Jiyue Island was a small island located 150 nautical miles east of Hidden Mist Village's main island. Not large in area—only one-fifth the size of the main island—the island was abundant in fruit, with coconut groves everywhere and a scenic ten-mile stretch of white sandy beach. The sand there was fine, the sunlight gentle. Set up a lounge chair, put up a parasol, crack open a few coconuts, and lie comfortably on the beach—ah, what were fame and fortune compared to the salty sea breeze on this white sand beach?
At this moment, Xuechi Gaojin was enjoying such tranquility under the sunlight. Having stayed on Jiyue Island for five days, his originally pale skin had gradually tanned to a bronze color. Gone was any trace of the "gambling god" from the theater stage—he looked exactly like a surfer boy.
Xuechi Gaojin adjusted his sunglasses, glanced at the sun, stretched comfortably, grabbed an opened coconut and took a big gulp, murmuring:
"Officer Maki should be awake now. I need to get him some food. Sigh, it's hard on him."
...
The next moment, he was busy in a seaside villa's kitchen. Soon he was carrying a tray slowly toward the bedroom.
The tray held a large glass of milk, two slices of bread, a sausage, and five fried eggs.
As he approached the bedroom door and was about to open it, his hand reaching for the doorknob suddenly stopped. Strange sounds came from inside the room.
A man's roar, a woman's moans, accompanied by eerie "slapping" sounds.
"Do you submit or not!"
"I submit! I submit!"
"Then do you submit or not!"
"I submit! Please spare me!"
"Then do you submit or not?"
"I..."
"Ah, hesitating! You're definitely still not submitting. Come here, come to me."
...
"It's already noon, and they're at it again?"
Xuechi Gaojin's mouth twitched slightly.
"Aren't they indeed at it again?"
The sudden voice nearly made Xuechi Gaojin drop the tray.
"Sister Tsukihime, why do you always appear and disappear like a ghost? You scared me."
A tall, ice-faced female ninja had appeared behind him without a sound.
The room erupted in crackling sounds, like a live donkey frolicking on the bed, accompanied by Maki's rough roars of "Do you submit?!" "Do you submit?!"
The cold-faced female ninja called "Tsukihime" looked even colder, gritting her teeth as two words escaped her mouth:
"Beast!"
This made Xuechi Gaojin extremely awkward.
Officer Maki, if you're going to do it, just do it—why make such a racket? It sounds like murder.
"Where were you last night?"
Tsukihime asked.
"I was sleeping in my room."
Xuechi Gaojin replied.
"This morning?"
"Sunbathing on the beach. What's wrong?"
Tsukihime's face was like ice:
"Jiyue Island isn't peaceful. Don't wander around."
"Oh, got it."
Xuechi Gaojin smiled.
After a while, the commotion in the room died down. Only heavy breathing and soft sobbing could be heard, then covered by the sound of running water.
This should be finished—he's bathing now.
Xuechi Gaojin thought to himself.
After another while, the water sounds stopped too.
Only then did Xuechi Gaojin knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
Maki's lazy voice came from inside.
"Sir, it's me. I've brought your breakfast."
Bringing breakfast at noon—only someone who'd been busy all morning would eat at this hour.
"Wait."
After a moment, the door opened a crack, revealing Maki's slightly haggard face. He was bare-chested, showing solid muscles, with a large bath towel wrapped around his waist and slippers on his feet. He looked at Xuechi Gaojin, froze for half a second (key point), took the tray with one hand, and nodded:
"Go play on the beach first. Don't wander around."
Suddenly Maki's drowsy eyes flashed with green light, his gaze directed at Tsukihime behind Gaojin.
Tsukihime involuntarily stepped back half a step.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Tsukihime? You're here."
While speaking, one hand shot out like lightning and grabbed Tsukihime's arm.
"You... let go!"
The ice-cold Tsukihime's face showed extreme terror, as if she'd seen a ghost.
"Hehe, since you're here, don't leave. Keep me company for breakfast! This sausage is for you—how about it?"
Tsukihime was about to struggle when Maki yanked her into the room. After a series of crackling fighting sounds, Maki's murderous roars resumed:
"Do you submit!" "Do you submit!" "Do you submit!"
Xuechi Gaojin shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Looks like I'll need to remake breakfast."
Let's rewind the clock to that half-second when Maki froze.
In Xuechi Gaojin's white mental space, Maki completely changed from his earlier dissolute behavior, his expression becoming serious and earnest.
"How is it? Did you make contact with the Kaguya Clan?"
Xuechi Gaojin nodded.
"Not only did we make contact, but their clan leader is very interested in your rebellion plan."
"Oh? Really! Tell me the details!"
Maki was somewhat excited. This vinegar dish plan was his personal creation. These years he'd been doing military and civil administration work on the Yuexi Peninsula, but as an old ANBU member of Sand Village, he still loved special operations like assassinations, uprisings, reconnaissance, and kidnapping. Finally getting a chance to cause trouble deep in enemy territory—he had to perform this act well!
"Just as you said, this Kaguya Clan is truly a naturally rebellious clan with bones in the back of their heads. Actually, the entire clan from top to bottom has long been planning an uprising. I barely had to say anything before they were howling to act. It didn't take much effort to finalize the plan."
"Just finalizing isn't enough. This clan's people all have mental problems. When their reckless streak kicks in, they don't care about anything. This operation can't be launched early—the effect would be much worse."
"Don't worry. I've set a genjutsu in their clan leader's mind to ensure perfect timing."
"Good! Did you give them the funds and supplies?"
"I gave them the funds, but they didn't want the equipment."
"Huh? Why?"
"They're extremely confident in their Shikotsumyaku. They think our ninja swords are far inferior to their bone swords! They'd be useless."
"A bunch of idiots. Whatever, let them be. How many people does this clan have?"
"Around 900."
"Mm, that's enough. Plenty to give Hidden Mist a good shake-up. Alright, find a chance to send a report to the Kazekage."
"That's a bit troublesome."
"What's wrong?"
"That female ninja called Tsukihime seems to have noticed something."
"Tsukihime? The one who's always cold-faced?"
"Exactly."
"Don't worry. Watch how I deal with her! I'll make sure she can't sit on a chair for ten days! Let's see how she keeps watching you then."
Maki's face showed an absolutely wicked expression.
Xuechi Gaojin looked at Maki and felt moved. He bowed to Maki.
"Lord Maki, you've worked hard."
Maki waved his hand with a righteous expression.
"Sigh, it's all for the village. This small sacrifice is proper, proper."
"By the way, I discovered a child in the Kaguya Clan..."
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