Land of Whirlpools.
Reform Camp, Dormitory Rooftop.
"You're here." A red-haired young man leaned against the rooftop railing, his arms resting on it as he watched an orange-haired, timidly approaching fat man. He spoke calmly, "Don't worry, I've already stationed lookouts nearby."
"If anyone else comes up, I'll be notified."
This fat man, one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen, was actually this cowardly. Could he have gotten his position through connections?
"Uzumaki-sama," Hoshigaki Fuguki said helplessly, "the place you picked is the rooftop of the Reform Camp's dormitory!"
How the hell am I supposed to feel at ease?
This is the only building where Kiri-nin can move freely.
And...
I remember you...
Aren't you that Uzumaki commander who didn't follow the script that night?
Damn it...
Hoshigaki Fuguki cursed inwardly, but his face maintained a cheerful smile.
"The most dangerous place is often the safest," Uzumaki Hibiki said flatly. "Besides, in the Land of Whirlpools, no one can escape Uzumaki surveillance."
Hearing this, Hoshigaki Fuguki relaxed slightly. He walked over and leaned against the railing as well, speaking calmly, "Then what about this time?"
He had worked so hard to infiltrate the escape team, devised plans for them, filled in the gaps, and even became their emotional support, only for...
All of it to be wasted.
He was exhausted.
Now...
He had even become the most authoritative spokesperson among the Kiri-nin.
Thinking of this, Hoshigaki Fuguki's face twisted with anger. "You promised to let me join the Land of Whirlpools, but now..."
"Boss, I'm going back again!"
If this continued, he'd eventually be exposed and turned into pufferfish sashimi.
The more the Kiri-nin loved him now, the more slices he'd be cut into later.
"The situation changed," Uzumaki Hibiki adjusted his glasses and said calmly. "A big shot wanted to join the scene, so we had to improvise."
"Hmph." Hoshigaki Fuguki snorted and turned away, saying nothing.
As someone who had climbed from a lowly Kiri-nin genin to the high-ranking Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he understood the unwritten rules.
But...
It still pissed him off!
"You..." Uzumaki Hibiki sighed inwardly at Hoshigaki Fuguki's expression. It seemed the man was already discontent. But recalling Jun-sama's words, he had no choice but to say, "The Kiri-nin shouldn't suspect anything, right?"
"No," Hoshigaki Fuguki replied. "Right now, they're all waiting for the Land of Whirlpools' verdict."
"Do you have mail service here?"
"Some have even written their wills."
"..."
They're this scared?
If they're so scared, why did they try to escape in the first place?
"No," Uzumaki Hibiki adjusted his glasses and said flatly. "Don't worry, you won't die."
"The verdict will probably be announced tomorrow."
"Then what about my mission this time?" Hearing this, Hoshigaki Fuguki relaxed slightly and looked at him seriously. "I hope that after this, I can finally join."
"Alright." Uzumaki Hibiki patted Hoshigaki Fuguki's shoulder. "I'll pass your request to the higher-ups."
"As for this mission..."
"It won't be dangerous."
"Just lead your Kiri-nin team to become a model unit, respond to the Land of Whirlpools' calls, and diligently complete the assigned work..."
Before he could finish...
Uzumaki Hibiki suddenly looked up, frowning at a small whirlwind in the distance. He turned to Hoshigaki Fuguki and said, "That's all for now. Someone's coming."
"Be careful."
With that, he jumped off the rooftop and vanished with a Body Flicker.
"Hey, hey! You didn't even explain the details!" Hoshigaki Fuguki shouted, leaning over the railing. "Don't tell me there'll be more problems later."
"Or at least tell me if any other big shots are joining this time?"
But...
Uzumaki Hibiki was already long gone.
Hoshigaki Fuguki could only sigh helplessly and mutter, "What a pain."
Just then...
"What are you doing?!"
A startled voice came from behind.
Hoshigaki Fuguki stumbled, nearly falling off the rooftop in fright. His face paled—had his spy activities been exposed?
And that voice...
Pakkun Jūzō!
How did he get up here?
Hoshigaki Fuguki's expression darkened instantly...
Kill him!
If he killed him, no one would ever find out.
Just as he turned to strike...
"Don't jump!" Pakkun Jūzō looked panicked at Hoshigaki Fuguki, who was halfway over the railing. Their chakra was sealed—if he fell from this height...
He'd definitely turn into pufferfish paste!
As expected...
Following him up was the right call.
Hoshigaki Fuguki hadn't said much about the failed escape, but...
He must have been devastated inside.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have come up here alone to jump.
Thankfully, Pakkun Jūzō had noticed Hoshigaki Fuguki's odd behavior, or else...
Kirigakure would've lost one of its top fighters.
"Even though we failed this time, I and the other Kiri-nin still remember what you said."
"As long as we're alive, there's hope."
"So, don't give up!"
"Don't—don't jump!"
...
Konoha.
"I'm glad Kumo-nin have the resolve to sacrifice for the peace of the shinobi world," Sarutobi Hiruzen said from the Hokage's seat, smiling at Kumo's battlefield commander. "I believe the cooperation between Konoha and Kumo will go smoothly."
"Mhm." The Kumo commander nodded with a smile. "Konoha and Kumo's partnership runs deep, dating back to the era of the First Hokage and the First Raikage. Like the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails, they symbolize the friendship between our villages."
"So, Konoha and Kumo have always been good friends, brothers even..."
"There's not a shred of distance between us."
"Therefore..."
"I heard you've acquired that sword..."
Mind lending it to a brother for a spin?
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pipe trembled at Kumo's demand.
Damn it!
I knew Kumo had ulterior motives for this collaboration, but I didn't expect this!
Can we even hand that over?
Absolutely not.
A village's nuclear weapon can't just be lent out.
So...
"Sorry," Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head. "That sword has already been sent to the Land of Fire's Daimyō."
"After all, it's a national treasure of the Land of Water."
He looked at the Kumo-nin solemnly. "Konoha would never seize another's property."
So, you're not getting it either. Don't even think about it.
"Right, right." The Kumo commander nodded, smiling. "We in Kumo think the same. How could we just take what belongs to others?" Then, he sighed regretfully. "I just wanted to see that legendary sword."
"We're very curious about what happened a thousand years ago."
"But now..."
"I suppose I'll have to ask the Daimyō of the Land of Fire and the Land of Water if I can take a look."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent, then asked tentatively, "Just to look?"
And now you're dragging the Daimyō into this?
Konoha's reputation would be ruined.
What a sneaky move, Kumo.
"Yep, just to look," the Kumo-nin said, grinning with all teeth showing. "Just a quick glance, that's all."
"In that case," Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled, "the sword is still in Konoha, packed and ready to be sent to the Land of Fire in a few days."
"But..."
"We can let you Kumo-nin see it first."
"Sending it later won't be an issue."
"I trust Kumo, like Konoha, would never..."
"Seize another's property."