It was nighttime now.
Outside the Tsuchikage's office in Iwagakure, Land of Earth.
A burly, towering man pushed open the door and strode in quickly.
"Father, you summoned me?"
Kitsuchi asked in a deep voice.
Inside the room, Onoki had been rubbing his aching lower back but stopped immediately and turned around when he heard his son's voice.
"Cough, cough—"
"Yes, there's a very important task that needs your attention!"
"Go on."
"Just now, a spy eavesdropped on our high-level village meeting!"
"Though guards detected the intruder midway, they still managed to escape by luck!"
"Based on timing estimates, the spy shouldn't have gotten far yet."
"I need you to lead a team and capture them!"
The old Tsuchikage spoke grimly with a serious expression.
For such an important meeting to be overheard by an outsider from another village—that itself sounded rather shameful!
"I understand."
"So should we prioritize capturing this spy alive? Or…?"
"Try capturing first. If necessary, eliminate them."
Onoki made his decision clear.
"In fact, two days ago, news came from Konoha about internal rebellion within the Uchiha Clan. You've heard about it, right?"
"I've heard. It's said the leader of this defection is merely a ten-year-old Uchiha boy! Sounds completely absurd!"
Kitsuchi scoffed, voicing his thoughts.
In his view,
even if a ten-year-old prodigy could achieve much, how could he possibly fight against an entire ninja village and lead an entire clan in defection?
This must be another trick cooked up by Konoha!
"This isn't just a rumor! Our spies embedded in Konoha reported that fierce battles indeed broke out within the village that night!"
"Dozens of buildings collapsed, and many Konoha ninjas were mobilized—including none other than The Third himself!"
"The Uchiha Clan's defection is no baseless claim!"
"Truly happened?!"
Nodding, Onoki continued, "This defection has dealt Konoha a major blow! And apparently, Konoha has sent out numerous ninja to pursue them."
"So right now, their defenses are especially weak."
"The village elders have decided—to seize this opportunity and launch a full-scale attack on Konoha!"
"What?! How can this be?!!"
"Father, are you people out of your minds?! Starting another war?!!!"
Kitsuchi was utterly stunned.
"This wasn't just my decision alone. Three senior advisors, one high-ranking minister, and a representative from the Daimyo's court—all approved this plan!"
"Don't forget, many of their sons fell in both the Third Great Ninja World War and the war against Konoha five years ago!"
"They…"
Sighing heavily,
he knew that hatred was still the hardest thing to overcome.
"If that's the case, then did that spy steal this secret information?"
"That's right!"
"
"We can't yet confirm which of the other ninja villages he's a spy for. But if he escapes successfully, our village's plan to launch a surprise attack on Konoha will be exposed!"
"I absolutely cannot allow that outcome!"
"Therefore, for the sake of the village! Kitsuchi, this mission can only be entrusted to you!"
"I... I understand. I will complete it!"
Kitsuchi hesitated for a moment.
Then, clenching his fist, he made a heavy promise.
Afterward, he quickly left the Tsuchikage's office.
After assembling his team, he swiftly set off in the direction where the spy had vanished.
...
It was 9 PM now.
Southeast of Iwagakure, more than ten li away.
In the depths of a dark canyon ravine, a young figure dressed in black was quietly hiding behind a rock wall.
"Huff, huff..."
Kabuto breathed heavily, cautiously glancing outside.
"Not good, I'm surrounded!"
Kabuto inwardly sighed and withdrew,
Slowly taking out a pocket watch, staring at the dial, murmuring with deep sentiment:
"If not for what happened back then, it should be bedtime by now."
"It's already been five years since I left the orphanage!"
"Wish I could see the director and everyone one more time!"
It was precisely this longing for the director and his friends that allowed Kabuto to endure five painful years within an enemy ninja village.
Tonight, he had finally eavesdropped on a huge secret.
