"Yang" Appears

Uchiha Kei idly poked at the cold ashes, but kept his eyes fixed on Twilight Spring Valley.

"Do you want anything else to eat?"

Naruto fussed over her beside him.

"I'm full."

Twilight Spring Valley answered softly, her voice weak.

"Just tell us if you need anything. Don't be afraid."

Naruto shot a reproachful glance at Uchiha Kei, who was sitting far away.

"He's actually a good guy. He just likes scaring people. Don't be afraid of him."

Uchiha Kei heard every word and rolled his eyes.

Twilight Ninja Village wasn't very far from where they were. They could reach it in two days.

But it was strange that a frail little girl had managed to travel all the way here alone.

When he'd questioned her earlier, he'd clearly noticed Twilight Spring Valley's evasive glance.

That meant she wasn't as simple as she seemed.

"All right, it's time to get going."

Uchiha Kei covered the ashes and brushed the dust off his hands.

"We're leaving in the middle of the night?"

Naruto looked up at the bright moon, puzzled.

Wasn't it dangerous to travel at night? Why were they breaking the rules today?

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

Uchiha Kei turned away, showing them his not particularly broad back.

Naruto didn't mind.

The Nine-Tails Chakra that seeped out now and then slowly replenished his stamina. That was why he always had so much energy.

But...

"Xiaogu, can you keep going?"

Twilight Spring Valley hesitated, clear fear flashing in her eyes.

"Do we really have to go back? They're so strong. They're terrifying."

Naruto patted her hair. "Don't worry. We're strong too. We'll protect you, so there's nothing to be afraid of."

Twilight Spring Valley's lips moved, but in the end, she agreed.

Three equally young figures walked slowly through the forest in the darkness.

As they went on, Uchiha Kei's expression grew more and more serious.

He could feel that there were...

More presences around them.

The chakra of Jonin!

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

Uchiha Kei murmured under his breath.

"What?"

Naruto, just a yard behind him, looked puzzled.

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

At the mention of the Rasengan, Naruto's shoulders slumped.

"Don't ask. I can't even burst the water balloon, let alone make one."

Uchiha Kei wasn't surprised.

Naruto hadn't learned Multi Shadow Clone yet, and even with the Nine-Tails not causing trouble, the Rasengan wasn't easy to master.

After all, the Rasengan was an A-rank jutsu.

"Have you ever heard something?"

Uchiha Kei spoke mysteriously.

"What?"

Naruto leaned closer, ears perked up.

"I hear you learn jutsu especially fast in the middle of a fight."

Naruto was dumbfounded.

In a fight, you learned jutsu...

Especially fast?

"Whoosh!"

Uchiha Kei flicked his hand, sending several Shuriken slicing through the air and into the darkness.

"Clang!"

With several sharp clinks, five masked figures sprang down from the surrounding trees.

Naruto was startled. Instinctively, he moved in front of Twilight Spring Valley. A Shuriken appeared in his hand, and he watched the five warily.

Uchiha Kei looked at the masks and seemed to understand.

They were plain masks, just white, with a small "Yang" written on the forehead.

"It's... it's them! They're the ones!"

Twilight Spring Valley backed away in terror, her hands clenched tight.

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

Naruto turned to Uchiha Kei.

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

"If they're not impostors, then they probably are."

The five masked men stared at them coldly, their eyes chilling. They looked at the children as if they were already dead.

"Hand her over."

One of the five stepped forward. He was the tallest, and his voice was slightly hoarse, leaving no room for refusal.

"No problem."

Uchiha Kei agreed at once.

Naruto was startled and was about to speak, but then noticed the hand Uchiha Kei held behind his back.

It was clenched into a fist, with two fingers held high.

That meant...

He should follow Uchiha Kei's lead.

"But can I ask why you destroyed Twilight Ninja Village? It's one of the smallest villages around."

"That has nothing to do with you."

The leader spoke coldly.

"How could it have nothing to do with me?"

Uchiha Kei took a couple of steps forward, his expression exaggerated.

"I won't go into the relationship between Twilight Ninja Village and Konoha. The destruction of Twilight Ninja Village is my mission, so I have to find out why it happened."

"You two brats? Konoha really has fallen. Does it have no one else to send?"

The leader's voice was full of disdain.

"We're pretty strong, actually. We just got promoted to Genin a few days ago."

Uchiha Kei scratched his head sheepishly. His face even turned red.

When Naruto saw Uchiha Kei scratching his head, he instinctively took a step back.

That gesture...

That expression...

"Hahahaha, Genin?"

All five burst out laughing.

To ordinary people, Genin might seem impressive.

But in the eyes of Jonin like them, Genin were synonymous with trash.

Two worthless brats were actually bragging in front of five Jonin.

It was downright hilarious.

"What are you laughing at?"

Uchiha Kei stared at them in confusion.

"Laughing because you don't even know how you're going to die!"

The leader snorted, his murderous intent growing stronger.

In the next instant, he appeared right in front of Uchiha Kei, close enough to hear him breathe.

The other four appeared beside Naruto just as quickly, surrounding the two of them from different angles.

After trapping them, the four didn't hurry to capture them. Instead, they turned to watch Uchiha Kei.

The fish was already in the net, the meal already on the table. There was no need to rush.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"

The leader formed the hand seals in an instant, and several huge balls of water shot toward Uchiha Kei.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Kei seemed not to have reacted at all. He stood there, dumbfounded.

"Idiot."

The leader sneered and confidently turned away.

One Water Dragon Jutsu was more than enough to deal with a brat like this. It was a piece of cake.

"Who are you calling an idiot?"

A cold blade rested against the leader's neck.

"Impossible!"

"When did he...?"

"Bang!"

The figure of Uchiha Kei, struck by the Water Dragon Jutsu, turned into a log and shattered.

Behind the leader, Uchiha Kei appeared like a ghost, holding a Ninja Blade steady in his hand.

"You!"

The leader stared at him in shock and uncertainty.

The Substitution Technique...

When had he used it?

"I'm fine, thanks for asking."

Uchiha Kei spoke without expression.

"Let our captain go!"

The other four saw that their leader was under control and glared at Uchiha Kei.

"Dream on."

Uchiha Kei scoffed, slowly pressing the blade harder against the leader's neck.

A thin line of blood appeared.

"Tell me. Why did you destroy Twilight Ninja Village?"

"What's there to say? If you're going to kill me, then do it. I'll never—"

Cold sweat soaked the leader's back, but his voice was defiant.

He didn't believe the brat would kill him. As long as he kept quiet about their purpose, he'd be safe.

"Fine. I respect a man who stands by his word."

With that, the Ninja Blade cut through his neck without resistance.

The blade was withdrawn. The head fell.

Silence!

The four masked men were dumbfounded.

Naruto shook his head. He'd known this would happen.

Kei really did love granting other people's requests...