Putting on the black cloak with red clouds, one had to admit, the uniform of Akatsuki combined with its reputation was indeed stylish.
As for nail polish? No way.
Early the next morning, Uzumaki Ku and Biwa Juzo left their base and set out for Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning.
Though Ku was familiar with the village's location, this wasn't a mission to stir up chaos.
The mission commissioned by Iwagakure was simple: to determine Kumogakure's true stance on the death of the Fourth Raikage, specifically, whether they intended to go to war with Konoha.
For that, all they needed was to get the truth from one Kumogakure high-ranking official.
Before departure, Deva Path Pain had also given strict instructions.
Akatsuki was not yet ready to wage war against the Five Great Nations. This mission was strictly a contract job. The Eight-Tails and Two-Tails Jinchūriki were not to be captured at this stage.
That much aligned with Ku's memory of the mission where Itachi and Juzo went to Kirigakure. Although Juzo died at the hands of the Three-Tails' host Yagura, Yagura was left comatose after being struck by Amaterasu. Even then, Itachi hadn't captured the jinchūriki.
As for whether Yagura was already under Obito's control at this point, probably… yes.
Four days later, under the night sky.
Ku and Juzo crossed into the Land of Lightning.
"How good are you at infiltration? We may not be in Kumogakure itself yet, but their sensory barriers are still top-notch."
Ku glanced at him.
"Honestly… I don't really do stealth."
With that, he dropped onto the rooftop of a massive mansion ahead and strode straight toward it.
"Who goes there?!"
Bang, bang!
The guards at the gate collapsed before they could react.
Walking as though through an empty hall, Ku's blade flashed, and he pushed the great doors open.
Juzo landed behind him, smirking. With eyes like the Uchiha's, genjutsu made stealth completely unnecessary.
"You- "
Thump!
The moment strangers appeared, the mansion's occupants panicked. Yet before anyone could speak, they all began collapsing one by one.
And so…
Within half an hour, the entire mansion was silent, like a tomb.
Shing!
A short blade suddenly flashed with crackling lightning, stabbing clean through Ku's chest.
A Kumogakure ninja, forehead protector gleaming, drew the blade back and turned toward Juzo.
"The Sharingan wielder is dealt with. Now… It's your turn."
"To dare offend Lord Yotsuki, judging from those cloaks, and that greatsword of yours, which organization are you from?"
Juzo, still holding his execution blade, didn't move. "If I were you, I'd turn around right now."
"Turn around?"
Confused, the Kumogakure ninja realized he hadn't looked Ku in the eyes since appearing.
Thud!
The sound of a blade piercing flesh. Ku withdrew his sword. "You thought you were hidden well, but the moment you looked at me, you were already under my genjutsu."
Blood pooled beneath the fallen body. Ku flicked his blade clean and motioned for Juzo to follow.
Outside the estate owner's room, Ku adjusted his cloak and knocked.
Knock knock knock!
"What is it?" came the reply.
Ku pushed open the door. Juzo followed him in.
"I don't recall giving you the permission to come in," said the man inside.
Leaning against the doorframe, Ku looked at the pig-like man. "You still think we're your subordinates?"
The man trembled. "Who… who are you? If it's money you want, I'll pay. But if it's my lif, Kumogakure won't let you go."
Ku's eyes flared, three tomoe spinning.
In the genjutsu, this cowardly member of the Yotsuki clan was nothing but trash.
Moments later, Ku opened his eyes and looked at the unconscious man. "Related to the Raikage? Yotsuki?"
"Using the war's losses to smear the Fourth Raikage, manipulating public opinion to pressure Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. Calling him a monster, a warmonger, the one responsible for defeat…"
"With all those labels, no one from the Fourth Raikage's faction could possibly succeed him."
"There's one smart guy left, but you all seem a bit desperate."
Ku turned to Juzo. "Kumogakure doesn't have the strength left for revenge. Neither the late Raikage's faction nor the corrupt opposition wants more war."
"You didn't do much this mission. This guy's yours."
Under the Sharingan's control, the official had spilled every secret.
Juzo began searching for classified scrolls, some bore Kumogakure's seal, proof of mission completion.
Afterward, Juzo beheaded the man and sealed the head in a scroll. The two left the estate.
But not long after leaving the capital, a pursuit squad appeared.
"Hidden Mist Technique!"
Thick fog enveloped them, but the enemy had sensory ninja and kept tracking.
Eventually, Ku stopped.
"We just removed a parasite from your ranks. Why chase us so hard?"
The Kumogakure squad leader eyed the two cloaked figures. "No matter what, he was one of us. You killed a Kumogakure official and took his head, and classified scrolls. You think you'll leave unharmed?"
Ku shook his head. "Kumogakure's future stance is valuable. Those scrolls aren't going back."
'Money?'
In that moment, the cloaks and those words revealed their identity.
Then, Ku's red hair and spinning Sharingan stunned them.
'Red-haired Uchiha? Impossible!'
"Surprised? I'm not Uchiha. But if you keep chasing us… Maybe these eyes will wipe you out in an instant."
The squad leader frowned. He hadn't expected Sharingan from someone with red hair.
Then he looked at the man beside Ku, and that massive sword was clearly the Mist's execution blade.
A rogue ninja group?
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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