110. Zashiki Warashi

(A/n- 62/200, guys 3 days left for the deal to expire, I can consider one Patreon member to have 66 power stones if both of the goals happen)

As Ino and Choji made their way down the misty mountain path after reaching the base, their hearts still racing from their eerie encounter, they couldn't shake the feeling of unease that clung to them like the surrounding fog.

Just as they were about to step onto the main street, a gentle voice called out to them. "My goodness, you two look like you've seen a ghost! Is everything alright?"

Ino and Choji whirled around, startled by the sudden address. Standing before them was a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a warm smile. She wore simple, traditional clothing and carried a basket filled with fresh vegetables.

"Oh, um, we're fine," Ino stammered, trying to regain her composure. "Just a bit... surprised by the fog up there."

The woman chuckled knowingly. "Ah, yes, the mist can play tricks on the mind, especially for those not used to our little mountain. I'm Hana, by the way. I help manage the Misty Valley Temple these days."

Choji's eyes widened at this information. "The temple? We were just up there, or at least trying to get there."

Hana's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Really? But you're coming from the wrong direction. The temple path is on the other side of the mountain."

Ino and Choji exchanged confused glances. "But we followed the signs," Ino insisted. "And we met... someone up there."

"Someone?" Hana asked, her interest piqued. "Who did you meet? There shouldn't be anyone up there aside from the temple staff, and I know them all."

Choji hesitated before responding. "An old woman. She was... strange. Knew things about us she shouldn't have known."

Hana's expression shifted, a mix of curiosity and concern crossing her features. "An old woman, you say? Can you describe her?"

Ino closed her eyes, recalling the encounter. "She had long grey hair, tied back loosely. Her face was wrinkled, but her eyes... they were sharp like they could see right through you. She wore a faded kimono with a pattern of autumn leaves."

As Ino spoke, Hana's face grew pale. She clutched her basket tighter, her knuckles turning white. "Oh my," she whispered. "Oh my, oh my."

"What is it?" Choji asked, alarmed by Hana's reaction. "Do you know her?"

Hana nodded slowly, her eyes distant. "I think... I think you may have met Old Lady Yukikoha. But that's impossible."

"Why is it impossible?" Ino pressed, her shinobi instincts kicking in. Something was off about this whole situation, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Hana took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Because Old Lady Yukikoha died 62 years ago. She was the temple's caretaker for over five decades, right up until her passing."

A chill ran down Ino and Choji's spines. They had suspected something supernatural about their encounter, but having it confirmed was another matter entirely.

"Are you... are you sure it was her?" Choji asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hana nodded. "The description matches perfectly. Old Lady Yukikoha was known for her piercing gaze and her uncanny ability to know things she shouldn't. And that kimono... it was her favourite. She was buried in it."

Ino felt her knees go weak. She leaned against a nearby wall for support. "So we really did see a ghost?"

"It would seem so," Hana replied, her voice filled with a mix of awe and trepidation. "But don't worry, Old Lady Yukikoha was always kind in life. If her spirit still lingers, I'm sure she means no harm."

Choji didn't look convinced. "But why would she appear to us? We're not from around here. We're just passing through on a mission."

Hana's eyes lit up with understanding. "Ah, you're shinobi then? That explains it. Old Lady Yukikoha always had a soft spot for ninjas. She used to say they carried the weight of the world on their shoulders."

Ino, recovering somewhat from the shock, decided to probe further. "Did she often... appear to people like this?"

Hana shook her head. "There have been stories over the years, whispers of sightings, but nothing as clear as what you've described. Most people who claim to have seen her only catch a glimpse, or hear her voice on the wind."

"And the things she said to us?" Choji asked. "About crossroads and finding the light to see shadows?"

A thoughtful expression crossed Hana's face. "That sounds like Old Lady Yukikoha, alright. She always spoke in riddles and prophecies. People would come from far and wide to seek her advice."

Ino's mind was racing. Could this encounter be related to their mission? "Did she have any connection to thieves or missing items?"

Hana looked surprised by the question. "Thieves? No, not that I know of. But..." she paused, considering something. "There was an old legend she used to tell, about a trickster spirit that haunted the mountain. A spirit that could steal anything, even shadows."

Choji and Ino exchanged significant looks. This was starting to sound eerily familiar.

"Can you tell us more about this legend?" Ino asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

Hana nodded, settling her basket more comfortably on her arm. "Well, according to Old Lady Yukikoha, this spirit was neither good nor evil. It was simply... mischievous. It would steal things not out of malice, but for the sheer joy of the act. And it had a particular fondness for shiny objects and rare treasures."

"That sounds an awful lot like what's been happening at the Jade Dragon Inn," Choji muttered to Ino.

Hana overheard him. "The inn? Has something been happening there?"

Ino quickly filled Hana in on the recent thefts, careful not to reveal too much about their mission. As she spoke, Hana's eyes grew wider.

"Oh my," she said when Ino finished. "That does sound like the old stories. But surely it can't be... I mean, it's just a legend, right?"

Ino and Choji shared another look. After their encounter with Old Lady Yukikoha's ghost, they weren't so sure anything could be dismissed as "just a legend" anymore.

"Is there anything else you can tell us about this trickster spirit?" Choji asked. "Like how to stop it, maybe?"

Hana furrowed her brow in concentration. "Let's see... Old Lady Yukikoha used to say that the spirit could only be caught by someone pure of heart and quick of mind. Someone who could out-trick the trickster."

Ino couldn't help but think of Sora. The young ninja certainly had a quick mind, and despite his occasional morally dubious statements, his heart was undoubtedly in the right place.

"Thank you, Hana-san," Ino said, bowing slightly. "You've been incredibly helpful."

Hana smiled warmly. "I'm glad I could help. And I'm sorry you had such a fright up on the mountain. Old Lady Yukikoha meant well, I'm sure."

As they prepared to leave, Hana called out one last piece of advice. "Oh, and if you do go looking for that trickster spirit... be careful. The old stories say it has a wicked sense of humour. You might find yourselves the butt of its jokes if you're not careful. Its name is Zashiki Warashi "

With that ominous warning ringing in their ears, Ino and Choji bid farewell to Hana and continued on their way to meet Shikamaru and Sora. Their minds were reeling from the information they'd just received.

"Do you think we should tell Shikamaru and Sora about all this?" Choji asked as they walked.

Ino nodded firmly. "Absolutely. They need to know what we're potentially dealing with here. A ghost giving cryptic warnings and a legendary trickster spirit stealing from the inn? This mission just got a whole lot more complicated."

As they approached the meeting spot, they could see Shikamaru and Sora in the distance, deep in conversation. Ino took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation to come.

"Well," she said to Choji, "let's hope they believe us. Because if what Hana told us is true, we're going to need all the help we can get to solve this mystery."

With determination in their steps, Ino and Choji quickened their pace, ready to share their unsettling discoveries with their teammates. Little did they know, their encounter with Old Lady Yukikoha and the legend of the trickster spirit was just the beginning of the strange and supernatural events that awaited them in this seemingly ordinary mountain town.

***

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