Hema and his companions fled quickly. They weren't rookies—they'd once worked security for the Great Daimyo and then moved on to shady underground operations. So, they had plenty of both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in making a quick escape, with Teme, a sensory ninja, assisting from the sidelines.
The pursuit squad dispatched by Kisame couldn't even catch a glimpse of their shadows. They were led astray by the illusions Hema had set up, veering off course entirely and eventually, with no leads, returned to the village empty-handed to announce their failure.
Thus, Mizukage Fifth's letter was sent with Suigetsu as he boarded a ferry bound for the Land of Fire.
---
Konoha Village
Recently, Sougen had been incredibly busy. Rumors of the Fifth Hokage's blindness had somehow spread throughout the village, despite attempts by the Konoha Police and Anbu to track the source. But each of the three suspected leaks had already been found as headless corpses, making it impossible to extract information—unless someone summoned their souls from the afterlife. Sougen suspected that it was Uchiha Obito, that lunatic, but it remained a guess without concrete evidence.
The problem wasn't just about the leak itself; it was about how to handle the ensuing complications. The Hokage was the leader and backbone of the village—a figure in whom the villagers had unwavering trust. This reputation had been built over fifty years of Konoha's history.
Now, rumors were circulating about a conspiracy by the Hokage's assistant to harm the Fifth. Although the Police Department quickly suppressed these rumors, they wouldn't end until the source of chaos and fear—Obito—was dealt with.
Honestly, the best solution would be for Choza Akimichi to step down and for Sougen to rightfully become the Sixth Hokage, resolving these issues overnight. However, Choza hadn't shown any intent to step down, and Sougen couldn't exactly push him.
Choza had always treated Sougen fairly, handing over his powers temporarily whenever he fell ill, indicating his trust. Pushing him aside would feel dishonorable. Besides, the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka families were Konoha's pillars. Especially with the intelligent Nara clan involved, turning them against him was the last thing Sougen wanted.
For now, the only option was to handle issues as they came, waiting for the day when Choza would willingly step down. Of course, they couldn't wait indefinitely; Sougen was confident the Nara clan would help Choza make the wisest choice soon enough.
While Sougen was busy managing the rumors, intelligence arrived from both the Cloud and Stone Villages. Soon after, envoys from the two villages appeared, respectful and polite in his presence.
However, they weren't without ulterior motives. First, they requested to send Anbu operatives into the Land of Fire to pursue Hema and his team. When Sougen flatly refused, they insisted Konoha assist in a rescue mission. Their persistence and attempts to offload responsibility onto Konoha were clear acts of manipulation.
Sougen felt no obligation for Hema's actions and dismissed both groups from his office without ceremony. But they shamelessly went to the Akimichi clan's compound, begging to meet with the Fifth Hokage, leaving Sougen speechless. As Kumo and Iwa's official envoys, he couldn't exactly expel them from Konoha, however tempting it was.
"But what are Hema and his people planning?" Sougen wondered, frowning at the latest intelligence report. "Storm Release, Lava Release—are they collecting kekkei genkai? Isn't the Spider clan's forbidden technique enough for him?"
He couldn't help but consider the possibility after Hema had previously seized the Spider clan's forbidden jutsu.
"What could he be aiming for? Kekkei genkai aren't like forbidden techniques; they're much harder to steal. Is he banking on the next generation?" Sougen muttered. "It doesn't make sense—they're only abducting men."
"Sir, urgent report from the eastern border patrol: Suigetsu has returned," Kabuto said, barging into Sougen's office.
"So?" Sougen replied dryly, glancing at his high-strung assistant. "Am I supposed to meet him at the gate?"
"Sir, this is serious. Suigetsu didn't just return as the deputy head of the Joint Search Division—he brought a letter from the Fifth Mizukage herself. According to him, Kiri was also attacked by Hema's group, and a Kiri ninja with the Vapor Release kekkei genkai was kidnapped."
"Even Kiri was attacked? Hema's already stirred up Cloud and Stone, and now the Mist. If we count Konoha, he's basically set himself against the whole ninja world. But why?"
Sougen's expression turned grim. If it had just been the Cloud and Stone incidents, he'd have been annoyed but mainly with the bothersome Cloud and Stone envoys. Pursuing Hema wasn't new—they'd been doing it for years. Yet, as cunning as Hema was, he'd always managed to slip away, avoiding capture by hiding in small neighboring countries or simply by dumb luck.
"Suigetsu hinted that Kiri suspects Hema's targets may include us and Suna as well," Kabuto said softly.
"Three kekkei genkai aren't enough? What a huge appetite!" Sougen tapped his fingers on the table. "So, Kabuto, what's your take? Does Hema really have the guts to go after us?"
"Uncertain, sir. We don't know his true intentions. While I doubt Hema would challenge you openly, it's possible he'd take stealthier actions. His ambition, after all, is to leave only the daimyo's jewel standing in the Land of Fire. Destroying Konoha might be his ultimate goal."
