The Evil Tobirama Senju

The man in the Anbu uniform and bird mask raced silently through the forest, as swift and soundless as a ghost.

Compared to the cool, practical outfits worn by ordinary Anbu, he was wrapped up tight. Not only did his mask conceal his face, but his hood and high collar also covered most of it, making him look suspicious and conspicuous. But thanks to his naturally low presence, no one seemed to mind his appearance.

So close. So close.

The insects inside him grew more and more restless. They seemed able to sense more anomalies than a human could.

Beneath his mask, the man's expression was grave.

He had never seen his Kikaichū act so agitated. Even when facing Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, the dim-witted insects had never reacted like this.

Could insects feel fear?

He had wondered about it before.

Now, he had his answer.

They could.

Fearful sweat slowly trickled from his forehead, down his cheeks and chin, and into the damp collar of his clothes.

Still, it was fortunate that the Kikaichū's reaction let him pinpoint his target's distance and position.

Until their unease reached its peak and they nearly burst out of his body, instinctively beginning to defend him.

She was here!

He landed on a tree trunk with one foot, his hands in his pockets, and turned to look into the silent forest behind him, where there seemed to be nothing at all.

Where was she?

Behind his sunglasses, his eyes darted around nervously.

Suspended in midair opposite the ninja, Yura silently watched him.

The man couldn't see her, but the insects had noticed her.

The ninja kept his hands in his pockets as cold sweat slid down his cheeks.

Had she not come?

No! She was close! Very close! She was nearby! The Kikaichū would never lie to him!

Was there some anomaly he hadn't noticed?

The ninja calmly analyzed the situation.

In the distant forest, White Fox stopped in her tracks. Her hands and feet were cold, and she trembled slightly.

She hadn't made it in time. She still hadn't made it.

"Look at her! She's right in front of you!"

Compared to her companion, who stood face-to-face with the Ghost Princess and remained completely oblivious, White Fox was even more distraught, because she could see everything.

She had once thought that only overwhelming power—like that of the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, and Uchiha Madara, who could easily reshape the battlefield—could be called terrifying. Only now did she realize that a technique like this, seemingly calm and uneventful yet profoundly uncanny, was another kind of utter terror.

She couldn't see through the technique. She didn't even have the right to face this person.

If Yura wished, she could make someone die full of confusion, without ever realizing what was happening.

No matter how much White Fox shouted or warned him, her distant companion no longer had any chance of hearing her.

She whirled around and raced in the direction her squad leader had gone.

She had to make it in time. She had to tell the squad leader what she knew. Only by joining forces would they have a chance of surviving this person.

Crouching in midair with her chin propped on one hand, Yura studied the insects covering the ninja. The tiny black creatures crawled all over his body, visibly terrified.

Since becoming a yokai, Yura had gained the ability to sense negative emotions. It had overturned many of her long-held assumptions. Plants could cry, and many little insects, though simple-minded, had feelings too. Everything in the world had a spirit, and all living things seemed more vivid to her now.

Still, she couldn't help resenting the fact that little animals didn't like her very much.

Having a natural bug-repelling aura was convenient, sure, but did they really hate her that much?

Then why did Little Monster get a pass?

It left Yura baffled. It didn't seem to have much to do with the negative emotions she carried. Could it be because she had yokai aura?

But...

"Every time I see a Konoha ninja, I can't help saying a few things," Yura said.

At the sound of her voice, the ninja's body stiffened abruptly. He didn't move, still standing there with his hands casually tucked in his pockets. Beneath his sunglasses, his eyes rolled a full 180 degrees and abruptly locked onto Yura. His pupils contracted in shock.

When had she appeared there? Had she been standing in front of him all along?

Was he blind?

The Kikaichū swarmed frantically around the ninja. They were so desperate that, if only they could speak, they would have shouted at him already.

After a brief silence, the ninja said, "What did you want to say?" He picked up the thread of Yura's remark.

"I knew you were different from that hotheaded fellow earlier. You're not in much of a hurry to die," Yura said with a faint smile.

So he was dead already. Beneath his wide sleeves, the ninja clenched his fists and lowered his head in silence.

"What mission are you carrying out?" Yura asked curiously. "Don't tell me you just happened to be assigned to hunt me down."

The Land of Fire was enormous. There was no way she'd just happened to run into Konoha's Anbu in some random town. Konoha must have launched a large-scale operation.

"No need to wonder," the ninja replied. "It's just a coincidence. Your name is on the Anbu's Assassination Handbook."

He was most likely doomed, but if he could stall for time and improve his companions' chances of survival, it was worth revealing a few unimportant details.

Yura could find the same information on his corpse anyway.

"How unpleasant," Yura said. "Why would Konoha, which claims to stand for justice, want to assassinate me for no reason?"

"You killed Konoha's ninjas, didn't you?" the ninja said. "We're just settling the score."

"That's strange," Yura said with a faint smile. "Leaving aside the fact that I never provoked them, those three from Ino-Shika-Cho insisted on making trouble for me. And your God of Shinobi preaches love and justice, doesn't he? He says you only have to endure it. I hit you, you don't hit back, and the hatred ends. Do you really not understand that?"

"Stop talking nonsense," the ninja said. "Why should you be the one who doesn't hit back?"

"I got hit, but I'm not allowed to hit back? How domineering of you, Konoha..." Yura said with a faint smile. "Enough of this nonsense. Who put my name in the Anbu's Assassination Handbook? I'm guessing it was the evil Tobirama Senju, right?"

Beneath his sunglasses, the ninja's eyelid twitched.

Evil?

She'd already guessed. What more proof did she need?

I'm sorry, Lord Tobirama.

He nodded solemnly. "The Anbu was planned and established by Lord Tobirama himself."

"I know, I know. Senju Hashirama doesn't have the brains for that." Resting her chin on her hands, Yura smiled faintly. "Also, Tsunade is doomed. You heard it here first."

Who was Tsunade?

Before he could worry about what fate had in store for Tsunade, Yura's next words made his heart skip a beat.

"Tell me what your real mission is," Yura said.

The mission?

The ninja fell silent, thinking about how to stall and buy more time.

But then Yura's voice rang out, sealing his fate. "I'll count to three..."

"One..."

The ninja's thoughts raced.

"Three!"

The ninja's heart lurched. He blurted out, "A marriage proposal! Our mission is to go to the Land of Whirlpools and propose!"

Their actual, ongoing mission had to remain confidential, but there was no harm in revealing information about one that was already complete.

"A marriage proposal?" Yura looked at him in surprise.

"Konoha is strengthening its alliance with the Land of Whirlpools. They're going to marry the princess of the Land of Whirlpools."

So it was this point in time?

Yura looked thoughtful. Senju Hashirama's wedding should be after his breakup fight with Uchiha Madara. There should still be a year or two to go. It made sense to begin the early talks, preparations, and negotiations now.

Heh...

The corners of Yura's mouth curled into a sinister smile. She'd been worrying that she couldn't find a way to get back at him.

Well, here was her chance.

A wedding? You short-lived fool, keep dreaming!

A fierce gleam flashed in Yura's crimson eyes.

If she couldn't make Hashirama's life miserable before he died, Yura would never enjoy another meal again. Even dancing on his grave wouldn't ease her grudge.

After all, Hashirama had genuinely killed Yura once. This was a life-and-death grudge.

And she'd have to plan carefully to take Hashirama's heart.

Seeing Yura apparently lost in thought, her attention no longer on him, the ninja's eyes lit up.

An opening! Attack!