Vines twisted and spiraled upward as Yako's face became covered by a swirling mask identical to Guruguru's.
Disguised as Guruguru, Yako's body slowly sank into the ground and vanished.
Let Sarutobi Kanosuke rest for a while.
The blame for everything in the Land of Rivers could be carried by Guruguru instead.
After all, all of you treat Konoha as an enemy. You must be eager to kill Mitokado Homura.
I, Yako, am a kind-hearted man. I hate seeing people anxious or stressed out about doing something. However, since I've helped you fulfill your wish, remember to repay the favor later.
Outside the capital of the Land of Rivers, two kilometers away.
Mitokado Etsu and Mitokado Hiki stood outside the city with three Guardian Captains to welcome his father.
Mitokado Hiki had originally been named Utatane Hiki, the daughter of Utatane Koharu. After marrying Mitokado Etsu, she changed her name to Mitokado Hiki.
Mitokado Hiki said, "After Father finishes visiting the Land of Rivers and leaves here, he'll finally be able to return to the village, right?"
"Yes. On this trip Father has already met the daimyō of Uzushio Village, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Grass. He circled nearly the entire Land of Fire. For Konoha, Father has worked too hard."
The two of them stood on the edge of the river valley, worrying over their father.
What they did not know was that on the cliff beside the river, a wooden spiral mask slowly emerged, hearing every word they spoke.
The Mayfly Technique truly was a divine technique.
Black Zetsu had used it to gather intelligence across the shinobi world and become a hidden manipulator behind the scenes.
Yako, learning from that example, could also become very… dark.
Soon, a group of figures appeared in the distance.
Mitokado Homura arrived with four assistants, flashing down with the Body Flicker Technique and landing in front of Mitokado Etsu.
"Etsu, Hiki. It's been half a year since I last saw you."
Looking at his son and daughter-in-law, Mitokado Homura felt genuine joy.
What a pity, though. Hiki still hadn't become pregnant. If only she could give him a grandson soon.
Among his generation, Akimichi Torifu had already retired early and even had a grandson. As for the other high-level advisers who continued to toil away, most of them had very few descendants.
The stronger the ninja, the more hidden injuries their bodies carried. And the harder it became for them to have children.
Among them, they all knew one secret.
Their teacher, the Second Hokage—so powerful, the inventor of countless forbidden techniques and secret jutsu—had never solved his own infertility.
"Father, was the journey smooth?" Etsu asked.
"Smooth… and not smooth."
Mitokado Homura waved his hand, dismissing the assistants and the other Guardian Captains. Soon, only the three of them remained beside the river valley.
He stepped forward to the edge of the cliff, lowering his gaze toward the roaring river below.
Yako's heart tightened. He almost attacked prematurely.
Had Mitokado Homura discovered something? Or was he simply admiring the scenery?
Still staring into the rushing water, Mitokado Homura said,
"The smooth part of this trip was that I reassured the daimyō of our three vassal states.
Even the daimyō of the Land of Grass promised absolute loyalty. They won't doubt Konoha's strength just because three Guardian Captains died in succession.
But frankly speaking… the strength of the Shimura clan grows weaker with each generation.
Back when the village was founded, the Shimura clan ranked fifth among the ninja clans—after the Senju, the Uchiha, the Hyuga, and the Sarutobi.
Now they can't even protect a daimyō. They've caused far too many problems."
Mitokado Hiki said, "Even though the Shimura clan's strength has declined, everything turned out fine in the end. The daimyō will still continue entrusting missions to Konoha."
Mitokado Homura smiled faintly.
"Hiki, the issue isn't that simple.
The Shimura clan botched the Guardian Captain assignment.
Danzo's plan was to send Hatake Sakumo to the Land of Grass, engineer a mission failure, and then pin the loss of the mission on him.
But Hatake Sakumo proved too strong. The plan failed.
The daimyō of the Land of Grass still distrusts Konoha, and the blame currently rests on the Shimura clan.
Hatake Sakumo performed too well… yet the underlying problem in the Land of Grass still remains.
What I fear most is this—if Shimura Kōhi, the Guardian Captain there, dies as well, the entire situation will explode again."
Understanding dawned in Hiki's eyes.
So that was the reason.
The incredible success of the White Fang of Konoha's mission had actually become a headache for people like her father.
After thinking briefly, Etsu said,
"Father, since the daimyō of the Land of Grass reversed his stance and trusts Konoha again… couldn't the credit be attributed to your diplomatic mission instead? That would prevent Hatake Sakumo from gaining further merit."
Mitokado Homura nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of approval.
"Exactly. I'm already working on that.
Etsu, your thinking is excellent. You're beginning to understand what the greater interests of Konoha truly mean."
Hiki was delighted to hear her father praise her husband.
Listening from below, Yako felt disgusted.
Utterly disgusted.
Mitokado Homura continued,
"Etsu, you must also be careful here. Someone capable of targeting the Shimura clan's Guardian Captains may also target you and Hiki.
The position of Guardian Captain is the fattest post in Konoha. It controls the distribution of missions within an entire small nation.
Many people covet that seat.
The Sarutobi clan serves as Guardian Captain for the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water. The Ino–Shika–Chō clans handle Uzushio Village. The Shimura clan handles the Land of Grass. And we oversee the Land of Rivers.
This order has been disrupted because of the Shimura clan's decline.
But this system is the foundation of our power. It must not be lost."
Hearing that someone might attack him, Etsu's tone filled with concern.
"Father… the daimyō of the Land of Rivers drifts between consciousness and coma. The periods of unconsciousness are growing longer.
