Capital of the Land of Fire.
From a distance, Anko could already see Guy standing at the city gate.
Even without his usual green bodysuit, his thick, unmistakable eyebrows still made him stand out.
"Anko!" Guy greeted her enthusiastically, waving his hand.
However, Anko wasn't particularly excited.
She had traveled here alongside the envoy, and when she saw Guy, she only greeted him casually.
Seeing that Guy was excited and seemed ready to pull her into a hug, she immediately raised her foot to block him in disgust.
The middle-aged man standing beside Guy stepped forward and introduced himself.
"Miss Anko, nice to meet you. I am Seirengoku Saemon, also a ninja of Konoha. Like Guy, I serve as one of the Daimyo's guardian ninja."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Mitarashi Anko."
Seirengoku smiled. "Ah, a member of the Seven Crown Guards—I've long heard of your reputation."
After exchanging some formalities, Seirengoku noticed that Anko wasn't in the best of moods and didn't continue the conversation.
Guy, on the other hand, hadn't seen anyone from Konoha in a long time and was bursting with excitement, eager to chat.
The head of the envoy then spoke up. "Let's go meet Lord Minamoto first."
The group proceeded into the capital.
Although the city was large, it wasn't particularly prosperous.
The streets were filled with people moving hurriedly, their faces devoid of smiles.
The atmosphere was heavy with tension.
Anko thought to herself that with rebellions erupting all across the Land of Fire, it was no surprise that the people were living in fear.
By contrast, Konoha had remained completely unaffected.
As they walked, Guy continued bombarding Anko with questions—asking about how everyone was doing back in the village and whether anyone missed him.
Eventually, they arrived at the Daimyo's residence.
The place where Anko was to meet the Daimyo wasn't anything grand—just a reception hall.
After all, her status didn't warrant an extravagant welcome.
Guy and Seirengoku stopped outside the hall and gestured for Anko to proceed inside alone.
The reception hall was decorated in a classical, elegant style.
The moment Anko stepped inside, an indescribable feeling surged through her.
She lifted her gaze and saw a middle-aged man seated in the main seat.
His face was haggard and weary, clearly the result of excessive indulgence in alcohol and pleasure.
But what truly caught Anko's attention—what she couldn't look away from—was the beautiful woman seated beside him, dressed in luxurious attire.
This woman's beauty was beyond perfection, surpassing any other woman Anko had ever seen.
She radiated grace, elegance, and flawlessness.
Yet, despite having no physical resemblance whatsoever to Orochimaru…
Anko felt—from the depths of her soul—that this woman was Lord Orochimaru.
This feeling didn't come from logic or perception.
It wasn't what she saw—it was what she felt, a deep-rooted instinct that struck her the moment she stepped into the room.
A wave of panic and unease washed over her.
The Daimyo spoke: "So, you are Mitarashi Anko, one of the Seven Crown Guards?"
But Anko was still in a daze, her mind clouded by the strange emotions overwhelming her.
The Daimyo's expression darkened with displeasure, and just as he was about to scold her—
He suddenly began coughing violently.
The woman beside him immediately leaned in, gently stroking his chest and urging him not to get angry, her voice filled with tenderness and affection.
Would Lord Orochimaru ever act like this?
Anko couldn't imagine it.
A shiver ran down her spine, her scalp tingling.
She suddenly thought of that Amegakure ninja she had encountered at Orochimaru's old hideout—another person who bore no physical resemblance to Orochimaru, yet gave her the same eerie feeling.
Why was this happening?
What was the truth…?
Anko had no idea what the Daimyo had said.
The only thing she clearly heard was his final sentence: "You may leave."
After stepping out of the reception hall, Guy immediately approached her.
"How did it go?" he asked.
But Anko wasn't thinking about the Daimyo at all—to her, he was nothing more than a frail, sickly man.
She glanced at Guy and Seirengoku before saying, "Guy… I need to talk to you."
Seirengoku was perceptive enough to step back.
"Guy, why don't you take Miss Anko to her quarters first? We'll introduce her to the other members of the Twelve Guardian Ninja later this evening."
Guy nodded and led Anko toward her assigned residence, chatting along the way, explaining various things she needed to know about life in the Daimyo's palace.
When they arrived at her quarters, Anko suddenly grabbed Guy's wrist.
She stared at him intently and asked, "That woman… that Princess Kushinada… who is she?"
Guy thought for a moment before replying, "She's a princess from the Land of Fields. She's been in the Daimyo's palace for three years now."
The Land of Fields' princess… three years…
Three years ago—that was exactly when Lord Orochimaru supposedly died.
Anko felt her heart trembling.
She had thought this was just an ordinary mission.
Guy continued, "Lord Hokage has already informed me of your mission. I'll do everything I can to assist you."
Anko remained silent and walked into her room.
She needed to calm down—to think carefully about what to do next.
Back at Orochimaru's old hideout, that Ame ninja had suddenly attacked her.
Just then, a servant arrived outside her door. "Lady Kushinada wishes to see you."
Anko was startled, instinctively looking toward Guy.
"I'll go with you," Guy said immediately.
Anko nodded silently, not refusing his offer.
The two of them walked together to Princess Kushinada chambers.
At the entrance, the guards stopped Guy. "Lady Kushinada will only meet Miss Anko alone. Please wait outside."
Before she entered, Guy handed Anko something—a black magatama.
It felt cold in her palm, but she could sense the chakra pulsating within it.
The black and white magatama were single-use tools created by Makoto, the Hokage.
The white magatama could block all sensory techniques and disrupt one's magnetic field.
Hakumen and Kakashi had previously used them to shield themselves from Orochimaru's White Zetsu spies.
The black magatama came in pairs, allowing the holders to transmit a unique chakra signal to one another.
This chakra could penetrate any sealing barriers, ensuring that the two individuals could always locate each other.
Anko recalled Makoto's words before she left—Guy would guarantee her absolute safety.
With that reassurance, she clenched the black magatama tightly in her palm and stepped into Princess Kushinada's chambers.
The room was lavishly decorated, exuding an air of extreme luxury.
Whoever lived here was clearly deeply favored.
Yet, strangely enough, the chamber was empty.
Aside from the guards at the entrance, there were no servants in sight.
Anko walked further inside, her gaze landing on a magnificent round bed.
Golden silk drapes cascaded down from an ornate canopy, forming a sheer veil around the bed.
But the one sitting on the bed…
Wasn't Princess.
It was a man.
Anko's eyes widened.
She knew this man—he was the same Ame ninja she had encountered at Orochimaru's old hideout!
Her pupils contracted slightly, and she stood frozen in place.
The man's lips curled into an eerie smile.
"It's been a while, Anko."
Anko swallowed hard.
Though shocked, she had mentally prepared herself for this possibility.
"Is it you… Lord Orochimaru…?" she murmured.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind her.
Anko's heart tensed as she whipped around—
It was Princess Kushinada!
What…?
For a moment, her mind went blank.
The breathtakingly beautiful woman gazed at Anko, her voice soft and lingering—
"It's been a while, Anko."
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