Seeing Yuto leave so suddenly, Mei froze for a moment, her eyes flashing with surprise.
She hadn't expected Yuto-sama to personally intervene. Was it disappointment in Kirigakure's current state? Or dissatisfaction with her incompetence as Mizukage? Either way, the jinchuriki's defection was tied to her.
"Mizukage-sama, should we send someone to assist Yuto-sama?"
Chojuro asked timidly, worry written across his face.
"There's no need to worry about Yuto-sama. It's others who should be afraid now."
Mei's expression hardened as she turned to the kneeling shinobi, her tone cold.
"You said the Six-Tails jinchuriki defected this morning. That was half a day ago! Why are you only reporting it now? And weren't you the one assigned to monitor him?"
"R-report, Mizukage-sama! The Six-Tails' master, Harusame, said he needed to perform some kind of ritual, so I didn't monitor during that time."
The shinobi's face twitched with unease, though with his head bowed, it went unnoticed.
Mei's expression suddenly smoothed, though her eyes grew colder still.
She licked her lips, glanced at Chojuro.
His gaze sharpened. Gone was his usual timid look—he flickered behind the shinobi in an instant.
Before the man could react, Chojuro struck the back of his neck. The shinobi's eyes rolled back as he collapsed, unconscious.
"Give him to Ao," Mei said coolly.
Chojuro nodded without a word, hefting the man up and leaving. He knew well enough: Mizukage-sama was angry.
———
After some time, the door opened again.
Ao and Chojuro entered. Chojuro had regained his shy expression, but both carried the faint scent of blood.
Ao stepped forward, his voice heavy.
"The Six-Tails didn't defect this morning—it was last night. The most amusing part is, they meant to report it, but when news of Yuto-sama's return spread, they delayed."
Mei's face showed no surprise, only confirmation. Still, her brow arched. "They?"
Ao nodded, his tone cold. "Kinoshita Jiro, Tsuchida Masamitsu."
"It's been nearly a full day since then. The Land of Water is vast. If the Six-Tails truly wants to hide, finding him won't be quick. Tomorrow's meeting…"
Chojuro looked out at the setting sun, worry creeping onto his face.
"The meeting will proceed as planned. The two of you—summon all the village's high ranks."
Mei cut him off firmly, confidence returning to her face.
No one knew Yuto-sama's power better than she did.
———
Deep within a dense forest, Yuto stood atop a tall tree, frowning. He'd searched a wide area and still hadn't found the Six-Tails jinchuriki.
The captured shinobi hadn't revealed a direction, but for Yuto, analysis was second nature.
Kirigakure lay on the far eastern edge of the map. To the north was ocean, to the south uninhabited islands—any escape there would be too obvious. East was back toward the village, impossible.
That left only west.
Dense terrain and vast forests offered ideal cover. And if the fugitive crossed the border and took to the sea, the Land of Waves was right across—freedom within reach.
But a faint trace of tailed beast chakra lingered in the air. Yuto knew it well—he had once absorbed the Three-Tails' chakra.
The Six-Tails hadn't left yet.
"Where are you?"
He muttered, irritated. If not on the ground… then maybe above.
Above!
His eyes lit up. He'd nearly forgotten—Utakata, the Six-Tails jinchuriki, could use bubbles to float himself.
Yuto looked skyward, smiling faintly as he wove hand seals.
Secret Art—Rain Cutter!
Drizzle fell from the darkening sky.
Thirty meters up, a great bubble floated silently. From outside, it appeared empty.
Inside, a young man in blue robes lounged lazily.
"Kirigakure's response was slower than I thought. If I make it through tonight, I'll be fine."
Utakata rested his head on his hands.
"Huh? Rain?"
He frowned at the drizzle outside. But then his face changed.
Ripples spread across the bubble's surface.
Pop!
With a sharp crack, the bubble burst.
"Damn—it's him!"
Utakata plummeted, but quickly pulled a bamboo pipe from his robes. Blowing into it, he summoned new bubbles that slowed his fall.
"Found you."
From a treetop, Yuto smiled, watching the falling figure.
He bent his knees, then launched upward like a spring, a blur racing toward Utakata.
"You're descending too slowly. Let me help you."
A calm voice whispered in Utakata's ear.
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