"Hey you, what's with that look in your eyes?"
Noticing Izayoi's strange gaze directed at them, Uchiha Sasuke appeared somewhat displeased.
"You guys got an urgent summons too?" Izayoi asked.
"Urgent summons? What urgent summons?!"
Team Seven froze, then Uzumaki Naruto pointed at Tsunade and shouted, "Granny Tsunade, is there some mission you gave them? You urgently summoned Izayoi's team but not ours—are you belittling us? That's not fair, not fair—"
Before Naruto could finish, he yelped and clutched his head in pain.
Kakashi had flicked him on the forehead, reprimanding him: "You idiot, don't talk to the Hokage like that."
Tsunade, however, didn't mind—she actually found it quite endearing. After all, the yet-to-mature Naruto, with whisker marks and this personality, felt so similar to Nawaki, or rather … he was reminiscent of the younger times and the dear faces in her memory.
"Here's your mission scroll. Talk it over with the client yourselves."
Tsunade tossed a scroll to Kakashi, then shot Naruto a half-amused glare. "I can tell your performance in the Academy's academic classes was near the bottom. Each squad's captain is different—some are more well-rounded, some excel in taijutsu, some specialize in genjutsu or sensory skills."
"Izayoi's Team Eight is Konoha's strongest 'sensor unit.' If I urgently summoned them, it's obviously because this mission demands keen sensory support. You're not a sensor, are you? How could you help?"
"What's so 'sensory' about Izayoi's skillset?" muttered Uzumaki Naruto.
"If you're heading out on a mission, take extra care." Izayoi kindly reminded them.
"Huh? Why?"
Team Seven was perplexed.
"Judging from your past missions," Izayoi teased with a playful grin, "eight or nine of every ten wind up well beyond the expected rank. You might find yourself caught up in another 'unexpectedly dangerous mission' again this time."
Team Seven was instantly covered in metaphorical black lines, unable to refute. Indeed, more often than not, they got stuck in above-S-rank fiascos … but they still didn't earn extra pay or credit for them.
"You jinx!" Tsunade also rolled her eyes at Izayoi, then motioned for Team Seven to leave.
Not long after they took off, Hinata and Aburame Shino arrived at the Hokage's office.
Folding her arms, Tsunade said seriously, "I've urgently summoned you for a support mission."
"Yesterday, and again in the pre-dawn hours today, a mysterious army suddenly attacked the Land of Wind's port cities. They possess extremely advanced steel warships. Their troops wear fully-equipped suits of armor, and they can wield powers akin to jutsu."
"Because their warships move so quickly—and launch nighttime or dawn raids—and because these enemies apparently have no chakra in their bodies, the Sand's sensor-nin can't track them. Left with no other option, they appealed to us, their allies, for help."
From a drawer, Tsunade took out a scroll and tossed it to Izayoi. "Your mission is simply to help Sunagakure locate where these enemies are. You don't need to engage them otherwise."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Team Eight bowed in acceptance, then exited the Hokage's office. Izayoi went to sign the travel papers, while Hinata and Aburame Shino returned home to pack. Before long, the three reassembled at Konoha's main gate.
By coincidence, they ran into Team Seven again.
"Huh?! You guys are going to the Land of Wind too?"
Upon hearing Team Eight's destination, Naruto was surprised and then, excited, extended an invitation: "If that's the case, how about we travel together? Might be fun on the road."
"Though I wouldn't mind traveling together," Izayoi replied, "We're in a hurry, so we'll set out first. Adios!" He flashed a carefree wave and the three streaked off in afterimages, disappearing into the distance.
Watching them vanish, Kakashi and Sasuke were each lost in thought.
Meanwhile, in Obito's Kamui dimension—
Using Earth Release to assemble several stone pillars into a wide platform, then fashioning a round table with Wood Release, there sat ten figures: all the Akatsuki members' Shapeshifting Jutsu replicas.
"Not bad, Tobi, so you can do all this too?" Deidara admired the dark Kamui space, addressing Obito (who was seated not far away).
"Hahah… it's nothing, Deidara-senpai, nothing at all!" Obito scratched his head in feigned embarrassment, playing up the clumsy Tobi persona.
