Chapter 233:
"What's going on here?!"
Hyūga A scanned the surroundings. As the first liquid-state robots to be developed, Hyūga A, B, and C weren't equipped with a full set of functionalities.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A dragon of water surged forward, slamming into Hyūga C and sending him flying over ten meters away.
"What?!" Chōjūrō looked toward the knocked-back Hyūga C. "Is he one of ours?"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Hyūga B immediately launched a counterattack, blasting powerful gusts from his sleeves—wind strong enough to match the chakra output of a full-fledged jōnin.
The fierce wind scattered the dense white mist, revealing the two individuals who had come to support them.
Once known as Zabuza and Haku, they now went by Kōsuke Hōji and Suzuya Juuzo, accompanied by Might Guy, who leaned on a crutch. All three wore white trench coats and carried matching white briefcases.
"Looks like the intel from HQ was accurate. I didn't expect Konoha to actually be infiltrated by liquid-state robots."
Zabuza glanced at the now-exposed Hyūga C, who had reverted to his original form after being hit by his Water Dragon Bullet. As he spoke, he opened his white briefcase to reveal a blood-red broadsword.
"Who are you people?"
Chōjūrō addressed Zabuza, who was clearly the leader of the three.
"We're CCG investigators. I'm Special Class Investigator Kōsuke Hōji."
Zabuza kept his eyes on the two remaining liquid-state robots as he spoke.
"Second-Class Investigator Suzuya Juuzo," said Haku, turning to Chōjūrō.
"I'm also a Second-Class Investigator with the CCG, the resurrected Azure Beast—Might Guy!" Guy flashed his brilliant white teeth.
Hyūga A and B exchanged a glance—and decisively chose to flee.
"With me—the resurrected beast—here, you're not getting away!" Guy declared, opening his briefcase. A mass of blue material wrapped around his severed leg and eventually formed into a jagged, spiked blue Quinque leg. "Eight Inner Gates—Gate of Life, open!"
Due to material constraints in crafting the Quinque leg, Might Guy couldn't unlock more of the Eight Inner Gates. But opening the third gate—the Gate of Life—was still within reach.
Green chakra burst from around his body. In a flash, Guy appeared in front of the fleeing Hyūga A and B, kicking them both back.
Struggling to their feet, Hyūga A and B found Zabuza and Haku blocking the front, Might Guy behind them, and Chōjūrō and Mei Terumi observing from the side. Escape was no longer an option.
"Give it up. There's nowhere left to run."
From behind them, Might Guy addressed the two. Although he had regained a leg, it was still unfamiliar, so that last kick hadn't been enough to force Hyūga A and B back into their original forms.
Neither Hyūga A nor B responded. Instead, they pressed a switch on the wrist-mounted Scientific Ninja Tools on their right arms: "Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"
"What?!"
Mei Terumi's face was filled with shock.
Even the best Scientific Ninja Tools typically struggled to handle A-Rank jutsu. Using an S-Rank technique like the Rasenshuriken? That was virtually unheard of.
Though these were upgraded versions developed by S.H.I.E.L.D., deploying an S-Rank jutsu was still highly taxing. The tools were basically single-use at that level. This was Hyūga A and B's final desperate gambit.
Two Rasenshuriken spun into being over their upraised right hands, screeching with a high-pitched whine.
Zabuza instinctively took a step back. A pair of attacks at that level—none of them could block it.
Without hesitation, Hyūga A and B hurled the Rasenshuriken toward the group.
They wouldn't reach Might Guy, but it was the best they could manage.
Just then, a golden figure flashed out from the dense forest beside them.
In Sage Fox Mode, Naruto appeared before everyone, his left and right chakra arms—formed from Nine Tails' chakra—grabbing a Rasenshuriken each.
Naruto grunted. "As expected from a jutsu I created… The power's insane..."
As he spoke, the chakra arms flung the Rasenshuriken into the air. They exploded midair, and even from a considerable distance, the shockwaves were strong enough to flatten an entire swath of trees.
"I imagine the two of you have quite a bit to explain."
Naruto, still in Sage Fox Mode, looked at Hyūga A and C, who stood powerless now that their Scientific Ninja Tools were destroyed.
"Naruto, they're liquid-state robots—basically specialized Scientific Ninja Tools. You won't get any intel from them."
Zabuza spoke from behind Naruto.
"Is that so..."
Naruto scratched his head.
Outside Konoha, in a mountain cave—
"Sorry, Chōjūrō. Things are complicated in the village right now, so we had to put you here for the time being."
"No problem, Naruto."
Chōjūrō shook his head.
"By the way, Chōjūrō, what exactly happened in Kirigakure? Why were the two of you branded as missing-nin?"
As Naruto spoke, he glanced at Mei Terumi, who stood beside Chōjūrō.
"...Naruto, do you know who the newly appointed Seventh Mizukage is?"
Chōjūrō asked.
"No idea." Naruto shook his head. "Who is it?"
"It's Evilmoku—the leader of Kara."
"What?! Evilmoku became the Seventh Mizukage of Kirigakure?!"
Naruto was visibly shocked.
"Yeah."
Chōjūrō nodded gravely—his expression clearly showed he wasn't joking.
Kirigakure had completely fallen into Evilmoku's hands. And as for Konoha—although Naruto still held the title of Hokage on paper—who among the people beneath him still truly followed his command was now uncertain. Most likely, Konoha had already fallen under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s control to a significant degree.
Those three liquid-state robots were also a major headache. They stood right in front of them, and yet they couldn't extract a single piece of useful intel.
And not just for this group. Ever since Amado was quietly taken from Konoha by Code and Boro, the entire Scientific Ninja Tools Division had effectively been abandoned.
"Seems like things are looking grim in Kirigakure too…"
Naruto's expression turned somber.
As Naruto fell silent, the others followed suit, the only sound breaking the quiet coming from outside the cave—Might Guy's excited howls as he adapted to his new leg.