Intel

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As they prepared their disguises, Hinata and Shino focused on masking their most identifiable features, while Kurenai provided guidance to ensure their efforts were effective. Horyu, on the other hand, practiced his Henge, transforming his appearance to match that of the rogue ninja they had captured. His transformation was meticulous, down to the smallest detail, ensuring that even a close inspection wouldn't reveal his true identity.

Once they were disguised, Horyu separated from them and started to dash towards the meeting point, imitating the rogue as much as he could. Having been in the rogue's mind, Horyu knew a lot about him and hoped his imitation of the rogue's mannerisms would be convincing enough. It took them around 2 days to arrive at Hidden Marsh, so Horyu hoped he still had time. Perching on a tall tree, he blended in, watching the designated meeting area—a dense part of the forest. Simultaneously, a clone of Horyu headed towards the cave system where the rogue ninja had been hiding his stash.

Approaching the cave, Horyu's clone first used Chakra Echo Tracking to check for any presence inside. The chakra bounced back from the walls, confirming the cave was empty. Next, he focused on identifying traps. Activating his Sharingan, he scanned for any chakra signatures hidden beneath the ground or within the walls. He spotted a few traps and carefully defused those he could, removing the seals embedded within, and skillfully evaded those beyond his ability to disarm.

Inside the cave, Horyu's clone meticulously searched through the darkness, his Sharingan illuminating the shadows. He found the rogue's stash hidden behind a false wall, a cleverly disguised mechanism that required a specific chakra input to open. Recalling the details from the rogue's mind, Horyu's clone input the correct sequence, and the wall slid away, revealing the hidden treasures within.

The stash was more extensive than anticipated, containing not just stolen goods but also scrolls detailing intelligence on Konoha and other villages including his identity seals, a testament to the rogue's extensive network. Among the items, Horyu's clone found a particularly intriguing scroll sealed with a unique chakra lock. Recognizing its importance, he carefully secured it along with other critical documents and items of value. Storing everything inside inventory, the clone dispelled itself with a puff of a smoke.

[System Quest: Path 2: Behind the Curtain, Subquest 1: Investigate the Network of Caves. Discover and secure any stolen goods or information - Completed. Reward: +1000 XP, +5 AP, "Phantom Brigade" Summoning Scroll: Grants the ability to summon spectral warriors from the plane of specters, adept at stealth and surprise attacks.]

Meanwhile, Horyu observed the meeting point from his vantage point. As time passed, a figure approached the designated area, his cautious movements suggesting he was well aware of the potential for traps or ambushes.

Horyu, perched high in the tree, focused on the man approaching the meeting area. His Sharingan analyzed the figure with precision, bringing up a system notification.

[System Notification:

Target: Taro Kuso

Level: 27

Chakra: 320

Strength: 78

Intelligence: 84

Agility: 69

Stamina: 88]

Horyu scrutinized Taro Kuso, his mind analyzing the data. "Level 27, huh? Not bad, but not particularly impressive either," Horyu muttered in his mind, a smirk playing on his lips.

He knew the drill. Hitomi, the rogue ninja, would normally use a specific identity seal for each contact. Horyu had absorbed this detail from Hitomi's memories, a fact that now gave him the upper hand. He would need to impersonate Hitomi perfectly, using the correct identity seal to convince Taro of his authenticity.

Before descending, Horyu glanced at the scroll containing the identity seals he had secured from the cave. He selected the appropriate seal, a simple wave pattern encircled by three stars, and pressed it against his palm. The seal activated, a faint glow confirming its authenticity before fading into his skin, a silent testament to his preparedness for the meeting.

Descending from his perch with silent grace, Horyu approached Taro, maintaining the demeanor he'd observed in Hitomi. "You're late," Horyu said, his voice a perfect mimicry of Hitomi's, laced with an undertone of annoyance.

Taro eyed him warily, his gaze lingering on the identity seal now visible on Horyu's hand. "I had to make sure I wasn't followed," Taro replied, his voice cautious. "Do you have it?"

Horyu nodded, maintaining his facade. "Of course. But first, the information."

Taro hesitated for a moment before retrieving a scroll from within his cloak. "This contains everything we've gathered on Konoha's defenses." he said, offering the scroll to Horyu.

