"Earthquake! Run!"
"Run for your lives!!"
The sky was a dull grey, with heavy, somber clouds pressing down on the horizon. The earth shook violently like a trampoline; the world seemed inverted as skyscrapers collapsed one after another, roads split open, and people scattered like ants in a panic.
A young girl stood frozen on the spot.
Reflected in her pupils was a scene of utter misery. Her mother, pinned under bricks and stone with only half her body showing, wailed in agony. Beside her, her father was a mangled mess of flesh, already breathless.
"Run..."
Amidst the cacophony, the weeping girl was pushed by the surging crowd toward a narrow sliver of light in the distance.
She looked back once more.
Rumble! The earth groaned and the mountains shook.
Buildings thundered to the ground, and once again, only boundless darkness remained.
Splash—
In the bathroom.
The silver-haired girl broke the surface of the water, droplets flying everywhere.
"Cough, cough..."
Her pale hand gripped the edge of the tub, her fingertips wrinkled from the soak. Pressing the back of her hand to her nose and mouth, Hinami—pale and choking on water—struggled to climb out of the bathtub.
This is...
The stark white bathroom, the lingering steam, the slumped figure in the distance.
Kirigakure.
Her dull grey eyes instantly focused, radiating light.
Byakugan!
The world abruptly changed shape. From two-dimensional to three-dimensional depth, the square houses could no longer obstruct her vision; walls and streets became as transparent as glass. After a quick scan to ensure there were no abnormalities nearby, Hinami deactivated the Byakugan and exhaled, wiping the fresh water from her face.
Her hair was soaked, clinging to her cheeks and neck with a damp, itchy sensation. She had been so exhausted last night that she had accidentally fallen asleep in the bath.
She pressed a hand to her forehead. Her palm felt slightly hot, and her breath carried a hint of feverish warmth. Her limbs felt weak. It seemed she had a slight fever; she wondered if the Shikotsumyaku's healing factor worked on the common cold.
It shouldn't be a big problem.
Stepping onto the cold bathroom tiles, she stood naked before the sink. Amasaka Naoko still lay quietly beneath it, her hazel eyes vacant and her soft features tinged with the bluish-grey of extreme blood loss.
Life is so fragile.
Hinami stood before the corpse, grabbed the towel hanging above the sink, and began rubbing her wet hair. Looking at the woman's bruised face, she couldn't help but recall the world-ending disaster of her youth—the terrifying earthquake where she lost her parents, her home, and became an orphan. Back then, kind neighbors had turned on her for a bite of food.
The image of her parents' death was a nightmare she could never escape. She didn't want to become like that. She would live—live better than anyone.
She looked up. The mirror was fogged over, showing only a blurred silhouette. She wiped it with a tissue, leaving faint grey streaks on the white paper.
A silver-haired girl appeared in the mirror, unclad. Her features were exquisite and sharp, her skin porcelain-white. Though she hadn't fully matured, her elegance was undeniable. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, and under the light, the silver-grey strands possessed a muted, metallic luster.
Her irises were milky white, but the pupils in the center were a deathly ash-grey—deeper, it seemed, than in her memories. She pulled back her bangs to check her forehead; the piercing wound from yesterday had healed perfectly without a single scar. Her skin was smooth and translucent, almost artificial in its perfection.
This appearance...
Yesterday, when she was counting her cards, it seemed she had missed one.
Stepping over the dried, black bloodstains on the floor, Hinami smoothed the goosebumps on her arms from the cold air and walked out of the bathroom.
In the living room, the floor was covered in black stains. The rapid evaporation of the water made her shiver. As the morning light spilled through the cracks in the window, her naked skin glowed with the luminescence of fine mutton-fat jade.
Outside, the sky was turning the color of a fish's belly, tinged with a faint purple hue. She had no idea how long she had slept.
"Byakugan—Open."
Hinami formed a single-handed seal, the veins around her eyes bulging. The world became transparent; the structural layout of the house and the entire street were revealed in minute detail.
Kirigakure was a mountain city. Mist drifted around the peaks, and houses were built according to the terrain. The streets were uneven and steep. In the middle of the road, a large mound protruded like a giant basketball buried underground. The houses on either side were single-story; some backed onto forests or hills, leading to yet another street higher up. It was a labyrinthine city.
She withdrew her gaze and used the Byakugan to inspect her immediate surroundings inch by inch. Her brow furrowed slightly.
She returned to the bathroom, pried open the floor drain, and cleared out the clump of silver-grey hair she had stuffed inside. Then, she looked at Amasaka Naoko and the tightly clenched fist hidden near her lower abdomen.
Chakra surged.
Schwing!
The joints of her fingers deformed as terrifying blades snapped out from her flesh. The bone blades lengthened and thinned, taking on the shape of scalpels, making the already sharp edges even more lethal.
Squelch...
The fist was frozen shut, the fingers as stiff as wood. Hinami used the bone blades to slice through Naoko's fingers one by one. On the palm, the bloody character for "Bone" (骨) was revealed.
Even though marriage and motherhood had dulled her edges, she had managed to leave a clue at the brink of death.
Truly worthy of the name 'Blood Mist Ninja,' Hinami thought with silent admiration. She casually sliced the skin and flesh from the palm.
Searching the bedroom, she changed into Naoko's shorts and T-shirt. Her own clothes were shredded and unusable. Their sizes were very different; the oversized T-shirt hung loose over her chest, and the hem covered her backside. The waist of the shorts was far too large, so she used a belt to keep them from falling off.
