Land of Whirlpools.
Police Headquarters...
"Hmm~" A ninja wearing the Land of Whirlpools' custom police uniform stretched lazily and said to his colleague, "It's so late already. I'm heading off now."
"You've worked hard too," his colleague nodded with a smile. "Your daughter must be pretty upset these past few days, not seeing you at all."
"No helping it. Work comes first," Sosuke sighed helplessly. "Right now is a critical time for the Land of Whirlpools. We can't afford to slack off even a little."
The higher-ups had given strict orders—no accidents could be allowed during this period...
"Call me if anything happens," Sosuke patted his colleague's shoulder. "We're all serving the Land of Whirlpools here."
"Alright, get going already!" The colleague laughed but didn't turn around, keeping his eyes fixed on the crystal monitors in front of him. "If something happens, I'll— holy shit, wait!!"
However, before Sosuke could leave the surveillance room, his colleague suddenly shouted, "Someone's illegally crossing the border...!"
...
"Pakkun Jūzō, you've been to the Land of Whirlpools before. You know the layout, so take a team and enter from the other side," a fat man with orange hair said to the Rain-nin beside him, who carried a large cleaver. "This mission has to be fast."
"While that brat isn't in the Land of Whirlpools, we need to get what we came for quickly."
Pakkun Jūzō nodded, a cold smirk appearing on his lips as he replied indifferently, "Understood."
Of course he knew they had to move fast. They had to retrieve the item before that brat found out and then leave immediately, because...
That kid could use space-time ninjutsu.
He still remembered that brat's strength vividly. If they were discovered, things would turn ugly.
Hoshigaki Fuguki checked the map in his hands and said, "In that case, move out!"
This map had been "purchased at a high price" from a merchant, but...
It wasn't complete. It seemed merchants who came to the Land of Whirlpools were restricted in their movements and didn't dare to wander around freely. However, the shipyard was clearly marked—after all, such a large factory by the coast was impossible to miss.
But...
The defenses there seemed extremely tight!!
...
"Two teams!!" Muroto Jōmon took a drag of his cigarette and sighed helplessly. "These thieves really have the worst timing, coming to steal stuff so late at night."
He had just gone to bed not long ago when he was notified that thieves had arrived.
"Do they think I don't have a temper when woken up?!"
"Alright," Kamizuru Seihō said with a smile. "Right now, we just need to catch them quickly. Nighttime is actually better—at least we don't have to evacuate civilians."
Besides...
Who in their right mind would try to steal something in broad daylight?
Didn't they know the Land of Whirlpools had strict inspections?
"My bees have sent back intel. They've split into two teams," Kamizuru Seihō frowned. "Two of them are exceptionally strong!!"
"Figured as much," Muroto Jōmon said irritably. "Those two are carrying Kirigakure's Kubikiribōchō and Samehada."
"If I'm not mistaken, they must be members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
"In that case, should we inform Lord Jun to return?" Kamizuru Seihō asked. "After all, these two are also..."
"Fifteen jōnin. Kirigakure is really going all out this time," Muroto Jōmon waved his hand dismissively. "I've already informed the Uzumaki Clan's leader."
"He said that if the Land of Whirlpools wants to grow stronger, it can't rely on just one person."
"Probably another test Lord Jun left for us," Muroto Jōmon sighed helplessly. "So we can't wait for Lord Jun to arrive. We have to handle this ourselves."
"If that's the case..." Kamizuru Seihō narrowed his eyes and said coolly, "Then let's..."
"Heh." Muroto Jōmon smirked. "Don't worry. I've already arranged for the military to assist. It's just fifteen people, right?"
"We'll hit them with fifty against their fifteen!!"
"..."
Damn!!
Kamizuru Seihō gave Muroto Jōmon a deadpan stare. I thought you were planning to flex on these intruders!
Turns out...
You could've said so earlier!!
"No choice," Muroto Jōmon spread his hands helplessly. "We have to finish this quickly and minimize damage. Besides, our two clans..."
Hearing this, Kamizuru Seihō also fell silent. Indeed, right now, they couldn't let the Five Great Shinobi Villages know they were still alive. Otherwise...
The Land of Whirlpools would replace Konoha's position and take on the entire shinobi world alone.
"In that case..." Muroto Jōmon's lips curled into a faint smile as he said coolly, "Let's each take a team and move out!"
...
"Stop!!" Pakkun Jūzō suddenly raised his hand, signaling the ninja behind him to halt. He frowned as he surveyed the surroundings and said coldly, "Since you're here, why not show yourselves?"
However...
After waiting a while, no one responded. Pakkun Jūzō didn't dare to act carelessly. Anyone who had fought in the Land of Whirlpools knew how sneaky these Uzu-nin were. One moment of carelessness, and you could be blown to bits.
"Come out!!"
Pakkun Jūzō stared at the tree in front of him. "If you don't show yourselves..."
"Swish swish!!"
He immediately hurled several kunai toward it.
However...
"Whoosh—!!"
Suddenly, over twenty jōnin appeared...
"..."
Pakkun Jūzō's eyelids twitched as he realized they were surrounded. He cursed inwardly—they only had eight jōnin!
Did they really need to send so many people?!
And...
Looking at the middle-aged man in black clothes and a black hat standing before him, he had a feeling that this man...
Was strong!!
"What a shame," Muroto Jōmon sighed, looking at the rice fields in front of him helplessly. "You found us. I was planning to wait until you were farther away before making a move."
After all, if a fight broke out here, these fields would be ruined.
Muroto Jōmon winced as he looked at the rice paddies, his heart filled with resignation. Looks like he'd have to ask that strict bastard for reimbursement again.
Considering their outstanding debt...
They hadn't even finished paying it off yet!!
If he went to ask for reimbursement now, there was no doubt he'd get chewed out.
So Muroto Jōmon really didn't want to see that guy—always scowling like someone owed him hundreds of millions.
"Right now, you have violated Article XX, Section XX of the Land of Whirlpools' Constitution, for illegally crossing the border," Muroto Jōmon said to the Kiri-nin with a serious expression. "Additionally, we suspect you intend to cause harm to the Land of Whirlpools. Therefore..."
"Please drop your weapons and come with us..."
"For questioning!!"
However...
"..."
Are you fucking kidding me??
Pakkun Jūzō stared blankly at the man in front of him. What was he saying?!
Drop their weapons?
Was this some kind of joke?!
"Move out!!" Seeing that they were surrounded, Pakkun Jūzō knew the mission was a bust. He shouted, "Don't engage. Retreat."
"Tch, why make things difficult?" Muroto Jōmon sighed, then said, "Resisting arrest? Looks like you're asking for a labor reform in the Land of Whirlpools."
So...
"Attack!!"
Muroto Jōmon narrowed his eyes at Pakkun Jūzō and said coldly, "Dead or alive!!"
...