"Wait—" Kairen suddenly realized a problem.
"What is it?" Kurotsuchi asked.
Kairen slapped his thigh and said, "Damn it, I still have two concubines in Kumogakure. I wonder if they were implicated."
Kurotsuchi flew into a rage: "You bastard, I'm going to kill you!"
With one hand blocking Kurotsuchi's upper body, Kairen ordered his shadow clone with the other:
"Go gather intel immediately. Don't let anything happen to my little wives."
"Understood!"
Ōnoki led the senior officials of Iwagakure, sulking in a corner.
Kairen had originally planned to lock them all in the dungeon and make them pick up soap for the rest of their lives.
But Kurotsuchi persuaded him again and again, and Kairen eventually granted them some degree of freedom.
The shadow clones monitored their every move at all times and even dispatched the Woof Squad to keep watch nearby, with Akamaru as the leader.
The news of the Raikage's death arrived, shocking everyone in Iwagakure.
Ōnoki's facial expressions changed eight times in a single second, worthy of being a model actor.
"Sigh… the Raikage was also a hero of his generation. Who would've thought he'd leave like this? Fate toys with people! Fate toys with people!"
Ōnoki wanted to recite some poetry to show his flair, but lacking literary talent, he could only sigh repeatedly.
Kitsuchi drank the fine wine brewed by Kairen, and the more he drank, the more intoxicated he became.
The Land of Earth lay in the northern part of the continent, with barren soil incapable of growing good grain, and naturally, there was no good wine either.
This fine wine brewed from southern grains was naturally addictive to him.
After taking a gulp, Kitsuchi spoke some honest words: "Although that kid stole Kurotsuchi, which was really shameless…"
"But when he led people into battle, it was like playing around. We in Iwagakure suffered almost no casualties."
Ōnoki snorted but did not refute it.
Of course he knew it in his heart, but Kairen was the enemy. No matter how sweet the sugar-coated bullets were, he couldn't indulge in them.
Another Iwagakure senior official agreed: "Yes. If that kid got serious, we'd probably end up like Kumogakure—no, even worse."
Everyone started talking endlessly.
"We also benefited from that kid's lust. We should all thank Kurotsuchi."
Ōnoki's expression darkened. Kairen hadn't even sent anyone to persuade them to surrender yet, and already their resolve was weakening.
"Speak. What should we do from now on?"
"Let's surrender. Moku Kairen wouldn't keep us alive just because of Kurotsuchi's sake, right? After all, we're still ninja."
"This… wouldn't that be betraying the Daimyō?"
"Hmph! Let him survive first before we talk."
Ōnoki's eyes widened. What had become of the Will of Stone? The spirit of Iwagakure was being dismantled bit by bit.
It wouldn't be long before Iwagakure became a thing of the past.
"Sigh…"
Ōnoki let out a long sigh. In his twilight years, misfortune struck one after another.
He had wanted to grasp the tail of youth and give it a shake, but at this moment, he suddenly felt ten years older, already thinking about where he would be buried.
Suddenly, the voices of Kairen's shadow clones shouting rang out.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"
"Second bow to the parents!"
"Husband and wife bow to each other, escort them to the bridal chamber!"
Kairen held Kurotsuchi in his arms and waved his hand grandly.
"I am heading to the bridal chamber!"
"Congratulations! Congratulations!"
Kairen strode forward swiftly. Kurotsuchi blushed and held tightly around his neck. Even she felt shy about such a major life event.
Not to mention, when it came to real combat, she would be even more nervous.
Ōnoki flew into the air and blocked Kairen's path.
"Woof woof woof!"
The Woof Squad jumped out, barking furiously at Ōnoki, telling him not to block the way.
Kurotsuchi glanced at Ōnoki. "Grandpa…"
Ōnoki's tightly tense and stern expression gradually softened. He landed and stared at Kairen with a serious gaze.
"Moku Kairen, I know you're lustful by nature, but you must never bully Kurotsuchi. She's my only granddaughter. If you dare treat her even slightly harshly…"
"I'll… I'll…"
Ōnoki thought of ways to threaten Kairen. Suicide had already been used once; using it again would make him seem petty.
