Tenmoku ran fast, especially after sensing the chakras of Kanesuke, Unkou, and Kokumaru disappearing one after another. Without a moment's pause, he sprinted back to the ambush point where they had planned their attack. When he arrived—
"Tenmoku, where's everyone else?"
Kazuma stood by the stream, accompanied by a mysterious figure in a black robe and an orange-red swirl mask. They were talking before Tenmoku's arrival, with Shizuko cooling off under a tree, seemingly uninterested in the conversation.
As Tenmoku approached, everyone's attention turned to him. Kazuma and Shizuko, in particular, had an immediate sense of foreboding seeing him return alone.
"They're dead."
Tenmoku's response was blunt and to the point. Before Kazuma could question further, Tenmoku continued, "Kanesuke, Unkou, and Kokumaru—they were killed by the Earth Country ninja and two Kirigakure shinobi." His tone wasn't exactly neutral, but there wasn't much sadness either.
"Kirigakure?"
Kazuma looked bewildered.
What the…?
How did that happen?
If they'd encountered Leaf shinobi, he could understand, but Kirigakure? What were they doing here?
Like Tenmoku, Kazuma wasn't particularly saddened. From the beginning, this group was never formed out of unbreakable bonds or loyalty. They were merely outcasts with their own ambitions, drawn together by shared goals and different ideologies.
Kazuma's goal was to destroy Konoha, establishing the Fire Daimyo as the absolute ruler of the Land of Fire. For this "noble" ideal, he would sacrifice even himself. The deaths of his allies were something he was mentally prepared for.
Kanesuke, Unkou, and Kokumaru, though now dead, had also carried their own ambitions, prepared to gamble their lives for them.
Tenmoku paused for a moment, organizing his chaotic thoughts. "To be honest, I have my own questions. We encountered those Kirigakure shinobi while hunting down the Earth Country ninjas, and they were joined by some Konoha ninja."
"Why didn't you retreat?" Shizuko interjected.
As the only woman in the group, she had a slight, if mild, attachment to her fallen comrades… well, not much sadness really. It was mostly curiosity that prompted her question. Her reason for joining this group was simple: she believed sticking with Kazuma would provide more opportunities to test her poisons in real combat.
"At first, those Kirigakure and Konoha shinobi didn't intend to help the Earth Country ninjas. And even though they outnumbered us, they didn't have an overwhelming advantage in terms of strength, at least… that's what we thought before the fight began."
"With that in mind, we thought a quick battle would be feasible."
Tenmoku sighed. "But as we closed in, the Kirigakure ninja suddenly changed their stance. They protected the Earth Country ninjas and trapped Kanesuke and the others. The biggest surprise was how strong those two Kirigakure shinobi were. Kanesuke and the others… were overpowered from the start."
"Can you describe the two Kirigakure ninjas?"
The masked figure finally spoke up.
"Who are you?" Tenmoku eyed him warily. Well, calling him mysterious was a bit much; the so-called mysterious man was Uchiha Obito, masquerading as Madara. His outfit had become a long-standing staple, not because he never changed clothes, but because his Kamui dimension held an endless supply of similar masks and robes.
In any case, as a skilled sensory ninja, Tenmoku felt an unusually intense pressure emanating from Obito.
"This is… an ally of mine, Tenmoku, don't worry. Just answer his question," Kazuma said, his attitude toward Obito noticeably different from how he'd been back at the Konoha Embassy.
Kazuma was still cautious, unwilling to fully align with Obito's plans. However, they had a common interest in destroying Konoha, and on that front, they reached an understanding. Plus, if Obito hadn't suddenly appeared and helped, Kazuma wouldn't have been able to obtain the forbidden techniques of the Tsuchigumo clan as easily.
Receiving such a favor meant even Kazuma couldn't sever ties instantly, even if he disliked being monitored by Obito.
Obito knew Kazuma wasn't easily manipulated, so he planned to approach him after Kazuma had hit a wall. However, White Zetsu had brought back some interesting information, prompting Obito to change his plans.
At a critical moment, Obito had found Kazuma, offering help that secured Kazuma the Tsuchigumo clan's forbidden techniques. With these techniques, plus another Earth Release jutsu, Kazuma's value as a pawn had significantly increased.
"An ally?"
Tenmoku licked his lips, not lowering his guard entirely. "A man and a woman—the man had white hair and purple eyes and could turn his body to water. Kanesuke and Kokumaru couldn't beat him together. The woman had long reddish-brown hair, wielding two swords or blades that looked like ceremonial knives. Her Lightning Release was far superior to Unkou's."
"I see. No wonder," Obito nodded knowingly.
"Oh? You know them?" Kazuma asked.
"Yes, they're famous."
"Oh?"
"The man should be Hozuki Mangetsu, a prodigy of the Hozuki clan and one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, wielding the dual swords, Hiramekarei. The woman is Ringo Ameyuri, another renowned talent and member of the Seven Swordsmen, wielding the lightning swords, Kiba. Meeting them… well, that was just bad luck."
Obito spoke as if he knew them well.
Having once controlled Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, Obito was well-acquainted with Kirigakure, though the elders still resisted him. He knew almost everything a Mizukage would, including information on people like Mangetsu and Ameyuri. Though, admittedly, it was slightly outdated.