"'Prepare for the worst,' huh? So, you're suggesting I order my clansmen to stay within the village?"
Sougen scoffed. Currently, Konoha had only two clans with a stable kekkei genkai line—the Hyuga's Byakugan and the Uchiha's Sharingan. The Senju Wood Release had only one surviving member in Anbu, and even he wasn't technically a Senju. Similarly, the Kurama clan's [Five Senses Control] bloodline had only one living descendant, Yakumo.
Counting it all up, it looked like the Uchiha's Sharingan would be the easiest target, given that Byakugan was only valuable from the main Hyuga family. Both Wood Release and Five Senses Control had so few inheritors that finding them would be challenging. Only the Uchiha clan had enough members, each one easily identified.
Not that just anyone could handle a Sharingan anyway.
Kakashi's own Sharingan often left him drained, his chakra rarely enough to sustain it.
"Better to be cautious than sorry. Besides, let's not forget the surveillance incident with Fujiwara and Yakumo—they may be connected to all this. Yakumo awakened the Kurama clan's kekkei genkai, and the Hyuga clan leader's eldest daughter is also in the Academy. Something about this situation feels connected, somehow."
Are these two matters related?
Sougen frowned in thought for a few moments, then shook his head. While Kabuto's theory wasn't without merit, it relied heavily on conjecture. Still, the old saying held true: better to be prepared than regretful. As clan leader, his duty was to protect his people.
He considered limiting his clan members' movement altogether, but a gentler approach would be to ban them from going out alone.
"We'll address this once I get home."
Sougen didn't plan to issue any commands in his capacity as an advisor to the Hokage; such clan matters were easier to manage through his authority as clan leader.
"Meanwhile, Kabuto, check in with the Anbu about this. Ask them to pay more attention—it's been too long with too little progress. And for the Joint Tracking Division... let's leave that until Getsumaru is back."
Konoha's and Kirigakure's rogue ninja tracking division also held the authority to pursue rogue ninjas.
Homma was already on their wanted list.
With Getsumaru absent, however, the Mist side held little influence, and Ringo Ameyuri's fiery disposition was ill-suited for coordination. It was best to wait for Getsumaru's return to save face for their allies.
"Understood," Kabuto replied obediently.
——
Deep within Mt. Miro.
Homma and his companions moved swiftly. While Getsumaru made his way toward Konoha from the Fire Country's port, Homma had already arrived with his captured prey. He tossed the still-unconscious Kirigakure ninja at Hiruho's feet.
"Boil Release, delivered."
"You work faster than I expected, Homma."
Hiruho studied Homma carefully.
He'd estimated it would take Homma two years to capture the targets, given that hunting specific shinobi demanded more than strength—intelligence gathering alone posed a monumental challenge.
But Homma had returned with prisoners from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure in less than three months. He seemed to know each village's ins and outs. Was someone backing him, or had Homma planned this so far in advance that he'd planted informants in these villages?
The answer, however, didn't matter to Hiruho. What mattered was that with Storm Release, Lava Release, and Boil Release collected—along with White Zetsu's Wood Release—he could finally attempt the Goryōshin no Jutsu to merge these powers within himself and then aim for a fifth kekkei genkai.
His ultimate goal: the Sharingan.
Unlike Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure, Konoha held both greater strength and a personal history for him. As a rogue ninja from Konoha, he harbored complex feelings toward his former village. Deep down, he longed to return openly, making his former comrades look up to him for a change.
No more sneaking around, no more fleeing.
"The sooner we wrap this up, the sooner we're safe. Don't forget our deal."
"Relax. Your issue just requires time, not any insurmountable breakthrough. At this pace, I'll have it resolved by year's end, and you'll be free to wield your power without fear."
"I hope that day comes soon," Homma replied, glancing around the cold, desolate laboratory. "Anything else you need me for? If not, I'll get some rest."
"Leave the rest to me. Just don't forget to schedule regular blood tests! Aside from that, do as you please—train, go out, whatever suits you. By the way, Homma, did you make a detour to Mt. Sumiryu?"
"I didn't forget. If anyone tracks me, they'd stop there first before making it here," Homma replied steadily.
Mt. Sumiryu, on the Fire and Iron Country border, bore a striking resemblance to Mt. Miro, making it a perfect decoy. This rabbit hole provided an extra layer of protection for Homma against any skilled trackers.
Hiruho was free to focus on the Goryōshin no Jutsu.
"Good," Hiruho replied with a pleasant smile.
Seeing no further tasks, Homma turned to leave the lab and get some rest. Nearly three months of relentless travel had exhausted him, and he'd even lost one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja along the way. With nothing pressing, he could finally afford to take a well-deserved break.
As the lab door closed behind him, Hiruho's grin grew wider. Activating a hidden mechanism, he picked up the unconscious Kirigakure ninja and slipped through a secret door to his underground laboratory.
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