"Are we sure this is the place?"
"I can't say for certain it's the target's base, but I can confirm that the target definitely went into the mountain. The scent traces tell me that much."
"So, we've got no choice but to go in and take a look, huh?"
"... Haa..."
"What should we do? Split up, or go together?"
At the base of Mount Sumiru, near the entrance of a mountain trail not far from the Hundred Flowers District, Konoha ninjas had gathered, gazing up at the towering mountain that stands on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Iron. Two vice-captains from the Konoha-Kirigakure joint investigation team, Kakashi Hatake and Mangetsu Hozuki, were discussing their next move.
Their presence here was straightforward; after Mangetsu brought back information on Homma and his group's attack on the Mist ninjas, the Konoha village had finally recognized Homma, a defector of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, as a threat.
With the Fifth Hokage unable to handle the task, it was entrusted to Munenori, who quickly assembled an investigative team to track down Homma and his accomplices. Alongside the two vice-captains were Itachi Uchiha, Kimimaro Kaguya, Ameyuri Ringo, and two specialized tracking teams from the Anbu Black Ops. These tracking teams were only here for that purpose—not for battle.
This means that:
The combat duties fell to Kakashi Hatake, Mangetsu Hozuki, Itachi Uchiha, Kimimaro Kaguya, Chisao Uchiha, and Ameyuri Ringo.
The team may not have many members, but they're highly skilled.
They're all elite Jonin, and each is among the best in their field. The youngest, Kimimaro Kaguya, is just fourteen but already one of the most proficient taijutsu users in Konoha. Apart from the Blue Beast himself, few would dare claim they could face him in a hand-to-hand fight.
To be honest, this lineup would be more than enough to conquer a small nation.
"Splitting up is too dangerous. Homma… that man won't be easy to deal with. Kakashi, you've seen the intel on the Tsuchigumo clan's forbidden techniques; if we're not careful and get hit, we'd all be done for. Better to stay cautious," Mangetsu warned, shaking his head.
"Then we go all in?" Kakashi looked up, gazing at the formidable mountain before them, seeking confirmation.
Mount Sumiru lies on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Iron, with a highway passing along its base. However, that doesn't mean it's a popular spot. The mountain lacks any remarkable scenery or ancient legends, and its constant cold mist, a product of the two nations' contrasting climates, makes it a place few people, even ninjas, would bother visiting without a reason.
"Let's go in, comb through the mountain, and see if this really is their hideout."
"Whatever. I just want to get in a fight already."
"My Thunder Blade Fang can't wait to feast."
"Fine by me."
"Whatever. Doesn't matter!"
The team voiced their agreement, with no objections. All of them were skilled and bold, especially the battle-hungry duo of Chisao Uchiha and Ameyuri Ringo. Without Kakashi and Mangetsu holding them back, they'd have already charged up the mountain.
"So, Kakashi-sensei, what about us?" a captain from one of the Anbu tracking teams asked in a low voice.
"You all stay here and wait for us to return," Kakashi replied, checking his tool pouch.
These two tracking teams couldn't be risked on the mountain. It was better to keep them here; if they find Homma's base, then the teams can be called in for further investigation.
While talking, Mangetsu formed a hand seal and performed the Water Clone Jutsu. Three water clones appeared by his side and started to climb a narrow, animal-beaten path up the mountain.
The Water Clone Jutsu is one of the least chakra-intensive physical clone techniques, making it an excellent choice for reconnaissance. It may not be as versatile as Shadow Clones in transmitting information, but it's still useful for probing for danger. If a threat is detected, they can then use a Shadow Clone to gather more specific intel.
Additionally, with his Hydrification Jutsu, it would take more than a typical attack to harm him.
Seeing Mangetsu take on the dangerous role of scout, Itachi decided not to contest it. His red Sharingan eyes faded back to black, saving chakra for later.
He moved to the back, preparing to bring up the rear as the team proceeded. Mangetsu led the way, followed by Kakashi, with Chisao Uchiha and Ameyuri Ringo in the center, and Kimimaro Kaguya and Itachi Uchiha covering the rear.
And so, the group ventured into the remote, mist-covered Mount Sumiru.
The fog gradually thickened.
"... Hah... hah... The temperature is dropping fast!"
After only ten minutes of climbing, Kakashi felt the impact of the cold, as did everyone else. With the fog intensifying around them, the heat drained from their bodies at an accelerated rate.
Of course, this wasn't enough to make things difficult for them just yet.
However, if the conditions worsened as they continued deeper, it would become a serious problem.
Rubbing his hands together, Kakashi looked around cautiously.
Since they were wary of traps, they hadn't moved at full speed, but with their skills, they'd made it deep into the heart of Mount Sumiru. Any semblance of a path was long gone, and now they were weaving through a stone forest of jagged rocks that jutted up like wolf's teeth.
A faint, chilly mist obscured their vision—not so thick they couldn't see their hands in front of their faces, but just enough that they could only make out details within five or six meters.
At that moment:
Bang!
A loud crash echoed from up ahead, like something heavy and solid slamming into the ground.
"Careful, my water clones just got taken out," Suigetsu said, stopping in his tracks and staring intently into the misty space in front of them. Just as he finished speaking, four steel-gray crossbows shot out of the fog, speeding toward them.
"Crossbows?"
Kakashi's head snapped up at the strange noise. He lifted his forehead protector to reveal a crimson Sharingan, spotting the crossbows' trajectory instantly. He could easily dodge them if he wanted to.
