Back at the Genji mansion, the atmosphere was more solemn than before.
Several old servants gathered in the corner, whispering to each other, their faces full of horror. Seeing Senju Chen coming back, they seemed to have seen the backbone of the company, but they did not dare to speak loudly.
"Master Gonbei... Something happened..." an old servant said tremblingly, "Next door... The family of Master Haneda next door... were taken away by Special Assassination and Tactical Squad's people this afternoon... They said they were colluding with the blood heirs to rebel..."
Haneda, the veteran Jonin of Kirigakure, was once a member of Genji's Faction, but he was not as die-hard as Gonbei, so he took the initiative to distance himself after Genji lost power.
Senju Chen knew in his heart that this was the purge of Karatachi Yagura or Obito that had begun again. Moreover, the target had shifted from the apparent blood successor families to the "remnants" of the old era like Genji.
Because Genji lost ground, the process of cleaning up and integrating Kirigakure with Obito became very fast.
Does this count as indirectly helping Obito?
He nodded to the old servant, indicating that he understood, and then walked straight to Genji's quiet room.
"Ahem... ahem!"
Before I even got close, I heard a violent coughing sound coming from inside. It was heartbreaking, as if the whole lung was being coughed out.
Senju Chen Pushed the door open, and a strong smell of blood mixed with grass Yakumi hit his face.
Genji was half-kneeling on the ground, holding the corner of the table with one hand, and covering his mouth with the other hand. Dark red blood was seeping out from between his fingers, dyeing the tatami in front of him red.
"Genji-sama!"
Senju Chen rushed forward and helped him up. At this moment, Genji's face was bloodless, his lips were purple, and the fire of life seemed to be extinguished at any time.
"Quan...Gonbei..." Genji grabbed his arm, but the strength was surprisingly strong. At this moment, an unprecedented light burst out from those cloudy eyes, full of anxiety and determination.
"I... I don't have much time..." He breathed heavily, and every word he spoke was like pulling an old bellows, "Haneda... Haneda was also arrested... Next... maybe it will be my turn..."
"It doesn't matter if I die. This life should have been returned to the village long ago... but... but the fire of Kirigakure... cannot be cut off! It must not be cut off!"
Genji stared at him, his eyes seemed to be inspecting, but also entrusting.
"Gonbei, the only person I can still trust now... is you."
Trembling, he took out something tightly wrapped in oil paper from his arms and stuffed it into Senju Chen's hand.
"This is... my last trump card."
Senju Chen Open the oil paper, and inside is a simple-looking key and a piece of parchment with a simple map drawn on it.
"Hot Spring Mountain east of the village, there is an abandoned sulfur mine. Take this key and go to the deepest door." Genji's voice was extremely low, as if he was talking in sleep, "There... is our Kirigakure's last hope."
"Hope?" Senju Chen (Gonbei)'s face showed doubts at the right time.
"A girl." Genji's eyes flashed with tenderness and pride, "A... girl with two kinds of Kekkei Genkai. I have secretly protected her for many years. She is the only blood ninja that has not been recorded, and she is also... our hope for counterattack."
"Gonbei, I order you, from today on, forget me, forget Genji's house, forget all your past identities and glory. Your new mission is to find her, protect her, and teach her!"
"When the time is right, she will lead us to take back the village controlled by monsters!"
Genji's chest rose and fell violently. After saying these words, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength and coughed violently again.
Two kinds of Kekkei Genkai girls? Could it be...Mei Terumi?
Let me just say, I have been here for so long, but there is no information about this Fifth Mizukage. My feelings have been given to you by an old guy like you.
Senju Chen was extremely excited, but on the surface he said to Genji solemnly.
"I obey my orders. But please also take care of yourself, adults. The future Kirigakure cannot be without your guidance."
"Well, go ahead..."
After that, Senju Chen followed the instructions on the map and came to Hot Spring Mountain, the area on the eastern outskirts of the village that is shrouded in the smell of sulfur all year round.
This place is sparsely populated and the air is filled with a pungent smell. It is indeed an excellent hiding place.
He quickly found the entrance to the hidden mine. The cave was damp and dark, winding downwards. After walking for about a quarter of an hour, a heavy fine iron door appeared in front of him, covered with complex Sealing Jutsu patterns.
Senju Chen Insert the key into the lockhole and twist it gently.
"Crack."
Sealing Jutsu type answered the question, and the heavy door slowly opened inwards.
Behind the door is not the dark cave as imagined, but a scene of a different kind.
Through the shimmer of the luminous stones on the wall, you can see that this is a huge space carved out by humans. In the center is a steaming hot spring with crystal clear water. There are also many strange heat-loving plants planted around it, making this underground world full of vitality.
And on a huge rock beside the hot spring, a figure was sitting.
It was a girl who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a simple cyan kimono, with long brown hair casually tied behind her head, revealing her fair and slender neck.
When she heard the sound of Gate of Opening, she turned around alertly.
Senju Chen's eyes were instantly attracted to her face.
It was an extremely beautiful face, with two completely opposite temperaments, charm and innocence, perfectly blended together in her body. Especially those green eyes, bright and sharp, like two purest emeralds, firmly locked on him with scrutiny and vigilance.
"Who are you?"
The girl's voice was cold and pleasant, but there was an undeniable sense of oppression in her words.
Senju Chen looked at the other person and knew that he had guessed correctly. His appearance was unmistakable. The person in front of him was definitely the future Fifth Mizukage--Mei Terumi.
"Genji sir sent me here." Senju Chen lowered the brim of his hat and replied in the hoarse voice of Gonbei.
"Grandpa Genji?" Mei Terumi's eyes moved slightly, but his vigilance did not diminish at all, "What did he ask you to do? Where are the others?"
"Master Genji... I'm afraid the situation is in danger." Senju Chen's tone was filled with sadness, "He asked me to come and fulfill his promise to you. From now on, I will be your guardian and... teacher."
"Teacher?"
Mei Terumi smiled, that smile was like a rose blooming in an ice spring, beautiful but with thorns.
She stood up from the rock and walked slowly towards Senju Chen. As she approached, the temperature in the air seemed to be rising.
"A lost dog who can't even protect himself is worthy of being my teacher?" Her voice was full of unabashed contempt and provocation, " Grandpa Genji is really getting more confused as he gets older."
She stopped in front of Senju Chen, and they were only three steps apart.
"If you want me to admit you, you can." Mei Terumi stretched out his slender fingers, and on his fingertips, a small ball of hot acidic liquid exuding white smoke was condensing.
Boil Release·Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!
"Beat me."
Her green eyes were full of fighting spirit.
Senju Chen looked at the thorny yet breathtakingly beautiful future Mizukage in front of him. Instead of being angry at all, he felt a strong desire to conquer.
"Interesting woman." He thought to himself, "But this temper needs to be tempered and tempered."
He slowly raised his head, and for the first time, the weather-beaten face belonging to "Gonbei" showed a playful smile that did not belong to this identity.
"As you wish, miss."