Chapter 102: The Fuse of War is Lit
In total, Genichi's group spent nearly half a month on the border before returning to Konoha. His training was still handled by his Shadow Clones (Kage Bunshin). Taking advantage of the free time during his leave, and with Shizune also available, he had her act as a sparring partner to train her taijutsu and close-combat abilities. It wasn't about making her exceptionally good, but at the very least, she needed some ability to protect herself so she could coordinate with her Monstrous Strength (Kairiki). Otherwise, her training in it would have been for nothing.
"Alright, that's enough for now. Let's take a break."
Seeing Shizune covered in sweat, panting, and her stamina severely depleted, Genichi stopped the session.
Shizune plopped directly onto the ground. Genichi, on the other hand, went to a nearby tree, got the salt and sugar water, and brought it over for her to rehydrate.
After Shizune had caught her breath, he took out a bandage-like strip of paper covered in sealing formulas, forming a complex jutsu pattern.
"Wrap this around your wrist and use it as a bracer. You don't need to take it off even when you bathe," Genichi said as he wrapped it around her left wrist.
Shizune put down her water cup and asked curiously, "What is this?"
Genichi said, "A Flying Thunder God Formula (Hiraishin no Jutsu-shiki)!"
Shizune's eyes widened in exclamation. "A Flying Thunder God Formula?"
"You've mastered it so quickly, Genichi!"
Genichi chuckled lightly. "Just the basics. I am a genius, after all!"
Shizune had long since become his little fangirl. She nodded repeatedly, completely believing his nonsense.
After wrapping the formula-bandage securely, Genichi smiled. "This way, I can instantly teleport to your side in the future."
Hearing this, Shizune blushed and nodded, her heart filled with a warmth as if she were soaking in a hot spring.
"Genichi!"
"Urgent mission!"
Gekkō Ryūfū appeared on a tree not far away.
Genichi stood up. "Got it!"
And I've only been resting for three days.
Shizune was a little reluctant to see him go, but she still smiled. "Go on, Genichi. I'll go back by myself!"
Genichi patted her soft, short hair and nodded with a smile. "I'll leave a shadow clone to continue training with you."
He created a shadow clone to stay behind, then leaped away.
Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen looked at Genichi and said, "Genichi, you must know that the Sand Village's recent movements have been somewhat unusual. I'm afraid a very serious situation has arisen within their village."
"Therefore, I need you to infiltrate the Village Hidden in the Sand to gather intelligence."
If he hadn't considered that Genichi had previously infiltrated the relatively closed-off Village Hidden in the Mist, this idea would not have occurred to Hiruzen. But the Sand Village's movements were alarmingly large-scale; they were acting as if they had gone mad. Since Genichi had this infiltration ability, it was imperative to find out what exactly was happening in the Sand Village. Because with the current tense situation in the shinobi world, the situation in the Sand Village would inevitably lead to a change in the entire landscape.
Intelligence was extremely important.
Genichi also understood Hiruzen's intentions and nodded. "Understood!" He of course knew what was happening in the Sand Village, but he couldn't say it now. So, a trip to Sunagakure was still necessary.
Leaving the Hokage Tower, Genichi directly gave the order to the waiting Akimichi Tōdō and his two other teammates. "To the Land of Wind!"
"Yes, sir!"
The four of them vanished with the Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin no Jutsu). This time, Genichi was leading the mission alone, and an infiltration mission did not require many people.
That night, the four of them rested at the border of the Land of Rivers.
"This mission is to infiltrate the Village Hidden in the Sand and gather intelligence," Genichi briefed them on the mission content for the first time.
Gekkō Ryūfū said, "Captain, is it because of the Sand Village's recent movements?"
Genichi nodded. "Correct."
"An infiltration mission doesn't require too many people, so you three only need to provide support for me at the border of the Land of Wind."
Sarutobi Mikage hesitated. "Is... isn't that a bit too far?"
"Wouldn't it be better to lie in wait and provide support near the Sand Village?"
Akimichi Tōdō and Gekkō Ryūfū both nodded.
Genichi took out a Flying Thunder God Kunai (Hiraishin Kunai) and handed it to Ryūfū. "Ryūfū, this is a kunai I've marked. If there's danger, I will teleport over directly."
Akimichi Tōdō was shocked. "The Flying Thunder God Technique (Hiraishin no Jutsu)?"
Sarutobi Mikage and Gekkō Ryūfū were both taken aback; they had never heard of this jutsu.
Genichi nodded. "Yes, the Flying Thunder God Technique (Hiraishin no Jutsu)."
Akimichi Tōdō was relieved. "Since that's the case, then there's no problem."
"I didn't expect you to have mastered this movement technique as well, Captain."
