On the streets of Konoha.
Uchiha Dan and Samui walked side by side, passing through the bustling crowd.
Duan had a striking appearance—handsome face, towering height close to two meters, and a well-built, muscular physique. As he walked, he exuded an air of dominant masculinity.
Like a tiger among wolves, a king among beasts.
Beside him, Samui looked delicate and poised.
With her blonde hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, and curvaceous figure, she embodied the exotic beauty of a frigid northern goddess.
The contrast between the two—"Beauty and the Beast"—naturally drew the attention of every passerby.
Samui's eyes drifted casually over the streets and the crowds, but beneath that calm demeanor, she was constantly gathering intel.
Three years ago.
The Yunyin delegation visited Konoha under the guise of diplomacy but attempted to kidnap Hinata Hyuga to unlock the secrets of the Byakugan. Their plot failed when Hinata Hizashi killed the kidnapper on the spot.
Afterward.
Yunyin, completely ignoring their own transgression, accused Konoha of murdering an envoy and went so far as to threaten war.
In an unexpected display of submission, Konoha caved.
Under the order of the Third Hokage, the Hyuga clan sacrificed Hizashi—Hinata's uncle—to satisfy Yunyin and avoid conflict.
When news of this reached Yunyin, morale soared.
From that point on.
The Fourth Raikage grew bolder, dispatching a specialized unit of spies to infiltrate Konoha, gather intelligence, and prepare for possible war.
Samui, already a special jōnin at the time, was a key member of this mission.
There was a specific reason the Fourth Raikage trusted Samui with such a sensitive task.
Yunyin Village is located at a high altitude, surrounded by mountain peaks, and exposed year-round to intense sunlight.
As a result, most Yunyin shinobi, male and female alike, have dark complexions and highly distinct features.
But Samui was an anomaly.
Her snow-white skin and calm demeanor made her blend easily into Konoha society—no one would ever guess she was from the land of lightning.
Moreover, her intelligence, maturity, and cautious personality made her ideal for espionage work.
Back then.
Following the peace treaty—secured with the Hyuga clan's sacrifice—Uchiha Dan unexpectedly placed a bulk order for high-end fitness equipment from Yunyin.
Yunyin's intelligence division immediately flagged him.
They soon discovered that he was none other than the brother-in-law of Uchiha Fugaku, the clan patriarch.
Perfect.
Samui was assigned to investigate the Uchiha clan. Her orders were clear: find a way to get close to Uchiha Dan and learn all she could.
So.
She posed as a civilian, followed Duan back to Konoha, and applied for a job at his gym. Her cool, reliable image got her hired as the front desk assistant.
But things didn't go as planned.
To her surprise, Dan had distanced himself from the Uchiha clan. He lived in near-total isolation, rarely engaging with his kin. Valuable intel was scarce.
Until today.
Uchiha Dan had effortlessly defeated Uchiha Itachi—the prodigy of the clan—in a manner she couldn't comprehend.
Samui stole a glance at Dan.
She realized: perhaps she had underestimated the man beside her.
Compared to Itachi, this man—whose daily life she now shared—might be the true mystery.
However.
Samui couldn't have known that her true identity and intentions were already known.
Duan had seen through her from the beginning.
In the original Naruto timeline, Samui appeared late and wasn't given much narrative space, but her figure and appearance left a lasting impression.
She was simply unforgettable.
But.
So what if she was a spy?
To Uchiha Dan, that didn't matter in the slightest.
Definitely not a Konoha ninja, Duan has no sense of identity or belonging to this village. Even if Konoha were to be destroyed, he wouldn't care.
Maybe he'd even sit on the sidelines and applaud.
For him:
Samui is a woman with a calm and low-key personality, diligent and conscientious in her work. Not only is she a reliable employee at the gym, she also volunteers to help with house chores—laundry, cooking, and cleaning.
To remain by Duan's side, she worked hard.
