Red sand dust

"What nonsense are you telling the truth?"

Daimaru glared at Kurama Yakumo who was teasing him angrily, and complained slightly in embarrassment, which made Haruno Sakura, who was smiling and watching, couldn't help covering her mouth and snickering.

"What's so funny? Just wait and see, sooner or later the reputation of the 'Red Sand Dust' will scare the entire ninja world..."

"I don't mean to be sarcastic, I just feel that not many Suna ninjas and Konoha ninjas have such a good relationship like you..."

Haruno Sakura waved her hand and explained quickly.

Even if they are allies, they are only exchanges between the upper levels. In the past year, the joint ninja training and exchange program promoted by the two villages has allowed more lower-level ninjas to interact with each other.

But even so, the gaps caused by differences in living habits and concepts are everywhere. There is still a long way to go before we can truly get along harmoniously.

"Well... I think we formed a deep friendship with Ms. Yakumo when she was still a ninja. Most Konoha ninjas of the same age are not very friendly to me..."

Daimaru said somewhat sarcastically.

From the last joint chuunin exam to now, most of the famous genin in Konoha Village have been beaten by Daimaru, so it's strange to have a good impression.

"How can it be that exaggerated?"

After thinking about it, it was indeed true. With Daimaru's nature, fellow Suna ninjas had many opinions, and Konoha ninjas didn't like this kind of unexpected ninja who was testing the edges of the rules crazily.

Although ninjas cannot be judged by common sense, that is not always a good evaluation.

"No need to explain too much, I actually don't care much..."

Young people are indispensable for being competitive. In fact, there is no hatred. They are just small problems. Daimaru does not intend to care too much. In the future, they will need to shed blood and tears to save the world from danger. They are all good comrades.

"Don't talk about me anymore, Sakura, why do you look so haggard? Is it so hard to be the Hokage's disciple? Even your hairline has receded a lot..."

"It's really annoying. How can seniors comment on young girls like this? I'm not even fourteen years old, how can I lose my hair?"

As she spoke, Haruno Sakura showed an embarrassed smile that was about to explode but had to suppress it. She turned to Kurama Yakumo next to her and asked,

"Teacher Yakumo, please tell me, why do I have a receding hairline? I am obviously born with a wide forehead..."

"Well...haha..."

After carefully looking at the pink short-haired girl next to him, Kurama Yakumo looked at the girl with fury, and then answered perfunctorily,

"That's probably what happened!"

"What does it mean? It's originally..."

"A wide forehead is not worth showing off..."

Kurama Yakumo comforted the slightly excited Haruno Sakura.

"Okay, don't worry, you are still young. As long as you don't stay up late too often, you will recover soon..."

"I accept your good wishes!"

Such comfort made the little pink-haired girl who was already a little uneasy not happy at all, so she had to forcefully change the topic from "Young Hair Loss".

"Daimaru-senpai, which hotel are you staying in now? If you have time, you can go and visit..."

"No, I have to leave tonight at the latest. The room has been checked out..."

"So fast?"

Kurama Yakumo was a little surprised.

"You just arrived and you're leaving soon?"

"At the end of the year, when we are getting rid of the old and welcoming the new, it is better to spend it with our family. There is no time to waste..."

"Then I wish you a Happy New Year in advance, senior..."

Kurama Yakumo said with a chuckle.

"Um……"

Just as he was about to say something more about Daimaru, he suddenly raised his head and looked towards the northwest corner of Konoha Village. On the promotional map of Konoha Village, it was a blur. Few people knew about it and not many people went there.

"What a quick move!"

…

In the dark underground space, the incandescent lights on the walls did not make the place appear brighter, and the shadows that swayed from time to time made it look even more gloomy.

On the ground, the carved formations reflected inexplicable fluorescence. Several injured ninjas sat cross-legged on the ground, forming a circle. Around the formation, several masked ninjas in robes, together with the thin blond figure leading them, released wisps of strong mental fluctuations, shrouding the injured "root" ninja.

With the help of helpers and barriers, masters who are proficient in spiritual mysticism exude spiritual power that is almost as rich as a silvery lightning halo.

The seemingly calm scene actually hides a turbulent battle. The five injured ninjas absorbed the inexplicable power in the air, went through strange changes in the body, and then poured out of the body. They were entangled together, resisting wave after wave. of mental strangulation.

In the eyes of the leader's spiritual powerhouse, circles of spiritual arcs were like ever-increasing chains, entangling the escaping monster invisible to others, but they continued to encounter stubborn resistance.

This kind of confrontation involving the realm of the soul is extremely dangerous and can be countered if you are not careful.

After an unknown amount of time, the formation patterns on the ground gradually dimmed, and the few mentally strong men who tried to seal it almost exhausted their chakra. The leader groaned, and a trace of water flowed from the corners of his eyes and nostrils due to excessive pressure. Blood stains, and finally defeated.

"Did you fail?"

In the shadowed corner of the room, a man on crutches with bandages wrapped around his forehead, right eye and right arm spoke plainly.

"I'm so sorry, Danzo-sama, there's nothing we can do..."

The blond mentally powerful man said helplessly,

"This kind of mental pollution is very dangerous. Unless it is defeated in one fell swoop, it will be able to absorb malice and enrich itself, continue to grow and develop, and even slightly mobilize natural energy, becoming more courageous as it fights..."

"A familiar comment..."

Many years ago, Mitarashi Anko, who was tortured by Orochimaru's Curse Seal of Heaven and barely survived, had experienced something similar.

The problems encountered this time were not as difficult as those caused by Orochimaru, but they were equally bad in nature.

If it weren't for the "Gen" ninja's own strict anti-osmosis mode, which quickly discovered the abnormalities in several people, and carefully used mental torture methods to uncover the hidden dangers in their bodies, the consequences would be disastrous.

This kind of covert lurking method is most likely to be discovered at the beginning, but as time goes by, there will be no clue at all.

The cane hit the solid floor, making a crisp impact, and Shimura Danzo slowly stepped forward.

"You guys stand down first!"

"yes!"

Several people in the room filed out, leaving only Shimura Danzo, who silently untied the bandage on his right eye, and the dangerous Mangekyo Sharingan, blessed with genjutsu power, surged out.

In the spiritual realm that no one noticed, a purple-black mass that was constantly changing its shape stretched out a large number of tentacles and pierced the five unknown spiritual shadows, slowly absorbing power and gradually integrating into it. In the darkness of the void, starlight flashed from time to time, which was absorbed by the shadow monster, making it stronger.