The moment they arrived in the capital, everyone was immediately captivated by the scene before them.
Compared to the ever-evolving Konoha Ninja Village, the capital retained a rather traditional atmosphere.
Although some new things had begun to appear due to the influence of Konoha Ninja Village, tradition still predominated.
For those who had grown up in Konoha Ninja Village, the environment of the capital was quite novel, as there were not many traces of traditional architecture left in Konoha Ninja Village.
After entering the capital, everyone walked around, observing their surroundings and discussing things from time to time.
Because of the Konoha headbands on each person, people on the street recognized their identities.
Some merchants associated with Konoha Ninja Village invited them to look around their shops and buy something, offering discounts because of their status as Konoha ninjas.
Out of curiosity, the group entered some of the shops and browsed around, but it had to be said that apart from some traditional items from the capital, everything else could also be found in Konoha Ninja Village.
In terms of commercial prosperity, Konoha Ninja Village surpassed other places.
Out of politeness, Asuna and the others still bought some rather novel and rarely seen items—mainly goods tailored to the capital's environment—and bid farewell to the merchants with smiles and laughter.
"How should I put it, I feel like the capital isn't as great as I imagined," Mizuki said to Asuna, playing with an ornament she had bought.
"You can't say that," Hyuga Hizashi interjected.
"Although the capital doesn't have the same novelty as the village, this traditional atmosphere is worth experiencing properly."
"Mr. Hizashi might feel that way, but I still prefer the environment in the village," Fujimura Yuki said, taking over from Hyuga Hizashi.
"Indeed. Perhaps Mr. Hizashi is more accustomed to this place, after all, the Hyuga clan is a prestigious family that upholds traditional etiquette," Mizuki said.
"Tradition, huh..." Hyuga Hizashi murmured, his eyes slightly lowered upon hearing this.
As they spoke, everyone arrived at their destination for this trip—the Fire Temple.
Since they had not yet formally accepted the identity of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, they would first stay here.
Only when the Daimyo summoned them could they enter the Daimyo's mansion for an audience, and at that time, the Daimyo would likely arrange their accommodation.
The monks of the Fire Temple had received notice early on, and upon learning of the arrival of the people from Konoha Ninja Village, the abbot led the other monks out to greet them.
When the abbot saw Asuna, he couldn't help but let out a soft "Oh?" and asked, "Forgive this old monk for being direct, but aren't you the daughter of the Third Hokage?"
"Yes, do you know my father?" Asuna asked, blinking.
"We met a few times back then. This old monk once followed the previous abbot and saw the Third Hokage when he was young.
Young lady, your appearance and demeanor are exactly like the Third Hokage's," the abbot said.
In terms of appearance, Asuna largely inherited from her mother, Satomi.
However, in terms of expression and temperament, she was a spitting image of Fumori Masaki.
Perhaps it was because she inherited Fumori Masaki's talent in Sage Mode, but with just one glance, one could be certain of her connection to Fumori Masaki.
After a moment of emotion, the abbot welcomed the group inside.
Since they were staying at the Fire Temple, Fumori Masaki naturally entrusted someone to look after them.
However, the person he entrusted was not someone from the Fire Temple, but Miss Kana, who had been active in the capital and other noble lord territories.
As one of the initiators of the Ninshu Revival Movement, Kana had dedicated all her energy to it.
Initially, she propagated the new Ninshu doctrine in the capital and other places.
Later, she returned to Konoha Ninja Village to teach at the Ninja Academy.
Recently, she had been responsible for connecting supporters of the new Ninshuism, forming an organization, and resuming activities outside.
"Miss Kana is currently out and won't be back for a while.
You all can rest well in the temple.
If you wish to go out and sightsee, please feel free.
If you need anything, just tell the temple," the abbot said to everyone.
After the abbot excused himself, everyone first put their luggage in the annex rooms.
Each person had their own room, while Asuna and Mizuki were staying together, so five rooms were actually arranged for everyone.
"It's been so long since I've seen Kana-nee.
I wonder how she's doing now?" Mizuki said, putting away her luggage.
"She should be fine.
She often writes letters to my house.
Father also said that Kana-nee is doing very well with her work outside," Asuna replied.
