A heart full of thunder, yet a face like a calm lake.
Seiya feigned composure and warned, "I advise you not to do anything foolish. Once you see my face, you won't leave here alive today!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Kurotsuchi's eyes flickered, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Threatening me like that, it seems your identity is very sensitive-sensitive to the point of being unrevealed. That makes me even more interested!"
"Just who are you, exactly?"
Kurotsuchi slowly approached Seiya, acting as if she was about to pull off his mask, while observing his reaction with keen interest.
However, as she neared Seiya, a sudden, inexplicable sense of danger rose in her heart.
She quickly signaled to Kitsuchi with her eyes, then circled around and subtly retreated a few steps, scoffing,
"Masked man, your threat just now was very amusing. Why don't you say a few more things? Maybe I'll get scared and let you go!"
As she spoke, stone armor gradually appeared on Kurotsuchi's vital spots.
At his daughter's warning, Kitsuchi also covered his entire body with thick stone armor, just in case.
Seiya lowered his head and remained silent, ignoring Kurotsuchi's taunts, and quietly sensed the surging power in his blood.
Kurotsuchi, highly talkative, continued, "Don't you think you're hilarious? Trapped in an earth prison, yet you talk about killing us. By what means will you kill us?"
"And your companion is interesting, too. Although the two of them couldn't defeat my companion by teaming up, he dared to say, 'Don't kill him.' It's truly laugh-inducing!"
Before her voice faded, the surrounding earthen walls above them shattered with a crash!
An overwhelmingly powerful chakra descended from the sky.
The breathing of everyone present hitched.
Kurotsuchi's expression changed drastically.
She had thought the masked man had a hidden ace, which was why she had deliberately provoked him to force him to show his hand while remaining guarded.
She never expected the change to be external!
Swish!
Tendo Pain landed steadily, scanning everyone indifferently, blood dripping continuously from the black rod in his hand.
Immediately after, Kitsuchi crashed down from the sky.
Kurotsuchi quickly leaped to catch him and returned to her daughter's side.
Kitsuchi was already unconscious, his limbs covered with bloody holes the thickness of fingers!
Kurotsuchi's expression was solemn.
She glanced at Kitsuchi, then looked at the suddenly appearing fourth enemy, feeling suspicious.
What strange eyes! Mangekyo Sharingan? A descendant of the Uchiha?
Kitsuchi exchanged glances with his daughter.
This place was not safe to stay; Kitsuchi needed urgent medical attention!
At the same time, Konan landed steadily next to Seiya, saving him by detonating paper bombs to blast open the mud.
"I'm sorry, Seiya. It was my fault for not covering you well enough," Konan said, blaming herself.
"It's alright, I won't get hurt anyway."
Seiya didn't mind. Instead, he was somewhat annoyed by Tendo Pain's rescue.
Just a moment ago, he had faintly found the marvelous feeling he had when he used the 'Divine Cut' against the Eight-Tails.
Just as he was carefully savoring that feeling, Pain suddenly appeared and disrupted the atmosphere!
Seiya couldn't help but feel regret.
Tendo Pain looked at the three Iwa Shinobis and said calmly, "It seems your strength is mediocre, and you don't possess the capital to be arrogant and presumptuous. Consider today a small lesson; take the hardship and remember it! Now, get out!"
Circumstances dictated their actions.
Kurotsuchi showed no trace of resentment on her face.
Instead, she bowed and thanked him.
"Your profound teachings have been greatly enlightening. I will certainly be more cautious and no longer act with arrogance."
With that, Kurotsuchi turned to leave.
"Wait a moment."
Seiya suddenly spoke, calling a halt, unwilling to let the bothersome Iwa-nin escape so easily.
Kurotsuchi's heart tightened. She turned back, her face composed.
"I suspect you are rogue Shinobis, operating under the guise of the Land of Earth, but secretly engaging in unlawful activities that tarnish the reputation of the Land of Earth. As a legitimate Shinobi, I have a responsibility to investigate your identities and inform Iwagakure!"
Seiya said in a coarse voice while walking toward her.
Kurotsuchi understood that the masked man's words were a retort to their previous opening line.
She smiled slightly, took out her Shinobi ID card from her pocket, and handed it over.
Seiya took it, glanced at it, and deliberately made things difficult: "Jonin, not yet sixteen years old? Could this card be fake?"
Kurotsuchi was neither arrogant nor humble: "As you can see, sir, I possess the Lava Release bloodline limit."
Seiya thought for a moment, then tossed the ID card back to her, and immediately seized her wrist.
"What are you doing? Pervert!"
For the first time Seiya was touched by the opposite sex, Kurotsuchi could no longer remain calm.
Her eyes looked as if she wanted to devour someone, and she desperately tried to break free.
Kitsuchi, protective of his daughter, immediately threw a punch.
Seiya's body became illusory, remaining perfectly still, and he said calmly,
"Don't get excited. I don't intend to do anything to you; I'm just measuring your chakra fluctuation and asking you a few questions. If you don't want me holding your wrist, then answer quickly."
Kurotsuchi's pretty face was frosted with anger, her eyes blazing, almost biting through her silver teeth.
Seiya ignored her fury and asked, "What is your mission upon leaving the village this time?"
"To execute a mission in the Land of Demons."
"In more detail."
"The Land of Demons is being attacked by the Ghost Army. The Land of Demons' Priestess commissioned us to assist in repelling the rebels."
"Did she commission only the three of you?"
"Yes."
"Now that your comrade is injured, will you still continue with the mission?"
"Of course! The mission must be completed! We cannot tarnish the village's reputation!"
Seiya nodded thoughtfully, then released Kurotsuchi's wrist and said coldly, "I'm done asking. Now get out!"
Kurotsuchi rubbed her sore wrist, feeling incredibly vexed, and immediately fled without looking back.
Kitsuchi, carrying Homura, covered their retreat, in case Seiya and the others launched a surprise attack.
When Kurotsuchi and the others' chakra could no longer be sensed, Tendo Pain spoke, "The matter is settled. I will leave first."
As his voice faded, he released the Summoning Jutsu, a puff of white smoke exploding as he vanished from the spot.
Konan puzzled, "Seiya, why did you ask Kurotsuchi those questions just now?"
Seiya grinned, "They caused trouble for us today. When we have free time later, we'll go cause trouble for them too."
Konan shook her head, disagreeing.
"Kitsuchi is quite strong. Neither nee-san nor you are his match. The Land of Demons is also far away, and Pain won't be able to provide rescue like he did today. If we get trapped, we might not be able to escape."
"It's fine, nee-san. Just keep your distance then. I'll go fight them alone. If anything unforeseen happens, nee-san, you go to Kumogakure and look for my mother."
"Why are you so determined to take the risk?" Konan looked confused.
Seiya raised his hand and slowly clenched his fist, blue veins protruding on the back of his hand, his blood circulating endlessly.
"I just discovered an opportunity to become stronger. Perhaps only by putting myself in danger can I have a chance at transformation."
Konan mused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"In that case, it's worth a try. Although you won't get injured, you lack powerful offensive means and are always on the defensive in fights with experts. You truly need to become stronger."
"That's right!"
Seiya lightly nodded his chin, scanning the surrounding unrecognizable landscape with a sigh, secretly envious.
"Let's go. First, we need to complete the mission assigned by the Leader."
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