The graduation dinner was held at the Akimichi Clan's family's barbecue restaurant. After the barbecue, everyone gradually dispersed. Sarutobi Asuma seemed to have come to terms with his previous failure, and his depressed mood vanished. He hurriedly left after finishing the barbecue, seemingly preparing to quickly develop his own ultimate technique.
After everyone dispersed, Sato Hideaka escorted Yuhi Kurenai home, but unfortunately, she was accompanied by Mitarashi Anko.
The three walked along the bustling street, listening to the hawkers' cries and the enticing aroma of food filling the air. Clothing stores lined the street, overflowing with a dazzling array of beautiful clothes. In this seemingly peaceful and serene environment, people appeared oblivious to the approaching shadow of war...
"Oh, this is a glutinous rice ball, ah... this is takoyaki! It's a pity I'm too full, I can't even taste these delicious treats!"
Mitarashi Anko flitted through the crowd like a busy bee, looking at the various tempting aromas of dumplings from three consecutive stalls, then patted her round belly and said with great disappointment.
Sato Hideaka walked beside Yuhi Kurenai, his hands in his shirt pockets, and looked at Mitarashi Anko, who was dangling in front of him, and said somewhat speechlessly, "I... I don't think I can do strenuous exercise after eating. It's not good for digestion!"
"Relax, relax... I know." Mitarashi Anko waved her hand dismissively.
Yuhi Kurenai covered her mouth, chuckled softly, and joked, " Anko especially loves dumplings. Eating so much high-calorie food, if you don't exercise more, you'll probably gain weight. If you don't digest it well and turn into a round Anko, that wouldn't be good..."
Sato Hideaka's eyebrows are slightly raised, as if there's a side story where Anko turns into a fat girl!
After the Fourth Shinobi World War, due to a long period of peace, the number of ninja missions decreased significantly. It was against this backdrop that Mitarashi Anko transformed from a glutton into a chubby glutton, a truly touching transformation!
His whole body trembled violently; upon thinking of this Sato Hideaka suddenly felt completely unwell...
The energetic Mitarashi Anko waved her hand and retorted sharply, "Kurenai, don't worry, don't worry. With so many missions after becoming a ninja, I'll definitely maintain my figure... But you should worry about yourself. If your figure deteriorates after you grow Hideaka, I don't know if Hideyuki will still like you!"
Yuhi Kurenai's face flushed red, and she said somewhat flusteredly, " Anko, what are you saying! Really, don't talk nonsense..."
After saying that, Kurenai furtively raised her head, her large, ruby-like eyes stealthily glancing at Yuhi Kurenai, who was now several centimeters taller than her. Shu had blue eyes, a sharply defined face, and delicate features, but aside from the slight smile still playing on his lips, he showed no other expression...
Does Hideaka not have any opinion on what Anko said?
Yuhi Kurenai couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Sato Hideaka seemed to sense Yuhi Kurenai's spying and subtly turned his head away. Yuhi Kurenai, startled like a deer, quickly turned back to look at Mitarashi Anko, who was frolicking in front of her. A faint blush crept onto her fair cheeks and the long neck exposed outside her neckline...
Just as Sato Hideaka Yuhi Kurenai's strange behavior...
A sudden gust of cold wind blew through the bustling street, causing those around to shiver and instinctively cover their collars. The wind was icy and biting, not a wind in the ordinary sense!
It was killing intent, pure killing intent; the opponent was no weakling!
Sato Hideaka's expression changed abruptly. He reacted swiftly, leaving a trail of afterimages as he weaved through the dense crowd, oblivious to the murderous intent, pulling Mitarashi Anko to his side and then shielding Yuhi Kurenai...
This series of actions was completed almost in an instant.
With his blue eyes scanning the bustling crowd, Sato Hideaka warily looked in the direction from which the murderous aura emanated. He stood in front of Mitarashi Anko and Yuhi Kurenai, his chakra flowing rapidly through his meridians, ready to defend or attack at any moment.
A tall figure slowly emerged from the crowd.
Suddenly grabbed by Sato Hideaka, Mitarashi Anko felt a little strange. Just as she was about to speak, she saw him and was overjoyed. She shook off his left hand and skipped towards the man, shouting, "Uncle, weren't you supposed to be on duty today? Why are you out again... Are you on holiday?!"
The figure was none other than Mitarashi Anko's uncle, the current Mitarashi Shishio of Konoha's Anbu, Mitsuaki Shishou. His serious face softened with a smile upon seeing Mitarashi Anko. He gently patted Mitarashi Anko head, which was tugging at his clothes, and said calmly, "It's nothing, I just had some things to take care of, so I came out of the office..."
"Is it running errands again? You've been so busy lately, you haven't had a single day off!"
Mitarashi Anko pouted and said irritably.
Mitarashi Shishio smiled apologetically at Mitarashi Anko, then turned her gaze to Sato Hideaka, who was standing in front of Yuhi Kurenai. Her purple eyes were incredibly deep, as if she wanted to see through him.
