A Mission Growing Stranger by the Day!

The next morning.

After eating the breakfast prepared by the Daimyo's Mansion chefs, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi headed to the shrine under the guidance of an attendant.

As the shrine drew closer and closer, an unnatural expression flashed across Hyuga Setsuna's face beneath his Rabbit Mask.

He had accidentally seen the daimyo's daughter naked just last night, and now he had to face her in person. It was truly nerve-racking...

Even when he woke up that morning, scenes of the beauty he had seen the previous night still flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's mind from time to time.

Led by the attendant, they passed through the vermilion torii gate, climbed the brand-new steps, and arrived at the shrine.

Looking at the shrine before him, a complicated expression flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes as he thought to himself.

"Just stay calm. Besides Grandmother, no one else knows about what happened last night."

Meanwhile, Akishinomiya Yuri was having breakfast in the shrine when a maid informed her that the two Leaf Village ninjas had arrived.

She hurriedly got up and headed outside, not forgetting to grab several rice balls on the way.

Seeing this, Grandma Shiori, who floated beside Akishinomiya Yuri, smiled and softly said,

"What a greedy child!"

In the shrine's outer hall, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi were waiting for Princess Akishinomiya Yuri to arrive.

Before long, they saw Akishinomiya Yuri in red-and-white shrine maiden robes jogging over from the distance.

Looking at Akishinomiya Yuri in her red-and-white shrine maiden robes, scenes from the previous night involuntarily surfaced in Hyuga Setsuna's mind again.

Hyuga Setsuna quickly took a deep breath and shook those images from his mind.

Kakashi, standing beside him, noticed that something seemed off about Hyuga Setsuna. Curiosity appeared on his face beneath his dog-face mask.

After jogging over to them, Akishinomiya Yuri braced her hands against her knees. Her cheeks were flushed as she panted and apologetically said,

"Sorry, I'm late!"

She had chatted with Grandma Shiori until very late the previous night, so she had only just gotten up that morning. She had not even managed more than a few bites of breakfast before rushing over.

Having skipped breakfast and then run all the way here was truly quite taxing for someone with Akishinomiya Yuri's constitution!

Hyuga Setsuna looked at the adorable, flushed girl before him and calmly said,

"It's fine, Your Highness."

"Why did you summon us?"

Kakashi beside him nodded as well, indicating that it was no problem.

Akishinomiya Yuri stood up and lightly patted her chest to ease her ragged breathing before saying,

"I called you both here because I'd like you to protect me. I want to go outside and see the scenery over the next few days!"

After Grandma Shiori had suggested this idea to her last night, Akishinomiya Yuri had been tempted by it. That was why she had called Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi over today.

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Setsuna's brow furrowed slightly beneath his Rabbit Mask, and he hesitantly said,

"Your Highness, if you wish to go out, we will naturally protect you!"

"But will the daimyo allow you to leave?"

Seeing the princess suddenly request to go outside, Hyuga Setsuna could more or less guess that the old woman following Akishinomiya Yuri had suggested it.

Ever since he had seen the old woman beside Akishinomiya Yuri with the Tenseigan last night,

Hyuga Setsuna had come to understand why the daimyo had told them that Akishinomiya Yuri liked to fantasize and ask strange questions.

Her fondness for fantasy was probably because she could see things ordinary people could not.

And her habit of asking strange questions was probably because she had matured early under that old woman's guidance?

And this sudden desire to go outside and see the scenery—was it really just to enjoy the view?

Remembering the daimyo's instruction to take extra care in protecting Akishinomiya Yuri lately, Hyuga Setsuna's gaze darkened beneath his Rabbit Mask.

Akishinomiya Yuri smiled proudly and happily said,

"As for Father, he has already agreed to let me go outside!"

As soon as she got up that morning, Akishinomiya Yuri had sent maids and attendants to find the daimyo.

This time, the daimyo had not opposed her going out as he usually did. He had merely warned her that she must remain under the protection and within the sight of the Leaf Village ninjas.

Surprise flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes. He truly had not expected the daimyo to agree to let Akishinomiya Yuri see the outside world.

He had clearly instructed them to protect Akishinomiya Yuri before, yet now he was unusually allowing her to go out?

And wasn't staying in the Daimyo's Mansion safer than being outside?

Thinking back on everything they had encountered since arriving in the Land of Fire these past two days, Hyuga Setsuna's brow deeply furrowed.

The daimyo's late-night conversation with two unidentified ninjas, as well as his strange attitude when receiving the two of them!

The dead soul lingering in the world of the living beside Akishinomiya Yuri!

And the person hiding in the shadows, intending to harm Akishinomiya Yuri!

A trace of gloom flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes. In his view, this mission was simply far too strange and inexplicable!

After a moment of silence, Hyuga Setsuna said,

"Since the daimyo has agreed to let Your Highness go out, when do we depart?"

Since he could not make sense of this mission, Hyuga Setsuna decided to go with the flow and stay by Akishinomiya Yuri's side.

From the current situation, every key point was connected to Akishinomiya Yuri. As long as he stayed beside her, he would eventually figure everything out!

Seeing that Hyuga Setsuna had agreed, Akishinomiya Yuri happily said,

"Of course, we leave now!"

"But you'll need to change clothes first!"

Hyuga Setsuna raised a brow upon hearing that, asking in confusion,

"Change clothes?"

Looking at the two confused men before her, Akishinomiya Yuri said with a troubled expression,

"Of course! If you don't change, those outfits of yours will be far too conspicuous!"

"And this time, only the two of you will accompany me. We won't need guards or maids!"

After pausing briefly, Akishinomiya Yuri continued while looking at the two puzzled men.

"If anything dangerous happens, having the two of you ninja protecting me will be enough!"

"If enemies appear that even the two of you cannot handle, then bringing any number of guards and maids would make no difference."

Hearing Akishinomiya Yuri's words, surprise flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes.

Had those words been taught to her by that old soul, or had this princess thought of them herself?

Just then, Kakashi suddenly spoke softly from beside him.

"Your Highness, it would be dangerous if both of us appeared in the open. How about I continue protecting you from the shadows, while Captain Yagokoro protects you openly?"

Hearing Kakashi's words, Hyuga Setsuna's eyes immediately filled with speechlessness.

That guy Kakashi was obviously just avoiding trouble. He had learned how to slack off at such a young age!

Still, that plan suited me just fine. Hopefully, today would bring some different gains!

"What does Your Highness think?" Hyuga Setsuna asked Akishinomiya Yuri.

Akishinomiya Yuri looked hesitant. She still felt that having three people would be livelier. Wouldn't just the two of them be too boring...?

At that moment, Grandma Shiori appeared behind Kakashi and smiled at Akishinomiya Yuri.

"Little Yuri, agree to it!"

Seeing Grandma Shiori, Akishinomiya Yuri stopped hesitating and quickly nodded.

"I agree!"

La la la, the second update is here! Please invest, vote with recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, and tips!!

Writing two updates a day feels like my body's been completely drained...