Chapter:112

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Mito's sharp observation left Izuna flustered, his cheeks warming in embarrassment. "Damn," he thought, "sometimes it's not a good thing for a woman to be too smart." A brief silence fell as Izuna scrambled for a response, his mind racing.

Deciding not to answer, Izuna pulled Mito closer, pressing his lips against hers. The touch was familiar, a sensation they had shared many times before. However, this time, Mito did not surrender to the kiss. Her eyes stayed wide open, glaring at Izuna, lips shut tightly, determined not to let him take control.

It wasn't until Izuna playfully swatted her backside—a sensitive spot for Mito—that she gasped, her lips parting just enough for him to slip past her defenses. Frustration flickered in her gaze, and she briefly considered biting down in retaliation. But in the end, she let him continue, allowing herself to be swept up in the moment.

After what seemed like an eternity, Izuna broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. "I'll be leaving for a while. I won't be able to see you," he murmured softly.

Mito didn't reply, merely shooting him a defiant glare. Izuna chuckled, taking in her fiery spirit. He knew her well enough to understand she wouldn't let this conversation go easily.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Izuna's defensive strategy—a metaphorical turtle shell—had effectively stalled the combined forces of Senju Kawaragi and Uzumaki Guanghai. Their momentum waned as the days passed, giving Izuna the breathing room he needed to set new plans in motion.

The Land of Fire was home to dozens of ninja clans, ranging from minor groups to major powerhouses like the Senju, Uchiha, Hyuga, Sarutobi, and Shimura clans. The larger clans, such as Uchiha and Senju, often monitored each other, sending intelligence agents to track movements. The Sarutobi and Shimura clans, still recovering from recent losses, remained vigilant, keeping tabs on both Uchiha and Senju.

For the Hyuga clan, nestled far to the south of the main conflict zones, monitoring was minimal. The geographical separation and the buffer provided by Uchiha and Senju territories meant that the Hyuga had little interaction with the northern clans.

During this time of rebuilding, Shimura Keizo, leader of the Shimura clan, harbored a deep grudge. He still burned with anger over the mysterious deaths of his elite jounin, including Shimura elite jonin. This incident had left Keizo with a simmering hatred, fixated on the mysterious figure known as "Kaido." His vendetta was reminiscent of the Fourth Raikage's pursuit of revenge after the alleged kidnapping of his brother, Killer Bee, by Sasuke Uchiha.

Recently, Keizo had come to believe that Ksido was not affiliated with the four northwest tribes. The tribes lacked the strength to defeat a quasi-Kage like Shimura elite jonin, and there was no strategic benefit for them to interfere. Moreover, the Hagoromo clan, another potential suspect, had been wiped out by Uchiha Izuna a year prior.

Just as Keizo pondered this, a new report arrived—Kaido had been sighted near Hyuga territory. The news left Keizo and his ally, Sarutobi Furukawa, astounded. Finally, they had a lead. Determined to uncover the truth, Keizo dispatched a team led by two special jounin to track down Kaido without alerting him.

Little did they know, Kaido was merely a disguise for Izuna, who had used a shadow clone to bait the Shimura ninjas. With their attention captured, Izuna knew it was time to take action. This deception needed to be executed perfectly to fool the hot-tempered Shimura Keizo.

The Hyuga clan was something of an anomaly. Their pride in their Byakugan had fostered a strong sense of superiority, believing their bloodline to be unmatched, even by the Uchiha. Their total combat power, second only to the Uchiha and Senju, drew many surrounding clans into alliances.

During the Warring States Period, the Hyuga maintained a network of subordinate clans, including future Konoha clans like the Moonlight and Shiranui, as well as lesser-known families such as Iga, Yamashiro, and Akame. In addition, the Inuzuka and Aburame clans, each with unique secret arts, had also formed alliances with the Hyuga, though not as equals. This formidable alliance created a strong buffer, protecting the Hyuga from direct conflict with Uchiha and Senju.

Now, intelligence operatives from the Shimura clan, disguised as travelers, gathered in a small inn within a Hyuga-controlled town. "Is this where kaido was last seen?" one of them inquired.

"Yes," confirmed another, nodding. "He was spotted just outside town. We suspect he's still here."

"Remember," the leader instructed gravely, "our orders are to capture him alive or, at the very least, discover who he is. We must proceed with caution."

Unbeknownst to them, Izuna's plan was unfolding precisely as intended. Their pursuit had led them directly into his trap.

The Shimura operatives had been tasked with finding Kite's true identity, but little did they know that they were playing right into Izuna's hands. This was a carefully orchestrated performance, one designed to draw out their hatred and bait them into revealing their hand.

The Hyuga clan, despite their distant location, was about to find themselves entangled in the schemes of the two great warring clans. With their alliance network and superior resources, they were not to be underestimated, and Izuna knew this well. His objective was clear: create a conflict that would distract the Senju-Uzumaki alliance long enough for the Uchiha to consolidate their defenses.

He had a sense that this gamble could change the course of the war. But for it to work, he needed to maintain his ruse, play his part as Kaido anconvincingly, and leave no room for error.

(End of the Chapter).

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