But aside from Deidara and Hidan—who were easily fooled—the others watched Obito with more seriousness.
"A space-time technique, eh? I never imagined our Akatsuki harbored such a talent," Kakuzu rumbled. "Behind that mask might be some bigshot from the Bingo Book?"
"Such a powerful ability, yet a mere 'intern'? That's daunting," Kisame chuckled.
Itachi merely opened his three-tomoe Sharingan to peer at Obito in quiet analysis. Seeing that Obito, too, was just a shapeshifted duplicate, Itachi then averted his gaze.
"Why bother holding this meeting in such a manner?" Sasori asked in a low, gravelly voice. "Did someone locate that Otsutsuki Toneri? Are we preparing a counterattack?"
"We'll be meeting this way from now on," the expressionless Tendo (Deva Path) said. "The Tenseigan of Otsutsuki Toneri has sensor abilities that surpass the Rinnegan. We suspect his meteor summoning relies on that advanced perception—even seeing outer space, letting him gather precise intel on us and call down his meteor storms with pinpoint accuracy."
At these words, the Akatsuki members' faces changed.
"If he really can see that far, then it's basically an upgraded Byakugan, right?" Kakuzu said, startled.
Heh, you're not wrong, Black Zetsu mused inwardly.
But if an enemy lurks somewhere unseen and un-sensed, stealthily watching, it gives them all the creeps.
Tendo Pain continued, "Yesterday afternoon and before dawn today, my main body sensed from the direction of the Land of Rivers huge bursts of an unusual energy, each fleeting momentarily."
"And at those same times, the Land of Wind suffered attacks from a mysterious army that bombarded the port cities along their coast. Half the city was laid to waste."
"Yet they didn't use ninjutsu or explosive tags. They used shells from a steel battleship and some sort of energy akin to chakra. All the soldiers wore full suits of armor.
"Moreover, Zetsu discovered their headquarters isn't offshore but a flying mobile fortress."
"Armored soldiers? A moving fortress?!" Sasori grew intrigued at once. "Is the ninja world's technology truly that advanced?"
White Zetsu smiled. "From eavesdropping nearby, we know they attacked the Land of Wind under the banner of building some 'Ideal Nation,' but in reality, they're just searching for a mineral called Gelel Stone."
"Gelel Stone? What's that?" Deidara asked, puzzled.
"Not sure, but likely connected to that energy they're using," White Zetsu answered.
Tendo Pain said coolly, "My main body is very interested in that energy and the technology of that 'moving fortress.' Sasori, Deidara, Itachi, Kisame—you're all closest to the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers. Go bring back those guys who can use that special energy—and their mobile fortress as well."
"Got it." Kisame grinned, glancing at the 'Art Duo.' "So should we team up or go separately?"
Sasori said, "I'm more interested in those armored soldiers, and I know the Land of Wind well. I also have informants in Sunagakure, so I'll handle that region."
"Then let the moving fortress be Kisame-bro's job with me," Deidara nodded.
"Zetsu's clone will assist. If you get in a tough spot, you can summon the Six Paths of Pain," Tendo Pain stood up. "Meeting adjourned!"
…
Not using Flying Thunder God to spare chakra, Team Eight took three days to reach Sunagakure in the Land of Wind.
"You're the Hyuga heiress, the Aburame genius, plus the Wood Release ninja…?"
In the Kazekage's office, Chiyo eyed the trio with mild astonishment. "Didn't expect Tsunade to send you here. Seems she really cares this time."
"We're under orders to aid the Land of Wind," Izayoi said bluntly, not bothering with pleasantries. "I need a full briefing, and then someone to guide us to the nearest attacked area so we can check for leftover scents."
"Elderly as I am, I won't play around with pleasantries either, as the Land of Wind's in dire shape," Chiyo admitted. She clapped her right hand, and a familiar figure opened the door and entered.
"Temari, take Izayoi-dono's team to the latest site," Chiyo commanded, addressing Temari politely so she'd do the same for Izayoi.
"Yes, Lady Chiyo," Temari responded respectfully.
Leaving the Kazekage building, Izayoi sensed Temari hesitating to speak. He broke the ice with a smile: "Long time no see."
