From the perspective of jōnin-level strength, Shisui and Itachi were indeed the best choices.
Hakuki could only entrust the mission to them.
"Stay safe."
Just before they left, Hakuki spoke seriously. "The mission can fail. But you cannot be harmed."
Hyūga Tenri knew this mission was a gamble with death. She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Hakuki.
Her face buried in his chest. "Sensei, I will come back!"
Hakuki's expression softened. This year, Hyūga Tenri was still just a girl.
He gently patted her hair. "Good."
When Tenri finally pulled away, her eyes were slightly red.
Jūri instinctively opened his arms and stepped towards Hakuki.
Tenri had hugged him. So it shouldn't be too much if he did the same, right?
His face was solemn, but his steps towards Hakuki were a bit too eager.
"Oof!"
Darkness. A hand pressed flat against his face, stopping him cold.
"Hokage-sama, please trust us!"
Masako's bright, energetic voice rang out.
Jūri fumed, grabbing the wrist and pulling the hand away.
Shisui calmly retrieved his hand.
"…"
Damn it!
Uchiha Shisui!
Jūri cursed internally. But he could only be dragged along by Masako, watching the distance between him and Hakuki grow.
"You're shameless!"
"If Shisui hadn't reacted fast, you cheeky bastard would've gotten away with it!"
Masako chattered the whole way, rolling her eyes at Jūri.
Jūri: "…"
Just who was being shameless here?
Hyūga Tenri was in her growth spurt. Tall, slender, but well-proportioned.
She wore the Hyūga clan's form-fitting white combat attire, her slender, pale hands wrapped in bandages.
Not from injury. Her fighting style required them.
Compared to ninjutsu, Tenri had a far greater talent for taijutsu.
Uchiha Itachi was silent for most of the journey, only occasionally exchanging words with Shisui.
Takigakure was located in the center of the four great nations.
Though its position was unique, its peculiar geography had allowed it to perfectly avoid every major war.
Like a hidden paradise.
But the presence of a Tailed Beast meant Takigakure could no longer hide from the gathering storm.
The village lay behind a colossal waterfall, completely concealed by the roaring curtain of water.
Even after arriving, Shisui and the others needed a guide from Takigakure. Finding the entrance on their own was impossible.
"Wow! The scenery here is amazing!"
Masako followed the guide, marveling at the sight.
Passing through the thick wall of water revealed a hidden world.
A village nestled in orderly tiers. Emerald-green rice paddies. Lush forests. Crystal-clear streams.
Compared to Konoha's bustling streets, this place held the serene beauty of untouched countryside.
No excessive commercialization. Each household lived contentedly.
"Where exactly were members of the Akatsuki spotted?"
Shisui asked the question.
Through the joint investigations of various nations, they'd learned the organization's name and the distinctive black cloaks with red clouds.
Their guide was Takigakure's leader, Hyōki—a ninja whose hair was already completely white.
Takigakure revered peace, staying out of worldly conflicts. The village had very few ninja, and its leader wasn't particularly powerful.
Despite his fierce-sounding name, Hyōki was a kindly, gentle old man.
Mention of the Akatsuki brought a bitter expression to his face.
"A young ninja from our village, while on a mission, saw people in black cloaks with red clouds lingering near the waterfall's entrance."
Hyōki explained, the deep wrinkles on his face seeming to deepen further.
"Tenri."
Shisui looked at Hyūga Tenri.
She nodded, forming a hand seal. Veins bulged around her eyes.
"Byakugan!"
Everything within her field of vision was laid bare.
Her attention swept over person after person. No trace of Akatsuki members.
All eyes were on Tenri, waiting for her verdict.
She shook her head. "No signs of Akatsuki."
Jūri spoke up. "That means they haven't entered Takigakure yet. We have ample time to prepare."
If their goal was the Seven-Tails jinchūriki, they could split into two teams and move the jinchūriki in the opposite direction as a diversion.
"Where is the Seven-Tails jinchūriki?"
Shisui looked at Hyōki.
Every second was crucial now. They needed to coordinate with the jinchūriki beforehand.
At the mention of the jinchūriki, Hyōki's expression grew even more troubled.
"The previous Seven-Tails jinchūriki passed away. The current one is… new."
"Take us to them!"
Masako stepped forward.
Hyōki hesitated, then nodded.
Moments later.
Masako's expression cracked.
"This… this is the jinchūriki?"
She stared at the little kid in front of her, feelings complicated.
No wonder Takigakure asked for help.
If it was a jinchūriki with combat ability, fine. But this child clearly hadn't even started the Academy.
"This is our village's Seven-Tails jinchūriki—Fū!"
