Ambush!

Within the borders of the Land of Iron, gale-force winds howled and heavy snow fell in swirling sheets.

Even though the Land of Fire was already brimming with the vitality of spring, the Land of Iron seemed to remain trapped in the depths of the coldest season.

In this silver world of ice and snow, two figures were making their way toward the capital of the Land of Iron: Lihuo and Orochimaru.

Because they had taken a detour, the pair, who should have reached the Land of Fire's ferry crossing in ten days, had already been traveling for half a month and had yet to arrive at the capital of the Land of Iron.

"Teacher, isn't it a bit too cold here?"

Lihuo braced himself against the whistling wind and asked Orochimaru.

"Indeed. Due to its unique climate, the Land of Iron is covered in snow year-round. I only passed through here once by chance while on a mission in the past."

"Then how much longer until we reach the capital?"

Orochimaru gazed into the distance.

"About half a day more, I expect."

And so, after braving the heavy snow for another half-day of travel, the two finally caught sight of the capital of the Land of Iron.

However, two squads of samurai were standing at the city gate, inspecting everyone entering the city.

"Special circumstances! Please declare your identities and submit to inspection!"

"If you are a ninja, state it in advance, or you will be treated as an enemy without exception!"

The lead samurai shouted loudly.

The reason he had the confidence to make such a declaration, beyond the formidable strength of the Land of Iron's unique samurai lineage, was the country's special status as a neutral territory.

Standing in the queue of people waiting to enter, Lihuo asked in a low voice, "Teacher, what should we do?"

Orochimaru looked at the checkpoint ahead, where the samurai were using special chakra-detection devices to scan each person.

If the device detected the chakra fluctuations of a ninja, it would emit an alarm.

"Interesting. I don't recall this procedure being in place before."

Orochimaru pondered for a moment before responding in his raspy voice, "I am not confident I can bypass this device's detection, but revealing our true identities now would only make us targets for everyone."

"Therefore, we must sneak into the city."

Upon hearing this, Lihuo understood immediately.

Without further communication, the master and apprentice continued to wait in line in silence.

Orochimaru raised a hand and flicked a trace of chakra, imperceptible to the eye, into the shadow of an unlucky man currently undergoing inspection.

Suddenly, the detection device let out a sharp, piercing shriek!

Both squads of samurai drew their blades instantly, their glowing chakra concentrating on the steel, causing the blades to emit a faint hum.

"Don't move! Cease your resistance immediately!"

The lead samurai rushed forward and subdued the man, who had been frightened out of his wits.

After a thorough search, he discovered that the man was merely an ordinary civilian.

"Strange. Could the device be malfunctioning?" the lead samurai muttered, puzzled.

Once the farce was quickly resolved, order was restored at the city gate under the watchful eyes of the samurai.

Yet, no one noticed that two people who had been in the queue were now strolling into the city with ease.

Walking through the streets of the capital and feeling the bustling atmosphere, Orochimaru couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.

Lihuo asked, "Teacher, what are you laughing at?"

Orochimaru turned his head to look toward the city gate.

"I laugh at the samurai for their lack of strategy and the lord for his lack of wisdom."

"They rely too heavily on their instruments and are far too arrogant."

"They cling to their outdated samurai traditions, unaware that the methods of ninjas have become increasingly sophisticated."

Lihuo nodded in agreement; after all, a few minor tricks from a ninja were enough to mislead even a powerful samurai.

Just then, another squad of well-equipped samurai, fully armed, patrolled the street.

Lihuo recognized the leader, who was not a stranger to him. He wore fine iron armor with bandages wrapped around his head—it was none other than Mifune, the future host of the Five Kage Summit!

Seeing the famous Mifune leading a patrol himself, Lihuo couldn't help but feel filled with questions.

While Lihuo was lost in thought, Orochimaru had already stepped into a teahouse and, with a few words, struck up a conversation with an old man.

After some polite pleasantries, Orochimaru asked, as if in passing, "Old sir, do you know why the security here is so tight right now?"

"Oh, you must be from out of town. You'd better be careful! Five days ago, a traveler died in an inn!"

"Ever since that day, outsiders have been dying every single day. The matter has caused such an uproar in the city that Lord Mifune is now personally overseeing the investigation."

At this moment, Lihuo also walked up, tactfully poured tea for the two of them, and then asked, "Is there something suspicious about this case? Why has it been under investigation for so long without any leads?"

The old man took a sip of tea, glanced at Lihuo, and said, "Young man, you don't know, this case is truly bizarre! When the incidents occurred, the shopkeepers were all at the entrances, yet they all claimed they didn't see anyone enter."

"All the victims were killed with a single strike. There wasn't the slightest trace of a struggle in the rooms. Tell me, isn't that bizarre?"

Hearing this, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking to himself, To ordinary people and samurai, this matter is indeed suspicious, but to a ninja, it is perfectly normal.

Thinking of this, he asked nonchalantly, "Old man, how do you know so much?"

The old man said indifferently, "This much has long been common knowledge throughout the city."

After gathering the useful information, Orochimaru paid the tea bill and then led Lihuo out of the teahouse.

Lihuo looked at Orochimaru with excitement; the detective soul within him had already begun to burn fiercely.

