Chapter 372: Returning the Seven-Tails
The high-profile actions of the Land of Earth and Iwagakure not only threw the Land of Waterfalls into chaos but also raised Konoha's vigilance.
With the shrewdness of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, they were naturally well aware of Iwagakure's objective. The other party was targeting Konoha, aiming to force them to return the Seven-Tails.
"The Tsuchikage is stirring up trouble again. One thing is certain: his goal is to force us to return the Seven-Tails. Shikaku, do you think the Tsuchikage's objective is the Seven-Tails itself, or is it to weaken our strength?" At the high-level meeting, Tsunade was the first to ask.
Shikaku Nara pondered for a moment. "Given the Fourth Tsuchikage's style, he might have both ideas in mind. However, there should be a primary focus."
"But this concerns a Tailed Beast. I don't know much about the uses of Tailed Beasts, so I can't judge what his motive for targeting the Seven-Tails is, or how likely it is."
Shikaku Nara's answer was relatively conservative. Ever since the incident with Shikaizumi Nara, he had become much more low-key.
Koharu Utatane looked at Tsunade. "Tsunade, do you know the specific uses of the Tailed Beasts?"
Koharu asked Tsunade, not Hiruzen. Hiruzen's knowledge of the Tailed Beasts was not necessarily greater than Tsunade's. Tsunade's own grandmother was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Tsunade shook her head. "Unfortunately, all three of the village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki were related to the Uzumaki clan. The Uzumaki's constitution is far superior to that of ordinary people, so our Jinchuriki have always been the most stable."
"But it is precisely because of this stability, this lack of crisis, that our research on the Tailed Beasts is the most limited. Neither my grandmother nor Kushina had an in-depth understanding of the Nine-Tails."
Hiruzen nodded. "Our understanding of the Tailed Beasts is too little, unlike Kumo. Over the past few decades, Kumo has spent the most effort on the Tailed Beasts, and their research results are the most outstanding."
Homura Mitokado asked, "Doesn't the village have a Seven-Tails right now? Has there been any related research?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "The Seven-Tails is not sealed within a Jinchuriki, only in a container. It's impossible to study."
Homura frowned again. "In that case, does Iwagakure have any outstanding results in their Tailed Beast research?"
Hiruzen recalled the last time Iwagakure's Jinchuriki had made an appearance. It seemed to have been during the Third Great Ninja War, and the opponent was Jiraiya. The performance of the Five-Tails Jinchuriki at that time had been unremarkable. And it had been less than seven years since then. In seven years, Iwa's research on Tailed Beasts shouldn't have made too much progress.
So, Hiruzen said, "Iwagakure has not spent much effort on Tailed Beast research. Their past development focus should have been on Sage Art."
Homura said, "If that's the case, then if Iwagakure is targeting the Seven-Tails, it can only be to add another Tailed Beast to their village. Do you think the probability of them doing this is high?"
Tsunade immediately said, "Impossible. Unless Iwagakure is already prepared to unify the ninja world. Otherwise, they can't be advocating that we are plotting against Takigakure's Seven-Tails while trying to get their hands on it themselves."
"And right now, Iwagakure's strength is far from the level needed to unify the ninja world by force. If they do this, they will be seeking their own destruction."
At this moment, Danzō suddenly spoke up. "If that's the case, then let Iwagakure go and seek its own death."
Hiruzen's brow twitched. He immediately understood his old friend's idea. "Danzō, you want to disguise yourselves as Iwa-nin and make a move on the Taki-nin?"
"Hmph. Ishiro fancies himself clever, but he underestimates the people of this world. Who can't see that his Iwagakure is after the Seven-Tails? Since that's the case, he has sufficient motive to make a move on it," Danzō said.
"This is something we don't even need to instigate. The first reaction of the Taki-nin will be that Ishiro made a move. You know, he has a prior conviction."
Hiruzen was tempted. "How confident are you?" After all, Konoha had suffered no small number of losses at Ishiro's hands.
Danzō snorted coldly. "Since you don't trust Root, then just let the Anbu carry it out." After throwing down this line, Danzō stormed out of the room.
Hiruzen looked at the closed door, his brow slightly furrowed. Danzō won't sell out the Anbu's movements again and screw things up, will he?
Koharu had the same worry. "Hiruzen, why don't you go yourself?" In her eyes, only with Hiruzen personally making the trip would Danzō not pull any tricks.
Homura gave a wry smile and interjected, "If Hiruzen is to leave the village, it would be best to take Danzō with him. Otherwise, none of us can stop Danzō from causing trouble."
Seeing that the others tacitly agreed with his statement, Homura continued, "Hiruzen, I think you should go to Root, discuss it with Danzō, and have the Anbu and Root act together. That way, Danzō probably won't act recklessly."
Hiruzen sighed, nodded, and said no more.
