Two days later, at Mermaid Harbor.
Waves crashed against the hull, scattering foam across the water's surface. Yet the massive *Ship of Hope* remained as steady as a mountain.
**"Alright, line up for ticket checks—no cutting!"**
A tanned, muscular crewman snipped a corner off each passenger's ticket, motioning for order.
**"Lord Orochimaru… something feels off."**
At the back of the crowd, a fair-skinned boy with white hair, green eyes, and red markings around his eyelids frowned at the crewman. His sharp instincts screamed *danger*, but he couldn't pinpoint why.
**"A shinobi's greatest weapon is vigilance. You continue to impress me."**
Orochimaru—pale, with serpentine golden eyes—smiled thinly, his gaze icy.
*These Kirigakure rats just won't give up.*
He rolled a dull, wrinkled orb in his palm, frustration simmering.
*What* is *this Kaguya clan relic?*
Unbreakable. Resistant to fire and lightning. Impossible to seal or reverse-summon to Ryūchi Cave.
And now, forced to flee Water Country by ship—with Kiri's ANBU clinging like leeches.
*Fine. If they want death, I'll oblige. Fresh test subjects are always welcome.*
**"Board the ship, Kimimaro."**
Orochimaru's voice was rougher now, like scales dragging through dirt.
Kimimaro nodded. To him, Orochimaru *was* purpose. Even if ordered into hell itself, he'd leap without hesitation.
---
Meanwhile, inside the bridge…
Two men—one standing, one seated—watched the crowd through the glass.
**"Captain, they've stopped. Did they sense something?"**
**"Prepare for combat."**
**"But the civilians… What if the Daimyō—"**
**"The Fourth's relic takes priority. With Orochimaru involved, blame won't fall on us."**
Kurō Shun sat motionless, his brown eyes locked on the duo below. Cold. Mechanical.
After hunting Orochimaru for so long, this was their chance.
They'd replaced the *Ship of Hope*'s entire crew—save a few essential sailors—waiting to ambush him at sea.
As for the passengers?
*Unfortunate collateral.*
A Kage-level fighter and a Kaguya remnant? A worthy sacrifice.
Only one person truly mattered to him.
The thought of his sister, waiting back in the village, softened his hardened face for just a moment.
**"Captain, they're boarding."**
**"Hmph. Luck's on the civilians' side today."**
Kurō's chakra settled as Orochimaru and Kimimaro stepped aboard.
---
Elsewhere in the crowd…
Two cloaked figures lingered.
**"Zabuza-sama, shouldn't we board?"**
Haku tilted her head up, pale face framed by dark hair.
Zabuza scanned the docks, jaw tight.
*Something's wrong.*
The crew's stares prickled his instincts—like hidden eyes tracking him. Yet his senses detected no immediate threat.
*Since that damned forest…*
Haku sighed inwardly.
Ever since Zabuza had stumbled out of the mist that night, he'd been jumpy. Last night, she'd accidentally tapped a cup too hard—only for him to bolt upright, drenched in sweat.
**"Let's turn back."**
Zabuza's battle-honed instincts roared warnings.
*That blind woman…*
Even now, her ghostly *tap-tap-tap* haunted him.
**"We leave *today*."**
He shoved past the queue, dragging Haku aboard.
---
Meanwhile…
Hikari was *gone*.
She'd fled without hesitation—because in her Byakugan's vision, the *Ship of Hope* wasn't a vessel.
*It was a death trap.*
Two Kage-level monsters, their chakra blazing like suns.
Three elite jōnin (not counting Zabuza), each with reserves dwarfing hers—even *after* swallowing Isobu's flesh.
Eight more jōnin and tokubetsu jōnin, plus a swarm of chūnin disguised as passengers.
The men she'd killed—*Mist Crow*, *Blood Hound*—were mere foot soldiers here.
*This isn't a ship. It's a coffin.*
She tore her ticket to shreds.
If those two titans clashed?
Bijū cloaks. Byakugan. Shikotsumyaku.
*War* would erupt—with *her* as the prize.
Yuta blinked as she stormed back into the hotel.
**"Uh… You're back?"**
**"Get your boss. I need another ticket."**
Her gritted teeth spelled doom.
Yuta gulped.
*R.I.P., Harbor Master.*
---
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