Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi agree, Minato Namikaze and Kazuyama exchanged a quick, satisfied glance. As long as he agreed, that was enough. Hiruzen might be old, but his strength was still undeniable. Having him lead the mission wouldn't cause any issues.
"Hmph, Minato, looks like you've picked up his bad habits."
"Fine. I'll go. But don't expect too much. You know the situation in Kumo as well as I do."
After venting, Hiruzen shifted the topic to the mission's actual chances of success. He was the one heading out, so completing the mission took priority. But even if he took charge, he doubted they could pull this off.
"The situation isn't what you think, Advisor Sarutobi."
"Akatsuki has appeared, and they threaten the entire ninja world. Their targets are the Tailed Beasts. They've already captured the Three-Tails and Six-Tails."
"The Two-Tails and Eight-Tails in Kumo, the Four-Tails and Five-Tails in Iwa—they're all on Akatsuki's list."
"That's why Kirigakure decided to form an alliance with us."
Minato summarized the intel. Ever since the news arrived, only Kazuyama and a small number of people had been informed. Hiruzen's brows tightened. Things were clearly far beyond what he'd imagined.
"Madara Uchiha?"
"What's he want with the Tailed Beasts?"
Minato and Kazuyama shrugged at the same time, their smug expressions making them look like brothers—an act that only made Hiruzen's irritation flare.
"No idea. But he definitely has a reason."
"Whatever it is, we can't let him get what he wants. I can guarantee it won't be anything good."
"You know how powerful the Tailed Beasts are. If he captures them all… I don't even want to imagine what kind of disaster that would bring."
At this point, Hiruzen had no choice but to accept the mission.
...
Kazuyama suddenly heard a long-awaited system alert.
[Ding! Host has assigned the already-retired Hiruzen Sarutobi to a mission again despite his advanced age. This behavior is truly inhumane. Special reward: Ninjutsu Amplification +5%]
Ever since Kazuyama's stats hit their peak, he rarely received new attributes.
[Name: Kazuyama Gekkō]
[Status: Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, Konoha Jōnin, Clan Head of the Gekkō Clan.]
[Traits: Vigorous Vitality, Enhanced Damage Resistance, Genjutsu Resistance (Immune to all B-rank and below)]
[Kekkei Genkai: Transparent Release, Crystal Release.]
[Jutsu Mastery: Fire Release, Water Release, Wind Release, Earth Release, Summoning, Fūinjutsu, Ninja Art (Snake), Taijutsu, Forbidden Techniques.]
[Senjutsu: Sage Body (Unique! Combined Crystal Release + Transparent Release version!)]
[Tailed Beast: Seven-Tails Chōmei, Affinity 100%, Tailed Beast Transformation 100%, Tailed Beast Ball (Mastered; passive abilities activated: Handheld Ability, Compressed Bomb, Tailed Beast Ball Beam, Dragon Star Cluster), Synced Transformation (Reduced chakra consumption).]
[Base Stats: Strength 100, Speed 100, Chakra 100, Constitution 100, Taijutsu 100, Genjutsu 100, Hand Seals 100.]
[Active Attributes: Chakra Recovery, Yin Healing Wound Destruction (Passive), Light as a Swallow, Doubled Strength, Master of All Martial Arts, Clap Your Hands and Anything Appears!]
[Resistance: Six Paths Resistance 45%.]
[Ninjutsu Amplification: 80%, increases power and enhances nature transformations.]
At this point, the only stats he could still meaningfully improve were Six Paths Resistance and Ninjutsu Amplification. He couldn't help but wonder what the Ninjutsu Amplification would look like once it hit its limit—something he genuinely looked forward to.
...
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Cloud Village.
"Damn it, did these idiots kill the Two-Tails?"
"I've searched this entire village, and I still can't find a trace of it!"
Muren Uchiha sat atop a mountain, the face beneath his mask full of irritation. He'd spent days scouring the entire Land of Lightning, yet the Two-Tails remained missing.
"Fine. Whatever. If I can't find it, I can't find it."
"The One-Tails is still out of reach anyway. Worst case, I'll just grab the Eight-Tails."
"But first… food."
He was starving. He needed to replenish his strength before going after the Eight-Tails. Killer Bee, huh? A perfect Jinchūriki. Hmph. Using him to vent some anger sounded pretty good.
...
The next morning, Kazuyama stood at the village gate. Behind him were his younger brother Kazuyama Hayate and the purple-haired girl Yūgao Uzuki, now without her ANBU makeup.
Another group was assembled under Hiruzen Sarutobi—wearing casual clothes—leading Team Asuma. Sarutobi Asuma, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, and Chōji Akimichi.
"Yo, Advisor Sarutobi, I thought you'd be wearing battle gear."
"Hmph, brat. At my age, you expect me to fight people head-on?"
Hiruzen shot him a glare, then looked to Asuma.
"Let's go. We're heading out."
As Hiruzen prepared to leave, Kazuyama quickly tossed him a technique kunai and a scroll.
"Hey, old man, take these. If something happens, activate the scroll with chakra. I'll know immediately."
"No matter how far you are, I'll come drag you back alive."
Kazuyama twirled his own technique kunai, while Hiruzen inspected the one that looked nearly identical to a normal kunai, reading the words engraved on it:
お父さんが来た (Your dad's here!)
He burst out laughing.
"You brat. Your taste is as awful as ever."
"I'll be fine. I'm a former Hokage. A little trip to Kumo won't slow us down."
"Let's move."
Once Hiruzen's group departed, Kazuyama also got ready to leave.
"Alright, you two, let's go. Don't tell me I have to treat you?"
Kazuyama glanced at Hayate and Yūgao, barely able to keep from laughing.
The two exchanged a look, their faces turning red.
"Bro, are you doing this on purpose?"
"Oh? You figured it out?"
Kazuyama knew perfectly well what his brother was thinking. He had to admit—Yūgao Uzuki was indeed beautiful. How someone like his little brother managed to win her over… well, that was a story on its own.
Yūgao, flustered by Kazuyama's teasing, blushed like an apple.
"Big bro, that's too much."
"Alright, alright. Already playing protector, huh? Not bad. Come have dinner sometime—let your sister-in-law meet you."
Kazuyama grabbed Hayate and Yūgao by the shoulders. A moment later, Flying Thunder God activated, and the three vanished from Konoha's front gate.