Chapter 3: Heterochromatic Eyes

Chapter 3: Heterochromatic Eyes

Half an hour later, Toneri walked out of the public bathhouse under the curious gazes of bystanders, sporting three overlapping bright red handprints on his face.

Ignoring the envious and jealous stares of the men around him, Toneri lightly touched his swollen cheek.

"Hiss—

What beasts!

Hitting a small child with such force... don't your consciences hurt? My little guy here wouldn't even react!"

Muttering under his breath, Toneri held a light yellow sachet in his left hand, exuding a distinct and refreshing mint fragrance.

Freshly emerged from the stormy seas of the public bathhouse, Toneri made his way to a clothing store, purchasing a modest yet practical outfit.

He secured the sachet to his waist, where it fit perfectly.

With the grime scrubbed off and his new attire, Toneri looked like a completely different person. He now resembled a child from a well-off family, clean and refined.

Taking a deep breath, Toneri savored the lingering minty aroma.

"Now this—this is what fragrance is supposed to be!"

He lifted the sachet closer to his nose, inhaling deeply.

"I wonder what kind of beauty owned this sachet. She must've been stunning."

Meanwhile, back in the bathhouse, a shrill, ear-piercing scream erupted:

"Ahhh!!!

Who stole my sachet?! Whoever it is, don't let me catch you!!"

The scream belonged to a woman in a pale yellow dress with voluminous hair—a large, round woman who resembled an oversized balloon.

This was the infamous "Big Huang," known in the town as a fierce, hot-tempered matron feared by all. Her scream sent shivers down the spines of both men and women who recognized her voice.

But why anyone would dare steal her sachet remained a mystery...

---

As one of Root's operatives in the Land of Lightning, Toneri had access to specialized methods for transmitting information.

While he didn't have full control over these methods, nor could they directly help him reach the Land of Fire, they provided enough knowledge to formulate a plan.

Toneri knew the Cloud ANBU wouldn't give up their search so easily.

So, he gave them something else to investigate: a hidden Root outpost in the Land of Lightning.

Using his connection to Root, Toneri had deduced the outpost's location and intentionally left clues leading there.

With a worthy enemy to engage, the Cloud ANBU wouldn't waste time pursuing a powerless child like him.

After setting his trap, Toneri spent the remainder of his money, hiring a merchant caravan traveling between the Lands of Fire and Lightning to take him along.

To ensure the caravan's cooperation, he revealed the Cloud headband he had taken from the deceased Jinchūriki.

In the Land of Lightning, such a headband represented authority and danger—ordinary civilians wouldn't dare cross someone bearing it.

As a precaution, Toneri specifically sought out a timid and cautious merchant leader, someone unlikely to ask too many questions.

Once payment was made, the merchant even offered Toneri a small wagon space to himself. Though cramped with goods, it provided him with some privacy.

Nestled amidst the cargo, Toneri clutched the fragrant sachet, a look of satisfaction spreading across his face.

---

Shortly after Toneri's departure, a masked Cloud ANBU operative arrived silently in the same town, following the trail of footprints Toneri had deliberately left.

Despite Toneri's efforts, he underestimated the tracking abilities of skilled ninja, especially the Cloud ANBU.

Using the trail, the ANBU operative located the Root outpost Toneri had targeted.

In less than thirty minutes, the outpost was completely eradicated.

But the trail ended there.

Unsure if the footprints belonged to someone connected to the outpost or if they were a deliberate distraction, the ANBU captain decided to withdraw and report back to Kumogakure.

He could resume the search once reinforcements, including scent-tracking ninja beasts, arrived.

For now, however, his investigation of the town yielded surprising results—this border town was rife with unsavory characters.

---

Despite his matured soul, Toneri's young body was still subject to physical exhaustion.

The past day's events—becoming a Jinchūriki, walking all night, and enduring a rigorous bath—had left him utterly drained.

Safe in the merchant wagon, Toneri's fatigue overtook him. Curling up in a corner, he soon fell into a deep sleep, his breathing becoming soft and steady.

Unnoticed, faint blue energy began to flow from the seal on his stomach, spreading through his body's pathways before dissipating into his cells.

The process subtly eased his fatigue, providing a faint rejuvenation.

---

In his dreams, Toneri found himself in an unfamiliar place.

The surroundings were dim, the ground cracked and dry beneath his feet.

Before him loomed a massive, barred gate, its structure towering over him like a fortress.

In the center of the gate, a single piece of paper bore the character "Seal."

Toneri's heart sank. This was identical to the seal imprinted on his stomach.

Behind the gate, a shadowy, mountainous figure stirred—a colossal silhouette engulfed in a fiery blue glow.

Cautiously, Toneri approached the gate.

The closer he got, the more intense the heat became, enveloping him like a suffocating furnace.

Suddenly, a wave of scorching air blasted him backward, sending him flying several meters.

As the heat intensified, two massive eyes snapped open behind the gate.

They gleamed like twin lanterns, one blue and the other yellow, their gaze locking onto Toneri.

Toneri froze, his body paralyzed under their piercing stare.

"Blue and yellow eyes… Is that a… Persian cat?"

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