Chapter 35: Sharing Secrets

The unsettling sense of coincidence regarding Moryo's awakening and the mission's timing continued to bother Hyuga Kyou. Although he kept his thoughts to himself, he couldn't shake the feeling of being drawn into a larger, more dangerous plan.

Shisui, sensing his senior's distraction, asked quietly, "Senpai, what do you think about this mission?"

Kyou, lost in his thoughts, responded absentmindedly, "The Land of Demons is caught between the Lands of Wind and Earth, and this issue involves a foreign demon spirit. The priestess likely sought help from both Sunagakure and Iwagakure as well, so we might face opposition from other villages. In short, this mission is bound to be troublesome."

Shisui nodded thoughtfully. "I wonder what kind of creature this demon really is."

Hyuga Kyou debated how much information he should reveal to his teammates. Finally, he decided that keeping secrets here might endanger them. "From what I've gathered, the demon is likely as powerful as a tailed beast. Otherwise, the Hokage wouldn't classify this mission as S-rank."

Shisui's expression turned serious. "A tailed-beast level threat..."

After a moment's hesitation, Shisui lowered his voice. "Senpai, I do have a jutsu that can temporarily neutralize a tailed beast, but once I use it, I'll be drained and lose most of my combat ability."

Surprised by Shisui's admission, Hyuga Kyou paused before replying, "During our sparring match, I could tell your Sharingan was... special."

Shisui hesitated, as if unsure whether to share more, but Kyou waved him off. "You don't need to explain. Everyone has their secrets. As long as you're not a threat to the village, your secrets are safe with me."

Relieved, Shisui bowed his head. "Thank you, Senpai."

Kyou smiled, deciding to share a secret of his own to build trust. "I also have a technique that can temporarily neutralize a tailed beast."

It wasn't an outright lie. With the puppet of the Third Kazekage in his possession, Hyuga Kyou could potentially counter a tailed beast for a short while, given that the Kazekage himself had been capable of controlling Shukaku.

Shisui chuckled. "I had a feeling you were holding back during our match, Senpai."

Sharing their secrets naturally brought them closer, bonding them as comrades. Both were not only heirs to prominent clans but also bearers of powerful dojutsu, a fact that fostered mutual respect.

Up ahead, Kakashi glanced over his shoulder and remarked to Guy, "It seems Kyou has gotten much stronger recently."

Guy laughed heartily. "You're right, Kakashi! Kyou's a genius who's not far behind you!"

Kakashi, as usual, responded half-heartedly. "Yeah, yeah..."

Having suffered the losses of his father, friends, and mentor, Kakashi had grown withdrawn. Only around his old classmates did he sometimes let down his guard and speak more freely.

The four-member team moved swiftly through the rainy Land of Rain, navigating treacherous terrain. Despite the constant downpour and muddy paths, they pressed forward, passing through the Land of Birds and into the Land of Bears without incident.

However, trouble awaited them as soon as they crossed into the Land of Demons.

A loud boom echoed across the landscape as the ground shook beneath their feet. Clouds of dust and debris rose into the air as Guy sprinted back, his breath heavy. "These monsters... they just don't die!"

Before the group stood a horde of enormous stone soldiers—lifeless golems given animated form, relentlessly attacking with no sign of stopping.

Kakashi dispatched several with his Chidori, and Guy shattered others with powerful taijutsu, but it was futile. The shattered pieces simply reformed, and the golems stood back up as if nothing had happened.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Kakashi scowled. "It's like they're immortal!"

Kyou quickly analyzed the situation and suggested, "We don't need to waste time on these puppets. The real threat is ahead. Let's focus on reaching the priestess."

The others agreed, realizing that defeating the golems wouldn't stop their endless advance. They deftly maneuvered around the lumbering soldiers and continued their march deeper into the Land of Demons.

As they traveled, they witnessed the devastation caused by the stone soldiers. Small villages had been razed to the ground, and even larger towns and markets were not spared. The casualties were mounting, and the sight of so many dead and wounded civilians weighed heavily on the team.

Still, they pressed on, knowing their mission's success depended on reaching the priestess and stopping the demon Moryo. The fate of the Land of Demons, and perhaps the entire shinobi world, hung in the balance.

Finally, after days of perilous travel, they arrived at the priestess's palace...