After hearing his intermittent confession, Mamoru let go and fell into thought under the terrified gazes of the bandits. The firelight cast swaying shadows on his face, making his expression unreadable.
Real and fake strongholds?
Then, the stronghold on the mountain acting as a front was definitely not just to deceive people.
If he were the strategist, he would definitely choose a terrain that was easy to defend and hard to attack as bait to lure the enemy in. It could wear down the opponent's stamina and patience, and it would be even better if it could reduce the enemy's combat power.
Meanwhile, the people at the foot of the mountain would only need to wait for the perfect moment to flank from the rear, coordinating with the people on the mountain to wipe out the enemy in one fell swoop.
But the problem was... how did the people at the foot of the mountain grasp the timing for the operation?
Just like their hiding place this time, how did the other side find it?
Everything seemed to be under the opponent's control.
Looking at it this way, there was only one explanation: there was a Sensory Ninja in the enemy's camp who had been secretly monitoring their every move.
Thinking of this, Mamoru quietly activated his Six Eyes, but he didn't detect any traces of Chakra nearby.
The blue in his eyes slowly faded, returning to ink black.
He didn't intend to continue expanding his search range and wasting brainpower. After all, this was all just speculation.
"Since you've entered this line of work, don't expect a good end. However..."
Mamoru looked at the group of bandits before him like lambs to the slaughter, that hair-raising smile appearing on his face again as he asked unhurriedly, "Who can tell me the specific location of your stronghold at the foot of the mountain? Maybe I'll be merciful and let him go."
—
A crisp crackle suddenly rang out from the brazier burning with bright flames. A few playful sparks leaped out from the rim, tracing several fleeting arcs in the humid air, turning into fine ash before even touching the ground.
"Yazi."
A burly figure stepped slowly up the uneven man-made stone steps, the heavy soles of his boots making dull thuds against the stone surface. He stopped at the edge of the stone platform.
Just as he was about to speak, the scene before him made him gasp, and the words at the tip of his tongue were completely forgotten.
Yako was twisting his body, brow slightly furrowed and lips pouted, saying in a flowery voice, "Oh my~ how many times do I have to say it? I'm called Yako now~"
Shichikon took a deep breath and raised a hand to wipe away non-existent sweat from his forehead, a trace of hard-to-conceal embarrassment flickering across his face. "I get it, Ya... Yako. What's the situation now?"
"What else could it be?"
Yako crossed his arms, his fingers deliberately curling slightly as he responded in a cloyingly sweet tone, "Everything is going according to plan."
"That's good then."
Shichikon endured the discomfort and walked toward Yako, who was standing in front of a sandalwood table.
As he got closer, a thick, suffocating scent of perfume hit him full in the face.
"You— What kind of crap did you spray on yourself?" Shichikon suddenly covered his nose and mouth, eyes wide, inwardly cursing.
What the hell is this weird smell?
I only looked away for a moment, and you've already pulled this nonsense.
This effeminate man is getting weirder and weirder. If this keeps up, I'll be disgusted to death.
"Hmm? You noticed?" Yako turned around in pleasant surprise.
Instead of stopping, he deliberately fanned his robes, trying to let more fragrance waft toward Shichikon. "This is top-grade perfume. You've never smelled it before, have you?"
Shichikon was horrified and retreated several steps, one hand blocking his front as he shouted sharply, "Stop it!"
"What's wrong?" Yako blinked his eyes aggrievedly, lifting a leg to step closer.
"Don't come over here!"
Seeing Masato still trying to approach, Shichikon hurriedly barked a command to stop.
"It's not much, just half a bottle."
Not understanding the problem, Yako lifted his sleeve and sniffed it himself. "Isn't it very fragrant?"
"Half a bottle?"
Shichikon's eyes bulged to their limit, the muscles on his face twitching slightly as he couldn't help but curse inwardly again, 'Are you sure you're not here to mess with me? I'd believe you if you said you'd sprayed yourself with liquid manure.'
Finally unable to take it anymore, he cursed with a mix of anger and amusement, "Just kill me already, there's no need to torture me like this!"
After saying that, he ignored Yako, covered his nose, and quickly walked around to the other side of the sandalwood table.
He didn't have time to play around with this effeminate man right now, he had to lead men to flank those Konoha people later.
"Honestly, I went through all that trouble to prepare, and you're just a stinky man who doesn't know how to appreciate it." Yako huffed softly, swaying his hips as he walked back to the sandalwood table.
Shichikon endured both physical and psychological discomfort, his fist on the sandalwood table clenching and unclenching repeatedly.
He was truly worried that if this continued, he wouldn't be able to control himself and would beat this ladyboy to death.
"Enough, stop the nonsense."
Shichikon waved his hand impatiently, focusing his attention on the water basin in the center of the sandalwood table. The clear surface of the water in the basin clearly reflected the battle situation in front of the Mountain Fortress.
The simple outskirts of the Mountain Fortress were already surrounded by Konoha ninjas. Standing at the front of the group was a tall, thin man with a cold expression, and beside him stood a yellow-haired youth.
If Mamoru were here, he would definitely recognize these two as captain Miki and vice-captain Yuya of this mission.
At this moment, the two were discussing something, but unfortunately, the water basin could only transmit images and not sound.
Soon, the Konoha team began to move. Several ninjas threw Kunai wrapped with explosive tags toward the walls.
Following a violent shaking of the mountain, airwaves carrying dust spread from the walls reinforced by Earth Release.
Seeing this, Shichikon couldn't help but sneer, "Thinking they can break through the defense line with just a few explosive tag? Pure wishful thinking."
Yako toyed with his nails nonchalantly, "Seeing so many Konoha ninjas, those people in the fortress are actually still willing to listen to you and guard that broken fortress."
"Without me, they would have been dead long ago." Shichikon released his hand from his nose, having begun to slowly adapt to the pungent smell.
"I'm just having them guard it, not sending them to their deaths."
The image in the water basin changed again. The Konoha ninjas were weaving hand signs, and from their hands, mouths, or with the help of weapons, various Ninjutsu poured toward the Mountain Fortress walls like brilliant fireworks.
For a moment, the image in the water basin became multicolored, the light from various ninjutsu blooming in a dazzling display.
"Hehe... at this rate, their Chakra will soon be exhausted." Shichikon let out a smug, strange laugh.
He said to Yako opposite him, "Ya... Yako, we should also..."
"Wow! These special effects are almost up there with Hollywood blockbusters!"
An abrupt voice suddenly interrupted Shichikon.