"So, our current situation is that we traded some ninjutsu in exchange for a modified version of puppet techniques?"
Inside a dim underground chamber, the Fourth Kazekage spoke in a flat tone, his expression completely unreadable.
Baki lowered his head.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama. But I've seen that technique with my own eyes. It's extremely refined and forms a completely independent system. If it can be promoted on a large scale, Sunagakure's overall strength will definitely rise to another level."
"I understand."
Rasa's voice carried no emotion.
The cramped chamber fell into silence. After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Baki, I understand your thinking. You've worked hard."
"It's my failure," Baki replied softly. "If I were more capable, things wouldn't have ended this way."
"It's not your fault. It's Orochimaru's."
Rasa shook his head, a flash of anger appearing on his face.
Orochimaru!
Once he got out of this place, he would kill that man with his own hands—otherwise, he would never be able to vent this rage.
Baki hesitated, then spoke cautiously.
"Kazekage-sama… Orochimaru, he—he's already dead."
"…What?"
Rasa stared at him in shock.
"Didn't Orochimaru escape?"
"It's said he was killed by the Second Hokage's technique."
Baki didn't know the details either. He had only heard that Orochimaru died at the hands of Senju Tobirama. By now, the body was probably already cold.
Rasa fell silent for several seconds.
This… really wasn't something he had expected.
Which made things even stranger.
If that was the case, then Orochimaru hadn't deliberately set him up—his ninjutsu had genuinely been破解.
But then—
How did Yagyū Souma know how to counter Edo Tensei?
Unless…
That boy had studied it himself?
Among shinobi, there was a common understanding: only someone who had personally researched or practiced a technique could understand it so thoroughly.
Rasa's face turned slightly pale.
If that was true, then this loss was unavoidable. In fact, Sunagakure might even owe the other party thanks—
They could have seized everything by force, yet instead created a puppet-taijutsu system and handed it over.
Rasa took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, but the stifling frustration in his chest refused to dissipate.
"Kazekage-sama," Baki continued carefully, "in my opinion, we shouldn't compete with Konoha anymore. We can't win. Yagyū Souma's strength is terrifying—his taijutsu alone is enough to kill in the blink of an eye…"
Before he could finish, a strange sound echoed in the room.
Thick, sticky liquid splattered onto Baki's head.
He looked up—and saw Rasa slumped sideways, collapsing to the ground.
"Kazekage-sama! Someone—quick! The Kazekage has collapsed!"
"The Kazekage collapsed? What does that have to do with me?"
Souma sat inside Ichiraku Ramen. By coincidence, Kakashi and Naruto were there as well, chatting casually. Then Kakashi mentioned Rasa's collapse—and somehow implied it was connected to him.
What kind of logic was that?
Kakashi leaned closer and whispered,
"Didn't you pressure Baki into agreeing to certain conditions?"
"What do you mean pressure? That was peaceful negotiation."
"..."
Kakashi's mouth twitched.
It hadn't been long since they last met, but this disciple of his had clearly grown much thicker-skinned.
"In any case," Kakashi continued, "Rasa talked with Baki for a while, then suddenly collapsed. We don't know the specifics. He is the Kazekage—we can't exactly monitor him."
"It definitely has nothing to do with me."
Souma shook his head firmly.
This blame was not his to bear.
"Souma-senpai, Kakashi-sensei, what are you talking about? The ramen's here."
"Right, eat, eat…"
Kakashi was answering when his gaze suddenly met Souma's. Without changing expression, he subtly glanced behind them.
This presence—
He gave Souma a signal.
Souma immediately used mental transmission.
"Familiar?"
"..."
Kakashi didn't dare respond.
Souma could use mental communication—he couldn't. All he could do was hint through small movements while eating.
Souma understood at once.
Just like before…
Itachi is here.
He sent another message:
"Let them pass first. Have someone follow afterward."
"Is the ramen enough? Want another bowl?"
Kakashi spoke warmly to Naruto.
Meanwhile, Souma's perception stayed locked on the surroundings. Two presences slowly passed by the shop entrance. Even the river mist outside seemed to thicken slightly.
Uchiha Itachi.
Hoshigaki Kisame.
That duo really had come.
Souma calmly sped up his eating. By the time he finished, Itachi and Kisame were already leaving the village, heading toward the outskirts.
Souma stood up.
"Kakashi-sensei, I've got something to handle. I'll head out first."
"Alright."
Kakashi nodded and continued chatting with Naruto.
As Souma stepped outside, his mind raced.
What should he do when he met Itachi?
Expose Itachi's identity in secret?
If Souma wanted Izanami, this might be the only path. Even if he couldn't fully gain Itachi's trust, it could at least serve as a bridge.
But—
Itachi couldn't use mental transmission. If Souma wanted to talk privately, the only way was to deliberately enter Tsukuyomi.
That…
Even with his steady mental training, willingly stepping into Tsukuyomi was still dangerous.
"…Forget it. I'll find two helpers first."
If he was going to act, he'd act properly.
If he got caught in a genjutsu while everyone else stood perfectly fine, it would look strange no matter how you explained it.
Luckily, a certain "dog couple" was nearby.
Souma silently approached.
"Red, how's your medical ninjutsu training coming along lately?"
"I've mainly been practicing chakra scalpels," Kurenai replied softly. "I've already mastered it, and it suits me quite well. I'm just considering whether to pursue medical ninjutsu more seriously…"
She and Asuma were walking side by side, speaking quietly.
A shinobi date was always this plain and uneventful.
Asuma was about to respond when a breeze passed—and a voice sounded from behind them.
