do?

"I've fought him—the God of Shinobi."

At those words, Mu regarded Yura with reverence.

Ōnoki's eyes widened in shock. He'd never seen Senju Hashirama fight, but that didn't matter. Not long ago, he'd seen Uchiha Madara in action. That overwhelming power had become his very own nightmare.

When you were away from home, you could make up whatever identity you wanted. Yura intended to brag about this for the rest of her life. Looking at Mu, she said, "Well? Give it some thought."

Then there's even less chance of that happening!

Mu looked torn. For some reason, the air around them seemed to have grown sinister. He replied slowly and steadily, "I'm sorry, but the village isn't recruiting at the moment."

Yura narrowed her eyes. Out of sight, a scythe made of hair hovered silently around Mu. It would take only an instant to cut him down. After confirming that even Mu's sensory abilities couldn't detect her hair blade, Yura quietly withdrew it.

Sensory-type shinobi really are annoying.

Especially the kind who can perform precise sensory scans over a wide area at any time.

There was also Senju Tobirama in Konoha. His sensory abilities were every bit as good as Mu's, and in terms of range, even better.

Sitting cross-legged in midair, Yura smiled faintly. "Could you make an exception for me? I've always admired Iwagakure."

So much for a promising start...

What a shame.

Mu shook his head. "Please leave, if you would. Perhaps you could try joining Konoha."

Yura narrowed her eyes. "You'd be wise not to make threats."

"Would I do that?" Mu said innocently. "I'm only making a sincere suggestion."

To join Konoha, she'd first have to earn Tobirama's trust. Hashirama's word wouldn't be enough; Tobirama had a thousand ways to ruin the plan. If she couldn't even fool Mu, a shrewd strategist, how could she fool Tobirama? Besides, Yura had just killed a Konoha shinobi not long ago.

"I see..." Yura said, looking past Mu at the kid behind him, Ōnoki.

Ōnoki tensed. Why are you looking at me?

Dust Release, the only Kekkei Tōta in the Shinobi World. The technique was quite interesting.

Ordinary Kekkei Genkai were awakened through bloodline inheritance, but Dust Release was different. It was taught from master to student. Its creator was the man before her, Mu. Why had he chosen Ōnoki? Had he been certain Ōnoki could learn Dust Release?

"Kid, have you learned Dust Release?"

Ōnoki was startled and looked at his teacher.

Mu was also an expert in developing techniques, and Ōnoki hadn't learned many of Mu's exclusive techniques.

Seeing that his teacher didn't stop him, Ōnoki said, "I have. Why?"

At that, Yura looked at Mu expectantly, her eyes gleaming. "Do you think I could learn it?"

Whether she learned it or not wasn't important. What mattered was whether she could.

Yura wanted to find that out.

Mu could only feel a headache coming on. You're really that straightforward? Do I even know you? Couldn't you show a little shame?

"Teacher!" Ōnoki cried anxiously. You can't agree just because she's beautiful!

"If there's nothing else you wish to discuss, let's end this here," Mu said.

"Is that so..." Yura nodded. "Even if the deal falls through, we can still part on good terms. To show my sincerity, I'll give you a piece of information first."

Information?

Mu regarded Yura with a grave expression.