Horyu took the scroll, his fingers brushing against Taro's as he did so, a deliberate act to gauge any reaction. Taro, for his part, seemed oblivious to the subtleties of their exchange, focused solely on the transaction.

With the scroll secured looked at the man, before adding, "Make sure your sources remain hidden. We can't afford any slip-ups."

Taro nodded, his expression grim. "Understood. And the payment?"

Horyu drew another scroll from under his cloak and handed it to the man, his movements slow. As their fingers brushed, Horyu left a small, subtle seal on the man's skin. The seal, barely noticeable, sank beneath the sleeve, trailing a hidden path towards the man's back. "We're done here," Horyu stated flatly, his voice carrying the weight of finality as he turned to leave. The man, after a brief, suspicious glance around, departed in the opposite direction.

Returning to the cave, Horyu rolled up his sleeve and examined the mark on his wrist, shaped like an Ouroboros. This was his latest invention, the "Messenger Seal." He had drawn inspiration from a fanfiction stored in his mind, "Koushin: Konoha's Dragonborn." In the story, the protagonist, Koushin, had created a seal called the Nakama Seal, allowing individuals marked with the same seal to communicate with each other. While Horyu's version was not as advanced as Koushin's, he was confident in his abilities. With his skills steadily improving, he believed he would eventually reach the level to create something similar. However, he found the name "Nakama Seal" somewhat frivolous, reflective of Koushin's character, so he decided to rename it the Messenger Seal.

Activating the seal, he communicated with Kurenai, "Sensei. I've picked up the last intel from the contact. Waiting for the target to arrive to take them."

Kurenai's voice, filtered through the seal's magic, held a mix of concern and command, "Be careful, Horyu. We don't know how many are involved. Stick to the plan and signal if anything goes wrong."

Taking out all the intel he stole from Hitomi's stash, including the latest one he got from Taro, Horyu started to read, his focus razor-sharp. The scrolls unfurled before him were a mosaic of espionage and secrets, each one a window into the machinations within the shinobi world. The fire crackled in the background, its light dancing across the parchment, illuminating words that spoke of alliances, betrayals, and the silent wars fought in the shadows.

The first scroll, sealed with a wax emblem of a serpent entwined around a sword, contained detailed reports on Konoha. It outlined the village's current defensive strategies, the layout of its patrol routes, and even speculated on the hidden reserves of chakra that lay beneath the Hokage Mansion. As Horyu sifted through the information, a smirk crossed his face. "Uchiha Shisui, you sly fox," he murmured, his respect for the Hokage's cunning evident even in his solitary musings. The document hinted at Shisui's strategy of using misinformation to lure potential threats into traps, a tactic that Horyu found both amusing and ingenious.

The second scroll was heavier, its edges frayed, suggesting frequent handling. It detailed the military might of Iwagakure, led by the venerable Tsuchikage Oonoki. The scroll painted a picture of a village fortified by stone and defended by shinobi who could manipulate the earth to their will. It mentioned Oonoki's reluctance to engage in open conflict, preferring instead the path of diplomacy—a fact that Horyu filed away for future reference.

Another scroll, this one bound with a strip of lightning-patterned cloth, contained insights into Kumogakure. Raikage A's aggressive expansion policies were laid bare, alongside a list of potential targets for his ambition. Horyu's eyes narrowed as he read about the Raikage's plans to bolster his village's military capabilities, a move that could destabilize the fragile peace between the great nations.

The intel on Kirigakure was perhaps the most intriguing. Enclosed within a scroll sealed with a droplet of water, it unveiled the dual nature of the Mizukage Yagura's rule. On one surface, it depicted a village striving towards unity and reform, while beneath, it whispered of dissent and the lingering shadows of the Bloody Mist. Horyu found himself admiring Yagura's ability to maintain control amidst such turmoil, a quality he saw as both a strength and a potential vulnerability.

The scroll about Sunagakure revealed the precarious position of the Kazekage Rasa. The desert village, with its dwindling resources and internal strife, appeared as a kingdom on the brink. Yet, within the lines of the report, Horyu discerned a thread of resilience, a testament to the harsh environment that had shaped the Sand shinobi. But, opening the last scroll, Horyu gasped in surprise.

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