He suddenly came up with a sinister method and solemnly declared to Kairen: "I'll turn into a ghost."
As soon as those harsh words came out, even the dogs stopped barking. It was as if everyone had been intimidated by Ōnoki.
As a filial son, Kairen naturally couldn't let his ancestors be disappointed. He immediately patted his chest and said, "Don't worry. I, Moku Kairen, stand by my actions. I will never mistreat anyone by my side."
"Remember what you said."
Ōnoki looked at Kairen seriously, then flew into the sky, out of sight and out of mind.
Kurotsuchi watched his departing figure with slightly moist eyes. He was still as stubborn and unyielding as ever, like a solid rock.
"This old man…"
Kairen adjusted Kurotsuchi in his arms and gently kissed the tears at the corner of her eyes.
"Baby, time to peel the banana."
The moonlight was hazy.
Fish swam in the water, occasionally splashing and causing bursts of startled cries…
...
After several hours of rapid travel, Shikamaru and Guy's team finally approached Iwagakure late at night.
"Byakugan!"
Neji activated his Byakugan and carefully observed the entrance of Iwagakure.
After scanning once, Neji's expression became somewhat strange.
Shikamaru asked, "Did you find anything?"
Neji said, "Iwagakure has no sentries. Only a few dogs are guarding the entrance, and Akamaru is leading them."
"Akamaru?" Shikamaru frowned, recalling previous intel.
After Naruto's group had been wiped out by Moku Kairen, the enemy had taken one dog.
They had assumed it had already been turned into dog meat hot pot, but unexpectedly it was still alive—and even promoted, bearing the responsibility of sentry duty.
Shikamaru continued, "Keep scouting. I need Moku Kairen's location."
"Alright!"
Neji continued using his Byakugan, searching for Kairen's position area by area.
Soon, he discovered a massive chakra presence at the edge of his vision range.
That chakra was unmistakable.
Boundless and vast, like a sun radiating dazzling brilliance.
Neji seemed frozen. Between experts, just one glance was enough to understand the opponent's level.
There was a story of a 200-plus-pound strongman who merely glanced at an old man and was instantly whipped into a miserable state by five lightning-fast lashes.
Neji knew with just one look that they were absolutely no match. They probably couldn't even survive a single exchange.
Guy noticed Neji's unusual expression and asked, "What's wrong?"
Neji deactivated his Byakugan, suppressed his shock, and said in an extremely serious tone:
"I'll emphasize this again. On this mission, all of us might die. The mortality rate could reach 90%."
His words stunned everyone—except the two green watermelon heads.
Guy clenched his fists. It was as if waves crashed against reefs behind him, igniting youth.
"As Konoha's Blue Beast, I usually only deal with trivial matters. Today, I can finally fulfill my youth!"
Rock Lee shouted passionately, "Guy-sensei, it's burning!"
"Lee, this is what youth should be!"
Shikamaru looked at the master and disciple speechlessly and sighed inwardly.
People with simple minds were enviable—they didn't have to worry about so many things.
As team leader, Shikamaru shook his head and looked seriously around at his companions.
"Our mission this time is primarily reconnaissance of Iwagakure. Avoid unnecessary combat. Focus on scouting. Be careful. Understood?"
Everyone nodded.
"In that case, move out."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Konoha ninja vanished like shadows.
Akamaru strutted around proudly, wagging his tail and looking down arrogantly at the fifty or so dogs under his command.
Kairen had established a Woof Squad midway and appointed Akamaru as the Dog General.
Managing so many dogs at such a young age made Akamaru's mentality somewhat inflated, and he began looking down on his former inferior status.
Woof!
Inuzuka Kiba, I, Akamaru, have risen! From now on, all dogs in the ninja world will look up to me!
Several afterimages flashed by, and Akamaru's keen sense of smell immediately detected them.
"Woof!"
Just as he was about to bark and capture them, he was suddenly grabbed by a shadow.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw Neji's face. Akamaru recognized his old acquaintance.
Neji placed a finger over his lips. "Shh!"
He signaled Akamaru not to make noise, or it would alert the other dogs.