**"Captain, Kaguya Hikari has left the village."**
**"Where to?"**
**"She took an escort mission to the Land of Fire. She's with the client and her three students."**
The *Anbu* hideout was silent.
*Ōtengu* leaned back in his chair, idly rubbing his chest as he listened to *Karasu*'s report.
**"What kind of client?"**
**"A girl about this tall,"** Karasu lifted a hand to waist height, **"and blind. According to Kaguya Hikari, the girl's father was a merchant from the Land of Fire who came to Kirigakure for business but went missing."**
**"A blind girl?"**
*Ōtengu*'s eyes narrowed.
The village had been locked down precisely because Kirigakure's elite forces were depleted, leaving them vulnerable to spies—or worse, *Orochimaru*.
Just yesterday, word arrived that the *Kyōga* squad leader and his *Anbu* team had cornered Orochimaru near the Land of Water's border and engaged him. Meanwhile, *Gengetsu*'s faction confirmed that *Ao* had broken the *Mizukage*'s genjutsu. Only cleanup remained.
They'd return within three days.
To prevent a last-minute ambush, Gengetsu and his inner circle were under heavy guard—deep within the *Anbu*'s underground base.
Kirigakure's crisis was nearly over.
Only one threat lingered: the shadowy killer who'd murdered *Hoshizora* and *Naoko*. The culprit left no traces, not even a scent for *Chikemuri*, the squad's best tracker, to follow.
**"You're sure there's no issue?"**
**"The blind girl has no chakra fluctuations, no calluses from taijutsu training, and her skin is unmarked—no scars, no disguise. We even tested her blood to confirm it wasn't a transformation jutsu. Removed her blindfold, too. Verified the blindness."**
Karasu rattled off facts but avoided giving his own opinion, deftly passing the decision back to Ōtengu.
Annoying, but typical.
After a pause, Ōtengu waved a hand. **"Forget it. Just inform the village that the Mizukage and Gengetsu-sama will return soon. The lockdown will lift. And tell them not to bother me."**
**"Understood."**
Karasu bowed, dissolving into a swirl of water.
Silence reclaimed the underground chamber.
Yet unease prickled at Ōtengu's instincts. He dismissed it as nerves—the weight of the Mizukage's return, perhaps.
*Soon.*
Once *Ao* was back, his *Byakugan* would root out the killer.
The memory of his murdered friend surfaced—*Hoshizora Sora*, voice echoing in his mind:
*"Taku… I don't want to kill comrades. We'll change this damned 'Blood Mist' together. For weeds like us, the Anbu's our only shot."*
*"We need power. Only by climbing high can we fix Kirigakure."*
*"I… I married Naoko. I know you liked her too. But even as my best friend, I won't give her up…"*
*"Naoko's pregnant. I might quit the Anbu. I won't let my child be born into this hell."*
*"Taku, you're the most talented shinobi I know. You'll change this place. Sorry… I can't walk this path with you anymore."*
*Click.*
A lighter flared, casting wavering shadows as Ōtengu—*Tochitori Taku*—lit a cigarette.
**"Cough—! Hah…!"**
Blood speckled his mask and robes. His glowing blue eyes flickered like dying embers.
**"'Most talented'… Heh… Sora… *cough*—!"**
---
**Two Days Later**
**"Here. Careful, it's hot."**
**"Thanks, Okamura-nii."**
Nightfall. A fire crackled in the gloom of the forest.
*Hai Ruri* accepted the roasted game bird from *Okamura Arata*, blowing on it before taking a bite.
*—Hot!*
She chewed fast, puffing air. The meat was nothing like bland poultry—rich, springy, salted just right.
**"Good?"** Okamura grinned.
**"Mm! Delicious."** She nodded vigorously and took another huge bite.
Okamura chuckled, puffing up at the praise.
**"Only useful thing your Fire Style's good for,"** *Nakama Shin* muttered, tearing off a strip to check if it was cooked.
**"Shin-chan, make some Water Style later. I need to wash my feet,"** Okamura shot back. Before Shin could retort, *Kaguya Hikari* and *Dōzan Karin* both glared at him mid-bite.
Shin smirked—until a *rip* sounded.
Juicy meat flew.
Ruri had already devoured her portion and was now stealing a drumstick from *his* bird.
**"H-Hey! That's mine—!"**
**"Gomen, Shin-nii,"** Ruri licked her lips, blindfolded face the picture of innocence. **"I can't see…"**
**"PFFT—HAHAHA!"**
The team burst out laughing, Okamura loudest of all.
**"Nice one, Ruri-chan! Serves him right. Here, have mine too!"** He tossed her another drumstick.
Shin sighed, watching his meal shrink.
Ruri—small, sweet, and unfairly pretty—had quickly become the squad's darling. Even Shin couldn't stay mad.
*She's growing. I'll let it slide.*
But then Ruri demolished Okamura's drumstick too, licking her fingers like she was still starving.
Shin blinked, then wordlessly handed her his last piece.
**"Arigatō, Shin-nii!"**
She scarfed it down.
The team stared.
Curious now, Hikari and Karin joined in, feeding her more and more.
Behind her blindfold, Ruri felt like a street performer—*Encore! Encore!*—as drumsticks vanished into her stomach.
But this wasn't just fun.
Ever since awakening the *Shikotsumyaku* and *Byakugan*, her metabolism had skyrocketed. Food turned straight into chakra. If she conserved energy, she could go weeks without eating.
Without this, she'd never have built up chakra rivaling a *chūnin* at her age.
As the squad gaped, Ruri focused on her real goal:
*The Perfect Combat Body Modification Plan.*
---
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