The Anbu conference room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's Shadow Clone sat at the head of the table.
Before Kakashi and Yamato, a document was handed down to Inoichi Yamanaka, Nara Shikaku, and others.
Scanning it, everyone's expressions turned serious.
After exchanging glances, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Intelligence on the Hidden Mist Village—everyone, let's discuss it."
After Inoichi and Shikaku finished reading, they couldn't help but look at each other.
Afterward, their expressions were solemn.
"How reliable is this?"
"Confirmed through multiple sources, the results are consistent. We can be essentially certain it's true."
Yamato replied.
Inoichi stood up and added, "The response from the Hidden Cloud Village is that they will send people from the north to pressure the Hidden Mist, while also deploying Anbu into the Land of Water to apply internal pressure."
"However, Ao's position and location will require us to find them ourselves."
He sat down after speaking.
Shikaku said, "If the opportunity is right, I think we can take advantage of it."
"Agreed."
Kakashi nodded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "What about the candidates?"
"It's best to send an Anbu team skilled in Water Release, Earth Release, and sensory reconnaissance. That way, even if they encounter strong enemies from the Hidden Mist, they can retreat calmly."
Kakashi replied.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Masahiko is a good candidate."
"Masahiko—what has he been up to lately?"
Shikaku looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Masahiko had been away from the Village for a month. Aside from the Hokage, no one knew where he was.
Hiruzen Sarutobi scanned the room and said, "He has been in the Land of Water recently, winning over nobles and merchants there, and arranging for spies to go undercover."
He paused slightly at this point.
"Our first-hand intelligence was sent by Masahiko. Additionally, he sent news that Zabuza defected and attempted to assassinate the Mizukage, with unknown results."
Everyone understood then.
Shikaku couldn't help but sigh, "To be able to quickly build his own intelligence network in just a few short months, Masahiko has really worked hard!"
After finishing his work with the Hidden Cloud Village, he had quickly sent the medicinal herbs to Masahiko's side. Unfortunately, Masahiko couldn't stay in Konoha for long.
The promised dinner had never happened.
He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Zabuza's defection from the Hidden Mist—this is a rare opportunity. I believe we can send an elite squad to find this Ao, assassinate him, and bring him back to Konoha!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Kakashi, take an elite squad and work with Hyuga Tokuma to infiltrate the Land of Water, find the target, and coordinate with Masahiko to assassinate and retrieve him."
"Yes!"
Land of Woods, Illusion Forest.
Masahiko sat inside the middle house, veins bulging around his eyes. The Chakra within his body slowly and orderly surged through various Chakra pathways and pressure points.
In the past first month, he had been busy in the Land of Water for a while, laying down the intelligence network with Kabuto.
Starting from the second month—
Since returning here from the Land of Water, he hadn't moved from his spot.
Regulating and cultivating Chakra, occasionally teaching Marutetsu and the children, his strength was also steadily improving.
As for the Land of Water.
Recently, another person had been there, responsible for establishing his personal channels, occasionally transferring a Shadow
Clone over via Summoning Jutsu.
Knock, knock, knock!
There was a knock at the door.
Masahiko opened his eyes and said, "Come in."
"Yes!"
The door opened.
Outside, a child walked in, his gaze filled with timidity and awe.
He had seen it with his own eyes—
His incredibly powerful teacher, Furido, was defeated almost instantly before this man.
The other party's Lightning Release was truly awe-inspiring!
He lowered his head.
"Lord, my teacher has arrived."
"Let him come over."
"Yes!"
Sora turned and left.
Outside, Kazuma walked into the room, looking at the masked man before him with complicated emotions.
Two months ago, he had been found by the other party in the Land of Rivers area.
At that time, he still had some subordinates. Everyone attacked together, yet they still suffered a crushing defeat—it couldn't even be called a crushing defeat, but a one-sided massacre.
The other party was too fast!
Last time, this person hadn't even used his full strength. Once the Lightning Release Chakra Mode was fully activated, his own Wind Release and Earth Release were no match at all.
What was even more startling was that the other party also had a pair of Byakugan.
He didn't have those eyes last time.
"Furido, do you have an answer to my previous question now?"
"No."
Kazuma replied.
He fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "But... it seems the Daimyo cannot manage the country well either."
These past few months, he had traveled to many places, experienced some things, and seen relatively good Daimyo, but also very poor managers.
There were various factors involved.
The quality of the heir was one; the other was enemies like nobles and foreign Ninjas.
Even...
This situation was no exception in a great nation like the Land of Water; they once controlled the Yuki Clan and the Kaguya Clan.
And the result?
Under constant internal strife and balancing, the current Land of Water was weakening generation by generation.
Kazuma could not be sure if his original path was better—
He fell silent for a few seconds and asked, "Lord, what kind of system do you think is most appropriate?"
"In the most ancient era, the various Ninja clans fought amongst themselves. The Ninja Village system was undoubtedly the appropriate path. It is currently lacking because times are changing."
Masahiko gave an indirect answer.
He looked outside and said, "Every era has only its appropriate path; a so-called best or only correct path does not exist."
"At present, I can only say—I believe a system that gives everyone an opportunity is superior to clan inheritance and the current narrow Hidden Village elections."
Masahiko spoke slowly.
Kazuma was silent for a long time, then nodded slightly. "Yes, I understand!"
Masahiko knew very well.
The current Kazuma only submitted to him because of his strength.
But since the "Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal" had been placed on these people, they were unable to leak any secrets related to him, so Masahiko didn't mind.
"Here is temporarily left to you."
"Yes!"
Going outside, Masahiko's eyes reverted to his previous pair.
As long as one mastered Medical Ninjutsu, they could transplant and replace eyes at any time.
It just hurt a bit.
"The charm of the Ninja World!"
Masahiko sighed.
After disguising himself, he took a boat to the Land of Water.
Soon after reaching the shore—
He used the Summoning Jutsu to call forth the Village's Ninja Birds.
Among the flock, one Ninja Bird carrying an Intelligence Scroll was particularly eye-catching.
He took the scroll.
At night, in a forest on the coast of the Land of Water.
Masahiko met with Kakashi.
It was at this moment—
[naruto: prequel Episode 24 filming complete!]
[Editing—]
[Production successful!]
[Total screen time: 8 minutes 32 seconds. Shot percentage: 40.6%]
[Prompt: ————]
A new episode was finished.
Masahiko glanced at it, then looked at Kakashi and said, "The Village received all my intelligence?"
"Yes, the news about Zabuza—while shocking, based on various verifications, it shouldn't have caused substantial harm to the Mizukage."
Kakashi nodded.
He looked in the direction of the Hidden Mist Village.
"Now, our mission is to find the Byakugan of the Hidden Mist Village, assassinate him, and retrieve it."
"I've been monitoring their movements lately and roughly know the position of their units. Since Tokuma is here—we can go look for them together."
"Mm."
End.