š HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! šāØ
š„ Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurersā¦ āļø Buddyschlym! āļø and āļø Moran! āļøšā”ļø Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
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On the other side, Naruto had slipped into Kirigakure under the cover of darkness, the infamous Village of the Bloody Mist. Even without resistance, the mere act of stepping into this cursed land felt like walking into the jaws of a beast.
The air was thick with moisture, the ever-present fog swirling like ghostly fingers, whispering secrets of the blood that had been spilled on these streets.
Towering, jagged walls loomed over the village, their surfaces slick with mist and the faint stains of old battles. The narrow, labyrinthine alleys twisted unpredictably as if designed to swallow outsiders whole. The scent of salt and iron hung in the air, an unsettling reminder of Kirigakure's brutal ruleāwhere students had once been forced to kill their comrades to graduate from the Academy, where assassins lurked in every shadow, and where the very ground seemed to thirst for more blood.
Naruto moved like a wraith, his dark robe billowing behind him, blending into the suffocating fog. Every step felt like it carried the weight of unseen eyesāwhether ghosts of the past or the silent killers who still thrived in this ruthless land, he couldn't be sure.
His goal was treacherous: to find Mei Terumi, the woman whispering of rebellion against Yagura, the tyrant Mizukage who had turned Kirigakure into a nightmare.
While Naruto could easily sense Yagura's presence because of Isobu, the Three-Tails sealed inside him, Mei's aura was unfamiliar. He had to rely on his instincts and his Shadow Soldiers to search the village for clues.
Hours passed, but Naruto's patience paid off. His Shadow Soldiers finally located a hidden underground meeting place tucked away beneath an abandoned warehouse. Moving silently, Naruto slipped into the shadows, making his way inside.
In the dimly lit room, a group of ninjas had gathered.
At the center stood Mei Terumi, a striking woman with long, flowing auburn hair and sharp green eyes. She carried herself with confidence, her presence demanding attention.
Beside her was Ao, a stern-looking man with a Byakugan implanted in his right eye, dressed in ANBU gear. Around them sat several jonins, discussing plans in hushed, tense voices.
The atmosphere was thick with frustration.
"We don't have enough power," Mei muttered, tapping her fingers on the table. "Yagura isn't just strongāhe's a jinchuriki. Add his ANBU assassins, and we're doomed if we make one mistake."
Ao nodded, his expression grim. "We need a flawless plan. Or better yetā¦ someone strong enough to face Yagura directly."
As if on cue, the lights flickered. A long shadow stretched across the room, and thenāout of nowhereāNaruto appeared. Dressed in his dark robe, a mask covering his face, he stood tall, his presence sending a wave of tension through the room.
The ninjas instantly jumped to their feet, weapons drawn.
"Who are you?!" Ao barked, his Byakugan activating.
"Relax. I'm not your enemy." Naruto calmly raised his hands.Ā His voice was smooth, yet firm. "I'm here to help you deal with Yagura."
The room went silent for a brief moment before Mei narrowed her eyes. "And why should we believe you?"
Naruto's eyes glinted beneath the mask. "Because your Mizukage isn't acting on his own will. He's being controlledātrapped under a powerful genjutsu by someone hiding in the shadows."
The words hit hard. Ao's face darkened.
"I've suspected something like that," He muttered. "Yagura hasn't been himself for a long time."
Mei narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she studied Naruto. "Even if that's true, why do you care? What's in it for you?"
Her voice was laced with skepticism, her years of experience warning her to be wary of convenient allies.
Naruto met her gaze without hesitation, his expression firm yet sincere. He could have given her a dozen reasons but in the end, only one truth really mattered.
"I'm doing this for a friend," He said, his voice steady, carrying a quiet weight that made the air around them feel heavier.
There was no embellishment, no grand speechājust raw honesty. And yet, that simple declaration struck the group with unexpected force.
Mei and the others exchanged glances, their assumptions spinning.
A friend?
Was he referring to a comrade from Kirigakure? A hidden ally among their ranks?
Had someone from their war-torn nation earned the unwavering loyalty of this unpredictable shinobi?
They had no way of knowing that the 'friend' Naruto spoke of was not a person they could see, but the ancient beasts who had endured centuries of suffering in silence.
"Which clan are you from?" Ao questioned sharply.
Naruto shook his head. "I'm not part of any village. Just a wanderer."
Mei raised a skeptical eyebrow, arms still crossed as she eyed Naruto with a mixture of suspicion and challenge.
"If you expect us to trust you, take off that mask," She demanded, her voice smooth but firm.
Naruto exhaled through his nose, clearly reluctant, but after a brief pause, he reached up and pulled the mask away.
The reaction was instant and electrifying.
Mei's cool, composed faƧade shattered like fragile glass. Her emerald eyes widened, her breath hitched ever so slightly, and a heat she hadn't anticipated coiled deep in her stomach. His faceāstrong, perfectly chiseled features, strikingly sharp ocean-blue eyes, and that wild, spiky red hairāwas nothing short of devastating.
A slow, unmistakable blush painted her cheeks, but it was the wicked, sultry glint in her gaze that betrayed her true thoughts.
"Oh my," Mei practically purred, her voice dipping into something dangerously sweet. Her lips curled into a playful, almost predatory smile as she leaned forward just a fraction, raking her gaze over him as if she were savoring the sight of a rare delicacy.
"You should have taken that off much sooner," She teased, her tone dripping with honeyed desire. "With a face like that, I'd welcomed you with open arms."
She batted her long lashes, her tongue flicking out briefly to wet her lips. "Tell me, handsomeā¦ are you this breathtaking under all that armor, or are you saving more surprises for me?"
Her voice was almost a whisper now, thick with unspoken promise.
Naruto blinked, clearly not expecting that reaction. Ao and the other Jonin exchanged awkward glances, fighting the urge to groan.
Is this woman serious right now? Ao thought, irritated.
Naruto cleared his throat, trying to bring the focus back. "I'll handle Yagura myself."
That statement snapped everyone back to reality.
Mei frowned, as she returned to back being serious. "You think you can take on Yagura alone? Don't be ridiculous."
Instead of arguing, Naruto smiled slightly. In a flash, he vanishedāonly to reappear instantly behind Mei, his sword gently pressed against her neck. The room erupted into chaos as Ao and the Jonin reached for their weapons, but Mei held up her hand, signaling them to stop.
She didn't even flinch.
Her heart, however, skipped a beat.
Naruto sheathed his sword and stepped back casually. "Still think I'm weak?"
Ao's jaw tightened. Even with his Byakugan, he hadn't seen Naruto's movement.
Unbelievable speedā¦
Mei, regaining her composure, chuckled softly. "Dangerous and handsome? You're like my ideal man."
Naruto snorted, amused. This woman is something else.
But beneath the teasing, he saw potential. Mei wasn't just a flirtāshe was sharp, and strategic, and would soon become Mizukage. Earning her favor could benefit his future goals.
"Flattery won't change the mission," Naruto said, though his grin hinted he wasn't entirely unaffected. "Let's focus. I'll deal with Yagura, and you handle his ANBU. Once he's out of the picture, the village will be yours."
Mei leaned forward, her green eyes gleaming. "Fine. But after thisā¦ we're having a real conversation."
Naruto chuckled. "Looking forward to it."
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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