"Kirigakure Assassination Squad?"
Obito paused for a mont, the na sounded familiar. He was sure he had heard it in class, but the exact details escaped him.
Kakashi glanced at him and explained, "They're responsible for hunting down Missing-nin and carrying out Assassination missions."
"So that ans... there's a Missing-nin here?" Obito asked, turning to Minato.
Minato nodded slightly but didn't elaborate. Not all Missing-nin were worth this level of effort-only S-Rank ones. The Kirigakure Assassination Squad disregarding Neutral City's rules ant that their target was a high-value traitor.
But it seed the pursuit had failed.
"ow~ It's our recent friend-Fuguki Suikazan."
Takeshi padded forward, sniffing the air near the battlefield. His tail flicked as he analyzed the lingering scent before looking up. Judging by the strength of the residual chakra, Fuguki hadn't gotten far.
"Fuguki Suikazan?" Minato Namikaze furrowed his brows. According to the intelligence retrieved from Ao's mind, Fuguki had been leading this operation. It was hard to believe that soone in his position would choose to defect.
Then again, perhaps it wasn't so unbelievable.
Fuguki's plan had collapsed the mont Tsunade, Minato, and Takeshi arrived. Not only had a significant number of Kirigakure shinobi perished, but they had also lost one and a half of their prized swords again.
Returning to Kirigakure now would an facing a fate worse than death.
That left only one question.
Should they pursue him? Ahead lay the Land of Lightning-Kumogakure territory.
Minato mulled it over before exhaling and shaking his head. "We withdraw."
At present, Kumogakure had yet to make a move against Konohagakure. The last thing they needed was to provoke another major village. His caution was understandable.
But Takeshi wasn't ready to let this go.
Sahada.
A weapon that devoured chakra itself, rendering ninjutsu nearly useless. Having it would an an undeniable boost in strength.
But how to convince Minato?
There was no way he'd approve an active pursuit...
Takeshi's tail flicked as he weighed his options. Then, he spoke, "How about this, ow-I'll just take a quick look. If I can get the sword, great. If not, I'll co right back."
"I'll go too!" Obito said eagerly.
"No." Minato's voice was firm, his sharp gaze making it clear he wouldn't tolerate any reckless behavior from Obito or Kakashi. But when it ca to Takeshi...
Well, Konoha had Root, didn't it?
After a brief consideration, Minato relented. "Disguise yourself, take it, and leave. Do not engage."
"ow!" Takeshi nodded in agreent.
Minato continued, "We'll return the way we ca and regroup at the Land of Fire's border. If you succeed, use the Flying Thunder God to et us. If not, return before midnight-otherwise, I'll have Rin summon you back."
"..."
So that's what you were planning all along.
As expected of a Jonin-flawless contingency.
Takeshi sighed internally but couldn't argue. Minato's decision was logical, and in the grand sche of things, Konohagakure couldn't afford the risk of provoking both Kumogakure and Kirigakure.
And, well, Konohagakure had been good to him. No need to stir up unnecessary trouble for the sake of Sahada.
He flicked his tail, gave a brief nod of acknowledgnt, then darted into the forest.
Takeshi walked a short distance before storing away his forehead protector, his focus sharpening as he continued tracking the scent. Fuguki had fled in a hurry, failing to completely erase his trail. Small but telling clues were left behind.
However, as ti passed and the number of pursuers dwindled-likely because Takeshi had eliminated several Kirigakure Assassination Squad mbers-Fuguki began to grow more confident. He took greater care in erasing his traces, masking his scent more effectively.
But now, Takeshi didn't need scent to track him anymore.
He moved carefully through the dense forest, ensuring his steps were silent. Though Fuguki had attempted to cover his trail, faint chakra residues still lingered. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Takeshi to confirm the direction.
And if there was residual chakra, it ant Fuguki hadn't gotten far.
The black cat gracefully weaved through the underbrush, his movents as silent as a shadow.