Hyōki bent down, patting Fū's head gently. "Fū, these big brothers and sisters are here to protect you."
Fū looked up, studying them carefully. After a long moment, she shook her head. "Fū doesn't need their protection!"
Masako's eye twitched.
See? Kids were a pain.
Hyōki looked slightly embarrassed. He chuckled awkwardly, his gaze toward Shisui's team full of apology.
Of course, they wouldn't argue with a little girl.
But this was a special situation.
They didn't have time to coax a child.
"Tenri, pick up the jinchūriki."
Masako pursed her lips, instructing Tenri.
Hyūga Tenri, who had always disliked children, wore an expression of pure resistance. She looked sincerely at Masako. "Senpai, why don't you do it?"
Masako stared back silently. "I thought you knew the reason."
Besides dislike, was there another reason?
Tenri was equally silent. "Senpai, I thought you understood me."
They stared at each other. Finally, their gazes shifted simultaneously to Uchiha Itachi.
"…"
Uchiha Itachi sighed inwardly and stepped forward. He asked Fū, "Your situation is very dangerous right now. Would you come with us? We will protect you."
Fū's eyes lit up as she stared at Itachi. "Damn, he's hot!"
"…"
Shisui's mouth twitched.
"…"
Jūri stared, dumbfounded.
"…"
Masako and Tenri were left speechless.
Fū obediently wrapped her arms around Itachi's neck, her jewel-like orange eyes fixed intently on his face.
"Spread the word. Takigakure is moving the Seven-Tails jinchūriki toward the Land of Fire, toward Konoha. The escort is the Hokage's personal guard."
Shisui instructed Hyōki.
Hyōki nodded immediately.
Shisui turned to Itachi. "You and Tenri head for Konoha. Jūri, Masako, and I will hold the perimeter outside Takigakure."
Itachi and Tenri nodded.
The Akatsuki weren't fools. They would see through such an obvious diversion immediately. Instead of ambushing the road to the Land of Fire, they would attack Takigakure directly.
Hyōki followed Shisui's orders, quickly spreading the information.
Outside Takigakure, in a small town.
Hidan heard the merchants discussing the news. His eyes lit up.
"We can ambush them right on the road from Takigakure to Konoha!"
Hidan put one foot on a bench, excitedly proposing to Kakuzu.
"Hanataki-sama said capturing a Tailed Beast would show Lord Jashin my sincerity!"
Hidan held immense respect for Hanataki, the messenger of Lord Jashin. The man was the key link between him and his god.
"…"
Kakuzu took a sip of tea. "We go directly to Takigakure."
Hidan blinked. "Why?"
Kakuzu stood up, his look one of utter disdain for Hidan's intellect. "Can't you see through such a crude trick?"
He'd seen through tactics like this decades ago.
He couldn't believe people were still using them.
Announce the jinchūriki has left, while the jinchūriki stays safe in the village.
"Tch."
Kakuzu scoffed. "Let's go."
Hidan followed behind, unable to grasp Kakuzu's meaning. He stomped his foot in frustration. "What do you mean? Explain clearly!"
Kakuzu ignored him, tuning out the noise.
"You animal!"
Hidan fumed, barely stopping himself from swinging his giant triple-bladed scythe.
Kakuzu stopped. He looked back at Hidan, his gaze flat. "Watch your mouth."
If it weren't for Hanataki, Hidan's head would already be rolling.
"…"
Hidan paused, remembering Hanataki's warning before they left.
"Don't cause trouble on the road. And under no circumstances are you two to fight each other."
Hanataki's words echoed in his mind.
Hidan scoffed and slung his scythe back over his shoulder.
Spray from the thundering waterfall misted the air.
Kakuzu brushed the water droplets from his cloak.
The Akatsuki robes were made of waterproof material.
The beads of water slid off, falling to the ground.
Hidan asked, "Do you even know where the jinchūriki is?"
Kakuzu answered calmly. "No."
Hidan turned his head, studying Kakuzu's face for any clue.
How, Hidan wondered, does he manage to sound so confident while admitting he doesn't know?
"But it's simple."
Kakuzu continued. "We just ask the people in the village."
A village of several hundred people.
If you killed them one by one, Kakuzu didn't believe anyone could keep their mouth shut forever.
Hidan understood instantly this time.
His lips stretched into a wide grin. "Now that's more like it!"
That would be enough sacrificial offerings for Lord Jashin!
Others might not know how to enter Takigakure, but Kakuzu was different.
He was once a ninja of Takigakure.
"Let's go in."
Kakuzu's voice cut through the roar of the waterfall, cold enough to freeze the very pool beneath them.
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