At six in the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
After a night's rest, Hikari arrived at the central tent. The trio from Sunagakure, Kakashi, and Gai were already there.
"Who should we send over this time?" Kurotsuchi looked toward Hikari. Though she wanted to take charge, considering the alliance between Suna and Konoha—plus the strength of Konoha's three—she decided against embarrassing herself.
"We'll go ourselves."
"Kurotsuchi, you'll represent Iwagakure. Gaara, bring Temari and Kankuro. Kakashi, you and Gai. The seven of us will go."
In truth, Hikari had considered going alone, but realizing they needed witnesses this time, he dismissed the idea. With Gai and Kakashi present, it would be enough to ensure these people's safety.
Yes—in Hikari's mind, Kurotsuchi had been placed in the group that needed protection.
"Alright. Daimaru, take the men and organize the supplies. Immediately move the camp ten kilometers west!"
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The seven advanced with Hikari at the arrowhead. To his immediate left and right were Gaara and Kurotsuchi, followed by Temari and Kankuro, and bringing up the rear were Kakashi and Gai.
The purpose of this formation was to protect everyone's safety.
Whether it was Gaara's trio or Kurotsuchi, all of them were core figures of their villages. Their lives were important, and Hikari intended to do his utmost to shield them from harm.
The distance of a few kilometers passed quickly. Soon, Hikari caught sight of Hōzuki Castle, now reduced to little more than ruins and broken walls.
Atop the castle walls stood a black monster, motionless like a pillar.
Perhaps sensing their gazes, the black monster began to stir.
"Avert your eyes!"
Hikari issued the order immediately, and the others complied without hesitation.
Thanks to his keen perception, Hikari noticed that once the seven shifted their gazes away, the monster reverted to its original state, showing no further movement.
A faint layer of black chakra enveloped Hikari's face, as if forming a mask over it.
This time, when Hikari turned his head back, the black monster remained perfectly still.
"You're here early, Kamizuki Hikari!" Obito's voice rang out from the side, startling Kakashi and Gai into instant alertness. Kurotsuchi's hands flashed through seals, ready to unleash a jutsu.
Only the three young Suna shinobi looked curiously toward Obito, none of them making a move.
"What, you didn't tell them?" Obito glanced at the others' aggressive stances and spoke in a provocative tone.
Hikari shot Obito a look before explaining, "This guy came to me last night to discuss teaming up against that black monster. I agreed."
Kakashi and Gai exchanged a glance. They trusted Hikari, so they wouldn't say anything to undermine his authority—at least not now.
Kurotsuchi scrutinized Obito carefully, especially the black cloak with red clouds he wore. "You're from the Akatsuki, aren't you? Since when do Akatsuki members cozy up with Konoha shinobi?"
Her grandfather, Ōnoki, had warned her that the Akatsuki harbored wild ambitions. If they allied with Konoha, it would definitely pose a threat to Iwagakure.
"Kamizuki Hikari, are you in charge here, or is this little girl? Do I need to answer her question?" As Kurotsuchi stepped forward to provoke him, Obito's face beneath the mask broke into an especially bright smile.
He knew this wouldn't truly affect Hikari, but he just liked seeing Hikari in an awkward position.
So? Are you annoyed or not?
"Kurotsuchi, regardless of what the Akatsuki plans to do in the future, at least now their goal aligns with ours. The monster at Hōzuki Castle is critical. If we don't deal with it quickly, no one can predict what might happen next. The Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind would bear the brunt of it. At a time like this, let's not dwell on those details!"
Kurotsuchi, of course, understood the situation.
From a young age, Ōnoki had raised her as his successor, so she was well-versed in these games of intrigue.
She was doing this now purely to plant a thorn in their minds.
Both Konoha and the Akatsuki were far too powerful. Allowing them to join forces unchecked would be a disaster for any nation outside the Land of Fire.
"Deidara came with you, didn't he? Where is he? Let Kurotsuchi, Temari, and Kankuro go over there," Hikari said.
Obito glanced at Kankuro and Temari, then pointed in a direction. "Over there. If you're not worried, you can send them."
Hikari's expression remained unchanged. "I'm not worried. If the Akatsuki dares make a move at a time like this, don't blame me for striking first."
This guy is so stubborn.
Muttering inwardly, Obito quickly laughed it off. "Relax. The Akatsuki has principles. In matters of right and wrong like this, we won't hold anyone back."
For Obito, the most difficult one to handle was Hikari—the others were just extras.
"Kurotsuchi, you three go ahead."
At Hikari's command, Kurotsuchi hesitated. She wanted to refuse and join the upcoming fight. But on the other hand, she wanted to see Deidara—her childhood friend, after all.
She wanted to know how he'd been lately. If she could pry some Akatsuki secrets from him, that would be even better.
"Go on. Leave the big monster to us. You three should focus on dealing with the swarm of smaller ones behind it." Obito urged them, not wanting to drag this out any longer.
Standing so openly in front of Hikari was genuinely dangerous for him.
He was on constant guard against Hikari attacking him—it drained his focus. Only once Kurotsuchi left could he relax and proceed with the next step.
"Temari, Kankuro—let's go!"
Since heading over there would still let her participate, Kurotsuchi didn't hesitate further. She called to the two and headed in the other direction.
Temari and Kankuro exchanged a glance before following.
"Alright, how do you plan to deal with this big guy next?" Obito spoke to Hikari in a strange tone, his gaze sliding over Kakashi's face with a flicker of complexity.
Hikari looked toward the black monster. From its body, he noticed traces of wounds caused by space-time abilities, so he asked, "You fought it yesterday?"
Obito nodded. "Yeah. This thing has thick skin and tough flesh—ordinary attacks don't affect it at all. So the Suna's One-Tail jinchūriki and the 'Copy Ninja Kakashi' should just play a supporting role from the sidelines."
Even space-time ninjutsu couldn't harm this thing?
Or was there some other hidden reason?
Hikari believed half of Obito's words and doubted the other half. What he needed now was to test it himself. He had to determine just how strong this monster's resistance was to ninjutsu and taijutsu.
At a time like this, only data obtained personally could be trusted.
"Good. Gai, you and I will handle the main attack. If things look bad, withdraw early—don't worry about me, got it?"