"Yang", Appears

Uchiha Kei listlessly poked at the extinguished embers, his gaze fixed on Twilight Spring Valley on the other side.

"Do you still want to eat something?"

Naruto asked solicitously from the side.

"I'm full."

Twilight Spring Valley replied softly, her voice weak.

"If you need anything, just tell us. Don't be afraid."

Naruto shot a slightly reproachful look at Uchiha Kei, who was standing far away.

"That guy is actually very nice. He just likes to scare people. Don't be afraid of him."

Uchiha Kei heard it all clearly and rolled his eyes.

Twilight Ninja Village wasn't too far from their location; they could reach it in two days.

But for a frail little girl to have traveled this far alone was rather unusual.

When he had questioned her earlier, he could clearly sense Twilight Spring Valley's evasiveness.

This indicated that Twilight Spring Valley was not as simple as she appeared.

"Alright, it's time to move on."

Burying the ashes, Uchiha Kei brushed the dust off his hands.

"Departing in the middle of the night?"

Naruto looked up at the large moon, a little confused.

Wasn't traveling at night dangerous? Why the change in routine today?

"We're running out of time. If we delay any longer, we won't be able to gather any information."

Uchiha Kei turned around, presenting them with a less-than-broad back.

Naruto didn't mind this.

The Nine-Tails' chakra that occasionally leaked out slowly replenished his stamina, which was why he always had boundless energy.

However...

"Little Gu, can you manage?"

Twilight Spring Valley hesitated, a clear flicker of fear in her eyes.

"Do we really have to go back? They are very strong, very terrifying."

Naruto stroked her hair. "Don't worry, we are very strong too. With us protecting you, don't be afraid."

Twilight Spring Valley's lips moved a couple of times, and she finally agreed.

In the darkness, three equally young figures walked slowly through the forest.

As they walked, Uchiha Kei's expression grew increasingly serious.

He sensed that around them...

There were more presences.

The chakra signatures of Jonin level!

"So many Jonin? Since when did Jonin become so common?"

Uchiha Kei muttered to himself.

"What?"

Naruto, about a meter behind him, paused upon hearing this.

"Naruto, how's your Rasengan coming along?"

The mention of the Rasengan instantly deflated Naruto.

"Don't even mention it. I can't even keep a water balloon from breaking, let alone form the Rasengan."

Uchiha Kei wasn't surprised.

After all, Naruto hadn't learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu yet, so even if the Nine-Tails wasn't interfering, the Rasengan wouldn't be that easy to learn.

The Rasengan was, after all, an A-rank ninjutsu.

"Have you ever heard of something?"

Uchiha Kei said mysteriously.

"What?"

Naruto craned his neck, his ears perked up.

"They say that in battle, ninjutsu is learned much faster."

Naruto blinked in confusion. In battle, ninjutsu learned...

"Too fast?"

Swish!

Uchiha Kei flicked his wrist, and several shuriken pierced through the night air with a sharp, whistling sound.

Clang!

With a few crisp metallic rings, five masked figures leaped out from the trees on all sides.

Naruto was startled, instinctively pulling Twilight Spring Valley behind him. He drew a shuriken of his own, watching the five figures with wary eyes.

Uchiha Kei looked at the masks on their faces, a look of realization dawning on him.

The masks were plain and unremarkable, featuring a simple white base with a small "Yang" character inscribed on the forehead.

"It's... it's them! It's them!"

Twilight Spring Valley retreated in terror, her hands clenched tightly.

"Are they the ones who destroyed Twilight Ninja Village?"

Naruto turned his head to look at Uchiha Kei.

Uchiha Kei raised an eyebrow and pulled an identical mask from his pocket.

"Unless they're imposters, I'd say so."

The five masked figures watched them with cold, icy eyes, gazing at them as if they were already dead.

"Hand her over."

One of the five stepped forward; he was the tallest of the group, his voice slightly hoarse and carrying an air of absolute command.

"No problem."

Uchiha Kei agreed instantly.

Naruto was shocked and about to speak, but he noticed Uchiha Kei's hand hidden behind his back.

The hand was balled into a fist, with two fingers held high.

This is...

A signal to follow his lead.

"However, could I know why you destroyed Twilight Ninja Village? It was a village too small to even matter."

"That is none of your concern."

The leader spoke coldly.

"How is it not my concern?"

Uchiha Kei took two steps forward, his expression slightly exaggerated.

"I won't go into the relationship between Twilight Ninja Village and our Konoha, but investigating the destruction of the village is my mission. I have to find out the reason."

"Just you two brats? Konoha really has declined; is there no one else left to use?"

The leader's voice was filled with disdain.

"Actually, we're quite strong. We just became Genin a few days ago."

Uchiha Kei scratched his head sheepishly, a faint blush even appearing on his face.

Seeing Uchiha Kei scratch his head, Naruto instinctively took a step back.

This gesture...

This expression...

"Hahahaha, Genin?"

All five of them burst into laughter.

In the eyes of commoners, a Genin might be high and mighty.

But in the eyes of these Jonin, "Genin" was synonymous with trash.

Two pieces of trash, actually speaking so boldly in front of five Jonin.

It was simply laughable.

"What are you laughing at?"

Uchiha Kei looked at them, appearing bewildered.

"Laughing at the fact that you don't even know how you're going to die!"

The leader let out a cold snort, the killing intent in his eyes intensifying.

The next moment, his figure appeared right in front of Uchiha Kei, close enough that his breathing could be heard.

The remaining four figures appeared just as quickly beside Naruto, surrounding the two of them from all angles.

After trapping them, the four were in no hurry to finish them off, instead turning their heads to look at Uchiha Kei.

Fish in a net, food on a plate—there was no need to rush.

"Water Style--Water Dragon Jutsu!"

The leader's hand seals were instantly completed, and several massive water spheres shot rapidly towards Uchiha Kei.

On the other side, Uchiha Kei seemed to have not reacted, standing foolishly in place.

"Idiot."

The leader sneered disdainfully and turned around with confidence.

In his opinion, one Water Dragon Jutsu was enough to deal with this brat, without any pressure.

"Who's the idiot?"

A chilling blade was placed against the leader's neck.

"How is that possible!"

"When did he..."

"Bang!"

Uchiha Kei's original figure, under the bombardment of the Water Dragon Jutsu, turned into a section of broken wood, shattered by the impact.

And behind the leader, Uchiha Kei appeared like a ghost, holding a ninja sword steadily in his hand.

"You!"

The leader was filled with shock and uncertainty.

Substitution Jutsu...

When did that happen?

"I'm fine, thanks for asking."

Uchiha Kei said expressionlessly.

"Let go of our leader!"

The four people on the other side, seeing their leader controlled, glared angrily.

"Dream on."

Uchiha Kei scoffed, and the blade slowly pressed tighter.

A bloodline appeared on the leader's neck.

"Tell me, what's your purpose in destroying the Twilight Ninja Village?"

"What's there to say? Kill me if you want, I absolutely..."

The leader's back was covered in cold sweat, but his mouth was extremely tough.

He didn't believe this brat would kill him. As long as he didn't reveal his purpose, he would be safe.

"Alright, I respect you as a man."

With that, the ninja sword sliced through his neck without obstruction.

The sword was withdrawn, and the head fell.

Silence!

The four masked figures were dumbfounded.

Naruto shook his head, having long expected this outcome.

Kei... he really liked to fulfill people's requests...