I can't determine the cause.
I suspect the Hidden Sand Village is involved.
The Hidden Stone Village coveted the mission shares in the Land of Grass so much that they even sent a Jinchūriki there.
I suspect the Hidden Sand Village might take a similar risk. They're eyeing the mission shares of the Land of Rivers."
Etsu lowered his voice.
"Father… I suspect the daimyō has been poisoned."
Mitokado Homura's expression instantly hardened.
If the daimyō were poisoned to death, the consequences would be enormous.
Below the cliff, Yako thought,
So that's it. The daimyō's coma caused Chisa to lose power… and the reason was the Hidden Sand Village stirring trouble.
The Hidden Sand Village lacked the boldness of the Hidden Stone Village.
The Hidden Stone Village sent elite forces straight into the Land of Grass.
The Hidden Sand Village, on the other hand, began with poison—testing Konoha's reaction.
Mitokado Homura felt a chill run down his spine.
At least the Shimura clan was still a major clan. They could squander dozens of jonin.
He and Utatane Koharu each had one son and one daughter.
His son and daughter-in-law only had one life.
Mitokado Homura said,
"Etsu… it seems it's time to teach you that technique.
The technique the Second Hokage taught me requires a great deal of money. I told you before to find ways to gather funds.
How much savings do you currently have?"
Yako's eyes narrowed.
What secret technique was Mitokado Homura about to teach his son?
Judging by his tone, it was powerful enough that he believed mastering it would solve the current threat.
Yako felt an itch of curiosity.
Etsu said, "Father, I currently have 112 million ryō. I'm not sure if that's enough."
Yako froze.
How much?
112 million ryō?
The bounty on Sarutobi Hiruzen's head wouldn't even approach that amount.
With that kind of money, you could practically buy Sarutobi Hiruzen's life.
So after all this… the real parasites draining Konoha were this father and son!
You're truly greedy.
Greedy enough to dare it.
And capable enough to pull it off.
"112 million ryō… a bit low," Mitokado Homura said after thinking for a moment.
"Etsu, you've served as Guardian Captain for the daimyō of the Land of Rivers for four years now.
During those four years you've been diligent, but you still lack decisiveness.
I aligned myself completely with Sarutobi Hiruzen for one reason—the Sarutobi clan's explosive tags.
The manufacture and sale of explosive tags in Konoha are almost entirely monopolized by the Sarutobi clan. Market price is ten thousand ryō per tag.
An ordinary genin might save for months just to gather three or five tags to risk their life in a desperate moment.
The Sarutobi clan will never allow explosive tags to drop in price.
The Uchiha clan is also skilled at making explosive tags. However, the village has designated them as controlled military supplies. The Uchiha are forbidden from selling them externally.
Their explosive tags can only be used within their own clan.
Sarutobi Hiruzen previously promised me I could purchase explosive tags from the Sarutobi clan at a discount.
They're willing to sell them to me for five thousand ryō each.
I'll take the money you've saved and prepare enough explosive tags for you.
Etsu… since the Hidden Sand Village is eyeing the Land of Rivers like a tiger, it's time to teach you that technique."
Etsu's breathing grew heavier with excitement.
"Father… you mean the Second Hokage's technique—Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags?"
"Yes," Mitokado Homura said.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen's Five Elements Great Barrage has no upper limit so long as he has enough chakra.
The Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags may only be an A-rank technique… but with enough money to buy explosive tags, its power also has no upper limit."
Inside the river valley, Yako felt his heart pound.
So the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags had been passed down to Mitokado Homura.
And he had hidden it well—no one inside or outside the village knew.
Etsu said,
"Father, the First Prince approached me and asked to cooperate.
He wants to deal with his aunt, Kojii Chisa.
If the cooperation succeeds and Kojii Chisa is eliminated, the First Prince will pay me thirty million ryō upfront.
In addition, I would assign people to guard three hydroelectric stations.
The pay for that mission is extremely high—an A-rank mission paid weekly."
Mitokado Homura frowned.
"The reward is that great? What exactly does he want?"
Etsu replied,
"Father, the First Prince wants us to assassinate Kojii Chisa… and her son.
Kojii Chisa controls the three hydroelectric stations. She's the First Prince's greatest political enemy."
Behind the mask, Yako's eyes turned cold.
So the First Prince's real objective was the three hydroelectric stations.
Chisa had simply been standing in his way.
Mitokado Homura said,
"This mission is simple. Killing a woman and a child is hardly difficult. I think we should just—"
Before he could finish his sentence—
A murderous intent erupted!
From the cliffside of the river valley, a figure suddenly burst out!
Before anyone could even see who it was, a kunai shot straight toward Mitokado Homura's eye.
The four faces of the kunai gleamed like mirrors.
One of them reflected the terrified face of his son, Mitokado Etsu.
Bang!
A cloud of white smoke burst out.
Yako froze.
With his current strength, even a surprise attack had failed.
When the smoke cleared, the kunai had struck a massive scroll.
At the critical moment, the large scroll had blocked the attack.
Mitokado Homura and the couple quickly leapt backward.
Both sides cautiously sized each other up.
Seeing the distinctive spiral mask, Mitokado Homura immediately recognized the attacker.
"Spiral Zetsu!"
Meanwhile, Yako stared at the giant scroll in Homura's hand.
During the Night of the Nine-Tails, there had been a scene where Sarutobi Hiruzen led Konoha's forces against the Nine-Tails.
The bespectacled Mitokado Homura had been holding a massive scroll exactly like this one.
Who knew what kind of trump card was hidden inside that scroll…