Chapter 168: Only Mediocre People Fear Causing Trouble
Cloud ninja camp's commotion proved somewhat excessive. The large keep's fifth and sixth floors were blown sky-high. Explosion firelight shone so brightly even Konoha camp could see it. Hiruko noticed the external brightness, immediately setting down documents in hand, rising and walking to the balcony.
Hiruko gazed at that sky-shooting firelight, speaking aloud. "Ritsu, that's your doing, right?"
Beside him, Hyuga Ritsu's Wood Clone answered. "Probably related to me, but specifically what happened—hard to say."
"You truly can cause trouble."
"Only mediocre people fear causing trouble."
Hiruko glared at the Wood Clone beside him. The latter grinned sheepishly.
At this moment, urgent footsteps approached. Nara Suzaku and others residing on the fourth floor below rushed up. Their expressions grave, facing formidable enemies, they immediately shouted upon seeing the master-student pair. "Hiruko-sama, something happened at Cloud ninja's side."
"I'm currently watching. Truly a magnificent fire. You all come up and appreciate it together."
Hiruko calmly issued invitations.
Kiboku Katana, Unno Ikkaku, Inuzuka Tsume and others approached. Guided by Hiruko's words, they all looked toward distant Cloud ninja camp's sky-shooting bright firelight.
Only Nara Suzaku didn't immediately look toward distant Cloud ninja camp firelight, instead sneaking glances at master-student Hiruko and Ritsu.
Honestly speaking, previously they'd confronted Cloud ninja so long without incidents. Even when Troy recently died, it hadn't caused such massive commotion. Yet today, the moment this master-student pair Hiruko and Ritsu arrived—something happened!
Moreover, during dinner earlier, Ritsu had pulled him aside asking this and that. Even then it felt strange—couldn't understand what this Hyuga Clan Head was planning. Now apparently it bore relation to Cloud ninja's sudden situation.
Of course, Ritsu currently stood properly beside Hiruko. If unable to prove that was a clone, best keep mouth tightly shut, not saying one superfluous word.
Still, Kiboku Katana—as Hiruko's old classmate—spoke more casually. After glancing at distant firelight several times, he suggested. "Hiruko, Cloud ninja made such massive commotion. We probably should also carefully guard against it."
"Being careful never hurts—this reasoning is sound."
Hiruko nodded. "Then pass down orders. Enter combat readiness state. Let sensory ninja work harder. If Cloud ninja truly go mad attacking—we can't let them catch us off-guard."
Orders quickly transmitted downward. Actually, time remained early—not yet bedtime. Therefore, this order issued, Konoha ninja immediately acted per commands. The entire camp entered combat readiness state. Hyuga, Yamanaka, and Inuzuka clan sensory ninja came outside the barrier, vigilantly watching any suspicious movements.
Hiruko and others still gathered on the keep balcony.
This was the mountain fortress's highest elevation point. As the saying goes—standing high sees far. From here, they could more clearly see Cloud ninja camp's gradually weakening great fire. Cloud ninja were extinguishing fires—thus indicating Cloud ninja apparently hadn't fallen into chaos.
At this moment, Hiruko looked toward everyone, asking aloud. "What do you all think—what exactly happened to Cloud ninja?"
"This remains unknowable."
Unno Ikkaku shook his head. "We're standing so far away. How could we know what happened on Cloud ninja's side?"
Hearing this, Hiruko smiled slightly. "Precisely because we don't know, I hope everyone can brainstorm guesses. Based on speculation results, we can prepare countermeasures in advance. Even guessing wrong doesn't matter—being careful always proves correct."
Hearing this, everyone looked at each other.
These words spoke correctly.
However—
Empty speculation proved quite difficult to guess!
Inuzuka Tsume pondered hard momentarily before softly saying. "Could Cloud ninja have experienced some accident? For instance, someone accidentally ignited explosive tags, resulting in explosions and fire?"
"This... feels quite unlikely. Such large-scale explosions and fire—a few explosive tags couldn't create this. From my experience, at minimum fifty-plus explosive tags detonating together could make such commotion. Can't possibly say someone accidentally detonated fifty-plus or even more explosive tags in one breath, right?"