"Even though Kana-nee hasn't really trained much in chakra, her accomplishments are comparable to some high-level ninjas in the village.
She's considered a model non-combat ninja.
Honestly, I really admire her.
Back then, those departments hadn't even been formally established, and she was already doing these things," Mizuki said to Asuna, sitting on the bed.
"Me too, but because of that, there are also quite a few scoundrels targeting Kana-nee.
Fortunately, Father arranged for the Anbu to protect Kana-nee, otherwise, I really don't know what would happen," Asuna nodded.
"I wonder when Kana-nee will be back.
Although the monks of the Land of Fire are kind, it still feels uncomfortable without a familiar face around," Mizuki stretched a bit, then thought that waiting around was a bit boring, so she asked Asuna if she wanted to go out and explore.
"Okay," Asuna considered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
After tidying up her belongings, she and Mizuki left the room.
Coincidentally, the other three, excluding Hyuga Hizashi, also came out, expressing their desire to experience the capital's environment as well.
As for Hyuga Hizashi, he intended to stay behind and discuss matters concerning Ninshu scriptures with the abbot.
Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but smile.
Among the ninja clans in Konoha Ninja Village, the Hyuga clan was also one that had a deeper study of Ninshu scriptures.
It was said that studying them and enriching their knowledge helped them elevate their spiritual realm, thereby enhancing the power of their Byakugan, though it was uncertain if this was truly the case.
After informing the temple staff, everyone left the Fire Temple and headed towards the more prosperous and lively areas, to see everything in the capital with their own eyes.
They would be living in this place for a while in the future, and if they didn't familiarize themselves well, they might not live as comfortably.
Although the true meaning of the Twelve Guardian Ninja was to serve as hostages, the Twelve Guardian Ninja still had the responsibility of protecting the Daimyo's safety.
When the Daimyo traveled, some audacious individuals might come to assassinate him, and if they were unfamiliar with the terrain, they might be caught off guard.
While familiarizing themselves with the terrain, everyone also had a very enjoyable time exploring.
It had to be said that tradition indeed had its unique charm, and for Asuna and the others, who were experiencing it for the first time, it was still very novel.
As everyone was sightseeing, a person on a distant rooftop was gazing at them.
This person was dressed in a black robe and wore a spiral-shaped mask with two hollows for vision.
He was Tobi, the one Konoha Ninja Village was wary of, or rather, Uchiha Kokuya.
"Tsk tsk, the 'Princess' of Konoha Village and the young lady of the clan have both arrived.
I didn't expect them to go to such lengths.
This way, I can properly restrain Konoha Ninja Village," Uchiha Kokuya immediately recognized Asuna and Mizuki's identities.
At the same time, his gaze shifted to Uchiha Ken and Fujimura Yuki beside them, and a smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of his masked face.
"Both the reincarnations of Lord Indra and Lord Asura are here.
This is truly excellent.
I didn't expect it to go so smoothly.
Next is to wait for the moment when all creation becomes one, and the power of a god will once again be born into this world," Uchiha Kokuya nodded with great satisfaction, his crimson eyes shifting slightly.
"Heh heh, why don't I go say hello to them?
I'll be their superior from now on, so shouldn't I give them a welcoming gift?"
With that, Uchiha Kokuya's figure flickered and disappeared from the rooftop, soaring towards the group's location at a speed almost imperceptible to ordinary people.
*
Asuna, walking with Mizuki, suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
She quickly turned her head but found nothing.
Mizuki, seeing Asuna's action, asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, maybe I'm just a little tired," Asuna shook her head.
Perhaps it was due to her Sage Mode training that Asuna's senses were extremely keen, but she truly didn't detect anything unusual and wondered if she was just too tired.
"Tired, huh? Then why don't we go back?" Mizuki said with concern, examining Asuna's complexion and thinking it looked a little off.
"It's nothing major," Asuna said.
"Let's go back and rest.
It's not good to be too tired, and we still have to meet the Daimyo later," Mizuki said, then took Asuna's hand and started walking back.
Asuna only symbolically refused for a moment before being pulled along by Mizuki.
As her gaze shifted, she seemed to catch a fleeting glimpse of a figure and paused slightly.
