"You've finally arrived. The mission can begin."
The one who spoke was the kunoichi Reion.
Among the four of them, she was the undisputed leader. Her strength alone was already comparable to that of a Konoha jōnin, and within the black market she possessed an intimidating reputation of her own.
Standing beside her, Hiruko merely nodded, showing no interest in idle chatter. His voice was calm as he delivered a final reminder.
"The target is currently heading toward Takigakure. Remember—we need him alive. Absolutely no killing."
"Got it. You've said that enough already," Reion replied impatiently. "Let's move."
Without waiting for the others, she strode out of the small town. Minamimura Yoru and the man known only as Mouse followed closely behind her.
Hiruko watched their backs for a moment, then quietly followed as well.
After leaving the town, the four immediately set off toward the northern border of the Land of Fire, moving with practiced efficiency.
At the same time, Aomizu arrived at the borderlands.
"This is the place…"
He stood quietly, surveying the terrain before him.
This was where Shirakumo Randou had clashed with the Konoha pursuit unit.
Kneeling down, Aomizu carefully examined the traces left behind—broken branches, scorched earth, faint chakra residues that lingered stubbornly in the air.
The bodies of the hunter-nin had long since been retrieved and returned to Konoha by later search teams. With the entire pursuit unit annihilated, however, Shirakumo Randou had slipped away completely.
For the time being, Konoha had lost his trail.
Which meant that now, Aomizu had to rely solely on himself.
Fortunately, tracking and reconnaissance were fundamental skills taught at the Ninja Academy. As one of its top theoretical students, Aomizu knew exactly where to begin.
It didn't take long.
"There," he muttered.
His eyes narrowed as he spotted a faint disturbance—a subtle inconsistency that only a trained ninja would notice.
"He went this way."
With that judgment, Aomizu moved without hesitation.
Moments later, he entered a dense forest.
A wide river wound through the woods like a silver serpent, reflecting faint light through the thick canopy above. The forest itself felt ancient—untouched, dangerous, alive with the cries of predatory birds and the presence of savage beasts.
In Aomizu's mind, only Konoha's Forest of Death could rival this place.
Stepping onto the river's surface, he infused chakra into his feet and walked forward as if upon solid ground, never once breaking stride.
Eventually, the forest thinned.
A village appeared ahead.
It was a small settlement, inhabited entirely by ordinary civilians. When the villagers saw the unfamiliar figure approach, they stared at him warily.
But the moment they noticed the Leaf Village forehead protector on his brow, fear replaced suspicion.
No one dared speak.
Only after a long silence did an elderly village headman step forward, his posture deeply bent.
"Honored ninja," the old man said carefully, "may I ask what brings you to our village?"
His tone was humble to the point of reverence.
To common folk like them, ninja were walking disasters—beings capable of wiping out an entire settlement if angered.
Unlike the citizens of Konoha, these villagers had no familiarity with shinobi life.
Aomizu noticed this immediately and softened his demeanor.
"Grandfather," he said politely, "I'm looking for someone. Have you seen this man?"
He produced a wanted notice bearing Shirakumo Randou's likeness.
The old man glanced at it—and for a split second, his pupils contracted.
The change was subtle, almost imperceptible.
But Aomizu saw it.
If he hadn't been a ninja, he might have missed it entirely.
So this was the place.
"I'm sorry," the headman said after a moment, shaking his head. "I don't know this person."
"I see," Aomizu replied calmly. "Sorry to have disturbed you."
Without pressing further, he turned and left.
He could sense that the entire village—including the headman—remained on edge in his presence. Forcing the issue would only breed resentment and fear.
Against enemies, Aomizu could be decisive—even ruthless.
But these were civilians.
Moreover, his sensory perception had already confirmed that no other ninja were present in the village.
Shirakumo Randou was not here.
Only after Aomizu disappeared from sight did the villagers finally dare to breathe again.
That night, Aomizu perched atop a tall tree outside the settlement.
He quietly ate his dry rations while observing the village below.
Since departing from Konoha, he hadn't rested even once.
Now was the perfect opportunity.
The night passed without incident.
Morning came.
As dawn broke, Aomizu suddenly sensed movement.
Three figures were racing toward the village at high speed.
"That forehead protector…" he muttered. "Sky Ninja."
Thanks to his extensive knowledge, Aomizu recognized them instantly.
"I didn't expect the Sky Ninja to resurface so soon."
During the Second Great Ninja War, Sky Ninja Village had openly challenged Konoha.
Konoha responded by crushing them completely—erasing them from the map.
At least, that was what the world believed.
"This must be the group from that incident," Aomizu thought.
The Sky Ninja would later appear in Naruto Shippūden: Bonds, rebuilding their strength and attempting revenge—only to be annihilated once more.
Before the thought fully settled, Aomizu was already moving.
"Who's there?!"
The Sky Ninja sensed him instantly and hurled kunai in unison.
Aomizu weaved between the blades effortlessly.
"So fast?!"
Their expressions changed immediately.
Hand seals flew as they attempted to release ninjutsu.
They never got the chance.
Chakra surged to Aomizu's feet.
With the Body Flicker Technique, he vanished—then reappeared behind them in an instant.
A powerful kick shattered their hand seals mid-formation.
The three Sky Ninja were sent flying, crashing through several trees before slamming into the ground.
They lay motionless, bones shattered, organs ruptured.
With that single strike, they were completely incapacitated.
Aomizu stepped forward and activated the Human Path.
Their memories flowed into him.
The location of the Sky Ninja base.
And the unmistakable trail of Shirakumo Randou.
"So he defected to the Sky Ninja," Aomizu said quietly.
Once he had extracted everything he needed, Aomizu ended their lives cleanly.
Then he turned and headed straight for the Sky Ninja base.
Inside the Sky Ninja stronghold, within the leader's hall—
A man in his fifties stepped inside.
The metal plate on his forehead bore Konoha's emblem.
A deep horizontal slash had been carved across it.
The mark of a rogue ninja.
Shirakumo Randou.
Had Aomizu been present, he would have recognized him instantly.
Shirakumo looked toward the man seated at the head of the hall—the Sky Ninja leader, Shinnyū.
Though a defector himself, Shirakumo's eyes held faint disdain.
After all, the Sky Ninja had once been utterly destroyed by Konoha.
As a former Leaf ninja, he naturally looked down on them.
Of course, he hid it well.
"Shinnyū," Shirakumo said bluntly, "when will you deliver what you promised?"
Over a month earlier, while leading a patrol, Shirakumo had caught Shinnyū attempting to infiltrate Konoha in disguise.
They clashed immediately.
Shinnyū slaughtered Shirakumo's entire squad.
Even against Shirakumo himself, the battle ended in a stalemate—until Shinnyū revealed his terrifying medical ninjutsu.
No matter how severe the wound, it healed in moments.
Faced with defeat, Shirakumo had prepared to call for reinforcements.
That was when Shinnyū made his offer.
Immortality.
An irresistible temptation.
"Relax," Shinnyū said now, eyes still on his research. "Once the Zero-Tails is completed, your lifespan will naturally be extended."
In truth, Shinnyū had no intention of honoring that promise.
When the time came, Shirakumo would die with the rest.
But for now, he was useful.
Just then, a massive screen lit up.
A lone figure was approaching rapidly.
Shirakumo's face drained of color.
"That's Hirakawa Aomizu!"
Shinnyū chuckled.
"One man," he said dismissively. "What can he do?"
This was the Sky Ninja's home ground.
And they would show him why he should never have come.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)