Using the X-ray vision of the Byakugan, she scavenged a significant amount of cash from under Hoshino's bed, the nightstand, and a black box at the bottom of Naoko's closet. She kept some on her person and stuffed the rest into a satchel.
Snap!
A lighter ignited the blood-stained rags. The flames licked at the Kaguya clan crest, leaping high. She threw the clump of hair and the skin from Naoko's palm into the fire. As she inhaled the stench of burning protein mixed with a faint meaty aroma, the firelight flickered in her grey-white eyes.
Once all evidence that could expose her was reduced to ash, she scanned the room to ensure nothing was missed. She packed the blood-stained bone fragments and the ashes into a trash bag. Then, she used the Transformation Jutsu, taking on the appearance of a former corporate colleague from her past life.
Carrying her wallet and the trash, she walked out the door, looking exactly like a "corporate slave" rushing to work in the morning.
Three hours later. Somewhere in the Kirigakure underground.
"Captain, we found Fox."
"Where?"
Takuto Sotochi, in his O-Tengu mask, stood in a cavernous basement talking to the Crow-masked Anbu.
"The hospital."
Takuto's brow furrowed. "Was he injured? I told him to clean up the battlefield. What happened?"
"He's dead."
Silence like the grave filled the room. Seeing the captain remain silent for so long, Crow broke out in a cold sweat. He never knew the captain and Fox were so close.
"Continue," Takuto said, his voice dry and raspy. Crow heard the underlying killing intent.
"Last night, 'Fox' was cleaning the battlefield and found a heavily injured Anbu member. He carried him alone to the hospital. The process in between is unknown. When we realized Fox hadn't returned, Hound and I went to the hospital. The nurse said Hoshino was dead, and the Anbu who brought him left to notify the family and never returned. Based on the description the nurse gave of his face, that man had already died on the battlefield Hoshino was cleaning. The cause of death was his skull being shredded by a claw-like weapon."
"We deduce a Kaguya remnant has infiltrated the village. Their intent is unknown, but they are likely hiding in Fox's home. We just sent men to search..." Crow hesitated.
"What about Naoko?"
The tone was calm, but to Crow, it felt colder than the Yuki clan's Ice Style.
"Amasaka Naoko is dead. There were no signs of a struggle; she must have been killed instantly. All traces were handled very cleanly—no clues left behind. The killer is strong and ruthless. We estimate... at least Jōnin level."
Crow deliberately omitted the gruesome details of Naoko's death.
"Very clean?"
"Yes! Cleaner than our own Anbu methods. Not even a strand of hair was left."
Another long silence followed. Crow stood nervously, fists clenched.
"The Kaguya clan is reckless and crude; this doesn't match their style... Orochimaru was seen at the Kaguya ruins; this person is likely one of his subordinates. Crow, take men and blockade all village exits. From now on, the village is entry-only. Everyone entering must be strictly inspected. If you find anyone suspicious... kill them on the spot!"
Takuto issued the orders coldly.
"Blockade the village? But... what about the village higher-ups...?"
"I'll handle it."
"Yes!" Crow performed a Water Body Flicker and vanished.
In the empty Anbu base, Takuto stood still for a long time. Having lost his parents at a young age, he had now lost his best friend and... his lover. Hatred burned in his chest like a wildfire.
But—he couldn't let it cloud his mind. Genji and Mei were off to fight the Mizukage; the outcome was unknown. Fierce Fang had been lured out to hunt Orochimaru. Kirigakure was currently at its weakest. Any anomaly in the village could be fatal.
If this person was indeed one of Orochimaru's, and they discovered the village's internal instability, there was no one left to stop him.
I'll trap the enemy in the village first. No need to rush the search. Once Lord Genji returns, I'll ask Ao to use the Byakugan. With the help of that terrifying bloodline, all disguises will be revealed.
When that time came, he would take the killer's head and place it before Haraku and Naoko's graves.
"Hey! Did you hear? The Kaguya clan rebelled last night and tried to attack the village. They've been wiped out!"
"What? For real?"
"The bodies are piled high as mountains. How could it be fake?"
"I heard the Mizukage wanted a treasure they were protecting..."
"Quiet, brother! Watch your tongue!"
Kirigakure Central Avenue.
Acquaintances gathered in small groups, whispering. They had to be cautious. Central Avenue was at the very top of the mountain city. No matter where you were in Kirigakure, it took a long uphill walk to get here. From above, the streets looked like a giant cross carved into a bullet head, with the Mizukage Building at the very center.
The subject of their discussion was at the very peak of that building.
Tap, tap, tap!
A sudden sound interrupted their conversation. The man who had been speaking looked toward the source.
A silver-haired girl with a wooden staff was walking slowly up the slope. She wore a green satchel, a white cloak that reached her calves, and a hood pulled low. Beneath the hood, a black cloth was tied across her eyes. Curly silver-grey hair dangled from the sides of her face, shimmering with a metallic sheen in the sun.
What a beautiful blind girl.
After seeing the source of the noise, the men admired her for a moment, then turned back to their hushed political gossip. In the "Blood Mist," violence was the norm, but the girl didn't interest them as targets—it was the politics of the tower that held their fear.
Tap...
Listening to the chatter of the passersby, the blind girl pressed her pale pink lips together. Leaning on her cane, she walked steadily toward the towering Mizukage Building in the distance.