Sarutobi Mikage couldn't help but ask, "Is this movement technique any different?"
Akimichi Tōdō smiled. "You know Jonin Minato Namikaze, right?"
"The title of 'Yellow Flash' was earned with this very Flying Thunder God Technique. It possesses an unparalleled speed!" He had been on a mission with Minato before, so he knew how powerful the jutsu was.
The other two had a moment of realization. Gekkō Ryūfū quickly put the kunai away.
The night passed without incident.
The next day, the group passed through the Land of Rivers. Tōdō and the other two remained at the border to lie in wait and provide support. Genichi, on the other hand, formed a seal and used the Summoning Jutsu (Kuchiyose no Jutsu) to summon Torao. He then rode the eagle from high in the sky into the Land of Wind. This was much better than eating sand on the ground, and it was faster.
In the evening, Genichi looked at the Village Hidden in the Sand in the distance, which was crouching like a wild beast. He immediately had Torao land on a mushroom-shaped stone pillar.
"Go on!" After giving Torao a burst of chakra and feeding it a few soldier pills, Genichi released the summoning.
Swish!
After planting a Hiraishin Kunai on the stone pillar, Genichi's figure vanished.
The outer perimeter security of the Sand Village was not lacking, but for Genichi, it was like a mere decoration. He easily passed through with the cover of a genjutsu.
Transformed into an ordinary person, Genichi walked on the streets of the Sand Village but did not feel any tense atmosphere. This was normal. A matter like the Kazekage's disappearance would certainly be kept secret. If it had reached the point where even the ordinary villagers of Sunagakure knew about it, then Konoha wouldn't have needed him to infiltrate to gather intelligence.
But the information couldn't be kept secret forever.
After wandering around for a bit and having dinner, Genichi found a secluded spot and buried a Hiraishin Kunai. He then transformed into a Sand ninja and came to the vicinity of the Kazekage's building. In an alley, he inserted a Hiraishin Kunai into a stone wall, pushing it all the way in.
Ever since mastering the Flying Thunder God, Genichi had taken a liking to "planting eyes," just in case.
After planting the eye, Genichi transformed into a Sand Jonin and entered the Kazekage's building. The building seemed empty at this time. Genichi silently infused his chakra into the water vapor in the air, his sensory feelers gradually spreading throughout the entire building.
Soon, he came to the outside of a meeting room and listened intently.
Inside the meeting room were the higher-ups of the Sand Village, led by Chiyo and Ebizō. With the Third Kazekage missing, they were the ones in charge.
"There's still no news of the Kazekage. I'm afraid something has really happened."
"We must prepare for the worst."
"Do we need to elect a new Kazekage?"
"Who would be suitable?"
...
Listening to the discussion, Chiyo said in a heavy voice, "If something has really happened to the Kazekage, that is the most serious matter!"
"If the Kazekage is already dead, then who did it?"
"So, we must find the Kazekage, even if it's just his body."
"We must understand where the enemy is. Otherwise, what about the safety of a new Kazekage?"
At these words, the others fell silent, then nodded one after another.
But then someone else said, "We must of course continue to search for Lord Third with all our might, but we must also consider a new Kazekage in advance, lest the village fall into chaos."
"The matter of Lord Third's disappearance cannot be hidden for long."
Chiyo nodded. "Then let's first determine the candidates for the Fourth Kazekage."
"This matter also cannot be publicized, to avoid causing unnecessary panic."
Ebizō and the other Sand higher-ups all nodded.
Outside the meeting room.
Genichi sensed someone was heading towards the meeting room. He immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished from the spot.
In a secluded place in the Sand Village, Genichi appeared silently.
"This environment has a rather large effect on my perception. The air is too dry," Genichi frowned to himself.
Of course, he could now perform water nature transformation on his chakra to turn it into water vapor and infuse it into the air, spreading rapidly like ink. But the environment would still affect the speed of its diffusion and the precision of his perception.
"It seems the Heavenly Water, Boundless (Tensui Mukai) technique is not perfect either."
Genichi's figure vanished again, then appeared on the stone pillar outside the Sand Village.
"Relying on water for perception is not enough. Then I'll add wind..." Genichi had a new direction.
What is wind? The flow of air is wind!
Wind + Water. With the combined force of these two, Genichi believed that the speed, range, and precision of his perception would surge, and the influence of the environment would be greatly reduced.
"Also, I need to find a chance to get my hands on Minato-niisan's sensory ninjutsu to study."
With that thought, Genichi's mind turned to the matter of the Third Kazekage's disappearance. He naturally knew that it was Sasori of the Red Sand who had killed him and turned him into a human puppet. According to the timeline, Sasori should have assassinated the Third Kazekage about half a month ago.
