*Konoha, Underground Base.*
"Your new team members have set out, Homewrecker Captain," Kushina said, pointing at the figures on the monitor with a teasing tone. "Do you really think they're up for the job?"
"It's just a simple weapon test," Yuto replied calmly.
"Tsk tsk, using teammates who have a crush on you as test subjects," Kushina clicked her tongue. "You're becoming more and more like that Aizen from Soul Society, you know."
"But Aizen definitely wasn't into his classmate's mothers," Mikoto suddenly interjected.
"Hahaha, that's one difference between them" Kushina couldn't help but laugh. "That Aizen seems more interested in raising boys from childhood than women."
"You mean Gin Ichimaru, right?"
"Exactly! Too bad it never became official!"
"How could it become official? That's a shonen manga, not a fujoshi manga," Yuto's eye twitched slightly.
"No big deal, as long as we can ship them," Kushina waved her hand dismissively. "After reading Magical Girl Uchiha Madara, I've become a lot less picky about these things."
"That just means you're further down the path to becoming a pervert, Shinana sensei," Yuto deadpanned.
Snap.
Kushina, wearing her lace-edged opera gloves, grabbed Yuto by both cheeks, fuming. "From now on, you are forbidden from ever using that damned pen name again!"
"Hahaha, never thought I'd see the day you got triggered like this," Mikoto laughed heartily.
"Who could tolerate this stupid pen name?!" Kushina took a deep breath, her face full of annoyance. "If word gets out that I'm Shinana, how am I supposed to show my face to the world again?"
"Don't worry, nobody knows Shinana sensei is you anyway," Mikoto said, barely containing her laughter.
"You shut up too!" Kushina rolled her eyes, then looked back at Yuto. "It's all your fault, you little brat, with your damn 'Shinana'!"
"It was just a spur-of-the-moment idea," Yuto raised his hands in surrender.
"So, your second mysterious online friend has completely gone silent?" Kushina changed the subject.
"Yeah, but it's fine," Yuto shook his head calmly. "That kind of 'guy' is pretty exhausting even as an online friend."
He had added the second mysterious friend during last night's New Year's Eve dinner. The first message was "You dare call yourself this king's friend, mongrel?"
Yuto instantly recognized the archetype, the Golden Brat from some Fate universe.
A few messages were exchanged, and both quickly realized they were fundamentally incompatible.
Since that was the case, there was no need to keep in touch. A mutual block brought that brief, awkward conversation to an end.
"Yugao and the others have reached the mountain," Mikoto said softly.
*Land of Fire, Rakuyo Mountain.*
Dressed in ANBU attire, Yugao felt a sinister, chilling aura. Her expression beneath the mask grew serious. "Hayate, do you feel something... off?"
"Yes, a slight chill," Gekkō Hayate replied. "But considering it's early spring and we're on a mountain, that seems normal, doesn't it?"
"No, this chill isn't natural," Yūgao frowned. "It feels more man-made... Who's there?!" Her gaze snapped to the side, and the tantō on her back slid free from its sheath.
"Hehehe, relax." A familiar voice sounded as Mitarashi Anko emerged from a bush, hands raised. "Friends here."
Behind her followed Yūhi Kurenai, wearing an awkward smile.
"You two..." Yūgao's brow furrowed. "No wonder I felt that sinister chill. It's you, Snake Woman."
"Snake Woman?" Anko's face showed clear displeasure. "Hey, isn't that nickname a bit too much?"
"Were you following us?" Yūgao asked, ignoring the comment.
"Of course not! We just ran into you on the path! Since it's the New Year and there's nothing better to do, I brought Kurenai along to witness our esteemed 'Homewrecker Captain's' glorious leadership."
"He's our captain. You're not even an ANBU anymore."
"No problem, I can be an honorary member!"
Yūgao was left speechless by the woman's shamelessness, her lips twisting beneath the mask.
"As you can see, Captain Yuto isn't with us today," Hayate stepped forward, his voice gentle. "It's just a standard reconnaissance mission. We didn't think it was necessary to trouble the Captain."
"Reconnaissance?" Anko raised an eyebrow. "I thought there were only a few bandit camps around here, and they were cleared out a while ago?"
"That was the case, but recently, there have been rumors of a white ghost," Yūgao explained, sighing. "Several merchant caravans have been attacked, and some guards were even scared out of their wits."
"A ghost?" Anko looked astonished.
"We suspect it's some kind of fear-inducing genjutsu," Hayate added.
"Oho, perfect timing! I brought a genjutsu expert along!" Anko patted her best friend Kurenai on the shoulder. "Since we're here, let us help you check it out."
"This is an ANBU mission, not some game!" A vein throbbed on Yūgao's forehead. "Anko, you should remember the ANBU rules! Don't make this difficult for us!"
"What's the big deal? Rules are rigid, people are flexible and you could use are help"
"Help? You just want to score points with Captain Yuto! Control yourself, you damn shotacon!"
"Hehe, don't tell me you don't think—"
"Look out!"
Before Anko could finish her sentence, a white scythe suddenly slashed towards her back. Fortunately, Yūgao reacted quickly enough to yank her out of the way in the nick of time.
"This... this is..."
"What kind of monster is that?"
The owner of the white claws was a strange creature over two meters long. It resembled a mantis but was covered in white, bony plates.
"Is this the white ghost they were talking about?" Hayate asked, his expression shocked.
"It's coming again, move!" Kurenai shouted a warning, her hands already forming seals.
Water Style: Water Impact!
She spat out a massive ball of water.
Thud.
The water ball struck the mantis monster, throwing its body back several meters. But the creature quickly righted itself, brandishing its scythe-like forelimbs as it lunged at the group again.
"So fast!" Hayate inhaled sharply, raising his sword to block.
Clang.
Sparks flew as Hayate gritted his teeth, holding off the monster's attack.
Snake Binding Technique!
Anko unleashed several long snakes from her sleeves, tightly coiling around the monster's lower body.
Seizing the opportunity,
Yūgao gripped her long sword and slashed at the monster's neck.
Schlick.
The blade cut clean through, sending the mantis monster's head flying.
"W-we killed it!" Hayate wiped cold sweat from his brow, panting. "What was that thing?"
"It doesn't look like a natural creature," Anko said, crouching down next to the monster's corpse and poking its head with her finger. "Could someone be conducting some kind of forbidden experiment here?"
She finished speaking but received no response.
Glancing at her companions, she found them all staring dumbfounded into the depths of the forest.
Curious, Anko turned her head as well. What met her eyes were countless flickering white figures emerging from the shadows between the trees…
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