The Ancient Sacred Tree in the Forest!

Land of Fire Royal Capital.

On the bustling streets, a young man in a black kimono and a young girl in red-and-white shrine maiden robes walked slowly along.

Akishinomiya Yuri walked down the street, her eyes shining with excitement as she looked at everything by the roadside.

For Akishinomiya Yuri, who had lived in Daimyo's Mansion ever since she was born, everything outside was so novel and wonderful.

Floating beside her, Granny Shiori smiled as she continuously introduced the sights of the royal capital to Akishinomiya Yuri.

"Uncle, could I have one of these?"

Akishinomiya Yuri stopped in front of a stall, pointing at the tempura being fried with one hand as she asked the owner.

"One serving, right? Please wait a moment, it'll be ready soon!"

The uncle making the tempura looked up and answered with an enthusiastic smile.

Hyuga Setsuna's steps paused slightly as well.

As he watched Akishinomiya Yuri buy snacks, a sky-blue, starlike gleam quietly flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes.

He calmly surveyed the surroundings.

The sides of the street were filled with ordinary shops and snack stalls, with the occasional small tree growing beside the road as street greenery.

Yet in Hyuga Setsuna's vision, everyone around them was an ordinary person without Chakra. There were no ninjas mixed among them.

Was I being too sensitive?

Looking at the scene before him, there was no sign of anyone intending to make a move against Akishinomiya Yuri—there was not even half a ninja in sight.

Still, this was within Hyuga Setsuna's expectations.

After all, his appearance was far too conspicuous. As someone with the Byakugan, he was probably the most troublesome opponent in those people's eyes.

If those people had really jumped out so easily, it would have benefited him instead.

This current situation, where there was nothing at all, was actually unfavorable to him.

At that thought, the hand beneath Hyuga Setsuna's luxurious black kimono secretly made a gesture toward a hidden corner.

It was a gesture exclusive to Anbu ninjas.

It meant that there was currently no danger, nor had any ninja appeared.

Kakashi, who had been following the two from the shadows, also clearly saw the gesture beneath Hyuga Setsuna's kimono.

Akishinomiya Yuri came to Hyuga Setsuna's side with a bag of tempura snacks in hand and said happily.

"Yagokoro, I bought one for you too. Here!"

As she spoke, Akishinomiya Yuri handed the second serving of tempura from her arms to Hyuga Setsuna.

Taking the tempura snack she offered, Hyuga Setsuna said with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Though he normally did not eat these sorts of snacks very often, having them once in a while was not a problem.

Akishinomiya Yuri enjoyed the delicious tempura in her mouth and said indistinctly.

"Yagokoro, let's go take a look outside the royal capital!"

Hearing Akishinomiya Yuri's words, Hyuga Setsuna froze for a moment before agreeing.

"Of course, Your Highness!"

Since Akishinomiya Yuri wanted to go outside the royal capital, he naturally had no objections.

What interested him more was whether those people lurking in the shadows would be unable to restrain themselves and strike once they saw their target leave the royal capital.

After reporting their identities and guards, the two arrived at a forest outside the royal capital.

Looking at the lush forest, Granny Shiori's eyes held a nostalgic expression.

"This place used to be very lively. People often came here to worship the Sacred Tree and pray for blessings for themselves and their children's futures."

"Now, hardly anyone comes anymore. Perhaps only the elderly people in the royal capital still remember that there used to be a Sacred Tree here."

Upon hearing Granny Shiori's words, Akishinomiya Yuri was just about to speak when she caught sight of Hyuga Setsuna beside her.

Helplessly, she could only look pitifully at Granny Shiori, her eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity as she hoped Granny Shiori would take them there.

Granny Shiori said with a gentle smile.

"Little Yuri, you need to ask that young man of yours. I can only take you if he agrees!"

Seeing that Granny Shiori had agreed, Akishinomiya Yuri immediately turned to Hyuga Setsuna and coaxed him.

"Yagokoro, do you want to go see the Sacred Tree?"

"I often heard the maids at the mansion say that there's a Sacred Tree in this forest, and it's very effective!"

Hyuga Setsuna, who had been checking the surroundings, smiled when he heard that.

"Since it is such an effective Sacred Tree, then let's go have a look, Your Highness."

After saying that, he glanced toward Granny Shiori.

When the floating Granny Shiori saw that Hyuga Setsuna had agreed as well, she floated ahead to lead the way, while Akishinomiya Yuri and Hyuga Setsuna followed behind her.

Looking at the tranquil yet lively forest, a strange light flickered in Hyuga Setsuna's eyes.

He had been observing the area all along, yet he discovered that there was not a single ninja—or even a single person—within five kilometers of this forest.

Were those people really this patient?

Or were they using some other method?

Putting those thoughts aside, Hyuga Setsuna looked at Akishinomiya Yuri, who was hopping about in front as she led the way, and helplessness flashed through his eyes.

This mission was really troublesome!

With Granny Shiori leading the way, the two quickly arrived at where the Sacred Tree stood.

Looking at the Sacred Tree covered in prayer plaques, Akishinomiya Yuri jogged all the way beneath it. Raising her head to gaze at the magnificent Sacred Tree, she kept muttering excitedly.

"So many, so many prayer plaques!"

Looking at the Sacred Tree before him, far grander and larger than ordinary trees, Hyuga Setsuna's eyes held a thoughtful look.

After all, in Naruto, anything related to wood or trees was never simple.

However, the Sacred Tree before them was probably just a slightly older, larger tree. There was nothing else strange about it.

Just then, the sound of rustling grass came from deep within the woods beside the Sacred Tree. Hyuga Setsuna flashed forward and arrived in front of Akishinomiya Yuri, blocking her behind him as he watched ahead warily.

"Yip, yip, yip!!"

"Yip, yip, yip!!"

Several fluffy black shadows leaped out from the woods, their small figures appearing before Hyuga Setsuna and Akishinomiya Yuri.

Looking at the foxes of varying sizes before him, Hyuga Setsuna frowned and shouted softly.

"Byakugan, activate!"

The veins at Hyuga Setsuna's temples gradually bulged as the Byakugan's penetrating vision continuously scanned the foxes' bodies.

"They aren't carrying Explosive Tags."

"They aren't human bombs either?"

"Nor are they summoned beasts?"

Seeing that the foxes before him carried no Explosive Tags, bombs, or Chakra within their bodies, Hyuga Setsuna slowly deactivated his Byakugan.

It seemed they really were just a few ordinary foxes.

Akishinomiya Yuri put both hands on Hyuga Setsuna's shoulders and poked her head out, looking at the foxes before them as she spoke softly.

"Yagokoro, they're just little foxes. You don't need to react so strongly!"

When Hyuga Setsuna had suddenly appeared in front of her and activated his Byakugan, Akishinomiya Yuri had truly been frightened. She had thought an enemy had really arrived.

Akishinomiya Yuri looked at the group of foxes of varying sizes before her. Their pairs of green-glowing eyes stared out as they trembled on the ground, and a few even covered their heads.

Clearly, the foxes had been frightened by Hyuga Setsuna's imposing presence.

Hyuga Setsuna turned around and said apologetically.

"I'm truly sorry, Your Highness!"

La la la, second update!

This humble Qingmeng begs for follows, recommendations, monthly votes, and tips...

The older a Sacred Tree was, the more people seemed to believe in it. How strange! (￣3)(ε￣)