Tobitake Tonbo half-knelt on the ground, pressing his right hand against Sasori's forehead while forming seals with his left. He activated the Memory Reading Technique.
As his consciousness gradually probed deeper into Sasori's mind, layer after layer of tangible restrictions blocked his advance.
Before long, the Tobitake Tonbo who just a second ago was moving effortlessly suddenly began to struggle, until his mental form was completely repelled.
"A bit tricky. He's set up far too many restrictions in his own brain."
That was troublesome.
Takeshi glanced at Sasori lying on the ground, wondering whether he should just cut off the man's head and take it back for the Analysis Division to slowly study.
"A mere Konoha ninja thinks he can extract information from me?"
Sasori had already woken, gasping for air. His expression remained cold, but the ridicule in his tone was clear to everyone present.
"No other choice then. If I chop off his head and bring it back, would we still be able to read the memories stored inside the brain?"
As Takeshi spoke, he drew White Fang Blade from his back.
Hm?
What did you just say?
Sasori had thought they spared him only to get information, which was why he remained fearless. But now, hearing Takeshi's words, panic finally struck him.
His true art wasn't complete yet. How could he possibly die here?
"Captain, doing so would damage the memories. We could lose crucial information."
Tobitake Tonbo stretched out a hand to block Takeshi, then led him a short distance away—far enough so Sasori couldn't hear—and explained in a low voice the risks involved.
"Even Yamanaka Inoichi-sama could only extract as much as possible, nothing more."
Hearing Tobitake Tonbo even bring up Yamanaka Inoichi, Takeshi reluctantly abandoned the idea of killing Sasori.
But this only left him with a major dilemma.
Should he continue the mission as planned and head to the Land of Whirlpools, or abandon it and bring this man called Sasori back to Konoha?
What was worse, if Sasori really had ties with those two Uchiha, then once the Earth Release user they had let slip earlier reported back, White Zetsu lurking somewhere in the shadows would uncover their travel route.
If the enemy tried to rescue Sasori, could his small squad even hold onto him?
"Send word to the village. Request reinforcements from nearby shinobi."
Following Takeshi's orders, Shimon used the Intelligence Division's communication network to send back a message asking for support.
Glancing at the ruined Kanroji estate behind them, the group wasted no time. With Akimichi Shitō carrying both the wounded and their prisoner, they slipped away from the harbor under cover of night.
"Such a pity, I didn't even get to taste the sushi feast Captain Takeshi promised."
Tobitake Tonbo teased, grateful to have survived yet another battle.
"Tch, all you think about is eating…"
Slung over Akimichi Shitō's shoulder, Shimon looked utterly lifeless.
Sasori simply shut his eyes to rest, quietly testing ways to break the seal Takeshi had placed on him.
Not long after they left the harbor, a violent crash erupted from the Gotō estate.
A massive stone mountain burst upward from its center. Jagged rocks impaled the Gotō clan members' corpses everywhere.
A shinobi's first duty was to complete the mission. Even though he was gravely injured, and even though his partner Sasori had been captured by Takeshi's squad, Fudō still slaughtered every last Gotō clansman before collapsing to heal his wounds.
Kakuzu: Such a diligent worker. Come serve under me.
...
Outside a massive hidden structure in Konoha, two shinobi dressed in ANBU attire stood motionless at the gates, statuesque.
"Fire Style: Majestic Flame Destroyer!"
Out of nowhere, flames flooded the field of vision, the world itself flipping in an instant.
Predictably, the blaze engulfed the two ANBU and blasted apart the gate they guarded.
"Ahh, what a powerful Fire Style jutsu, Leader."
Fuen barely managed to steady himself, lips curled in a smile, though exhaustion weighed in her voice.
"Your dōjutsu is too strong. I can't even tell direction anymore."
"Hmph."
Uchiha Yōwan snorted coldly without replying, but in the next instant, Fuen's sense of orientation returned.
"Many thanks, Leader." Fuen knew her words had worked. Just as she reached to rest her arm on Yōwan's shoulder, the latter slipped away with nimble ease, leaving only his emotionless voice behind:
"Block the Konoha reinforcements. I need a proper talk with my clansmen."
"Yes, yes."
Fuen chuckled softly, then turned to see several ANBU arriving at the commotion.
"Too late to set traps now, but…"
She raised her hand, tugging at her qipao to reveal muscled legs.
"Earth Style: Rock Well!"
At nearly the same moment—
The Inuzuka Gaku squad that had infiltrated Amegakure was ambushed by Setsuna.
Leading the attack was a long-haired kunoichi.
A special jōnin at the rear of the squad was kicked flying before he even knew what hit him. Another special jōnin barely had time to react before her hair wrapped him tight.
"Zochi! Dogen!"
Inuzuka Gaku shouted his comrades' names in shock. He turned and saw that his partner, his beloved ninken Hakumaru, had already been sliced into two.
"Damn it! Cursed enemy!"
There was no time to mourn. This attack bore all the hallmarks of a Uchiha, just as the Intelligence Division had suspected—Amegakure was indeed full of suspicion.
Gaku had to get this intel back to the higher-ups immediately, so they could make a decisive move.
"Lightning Style: Lightning Needle."
Dogen tried to slash free with his kunai, but Fūka manipulated her long hair to yank him close. Lightning crackled across her body as she kissed him on the mouth, funneling chakra into herself.
Before everyone's eyes, the once-robust Dogen shriveled into a husk.
By the time Akimichi Dōtō lifted Zochi to rush to his aid, Dogen was nothing but a dried corpse on the ground.
"Multi-Size Technique!"
Years of battle taught Akimichi Dōtō that dragging this out only worsened their odds. Abandoning stealth, he transformed into a giant, leveling nearby buildings. With one massive hand each, he grabbed Inuzuka Gaku and Zochi and sprinted away.
"Sky Slash!"
Realizing Dōtō's intent, Setsuna emerged from the shadows. Eyes wide, he unleashed his dōjutsu in their path.
A gaping wound split open across Dōtō's back, blood pouring. But still, he gritted his teeth, carrying his comrades further into the distance.
"Hmph. Chase them."
Setsuna wasn't worried. That massive form betrayed their escape route, and the wound would leave an obvious trail. With his army of the dead, it was only a matter of time before he caught these fools.