Chapter 187: Haven't Even Warmed Their Seats Yet
Within the village shrouded by endless rain curtains, a crisis capable of sweeping across the five great ninja villages was quietly brewing. The five great ninja villages currently had no awareness of this whatsoever.
However, as pieces arranged by Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu, the convergence of these two groups was inevitable. The only differences were timing and what degree of cooperation they would achieve.
Unlike the original historical trajectory where Uchiha Obito impersonated Uchiha Madara and deceived Nagato into creating a plan to forge the strongest weapon, this time Uchiha Tatsuhata chose to show his true face and speak frankly and openly, revealing the Moon's Eye Plan almost entirely.
Why "almost"? Because he'd concealed the fact that the Rinnegan had been transplanted into Nagato by White Zetsu on Uchiha Madara's orders. Sincerity didn't mean revealing every damn thing. What could be said and what couldn't—Uchiha Tatsuhata had his own judgments.
In summary—
Uchiha Tatsuhata's candor proved effective. He and Nagato rapidly reached a cooperative relationship, deciding to jointly execute and implement the Moon's Eye Plan. Having fully tasted the endless pain and despair of the real world, they completely couldn't refuse the beautiful future the Moon's Eye Plan depicted.
Even if it was a beautiful future existing within illusion.
But if it was eternal illusion, how was that different from reality?
Konoha Village.
"Finally back!"
Under the bright midday sunlight already possessing summer's scorching power, Hyuga Ritsu let out a contented sigh!
He stood before Konoha Village's main gate. Not far beside him, Hiruko was exchanging pleasantries with Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, who'd personally come out to welcome their return. Both men's faces wore extremely standard politician-style smiles, occasionally cooperating with reporters for photographs.
Originally, Hyuga Ritsu could also squeeze into the frame, letting his image appear in tomorrow's newspaper. But Hyuga Ritsu truly had no interest in this ceremonial work and was too lazy to force himself to maintain that false smile for extended periods. He simply withdrew outside the camera frame, freely and naturally becoming a bystander.
However—
Uchiha Shisui, Hatake Kakashi, and several others who'd come with Minato kept looking at him, one glance after another, constantly staring.
Hyuga Ritsu sighed somewhat helplessly. "Shisui, Kakashi—if you want to look, look openly. There's nothing shameful about this."
He knew what these guys were looking at.
More accurately, he'd anticipated this situation early on. This pair of horns on his head was so conspicuous—impossible to hide. At the frontline, they'd already attracted considerable attention. Returning to the village would definitely draw even more focus.
Hearing Hyuga Ritsu's words, Uchiha Shisui immediately moved closer, his eyes full of curiosity as he stared directly at the beautiful jade-like horns on Hyuga Ritsu's head. "Ritsu-senpai, how did you go out once and come back with horns growing on your head? I remember only Cloud ninja's Tsuno clan grows horns on their foreheads, right?"
Kakashi and several others also stood silently beside Uchiha Shisui, curiously staring together at the horns on Hyuga Ritsu's head.
"This is called atavism."
"Atavism? Really?"
"If it's not real, could it be fake? You don't think I'm a Cloud ninja in disguise, do you? If you're worried, use that Sharingan of yours to look carefully."
"That's not necessary. I already looked carefully with my Sharingan just now. Ritsu-senpai, though your chakra has changed somewhat since we last met, that terrifyingly vigorous life force of yours simply can't be faked by ordinary people. They couldn't imitate it even if they tried."
Hyuga Ritsu rolled his eyes in exasperation. So you really did look!
Uchiha Shisui grinned and continued asking. "Speaking of which, Ritsu-senpai, according to what you're saying, are your Hyuga clan and Cloud ninja's Tsuno clan actually distant relatives?"
Hyuga Ritsu snorted. "It's not just our Hyuga clan and the Tsuno clan who are distant relatives. Your Uchiha clan is the same. Count back a thousand years—everyone's related."
"That can't be right?"
Uchiha Shisui and the others' eyes widened, thinking Hyuga Ritsu was definitely spouting nonsense.
As for how these horns actually appeared, it should be related to that forbidden technique created by Hokage Assistant Hiruko for seizing others' Kekkei Genkai.
As members of Minato's Shadow Guard, they were qualified to access many classified intelligence reports. Even if they couldn't understand details, they could at least grasp fragments of information.
