Chapter 165: Once There's a First Time, There Will Be a Second
Evening arrived, the setting sun descending. Whether Konoha or Cloud ninja, cooking smoke rose from both camps. Regardless of whether this war would truly erupt, mealtimes demanded eating.
In the mountain fortress keep, not only were Hiruko and Hyuga Ritsu—this master-student pair—dining, but Nara Suzaku had also received an invitation to share dinner. However, confronting this unexpected kindness from completely unfamiliar supreme and deputy commanders, he felt somewhat indigestible. That clever brain uncontrollably speculated why he'd been invited.
Watching the distracted, tasteless-eating Nara Suzaku, Hiruko shook his head, quite helplessly telling Ritsu. "Ritsu, whatever you want to ask, ask now! Otherwise after finishing dinner, Suzaku probably won't even know what he ate."
Being called out thus, Nara Suzaku startled, then smiled awkwardly. He'd indeed paid no attention to the food before him. Of course, Hokage Advisor-sama's words slightly exaggerated—he still knew what he was eating.
Before him lay one grilled fish, three fried fish cakes, one plate of sashimi, one plate of pickled radish, one bowl of miso soup, one bowl of white rice.
Hiruko and Ritsu faced identical dishes. More precisely, all camp jonin enjoyed identical meals. Yu no Kuni's northern waters possessed flourishing fishing industry. Moreover, Yu no Kuni's interior contained numerous ponds and lakes. Therefore, Konoha ninja stationed at Yu no Kuni's border never lacked fish.
Chunin meals featured one less grilled fish than jonin. Genin had one less sashimi serving than chunin.
Ritsu set down his chopsticks, directing his gaze toward directly opposite Nara Suzaku. Smiling slightly, he asked aloud. "Suzaku, I wish to consult you about intelligence on Cloud ninja in the opposing camp. Would that be acceptable?"
Nara Suzaku's heart relaxed. He'd secretly thought some troublesome matter required him, frightening him terribly. Turned out it was merely this small matter. He immediately spoke seriously. "Hyuga Clan Head, please ask. This subordinate will certainly speak without reservation."
This was already a due obligation.
Even if Hiruko and Ritsu didn't ask, they'd definitely need presenting intelligence on formidable Cloud ninja gathered from the opposing camp. Should Cloud ninja truly attack, the supreme and deputy commanders could respond with targeted measures.
Seeing Suzaku's sincere attitude and high cooperation level, Ritsu directly asked. "I heard the opposing camp's supreme commander is a clansman of the Gold and Silver Brothers. Is this true or false?"
Nara Suzaku immediately nodded affirmatively. "The opposing Cloud ninja supreme commander is named C, forty-four years old this year, nicknamed 'Demolition.' He once used Lightning Release to shatter a castle along with enemies hiding inside with one strike. He's indeed the same clan as the Gold and Silver Brothers. Their clan possesses varying hair colors, eye colors, and so forth, but all grow horns atop their heads—making them quite easily identifiable."
"Also, their clan claims descent from the Sage of Six Paths, controlling Kumogakure's several quite troublesome ninja tools. However, after the Gold and Silver Brothers' betrayal incident, those ninja tools fell under Raikage control. Therefore, previously we've never heard of C using those ninja tools."
"But if war truly erupts, we cannot exclude the possibility Fourth Raikage grants C usage rights for those ninja tools."
His answer proved quite detailed.
After listening, Hiruko also showed surprised expression, curiously asking. "Sage of Six Paths descendants? True or false?"
Nara Suzaku laughed dryly, shaking his head. "Hokage Advisor-sama, whether true or false I'm also unclear—hence merely 'claiming.' However, those ninja tools truly possess some peculiarity. I've also read several ancient texts from my family collection, thus knowing a little."
"I see!"
Hiruko nodded.
However, looking toward Ritsu, his heart couldn't help murmuring doubts. He remembered Ritsu saying the Hyuga clan, Kaguya clan, and Senju clan apparently all shared common ancestors. Ritsu's Chimera Technique targets seemingly all selected such long-separated relatives.
If the Gold and Silver Brothers' clan truly descended from the Sage of Six Paths, wouldn't that mean Hyuga, Kaguya, and Senju all descended from the Sage of Six Paths?
Hiruko's mind churned with myriad thoughts.
Ritsu continued asking. "Besides C, does the opposing side have any other noteworthy formidable characters?"
Nara Suzaku recited several names like treasures—all outstanding figures among Cloud ninja jonin.
