Sunny and cheerful Konoha Genin

call--

Snowflakes are falling and the north wind is blowing.

“This snow is too heavy!”

I don’t know if it’s because there is no one living in the mountains, but the wind and snow in this mountain range are particularly strong.

Everyone was blown so hard that they couldn't lift their heads and walked for a long time along the vaguely visible road.

"Let's take a rest up front. There's a sheltered mountain pass not far away." Tsunade said, squinting her eyes and looking at the road ahead.

"it is good."

So everyone continued to move forward, and it took some time before they reached the shelter.

“This environment is too bad.”

Tsunade brushed the snow off her body.

"What exactly is the mission that Orochimaru gave you?"

"Looking for someone."

Toru Ito shook off the snow on his body and looked at the endless road ahead, feeling somewhat helpless.

"I didn't expect that he lived in such a remote place..."

But it is precisely because of this that it has not been discovered until now.

Only in this kind of place can people with natural immortal physiques appear.

Such strong winds and snow may also be due to the abundance of natural energy.

Fortunately, they prepared thick clothes before coming here, otherwise it would be impossible for them to hold on until now.

Even Kimimaro, who didn't like to wear a shirt, put on his clothes obediently and wrapped himself up like a bear.

Although he could also use chakra to resist the cold, that would consume too much energy.

"Orochimaru is such a jerk. Why does he have to wait until winter... How long will it take?"

"let me see……"

Ito Toru took out the map and unfolded it.

"Well, we are not far from there now, only less than one kilometer away."

"...There's still a kilometer of snow wind blowing."

Tsunade took a deep breath.

"But, Ito, did you notice that the road we took here had no signs of anyone cleaning it?"

“Well, I discovered this too.”

Ito Toru nodded: "Maybe the villagers were trapped by the snow and wind, so they were unwilling to come out to clear the road."

"In such heavy snowy weather, few caravans are willing to come."

"So they usually store enough food in the fall and spend the winter indoors, just like bears."

"Makes sense."

Tsunade nodded slightly, and her doubts were slightly dispelled.

That makes sense.

When she was on a mission before, she, Orochimaru and Jiraiya had seen many isolated villages.

After all, this era is still an era of war. In order to avoid war and disasters, many people choose to hide in the mountains and forests.

I guess the person we are looking for in the mission is this type of person.

"Hey, the snow seems to have lessened a lot?"

Karin, who was watching the snowflakes falling outside, suddenly became happy: "I think I have seen that village!"

"Right over there!"

Everyone looked in the direction of her finger.

In a basin surrounded by mountains, there was a snow-covered villa separated by a snow-covered forest.

It’s like a snowy village in a fairy tale world.

"Wow! So beautiful!"

Karin's eyes were shining.

Girls of her age like this kind of fairy-tale style.

“It’s on the opposite side.”

Ito Toru scratched his head.

"It seems we have gone in the wrong direction..."

"It's okay. It's a miracle that you can find the way." Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief and patted his shoulder.

"It looks like the snow will stop completely soon. Let's set off before the snow stops."

"it is good!"

Karin looked excited, standing on tiptoe and looking at the small village in the distance.

"The people in this village should be very friendly, living in such a beautiful village."

"Kimimaro, what do you think?"

"If you really live in it, you won't find it beautiful anymore."

Kimimaro said casually as he sat cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed.

"In such an isolated village, you may not see outsiders for several months. The sky is gloomy and you can only hear your own voice and the sound of the wind and snow."

"After dark..."

"Hey! Stop talking!"

Karin put her hands on her hips and said, "This is such a peaceful and beautiful village, but what you said makes it seem a little scary!"

"..."

So Kimimaro kept silent.

However, after his reminder, Toru Ito also noticed that something was wrong.

They had passed through some villages on their way here.

Although they are all villages, this village is particularly quiet compared to other places.

It's not the kind of tranquility that comforts the soul.

Rather, it feels like dead silence, without any signs of life.

It's like... a dead village.

It shouldn’t be!

Toru Ito took out the map and studied it again, confirming that the mark on the map was here.

"You also feel something is wrong?"

Seeing his actions, Tsunade said with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Lady Tsunade, what you said is wrong..."

"The snow in that village was too thick. If there were people living there, they wouldn't have left the snow on their roofs unattended. Several houses were collapsed by the snow."

"…Something is indeed not right."

Toru Ito put away the map and fell into deep thought.

"But let's go and have a look anyway."

Unlike Tsunade and the others, Ito Toru was absolutely certain that Jūgo was here.

"Okay, but I think it's better to be careful."

Tsunade's expression was serious: "This place gives me a very uneasy feeling, which is a feeling that I only had when I was on an S-rank mission before."

"it is good."

Ito Toru nodded.

After the snow stopped, everyone set out again.

To reach the village in sight, you first have to pass through a snowy forest.

They are like guards guarding this place, covered with white snow and silent.

"It was planted intentionally."

Tsunade observed that the trees were arranged in a very regular pattern.

“It actually grew so well.”

She patted the trunk of a tree she passed by, and a dissatisfied sound of "Chichi!" came from it.

"Wow! It's a squirrel!"

Karin's eyes sparkled as she watched a cute, furry little animal jumping around in the tree.

However, the squirrel did not seem very happy. It quickly jumped with its small body to a dried pine cone, took it away quickly, and threw it to everyone.

huh~

"so cute!"

Such an attack could not pose any threat at all. Instead, it made Tsunade smile knowingly and raised her hand to catch the pine cone.

"Let's go."

"This little guy has quite a temper."

When its pine cone was caught and the little squirrel was about to pick another one to continue throwing, it saw these strangely dressed humans leaving. So it chirped happily twice and jumped around on the branches.

Then, noticing the direction these people left, the little squirrel paused, turned its black little eyes a few times, and quietly followed them.