Snow One Village

"Senior, there seems to be a village ahead."

I brushed the snow off my head to get a clearer look.

"If we head south from Kirigakure, this is indeed the closest village." I asked, "Senior, is this the Snow One Village we are looking for?"

"According to the map, it is this village." Hyuga Makoto's Byakugan opened slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes: "However..."

"However what? Since we've found it, let's hurry up and rescue the people. What if the people from the Bloody Mist Village find them first? That would be a disaster!"

Having been safe and sound throughout the journey, Kusama Shigeo was getting more and more into his role as captain.

I ignored him and turned to ask Hyuga Makoto: "Senior, what were you about to say? Is there something wrong with this village?"

Hyuga Makoto frowned, seemingly listening intently to something.

"It's too quiet."

I looked up; the Snow One Village in the mountain hollow was covered in thick snow, forming a vast, white expanse. If one didn't search carefully, one would never notice a village here.

"Senior, perhaps it's just because the wind and snow are too heavy, and no one is out moving about, which is why it seems so quiet."

Thinking of the deadline set by Orochimaru, I began to feel impatient.

After all, four days had already passed. If we couldn't find the person and return today, the mission would be a failure!

I thought of my mother's expectant eyes, Itachi's joyful little face, and finally, my father's stern expression; a surge of impulse rose in my heart!

I refuse to let my first mission end in failure, absolutely not!

"Approach and observe first."

As soon as Hyuga Makoto spoke, Kusama Shigeo and I darted forward, like mice on the snow—sneaky yet swift as flight!

In my field of vision, the wind and snow grew heavier, but the village became clearer. I carefully observed my surroundings, suddenly struck by a sense of familiarity.

This village was ancient, dilapidated, and filled with thatched huts.

Why does it look so familiar? It's as if I've seen it somewhere before...

Just as I was thinking, a hand pressed down on my shoulder. I looked up to see Kusama Shigeo's cheeky face leaning in.

"Let's divide the work. You search the east and north sides of the village, Hyuga-senior searches the west and south, and I, as captain, will be responsible for the center. How about that?"

I rolled my eyes, cursing inwardly: You need to search the center? You might as well just say you don't want to do anything at all.

However, considering he was a medical ninja with little combat capability, I tacitly agreed.

After all, the status of a medical ninja in a squad is the highest; he should be in the safest position, waiting for us to return.

"Senior, do you agree with this plan?" I turned to ask Hyuga Makoto, who had landed and was observing the surroundings, his pure white eyes appearing even more piercing against the snow.

"Let's split up." No sooner had Hyuga Makoto finished speaking than a gust of wind swept over. The cold air caught our sideburns, revealing his clear, beautiful features. His white pupils looked even more transparent, like ice crystals in a cave.

So beautiful...

In this world of pure white, if he weren't wearing black tactical gear, he would look just like a snow spirit.

I swallowed, becoming increasingly curious about the face hidden behind his mask.

Why, exactly, does he always have to wear that mask?

Could it be that he really has some unspeakable secret?

"Return here by sunset."

"Is that clear?"

I stood stunned for a second before nodding hurriedly: "Yes!"

"Then..."

A second before Hyuga Makoto could give the order, Kusama Shigeo rushed over and interjected: "Disperse!"

As the order was given, I performed the Body Flicker Technique, the first to dart into the village alleyways, searching as I moved forward.

The village wasn't large; if we searched with all our might, we might be able to find the child before dark! It must be possible!

But this village was indeed terrifyingly quiet.

I ran for a long time, yet I could only hear my own footsteps and the sound of falling snow; I didn't see a single soul.

It made sense, though. Ever since Kirigakure implemented the Bloody Mist Village policy, whether they were Kekkei Genkai users, ninjas caught in political strife, or even ordinary people, none could escape their bloody fate.

I wondered how many living people were left in this village.

"Thinking about it, Konoha is better after all." I sighed at the tragedy here, feeling an extra longing for my own home.

Therefore, this war must be won!

If we could win this war decisively, Konoha would surely usher in a long period of peace, and perhaps those tragedies would never happen in the first place!

Thinking of this, I felt even more motivated. Just as I was about to push open a door to sneak inside, I suddenly heard an unusual sound behind me.

I turned back and discovered that the door behind me had actually opened!

I drew my kunai and pressed against the doorframe to peek inside. It was a small courtyard filled with snow, looking uninhabited, but I didn't dare to be careless. I observed for a moment, grabbed the wall, and climbed up, carefully lurking on the roof to look down, where I could see the entire courtyard.

"No one here. Could the courtyard gate have been blown open by the wind?"

I carefully poked my head out to peer into the house, just in time to see a flickering silhouette moving by the window! My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly slid down along the wall, creeping toward the window to peek inside.

At that very moment, a blood-stained face suddenly appeared right before me!

My heart nearly stopped; before I could even react, a hand yanked me violently through the window. In an instant, the sound of shattering glass, the thud of a Kunai piercing flesh, and the crash of furniture falling over erupted all at once!

But soon, the noise subsided into the massive blizzard, eventually fading away into nothingness.

After a long silence, I tremblingly pushed the corpse off me and staggered to my feet amidst the shards of glass, my body covered in lacerations.

There were two people dead in this room.

