Chapter 42 - The Ups and Downs

In the early morning where the sun barely peeked over the horizons and the morning dew sparked with the morning rays. In a couple trees that grew on the side of a large protruding rock as it overlooked a large sandy area with similar rocks and ocean coast line. Two figures looked down at the large ships parked just off shore with the Kumogakure flag waving in the breeze as a few hundred shinobi moved about the ship and shore.

The two figures watching were naturally Kagami and Mira. A month and half passed since they returned to the border. Now they are tasked with investigating the strange movement of Kumo as the once spiking conflict began to die down rapidly once more.

"What are they doing?" Mira looked on through some binoculars.

"It seems they are waiting." Kagami frowned.

As more and more Kumo shinobi appeared ready to push forward. They all formed a large legion as they could vaguely see more ships in the distance. It didn't take a genius to know it carried even more shinobi and supplies.

Then a thought hit Kagami as he realized that in about a month or two Hinata's third birthday should be rolling around. So Kumogakure should be negotiating with Hiruzen and also preparing the stage to bluff. For neither side truthfully wants to enter a war, but also didn't want to appear weak during negotiations.

"I hope we aren't tasked with wiping this group out." Mira frowned.

Kagami silently agreed to that statement as they were tasked with clearing out a few Kumo camps as well as a couple bandit groups that Kumo silently supported to harass them. However, they were growing slightly larger in numbers and upgrading the personnel inside so it was mostly chunin and jonin among the groups.

"Father, if we need to get rid of them, can I and Sister just bomb them? We have been learning to use the tailed beast bombs." Asura asked.

Kagami felt a little tempted, but he shook his head. It's not that he wants to stop either Asura or Kōsetsu from killing humans, however, if they destroy everyone here. Then questions will be raised and it is very likely Kumo or the other village will sit by. This might actually lead to the Fourth Shinobi War just in an effort to kill both him and Mira.

"No, the cons outweigh the pros way too much. Besides without a task or an actual reason, I don't want to end their lives even if they are our current enemies." Kagami answered.

Mira took a moment and nodded with him thinking the same thing. Well that is what Kagami assumed as he couldn't read her mind after all. Hence they just continued to watch as the large group of Kumo shinobi gathered in this area.

--

Back in camp, Kagami and Mira's letter arrived with the information of a large number of Kumo Shinobi gathering on the beach. The camp leader frowned at the letter as he looked at a map of the general location and placed a flag where the letter was mentioned. Thus marking the fourth location where Kumo Shinobi gathered.

"I don't believe that there are that many Kumo Shinobi available. It should be mostly genin or civilian hired to appear in the camp to intimate us. Just where are they making up this number?" The man thought as he rubbed his chin.

After a while he couldn't come to a conclusion and started to pen a letter to the Hokage explaining the situation. However, before he could finish, a man in black robe and animal mask appeared in the room. Which made the man's hair stand on end as he felt he was looking at an emotionless doll. Then the man relaxed a bit as he realized it was the village ANBU, but still kept a small guard up.

"Does the Hokage have an important task for me?" the man asked.

The ANBU didn't rely as he simply took out a piece of paper and placed it on the desk. Afterwards, the ANBU just left quietly. Hence, leaving the camp leader confused for a moment before picking up the piece of paper with a sigh.

"The two are promising, what did they do to gain such a heartless mission." The man sighed as he scrapped the letter he just wrote.

After a bit, he finished another letter and sent it off to Kagami and Mira with a new order.

--

The next day, while watching the few hundred Kumo shinobi on the beach. Kagami frowned as he looked at the letter in his hand before burning it with anger. Then came sadness as he mentally prepared himself for battle.

"What is the mission?" Mira asked, frowning at his sudden change.

"To wipe out everyone here or to put it another way, take as many as we can if we die." Kagami clenched his fist.

"The Hokage wants us to go on a suicide mission?" Mira frowned at this.

"I don't think it was the Hokage order, but one of his advisors. Surely there are more camps like this, not to mention that. If we attack, surely it will anger Kumo which will lead to the negotiation breaking down before it begins and start a war." Kagami said. "I can really only think of one person who wants such a thing."

"Danzo, which my grandfather warned us about." Mira said.

Thanks to being promoted to Jonin, she also learned a bit more about Danzo and the more she learned. The more she wondered how the Hokage could allow such a person to hold such a position. Since the man basically built a force under his control and judging by the few rumors it wasn't a small one either.

"It's the best guess at this time." Kagami nodded.

"So do we do this mission?" Mira asked.

Kagami weighed the options in his mind and changed the plan slightly. Since it wasn't the order from the Hokage, but one of his advisors. He truthfully didn't care all that much about it, but still needed to do something. Otherwise, upon returning to the village both him and Mira will be in trouble if Danzo decides to play his old tricks.

"I will draw their attention, while you will sneak to their boats and destroy them." Kagami said after a while.

"Are you insane, one vs hundreds? How long can you hold on and be able to escape?" Mira whispered angrily.

Kagami smiled as he pulled out a kunai. "They said I wasn't as proficient as Minato with Flying Thunder God Technique. Now let's see if they can still hold onto that after this."

'Petty, but I like it,' Mira, Asura and Kōsetsu thought.