Chapter 71: All Parties Involved

"Arrogant!"

In the Hokage building, Hiruzan Sarutobi slammed his palm heavily on the table, causing the intelligence scroll to fall and hit Danzo Shimura's foot.

"Don't get angry, Hiruzen," Danzo said, picking up the scroll. "Anger makes people lose their rationality."

"I never thought I'd see the day when you'd be lecturing me," Hiruzan took a deep breath, suppressing his rage. "Danzo, what do you think?"

"The intelligence is very clear," Danzo replied. "The Byakugan of Shinosuke Hyuga has been taken. Recently, several nursery rhymes have appeared in the Land of Hot Water. When pieced together, they reveal that the Bounty Station is involved in exchanging the Byakugan for the Shikotsumyaku. Each song contains only a small amount of useful information, but together, they form a coherent message. The likelihood of this being false intelligence is minimal."

The Third Hokage lit his pipe, exhaling a ring of smoke. "Do the other villages know about Shinosuke Hyuga's disappearance?"

"It hasn't spread yet, but it's not impossible. We've had too many skirmishes with Kumogakure and Kirigakure in recent months."

"What does Kirigakure say?"

"They seem to be verifying the truth of the information. Their intelligence team thinks it's a trap set by us. Hah, a bunch of idiots..."

"The Land of Water has good reason to think that," Hiruzan fell silent for a moment before continuing. "Have we traced the source of these nursery rhymes?"

"No, there are too many traveling merchants."

"Tell me your thoughts, Danzo. I know you're good at dealing with this sort of thing."

"...Alright," the bandaged man said casually. "I think it's possible that there's an internal problem within the Bounty Station. Exchanging a Byakugan for the Shikotsumyaku is a big deal. Whoever manages this transaction would gain favor from the top. Perhaps the lucky person was targeted by their colleagues, who then leaked the information to disrupt the deal."

"That's a very likely possibility."

"But that's not the most crucial thing, Hiruzen," Danzo grinned. "Give the order, Hokage. What should we do?"

Hiruzan extinguished his pipe, staring at the majestic Hokage Rock in the distance. "Send someone to disrupt the deal and retrieve the Byakugan. Those eyes belong to the Hyuga clan, and the Hyuga belong to the village!"

"That's more like it... Hokage."

Hiruzan Sarutobi turned to discuss what level of force to send, but as he turned, he suddenly caught a glimpse of his reflection in the glass.

Only five months since the war began, and his hair had turned much whiter...

Hiruzan Sarutobi sighed inwardly.

It's time to consider candidates for the next Hokage...

...

Fuguki Suikazan looked at the people in front of him, frowning.

His appearance was odd, with long orange hair reaching his waist, sharp teeth, and green stripes on his cheeks. From a certain angle, he indeed resembled a watermelon, a rotten one at that.

Of course, most who dared to mock him as "watermelon" to his face were torn apart by him.

He was the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, a peak sword user, a killer demon.

Yet, even a killer demon was now frowning, restraining himself from taking excessive action.

"Morinosuke, you bastard, why have you brought your clan here... I've said before, I'm the boss of this battlefield."

"Don't be so heartless, brother," Morinosuke Kaguya removed his hat, revealing the Kaguya clan's characteristic red dot on his forehead. Though he looked a bit frail, the entire shinobi world knew how crazy the Kaguya clan could be in battle, their brutal taijutsu and strong bodies putting most taijutsu specialists to shame.

"Our Kaguya clan has been reassigned to the Kumogakure battlefield. Those brute Lightning-users are the perfect opponents for us," Morinosuke took out a scroll. "I came to ask for your help. Pick some reliable people to follow me; this is the Mizukage's order."

Fuguki took the scroll, glanced at it, and then threw it behind him. Samehada let out a happy "gurgle" and tore the scroll to pieces.

"If it's the Mizukage's order, I obey."

He didn't say the second part, but the Kaguya clan already knew.

—Who do you think you are? Waving the Mizukage's order to command me?

"Oh dear, your temper hasn't changed a bit," Morinosuke shook his head. "So, what should I do to get your help?"

Boom!

The massive Samehada slammed into the ground, cracking the hard rock like a spiderweb.

Fuguki grinned, baring his sharp teeth.

"So, it's a fight again? Just like before, you're quite the troublemaker," Morinosuke closed his eyes. In the next moment, his quiet and gentle demeanor vanished, his body sprouting over twenty sharp, thick bone spikes like a ferocious demon. "It's been a long time since we last met. I've been looking forward to this reunion."

---

"Ahhhh! That damn Minato Namikaze has gone to the Land of Rain!"

A burly man with a small mustache roared, stomping hard enough to break the cliff. "Damn it! We haven't settled our score yet!"

Beside him, Killer B, wearing sunglasses, bobbed his head and said, "Big bro's dangerous, handsome as can be, A sight to behold, just less then me!"

"Killer B," the burly man glared. "If you say another word..."

The Hachibi jinchuriki shrugged, making a gesture of surrender, smiling mischievously.

At that moment, a bird flew rapidly from the distance, circling over Killer B's head before dropping an intelligence report.

The burly man grabbed it and glanced through, then burst into laughter.

"The Kaguya clan has arrived on the battlefield..."

"Konoha has also sent many experts here."

"Bounty Station? Byakugan? Shikotsumyaku?"

"Only cowards plot in the shadows. I am A of Kumogakure! Killer B, what are you doing?"

"Oh?" The jinchuriki raised his pen and paper. "Writing lyrics, bro. That line you just said was really pro!"

...

Yuto Hyuga opened his eyes, still in the "mad scientist vibe" secret underground base.

He stretched his neck, considering a string of text on the scroll. This was his accumulated battle achievements over the past few days, with Minato Namikaze heading to the Land of Rain. His reporting now had to be directed to Orochimaru.

Once he finished writing, he had a slug deliver it. The branch family youth stretched, then got up.

He picked up his mask.

(End of Chapter)