In a secluded hot spring near the dense forest of the Land of Hot Water, Kagami finished writing some intelligence on a small scroll. One of his Anbu members then swiftly summoned a hawk. Kagami placed the intel into a small box attached to the hawk's leg and said, "All right, take this intel back."
Under the Anbu member's command, the summoned hawk flapped its wings twice and soared into the sky at an incredible speed.
Only then did Kagami look at Hibari, who was currently soaking in the hot spring, and said with a smile, "I thought you were so fierce, but it turns out you're just a 'weakling.' No wonder you ordered a retreat and didn't engage Ginkaku's team. So, you couldn't handle it anymore, huh?"
Hibari, hearing Kagami's words, gave a disdainful glance and retorted, "You dare look down on me? If it were you, could you have done better than me just now?"
Kagami chuckled, "You're right about that. Your strength has grown too fast. I admit I can't keep up with your pace... But honestly, that Lightning Release Chakra Mode is surprisingly powerful. I'm actually a bit surprised... It seems I'll have to study it carefully when I get back."
"Exactly. Even if it's a bit late to start practicing other things, you can certainly research the Lightning Release: Lariat thoroughly. Who knows, maybe we can even use 'Lightning Release: Double Lariat' together in the future..." Hibari said, standing up from the hot spring.
He then walked over to a flat, large rock by the pool and lay down, saying, "You know what, this hot spring really does quickly relieve my sore and numb body. Hitenn, would you mind giving me a back massage?"
Hitenn was also recuperating in the hot spring. Hearing Hibari's request, he asked, "Deputy Commander, is that an order or a personal request?"
"Hmm? Is there a difference?" Hibari asked, momentarily puzzled.
"If it's an order, I'll execute it immediately. But if it's a personal request, I feel like I'd like to continue soaking for a bit longer," Hitenn replied very earnestly.
"You, you always say I secretly call you 'Mr. Serious,' but aren't you just that?" Hibari said, looking at Hitenn helplessly.
Before Hitenn could respond, Hibari continued, "Look, we're currently in the Land of Hot Water and engaged in war with Kumogakure. Just like earlier, enemy contact can happen at any moment. My current condition isn't great, and your Hyuga clan happens to be proficient in meridian manipulation. Therefore, I'd like to ask you to massage my back and alleviate the side effects from the intense battle I just had. From a public and private standpoint, you shouldn't refuse, should you?"
Hitenn pondered Hibari's words for a moment, then replied, "Indeed, Deputy Commander, you're right."
Without further delay, he stood up, wrapped himself in a bath towel, and walked behind Hibari. He activated his Byakugan to observe Hibari's physical condition and said, "Many meridians have been forcibly expanded and are now slowly recovering and contracting on their own. It's normal for you to feel this soreness and numbness. I'll help you straighten them out now."
As his words fell, Hitenn placed his palm on Hibari's back, and a gentle chakra flowed from his hand, helping Hibari regulate the meridians within his body.
"Oh, that feels good... A little lower, yes! Use a bit more force... Ah~~~ So satisfying... Yes, yes, that's the spot. Oh, a little gentler, you're hurting me..." Hibari exclaimed continuously while enjoying Hitenn's massage.
Hibari himself didn't feel there was anything wrong with what he just said. Hitenn was also a 'Mr. Serious' and didn't overthink things. However, the other Anbu squad members couldn't help but chuckle, their laughter filled with an indescribable suggestiveness.
Kagami was just about to undress and get into the hot spring when he saw two mostly naked men 'wrestling' nearby, one of them spouting nonsense that sounded suspiciously like it could be misinterpreted. His interest in soaking in the hot spring instantly vanished.
Kagami put his clothes back on, his face a bit displeased, and said, "I say, in broad daylight, with everything so clear, can't you two be a little more mindful of your image?"
Hearing Kagami's words, Hibari was first stunned, then seemed to understand something. His face stiffened, and he quickly retorted, "As the saying goes, 'if there's sht in your heart, everything you see is sht.' You're the one with a dirty mind for thinking such things. I, Hibari Senju, walk the straight and narrow path. What 'image' is there to mind? Is it illegal for me to get a massage?"
"Alright, alright, I can't win with you. You always have a twisted logic for everything," Kagami said, too lazy to argue with Hibari.
However, Hibari also had some sense of propriety. He hadn't noticed it before, but now that he did, and with so many subordinates around, he needed to maintain his authority. So, although Hitenn's massage felt very comfortable, he didn't shout randomly as he had before.