"L-long time no see indeed…"
Temari's tension eased up seeing him initiate the conversation. She bowed slightly toward Izayoi in gratitude: "Izayoi-dono, thank you for sparing Gaara's life back then."
Izayoi paused, then smiled: "No need for thanks. Your village must've paid a hefty price."
"Even so," Temari said sincerely, "thank you for not killing Gaara."
After discovering Izayoi's the Wood Release user and analyzing that he'd awakened it long before, Temari had been filled with both lingering fear and gratitude. With that power, he easily could've slain Gaara in the Chunin Exams and extracted Shukaku, yet he never did.
Then again, the official Finals stage would've been the perfect place to reveal Wood Release and become a hero of Konoha, but he still chose mercy. Temari had kept that kindness in her heart. Gaara's return to Suna and personal changes over the year had made her all the more grateful.
"I'll accept your gratitude. Let's hurry with our mission," Izayoi said, shading his eyes as he gazed at the scorching sun overhead. "We're in the Land of Wind, it's so hot I fear I'll get tanned in a day or two."
"That's because you aren't wearing any cloaks," Temari grinned. "Let's get you some cloaks and fresh water first."
Having purchased those, Temari led Team Eight out of Sunagakure toward the most recently attacked location. On the road, Temari engaged Hinata in awkward small talk, not wanting to be a poor host.
Meanwhile, Izayoi used Wood Clones to keep watch over the Land of Wind. Thanks to his Tenseigan, though powerful for large-scale surveillance, it wasn't omnipotent. There were limitations:
1. He couldn't eavesdrop on conversations, nor was he skilled enough at lipreading.
2. He only had an 'overhead perspective' or a 'first-person viewpoint.' He couldn't simultaneously watch multiple spots.
3. If the target was an ordinary person with no chakra to stand out, Izayoi couldn't find them easily without a prior lock-on.
Despite scanning the Land of Wind these past three days, along with the help of his Wood Clones, he had only managed to spot traces of that mysterious army.
Their troops wore high-quality armor and had no chakra. They'd arrived on a steel warship—an amphibious vessel—that after each raid vanished again, now hiding somewhere in the desert. Since they didn't sail away and had no chakra, Izayoi couldn't locate their base.
Izayoi decided this must be an anime filler plot he hadn't seen in his past life, or a butterfly effect triggered by him. After all, an army with no chakra—but advanced warships—would've been memorable if it were canon. If it wasn't, so be it.
Suddenly, Izayoi's brows knitted slightly, an almost comical look on his face.
Seeing this change, Aburame Shino asked, "What is it?"
"No big deal, just remembered something," Izayoi said vaguely, though he almost wanted to smack his own forehead, cursing inwardly, "Relying too heavily on the Tenseigan makes my brain a bit lazy."
His Wood Clones, in real-time, were delivering two fresh visuals:
One: A vantage view revealed two strong chakra signatures—zooming in, it turned out to be Sasori and Deidara, finding a steel warship concealed somewhere in the desert.
The other: Uzumaki Naruto had gone missing, and Team Seven, with ninja hound Pakkun's help, tracked down a hidden fortress in the mountains. Inside that fortress was an entire force of armored soldiers. It was evidently the mysterious army's main base, located in the Land of Rivers.
They'd just traveled through that same Land of Rivers on their way to the Land of Wind, but apparently, they saw nothing suspicious. They had concluded it was clear because they didn't sense any strong chakra. The strong clue was that the fortress used no chakra, so it had blended in perfectly.
But Sasori and Deidara's presence signaled they must be acting under orders, or possibly investigating out of curiosity. Perhaps this was the reason for that secret Akatsuki meeting.
Next came a new feed from the clone monitoring Team Seven—just in case they had another over-the-top mission. Once Izayoi saw it, an idea flashed in his mind. He thought that if he could carry out his plan, all of Nagato's newly raised challenges might instantly vanish.
Thus Izayoi ordered his Wood Clone to act.
Meanwhile, in that fortress in the Land of Rivers, Team Seven—tracking Naruto's scent—ran headlong into a pair of figures in the corridors.
"Uchiha Itachi!!"
Seeing one of them, Sasuke's expression contorted with hatred, his killing intent nearly tangible, causing Haruno Sakura's face to go pale.
~~~
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