The locations of the conference room and Aoyama Ryuyun's tent were understandable enough.
But the place where Yugito Nii was imprisoned? That was supposed to be a top-secret location.
"Leaving aside whether the Cloud's spies could even obtain such information," Shikaku began, his tone calm but sharp, "even if they could, during wartime the camp is under constant guard. There would've been no chance to pass the message out. Unless…"
His words trailed off. The sharpness in his voice gave way to a grim silence as realization sank in.
By then, the others had caught on—the implication was clear.
Unless that information had been leaked by a Konoha ninja.
And not just anyone—someone with considerable status and access.
"Hahaha!" The Fourth Raikage burst out laughing, the sound harsh and full of disdain. "Looks like you've finally figured it out! That's why I despise Konoha so much—always stabbing your own people in the back, even in the middle of war!"
"Who is it?"
Aoyama Ryuyun didn't speak, but the question came sharply from the others beside him.
None of them wanted to believe what they were thinking.
"Heh…" Ay sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. "It's none other than the Hokage's son—Sarutobi Shinnosuke! Hahaha! How's that for irony?"
His laughter echoed, vicious and unrestrained.
The Konoha ninjas who heard the name froze, disbelief etched across their faces.
The Hokage's son… a traitor?
During wartime, he had relayed every major piece of intelligence from Konoha's camp straight to the Cloud forces.
That was not mere betrayal—it was treason against the entire village.
"This can't be true!"
"How could the Hokage's son—?"
"If even he's a traitor, what's the point of this war anymore?!"
The camp broke into murmurs of confusion and outrage.
For years, under the Will of Fire, many had regarded Hiruzen Sarutobi as the embodiment of the village itself.
And now, his own son had shattered that image with one act of betrayal.
Their faith crumbled in an instant.
"Quiet."
Aoyama Ryuyun's calm but commanding voice cut through the uproar like a blade.
He raised his hand, and the camp fell silent.
Right. They still had Aoyama Ryuyun.
The "Golden Lion" of Konoha.
If the Will of Fire had dimmed, another light was already replacing it.
---
Meanwhile, at the site where Yugito Nii had been held captive, the Third Raikage arrived with several of his men.
The cell was completely empty.
"What!?"
The Third Raikage's single eye widened as he surveyed the area.
There were clear traces that someone had been kept here, but no guards, no prisoners—nothing.
"Not good."
For all his roughness, the Third Raikage was no fool.
He immediately understood what had happened and disappeared in a burst of lightning, heading straight toward where Ay and Killer Bee were stationed.
"Ay! Bee!"
His voice boomed through the camp as he appeared before them.
"Father!"
"Raikage-sama!"
Both men stiffened, startled by his sudden arrival.
The Third Raikage's sharp gaze scanned the area, lingering on Yugito Nii's empty restraints.
They had been lured into a trap.
But there was no time to discuss it.
With Aoyama Ryuyun nearby—a man who had already shattered his Lightning Armor once before—even the "strongest shield" in the world couldn't afford to fight recklessly.
"Ay! Bee! Find an opening and retreat!" the Third Raikage commanded firmly.
"Yes!"
Ay and Killer Bee exchanged a look, then activated their Lightning Release Chakra Modes simultaneously, their bodies wrapped in crackling light.
---
"Zanpa!"
"Lightning Release: Lariat!"
BOOM!
A violent collision erupted—golden sword energy met roaring lightning head-on.
The air itself seemed to split as shockwaves rippled outward.
Aoyama Ryuyun's blade slashed cleanly through the lightning armor, sparks scattering across the field.
Clang!
A thin crack ran across the Third Raikage's Lightning Armor—the fabled "strongest shield" had fractured under a single blow.
The Third Raikage was forced back several meters, landing beside Ay and Killer Bee.
Even he looked momentarily shaken.
"Bee!"
"Understood!"
Killer Bee immediately called forth Gyūki's power.
Massive octopus tails erupted from beneath the ground, sweeping toward Aoyama Ryuyun in a surge of violent chakra.
"Hm?"
Aoyama Ryuyun's brow twitched.
He hadn't expected Killer Bee to use such a reckless move just to buy time.
With a flick of his wrist, golden sword qi flashed.
Slash!
The Eight-Tails' tails were cut cleanly apart.
"Ahhh!"
Killer Bee gritted his teeth as pain surged through him—the damage was shared between him and Gyūki both.
"Bee!"
Ay grabbed his brother without hesitation.
The Third Raikage covered their flank as all three vanished in a burst of lightning, retreating from the Konoha camp at full speed.
Aoyama Ryuyun watched the rapidly disappearing lights, the faintest trace of a smirk on his lips.
He slowly sheathed Kuraki and Sakura-ju back into their scabbards and glanced at the severed tails lying on the ground.
"It seems we'll be eating well tonight."
But before the words even faded—
Poof!
The tails vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Aoyama Ryuyun blinked once, then chuckled.
"Well… not like I was planning to eat Eight-Tails' tail anyway."
The camp fell silent for a moment—then the surrounding shinobi couldn't help but laugh softly.
The tension broke. The Golden Lion had once again crushed the storm, as effortlessly as breathing.
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