Chapter 23 Found You
Watching Yuto depart so abruptly, Terumi Mei froze slightly, her eyes flashing with surprise.
She had not expected Lord Yuto to go in person. Was it disappointment in the current state of Kirigakure? Or perhaps discontent with her incompetence as Mizukage? Either way, the jinchūriki's defection was inseparable from her responsibility.
"Mizukage-sama, should we send people to assist Lord Yuto?"
Chōjūrō's face showed concern as he carefully suggested.
"Lord Yuto requires no aid. It is others who should be worried now."
Mei regained her composure, her eyes turning cold as she addressed the kneeling shinobi before her, her tone icy.
"You said the Six-Tails' jinchūriki defected this morning. Half a day has already passed—why are you only reporting now? And during this time, you were the one assigned to monitor him, were you not?"
"Reporting to Mizukage-sama, his teacher, Harusame, requested some kind of ritual. During that period, monitoring was suspended."
The shinobi's face was tense, though his lowered head kept Mei from seeing.
At his words, Mei's grim expression softened, though her gaze grew even colder.
She licked her lips and cast a faint glance at Chōjūrō.
Chōjūrō's eyes hardened. The shyness that usually lingered on his face vanished. In the next instant, he appeared behind the shinobi.
Before the man could react, Chōjūrō struck the back of his neck. His eyes rolled back and he collapsed unconscious.
"Hand him over to Ao," Mei said coolly.
Chōjūrō nodded without a word, lifted the limp shinobi, and walked out. He knew well what this meant—Mizukage-sama was truly angry.
After a long while, another knock came at the door.
Ao and Chōjūrō entered together. Though Chōjūrō again wore his usual timid look, both men carried the faint scent of blood.
Ao stepped forward, his voice heavy as he spoke to Mei.
"The time of the Six-Tails' defection was not this morning, but last night. The most interesting part is—they intended to report it earlier, but upon hearing news of Lord Yuto's revival, they deliberately delayed."
A knowing look crossed Mei's face, though her brows arched. "They?"
Ao nodded, his tone cold. "Kinoshita Jirō, Tsuchida Masamitsu."
"From last night until now, nearly a full day has passed. The Land of Water is vast. If the Six-Tails truly wishes to hide, finding him won't be quick. Tomorrow's meeting—"
Chōjūrō lifted his head toward the westering sun, worry in his expression.
"The meeting will proceed as planned. For now, the two of you, go and notify all of Kirigakure's upper ranks at once."
Mei cut him off firmly. Though she knew there had been sabotage, her face still carried confidence.
No one understood better than the Mizukage the power Lord Yuto commanded.
———
In a dense forest, Yuto stood atop a great tree, his brows faintly furrowed. He had searched a wide area nearby, yet still had not found the Six-Tails' jinchūriki.
Although he had not learned the escape direction from the captured shinobi, deducing it was hardly difficult for him.
For a shinobi, analyzing intelligence was the most basic of skills.
Kirigakure lay at the far eastern edge of the map. To the north stretched the sea, while the south led to scattered, uninhabited islands. Fleeing in either direction carried a high risk of discovery.
As for the east, Utakata had just escaped from Kirigakure and naturally would not return. The only possible direction was west.
There, the terrain grew complex, covered with vast forests—an ideal place to hide. Once he crossed the Land of Water's border and traveled a short distance by sea, he would reach the Land of Waves.
At that point, he would truly be free.
Unfortunately, the faint trace of tailed beast chakra lingering in the air told Yuto that Utakata had not yet left the area.
Having once absorbed the Three-Tails' chakra, Yuto was intimately familiar with the presence of a tailed beast.
"Where are you?"
He murmured softly, frowning. Nothing on the ground—could it be the sky?
Wait.
The sky!
A sudden gleam lit Yuto's eyes. He had almost forgotten. The Six-Tails' jinchūriki, Utakata, just like his name, possessed bubble-based ninjutsu.
He could very well use his jutsu to float within a bubble, high above the ground.
Yuto raised his head toward the darkening sky and smiled faintly. Bringing one hand before his chest, he swiftly formed several seals.
Secret Art—Cutting Rain!
With the technique unleashed, a fine drizzle began to fall from the heavens.
About thirty meters above the forest canopy, a translucent bubble hung silently in the air. From outside, it appeared empty.
But within, a handsome man in a blue-green robe lounged lazily inside.
"I didn't think Kirigakure's response would be this slow. As long as I make it through tonight, I should be safe."
Utakata rested his head on his hands, speaking lightly.
"Hm? Rain?"
As the drizzle began to fall, a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes. In the next instant, his expression shifted drastically.
The bubble's smooth surface rippled faintly.
Pop!
With a soft sound, the bubble burst before Utakata could react.
His body plummeted from the sky.
"Damn, so he's caught up already!"
As he fell, Utakata quickly pulled a bamboo pipe from his robes, placed it to his lips, and blew. Countless bubbles emerged, supporting him in midair and slowing his descent.
"Found you."
Perched on a tall tree, Yuto's lips curled into a smile as he watched the figure drop from the sky.
His knees bent, and in the next instant his body launched upward like a spring. In a blur, he streaked toward Utakata's position.
While Utakata blew his bubbles to control his fall, a calm voice suddenly echoed by his ear.
"Your descent is too slow. Let me give you a hand."
(End of this chapter)
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