Unno Ikkaku denied aloud.
However, Hiruko stated. "Can't say it's impossible. This world originally contains many seemingly impossible absurd events. Does anyone else have speculations? Speak boldly—don't feel unreasonable. Only novels and stories deliberately pursue rationality, but reality doesn't need such things."
Kiboku Katana's brow furrowed tightly, speaking softly. "Could Cloud ninja be experiencing internal conflict?"
Finishing, fearing mockery for wild imagination, he immediately proactively explained. "Look, this morning that Dodai said so, right? Cloud ninja currently experience surging public sentiment because of Troy and others' deaths. But Dodai and others chose negotiating with us. Could someone have launched a coup? Just like when Gold and Silver Brothers launched coups at the Second Raikage and Second Hokage's alliance ceremony. This also counts as Cloud ninja tradition."
Must say, Kiboku Katana's speculation truly seemed quite plausible.
If not knowing the truth, Hiruko felt he'd probably lean toward Kiboku Katana's speculation. But currently—knowing the truth, he could only pretend deeply agreeable expressions.
Hiruko nodded, speaking seriously. "Katana, your speculation proves very bold! But I think your possibility is high. Cloud ninja are combative throughout. Upper echelons choosing negotiation doesn't mean lower ranks will accept negotiation—completely possible to trigger internal conflict."
Finishing, he again surveyed everyone, asking. "Does anyone else have different views? If not—"
"Sensei, could Missing-nin Anonymous have struck again?"
Speaking naturally was Hyuga Ritsu's Wood Clone.
"You mean Missing-nin Anonymous?"
"Correct. Missing-nin Anonymous previously killed Troy and twenty-plus Cloud ninja. Clearly he should deeply hate Cloud ninja. Since he'd attack once, completely possible to launch second attacks."
"Also one seemingly feasible speculation... Any others?"
This time, no one spoke.
Nara Suzaku—this Nara family high-intelligence clever person—maintained silence throughout.
He felt these speculations were all nonsense. Hiruko and Ritsu's actions clearly provided cover. The true Cloud ninja attacker probably wasn't any Missing-nin Anonymous, but rather one of this master-student pair Hiruko and Ritsu. Or perhaps both acted—leaving only shadow clones speaking before them.
"Then let's proceed thus! Based on these three speculations, let's first discuss Cloud ninja's possible upcoming reactions, plus how we should respond to Cloud ninja..."
Hiruko prepared convening meetings.
Discussing how to respond to Cloud ninja possibly entering frenzied rampage states.
Simultaneously.
Cloud ninja camp's atmosphere depressed to extremes. Thick fog covering half the camp had been dispersed. Flames on the large keep were also extinguished seventy to eighty percent.
However, the problem—their Supreme Commander C had disappeared.
Dodai's expression iron-blue, watching the still-smoldering large keep, his heart filled with regret and frustration. He'd still underestimated enemies too much. His vigilance still proved insufficient. Failed promptly extending aid to C. Thus, under thousands of Cloud ninja's protection, they'd lost their Supreme Commander.
Moments later, seeing the guilt-faced returning Xi and numerous sensory ninja, Dodai's heart completely sank. He immediately asked aloud. "Xi, didn't catch up?"
"Apologies, Dodai-senpai."
Xi lowered his head, expression somewhat dejected, speaking softly. "The attacker's movements proved truly too fast. En route, he employed Hiding in Mist Technique twice more, disrupting our sensory abilities. Ninja dogs were also misled toward wrong directions..." Speaking here, words became difficult to continue. But the internal meaning proved quite clear.
Meaning they hadn't caught up—let the person escape.
Dodai didn't angrily rebuke anyone. Though his expression remained extremely ugly, emotions gradually controlled and calmed. At this moment, anger served no purpose.
He surveyed surroundings, rapidly issuing orders. Let camp Cloud ninja continue maintaining combat readiness states, guarding against Konoha opportunistic sneak attacks. Then ordered kitchens preparing midnight snacks for everyone's consumption. Let Xi immediately write letters contacting the village, reporting situations to the village... Watching Dodai's composed orders, originally agitated hearts gradually settled. Though Supreme Commander C suffered mishap, they still possessed Dodai-sama as backbone support.
