The woman was a figure known for her immortality and was often associated with her "zombie" companion. They were recognized as an eternal duet on the battlefield, truly hard to forget.
However, this village was not only known for Hidan. In the future, Yugakure would become a refuge for the Chinoike Clan, a clan that originated from Kumogakure. This clan was exiled after a great conflict in the past, betrayed by envy and lies.
When one of the Chinoike women married the Daimyo of Kumogakure, the jealousy of the first wife brought disaster upon the entire clan. The Daimyo suddenly passed away, and in an instant, horrific accusations were thrown at the Chinoike.
People believed the lies. Eventually, the entire Chinoike clan was expelled from Kumogakure, with the Uchiha forcing them to settle in a quiet and terrifying place—the Valley of Hell, a remote area near Yugakure.
...
Now, a decision awaited me.
'Should I help them?' I murmured to myself. 'The members of the Chinoike clan are divided—some want revenge on the Uchiha, while others just want to live peacefully. If I could save some of them... maybe I could persuade them to work for me.'
I smiled faintly while enjoying the warm sensation of the hot spring soothing my body. Steam slowly rose into the calm night air, making me feel completely detached from the world. This place... was truly enchanting. Perhaps I should come here more often.
'Ah, that's right. I almost forgot that my purpose here is not just to relax. I came to find someone... Ito Samiko.' I sighed, realizing that this search would consume a lot of Natural Energy, but it couldn't be helped. My gaze drifted to the starry sky above, pondering in silence.
"Huuuh... come out," I said, my voice calm yet firm, as if inviting something from the darkness. However, even though I had called, silence still enveloped my surroundings, almost piercing.
...
...
...
(Yugakure, A Quiet Night)
Aoki stared at the silence around him, but nothing happened.
"Hey, I told you to come out," Aoki said, his voice calm yet full of authority. "I know you've been watching for a few minutes now. So, come out now."
From behind the shadow of a tree, a woman slowly emerged, looking at Aoki with a scrutinizing gaze. The woman's all-black attire blended perfectly with the darkness of the night, making her nearly invisible. Her long black hair was tied in a simple ponytail, and behind her cold face, a pair of blood-red eyes shone sharply—characteristic eyes of the Chinoike Clan.
"How did you know?" the woman asked in a low voice, full of suspicion.
Aoki shrugged slightly, still gazing at the night sky as if unaffected by the woman's appearance. "Instinct," Aoki replied casually. "So, what brings a ninja from Kumo to meet me? Moreover, a ninja from the Chinoike Clan."
The woman chuckled softly, her tone sounding cynical. "I just wanted to soak in the hot spring. I didn't expect to meet such a small samurai," she said, hinting at a bit of mockery.
Aoki smiled faintly, as if enjoying the woman's sarcastic comment. "Really? Aren't you here to hide from the Konoha Anbu who are currently searching all of Yugakure for you?"
The atmosphere suddenly changed. Instantly, the air around them became colder, and the gaze of the Chinoike woman sharpened, like the tip of a gleaming sword in the dark.
"How do you know, and... who are you really?" Suddenly, in a swift, nearly invisible movement, the woman was right behind Aoki. A cold kunai pressed against Aoki's neck, the tip of the kunai almost touching Aoki's skin, which still appeared calm.
Aoki chuckled softly, his cynical smile not fading in the slightest. "Me?" Aoki said, his voice sounding indifferent. "Just an ordinary kid."
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
A Shaman from the Uzumaki Clan in the World of Naruto
A man named Reiji from Earth, who is a shaman from Japan and comes from a famous family of shamans. Reiji is a talented and very powerful shaman. However, Reiji then disappears when facing the resurrected Yamata no Orochi, who attempts to kill people.
Instead of ending up in heaven or hell, Reiji finds himself in a room. In that room, there are various children with red hair. Seeing this, Reiji is confused and astonished.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" asks a girl next to Reiji.
"What? Who are you? No, who are all of you?" Reiji instead questions back, staring in wonder.
"What do you mean? Aren't we all Uzumaki?" the girl replies with a puzzled expression.
"... Oh damn," Reiji mutters quietly.]
[Note: 160+ latest chapters have been added! For Just 3$ You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel And Scribblehub by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Patreon.com/Alex_Fabianoki]