*Chapter 37: "Fate Brings Me Back to the Land of Fire"*

The squad leader swept his gaze over the team.

"Today’s mission: Track down Yuta, a B-rank nukenin fleeing toward the Land of Fire’s border to join a pirate faction."

"A few warnings—don’t underestimate them. That pirate clan has skilled shinobi, heavy armaments, and their leader commands a troublesome summon."

"If you die from carelessness, don’t expect sympathy. Weakness has no place in Kumogakure. Understood?"

"Of course! Who’d lose to mere pirates?" The ANBU scoffed in unison.

Yoru smirked inwardly. The Land of Fire again? Fate really loves throwing me back there.

Last time, he’d clashed with Konoha nin and earned the moniker "White Flash." This time? Who knew what awaited.

"Move out. And, Swiftstrike—my name’s Tenjin." The captain nodded at Yoru.

"Understood, Captain Tenjin."

As they departed, Orōi sidled up, grinning. "Hey, rookie. Wanna bet who bags more kills? No points for fighting teammates."

"Sure. But you won’t win." Yoru shrugged.

---

*Meanwhile, in Kirigakure...*

"Yoru… You must’ve reached Kumo safely by now. Stay alive." Mei Terumī clasped her hands briefly in prayer.

"Lady Mei, it’s time. The Six-Tails’ sealing ritual begins soon." Two ANBU materialized behind her.

"Understood."

She donned a crimson mask—her aura shifting instantly into something lethally calm—and followed them out.

---

*A Remote Island Near the Land of Water*

"M-monster! Stay back—!"

A pirate scrambled backward, face contorted in terror, before a white blur punched through his skull.

"I hate… being called… a monster."

Kimimaro’s snarl faded as his bone protrusions retracted. Blood dripped from his fingertips.

"Kimimaro, ignore them. We train. We grow stronger."

Haku laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Only then can we serve Lord Yoru as proper tools."

"...Right. Their words mean nothing." Kimimaro exhaled, crimson eyes clearing.

Around them, the battlefield lay frozen and strewn with corpses—a grim gallery of Haku’s ice and Kimimaro’s bones.

"Next target?"

"Next target."

As they vanished toward the docks, a squad of Kirigakure hunters arrived.

"The ‘Reaper Duo’… Track them! That’s the last of the Kaguya and Yuki clans—eliminate them!"

---

*Land of Fire Coastline*

Yoru knew none of this. His focus was on the "pirate stronghold" before them—a deceptively vibrant island, blooming with cherry blossoms.

"Pretty for a den of thieves. Almost looks like a resort."

"Don’t let aesthetics fool you," Tenjin growled. "If they refuse to hand over Yuta, we purge them."

A scout ANBU returned minutes later, bleeding. "They spat on our terms. Said, ‘We don’t fear the Five Great Villages.’"

Tenjin’s eyes turned glacial. "Then we oblige their suicide wish. Full assault—leave none alive."

As the team’s ship advanced, a hulking pirate vessel emerged, its deck crammed with leering cutthroats.

"Heh. Five Kumo ants versus us? Big talk for landlubbers!"

"Aye! On the waves, we’re the predators!"

Cannons groaned as they swiveled—packed not with cannonballs, but explosive tags compressed into iron shells.

"Fire!"

The sea erupted in flames.

---