Early morning, and the ground just outside Konoha was dotted with glistening dewdrops...
"Hmph, we're here. What do you intend to do?" Uchiha Emiki led Moni forward, his expression full of disdain. "Go ahead and use whatever tricks you have up your sleeve!"
"Watch your tone and manner of speaking. We are here to apprehend the S-rank criminal Kakuzu—not to engage in pointless arguments." The Octopus ANBU operative carried out the proceedings exactly as if this were a completely standard mission. This was, of course, exactly what Aoi Ren had instructed him to do...
"Haha..." Uchiha Emiki did not believe a single word the operative had said, and he let out a cold laugh. "Very well then—where is this Kakuzu supposed to be?"
"The Land of Water." The Octopus ANBU operative took out a map and drew a circle along its border. "According to information from our intelligence division, this is the last place he was spotted."
Everything seemed to be proceeding just as any ordinary mission would...
Yet the more normal everything appeared, the more uneasy Uchiha Emiki felt. "What on earth is that little brat Aoi Ren planning? You had better hope I don't catch you in the act!"
As the five-man team set off toward the Land of Water, the very person Uchiha Emiki hated more than anything else was sitting calmly and composedly in front of Uchiha Makoto, the head of the clan. There, Aoi Ren sipped tea and, amid light conversation, finalized a whole series of cooperation agreements...
Just then, a small snake suddenly crawled out from Aoi Ren's sleeve and spat out a tiny slip of paper: Everything is ready.
Aoi Ren nodded with a smile, burned the note to ash, then raised his teacup in a toast. "Brother Makoto, you truly live up to your name as head of the Uchiha clan—even your tea is wonderfully fragrant!"
"If you enjoy it, I'll have my wife prepare some for you to take home later..."
"Hahaha! In that case, I certainly won't stand on ceremony!"
The two men talked and laughed, getting along extremely well...
Time passed slowly, and the Octopus ANBU's team finally arrived at the border of the Land of Water. There stood a small ordinary market town known as Genichi Town. It was not large, with a population of roughly two or three thousand people.
After making simple inquiries, the Octopus ANBU operative confirmed that Kakuzu had indeed stayed there for a time.
In fact, nearly everyone in the town claimed to have seen him, though there was one strange detail: every single person described seeing him heading off in a different direction.
In other words, he could have gone east, west, north, or south—there was no way to tell!
"In that case, let's split up and conduct our investigations separately." The Octopus ANBU operative nodded as if this were the most logical course of action. "But remember: if you spot Kakuzu, do not engage him. We don't want to alert him to our presence before we are ready."
Hearing this, Uchiha Emiki scoffed with utter contempt. Does Aoi Ren really think that by separating me from the rest of the ANBU team, he can easily deal with me? He seriously underestimates the power and influence held by an elder of the Uchiha clan!
Uchiha Emiki was completely confident in his own abilities and standing!
However, the Land of Water was made up of countless islands scattered across the sea, so traveling in any direction required a boat.
"We have connections with trusted shipping companies operating in this region. If you need transport, we can arrange for vessels to take you out to sea."
But faced with this offer of help, Uchiha Emiki flatly refused, sneering inwardly. Don't think I don't know exactly what you're planning. Those boats are clearly under your control. Do you really think you can trick my grandson and me into boarding them just so you can kill us out at sea? I was pulling stunts like this long before you were even old enough to understand how the world works!
"This is your decision. I have no right to interfere." The Octopus ANBU operative shook his head and walked away, looking at Uchiha Emiki as if he were already a dead man...
"Grandfather... should we have taken the ANBU's boat instead?" Uchiha Moni trembled uncontrollably with fear. Deep down, he had a strange, uneasy feeling that the boat offered to them might have been their last hope of survival.
However...
"That Octopus operative is nothing but Aoi Ren's lackey! If we had boarded one of his boats, we might as well have closed our eyes and waited to die! I have lived long enough and seen enough to know every trick in the book—do you really think I wouldn't see through what he is trying to do?" Uchiha Emiki grinned coldly. "There are plenty of boats in this town. We can just rent one ourselves, sail out for a while, and then come straight back. Let's see what they can possibly do about it then!"
Hearing this, Uchiha Moni could only nod meekly in agreement.
"Come on—let's go find a boat!"
Uchiha Emiki refused to believe that every single vessel in this entire town belonged to Aoi Ren!
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