Orochimaru also noticed his disciple's excitement, but still said mercilessly, "Don't even think about it. We are here to carry out a mission, not to play detective."

Lihuo pursed his lips, accepting this statement.

Orochimaru did not delay and headed straight with Lihuo toward the ferry terminal of the Land of Iron.

Although the Land of Iron is covered in snow and ice for thousands of miles all year round, the harbor remains an ice-free port throughout the year due to a warm current passing through.

However, when the two walked straight through the entire capital to the ferry terminal, they received unexpected news.

"I am very sorry, you two. Due to a once-in-a-century blizzard, the ferry to the Land of Water has been temporarily suspended."

"The route might reopen in three days. Please forgive us."

Upon learning this bad news, Orochimaru had no choice but to take Lihuo back to the capital.

"This has certainly gone your way," Orochimaru patted Lihuo on the shoulder and said sternly, "But we had better be careful. Although I am not afraid, I do not want to invite unnecessary trouble."

Lihuo nodded, fully agreeing with Orochimaru's point of view.

Afterward, the two returned to the center of the capital, preparing to find an inn to stay in.

Little did they know, when the two arrived at the ferry terminal, two pairs of eyes were already staring at them intently!

Inside the inn, for the sake of safety, Orochimaru only booked a double room.

As soon as they entered the room, Lihuo, who had been sleeping in the open, finally saw the long-awaited bed and lay down straight on it.

After some tidying up and resting, the time reached late at night. Lihuo lay on the soft bed, his eyelids unable to stop fighting each other.

Seeing Lihuo's exhaustion, Orochimaru said, "You rest. I will keep watch tonight."

Lihuo was truly too tired to refuse, so he stopped pushing and fell into a deep sleep.

Orochimaru, meanwhile, quietly closed his eyes to rest his mind and recover his energy.

Due to the recent serial killings, the entire capital had implemented a curfew, so at night, the surroundings were completely silent.

Suddenly! A bloodline appeared eerily on Orochimaru's neck!

Bright red blood gushed out from the wound.

Thump!

Orochimaru's "corpse" fell to the ground, and a legendary ninja had "died" just like that, without a sound.

"One down!"

In the darkness, an invisible ninja slowly walked toward the sleeping Lihuo, the kunai in his hand slowly raising.

Suddenly! A sharp blade of light flashed by!

Squelch! The hand of the ninja holding the kunai was severed clean off!

"Ah!" The invisible ninja could no longer maintain his invisibility jutsu, and his painful scream woke the sleeping Lihuo.

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Lihuo sprang up from the bed instantly.

He tapped his left wrist with his right hand, and a high-quality kunai appeared in his palm. In the blink of an eye, Lihuo had assumed a combat stance.

Click!

The room's lights suddenly turned on, and the bright light revealed the four people in the room.

The scene was divided between Uchiha Lihuo, who remained on guard upon the bed; Mifune, who gripped his blade; the assailant, who had lost a wrist; and Orochimaru, who watched the spectacle with his arms crossed.

Clap, clap, clap!

Orochimaru applauded, turning his gaze toward Mifune.

"The Land of Iron's greatest samurai—truly lives up to the reputation."

Mifune slowly sheathed his sword, though he continued to scrutinize Uchiha Lihuo and Orochimaru.

"Are you Orochimaru and Uchiha Lihuo? Why not show your true faces?"

Seeing Mifune pierce through their identities so easily, Uchiha Lihuo felt a tightening in his chest.

"Hiding your identities, resorting to smuggling yourselves into the city, heading straight for the docks upon arrival, with the Land of Water as your destination."

"The only ones fitting these characteristics are the recently exposed Konoha envoys: Orochimaru and Uchiha Lihuo."

Hearing this, Orochimaru smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

Mifune continued.

"The two of you caused chaos at the city gates, which was a fault in itself. However, I would like to ask for a small favor from you, Lord Orochimaru. If you agree, we shall let bygones be bygones. How about it?"

Uchiha Lihuo rolled his eyes at these words.

It was the first time he had heard someone speak of asking for a favor as if it were a matter of course.

Orochimaru pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Speak. What is it?"

Mifune's gaze sharpened, and a fierce, murderous aura surged toward them.

"I need to find the lair of these ninjas and see them dead!"

Orochimaru smiled faintly at the request.

"That is exactly my intention as well!"

With that, Orochimaru raised his hand toward the assailant, who was collapsed on the ground in agony, and let out a soft shout.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Seven large brown pythons erupted from Orochimaru's sleeves, instantly binding the assailant tightly.

Afterward, Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Lihuo.

"Little Lihuo, stay here and guard this place. You must keep a close eye on this man."

"As for me, I intend to make those who ambushed us pay the price!"

With that, Orochimaru and Mifune vanished in a flash, heading off to track down the assailant's lair.

Uchiha Lihuo did not lower his guard; he proceeded to booby-trap the entire room.

He even left Flying Thunder God Marks on the room and the assailant himself, ensuring there would be no room for error.

Once all of this was finished, the assailant passed out from excessive blood loss.

After using medicine to keep the man barely alive, Uchiha Lihuo placed his hand upon the man's head.