Mu

Yura examined Mu with a look of inexplicable disappointment.

She had come to Iwagakure to see if she could pilfer any flight-related ninjutsu, but this Light-Weight Rock Technique, while capable of flight, was simply too slow.

It was quite disappointing.

Lucy stared fixedly at Ōnoki. Noticing her gaze, Ōnoki felt his mental pressure mounting, his breathing growing ragged. As emotions churned within him, a sudden, violent killing intent erupted in his heart, and his eyes turned blood-red in an instant.

"Lucy!" Yura said.

Eh!?

Startled at first, Lucy, who hadn't yet reacted, stared at Ōnoki before immediately turning her head to look at Yura.

So you actually know how to say my name.

Yura waved her hand and said, "Stand down. Don't drive this brat insane."

Only then did Mu realize that something was wrong with Ōnoki's state. Alarmed, he blocked the path in front of Ōnoki, watching Lucy with a grave expression as he quietly used his own chakra to disrupt the flow of Ōnoki's chakra.

What kind of technique is this? A dojutsu?

That's right! This is what a real dojutsu should be!

What Uchiha Madara has doesn't even count!

Ōnoki shuddered, his body plummeting. In an instant, he regained his hovering posture, standing in mid-air and panting heavily, realizing with a jolt that he had just skirted the gates of hell.

"Your Excellency, what is the meaning of this?" Mu asked in a deep voice.

With a light chuckle and her chin resting on her hand, Yura said, "Adults shouldn't interfere in a fight between children, should they?"

Children? Hearing this, Ōnoki looked at Yura. May I ask how old you are? You look even younger than me!

Could this person be some old hag trapped in the appearance of a young girl?

Just how old is she?

Secret.

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

He was struck with horror! She had seen through his thoughts!?

Ōnoki abruptly lowered his head, not daring to look any longer into those scarlet eyes.

"Your Excellency, even so..."

Yura interrupted, smiling faintly: "Then let's settle this with our skills. Shall we start a war?"

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

Mu's breath hitched, feeling a sense of trouble. He naturally did not want to start a war; his injuries had not yet fully healed.

One had to know, he possessed the Invisible Cloak, a terrifying stealth ability that made it impossible for others to perceive his chakra, earning him the title of "The Nameless."

Yet, he had been perceived and captured by the woman before him.

Without a doubt, the person opposite him was a monster.

"Your Excellency, let us treat this as a fight between children. My disciple is lacking in skill, and I apologize for the embarrassment," Mu said, taking a step back to show weakness, then immediately followed up: "May I ask what brings you to the Land of Earth?"

"If..." Yura said, "I told you I wanted to join Iwagakure, would you believe me?"

Whenever a ninja from an outside village sought to join, there had to be at least some level of interrogation and investigation into their background. This was true for ordinary ninjas, and for powerful ones, one had to be twelve times more vigilant.

The question was whether the village dared to accept her.

Power meant difficulty in control; difficulty in control meant instability; instability meant one couldn't sleep well; and if one couldn't sleep well...

"Stop joking, Your Excellency..." Mu said. "Is there something about Iwagakure that attracts you?"

What is your objective?

"This place—the people here are super talented, aren't they?" Yura said. "I'm actually quite interested in Earth Style."

During the interview phase, Yura had to show her cards, so she might as well be honest.

Beneath his bandages, Mu wore an expression of indescribable frustration.

Just Earth Style?

See if I believe you.

"Iwagakure cannot allow you to join, Your Excellency." Mu looked at Lucy, who was standing to the side, and said sincerely: "While Senju Hashirama still lives, the five great villages have already reached an agreement. Each village is allocated two Tailed Beasts. I would be quite happy to have one more, but I fear Senju Tobirama would not agree. Once the news leaks, Iwagakure would find it difficult to answer to Konoha."

"Are you really that cowardly?" Yura asked bluntly.