Hyuga Ritsu chatted here with Uchiha Shisui and others to pass time. However, the Fourth Hokage also disliked wasting too much time on such formalistic activities. It was only because such activities were fully necessary that he followed protocol and went through this required formality.
After maintaining a smile for nearly twenty minutes, the welcoming ceremony finally concluded.
The remaining cleanup work was assigned to advisor elder Inuzuka Gaku. Minato didn't want to waste another moment. He pulled Hiruko along, called out to Hyuga Ritsu, and without even letting the master-student pair return home once, went directly to the Hokage's office.
Within two seconds of the three settling into seats, while Minato's secretary Yuhi Kurenai was still pouring tea, Akimichi Torikaze, Nara Shikaku, and Uchiha Fugaku arrived together.
Yuhi Kurenai efficiently served hot tea to everyone, then quietly withdrew, smoothly closing the room door tightly behind her.
The instant the door closed, Minato already impatiently asked, "Hiruko-senpai, Hyuga Clan Head—what do you think of Sand ninja's cooperation request?"
Hiruko and Hyuga Ritsu exchanged glances.
Hiruko cleared his throat and answered. "Hokage-sama, personally, I think agreeing presents no problems. Missing-nin Anonymous is undoubtedly our Konoha's enemy. Though Sand ninja's strength has severely declined now, even if they can't contribute much in hunting Missing-nin Anonymous, they can still wave flags and cheer!"
The master-student pair had discussed this matter.
They believed agreeing to Sand ninja's cooperation request presented no issues.
Hearing Hiruko's answer, Minato didn't speak but glanced at Nara Shikaku. The jonin commander immediately spoke up. "Hiruko-senpai, there's a new development."
"What?"
Nara Shikaku answered softly. "Sunagakure's Tailed Beast, the One-Tail, was stolen. Now Sand ninja claim they have methods to track the stolen One-Tail. But currently Sunagakure's forces are depleted. Even defending themselves is insufficient. They truly can't spare sufficiently powerful combat strength, so they hope we Konoha will eliminate Missing-nin Anonymous."
Hiruko's eyes narrowed. What did this mean?
Hyuga Ritsu, however, didn't mince words and asked directly. "Hokage-sama, you plan to have us deal with Missing-nin Anonymous?"
Nara Shikaku wanted to respond, but Minato raised his hand to stop him. Meeting Hyuga Ritsu's gaze, he personally answered. "That's right, Hyuga Clan Head. In the village, only you and I have faced Missing-nin Anonymous directly. Moreover, back then you displayed great power and drove off Missing-nin Anonymous. So for this operation, I'm hoping you'll lead the team."
Hiruko immediately frowned.
Just returning to the village without even warming their seats, they were being sent away again to execute such a dangerous mission. Was this working horses to death?
Hyuga Ritsu frowned thoughtfully for seven or eight seconds before speaking. "Hokage-sama, I can accept the mission, but I can't guarantee I'll definitely capture Missing-nin Anonymous. That guy's escape skills are truly formidable. Once he hides, even my Byakugan can't see through to find him."
He wasn't afraid of being worked to death.
He'd just about completed that technique developed by imitating the Tailed Beast cloak and Cloud ninja's Lightning Release Chakra Mode. This was a perfect opportunity to test it in actual combat.
Though he'd sparred with Teacher Hiruko twice already, sparring was just sparring—it lacked sufficient pressure. Hyuga Ritsu had gained little from it.
"Just do your best. Naturally, this kind of mission can't demand guaranteed completion. Moreover, this mission isn't your sole responsibility. In fact, if necessary, everyone in the village must join the battle regardless of who they are."
After speaking solemnly, Minato smiled slightly, continuing in an exceptionally gentle tone. "Hyuga Clan Head, I'm just asking you to make this difficult trip again!"
"It's nothing. We're all working hard for the village's peace."
Hyuga Ritsu waved his hand, completely unconcerned.
With great power comes great responsibility. Though this saying wasn't quite appropriate, the principle was the same. His current self was already one of Konoha Village's top-tier experts, naturally shouldering corresponding responsibilities.
Even if not for the village, he had to consider his own Hyuga clan. The family and village had long been closely connected, sharing prosperity and adversity. The better the village, the more the family could enjoy shade under a large tree. If the village's situation worsened, the Hyuga clan's days would definitely be difficult too.
Moreover—
Minato had also said if necessary, everyone in the village must join the battle regardless of who they are. And Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique could truly accomplish this.
