The large ship sailed through the vast, foggy sea.
"Splash—"
All around was a grayish-white expanse, making it impossible to distinguish the boundary between the sky and the sea. Only the sound of the hull breaking through the water proved that they were still moving forward.
Grayish-white dense fog, grayish-white sky, grayish-white sea surface.
The monotonous scene was enough to drive any mentally weak person mad during a long voyage.
"Ah—so boring!"
Hozuki Shio lay on her back on the wet deck, moaning weakly like a dehydrated fish.
She had been on this broken ship for a whole day.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but fog and water.
Not even the shadow of a seabird could be seen.
For her, who was full of curiosity and couldn't stay idle for a moment, this was simply torture.
She rolled over, leaned on the gunwale, looked at the surging waves below, and suddenly had an idea.
The girl grinned mischievously, her hands quietly forming seals.
"Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field!"
A sticky, maltose-like mass of water formed in her hand.
Then, it flew silently towards the feet of an Anbu guard standing alert by the gunwale.
She wanted to see what reaction this cool-looking Anbu boy would have when he stepped on the slippery water ball.
However, just as the water ball was about to hit its target.
"Shio."
A voice cold and devoid of any emotion came from behind her.
Hozuki Shio's body stiffened, the mischievous smile on her face vanishing instantly, replaced by an obedient expression.
"...."
She turned her head and saw her brother, Hozuki Umitsuki, staring at her coldly with those deep eyes.
The water ball fell to the ground with a splat.
"B... Brother."
Hozuki Shio stuck out her tongue and stood up with a sheepish smile. "I... I just wanted to test if this water ball made of seawater is salty."
"Brother, when do you think we'll arrive?"
"It's so boring... I'm tired of looking at this damn sea every day. If I knew it would be this boring, I would have stayed in the village to research my new jutsu."
She tried to find some fun from her iceberg-like brother.
Hearing his sister's complaints, Hozuki Umitsuki just spat out two words lightly.
"Be quiet."
"Telling me to be quiet again!"
Hozuki Shio was dissatisfied. She ran to Umitsuki and poked his cold face with her finger. "Brother, can you say something else? If you go on like this, you'll turn into a real block of ice! Then I'll carve you into a big 'BORING' and put it at our door!"
Umitsuki didn't get angry, just looked at his sister with those calm, waveless eyes.
"Shio, remember, we are currently executing an S-rank mission. Any slight negligence could lead to mission failure."
The young man's expression remained cold, but his voice had a bit more warmth.
"I know, I know."
Hozuki Shio waved her hand impatiently. "Isn't it just being bodyguards on the way to Kumogakure? What's the big deal? With us siblings here, who dares to touch a hair on Lord Gen's head?"
"Never underestimate your enemy."
Hozuki Umitsuki's voice deepened. "And never overestimate yourself. There are many people in this world stronger than us."
"Like that Sarutobi Hiruzen of Konoha?"
Hozuki Shio pouted, her tone carrying a bit of defiance. "I admit he is indeed very powerful, able to force back that brute, the Third Raikage."
"You're wrong."
Hozuki Umitsuki shook his head. "What makes Sarutobi Hiruzen most terrifying is not just his strength, but his mind."
"He played everyone in the palm of his hand during the Second War. This kind of enemy is a hundred times more terrifying than an opponent like the Third Raikage who only knows how to use brute force."
The young man reached out, wanting to rub his sister's head like when they were kids, but his hand stopped halfway and retracted stiffly. He just said lightly, "So, stay alert. Never let your guard down at any time."
"...Got it, Brother."
Hozuki Shio rarely didn't retort, just responded sullenly.
The siblings' conversation was not deliberately lowered.
Gen, standing at the bow facing the sea breeze and looking into the distance, heard everything.
He turned around, looked at the siblings with vastly different styles, and a gentle smile appeared on his aged face.
"Umitsuki, you don't need to be too harsh on Shio. It's good for young people to be energetic." Gen leaned on his cane and walked over slowly.
"Lord Gen."
Umitsuki immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.
"Lord Gen is still the best!"
Hozuki Shio immediately ran to Gen and affectionately held his arm. "Unlike my brother, who keeps a straight face all day as if someone owes him money."
"Hehe."
Gen was amused by her. He patted Shio's hand, then turned his gaze to the surging waves.
"Umitsuki is right. This mission of ours absolutely cannot fail."
Gen's voice became deep. "Do you know why we are going to Kumogakure this time?"
"Isn't it to deal with the sealing jutsu and form an alliance with them?" Hozuki Shio asked curiously.
Gen shook his head.
"That's just the surface."
His cloudy eyes seemed to penetrate layers of fog, seeing a more distant future.
"Do you know how powerful the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu is?"
"The wife of the First Hokage, Uzumaki Mito. Just relying on the Adamantine Sealing Chains, she can firmly suppress the Nine-Tails, making it immobile. That kind of power has exceeded the scope of ordinary ninjutsu, bordering on miraculous."
"And this is just the tip of the iceberg of the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu. Legend has it that they also master secret techniques capable of sealing souls and communicating with the Shinigami."
Gen's words made the Hozuki siblings gasp.
Sealing souls? Communicating with the Shinigami?
"Therefore,"
Gen's tone became incredibly solemn, "Our true purpose in roping in Kumogakure and attacking the Land of Whirlpools this time is not just to solve our own Tailed Beast problem."
"It is to break Konoha's technological monopoly on sealing jutsu! To change the pattern of the ninja world!"
"Once successful, we will get rid of the burden brought by the Tailed Beasts, and the victory of the external war will also stimulate the motivation of all aspects of the village. Kirigakure's strength will rise step by step!"
Gen's words changed the expression on Shio's face.
Changing the pattern of the ninja world!
What a magnificent goal this was!
She finally understood why Lord Mizukage and Gen attached so much importance to this matter.
Just then, Hozuki Umitsuki, who had remained silent, suddenly narrowed his eyes.
His powerful sensory ability detected an unusual fluctuation.
In this vast foggy sea, dozens of unfamiliar auras were approaching their location.
And they came with ill intentions.
"Lord Gen."
Umitsuki's voice instantly became icy cold. "We have guests."
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