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As Shō began to head off with the captured bandits, An stepped closer to Ren, her eyes still scanning their surroundings. The snowy landscape seemed peaceful once more, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. They had been caught off guard once, and she was determined it wouldn’t happen again.
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Despite her calm demeanor, An felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. She was the youngest among them, but she knew that didn’t matter in a situation like this. They were a team, and each of them had a role to play. She glanced back at the merchants, who were beginning to relax now that the immediate threat had passed, and then at Ren, who was likely thinking along the same lines.
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"Let’s get the caravan moving again," she suggested her voice firm with resolve.
"The sooner we reach Kagamino no Shi, the better. And if there’s more trouble waiting for us, we’ll be ready for it."[break][break]
With that, An took her position beside the caravan, ready to continue their journey.
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As the caravan resumed its journey, the trio pressed on through the snowy, winding paths toward Kagamino no Shi. The tension from the earlier ambush lingered, but An kept her senses sharp, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. She knew they were nearing the end of their mission, but that didn’t mean they could afford to relax just yet.
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As they descended from the mountains and the dense fog began to lift, the landscape opened up, revealing the outskirts of Kagamino no Shi in the distance. The city’s tall buildings and bustling streets were a welcome sight after the treacherous mountain paths, and An felt a sense of relief wash over her. The mission was almost complete, but she knew they couldn’t relax until the goods were safely delivered.
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Approaching the city gates, the guards on duty gave them a cursory inspection before waving them through. The bustling marketplace greeted them with the sounds of merchants haggling, carts creaking, and the general buzz of city life. An could see the relief on the merchants’ faces as they realized they were finally safe within the city’s walls.
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They guided the caravan through the city’s winding streets until they reached the designated warehouse where the goods were to be stored. The merchants, now completely at ease, began unloading the cargo under the watchful eyes of An and Ren. The process was smooth and efficient, with no signs of any further trouble.
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As the last crate was unloaded and safely stored away, the lead merchant approached the two shinobi with a grateful smile.
"Thank you all for your protection," he said, bowing deeply.
"We couldn’t have made it without you."[break][break]
An returned the bow, feeling a sense of pride swell within her.
"It was our duty," she replied, her voice humble.
"We’re just glad we could get you here safely."[break][break]
With the mission officially completed, An and Ren took a moment to relax and catch their breath. Shō returned shortly after. The mission was finally over the three could spend some time relaxing, before returning to Kirigakure.
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- E N D -
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真菌操作| Shinkin Sōsa [lit.Fungal Manipulation]
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An can grow, shape, and manipulate all forms of fungi, including but not limited to yeasts and mold, along with poisonous and non-poisonous mushrooms, thanks to the Gurē clan's KKG. An has the ability to grow fungi on just about any surface. Because An’s genetic makeup is more similar to that of fungi than that of humans, she can use techniques based on Fungi anatomy, such as secretions or enzymes from various Fungi. She can easily generate or grow any part of a Fungi's anatomy from her own body by using chakra to further alter her own cells. Finally, because these techniques are made from her own cells or bodily fluids, such as converting her saliva into a specific Fungi secretion, An is immune to their effects.
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共生遺伝学| Kyōsei Iden-Gaku [lit.Symbiotic Genetics]
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As a member of the Gurē clan, An has gained the potential to combine her body with flora and the ground itself because of the similarities in her genetic makeup to fungi. She is able to link her chakra to the underground network of organic matter, which includes plant roots, water veins, and decomposing materials. For example, An can hide in things like trees, shrubs and roots, soil, and so on. Once fused, not only is her presence completely hidden and only felt by those with chakra recognition, but it also allows her to travel within the subterranean web of organic matter up to 1 km before needing to emerge.
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蒼波| Sōha [lit.Blue Wave]
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An possesses significantly larger and more formidable chakra reserves compared to her peers. This advantage enables her to execute various jutsu without rapidly depleting her chakra, granting her a distinct advantage in combat situations and the capacity to maintain prolonged, intensive chakra utilization. Consequently, she can employ advanced techniques for extended durations surpassing the capabilities of most individuals within her rank.