C117(1)

"Who?"

Terumi Shin looked back and realized that the person Kain was referring to were one of those they had brought from the water nation's pier. These individuals were all sent to him by Genji, so there shouldn't be any issue. Perhaps Kain was just a little nervous.

"Harry-sama, that's the man we brought."

Before Terumi Shin could finish speaking, he saw Kain point his finger. Suddenly, the ground beneath the man in question changed. The hard concrete road transformed into mud, and several flowing stone pillars appeared at the same time, ready to bind the man.

Of course, Jiraiya wouldn't just sit back and allow himself to be caught. He immediately manipulated the man to leap into the air, landed on the ground, and darted out of the shadows. He quickly released a Fire Style ninjutsu with a seal.

"Fire Style: Flame Bomb!"

Fiery fireballs shot out of Jiraiya's mouth, speeding toward Kain and Terumi Shin.

'An enemy!'

Terumi Shin's face flushed red. He had just been about to swear that there would be no issues with Genji's people, but the reality had just slapped him in the face.

Faced with Jiraiya's Fire Style attack, Terumi Shin considered using Water Style to counter, but Kain raised his hand to stop him. Instead, Kain continued with the transformation technique, turning the cement on the ground into a shield to block Jiraiya's Fire Style.

In the next second, Kain suddenly vanished. He had used Apparition to move more than 20 meters behind Jiraiya. Since there was almost no sound, and Jiraiya was still in a stiff state due to the toad shadow control technique, he didn't notice Kain behind him.

When Jiraiya had jumped and landed, he had already taken note of the surrounding area. In his mind, there was no one behind him.

However, Kain was a special case. Apparition was originally a transportation magic, but Kain had mastered its use in battle.

After landing, Kain immediately cast another spell at Jiraiya. The Crushing Curse was the most convenient for him, but after using it, Kain regretted it a bit. He should have used the Instant Death Curse or the Imperius Curse.

At the critical moment, Jiraiya instinctively sensed the danger behind him. Subconsciously, he infused Chakra into his hair, but before he could activate the Needle Hairs technique, he felt a huge force knock him backward.

"Behind... how can there be an enemy!?"

Jiraiya was sent flying more than ten meters, and the hair on his back was completely shattered. Even though it wasn't fully Needle Hair, the Chakra-infused hair was still quite tough. 

But now, it had been destroyed in a single blow. Jiraiya felt as if his waist, which he had worked so hard to strengthen, was about to snap.

'I can't stay any longer. If I do, I'll die.'

Jiraiya was now sure that these were Mist Shinobi ninjas. He had been careless and was attacked from behind. He had lost the ability to remain and confront them, and he had no intel on the Mist Shinobi ninjas.

Boom!

As soon as Jiraiya landed, he threw several smoke bombs in front of him. Thick smoke rose immediately, and he used Earth Style to burrow into the ground.

"Smoke."

Kain frowned slightly at the dense cloud, then waved his hand, using his magic to disperse it. The process was a bit slow since he had never learned Wind Style ninjutsu. It took three attempts before the smoke was completely cleared.

By the time the smoke dispersed, Jiraiya had already disappeared.

A large pothole in the ground indicated he had escaped using Earth Style ninjutsu. Kain paused to consider the situation but ultimately decided against pursuing him. 

As a Shadow Clone, his primary responsibility was guarding the Chakra metal. If pursuit were necessary, only his main body could handle it—but the main body lacked any tracking magic or ninjutsu.

In addition to the hole, Kain noticed some white hair left in another spot nearby. Coupled with the ninjutsu performed earlier, the intruder's identity was clear.

At this moment, Terumi Shin approached Kain with an apologetic expression. Bowing deeply, he said, "Harry-sama, I'm deeply sorry. This was entirely our negligence."

"Don't worry about it," Kain replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Your identity hasn't been exposed, so this won't affect future business."

Kain wasn't concerned. His trade was with the people of the Land of Water, not directly with Kirigakure. Many nobles in the Land of Fire operated in a similar way—while Konoha and Sunagakure fought each other, they continued purchasing iron ore resources from the Land of Wind.

Why should ninja conflicts interfere with their profits?

"I'm still very sorry," Terumi Shin said again. Even though Kain showed no concern, the guilt lingered.

After Jiraiya's departure, Terumi Shin thoroughly inspected everyone and every location. Once he confirmed there were no further issues, he finally relaxed.

Meanwhile, as others continued the search, Terumi Shin took the opportunity to update Kain on Kirigakure's recent activities.

Since Kain had begun entrusting Mist Shinobi with missions designed to provoke conflict, Kirigakure had deployed mission teams one after another. They had destroyed almost all the shipping routes and key ports of the Land of Lightning.

Although the Third Mizukage began to suspect something was amiss, the missions from Kain, combined with the cooperation of several prominent bloodline clans, kept the momentum going. 

By the time the Third Mizukage realized what was happening, Kirigakure and Cloud Shinobi Village were already on the brink of war.

….

patreon.com/Vks_sh