Capture
While Shirō and his team were engaged in a fierce battle, Shikamaru and his group had already arrived at their designated target.
Listening to the distant clash of steel and chakra, Shikamaru narrowed his eyes.
"Shirō and his squad have already engaged. It's time for us to move."
The instant he made his decision, Shikamaru launched forward like an arrow. Toyota followed close behind, though neither of them specialized in direct combat ninjutsu.
Shikamaru's jutsu were primarily supportive in nature. In single combat, he could hold his own, but in large-scale battle, he was less effective. Toyota was much the same—his strength lay in reconnaissance and information-gathering rather than raw fighting ability. Usually, he and Isshin scouted while Uchiha Tsuki engaged the enemy. Their team had been built around intelligence work, not brute force.
They didn't need overwhelming combat power.
Isshin, however, seemed far more at ease. He remained in place, his body swarming with kikaichū that poured out like a living tide to scout and harass their targets.
Their assault went smoothly. The cultists here were weak compared to seasoned shinobi. Still, Shikamaru knew this was no ordinary hideout.
The moment his kunai found purchase in an enemy's chest, he noticed something unsettling—the man didn't even flinch. Blood spilled freely, but his expression remained vacant, devoid of pain.
Even trained shinobi grimaced when wounded, yet these people didn't react at all. They looked as though they welcomed the injuries.
Shikamaru's face darkened. So it really is Gakin-kyō's doing… their doctrine robs people of fear and pain. Terrifying.
Nakamura had noticed it too. With a curt signal to Shikamaru and the others, he advanced deeper into the stronghold alone.
Inside, the corridors were lined with blank-eyed cultists shuffling forward like puppets, their mouths shut tight, their movements mechanical.
After some distance, Nakamura halted before a small building. Extending his chakra senses, he located several signatures inside. Forming quick seals, he melted into the wall with Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique.
Inside, voices were raised in hushed urgency.
"Where is the support from Hot Water Village? We can't hold them back much longer!"
"No, sir. Those are Leaf shinobi. If we get directly involved, it could spark a war with Konoha!"
"So you'd rather we sit here and wait for death?!"
"Sir, they're just three children. The elders' weapon should be more than enough to crush them."
"Children? Do you know those so-called brats leveled an entire castle in an instant?"
"What? Impossible! Just a few genin—"
"What's impossible? You're just a frog at the bottom of a well—"
The speaker froze mid-sentence as a calm new voice cut through the room.
"I am the captain of those 'brats.' And you're already surrounded."
From the stone wall, Nakamura emerged, dusting himself off.
"Hmph! Just you? Don't make me—gah!"
"Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!"
The man was yanked underground up to his neck before he could finish. Nakamura crouched beside him, his tone even.
"Yes, just me. Now, will you surrender, or must I convince you?"
"We surre—evil god!" one cultist cried, abruptly pulling a dagger to stab himself.
But before the blade could sink in, three Shadow Clones flickered into existence behind them.
"Sealing Technique: Four-Limbs Binding Seal!"
Glowing kanji spread across the cultists' bodies, freezing their suicidal movements. Only then did Nakamura rise to his feet.
"Don't underestimate Leaf shinobi. You're valuable sources of intelligence. We won't let you throw your lives away."
Nakamura had already planned ahead—one clone had remained hidden even after his decapitation jutsu, waiting for this very moment.
As expected, zealots to the core, he thought grimly.
"Hmph, so what if you capture me?" one Hidden Hot Water Village shinobi spat. "Do you dare kill me? Aren't you afraid of provoking a war?"
Nakamura chuckled softly. "Oh? Just as Shirō said, fools really do exist in this world. Since I'm in a good mood, I'll enlighten you before you die."
The man's face twitched.
"What makes you think I wouldn't kill you? Do you imagine yourself important to Hot Water Village? Or that they'd declare war on Konoha for your sake? Do you dare believe that?"
He continued coldly, "All I'd need to do is scratch a line across your forehead protector. Your own village would thank me for eliminating a traitor. Do you think your honor outweighs the interests of an entire nation?"
The shinobi broke out in a cold sweat. His lips parted as if to speak, but Nakamura's kunai silenced him in an instant.
This one is deeply tied to Hot Water's internal affairs, Nakamura reasoned. Keeping him alive would only bring complications. Easier to erase him now.
Wariness of Hot Water Village didn't even cross his mind. Against Konoha, they were a minor force. Their jōnin were barely at the level of Konoha's tokubetsu jōnin, lacking both numbers and high-level ninjutsu. In the great balance of nations, they were small fry.
To cover his tracks, Nakamura scratched a clean line across the man's protector, branding him a missing-nin, then summoned his contracted tiger. The great beast padded forward, its striped fur bristling with chakra.
Though only of chūnin strength, the beast could perform simple ninjutsu without seals. More than enough to guard prisoners.
"Stay here. Don't let them escape."
The tiger growled in affirmation.
Someday, this summon will serve my children, Nakamura mused idly. If I ever have any… well, best to plan ahead.
Meanwhile, Shikamaru and the others had finished cutting down the cultists outside. Their enemies had been fearless, not immortal—killing blows still felled them like anyone else.
Rejoining Nakamura, they quickly secured the stronghold. The enemy hadn't yet destroyed their records. Poring over the documents, they found intelligence that could prove invaluable.
Elsewhere, Taiyi and Tsuki clashed against the so-called Black Blockhead.
Taiyi lunged in first, his short blade flashing. But against the hulking giant, the blade barely cut deep enough to matter.
Clicking his tongue, Taiyi leapt back, chakra surging. Electricity crackled violently across his body, sparks dancing along his blade.
From the sidelines, Shirō's eyes widened.
"This is…!"