Then-
"Raikage didn't have balls to co here?"
"You're not important enough for my father to waste his ti. And let's be clear—you're nothing but a problem for Kumogakure. Your only worth is the sword on your back."
Another voice responded, deep and commanding.
Judging by the tone, it had to be the Future Fourth Raikage Ay.
Takeshi's eyes narrowed.
So, he's already taken on the na Ay and beco the Raikage candidate. If he's here, then Killer B must be nearby as well.
The Ay wasn't an easy opponent. Not in the slightest.
From their exchange, it beca evident that Fuguki had reached out to Kumogakure when he defected. That must be why he'd fled in this direction. It was possible Kumogakure had even assisted in his escape.
But now that he was here, his fate hinged on Kumogakure's intentions. If Ay and Killer B believed they could overpower him, any previous agreents could be discarded without hesitation.
"You can try to kill here. But if you can't..."Fuguki let out a low, sinister chuckle. "Heh... then we'll have a different conversation."
The only thing a Missing-nin could rely on was power. Fuguki wasn't foolish enough to trust Kumogakure's word. In truth, he was relieved that the Third Raikage hadn't co himself.
"Hmph!"
Ay's temper flared at the arrogance. Without a second thought, his body crackled with electricity-*Lightning Release: Thunder Armor Jutsu* burst to life around him. In a flash, he lunged at Fuguki.
From the shadows, Takeshi observed.
His first thought? The Ay was in trouble.
Sahada was too much of a counter to ninjutsu.
As expected, with a single swipe, the living blade devoured the *Thunder Armor*, reducing it to nothing. Ay, however, was fast-absurdly so. Even without chakra reinforcent, his taijutsu alone allowed him to evade Sahada's edge. Still, he wasn't unscathed. The mont he struck, the blade hungrily drained his chakra.
"How is it?"Fuguki sneered. "A candidate is just a candidate after all. If the one who ca was the Third Raikage, I wouldn't have even bothered fighting."
Takeshi noted Fuguki's confidence. If it had been the Third Raikage, Fuguki wouldn't have even bothered eting with Kumogakure. He would've fled outright. The fact that Ay and Killer B had co instead ant he saw an opening-an opportunity to negotiate.
Fuguki sheathed Sahada, signaling he wasn't looking for a fight, at least not imdiately.
But just then—
**Whoosh!**
A sudden sound cut through the air.
Before Fuguki could react, sothing crashed onto his back. He whipped around, catching a glimpse of a small, darting creature—a mouse, scurrying into the underbrush.
'What...?'
For a split second, he was rely confused. Then, a strange sensation crept over him-his body felt... lighter?
No-
'Where is my Sahada?'
"My Sahada!"
Fuguki's face drained of color. Without Sahada, he was nothing. Not just against the Third Raikage-without his sword, even Ay alone could defeat him with ease.
'What is that mouse?! How did Sahada disappear the mont mouse touched it?'
"Chase him!"Ay barked, reacting imdiately.
Kumogakure's interest in Fuguki was never about him-it was about the sword. They had gone to great lengths to corner him, to make him desperate enough to strike a deal.
And now, at the mont of victory, soone had stolen the prize right from under their noses.
How could they not be furious?
Ninjas in Kumogakure attire erged from the surrounding shadows, their formation betraying their intent. They had been waiting, positioning themselves for total control of the situation. Now that Fuguki had lost his bargaining chip, his last hope vanished.
'Damn it. These bastards never planned to honor their word.' But even if they had betrayed him, he could have escaped. He still had an out-
If only Sahada hadn't been stolen.
'It's over. It's all over.' Fuguki's lips trembled, his mind racing through desperate options that no longer existed.
anwhile, Ay wasted no ti. With a single, commanding "Chase it!"he shot forward, hot on the thief's trail.
A mouse?
"Tch!" No ordinary rodent could move like that. There was sothing else at play here.
Sothing-or soone-was behind this.
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