Chapter 111: Target, the Eight-Tails! Shisui: Only Kazuya-senpai Can Save the Uchiha!
During each of the Great Ninja Wars, both Konoha and the Hidden Cloud proved capable of facing multiple enemy villages at once. The other hidden villages, such as Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure, simply couldn't compare.
However, with two strong villages so close, relations were rarely smooth. Since the Nine-Tails incident, the Hidden Cloud had taken every opportunity to provoke Konoha. Even after signing a peace treaty, the tension continued to simmer.
The scent of war was thick in the air. From the Hidden Cloud's perspective, Konoha was vulnerable; they had lost both their Fourth Hokage and their Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. The scales of power seemed tipped in their favor.
With the right opportunity, their ambition to unify the ninja world under one banner felt almost within reach.
But that ambition was quickly stymied by one obstacle: Kazuya.
With Kazuya around, the balance shifted back. High-end combat advantage? Kazuya had single-handedly defeated two of the Hidden Cloud's Jinchuriki. So much for an advantage.
To the Hidden Cloud, Kazuya's existence disrupted their plans. Some of their leaders harbored a bitter hatred for him, and a bounty had even been placed on his head in the black market: 120 million ryo.
A staggering sum, enough to attract hordes of assassins. But so far, none had dared to act.
Only a fool would attempt to assassinate Konoha's ANBU Commander.
Meanwhile, Kazuya and his team sped along the road toward the Land of Lightning. Once they left Konoha, they moved swiftly northward, cutting through the Lands of Hot Water and Frost. Even with the vast distance to the Land of Lightning, the three-man team traveled at a relentless pace, each a high-ranking ninja, capable of enduring long distances at speed.
Kazuya estimated they'd reach the Land of Lightning in just over two days.
"Something about this mission feels… off," he thought to himself as they traveled, a pensive look on his face.
The entire situation around Shinnosuke's disappearance felt suspicious.
The timeline simply didn't add up.
The last time he'd seen Shinnosuke was during the ANBU training session eight days ago. Following that, Shinnosuke took his team to the Land of Lightning to investigate information about the Jinchuriki. They had checked in at a Hidden Cloud intelligence outpost five days ago but failed to make any contact after that.
In other words, Shinnosuke's team had been in the Land of Lightning for only two days before they vanished.
Two days?
He shook his head. Even if the Hidden Cloud had sent their entire military, it would have taken longer than two days to apprehend an ANBU team from Konoha. It was absurd to think they'd disappear so quickly.
Besides, the intelligence network in the Land of Lightning was established by the Second Hokage himself and had been updated over the years by both the White Fang and Orochimaru, with the Third Hokage personally overseeing its operation. The network had been flawless for decades, not a single breach.
So why now?
"Could it have been leaked?" he speculated. "By… Orochimaru?"
He dismissed that thought. It didn't make sense. Orochimaru had left the village, and any links he had to the intelligence channels had been severed long ago.
Danzo… now that was a possibility.
Kazuya remembered well that Danzo had taken over the reorganization of the intelligence channels in the Land of Lightning. It was entirely possible that Danzo, ever the schemer, had used this as a means to get to him.
Danzo would be ruthless enough to pull this off, Kazuya thought with a wry smile under his mask. If I were a threat to his power, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate me.
It all pointed to one thing: this mission was nothing more than an elaborate trap meant to get rid of him.
Kazuya chuckled softly. Well, Danzo… if that's your plan, you'll have to do better than this.
This is quite a mess!
Are they already too afraid to strike directly?
Interesting!
Things are getting more and more interesting!
It seems this experience trip won't be boring after all!
Two days later.
Kazuya, Shisui, and Kakashi arrived at a small town on the border of the Land of Lightning.
The three had disguised themselves and blended in with the locals.
They entered an inconspicuous inn.
The owner, a man in his sixties, looked like he was already one foot in the grave.
After the three checked in, they quickly completed their intelligence verification.
Indeed!
This unremarkable inn was one of Konoha's underground intelligence outposts!
In the room.
Kazuya looked at the intelligence scroll in his hands and said calmly, "The last intel on Sarutobi Shinno showed that he headed to Senju City, located 20 kilometers east of the Hidden Cloud Village. Our mission to investigate and rescue will begin there. Understood?"
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
Shisui and Kakashi both nodded quietly.
However!
The three didn't notice a small listening device hidden in the chandelier above, operating silently.
Moments later.
Two ninja pigeons took off from the inn's backyard.
One flew toward Konoha, while the other headed toward the Hidden Cloud Village!
At the street corner.
In an inconspicuous shadow.
"Senpai..."
"You're truly amazing!"
Kakashi stared at Kazuya in shock.
How could this be?
How did Kazuya guess everything correctly!?
Oh my god!
There was a ninja pigeon heading toward the Hidden Cloud Village!
Beside him, Shisui had an equally dumbfounded expression, completely stunned.
What the hell!?
How did Kazuya figure out that something was wrong with this intelligence outpost!?
At that moment.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The three in the room turned into white smoke and vanished without a trace.
All of them were Shadow Clones!
The real bodies of the three never entered the inn!
"Heh..."
Behind his mask, Kazuya sneered and said, "They didn't use poison to assassinate, so they still have some morals. Let's kill everyone, leave no survivors."
"Yes!"
Shisui and Kakashi responded and vanished instantly.
Leave no survivors...
If the people in this intelligence outpost dared to try an assassination, it would be nearly impossible for them to die on their own!
[You have collected 200 Chakra points]
[You have collected 200 Chakra points]
[You have collected 50 Chakra points]
[You have collected 300 points of combat experience 243]
...
The battle was over quickly.
Golden light flew in all directions.
Moments later.
Shisui and Kakashi returned to Kazuya's side.
"Captain, are we going to Senju City?"
Shisui asked.
"No need."
Kazuya shook his head and said, "Following the enemy's trail will only make us fall behind. We need to find a way to stay one step ahead!"
"One step ahead?"
"Exactly."
Kazuya smiled and said, "Let's go straight to the Yunlei Gorge and capture the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki!"
"The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki?"
"What?"
Both Shisui and Kakashi were shocked and confused.
"The enemy has already set up the board. They're just waiting for us to play into their hands."
Kazuya said calmly, "Now, the timing, location, and manpower are all in their favor. If we want to win, we shouldn't follow their rhythm like a game of chess, but rather..."
"Knock the chessboard over and start a new game!"
"Since the Hidden Cloud Village dares to capture our comrade, we'll strike first and take down their Jinchuriki!"
"The more noise we make here, the safer Shinno and the others will be. Do you understand?"
Kakashi: "..."
Shisui: "..."
Surprised!
Shocked!
Admiring!
Unbelievable!
At this moment, the two exchanged a look, both feeling like their intelligence had been dragged across the ground!
The gap was too wide!
It was not on the same level!
If the situation is unfavorable, just knock the chessboard over and start a new game!
These words caused Shisui to fall into deep thought.
Could it be...
That the problem facing the Uchiha clan could be solved the same way!?
...