Important People

For a qualified ninja, gathering intelligence is an essential skill. Despite having only been in Kusagakure for three days, Mei Terumi had already written down some basic relationships between important figures in the scroll in her hands.

"Kusagakure... so this is where Zabuza stayed for three years...?"

"Yakushi Nonō is the apparent ruler of Kusagakure. Although there's no information indicating she's a ninja, she shouldn't be underestimated..."

"Kato Osamu is definitely the one in control behind the scenes, but this name has never appeared in the public eye..."

Mei Terumi has received the information Zabuza conveyed through Terumi Yu, and combined with the information she has gathered, she has understood the structure and key personnel of Kusagakure.

She only glanced at the attic mentioned in Zabuza's intelligence from afar, but she already roughly understood the danger within. However, with the constantly operating small barrier, she was not confident that she could break in undetected.

"We need to find a breakthrough..."

"But these people must have some backup plans left behind by Kato Osamu..."

Mei Terumi gently unfurled the scroll, revealing the names of Kato Osamu, Nonō, Rin, and Kabuto, along with the clear and distinct relationships between the various characters.

"This girl seems like someone worth trying..."

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, but his eyes couldn't help but fall on a name on the scroll.

"Guren —Lin's good friend..."

Perhaps it's just a fleeting whim, but a small action by someone in a high position can drastically change the fate of someone at the bottom.

Since Guren entered the Land of Grass, these past few years have been the happiest and most joyful time of her life. Although the Kusagakure is not wealthy, it still provides a peaceful and stable environment for most of the children.

After studying at the Ninja Academy for two years, and despite possessing the Crystal Release, she still chose to enter the Kusagakure Hospital, hoping to become a medical-nin. Perhaps, for most people, doctors are always seen as healers who save lives and are respected.

Until the sudden appearance of the Cursed Seal.

It was just an ordinary afternoon, but everything changed dramatically.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

The sound of running water echoed in the bathroom of the room, but Guren's shoulder was already covered in red. The black Cursed Seal Tomoe like an incurable disease, no matter what she tried, it seemed to be rooted in her body and was clearly visible.

The sudden onset of the Cursed Seal had caused her to have recurring nightmares these past few days. She seemed to vaguely remember the stranger who had placed the Cursed Seal on her, and she roughly understood his power. However, no matter what she did, she could not recall his face; it was as if her memory was missing.

What terrified her even more was that ever since she fainted that day, she could vaguely sense that there seemed to be a voice within the Cursed Seal on her shoulder, constantly telling her to accept this power.

Like the whispers of a demon, they constantly echoed in her ears, tempting her to step ever deeper into the abyss.

"Should we tell Nonō- neechan...?"

"Will Lin and the others believe me...?"

For a young girl, such a choice would probably be somewhat difficult. After all, choices always come with losses, and she couldn't imagine losing her home again, even though she knew they were all good people.

The mist in front of her kept rising, enveloping her whole body in a cloud of fog. Guren's eyes couldn't help but redden. She leaned quietly against the wall, a chill seemingly creeping into her entire body.

The girl, absorbed in her own world, was completely unaware that she had become someone else's target...

"Genjutsu: Flower in the Mist..."

As the mist dissipated, a woman's face gradually appeared. She gazed silently at the girl before her, whose pupils had already lost their focus, lost in thought.

"No wonder no one has ever paid any attention to this Kusagakure..."

"Aside from that attic and a few specific individuals, even ninjas at the Jonin level from the five great ninja villages seem to be completely unguarded and can infiltrate at will..."

"They seem to be hiding something, yet they also seem completely unconcerned about being investigated..."

A thoughtful look flashed in her eyes, Mei Terumi's gaze involuntarily fell on the girl.

"The pattern on the shoulder... is it a Sealing Jutsu? It seems to be imprisoning something— Cursed Seal?"

"It seems this girl is not simple either..."

Her senses gradually returned to normal; it seemed no one had noticed anything amiss. Mei Terumi then emerged from the mist, leaning against the wall, quietly questioning the girl trapped in the Genjutsu...

The difference in strength was too great. Even with her Kekkei Genkai, Guren was merely a newcomer to the Shinobi World and had absolutely no ability to resist...

Have you ever heard of the name Kato Osamu?

"I've heard of... I've heard of it..."

Intermittent sounds came from Guren's mouth, Mei Terumi revealed a slight smile.

"Oh?"

"When did you hear that...?"

"Lin... mentioned... this name before..."

The mention of Rin seemed to trigger a flicker of struggle in Guren's bewildered eyes, but she still couldn't break free from the Genjutsu's grasp. Mei Terumi gently touched Guren's brow, slowly suppressing the hidden agitation in Guren eyes...

Tell me, what is their relationship...?

"Friend..."

"Can a little girl under ten years old be friends with an adult man?"

Lin said, 'Xu is a very important person...'

Is that so...?

"So... have you seen him?"

"No..."

Tell me, what's that on your shoulder?

"Yes..., yes..."

Mentioning the Cursed Seal, Guren's emotions fluctuated significantly. Mei Terumi frowned slightly, vaguely sensing that a special aura was contained within the girl's body, constantly strengthening with her emotional fluctuations.

"It seems this thing is quite important to you..."

Mei Terumi slowly withdrew her hand and struck Guren on the back of the Guren, causing the girl to immediately faint...

A smile involuntarily crept onto her lips. Although there weren't many secrets, and she didn't expect the girl to know much, it did largely confirm that Zabuza's information was true.

Moreover, from Guren's words, Mei Terumi keenly sensed a strange person—Rin. This child was definitely not as simple as an ordinary child. She even thought of a girl who had passed away and had been in the same squad as Kato Osamu, according to the intelligence.

"That girl... her name is also Lin..."

"It seems we've found a breakthrough..."

Mei Terumi turned her head slightly to look at Guren lying in the bathtub, hesitated for a moment, and then placed the girl on the bed.

"Get a good night's sleep, little girl..."

Mei Terumi's figure slowly disappeared into the room along with the clouds and mist. Everything seemed to have settled down, and apart from the faint sound of breathing, there was no other sound in the room.

In a hidden corner unnoticed by anyone, a white afterimage seemed to slowly merge into the ground, silently...

In the jungle not far from the Land of Grass, Obito Uchiha, wearing Spiral Mask, sat quietly on a large tree, seemingly deep in thought.

The forest was quiet, but a white creature quietly darted out from the Obito Uchiha trunk behind Obito, glanced behind Obito Uchiha, and then approached Obito Uchiha with a slightly envious look.

"Obito Uchiha- san, I've heard a little secret... If you want to know, tell me, poop..."

"Um?"

Obito Uchiha's previously unfocused gaze suddenly turned murderous, without even glancing behind him.

The white humanoid creature seemed to have thought of something, clicked its tongue, but didn't say anything more.

"If you don't tell me, you can go back to the underworld..."

"Obito Uchiha- san! Rin has found someone important!"

"Um?"

Perhaps sensing Obito Uchiha's almost tangible killing intent, the White Zetsu, by hissing and repeating Mei Terumi and Guren's entire conversation to Obito Uchiha, only made Obito Uchiha's face darken even more with its White Zetsu lifelike imitation...

"Mei Terumi..."

"Besides..."

"Important person?"

Obito Uchiha lowered his eyes, gazing intently at the distant pavilion, his expression dark and unsettling; no one knew what he was thinking.

"Hey, Obito Uchiha- san, you broke the branch!"