Just as Mizuki was about to greet the others and say they were heading back, Asuna felt as if two cold bolts of lightning passed through her body, sending a shiver through her entire being.
"Mizuki!" Asuna couldn't help but exclaim, and Mizuki also sensed something at almost the same moment.
The two quickly leaped away from their original spot.
In the next instant, numerous sharp spikes suddenly burst out of the ground.
If Asuna and Mizuki hadn't moved, the consequences would have been unknown.
Uchiha Ken, Fujimura Yuki, and Aburame Shibi, who were not far away, saw the situation and quickly ran over, only to be blocked by a suddenly rising earth wall.
After landing, Asuna and Mizuki immediately searched for their target and saw a black-robed man sitting on a nearby rooftop, his head slightly lowered.
Beneath the black robe, an orange spiral mask was visible, with two dark, hollow eyes that gave off an unusually ominous feeling.
"Is that guy the one who attacked us?" Mizuki recalled the direction of the chakra generated during the attack and determined that the black-robed man was the assailant.
Her eyebrows immediately furrowed, and she unhesitatingly threw out a large number of shuriken.
No matter who the opponent was, since they had attacked them, they were undoubtedly an enemy, and there was no need to be polite to an enemy.
The masked man opposite raised his hand and formed a hand sign.
The ground in front of him softened, then rose, transforming into a giant earthen dragon that leaped forward.
Ordinary shuriken were no match and were all knocked away.
Nearby residents screamed and rushed into their homes, fearing being caught in the crossfire.
"Such powerful Earth Release!" Mizuki was shocked.
The opponent had only formed one hand sign and unleashed such a large-scale Earth Release, demonstrating his skill in it.
Just as she was about to use Fire Release to counterattack, she saw Asuna give her a look, then charged forward herself.
Mizuki immediately understood Asuna's meaning.
Her eyes turned red, and she cast a genjutsu towards the masked man.
Because of her anger, the ocular power she channeled this time was extraordinary, and her genjutsu was naturally terrifying.
Normally, ordinary Sharingan genjutsu wouldn't reach at this distance, but she had the inherited talent from her father, Uchiha Kagami, allowing her to cast genjutsu from a distance.
As Mizuki cast her genjutsu, Asuna's finger slashed across her wrist, summoning a long blade into her hand.
Wind-style chakra quickly wrapped around the blade's surface.
Asuna leaped up, like a white streak of light cutting through the air, clinging to the side of the earthen dragon's body, plunging her blade into it.
As she moved, she sliced it open.
Almost instantly, white light enveloped the entire earthen dragon.
By the time Asuna lunged towards the masked man, the earthen dragon's body instantly broke into sections and crashed to the ground, turning into soft earth.
The masked man's figure swayed slightly, and Asuna immediately judged that Mizuki's genjutsu had hit the opponent.
Just as she thought she could take down the opponent, the opponent unexpectedly pulled out a scythe, its surface also covered in wind-style chakra, and boldly blocked Asuna's slash.
"Hmph, as expected of the Flash, your speed is truly fast," the opponent said in a relaxed and cheerful tone, then raised his hand in a gesture of truce.
Seeing this, Asuna leaped backward, widening the distance between herself and the masked man.
Because the battle was so brief, by the time Asuna, Mizuki, and the masked man had exchanged a few blows, the others had just broken through the earth wall and approached the scene.
Fujimura Yuki quickly shouted, "Who is that? Attacking in the capital!"
"This isn't an attack, it's a test," the masked man said, toying with the scythe in his hand, making it spin rapidly around his wrist.
"As your future captain, I have to test the strength of my team members, otherwise, wouldn't it be too tiring to look after you all?"
"Captain? You are...?"
"My name is Tobi.
You should have heard my name, right?
If you haven't even heard my name, then I really have to wonder if your Konoha Ninja Village has properly informed you," the masked man said.
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts trembled.
How could they not have heard the name Tobi?
It was this person named Tobi who became the Daimyo's honored guest, then proposed the idea of the Twelve Guardian Ninja to restrain Konoha Ninja Village.
Everyone had been warned early on to be careful of this person, and they didn't expect to encounter him so soon after entering the capital.