Hyuga Ritsu's mission was actually largely about advance reconnaissance—seeing whether Sand ninja could truly track Missing-nin Anonymous's whereabouts. If they couldn't find him, naturally nothing more needed saying. Hyuga Ritsu would just make a wasted trip. If they found him, then what awaited Missing-nin Anonymous would be an all-out encirclement and extermination deploying Konoha Village's full strength.
Hyuga Ritsu thought for a moment and asked again. "Hokage-sama, besides me, who else will execute this mission together?" Though his mission was advance reconnaissance, the danger level wasn't low at all. He definitely wouldn't be assigned alone—companions would certainly be arranged to act together.
"I plan to have Shisui and Kakashi team up with you. Of course, Hyuga Clan Head, if you have any opinions, we can adjust."
"No need. This arrangement is fine."
Hyuga Ritsu had no objections.
Both Uchiha Shisui and Hatake Kakashi were acquaintances. Shisui's strength was beyond question—currently the Uchiha clan's undisputed strongest. Though Kakashi was somewhat weaker, there was no need to worry about him being a burden. Moreover, with Kakashi, the Hokage's student, contacting Minato would undoubtedly be more convenient.
Hiruko interjected at this moment. "I don't need to go?"
Minato froze, then smiled and shook his head. "Hiruko-senpai, you don't need to run around. The village still requires someone to hold the fort. Sunagakure's cautionary example can't be ignored."
Hiruko raised an eyebrow. "Sand ninja were too weak, and moreover, they were precisely caught at their most vulnerable moment and caught off guard. Our Konoha isn't like those Sand ninja weaklings."
Sand ninja were truly unlucky.
The previous One-Tail jinchuriki had died. The new One-Tail jinchuriki had been changed several times without stabilizing. Consequently, though they possessed a Tailed Beast, it provided absolutely no combat power. Add to this the heavy casualties from the previous Third Shinobi World War, the village's other top-tier expert Pakura wasn't in the village at the time, and another expert named Wamatsu, though in the village, completely failed to appear.
Ultimately, only Fourth Kazekage Rasa and Chiyo fought Missing-nin Anonymous together. They were defeated by him, with even Rasa losing his life.
But Konoha's situation was different—deep foundations, strong elites like clouds. Though Orochimaru had become a missing-nin, top-tier elites in the village still numbered a handful.
Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, Nine-Tails jinchuriki Uzumaki Kushina, one of the Sannin Jiraiya, White Yaksha Hyuga Ritsu, Shisui of the Body Flicker Uchiha Shisui—this was still without counting Hiruko, Uchiha Fugaku, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and others.
"Hiruko-senpai, we can't be careless. The village is the foundation—absolutely nothing can go wrong. Moreover, Kushina is currently pregnant. Her combat capability has significantly declined. Not only is it difficult for her to participate in battle, but if any worst-case scenario occurs, we'll need to allocate people to protect Kushina!"
Watching Minato's serious expression, Hiruko had nothing to say. He'd truly overlooked the Nine-Tails jinchuriki's pregnancy situation.
After two seconds of silence, Hiruko quickly and stiffly changed topics. "Speaking of which, what's Jiraiya's current situation? Still pursuing Orochimaru?"
Minato smiled helplessly without immediately answering Hiruko's question. Instead, he looked at Hyuga Ritsu. "Hyuga Clan Head, I specifically called you here to discuss this matter. If you wish to leave now, you can return home."
Hyuga Ritsu fired off questions in rapid succession. "And then? When do we assemble? Where do we assemble? When do we depart to hunt Missing-nin Anonymous?"
"Assemble at the Hokage Building after dinner this evening. As for departure, if all preparatory work goes smoothly, according to Sand ninja's statements, you can leave tonight or early tomorrow morning."
Minato didn't excessively urge or pressure.
Even though this assignment was urgent enough, he still maintained his composure. The saying went: haste makes waste. The more urgent and dangerous the work, the less one could rush.
"This evening? Understood."
Hyuga Ritsu picked up his teacup and drained it in one gulp, even pouring the tea leaves into his mouth. "Hokage-sama, everyone—please excuse my discourtesy as I take my leave to return home."
After greeting them, he exchanged glances with Hiruko. Hiruko gave him a look that said "go ahead, I've got this."
Hyuga Ritsu nodded slightly, then jumped directly out the open window. After several leaps, his figure disappeared from Minato's field of vision.
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