The first was an ordinary villager killed by the Kirigakure ninja.

And the second was the Kirigakure ninja I had just killed.

He had sensed my arrival and used the villager's corpse as bait to lure me into the house, intending to kill me.

But he hadn't expected to be killed by me instead.

I looked at the ninja lying in a pool of blood, noticing that the blade in his hand hadn't even been drawn; he had been clutching the hilt even in death. I wondered if he hadn't reacted in time, or if he hadn't intended to go for the kill.

Did he underestimate me because I looked like a child?

I crouched down expressionlessly and pulled the Kunai from his abdomen, the thick scent of blood quickly dissipating into the air.

But you didn't stop to think: if I were just an ordinary child, would I be appearing in the Bloody Mist Village, a place of deathly silence and omnipresent slaughter?

I stood up, closed the door, and began to head back the way I came.

If I had already encountered a ninja from Kirigakure, it meant this village was no longer safe. I had to tell the senior and Kusama Shigeo to be on high alert!

I quickly ran back to the meeting spot. Kusama Shigeo was still standing there, unbothered, and had even built a snowman!

"Hey, why are you back already!" He was still waving at me, but I suddenly saw something incredible: the snow pile behind him began to move. I was startled, realized what was happening, and screamed, "Get out of the way, it's dangerous!"

The next moment, the white snow transformed into black-clad ninjas, who lunged at Kusama Shigeo with Kunai in hand!

Damn it! It was too late!

"Duck!"

Kusama Shigeo froze, instinctively obeying my command. I pulled out a string of shuriken and threw them at the crowd, but I heard the ding-ding-dang of metal clashing as they were all deflected!

Only then did Kusama Shigeo see the enemies. He scrambled toward me, and I drew Murasame to engage. The moment the enemy's Kunai collided with my blade, I felt a jolt of pain shoot through my wrist!

What heavy force!

"I—I'm going to find Hyuga Makoto!"

Kusama Shigeo said, turning to flee, but I cursed at him, "Don't run around! We have no idea how many enemies are nearby!"

As I spoke, I heard the sound of steel wires. My already injured ankle throbbed with sudden pain as it was tightly bound by a wire lock!

These people—they were deliberately targeting pressure points!

I had just used a Substitution Technique to break free when I heard Kusama Shigeo shout, "Grass Style: Rosemary Flower!"

I looked down to see a giant flower growing in front of him, spewing thick, heavy mist from its maw!

I was so angry I nearly had a heart attack!

Using mist to deal with enemies? You really are something. Do you have any idea why this place is called the Kirigakure?

I heard only a few muffled, low chuckles, and the enemies' figures actually vanished!

"Did they... did they leave?" Kusama Shigeo was drenched in sweat, wearing a smug, triumphant smile. "I knew they were no match for me!"

"Shut up and get behind me!" I crouched into a defensive stance, my nerves stretched to the breaking point, terrified that a cold blade would find me in the blink of an eye!

In the mist, the enemies' movements were even harder to track. A breeze swept past, and I felt a cold current graze me; a bloody gash instantly appeared on my face!

Kusama Shigeo let out a cry of pain and collapsed to his knees, his right leg streaming with blood!

Damn it!

"Shigeo, cover me!"

I realized this wasn't working and decided to go all in. I plunged Murasame into the ground and formed hand seals—

"Wind Style—"

As I performed the seals, I clearly heard the wind whistling around me. The danger was right at my ear, pressed infinitely close to my throat!

Damn it, it's too late!

I was drenched in sweat, practically smelling death!

Just then, a ding rang out!

Amidst the infinite mist, I suddenly heard the sound of metal clashing against metal. A terrifying killing intent was deflected by something, pushed away from my body, and fell to the ground with a clatter.

Did it miss? I didn't have time to think; I instantly unleashed my ninjutsu—

"Wind Style: Breakthrough!"

The moment the final seal was completed, a gale roared outward, and the mist vanished in an instant! I saw five Kirigakure ninjas surrounding us! They were barely half a body-length away!

No, that's not right!

Not far away, more footsteps were rushing toward us, merging into a continuous roar!

It was enemy reinforcements!

How could this be?

My heart went cold in an instant!

"If you have any other treasures, bring them out now." I took a step back, gripping my blade with both hands, staring fixedly at the number of people before me: 5... 6... 7... 8...

Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it! How could there be so many of them? It was as if... as if they had been specifically lying in ambush here!

"I... I'm a medical ninja, I don't have anything for combat at all!" Kusama Shigeo leaned his back against mine, his voice trembling: "Can... can you take them?"

I didn't answer, my nerves stretched to the breaking point!

"Hey, according to the wartime treaty, as long as a medical ninja is captured, they should be safely returned to their home country..." Kusama Shigeo muttered, but before he could finish, dozens of Kunai attached to Explosive Tags flew over, shattering his hopes into pieces!

"Stop dreaming and prepare to fight."

I shoved Kusama Shigeo aside; the previous Explosive Tags had only been a probe, so I had dodged them easily.

I stood in the dust, gripping my blade with both hands and shaking the dirt from my face as the blue light of Murasame suddenly flared within the white mist!

"Kirigakure has never honored any wartime treaty."

Under the terrified gaze of Kusama Shigeo, I charged forward, meeting the first enemy head-on!

"Cover me!"