But…
Behind him were Uchiha Mae and Ringo Ameyuri. If he dodged, they'd face something even more dangerous from behind. These two were relentless combat fanatics, and they never held back, making their moves as extreme as possible.
After a brief pause of thought, Kakashi chose to deflect the two crossbows headed his way with a swift swing of his kunai.
As for the other two crossbows, Suigetsu simply batted them away with a swipe of his dual swords.
"So heavy!" Kakashi exclaimed, surprised.
The force of the crossbows was strong enough to leave his arms tingling slightly.
"What… what are these things? Dogs?" His attention shifted to a creature emerging from the mist—a monstrous hound, clad in bone armor with crossbows mounted on its shoulders.
"Seems like it," Suigetsu replied, looking uncertain as he took in the creatures in front of him.
"Yeah, probably dogs, but clearly modified. Looks like we found the right place," Uchiha Itachi said from the back of the group. The monster hounds had formed a circle around them and used the mist as cover, surrounding them without anyone realizing.
"Modified creatures? I didn't expect they'd have this kind of technology… Homma and his group are up to something big."
Kakashi quickly realized how dangerous these things were.
The crossbow attack just now hadn't been an issue for him, but for regular Chunin, these creatures could pose a serious threat. If the number of these monster hounds grew beyond control, it'd be a nightmare.
"Kakashi, can we attack now?"
Not everyone thought as much as Kakashi. Uchiha Chiyo, for example, never bothered with such things. No matter the trouble, her solution was always to slash at it. If one slash wasn't enough, she'd make more.
"Go ahead!"
Kakashi hesitated, then realized now wasn't the time to overthink. Taking down these monster hounds was the top priority; everything else could wait.
Uchiha Style: Tempest of Heaven
Uchiha Chiyo, having held back for a while, unleashed six lightning-fast slashes.
Enhanced by her Kusanagi blade, named Vacuum Blade, her sharp strikes instantly shredded six monster hounds. The bone armor, which seemed sturdy, offered little resistance—splitting apart like decaying wood. Even the stone pillars behind the hounds bore deep slash marks.
Either driven by the scent of blood or controlled by someone in the background, the monster hounds, which had merely surrounded them, suddenly began to roar, unleashing a rain of crossbow bolts from every direction.
The battle had begun.
"Good thing we didn't bring everyone up here."
Kakashi, having used the Body Replacement Jutsu to dodge, wiped a bead of sweat from his brow as he watched his stand-in log get torn apart by crossbow bolts. If he'd brought the two ANBU squads, things would have been a lot more complicated.
The ANBU wasn't just an assassination unit anymore. Under the Third Hokage, the ANBU had become a vast force with a wide array of talents—some very useful for situations like this, especially those skilled in tracking.
Lightning Style: Giant Serpent Star
Ringo Ameyuri swung her Thunder Swords, releasing a powerful surge of lightning that obliterated any hound in her path. The destruction was so intense it even made Kakashi, also skilled in lightning-style techniques, pause. Ameyuri's approach to lightning techniques differed from his; he focused on efficiency, while she clearly aimed for maximum destructive force.
"Has she gotten stronger?" Suigetsu mused, slicing through a hound's head with his dual swords as he watched the flashing lightning. It seemed Ameyuri had become even stronger in just the three months they'd been apart.
That destructive force… he couldn't help but envy it.
His clan's Hydrification Jutsu was strong in survivability but lacked sheer power, unless one could master the techniques left by the Second Mizukage. However, as much as he was revered as a prodigy with the swords, he seemed less favored by his ancestors; he'd yet to master those techniques.
The thought always left him a bit frustrated.
"Hey, Suigetsu, focus!" Kakashi called out.
"Right, sorry. Got a bit distracted."
Suigetsu shook off his thoughts and continued clearing the hounds. The Blood Mist Swordsmanship from the Village Hidden in the Mist was on full display, mowing down the hounds like weeds.
And he wasn't the only one taking down foes. Apart from Kakashi, who was holding back, everyone else was focused on wiping out the hounds. Uchiha Chiyo and Ringo Ameyuri, the two battle enthusiasts, viewed combat as pure enjoyment.
Then there were Uchiha Itachi and Kimimaro.
Itachi combined the Uchiha throwing technique with fire-style jutsu, efficiently dispatching hounds, though he was still a bit slower than Kimimaro.
The Kaguya clan, famed in the Warring States period for awakening the Shikotsumyaku, were known as living weapons of slaughter.
Now, the title of "weapon of slaughter" was clearly earned.
Kimimaro had removed his shirt, revealing sharp, pale bones protruding from his body like a spiked white hedgehog, a killing machine leaving a trail of mangled hounds behind him, all without a scratch on himself.
The battle had erupted suddenly and ended just as abruptly.
"That's the last one."
Kakashi, who'd mostly held back, dispatched the final hound.
The stone forest was littered with the bodies of monster hounds, and the red blood stained the ground while the chilly mist still hung, absorbing the warmth from the living and the dead alike.
"All done?" Suigetsu crouched on a stone pillar, cautiously scanning the area, though his vision was limited by the mist.
"Yeah, looks like we got them all," Itachi confirmed.
Though the Sharingan didn't enhance distance vision, it could pierce through the mist somewhat. After checking around, he found no more live hounds, but—
"Kakashi, Suigetsu, I think we should head north!" Itachi suggested.
"North?" Suigetsu asked, confused.
"These creatures likely came from the north. There are a lot of footprints in the moss over there."