At this moment, Sato Hideaka had his hands in the pockets of his shirt, his expression had returned to its previous calm and collected state, and he had withdrawn his wary posture. He quietly looked at Mitarashi Shishio, as if nothing had happened.
"Qing, I've come to see you. There's something I need to ask you. Please come with me!"
Mitarashi Shishio's face was serious, exuding an aura of authority. Although both were heads of the Anbu, Mitarashi Shishio's temperament was slightly different from Hatake Sakumo's reliable demeanor; instead, it carried a chilling murderous aura.
This feeling gives one a subtle sense of threat or coercion...
Looking at Mitarashi Shishio's somber face, Yuhi Kurenai worriedly grabbed Sato Hideaka's arm, seemingly not wanting Sato Hideaka to go with this person, because Mitarashi Shishio gave her a feeling that was too cold and dark, making her afraid of him.
Mitarashi Anko seemed to sense her good friend's worry and asked with some confusion, "Uncle, what are you taking Hideaka for? We're just about to take Hong home... Can't we wait until next time?"
"Only Qing, with his special status, can access this information. It concerns his recent secret investigation, and the sooner this matter is resolved, the better. Please wait for us a moment; things will be over soon..." Mitarashi Shishio patted Mitarashi Anko's head, speaking with a touch of affection.
The recent investigation...
Besides the true cause of Hatake Sakumo's death, what else could it be?
Sato Hideaka Mitarashi Shishio, and following Mitarashi Shishio's words, said to Yuhi Kurenai, "Although I don't know what it is either, this matter is related to the Anbu's mission. You wait a moment, I'll be right back..."
"Okay, I'll wait for you here!"
Yuhi Kurenai glanced at the serious- Mitarashi Shishio and said timidly.
Swoosh--
A dark figure flashed past in the crowd; Mitarashi Shishio had vanished.
Under the watchful eyes of Yuhi Kurenai and Mitarashi Anko, Mitarashi Shishio vanished instantly from the bustling street, leaving the two girls, fresh out of the Ninja Academy, utterly stunned...
This speed and agility were so unpredictable that they completely escaped the visual detection of the naked eye.
Sato Hideaka shook his head, creating a gust of wind, and disappeared once again into the bustling street before the two stunned girls' eyes. They couldn't help but exclaim in unison, "Wow, so amazing..."
The two sped across the rooftops, covering more than 500 meters in just a few seconds before leaping into a secluded and quiet alley. Suddenly, several dark figures scattered and surrounded the alley.
These shadowy figures, wearing animal-face masks, were members of the Anbu...
They have a firm grasp of the surrounding area of the alley!
Looking at Mitarashi Shishio's retreating figure, Sato Hideaka asked with some confusion, "Lord Mitsuhiko, I have completed the border patrol mission of the Land of Grass the Third Hokage gave me. I wonder what brings you here? Is there a new mission to assign...?"
Mitarashi Shishio's purple eyes gazed into the distance, their gaze deep and unfathomable.
"Didn't I just explain it to you? This is exactly what you're investigating right now!"
Sato Hideaka shook his head, puzzled, and said, "I'm currently on vacation. The Third Hokage didn't give me any tasks to investigate. Did Senior Shishou misunderstand, or is there a problem with the task information submitted to the Anbu?"
"An unknown person infiltrated the archives deep within the Anbu base and took away the files from the last mission of former Anbu Chief Hatake Sakumo. However, when we opened the door, we found adult footprints on the floor, and a sweltering heat filled the air!"
Mitarashi Shishio turned around, her gaze fixed intently on Sato Hideaka, as if trying to discern every subtle change in Sato Hideaka's expression after hearing those words.
Sato Hideaka surprise, "This... how is this possible? The Anbu's archives have been infiltrated! Is it a spy from an enemy country...? Lord Zixiao specifically summoned me here, is it so that he wants me to investigate this matter?"
Mitarashi Shishio looked at Sato Hideaka's face and shook her head, saying, "Ao, after two years of training in the Anbu, you have indeed matured a lot. Even I cannot see the slightest flaw on your face. However, you overlooked one point... that was the mistake in your actions. When I arrived at the door of that archive room, my men sensed chakra fluctuations coming from inside, but when I went in, I saw nothing at all...!"
"Judging from Lord Zixiao's tone, it seems he doubts me?" Sato Hideaka asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Besides the Space-Time Ninjutsu Flying Thunder God Technique, which possesses such power, I can't think of any other way to make someone disappear completely from the archives room one second and then vanish the next. Moreover... in terms of timing, your crime timeline matches perfectly!" Mitarashi Shishio was clearly confident in her judgment, speaking calmly and affirmatively.
Sensory ninja...!
Sato Hideaka, realizing he had completely miscalculated.
Unexpectedly, the person outside the archives was Mitarashi Shishio, and there was even a sensory ninja next to Mitarashi Shishio. According to the evidence provided by Mitarashi Shishio, he was indeed the only one in the Shinobi World who met the criteria.
Of course... there's also Namikaze Minato! (To be continued.)