Twilight in Kirigakure.
Mari Kurisō stood, holding a deep blue umbrella upside down, her gaze fixed on the sky.
The light of day was fading, indistinct and murky. Moisture from the sea had risen to form rolling black clouds that pressed heavily against the horizon. The oppressive humidity in the air was almost palpable, yet not a single drop of rain had fallen. Only the rumble of thunder rolled continuously within the clouds, gathering strength, waiting for the right moment to burst forth in a torrential downpour.
Mari didn't know when the storm would finally break, and the uncertainty weighed on her.
Three days ago.
The Anbu had suddenly issued a lockdown order, throwing the village's ninja into a frenzy. As one of the Five Great Hidden Villages, Kirigakure's influence was vast; nearly all missions for the Land of Water and its surrounding islands were handled by Mist ninja. Every day the village remained sealed, the lost revenue was counted in the millions.
The Jonin had scrambled to investigate the source of the order, only to find that such a monumental decision had been made by a single Anbu sub-captain codenamed "Otakebi."
The justification given was simple: foreign spies had infiltrated the village, and the lockdown was necessary to prevent the leak of classified secrets.
It was a ridiculous excuse. No one had ever heard of a village severing its own economic lifeline just because a spy was afoot. To many, it felt as though the ones issuing the order were the real traitors.
A group of angry Jonin had decided to report the matter directly to the Mizukage to have the ban lifted.
But the Mizukage was gone.
And it wasn't just him. The village elders who managed daily affairs, the representative of the commoner faction—Anbu Commander Shun Kurisō (Mari's brother), the representative of the bloodline clans Mei Terumī, and the "Genjutsu Killer" Ao—all the village's heavyweights had vanished.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the elite Jonin cooled their tempers and began probing the Anbu for information. The official word was that the Mizukage and the others were still in the village, but their specific locations were a state secret. To ensure safety until the leader's return, the village had entered a state of "wartime blockade."
The elite had no choice but to comply, and the lower-ranked ninja followed suit. Thus, the lockdown remained in effect, enforced by the command of a mere sub-captain.
But silence from the Anbu didn't stop the whispers. This was why Mari Kurisō, a Special Jonin and the younger sister of the missing Anbu Commander, had come to the gates to demand answers.
At the tightly shut gates of Kirigakure.
"Miss Kurisō."
The Anbu guarding the exit greeted her respectfully. Even Crow and Blood Hound lowered their heads, losing the arrogance they had displayed toward the merchants. Everyone in the Anbu knew how much the Commander doted on his only sister; she was the "Little Mistress" of the Anbu.
Mari nodded curtly. "Where is my brother?"
The Anbu looked at one another in silence. The rules of their organization were strict, but no one wanted to offend the Commander's sister.
"Who is in charge here?" Mari scanned them coldly.
The guards exchanged glances, finally settling on the ninja with the crow mask. Crow shrugged helplessly and stepped forward. "Greetings, Miss Kurisō. I am a subordinate of Captain Otakebi, codenamed Crow."
Mari's azure eyes narrowed. "I don't care who you are. Answer me: Where is my brother?"
"The Commander... has left the village," Crow replied after a moment's hesitation.
"Reason?"
"I do not know."
"Then get your Captain out here."
"My apologies. Captain Otakebi is occupied with urgent matters and does not have time to see you."
Mari's beautiful face darkened. She didn't recognize a single one of these men. Having spent her childhood playing at the Anbu base, she knew most of her brother's subordinates by name or face. These men were strangers.
The Mizukage was missing. Her brother was missing. Even his loyal inner circle seemed to have vanished. A thick shroud of unease settled over her heart.
"Your Captain is too busy?"
"Yes."
Mari stared into the narrow slits of Crow's mask. "If I were to leave the village right now, would he find the time to appear?"
"The village is under blockade—"
"Do. You. Dare. To. Stop. Me?" Mari hissed, emphasizing every word.
Crow looked up, meeting her gaze. Behind him, the other Anbu tensed. Blood Hound's breathing grew heavy, his crimson hair bristling like needles. For a moment, the air was electric with killing intent.
Then, Crow reached back to press a hand on Blood Hound's shoulder, signaling him to stand down.
"Miss Kurisō is the Commander's sister," Crow said smoothly. "We are only here to catch spies. If you wish to leave, we will open the gate for you at any time. But as for seeing the Captain, I am just a grunt; I cannot make that decision. And regarding the Mizukage and your brother... I truly know nothing."
Mari felt like she was biting into a hedgehog. Their attitude was impeccable, but they offered zero information. Everything was "by the Captain's order." It was the ultimate bureaucratic stonewall.
Realizing she wouldn't get anything more out of them, she snorted in disdain and turned to leave.
She hadn't walked far from the gate when the first drop of rain hit the pavement.
"It's raining!" someone shouted. Pedestrians began to scatter.
Mari calmly opened her umbrella. Just as she was about to move on, a soft, timid voice came from beside her.
"Excuse me... has the ban been lifted?"
The voice was melodic and delicate, causing Mari to stop instinctively. She turned her head.
While the street was a blur of people running for cover, one figure sat quietly under the eaves of a nearby building. The girl sat huddled, her hands resting on a wooden cane. A wide black blindfold covered her eyes. She had a high bridge to her nose and delicate features that made her look like a porcelain doll.
Her long, silver-grey hair fell over her shoulders, and her white cloak was dusted with grime, making her look small and fragile—like a lost kitten.
What a beautiful blind girl, Mari thought, momentarily stunned. It took her a second to realize the girl was speaking to her.
"Uh... little sister, are you talking to me?" Mari's voice involuntarily softened, as if afraid she might startle the girl.