Has Sasori already turned him into a human puppet?
But even if he had, the human puppet must still retain some of its original flesh and tissue.
Find Sasori, and snatch the Third Kazekage's body for research.
Genichi wasn't thinking about seeing if he was a match for the Third Kazekage again. He had already given up on the idea of transplantation. Instead, he was learning from Orochimaru, to analyze the inner mysteries of the kekkei genkai through research, and then try to cultivate it himself. After all, the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release was also cultivated through research on the One-Tail.
"But that guy Sasori will be a bit difficult to find. I don't have a grasp of his chakra signature right now."
"This matter probably can't be done in a day or two. It seems I'll have to look into it later."
Genichi formed a hand seal, summoned Torao, and immediately flew towards the Land of Rivers overnight. However, on the way, he would occasionally have Torao land near an oasis to bury a Hiraishin Kunai.
He was busy like this all the way. It was already dawn when he finally regrouped with Tōdō and the others.
The three of them were somewhat surprised that he had returned so quickly.
Genichi, however, didn't waste any words. He said directly, "The Third Kazekage of the Village Hidden in the Sand has disappeared!"
What?
The three of them were all shocked.
"That... that's too much, isn't it?" Sarutobi Mikage was incredulous.
The Kage of a ninja village! To have disappeared... this... is simply absurd!
The most composed of them, Akimichi Tōdō, after his shock, said in a heavy voice, "No wonder the Sand Village's movements have been so large-scale."
"Captain, what happened to the Kazekage? Was he assassinated?"
Genichi said, "That's what the Sand Village wants to know right now."
"At present, there is no sign of the Kazekage, dead or alive."
"Tōdō, Mikage, you two set out immediately and return to the village. Report this intelligence to Lord Third. I will rest for half a day, and then set out with Ryūfū."
The two of them immediately accepted the order and left with the Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin no Jutsu).
They traveled at top speed, arriving at Konoha at 8 PM that same day. They immediately requested an audience with Hiruzen, dragging him from his home back to the Hokage Tower.
"The Kazekage has disappeared?" Hiruzen was also stunned after hearing the report. It was too unexpected. After all, the Kage was often the strongest person in the village, and there was also the Kage Guard. For him to disappear and have the Sand ninja searching the world for him was simply incredible.
But in just a moment, Hiruzen calmed down. He said, "You have worked hard. Go back and rest."
"Yes, Lord Third!"
The two of them immediately took their leave.
Hiruzen contemplated for a moment, then immediately had someone go and find Danzō.
Upon learning that the Third Kazekage had disappeared, Danzō immediately became excited. "Hiruzen, the Sand Village is now without a leader, and they are expending a great deal of manpower to search for the Third Kazekage. Their internal defenses must be very weak. This is an excellent opportunity!"
War! War! He, Danzō, needed a war!
Hiruzen, however, shook his head. "We cannot be the first to start a war. Otherwise, the Stone, Cloud, and Mist villages might take the opportunity to attack us."
"Danzō, you are responsible for leaking this news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance to the other three ninja villages."
Danzō first frowned, but then he nodded. "I understand."
"Let the other three villages make the first move to weaken the Sand Village's strength."
"Hehe, those warmongering guys from the Cloud Village will definitely not let go of such a good opportunity."
Hiruzen sighed. He was not as optimistic as Danzō. War was difficult to avoid. He was just delaying the time for Konoha to enter the war, while at the same time, weakening potential future enemies as much as possible.
...
Genichi returned to Konoha at a little after 9 AM the next morning and immediately went to the Hokage's Office to report for duty.
"Genichi, you have worked hard. This mission was completed very well," Hiruzen first praised him with a gentle smile, and then, without giving him a chance to be humble, he asked, "Regarding the matter of the Kazekage's disappearance, what are your thoughts?"
I'll just watch quietly. Genichi complained inwardly, but his face showed a pensive expression. He then said, "The village has always been opposed by the other four great ninja villages because we are the strongest."
"So, although the Kazekage's disappearance seems to have created a major weakness in the Sand Village, for us, this is a poisonous fruit."
"I feel that the use of this intelligence is not for us, but for the other three great ninja villages."
"For them, this is a good opportunity."
"And for us, weakening the other four great ninja villages is a very worthwhile thing."
A gratified expression appeared on Hiruzen's face. He then said, "Go and rest. Be ready at all times."
"Understood!" Genichi nodded, then left with a Shunshin.
(End of Chapter)
❃❃❃
⤑ Show your support with Power Stones!
⤑ Unlock a Bonus Chapter every time we hit 400 Power Stones!
❃❃❃
♕ Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
🔗 https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to open the link!)
💬 Enjoying the story? Drop a review!
Your support really helps the series grow—thank you!