Naruto: I, Shikotsumyaku, Byakugan Princess

Chapter 29 The Hope Ship, a Gathering of Heroes
Two days later, at Mermaid Wharf.

Waves crashed against the hull, spraying water and creating a large amount of foam, but the massive Hope remained as still as Mount Tai.

"Come on, everyone, let's check tickets one by one, no cutting in line!"

A young man dressed as a sailor, with dark skin and a strong build, cut a piece off his ticket and urged passengers to line up in an orderly fashion to board the ship.

"Lord Orochimaru, something seems off."

Behind the crowd.

A handsome young man with white hair, green eyes, and red eyeshadow on his eyelids frowned as he looked at the ticket checker at the front of the crowd. His keen sixth sense told him that something was wrong with the man, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Quickness is a ninja's most important weapon, and I'm increasingly looking forward to your future performance."

Orochimaru, with his pale skin and snake-like yellow eyes, smirked, but the smile didn't reach his eyes; his cold gaze was filled with intense killing intent.

These scum from the Mist Village are truly persistent.

Orochimaru was puzzled as he held a dark-colored, wrinkled sphere in his palm.

What exactly is the treasure of the Taketori family?
It is incredibly hard, impervious to lightning and fire, and cannot be sealed or teleported to Ryuchi Cave using reverse spirit communication techniques.

In order to bring this thing back, he had no choice but to leave the Land of Water by boat.

That's why they get stuck to the Fog Shadows like glue.

Since they're courting death, we have no choice but to kill them all. We also happen to be short of experimental materials.

"Get on board, Kimimaro."

Orochimaru's magnetic voice became even hoarser, as if the scales of a snake were scraping against the soil as it crawled.

Kimimaro nodded.

He sees Orochimaru as the reason for his existence, and he will not question any of the other's decisions. Even if there is a bottomless abyss ahead, he will jump in without hesitation.

Meanwhile, in the cabin of the second-floor bridge.

Two men, one standing and one sitting, observed the crowd outside through the glass.

"Captain, they've stopped. Did they notice something?"

"Ready to fight."

"So many civilians outside? What if the lords hold us accountable..."

"The Fourth Hokage's things are important. With Orochimaru around, it's not our turn to carry them."

Li Shengshun sat expressionlessly in the chair, his brown eyes looking down at the two figures below, one large and one small, motionless like an emotionless machine.

After chasing Orochimaru for so long, they finally received news that they were about to embark on the Hope.

He then led his men to replace all the crew members on the Hope, leaving only a few crew members responsible for steering the ship, waiting for the ship to sail into the middle of the sea to catch the snake in a jar.

As for ordinary people.

They were just unlucky.

A Kage-level expert, plus a remnant of the Bamboo Cutter clan, would be enough to make them their burial offerings.

In this world, there is only one person he cares about.

He thought of his younger sister who was still waiting for him in the village.

A different kind of tenderness appeared on Li Shengshun's emotionless, square face.

"Captain, they've checked the tickets."

"Hmm...it seems those civilians were quite lucky."

As Kurisu watched Orochimaru and the remaining member of the Kaguya clan check their tickets and board the ship, his agitated chakra slowly calmed down within him.

among the crowd.

Two mysterious figures, one large and one small, both cloaked in black, were also hesitating.

"If we don't kill Lord Zashiki, shall we not board the ship?"

The girl with black hair, fair skin, and a gentle face raised her head and looked at Zabuza, who had a stern expression, beside her.

"I always felt that the atmosphere around me was strange, as if something was wrong."

Zabuza scanned his surroundings.

For some reason, he felt that the crew members on the ship were looking at him strangely, as if many people were staring at him. But upon closer inspection, he felt that there was no real danger, and it seemed that they were not targeting him.

Weird.

Bai lowered his head, neither confirming nor denying.

Ever since that time in the dense forest, when Lord Zabuza hurriedly ran out of the mist, he has been suspicious and paranoid these past few days.

While Zabuza was fast asleep, she made him a glass of ice water.

As a result, the bottom of the cup accidentally hit the table with a thud, and Zabuza jumped up, looking at her with a face full of sweat.

His expression betrayed an indescribable panic. "Let's just forget about it."

Zabuza observed for a long time but found nothing unusual. However, his dangerous intuition, honed by years of fighting, was unmistakable, constantly issuing deafening warnings to him.

Ever since that ghost encounter in the dense forest.

He always felt uneasy, especially when he was sleeping, he often felt a strange chill.

Dreaming back at midnight.

A terrifying, distorted blind woman floated in front of him amidst the mist, and the chilling thumping sound of her cane constantly echoed in his ears.

Like now.

dong dong dong...

The dull knocking sound came from behind Zabuza, causing his powerful latissimus dorsi muscles to tense involuntarily.

shook his head.

Shake off the panic in your heart.

How can a dignified Hidden Mist Demon be afraid of ghosts?

dong dong dong...

A clearer, slightly more hurried tapping of the cane came from behind Zabuza again, and the sound grew softer and softer.

Zabuza turned around as if he had been electrocuted.

Behind.

Leaning on his white cane, the white cloak that haunted his dreams disappeared into the crowd, leaving only a fleeting silhouette for the dumbfounded Zabuza.

"Lord Zabuza, let's go back."

Haku, holding Zabuza's hand, wanted to return to the Okinawa Hotel.

But she found that Zabuza's palms were covered in fine sweat, and she couldn't budge them no matter how many times she tried.

"No, we must leave Peichuan Port today."

Zabuza's voice was filled with an unprecedented determination. Carrying his bundle and with Shiro by his side, he pushed aside the passengers in front of him and cut in line to board the ship full of hope.

As for gray glass.

She ran away.

They ran without the slightest hesitation, as if they had made up their minds.

In her clear-eyed world, the Hope behind her was a hundred times more terrifying than the hellish cruise ship.

Two Kage-level, unparalleled powerhouses!
The terrifying chakra surge was like a blazing sun, radiating a blinding light.

Three elite Jonin, not counting Zabuza Momochi.

Each person's chakra reserves are roughly equal to that of Ash, who devoured the flesh of the Three-Tails, plus three or four times that amount, and still have a surplus.

There are eight regular Jonin and eight Special Jonin, plus a large number of Chunin who have infiltrated the group.

The Fog Ravens and Bloodhounds she killed using every means at her disposal were just the basic units within this group.

This is not Hope at all.

This is a ticket to hell.

Terrified, Gray tore the ticket to shreds and hurried away from the port.

If she gets caught in the crossfire when the two powerful figures clash, then when the Tailed Beast Cloak is revealed, her Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku will appear.

This is a very serious matter.

It would be better if they died on the spot.

If he didn't die.

The Hidden Clouds, the Hidden Leaf Village, and the Hidden Mist Village might even wage a small-scale war for her, with this bustling port city as the battlefield.

Yuta scratched his head, looking at the returning Hui Li with a puzzled expression.

"Uh... why are you back?"

"Okay, find your boss... and book another ticket."

Hui Li's face was dark as she spat out a few words through gritted teeth.

Gum!

Yuta swallowed hard, and five words flashed through his mind.

Boss, you're in danger!!!

(End of this chapter)