The words of the Hyuga family's Jonin made the Jaeger family feel as if they had fallen into an icy abyss. Even Dr. Nake, curled up in the corner, felt a twinge of pity for them.
An ordinary family.
Yet they had been dragged into the heart of a whirlpool.
Nono's face was expressionless, but inside, her emotions were raging. She had carefully planned her escape route and gripped her kunai tightly, ready to rescue the child she had healed the night before.
She was alone, facing four Leaf Jonin and a ninja hound. There was no way she could save the whole family.
"Nono-sensei, I advise you not to make any rash moves. Otherwise, we'll deal with you the same way we handle rogue ninjas!" Asuma shot her a sidelong glance, flicked the cigarette from his mouth, and casually lit a new one.
"Alright, I'll be blunt. They are informants planted by the Root organization at the border. If you touch them, you'd better be ready to answer to Lord Danzo!"
Nono realized her bluff had been called but tried another tactic to intimidate them.
The expressions on the four Jonin suddenly shifted, and Nono felt a glimmer of hope, thinking her strategy had worked. After all, no Leaf ninja wanted to provoke Danzo's wrath.
"Haha… Root organization, Lord Danzo—don't make me laugh!" The Jonin from the Hyuga branch family shook his head, amused.
Asuma blew out a puff of smoke, also chuckling with disdain.
Nono frowned, confused by their reactions.
No one paid any further attention to the bewildered Nono.
"Asuma, you'd better have an explanation for this!"
A woman's magnetic voice echoed from outside the door, reaching everyone inside the cabin.
Asuma turned to look.
Kurenai Yūhi slowly walked into the wooden cabin, her cold gaze sweeping over everyone before settling on Asuma.
According to the plan, she had split from her team.
While searching for signs of the Uchiha squad on Mount Kikyo, she had realized that Asuma and the others had deliberately separated to shake her off.
By the time Kurenai arrived at the village…
She was shocked to find…
Asuma and his squad had slaughtered an entire village of refugees.
"Kurenai, let me explain. They were just refugees from a small nation. If they had caused trouble, it could've had a negative impact on the Fire Nation's borders, so…"
Asuma smiled apologetically.
"Release the mother and child. They are innocent!" Kurenai said coldly, her red eyes devoid of any emotion, leaving no room for negotiation.
Asuma hesitated for a moment, glancing at the Hyuga Jonin, who clicked his tongue in frustration and lowered his kunai.
"Heh…"
The Hyuga Jonin sneered but said nothing, pressing his kunai against Jaeger's neck.
Jaeger, instead of feeling fear, let out a breath of relief. His gaze softened as he looked at his wife, his emotions complicated.
Kurenai stood protectively by the mother and child, glaring at Asuma, and scolded him:
"Asuma… You always criticize the Third Hokage's decisions, yet you and your father are no different. The Third Hokage once sacrificed Hizashi Hyuga for the sake of peace.
And now, to keep your squad loyal, you've let them massacre refugees and brand them as rogue ninjas to gain favor."
Asuma realized his intentions had been completely exposed.
His expression turned blank as he looked at his teammates, who were watching him.
The Jonin from the Inuzuka clan waved his hand, laughing, "Haha, Captain Asuma, don't worry. This is your family matter. We'll pretend we didn't hear anything and won't talk about it when we return."
Did Kurenai just insult the Third Hokage?
Nono stared at this courageous kunoichi, relieved to see that not all Leaf ninjas trampled on innocent lives, and she felt a sense of relief for Jaeger's wife.
Seeing his companions promise silence, Asuma sighed, not bothered by Kurenai's accusations. He kept smiling, explaining, "Kurenai… it's not what you think. I'll explain everything when we get back."
Kurenai ignored him, as his actions tonight had crossed her moral boundaries.
"Don't waste time here. Get the information, deal with the man, and continue the pursuit!"
Asuma's eyes clouded, a little frustrated, as he spoke to the others.
He wasn't concerned with Kurenai's tantrum. He knew her temperament well, and with a bit of coaxing later, he'd calm her down.
The Hyuga Jonin was about to make his move on Jaeger, but suddenly, he froze, sensing an intense danger.
It was a feeling he had only experienced once in his life—during a mission when he had narrowly escaped death.
Then…
In his black-and-white vision…
Behind him…
At the entrance…
A handsome young man dressed in white, with a sword at his waist, stepped lightly into the room.
The young man's face was stern, standing proudly. His presence didn't break the tense atmosphere in the cabin but instead blended seamlessly into it.
Everyone's eyes were still on the Hyuga Jonin, completely unaware of the newcomer behind them.
The Hyuga Jonin pursed his lips, took a deep breath to calm himself, and slowly put away his kunai as he turned to face the door.
In that instant, the atmosphere in the cabin shattered like a stone thrown into a tranquil lake.
The baby's crying stopped abruptly.
Everyone turned sharply.
All eyes fixed on the doorway.
"Let him go, and I'll leave your bodies intact."
Kuroki drew his sword from his waist.
Clang—
His sharp eyes glistened like water, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning. His flawless face gleamed in the candlelight, casting a picture-perfect shadow on the wall behind him.
[Side Quest]: Heaven's Punishment
[Options]:
Kill everyone present.
Kill Asuma Sarutobi, Hyuga Yu, Choka Akimichi, Akiyama Inuzuka, and Yukimaru.
[Reward]: Weapon — Dark Moon.
Kuroki raised an eyebrow slightly and sighed inwardly. This task came a little too casually.
A weapon.
Dark Moon.
Is it a blade?
Kuroki temporarily reined in his thoughts and gripped his ninjato. The blade gleamed coldly under the candlelight.
He glanced over everyone present, silently counting the number of people: four people and a dog. His gaze paused briefly when it landed on Kurenai Yuhi.
She wasn't on the task list.
Is it because...
She bears no hostility towards me?
Kuroki immediately felt at ease.
As for Nonō's return, it didn't surprise Kuroki at all. He had come back with his team this time precisely to ambush Nonō, though he didn't expect to stumble upon this little gift from the Hidden Leaf.
The intentions of Asuma Sarutobi and the others...
Were written all over their faces.
That's fine. Let this little squad from the Hidden Leaf stay here forever.
As Kuroki thought this, his blade, like the Mangekyō Sharingan, silently released Yin-style chakra, targeting the Jonin from the Hyuga clan who had dared to meet his gaze with the Byakugan.
He had long since stored away Kotoamatsukami and replaced it with a pair of complete Eight Thousand Spears.
In an instant, the eyes of the Hyuga Jonin widened, his entire body trembling. His mind and chakra were fully under Kuroki 's control.
The Hyuga clan had no dojutsu strong enough to resist the Eight Thousand Spears.
The candlelight in the wooden house flickered violently.
Shadows swayed.
The air fell into a deathly silence.
"Kuroki !!!"
Kurenai Yuhi's pupils quaked as her red lips parted slightly. She looked at the young man at the door in disbelief, staring at his cold, indifferent face, completely stunned.
(End of Chapter)