He had to admit—
Samui's presence greatly simplified Duan's daily life, giving him the time and energy to focus solely on his training.
A perfect tool like that... where could he find another?
So, he simply pretended not to know Samui was a spy, and freeloaded off her for three years.
By the Konoha River, the willows swayed gently.
A stone bridge stretched across the river, connecting the southern and northern districts of the village.
Duan and Samui crossed the bridge together. After walking a few hundred more meters south and turning a corner, they'd arrive at the familiar alley where they lived.
But then—
A sudden commotion erupted behind them on the street. Something was clearly happening.
In the next moment, shouts rang out like thunder:
"People ahead, halt!"
"Konoha Police Force! We're apprehending spies! Civilians clear the way!"
"You there! Trying to run?!"
The word "spy" struck Samui like a lightning bolt. Her pupils shrank and her whole body tensed.
Was she exposed?
Stay calm. Don't panic.
Samui forced herself to remain composed and quickly reviewed her actions, wondering when she might've slipped up. How should she handle being arrested and interrogated by the Uchiha Police Force?
Feigning confusion, she turned her head toward the source of the shouting.
Then she saw—
A few seemingly normal passersby suddenly burst into action, sprinting across the bridge with surprising speed.
Behind them, a squad of Uchiha Police in uniform gave chase, their Sharingan eyes glowing as they locked onto their targets.
So that was it.
The spies being pursued weren't after her.
Realizing this was a false alarm, Samui exhaled in relief, cold sweat dotting her back.
But the situation was still dangerous.
Spies from enemy villages were one threat.
But the Uchiha clan—especially as Konoha's police—were almost as feared. In the village, many civilians crossed the street to avoid them.
By now—
The bridge was thrown into chaos. Civilians scattered in panic, some even leaping into the river to escape. The spies and the Uchiha arrived almost simultaneously.
Duan turned around.
He gave Samui—who looked momentarily guilty—a glance, then looked ahead at the clash approaching.
On the bridge, everyone ran.
Everyone except Duan and Samui.
Especially Duan, who stood like an immovable wall in the center of the bridge, his massive frame blocking the way.
Whoosh—
A bald-headed spy was the first to reach them, sprinting like a gale.
Is he another Konoha ninja?
The bald man shot a piercing glare at Duan. Though Duan wasn't wearing a Konoha flak jacket, his body radiated danger.
Sensing hostility, the bald spy snapped:
"Outta the way!"
Before finishing his sentence, he drew a kunai from his sleeve and lunged toward Duan's chest.
A head-on clash was about to occur—
"Boom!"
The bald man suddenly hurled something to the ground. A smoke bomb detonated, releasing a thick white fog that shrouded Duan's vision.
In that instant—
The bald spy changed course, darting toward Samui.
Compared to Duan—towering and muscular, strength unknown—Samui, with her blonde hair and curvy figure, looked like an easy hostage.
Damn.
Samui's face changed.
Faced with a kunai-wielding attacker, she instinctively wanted to defend herself.
But doing so risked exposing her ninja identity. If the Uchiha caught wind of that, it would all be over.
In a split-second decision—
Samui gritted her teeth, stifled the urge to counterattack, and froze in place, feigning fear.
She'd rather take a hit than blow her cover.
Success.
The bald man grinned wickedly and lunged, pressing the kunai to Samui's neck.
But at that moment—
Shua.
A muscular arm, thicker than a man's thigh and veined like coiled steel, burst through the smoke like a striking serpent.
The five fingers opened wide—
Clamped directly onto the bald man's head.
"?!"
The spy's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected Duan to recover so quickly.
He slashed backward with his kunai—
Clang!
Metal struck Duan's arm—and bounced off. Sparks flew.
Impossible!
The bald spy's eyes went round.
Then—
Bang.
Duan's veins bulged. Power surged through his arm, his fingers digging inward.
The bald man's skull...
Exploded on the spot.