(Do you want Mei Terumi to be the heroine?)
The next morning, Kumogakure was shrouded in a layer of mist, and the sky just turned white.
Uchiha Shaoyu has finished dressing up and is standing in front of Raikage's Office's window.
Third Raikage stood behind him, with his thick arms wrapped around his chest and his brows slightly furrowed.
"Shaoyu, this mission... does it have to be you? Kirigakure That ghost place is like an iron barrel. It's hard to get in and even harder to get out. You are now one of the pillars of the village. If something goes wrong..."
"That's why I have to go."
"Conventional espionage methods are difficult to penetrate. If you send someone with insufficient strength in, you will definitely die if you are exposed, and you will not be able to bring back valuable intelligence."
But there are really too many Kekkei Genkai ninjas from Kirigakure. Shaoyu, as the future Kumogakure Raikage, really can't help it, I'm so greedy.
He looked up at Third Raikage.
"I have enough strength to protect myself and even fight back, and I have the means to escape even if I am besieged. More importantly..."
Shaoyu's mouth curved slightly. "I have an inside line."
Third Raikage's eyes narrowed.
"Internal line? Kirigakure internal? Is it reliable?"
"Two years ago, I used Rabbit Escape's covert investigation capabilities to observe the internal trends of Kirigakure for a long time."
Shaoyu explained.
"An anomaly was discovered in the Yuki Clan. The patriarch, Mizunotsuki Shigure, is extremely dissatisfied with Third Mizukage's high-pressure policy, especially his tendency to closely monitor and persecute the Kekkei Genkai family, and he secretly has different intentions."
"I carried encrypted information through Rabbit Escape and established an extremely confidential one-way connection with him."
"After two years of careful testing and information exchange, it is basically certain that his objection is genuine. At least, he has a strong desire to get out of the current predicament and find a way out for his family."
He paused.
"This time undercover, Mizunotsuki Shigure will provide me with identity cover, and I will enter Kirigakure as 'Mizunotsuki Uha'."
An illegitimate son of the patriarch who has not inherited Ice Release Kekkei Genkai and is not taken seriously.
Although this identity is inconspicuous in Kirigakure, his reasonable origins are enough for him to sneak into the bottom and slowly observe and get in touch with the core.
Third Mizukage Even if they keep a close eye on the blood step family, they will not always pay attention to the movements of an illegitimate child.
Third Raikage pondered for a moment and nodded slowly.
But...
"Your appearance..."
"I'm ready for this."
Shaoyu raised his hand, and a soft halo of chakra appeared in his palm, with sealing runes faintly flowing in it.
"A temporary camouflage technique that combines illusion and Sealing Jutsu. It can change hair color, eye color and even part of the facial contour. As long as you don't engage in ultra-high-intensity battles or encounter close-range and careful probing by beings with much higher pupil power than mine, it can be enough to hide it from most people."
Looking at Shaoyu's careful and detailed preparations, Third Raikage knew that he had thought everything through and no amount of dissuasion would be useless.
He patted Shaoyu hard on the shoulder.
"Be careful."
"I understand."
Shaoyu nodded slightly.
"I'll leave it to you to take care of things in the village. Shisui... please take care of me."
"Don't worry!"
No more farewell ceremonies.
Shaoyu left Raikage's Office without disturbing anyone, and did not even go to see Shisui again.
He quietly came to a remote coastline in Kumogakure, where an inconspicuous small speedboat had already been prepared.
He has not changed his original jet black hair, which coincides with the typical hair color of the Yuki Clan, providing natural legitimacy for his identity as an illegitimate child.
The focus of the disguise is on his eyes.
Under the influence of the camouflage technique, the originally deep black pupils and whites of the eyes turned into the grey-blue color common among Kirigakure ninjas. The eyes were also deliberately adjusted to look slightly dull and ordinary, losing the unique sharp look of the Uchiha Clan.
He boarded the small, inconspicuous speedboat.
The speedboat has been specially treated to make extremely low noise when sailing and can avoid conventional perception to a certain extent.
The person driving the speedboat is a veteran of the Kumogakure intelligence department who is best at lurking and navigation. He is taciturn and will only send him to a pre-arranged coastal landing point in Land of Water, far away from Kirigakure's main ports.
After several days of covert sea voyages and a silent landing on a predetermined desolate coast, Uchiha Shaoyu avoided Kirigakure's regular patrol route, and finally quietly arrived at the outskirts of Kirigakure in another thick foggy night.
Even late at night, Kirigakure's iconic thick fog still filled the air, wrapping the buildings, lights and even sounds in the village hazy and suppressed.
The air was filled with the salty smell of sea water and some indescribable smell.
The responder gave the signal, and not long after, a thin, middle-aged man wearing a dark cloak but with sharp eyes quietly emerged from the fog.
It is Yuki Clan's patriarch--Mizunotsuki Shigure.
There were no unnecessary pleasantries, Shigure just nodded slightly and spoke in a low and inaudible voice.
"Follow me."
Then he turned around and disappeared into the thick fog.
Shaoyu followed silently, his steps as light as a ghost, perfectly blending into the realm of fog.
Finally, they arrived at the clan land of the Yuki Clan. The clan land was not small in size, but compared to the vitality of Kumogakure Uchiha Compound, it seemed more silent and depressing.
The building is tall but dim in color, and there is little green in the courtyard. It seems that even the plants are suppressed by the perennial fog and heavy atmosphere.
Shigure took Shaoyu into the main house through a very hidden side door, and went straight to a Japanese room located deep in the house, with the doors and windows closed, and the soundproof barrier quietly opened.
After closing the door and lighting a dim oil lamp, Shigure let out a long sigh of relief, but the solemn look on his brows did not dissipate.
He looked at Shaoyu carefully again, this time his gaze was more direct, even with a hint of inquiry.
"Has it been a smooth journey along the way?"
"Smooth."
Shaoyu's voice deliberately contained a hint of cowardice and hoarseness that fit his status, and he lowered his head slightly.
"Thank you, Patriarch... Father, for taking care of me."
When he heard the title father, the corner of Shigure's mouth twitched slightly, and a touch of bitterness and helplessness flashed in his eyes.
He calmed down and whispered.
"From today on, you are Mizunotsuki Uha, my... illegitimate son. Your mother is an ordinary woman who died young in a coastal town. You have been wandering since you were a child, and I have only recently found you."
"Remember this rhetoric, someone will tell you the details. Within the clan, you will be placed in the most remote side courtyard. In name, you are an adopted son, but in fact... not many people will really pay attention to you. This is exactly what we want."
He paused and his tone became more serious.
"But, my wife... she has a strong temperament and attaches great importance to bloodline and reputation. She may not be able to accept the sudden addition of an illegitimate child."
"I will try my best to appease you, but you also need to be careful in your words and deeds, and do not take the initiative to provoke others. Other elders and children in the clan will inevitably be criticized and ostracized at first, so you need to be patient."
Shaoyu nodded slightly.
"I understand, I will be careful."