Not long after, Kagami seemed to recall something. He walked to a pile of strange items they had collected earlier, rummaged through it, pulled out two items, and walked over to Hibari.
"Oh right, these two things are your 'spoils of war.' Any thoughts on them?" Kagami asked with a smile.
In his hands, he held a bloody arm and a red and white feathered fan.
The arm was Kinkaku's arm, severed by Hibari's blade. The red and white feathered fan was the Six Paths Ninja Tool, the Bashōsen.
During his intense battle with Hibari, Kinkaku not only had his arm severed but also 'dropped his equipment.' Even his Six Paths Ninja Tool, the Bashōsen, fell onto the battlefield during the fierce exchange.
Neither he nor Hibari had time to pick it up then. Later, after dealing with the other four Kumogakure shinobi, Kagami, who was tidying up the battlefield, picked them up, including the arm.
Hibari first glanced at the bloody arm and said with some disgust, "Can you move that further away? Isn't that gross?"
"When you cut the damn thing off, why didn't you think it was gross? You're being dramatic..." Kagami grumbled, annoyed at Hibari.
Hibari pondered for a moment, then said, "Kinkaku, after all, inherited the Sage of Six Paths' bloodline. This arm still has some value. Take it back to the Hokage-sama and see if he's interested in researching it. If he manages to figure something out, like solving the mystery of how they can eat Tailed Beasts alive, then we could also create some high-level shinobi like that. If he can't figure anything out, then just process it and display it as a commemorative item."
"Collecting other people's severed limbs? You really have a heavy taste..." Kagami murmured first.
Then he shook the Bashōsen in his hand and asked, "What about this thing? It's a Six Paths Ninja Tool! You really hit the jackpot with this one."
Earlier, when Hibari was retreating, he said he hadn't achieved his expected goal. This didn't mean their mission failed; it simply meant it didn't meet Hibari's personal expectations. Kinkaku survived, and due to his own limited state, he couldn't retaliate against Ginkaku's squad.
However, from a mission perspective, they not only succeeded but succeeded perfectly. Their mission was to intercept Kumogakure's vanguard. Their objective was to eliminate as many as possible to intimidate Kumogakure, essentially sending a message: "We in Konoha have discovered your war intentions. Before things escalate, and since neither side has officially declared war, if you retreat now, this incident will be treated as if it never happened and put behind us."
"If you dare to come again, then we are ready for war, and we'll crush you without question!"
From this strategy, it's clear that even at this point, Tobirama, the Hokage, still desperately wanted to prevent the outbreak of war and maintain the fragile peace.
And what did Hibari's Anbu squad do? They nearly hammered Kinkaku to death!
Given Kinkaku's status in Kumogakure, this would undoubtedly cause a stir. This was enough to intimidate Kumogakure, so it was correct to say their mission was perfectly accomplished!
As for the Six Paths Ninja Tool, the Bashōsen... it was indeed as Kagami said, something that just fell into their lap, a huge gain!
"I'm not interested in using this Bashōsen. Is anyone else? Feel free to take it..." Hibari glanced at the Bashōsen and thought for a moment before speaking.
He genuinely had little interest in it. Although it seemed like a powerful item, it didn't quite fit his fighting style.
Kagami looked at Hitenn and the other Anbu members, then asked, "Does anyone want it?"
Hitenn, while massaging Hibari's meridians, replied, "No interest."
None of the other Anbu members were greedy enough to truly want the item; they all shook their heads.
Kagami , seeing this, said helplessly, "I'm actually very interested in this thing, but after trying it out, the chakra energy required to use it is too immense. I'd be drained after just a few swings. It's too impractical. It wouldn't be effective in my hands either... You should just keep it. After all, if no one else needs it, it should rightfully belong to you."
Six Paths Ninja Tools indeed require a large amount of chakra to be used perfectly. The Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers, having the Sage of Six Paths' bloodline and the Nine-Tails' chakra within them, found them easy to use. But for 'ordinary people' like Kagami, it was difficult to use them perfectly.
Hibari looked at the red and white Bashōsen, then smacked his lips and said, "According to you, people from our Senju clan should be able to use it reasonably well... Since none of you want it, I'll take it back. I'll see if Tsunade wants it. If she doesn't, then I can give it to my little brother whom I haven't met yet... Consider it his 'meeting gift.'"
Kagami chuckled upon hearing Hibari's words and said, "You're certainly generous as an elder brother, a Six Paths Ninja Tool as a meeting gift, impressive. Alright, if you have these thoughts, then I'll put it away for you."
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