Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Interception

The forest of Frost Country lay blanketed in snow, glowing under the moonlight. At night, Haneda often trained in Wood Release in secluded spots due to its stealthy nature. After exhausting much of his chakra, he stopped to rest on a large stone, gazing up at the bright moon and thinking of Obito and Kakashi.

Now that the Cloud Village's AB combo, Ay and Killer B, had been captured by Konoha, the war between Konoha and Cloud Village would likely end soon. Then, he and Uncle Sakumo could finally head to the Land of Waterfalls, and the Battle of Kannabi Bridge might even change Obito's fate.

Suddenly, he heard an urgent eagle call in the sky. A message from the village. The eagle landed before Haneda, dropping a scroll clutched in its claws. Haneda caught it, scanned the contents quickly, and his eyes filled with disbelief.

Ay and Killer B had escaped from Konoha's main camp in Frost Country? How could this happen? Wasn't Orochimaru personally guarding them?

Turning to the north, Haneda swiftly moved toward the route Ay and Killer B would likely take to escape. Given that Orochimaru had sedated them for three days, their chakra reserves would be low. By intercepting them along the path, there was a good chance he could stop them.

As Haneda suspected, Ay and Killer B were fleeing frantically. They couldn't recall how they had left the sealing unit or even how they'd woken up, but they wouldn't miss the chance to escape.

"Brother! What now? Konoha must have a large force chasing us by now," said Killer B, adding his usual rap rhythm.

Ay wanted to punch him in frustration but had no time to indulge. Instead, he snapped, "Idiot! Don't call me dumb! We need to get back to the Land of Lightning—understand?"

Killer B continued to rap, grumbling, "But, you didn't say how we're getting back, ya fool…"

*Bam!* Ay's fist met Killer B's face. "Run, and cut the rapping!" Ay ordered. "Once we cross the path through Frost Country and reach the border, we're home."

Ahead of them lay a snow-covered mountain range devoid of wildlife and frigidly cold. With their low chakra reserves, their only option was to pass through the established route at the base of the mountains.

Haneda arrived first at the mountain pass, where many Konoha ninjas had gathered. Sensory ninjas were positioned throughout the mountains to detect Ay and Killer B's chakra and send signals. This ambush was nearly Konoha's maximum deployment.

Standing atop the fortress, Haneda turned to a senior ninja and asked, "Where is Orochimaru?"

"The commander is currently out of contact."

Haneda fell silent, wondering if Orochimaru had intentionally let Ay and Killer B escape to prolong the war for his own ends. But if that were the case, Orochimaru wouldn't have bothered setting up operations in Frost Village. Haneda sensed a conspiracy.

He instinctively thought of Danzo and Black Zetsu, quickly dismissing Danzo. As underhanded as Danzo was, he wouldn't do anything to harm Konoha's interests this blatantly. The most likely culprit was Black Zetsu.

Haneda clenched the Dawn blade at his side. At that moment, Guy approached him.

"What are you thinking, Haneda? How about a youthful spar while we wait?" said Guy enthusiastically.

"No, thanks," Haneda replied, shaking his head. "Did you forget our agreement, Guy?"

Guy chuckled, recalling the promise, and dropped the challenge. He'd just been itching for a fight since he hadn't sparred with Kakashi in so long.

"By the way, have you seen Orochimaru-senpai?" asked Haneda.

"No idea. Orochimaru-sensei is usually absent at night, always busy with something mysterious."

Then, a signal flare burst in the distance—the sign from Konoha's scout ninjas. Ay and Killer Bee had appeared.

"Let's go, Guy!"

Haneda jumped down from the fortress, and Guy followed. "Alright! Let's show them the power of youth, Haneda!"

In under a minute, they reached the location of the signal, finding only a few fallen Konoha ninja. Haneda activated his Sharingan, quickly detecting Ay and Killer Bee's tracks.

"No countermeasures for tracking…typical Cloud brutes," he muttered, spotting faint footprints on a branch, just as he had seen previously.

Following the tracks, they soon spotted Ay and Killer Bee. "Surrender if you value your lives," Haneda warned. "My blade cuts through anything."

Drawing his blade, Dawn, Haneda charged it with the chirping of Chidori, lightning dancing along its edge. He swung, unleashing a Lightning Cutter toward Ay and Killer B.

Killer B blocked it with one of his tails, but the attack sliced through, severing it. Haneda frowned, seeing his assault didn't do much damage.

"Don't hold back, Guy. They're strong."

Meanwhile, in Killer Bee's mind, the Eight-Tails cautioned, "Haneda's chakra is only slightly more than half, but it replenishes quickly."

Killer B replied with his rap, "With you, my chakra's gonna outpace his, ya fool!"

The Eight-Tails responded, "I'm just saying, be careful. Haneda's chakra feels familiar—like Kurama's, but also…different."

The Eight-Tails recalled the Sage of Six Paths but said nothing more.

In the present, Haneda and Guy faced Ay and Killer B. Haneda readied his sword toward Killer B, while Guy stood confidently at his side, facing Ay.

It was a duel of sword versus sword, taijutsu versus taijutsu.