Namely: Iwagakure planned to take advantage of the Uchiha Clan's defection to launch a surprise attack on Konoha!
As long as he could bring this information back, he would certainly achieve great merit!
Maybe with this mission, he could even save the director from the shadows!
Unfortunately, his eavesdropping had still been discovered.
Right now, he faced relentless pursuit and slaughter from Iwagakure, completely trapped like a cornered rat!
Escaping won't be easy.
But for the orphanage, he must succeed in delivering this message!
Kabuto took a deep breath, preparing once again to seek an escape route.
Just then, he suddenly heard several screams coming from outside the canyon.
"Who is that?"
"Stop right there!"
"Ahh!~~"
"Pupu——"
Several thuds of bodies collapsing sounded.
Following that, two steady footsteps gradually approached here.
"Clop clop clop——"
"What happened?"
"Footsteps closing in—did they find me?"
"Damn it, I'll have to fight then!"
Gritting his teeth, Kabuto burst out from behind the rock wall, eyes scanning ahead.
Only then did he suddenly discover that those Iwagakure ninjas were all already lying on the ground.
Before him, merely two figures wearing red-clouded robes were approaching.
...
"Shimoku-sama, your Transformation Jutsu is actually this realistic!"
Orochimaru stifled a chuckle as he sauntered forward, teasingly adding.
"Call me Tobi!"
At this moment, Shimoku, wearing red-clouded robe attire with a distinctive yellow spiral mask, seriously warned Orochimaru.
Tonight's visit to Iwagakure together was under the identity of Akatsuki's "Tobi".
Absolutely no Uchiha Shimoku from Homura Hidden Village!
"Understood!"
"Tobi..."
Orochimaru shook his head, left speechless by the little brat Shimoku's flamboyant antics.
This kid really overthinks things too much!
Deliberately disguising himself as a member of Akatsuki... with his strength, even if he rampaged through Iwagakure, it was uncertain whether anyone could actually stop him!
"Alright, Kabuto is hiding behind that cliff wall."
"I've been monitoring him and Nonou the entire time."
"That kid truly has remarkable talent. At such a young age, he already mastered an A-rank Medical Ninjutsu — [Scalpel]."
"However, we seem to have arrived a bit early. The exciting internal conflict hasn't begun yet!"
Orochimaru pointed at the dark area behind the cliff wall, his tone full of interest.
"If we can catch it, that would be perfect."
Shimoku felt somewhat relieved.
He definitely didn't want to arrive just in time to see a completely [darkly transformed] Kabuto Yakushi.
"Oh, Kabuto actually walked out himself!"
...
"What are you people?!!!"
Kabuto revealed himself, staring toward Shimoku and the other.
His left hand gripped a kunai, his right palm charged with chakra formed into a sharp '[Scalpel]', maintaining high alertness.
"Well... People sent to rescue you."
Shimoku smiled faintly.
Yet in Kabuto's eyes, this smile looked no different from a demon's temptation.
There was absolutely no way he'd recklessly trust these two mysterious strangers whose origins were unknown!
Wait... Why does that person on the right resemble Orochimaru-sama, who defected from Konoha?
"What... what exactly do you want?"
"Don't be so tense! Put away your jutsu. Otherwise, if I take action, you might lose your life..."
Shimoku gently warned.
Frankly speaking, after learning so many new abilities and experiencing a surge in power,
he was genuinely eager to test them out.
He just feared he might not control his strength properly, accidentally killing Kabuto, which would be problematic.
"You must be joking! I'm leaving here! Don't try to stop me!"
Kabuto shouted emotionally.
Even if that man was Orochimaru-sama, there was no way he'd recklessly associate with any rogue ninja from Konoha!
He needed to quickly report this information back to earn recognition within the organization!
However, just as he prepared to break through their blockade,
"Shiushiu——"
Two kunai whistled through the air from above the ravine.
At the same time, a shadow suddenly jumped down, directly lunging toward Kabuto.
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