Yuri Comes to Visit

The setting sun painted the horizon warm orange as Yuri stepped out of the unassuming building that concealed the Kumogakure Counterespionage Group's core base.

He took a deep breath of the cool evening air, as if he could drive the chill and the smell of blood from his lungs.

He took out his Communicator and dialed a familiar number.

"Sis, will you be home tonight? I'd like to come see you."

At the Raikage Building, Yor was sorting through documents when her heart skipped a beat. Her grip tightened around the Communicator. Oh no! I completely forgot to tell Yuri I got married!

"Um... Yuri." Her voice wavered as she stammered, "I... I got married."

"What?! You got married?!" Yuri's shout nearly burst through the receiver. "When? To whom? Why didn't I know anything about it?"

"It... it was a year ago..." Yor grew more flustered, her words tumbling out faster. "It's a long story! I live at apartment 24 in Beika Street's second district now. Come over tonight and you'll see!"

She hung up almost at once, as though the Communicator had burned her hand. Her heart hammered in her chest.

Yuri stood frozen, listening to the dial tone.

Sis got married? Without a word? A tangle of feelings welled up in him: surprise, disappointment, and, above all, the wary urge to protect her.

She's so trusting. What if someone tricked her?

He clenched his fist and made up his mind. I'm going tonight. I have to see what kind of man she married!

If that man treated his sister badly in the slightest, Yuri would make sure he learned firsthand just how "professional" and "cruel" the Kumogakure Counterespionage Group's punishments could be.

The thought of punishment brought back a glimpse he had caught while leaving the base: the