WebNovels

Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Ringo Ameyuri

Chapter 20: Ringo Ameyuri

Yuto couldn't help but chuckle at the wide-eyed little girl in his arms. He set her down gently and said with a smile,

"Be careful when you walk, little one."

"Hmph! I'm not little one, my name is Haruna."

The girl puffed out her cheeks and spoke in a mock-adult tone.

A moment later, the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl rushed over. Seeing Haruna safe, she finally let out a relieved breath.

"Haruna, no more running around!"

Though Haruna pouted in displeasure, she didn't talk back.

"Thank you for helping just now."

The older girl bowed deeply, her voice sincere.

"It's nothing, just a small matter," Yuto said lightly, waving his hand.

"Ah! Sister! Sister! I want the fish balls in big brother's hand!"

Haruna's eyes lit up with stars as she pointed at Yuto's snack. Before her sister could react, Yuto had already handed the skewer to the girl, who began eating happily without hesitation.

The young woman flushed, bowing again. "Forgive her, Haruna is still too young to understand manners."

"It's fine. I bought plenty," Yuto replied with a soft smile. "In fact, if you two aren't busy, could you show me around nearby? I'll treat you both to more fish balls."

Haruna's eyes sparkled brighter, and she looked up at her sister expectantly.

The older girl's gaze, however, grew cautious. From the start, she had felt a strange sense of familiarity from this young man, though she was sure she had never seen him in the village.

Now, hearing his request, she realized at once he wasn't from Kirigakure. As for the familiarity, perhaps it was only resemblance—but what concerned her more was the faint, dangerous aura he carried.

"If you're worried, don't be. I'm no bad person," Yuto said with a small laugh, misinterpreting her silence.

"Don't underestimate my sister," Haruna cut in proudly. "She's a genius, and a really strong ninja!"

"I am Ringo Ameyuri," the girl introduced herself, stepping forward and pulling Haruna protectively behind her. "I know this area well. If you don't mind, I can serve as your guide."

Seeing her guarded stance, Yuto raised an eyebrow and let out a helpless sigh. Clearly, she had her suspicions about him.

The name Ringo Ameyuri stirred a faint sense of familiarity in Yuto, though he couldn't quite place where he had heard it before. Still, whether his guide was a kunoichi or not hardly mattered to him. He wasn't out to gather any critical intelligence—he simply wanted to see how the civilians of Kirigakure lived in this era.

Having someone to lead the way was certainly better than wandering aimlessly. And though Ameyuri remained cautious of him, the presence of little Haruna kept the atmosphere light. The only real nuisance was the girl's appetite—she seemed intent on eating him out of coin.

———

Far away, in a dim underground chamber, Orochimaru's face glowed with rare excitement. He cast a casual glance at the scroll Terumi Mei had given him in trade. Normally, he might have poured over its contents with relish, but right now, something far more intriguing demanded his attention.

Hiss—hiss—

From the sleeve of his robe, a slender snake slithered into his palm. Once coiled there, it opened its maw wide and spat out a small lump of flesh.

Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice fevered with desire.

"The secret of the First Mizukage's undying body… how could anyone resist uncovering it?"

He had not gone into the resurrection unprepared. Before the ritual, Orochimaru had already arranged for this snake to burrow beneath Yuto's resting place. At the moment Hashirama's seal weakened and broke, the snake surfaced and bit off a piece of Yuto's flesh.

The act was seamless, cloaked in the chaos. Terumi Mei and Ao had been too focused on Yuto to notice, and the snake bore no chakra signature to betray itself. As for Yuto, the flesh was taken before his revival completed—he would never sense anything amiss.

Knock, knock.

A soft rap came at the chamber door.

"Enter," Orochimaru said coolly without turning.

The Sound Four stepped inside, unease flickering in their eyes.

"So, you're awake," Orochimaru said, a smile curling at his lips. "How does it feel to be without your cursed seals?"

At once, the four dropped to one knee, their voices trembling but resolute.

"Lord Orochimaru, please grant us the power of the curse mark again!"

In Otogakure, strength was everything. Even knowing the seal's terrible toll, they could not bear to be stripped of its might.

Moments later, agonized screams echoed through the underground chamber.

"Send Kimimaro to me later," Orochimaru murmured in a low, shadowed tone. "He won't be able to remain here much longer."

His voice lingered in the gloom, carrying both promise and foreboding.

(End of Chapter)

Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!

Patreon: https://patreon.com/anish_44

More Chapters