A dozen or so days later, at the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Waterfalls, a group of Konoha Anbu and about twenty Taki-nin completed the handover of the Seven-Tails.
The leader of the Taki side was an elite jonin named Kensuke. His skills were quite good, and he was one of the top fighters in Takigakure.
Having received the Seven-Tails and watching all the Konoha ninja leave, Kensuke let out a slight sigh of relief. The Seven-Tails was finally back in their hands. As one of the village's top combatants, Kensuke could feel the difference when the village had a Tailed Beast and when it didn't. When the Tailed Beast was not lost, Takigakure was different from the other small hidden villages. No matter where a Taki-nin went, the other small villages would show them some deference.
But ever since losing the Tailed Beast, the other small villages felt it was no longer appropriate to give Takigakure special privileges. They all changed their attitude, eager to vent all the frustration they had previously suffered at Takigakure's hands. So, in these times, Takigakure's status in the ninja world had plummeted, and it was often provoked by other small villages.
He handed the ceramic pot containing the sealed Seven-Tails to a subordinate. Then, Kensuke said, "Back to the village. Everyone, be careful. No one can be careless until we are back. Be extra careful of Iwagakure."
"Yes," the twenty-odd people replied in unison, then proceeded towards Takigakure in a battle formation. Kensuke also took out his weapon and remained on guard.
However, not long after the group entered the heartland of the Land of Waterfalls, they were ambushed.
More than thirty masked rogue ninja attacked at once. The Taki team suffered heavy casualties in the initial assault.
Kensuke discovered with despair that among this group, there were at least three who were stronger than him, and many who were no weaker. What kind of rogue ninja were these? These were definitely elites from one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Kensuke's face was filled with despair, but at this point, he could only fight with all his might. In the end, all the Taki-nin were wiped out, and the Seven-Tails was stolen.
However, not long after the attackers left, Kensuke's body suddenly stirred. Then, he slowly sat up.
"Damn it." He touched the penetrating wound on his left chest. It was just a little off; his heart had almost been pierced.
Kensuke simply treated his wound, then quickly went to the nearest town and sent a message to the leader of Takigakure. After sending the message, Kensuke returned to the place where he was ambushed. He vaguely remembered that after the group of ninja had succeeded, they had headed north. He carefully searched to the north. After a long time, he finally found a small trace.
"Damn it. These ninja are too cautious. This trace will disappear soon. If I hadn't happened to survive, by the time the village discovers the problem and sends ninja to search, they would definitely not be able to find any traces," Kensuke thought with hatred.
Next, Kensuke, while leaving signals for the village's reinforcements, hurried to continue tracking towards the north.
A few kilometers north of Kensuke, more than thirty Konoha elites disguised as rogue ninja were resting.
The leader said to a person beside him, "Number Three, what's the situation behind us?"
Number Three replied, "Boss, that person is five kilometers away, following, and searching for the clues we left behind. By my calculation, the person he sent to contact Takigakure should be arriving soon."
The boss nodded, then said to another person, "Number Seven, make the next set of clues more hidden. My requirement is: the person behind us can't find them, but his reinforcements can."
Number Seven nodded. "Understood."
Just like that, under the guidance of these Konoha elites, Kensuke and the leader of Takigakure, who had personally come to reinforce him, finally managed to follow their footsteps into the Land of Earth with great difficulty.
"Leader, it really is Iwagakure," Kensuke said, looking towards the Land of Earth with a face full of despair.
The leader of Takigakure also had an ugly expression. Although he had expected it, when the truth was laid before him, he still felt his head spin.
"Keep tracking," the leader said.
Kensuke was startled and hesitated. "Leader, it's too dangerous. What if Iwagakure decides to silence us..."
The leader said, "Don't worry, we won't go deep. We're just confirming."
Kensuke and the others were helpless.
Just like that, the Taki party went a little further into the Land of Earth. Then, they lost the trail of the Konoha party.
Just as the leader was about to give up, the last scouting ninja returned with a strange expression.
He said, "Leader, you should go take a look."
The leader, Kensuke, and the others were puzzled, but they still went to the place the ninja had indicated. Before long, the group arrived at a rock. On the rock was a wooden plaque, and on the plaque was written: Target is 12km north. They have long-range reconnaissance capabilities. Advise not to approach within 5km.
The leader of Takigakure and his subordinates looked at each other in dismay.
Kensuke couldn't help but say, "Leader, could this be a trap?"
The leader gave a wry smile. "A trap? Of course, it's a trap. We are clearly being used as a pawn. Neither the group of ninja ahead of us nor the ninja who left this clue for us has good intentions."
Kensuke hesitated. "Leader, should we still pursue?"
The leader gritted his teeth. "Continue the pursuit, but don't follow too closely. I want to see what this person is leading us to."
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 35 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you