Beneath his bandages, Mu looked as uncomfortable as if he had eaten excrement.

"I must admit, being able to capture a Tailed Beast all by yourself proves you are undoubtedly powerful."

In the current ninja world, Lucy was the only Jinchuriki. Senju Hashirama had not yet made his deliveries, and the various villages had already assessed the strength of Jinchuriki.

"But I fear you still do not understand the terrifying power of the God of Shinobi," Mu said in a deep voice.

"I know..." Yura smiled faintly.

Mu was stunned. You actually know.

"I have crossed blades with him, the God of Shinobi."

As the words fell, Mu looked at Yura with newfound solemnity.

Ōnoki's pupils trembled; he had never seen Senju Hashirama in action, but that didn't matter. He had recently witnessed Uchiha Madara unleash his power, and that overwhelming strength had become the very nightmare that haunted his nights.

When traveling abroad, one creates their own reputation. Yura planned to brag about this for the rest of her life. She looked at Mu and said, "How about it? Give it some thought."

That made it even more impossible!

Mu wore a strained expression. For some reason, he felt a chill creeping through the air around him. He said slowly and steadily, "My apologies, Excellency, but the village is not currently recruiting."

Yura narrowed her eyes. Hidden from sight, sickles formed from her hair hovered silently around Mu. In a single instant, she could cut him down. Confirming that even Mu's sensory abilities couldn't detect her hair-blades, Yura quietly retracted them.

Still, sensory-type ninjas were truly annoying.

Especially those capable of precise, large-scale, and constant surveillance.

Back in Konoha, there was also Senju Tobirama, whose sensory range was not inferior to Mu's, and in terms of distance, he was even superior.

Sitting cross-legged in mid-air, Yura smiled faintly. "Could you please make an exception? I have always held Iwagakure in high regard."

To fail before the campaign has even begun...

What a pity.

Mu shook his head and said, "Please return, Excellency. Perhaps you could try joining Konoha instead."

Yura narrowed her eyes. "It would be best to speak fewer threats."

"How could that be?" Mu said innocently. "I am merely offering a sincere suggestion."

Joining Konoha required gaining Tobirama's trust. Senju Hashirama's word didn't count for much; Tobirama had ten thousand ways to sabotage it. If she couldn't even fool the strategist Mu standing before her, she certainly couldn't fool Tobirama—not to mention that Yura had just killed a Konoha ninja not long ago.

"I understand..." As she spoke, Yura looked at the brat behind Mu: Ōnoki.

Ōnoki felt a jolt in his heart. What do you mean by looking at me?

The only Kekkei Tōta in the ninja world, Dust Release—that technique was quite interesting.

Ordinary Kekkei Genkai were awakened through bloodline inheritance, but Dust Release was different; it was learned through the transmission from master to apprentice. The pioneer was the man before her, Mu. Why had he chosen Ōnoki, and how could he be certain that Ōnoki would be able to master Dust Release?

"Brat, have you learned that Dust Release?"

Ōnoki was startled and looked toward his teacher.

Mu was an expert in developing ninjutsu, and there were many of his unique techniques that even Ōnoki had not yet mastered.

Seeing that his teacher did not stop him, Ōnoki replied, "I have learned it. Why do you ask?"

Hearing this, Yura looked at Mu with an expectant expression, her eyes shimmering as she asked, "Do you think I could learn it?"

Whether she actually learned it didn't matter; what mattered was whether it was possible to learn.

Yura wanted to confirm this very thing.

Mu only felt a headache coming on. Is she always this direct? Are we even close? Can you have a little shame?

"Teacher!" Ōnoki urged, you cannot agree just because of her beauty!

"Excellency, if there is nothing else to discuss, let us end this here," Mu said.

"Is that so..." Yura nodded. "Even if the deal doesn't go through, there is still goodwill. To show my sincerity, I will gift you a piece of intelligence first."

Intelligence?

Mu looked at Yura with a grave expression.