Ritsu patiently listened awhile. Not hearing the intelligence he wanted, he couldn't help asking. "The opposing camp contains no Cloud ninja mastering Storm Release bloodline limit?"
"Storm Release bloodline limit?"
Nara Suzaku seriously considered two seconds before shaking his head. "This... seems truly none."
Then he supplemented. "At minimum, until now we've discovered no Cloud ninja mastering Storm Release bloodline limit. However, thus far only small-scale skirmishes occurred. Therefore, we cannot definitively conclude the opposing camp contains no Storm Release users."
Ritsu slowly nodded. These words spoke correctly.
Though both Konoha and Cloud ninja sides strove exploring opposing intelligence, they likewise strove protecting their own intelligence from enemy scrutiny—preventing opponents from clarifying their actual strength.
Therefore, gathering this much intelligence already proved quite good. Konoha's intelligence work remained solid.
Ritsu then casually asked several insignificant small questions before ending this conversation, afterward rapidly eliminating his food like sweeping clouds.
Nara Suzaku likewise quickly solved the now-somewhat-cold food before him, then swiftly bid farewell and departed.
After all dishes were cleared away, Hiruko's secretary delivered hot tea to the master-student pair before withdrawing. In the brightly lit keep, only Hiruko and Ritsu remained.
Hiruko held his teacup, sharp sword-like gaze directly boring into Ritsu. He spoke directly. "Ritsu, what are you planning?"
"Sensei, what are you saying? We two just assumed duties. Understanding the situation—isn't that basic procedure?"
"Stop lying. You rushing to clarify Cloud ninja's situation so urgently—you're definitely up to no good."
Hiruko's voice carried unquestionable confidence. His gaze shone piercingly, as if at this moment completely seeing through Ritsu's thoughts.
Seeing this, Ritsu smiled helplessly. After studying with Hiruko-sensei these many years—just as he'd thoroughly understood Hiruko-sensei's temperament, Hiruko-sensei likewise possessed extremely deep understanding of him.
He smiled. "Sensei, I feel that if Missing-nin Anonymous could attack Cloud ninja camp once, naturally there'll be a second time."
Hiruko froze, instinctively saying. "What meaning? You know Missing-nin Anonymous's whereabouts?"
However, watching the smiling-but-silent Ritsu, he suddenly reacted, eyes widening. "Ritsu, you're not planning to impersonate Missing-nin Anonymous attacking Cloud ninja?"
Ritsu smiled in answer. "Still Sensei—you see right through my little tricks completely!"
Hiruko wasn't dazed by Ritsu's flattery. His brow furrowed tightly. In a deep voice: "Ritsu, what are you thinking? Do you know doing this could easily trigger full-scale war between us and Cloud ninja? This completely contradicts Hokage-sama's orders."
He disapproved of Ritsu's excessively bold idea.
Watching his student whose eyes filled with restlessness, Hiruko asked again. "Moreover, how will you disguise yourself as Missing-nin Anonymous? Cloud ninja sensory specialists aren't trash. Don't you understand how unique Byakugan chakra is? Furthermore, this completely differs from our initially agreed strategy. Didn't we agree to stabilize first?"
Ritsu's expression remained unchanged. Softly answering. "Sensei, plans aren't unchanging. Our previously determined strategy was decided based on limited intelligence we possessed then. But today Dodai and other Cloud ninja envoys' arrival made me realize Cloud ninja's side possesses weak war initiation intent. Or rather, Kumogakure's upper echelon doesn't wish warring with us Konoha at this time."
Hiruko narrowed his eyes, not denying it.
Don't look at how Dodai displayed very hardline attitude during negotiations—appearing as if should Konoha refuse bowing to Cloud ninja, Cloud ninja armies would immediately attack the next second.
But don't watch what he said—watch what he did. This principle applied to individuals and organizational forces alike. A person's and organization's actions couldn't deceive. After Dodai's group departed until now, Cloud ninja hadn't attacked. Cloud ninja's side showed absolutely no troop mobilization signs. This indicated Cloud ninja's war initiation intent truly ran weak.
Ritsu watched his silent teacher, continuing. "Though unclear why Cloud ninja also don't wish warring, this suits perfectly. As long as we don't leave Cloud ninja irrefutable evidence, as long as we attribute all problems to Missing-nin Anonymous—Cloud ninja will most likely still choose negotiation rather than direct warfare."
Hiruko's brow remained tightly furrowed, still repeatedly shaking his head. "Your idea is too crazy. Moreover, you haven't answered how you plan disguising yourself as Missing-nin Anonymous."