Gathering intelligence on talents like these was challenging, as geniuses were marked by rapid, unpredictable growth. For them, even a brief absence made a visible difference.
"Also, if you're thinking of seeking revenge, I'd suggest saving your energy. Unless, Kazuma, you've fully mastered your new power, it'd be better not to bite off more than you can chew. At best, it'd be self-inflicted punishment; at worst, you'd be digging your own grave."
Obito didn't sugarcoat his words.
"Hmph!"
He Ma let out a frustrated snort but didn't try to argue, "I understand without you telling me. Since we chose this path, each of us has been prepared to sacrifice ourselves for it. Revenge is a pointless pursuit compared to the more important things we have to accomplish."
Though he found Uchiha Obito's words annoying, he also knew Obito was telling the truth. An enemy capable of killing Kamizuke, Yun Guang, and Kohaku was formidable, and even if he faced them himself, there was no guarantee of success.
However, that's just for now.
Once he fully masters this new power, things could turn out differently.
"Good! I just hope you don't waste your life carelessly. I'm curious to see if you'll still refuse my invitation the next time we meet," Obito said with a quiet laugh, though the bitterness in that laugh was something only he could understand.
These past days,
He'd been running all over trying to find qualified recruits for the Akatsuki, but suitable candidates were rare. Someone like He Ma was already pretty decent, and his patience had been forced out by the grim reality. Patience was a must—after all, Sasori of the Red Sand had disappeared who knows where, and couldn't be found anywhere.
He'd also located Hidan, the immortal experimental subject of the Jashin cult, but Hidan was still a rather immature teenager. Obito didn't rush to recruit him and decided to observe him for a while longer.
"My ideals won't change."
"Oh, really?"
With a dismissive reply, the space distorted like a vortex, pulling Obito into it as he vanished as quietly as he had arrived.
"He Ma?"
Tianmu looked over with a puzzled expression.
"I know. That sneaky guy can't be trusted," He Ma said openly, speaking ill of Obito. "But I have to admit, he's quite capable. Without his help, we probably would've been busy for nothing this time."
"Alright, as long as you're clear about it."
Tianmu didn't feel like arguing further.
As long as He Ma was clear-headed and not deceived… there was no need to worry about being betrayed.
"So, what should we do next?"
At this, Tianmu looked at their now diminished team, and a hint of sorrow appeared in his heart, which he quickly forced down with his strong willpower. Sadness and regret were pointless.
"Let's continue what we were doing before."
He Ma replied nonchalantly.
"Shouldn't we lay low for a bit?"
"No need… fine! We'll take a short break before acting again." He Ma quickly agreed. Originally, he'd wanted to keep hunting around to practice the forbidden jutsu [Soil of the Dead], but he thought back to Obito's words.
After all,
being cautious sometimes isn't a bad thing.
Compared to the [Soil of the Dead] jutsu, which took a lot of time and came with a certain amount of infamy, the Earth Spider Clan's jutsu was more manageable. This break would be a good chance to research it.
When the coast was clear again,
he might be able to wield this jutsu properly.
Then he could hunt stronger targets, and the Soil of the Dead would be even more effective.
Thus,
He Ma and his group left the clearing by the stream. Before departing, they used explosive tags to clean the ground, ensuring no traces were left behind.
…
Not long after they left,
a large group of people arrived. The newcomers, as expected, included Dilu, Suigetsu, and Baiyun Yeshan. After much discussion, they'd decided to follow Dilu here to see if they could rescue any of the travelers—or at least retrieve their bodies.
Afterward, they planned to visit the daimyo's residence to consult with the Hokage's advisor.
Unfortunately—
There was nothing.
Only scorched earth, completely cold.
"Sir?!"
Tonbei's face was filled with despair.
This outcome wasn't unexpected, but people always cling to a sliver of hope. Even in life-and-death situations, most people still hope for that small chance of survival rather than accepting an overwhelmingly likely fatal outcome.
At this moment, that's how Tonbei felt. He knew the odds of any of the travelers surviving were slim, but he still prayed for a miracle.
Yet, a miracle never came for Tonbei.
The travelers were gone. If it were a younger person, there might have been a chance of survival even if they were missing, but the elder was very old. Even if he hadn't been killed, being abducted would likely mean the end, as his frail body wouldn't stand a chance.
Coming to terms with this harsh reality,
the light in Tonbei's eyes dimmed, but it didn't go out entirely. He still had a duty—to take care of Suzumebachi now that the elder was gone. That was his last remaining mission.
"It's spotless!"
Suigetsu wandered around the scorched ground but found nothing. Not only did they fail to find that imposter He Ma, but there wasn't a single clue they could follow. Even the sensory ninja from Kirigakure found nothing after searching the area.
"Sigh! In the end, we arrived too late…"
Dilu sighed, put his hands together, and bowed to the scorched ground, paying his respects to the fallen traveler before turning to speak. "Jounin Baiyun, Envoy Suigetsu, let's head to the daimyo's residence now. If there are no surprises, the Hokage's advisor should still be there."
read finish work inpatreon
belamy20