After the large keep's great fire was completely extinguished, Dodai finally brought Xi and others, re-ascending the considerably shortened large keep, ordering numerous professionals beginning collecting all usable clues.
He kept Xi at his side, softly asking. "The situation was transmitted back to the village?"
Xi immediately nodded. "Already used summoning techniques sending letters back."
"That's good."
Dodai lightly relaxed.
He currently appeared composed, but actually already burned internally—wishing to find uninhabited places for crazy shouting venting.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do so.
He must stabilize camp morale until Raikage-sama's orders transmitted over.
"Xi, not catching that attacker aside—did you observe how that attacker defeated and captured C?" Dodai stared at underfoot charred square timber, issuing inquiries toward Xi.
"This..."
Xi showed difficulty. "Apologies, Dodai-senpai. When those eighty-plus explosive tags exploded, the triggered chakra fluctuations proved excessively intense. My sensory techniques suffered tremendous interference. Unclear exactly how C-sama was defeated. However... that instant, the attacker's aura changed. Though sensory perception wasn't particularly clear, it felt like I'd encountered it somewhere before."
"Hm? You're certain?"
Dodai's spirits lifted.
At this moment, having clues was good news. Xi said he'd encountered it somewhere—meaning the attacker definitely met Xi before. But shallow impression indicated not village acquaintances... Xi nodded heavily. "I'm very certain. However, affected by explosion interference, sensory perception wasn't particularly clear. Therefore, I temporarily can't recall exactly where I encountered it..."
Speaking to the end, Xi's brow furrowed tightly, pondering hard.
Dodai's mood improved slightly. Watching nerve-taut Xi, he consoled. "Don't be too anxious. Sometimes certain matters—the more you want recalling them, the less you can recall. Let yourself relax. Perhaps you'll suddenly remember."
Xi slowly nodded. He considered slightly, quite carefully opening his mouth to ask. "Dodai-senpai, we... won't dispatch people attempting to search for that attacker anymore?"
Dodai waved his hand. "Not that I'm unwilling—but can't accomplish it."
He sighed, directing his gaze toward distant Konoha camp direction. "You professional sensory ninja all failed catching the attacker and abducted C. Wanting to continue searching would inevitably require investing more manpower. But if we withdraw too many troops, and Konoha glimpses opportunities attacking... the situation would truly become unmanageable then!"
Xi fell silent.
Though during confrontations Konoha always adopted defensive postures, never displaying strong aggression—that was established when Konoha was warring with Mist ninja. Now circumstances had completely changed. Both Konoha and their own Kumogakure switched to Fourth generation leadership. Konoha's external strategies might completely change from Third Hokage's tenure's conservatism...
"Speaking of which, Dodai-senpai, why do you think the attacker captured C-senpai?" Xi changed questions.
Dodai's face showed helpless bitter smile. "How would I know why C was captured? Clearly Troy and others were all killed on-site..."
Dodai had pondered this problem earlier. But lacking critical information, his speculation—no, guessing—proved completely castles in air.
Hearing this, Xi momentarily didn't know what to say.
And Dodai's mood grew heavy again from Xi's question. This mission's difficulty honestly proved somewhat beyond normal specifications. He currently felt possibilities of resolving disputes with Konoha through negotiation had become negligible.
But not negotiating with Konoha—what could they use declaring war on Konoha?
Barring accidents, C most likely couldn't survive. Meaning the front's both supreme and deputy commanders had sacrificed. The village lost two top-tier ninja. Conversely, Konoha's side possessed talented personnel like clouds, powerful ninja like forests. Forcibly warring with Konoha at this moment definitely required mobilizing the entire village's strength. Otherwise, absolutely no victory possibility existed.
But even mobilizing entire village strength—definitely guaranteed victory?
If definitely victorious, that wouldn't bring worries. Directly war would suffice. The problem—even mobilizing all Kumogakure village strength, they might not defeat Konoha...
Dodai couldn't help silently sighing heavily, inwardly figuring—wait until Raikage-sama's reply arrived!
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