"Sensei, look at yourself—even you consider my thinking crazily impractical. Then Cloud ninja might hold identical views as Sensei. Still that statement—as long as they lack solid evidence, whoever attacked Cloud ninja camp will only be Missing-nin Anonymous."
Ritsu's pure white eyes seemed reflecting lamplight, flickering with light named determination settled.
Hearing this, watching his student before him, Hiruko's head ached tremendously.
Students being excessively excellent apparently wasn't entirely good—because he'd always suddenly conceive heart-stopping, anxiety-inducing ideas and schemes.
"As for how to disguise as Missing-nin Anonymous..." Ritsu smiled, his right hand casually forming the Boar seal. The next instant, the wooden floor beneath his feet grew timber. Surrounding Ritsu according to his impression of seeing Missing-nin Anonymous's appearance, it constructed a tiger-masked humanoid shell.
Wood Release: Transformation Technique.
One Wood Release technique inherited from the First Hokage.
In his memory, Yamato had once used this move impersonating the then-already-killed Sasori of the Red Sand, meeting Kabuto Yakushi at Tenchi Bridge. He'd successfully deceived both Kabuto and Orochimaru hiding in darkness. Had Kabuto not been Orochimaru's piece for calculating Sasori from the start, perhaps he'd truly have been fooled.
This Wood Release technique Ritsu hadn't spontaneously comprehended—learned from scrolls after receiving the First Hokage's remaining Wood Release technique scrolls from Minato.
After mastering this technique, Ritsu discovered this move's formidable aspects. This move possessed barrier technique-like effects. Though it couldn't deceive sensory techniques, it could make distinguishing truth from falsehood difficult.
Ritsu also had to sigh—the First Hokage truly played Wood Release to perfection. Various functions comprehensively available: close combat, long-range combat, espionage reconnaissance, defensive protection, responding to individual targets, responding to group targets, responding to large-scale targets, responding to tailed beasts... truly near-omnipotent.
Wearing Missing-nin Anonymous's appearance, Ritsu stood up, standing before Hiruko. Speaking aloud: "How is it? Sensei, can you detect my Hyuga clan Byakugan's characteristic chakra fluctuations?"
Hiruko sighed gently.
Though not a professional sensory ninja, at such close distance he should theoretically possess some perception. But currently he sensed absolutely no familiar chakra fluctuations from Ritsu.
Only one thing—
Hiruko reminded. "Your eyes are the flaw. Pure white eyes completely mismatch crimson Sharingan."
Ritsu immediately answered. "Small problem. Just wear sunglasses to cover them."
Hiruko sighed again. "Though I very much want saying Cloud ninja aren't pushovers, however... with your capabilities, Ritsu, there shouldn't be major problems. Leave a clone here to accompany me handling official business. I'll shortly summon Suzaku and others to act as witnesses for you."
The saying goes—blocking proves inferior to channeling.
Hiruko understood he couldn't stop his already-poised student. He might as well shift topics, beginning helping Ritsu perfect this excessively crazy yet precisely therefore possessing several degrees increased success possibility plan.
Ritsu released the transformation technique, nodding affirmatively. He prepared leaving a Wood Clone shortly. Though Wood Clones couldn't transmit memories, they proved sufficiently durable. As long as they didn't suffer high-intensity attacks, people wouldn't discover only his clone remained in camp.
"Ritsu, prioritize hunting your prey. No need rushing helping me find Storm Release bloodline limit."
"Exercise extreme caution. Cloud ninja aren't easily bullied weaklings. Don't forget Suzaku's earlier words—beware Kumogakure's several strange ninja tools."
"Also, don't forget Dodai's group. If you have surplus capacity, try avoiding attacking Dodai. This guy enjoys very high prestige in Kumogakure. If Dodai suffers mishap, Cloud ninja will most likely truly mobilize full strength attacking."
Hiruko rambled instructions.
Ritsu also listened tirelessly. Hearing more warnings from Sensei wasn't bad—could effectively help him organize strategies in his mind.
When time reached eight o'clock, Ritsu found an excuse leaving the front-line camp. Outside camp, he separated a Wood Clone who returned along the original route, seeking Hiruko high in the keep. His true body retrieved windproof sunglasses, covering his pure white eyes. Then employing Wood Release: Transformation Technique, he again transformed into Missing-nin Anonymous's appearance.
Immediately after, Ritsu activated his Byakugan. Under night's cover, he rapidly advanced toward Cloud ninja camp.
****
50+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces