Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 115 Sea Route

The large ship sailed through the vast sea of ​​fog.

"Whoosh—"

All around was a gray-white expanse, making it impossible to distinguish the boundary between the sky and the sea. Only the sound of the ship breaking through the water proved that they were still moving forward.

A thick, grayish-white fog, a grayish-white sky, and a grayish-white sea.

The monotonous scenery is enough to drive anyone with a weak mind mad during a long voyage.

"Ugh—this is so boring!"

Hozuki Shio lay on her back on the wet deck, groaning weakly like a dehydrated fish.

She had been on that wrecked ship for a whole day.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but fog and water.

Not a single seabird was seen.

For her, who was full of curiosity and could never sit still for a moment, this was practically torture.

She rolled over, lay on the gunwale, and looked down at the surging waves. Suddenly, an idea came to her.

The girl smiled slyly and secretly formed a hand seal.

"Water Release: Water Candy Barrier!"

A sticky, maltose-like mass of water formed in my hand.

Then, without making a sound, it flew towards the feet of the secret agents guarding the ship's side.

She wanted to see how this cool-looking operative from the underworld would react when he stepped on the slippery water balloon.

However, just as the water balloon was about to succeed...

"tide."

A cold, emotionless voice came from behind her.

Hozuki Shio's body stiffened, and the mischievous smile on her face vanished instantly, replaced by an obedient expression.

"..."

She turned her head and saw her brother, Hozuki Kaigetsu, staring coldly at her with his deep eyes.

The water balloon fell to the ground with a splash.

"Brother...brother."

Hozuki Shio stuck out her tongue, stood up with an embarrassed smile, and said, "I... I just wanted to test if this water ball made of seawater was salty."

"Brother, when do you think we'll get there?"

"How boring... I see this lousy sea every day, I'm so tired of it. If I had known it would be this boring, I would have stayed in the village researching my new techniques."

She tried to find some amusement in her icy brother.

When Hozuki Kaigetsu heard his sister's complaint, he simply uttered two words.

"Quiet."

"You're making me quiet again!"

Hozuki Shio was annoyed. She ran to Kaigetsu's side and poked his cold face with her finger. "Brother, can't you say something else? If you keep going like this, you'll turn into a real block of ice! Then I'll carve you into a big 'Boring' statue and put it in front of our house!"

Haiyue wasn't angry; she simply looked at her younger sister with her calm, unwavering eyes.

"tide, remember, we are currently on an S-class mission. Any negligence could lead to mission failure."

The young man's expression remained cold, but his voice had gained some warmth.

"I know, I know."

Hozuki Shio waved her hand impatiently, "It's just being a guard on the way to Kumogakure, what's the big deal? With my brother and I here, who would dare to lay a finger on Master Yuan?"

Never underestimate your enemy.

Hozuki Kaigetsu's voice deepened, "And don't overestimate yourself. There are many people in this world stronger than us."

"Like Hiruzen Sarutobi from Konoha?"

Hozuki Shio pouted, her tone tinged with resentment, "I admit he is indeed very powerful, able to force that brute Third Raikage to retreat."

You're wrong.

Hozuki Kaigetsu shook his head. "What's most terrifying about Hiruzen Sarutobi isn't just his strength, but his intellect."

"He manipulated everyone during World War II. This kind of enemy is a hundred times more terrifying than an opponent like the Third Raikage who only knew how to use brute force."

The young man reached out, intending to pat his sister's head like he did when they were children, but he stiffly withdrew his hand halfway through, saying only calmly, "So, stay vigilant. Never let your guard down."

"...Okay, bro."

Hozuki Shio, unusually, did not refute, but simply responded with a muffled sound.

The brother and sister did not deliberately lower their voices during their conversation.

With the bow of the ship facing the sea breeze, Yuan Shi, gazing into the distance, heard everything.

He turned around, looked at the brother and sister with their contrasting styles, and a gentle smile appeared on his aged face.

"Haiyue, you don't need to be too harsh on Xi. It's a good thing for a young person to be energetic." Master Yuan walked over slowly, leaning on his cane.

"Master Yuanshi."

Haiyue immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Master Yuan is the best!"

Hozuki Shio immediately ran to Yuan Shi's side and affectionately took his arm. "Unlike my brother, who always has a long face, like someone owes him money."

"hehe."

Yuan Shi was amused by her. He patted tide's hand and then turned his gaze to the surging waves.

"Haiyue is right, our mission this time is indeed one that cannot afford to fail."

Master Yuan's voice deepened, "Do you know why we're going to Kumogakure this time?"

"Isn't it to fight the sealing technique and form an alliance with them?" Hozuki Shio asked curiously.

Master Yuan shook his head.

"This is just the surface."

His cloudy eyes seemed to pierce through layers of mist, glimpsing a more distant future.

"Do you know how powerful the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan are?"

"The First Hokage's wife, Mito Uzumaki. With just one Adamantine Sealing Technique, she was able to completely suppress the Nine-Tails, rendering it unable to move. That power was beyond the scope of ordinary ninjutsu, almost a miracle."

"And this is just the tip of the iceberg of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques. Legend has it that they also possess secret techniques that can seal souls and communicate with the Grim Reaper."

Genji's words made Hozuki and his sister gasp in shock.

Sealing the soul? Communicating with Death?

"so,"

Master Yuan's tone became extremely solemn, "Our real purpose in going to win over Kumogakure and attack Uzushiogakure this time is not just to solve our own tailed beast problem."

"Moreover, it's to break Konoha's technological monopoly on sealing techniques! It's to change the landscape of the ninja world!"

"If we succeed, we will be rid of the burden of the Tailed Beasts, and the victory in the external war will also inspire motivation in all aspects of the village, and the strength of Kirigakure will rise steadily!"

Master Yuan's words caused a change in tide's expression.

To change the landscape of the ninja world!

What a magnificent goal this is!

She finally understood why the Mizukage and Master Yuan valued this matter so much.

Just then, Hozuki Kaigetsu, who had been silent all along, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

His powerful senses detected an unusual fluctuation.

In this vast sea of ​​fog, dozens of unfamiliar presences were approaching their location.

Moreover, the visitor is not friendly.

"Master Yuanshi."

Haiyue's voice instantly turned cold, "We have a guest."