"Oh? That's a few years ahead of schedule, isn't it? I thought we weren't ready yet."
A shadowed, pitch-black space. This was the base of the most mysterious organization in the entire shinobi world, Akatsuki.
In the darkness, a pair of eyes with swirling, hypnotic patterns gazed forward in silence. Just their presence alone exuded a crushing pressure.
"There's been a change. Because of the upheaval in Konoha, the other great villages are now on edge. War is nearly unavoidable. For our plan to proceed smoothly… Akatsuki must step into the light, sooner than expected."
"Everyone, prepare according to previous orders... Kakuzu, Hidan, there's another mission for you."
"Go to the Land of Fire, and bring someone back alive."
======
Land of Fire – main road to the Daimyō's estate.
Two figures in black cloaks with red clouds stood silently at the roadside.
One wore a wide conical hat that veiled his face. Both were fully wrapped in Akatsuki's iconic attire.
"…Kakuzu, seriously, what's the boss thinking? Sending the two of us to grab some no-name nobody? Is this a joke?"
Hidan complained, voice dripping with irritation.
"No-name?" Kakuzu replied dryly. "Didn't you hear what the boss said? According to reliable intel, this guy may be the one who assassinated Shimura Danzo of Konoha."
"A rogue ninja, like Uchiha Itachi. Origin unknown. For some reason, Konoha's higher-ups have sealed off all information about him, didn't even declare him a missing-nin publicly."
Hidan frowned.
"So why the cover-up? When I was in the Hot Springs Village, all I did was off a few useless old fogies, and they branded me rogue ninja for life!"
He said it so casually, so matter-of-factly, you'd think he was talking about burning trash, not murder.
Kakuzu gave a slow nod.
"Whatever the reason, we proceed with caution."
And coming from a man who'd survived a battle with the First Hokage, that meant something.
"Clink!"
He dropped his massive triple-bladed scythe from his shoulder to the ground.
Hidan's orange eyes glinted with wild fanaticism as a maniacal smile spread across his face.
"Whatever. In the end, it's the same either way, we fight first and ask questions later, right?"
"Don't forget, the boss said we need to bring him back alive."
"Hah! But whether he's worth bringing back… that's our call, isn't it?"
"Hmph. Do what you want."
On the quiet, peaceful highway, Kirito's carriage suddenly came to a halt.
"What's wrong, Kirito?" Tenten asked curiously from the side.
Kirito's gaze narrowed toward a small grove up ahead. On the surface, there didn't appear to be anything unusual. He lacked any advanced sensory techniques, but his instincts were screaming at him.
There was something inside that seemingly tranquil forest.
"Neji. Use your Byakugan to scan the forest up ahead."
"…"
Normally, Neji would've ignored anyone who spoke to him like that, but after witnessing Kirito's terrifying power firsthand, he held no pride here. Obeying a stronger man wasn't shameful.
Veins bulged at the sides of his eyes, and a strange power surged from his silvery-white pupils.
"Byakugan!"
"…I don't see anyone."
Neji scanned thoroughly and then shook his head.
"I see."
Kirito turned to Tenten.
"Tenten. Give me an explosive tag and a kunai."
"Geez. You always ask for the expensive stuff… Do you know how expensive those are? The reward from this mission only covers about four explosive tags, you know?"
Still grumbling, she pulled out a brand-new explosive tag and kunai from her scroll and handed them over.
Kirito said nothing.
He silently wrapped the tag around the kunai and hurled it deep into the forest with a sharp flick.
Whoosh!
The kunai tore through the air and landed with a soft thunk.
A second or two later…
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion echoed from the grove.
"…"
Everyone watched the forest closely, no movement, no response.
Tenten sighed.
"See? Nothing's there. That was a waste-"
"…No."
Neji's brows furrowed.
"That explosive tag just proved its worth."
Kirito remained silent, his gaze fixed on the forest canopy. The forest had fallen back into dead silence.
Then-
Sasuke tensed beside them.
"There's something wrong. After a blast like that… not a single bird flew out of the trees. No startled animals. Nothing."
Click.
Kirito raised his hand.
In it was a sleek, silver handgun, his Desert Eagle.
He leveled it at the treeline and said calmly:
"Come out."
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