"Sorry to interrupt, but something urgent came up. Could you two help me for a moment?"
Souma stood behind them.
Asuma sighed.
"What is it? Don't tell me you want me to help research ninjutsu again. That can wait."
He still sounded a bit resentful.
He had finally found time alone with Kurenai, only for an uninvited guest to appear.
Kurenai coughed lightly.
"Asuma, if Souma came personally, it must be serious."
"Red-senpai really is understanding. Unlike someone else."
Souma smiled faintly and went straight to the point.
"Kakashi and I discovered two intruders. One of them is suspected to be Uchiha Itachi, a missing-nin from Konoha."
"What?!"
Asuma instantly grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Uchiha Itachi—
That man had returned to the village?!
"Let's go."
"No rush," Souma said calmly. "Let them leave the village first. We'll engage outside."
"That works."
Souma led Asuma and Kurenai toward the outskirts, briefing them along the way on techniques for dealing with the Sharingan.
Kurenai's taijutsu wasn't her strong suit—she likely couldn't fight without looking at the opponent's upper body.
But—
She and Asuma could handle Kisame.
Asuma understood clearly.
Souma might be young, but his strength far surpassed his own. If even Souma couldn't deal with Itachi, charging in himself would just be suicide.
With the plan settled, the three headed toward the village border.
"Itachi-san, Konoha doesn't seem to have suffered much damage this time. I heard the First and Second Hokage even showed up—haha, Orochimaru really did himself in."
Kisame laughed as he spoke.
Their intel on Konoha was limited, but they had heard Orochimaru used a forbidden technique to summon the two Hokage, only to suffer backlash.
For a former colleague, mockery was the least they could offer.
Too bad Orochimaru wasn't here—otherwise it'd be even funnier.
"Forbidden techniques are forbidden for a reason," Itachi said calmly.
"Orochimaru underestimated others."
"Let's move. Someone's noticed us."
"Should we deal with them?"
"We're not here to kill," Itachi replied. "Our mission is to capture our target. Acting rashly will only draw more attention."
He adjusted his straw hat and turned toward the village exit.
However—
At the riverside outside the village, two figures suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
"Stop right there. At a time like this, what business do you have entering Konoha?"
Asuma gripped Flying Swallow tightly.
Two suspected S-rank missing-nin—one of them possibly Uchiha Itachi.
There was no room for carelessness.
Itachi lifted his head and slowly removed his hat.
"It really is you."
Asuma and Kurenai tensed, then turned toward the other man.
Kurenai vaguely recognized him.
"Hoshigaki Kisame. Former Kirigakure shinobi. S-rank missing-nin."
"Two S-rank missing-nin entering Konoha," Asuma said coldly.
"And Itachi, after causing such a major incident, you still dare to return. You've got nerve."
Itachi sighed softly.
"Asuma-san, Kurenai-san. Please don't stop us. I don't want to kill you."
"Then what's your objective?"
"…Looks like we won't be leaving peacefully."
"So you've decided? Then—"
Kisame swung Samehada, charging straight at Asuma.
But Asuma was faster.
In a flash, he evaded the blow and counterattacked.
Whoosh!
A sharp tearing sound cut through the air. A wound opened on Kisame's arm.
A wind blade?
Kisame narrowed his eyes.
Meanwhile, Itachi stared at Kurenai without moving. Suddenly, he shouted—
"Retreat!"
"What?"
Kisame was momentarily confused, but out of trust in Itachi, he leapt backward several steps.
The next instant, Souma stepped out of the forest with a soft sigh.
"As expected. Trying to easily take down two S-rank missing-nin really isn't that simple."
Earlier, he had tried to use kikaichū carrying explosive tags to set up a trap, hoping to seize Samehada—but Itachi had noticed it instantly.
That level of perception and observation…
Worthy of being a legendary genius.
Souma looked at Uchiha Itachi calmly.
"My name is Yagyū Souma."
"Heh… a brat from Konoha—"
"Don't be careless, Kisame. This one is an extremely dangerous genius."
Itachi drew his kunai with a serious expression.
If he hadn't kept his Sharingan active, he would have fallen into that trap just now. This man's techniques and setups were terrifying—and he wasn't even from the Aburame clan, yet he could use kikaichū.
Strange.
"Itachi-senpai," Souma said with a smile, "I've wanted to fight a genius like you for a long time. This is a perfect opportunity."
"Let's fight elsewhere—no need to interfere with their battlefield."
Kisame squinted.
"Itachi-san?"
"End it quickly."
"Alright."
Kisame hefted Samehada.
"My side won't take long either."
The next moment, the river surged as waves rose violently.
Water Release: Water Shark Bullet!
Asuma and Kurenai retreated while forming seals, using Fire Release to offset the attack—but soon realized their chakra was being drained.
After a brief warning exchange, both sides fell into a fierce stalemate.
Itachi turned his gaze toward Souma.
The next instant, his pupils contracted sharply.
"Itachi-senpai, if I'm not mistaken… you're an undercover agent, aren't you?"
Itachi instinctively glanced behind him.
No one had noticed.
This was—
Mental transmission?
At that moment, a cold voice sounded.
"Distracted while fighting me? Worry about yourself first—otherwise, you'll die here."
The next instant, a blade tore through the air.
A strike so fast that even the Sharingan could only catch fragments of afterimages.
In that split second—
Boom!
The body that was struck exploded violently.
But—
That wasn't Souma's real body.
?!
Itachi reacted instantly, raising his kunai to block a blade coming from behind.
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