Chapter 23: Infiltrating the Cloud; The Eight-Tails' Wrath
A few days later. On the outskirts of Kumogakure.
It was dusk.
Hizashi Hyūga stood perched on a jagged cliff at the highest vantage point, the veins around his eyes bulging in a fierce Byakugan activation. Even in the fading light and swirling mountain mist, the chakra signatures of the enemy glowed like beacons in his vision.
"Southwest. Seventeen-man patrol unit... Lord Danzo, their rotation pattern remains unchanged."
"However, one signature has a massive chakra density. It's likely a Cloud Head Ninja (Elite Jonin)."
As he spoke, Hizashi expertly marked the enemy's patrol route on his tactical tablet.
"Leave the Head Ninja to me," Danzo replied, his voice a cold rasp.
He looked at the map Hizashi had drawn and gave a small, rare nod of approval. The boy is a natural.
Hizashi had only been in the Anbu for a few days, but driven by a desperate, burning hunger for his new freedom, he had mastered every protocol and scouting technique with a speed that startled even Danzo.
Danzo reached out and patted Hizashi on the shoulder. He almost said, "With your talent and the darkness in your heart, you're wasted in the Anbu. You belong in Root."
Then he remembered. Root was gone.
And Hizashi wasn't just a recruit; he was the wedge Hiruzen had driven into the heart of the Hyūga clan. The boy's loyalty to the Hokage was practically glowing.
"Is something wrong, Lord Danzo?" Hizashi asked.
"Nothing. Stay focused."
Danzo felt a swirl of complex emotions. Instinctively, he was still annoyed. Even if Hiruzen had promised him a fair shot at the succession, stripping him of the right to build his private army meant he could only watch as "prime stock" like Hizashi became Hiruzen's lapdogs.
But simultaneously, a small, dark part of Danzo's mind was cheering for Hiruzen.
If I were Hokage, would I allow a 'Root' to exist under my nose? Absolutely not. I'd have crushed it years ago.
Since Hiruzen had challenged him to look at the world from a "Kage's Perspective," Danzo found himself increasingly mesmerized by the Monkey's methods. The public display of power at the training field, the dismantling of Root, the assembly of this S-rank hit squad, the lectures on statecraft...
Hiruzen was becoming the leader Danzo had always imagined a Hokage should be. And that made Danzo want to surpass him even more.
I will learn everything you have to teach, Hiruzen. And then, I will take that hat and become the greatest Fourth Hokage in history, Danzo vowed, his hand itching with anticipation.
Inside Kumogakure.
Orochimaru, disguised as a Cloud Village medical officer using the Vanishing Facial Copy Jutsu, handed a small vial of "medicine" to Blue B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
The vial contained Tsunade's specialized cocktail—a paralytic base refined from Salamander venom and heavy sedatives.
"Today's dose is a new formulation, Blue B-sama. It should help stabilize your spirit. Keep fighting the good fight," Orochimaru said, his voice a perfect imitation of a Cloud medic.
Blue B gave a tired, weak smile. "I hope so. Thank you."
As the Jinchuriki walked away, the disguised Orochimaru's eyes glinted. "You can come out now."
A small toad hopped out of the shadows and opened its mouth wide. Jiraiya's arm reached out first, followed by the rest of his body. Genzo Kurama scrambled out after him, looking pale.
"Impressive, right? My Toad-Hide Jutsu is the ultimate infiltration tool," Jiraiya whispered, puffing out his chest.
Genzo looked green. "I've heard of Orochimaru's 'snake-vomiting-himself' trick, but being barfed up by a toad isn't exactly a luxury experience. Are all of Lord Hiruzen's students this... eccentric?"
"Focus," Orochimaru hissed. A few tiny, transparent snakes slithered from his sleeves, tracking Blue B's progress toward his private quarters.
"Syncing mission parameters. I control the host. Genzo controls the Beast. Jiraiya, you set the Isolation Barrier and neutralize any immediate response teams. You're our ticket out."
"Got it," Jiraiya said, his face instantly turning serious.
"Understood," Genzo whispered, taking a deep breath. This was the Kurama clan's chance to step out of the Uchiha's shadow. He wouldn't fail.
"My scouts report Blue B has ingested the toxin. The hall is clear," Orochimaru whispered. "Operation: Blood Debt... begins now."
Blue B's Quarters.
Inside his bedroom, Blue B sat on the edge of his bed. He had just finished the "medicine."
Sweet and sour... actually tastes decent for once, he thought, feeling a rare moment of gratitude toward the village. They must be worried about me. They even took the time to improve the flavor.
He lay back, waiting for the herbs to soothe his frayed nerves. He thought about his future. Could he ever truly master the Eight-Tails? His father and uncle had both been consumed by the beast. He could feel Gyūki's presence—a churning ocean of ink and rage—pulling at the edges of his mind.
Everyone is afraid to touch me... the seal is leaking... if only we had one of those Whirlpool shinobi from the Leaf...
"Valuable intel," a voice hissed in his ear.
Blue B's eyes snapped open, but his vision was a blur of grey mist. He tried to move, to shout, but his muscles felt like lead.
"You're tired, Blue B," a melodic, genderless voice echoed in his mind. "It's time to let go. It's time for the beast to be free."
Orochimaru crouched over Blue B's chest, his eyes burning with cold malice. He slammed his hand onto the Iron Armor Seal.
Outside the room, Jiraiya had already established a high-level Silence Barrier. The Cloud sensors would see nothing.
Orochimaru began the "surgical" dismantling of the seal. He wove his chakra through the complex ink lines, not breaking them, but re-routing them. He felt the Eight-Tails' chakra begin to bubble to the surface. He pulled out the Kusanagi Sword and carefully sliced away a few slivers of Blue B's flesh that had been saturated with Bijuu chakra.
Samples acquired, Orochimaru thought. Tsunade will love this.
Beside him, Genzo Kurama was channeling his clan's secret Genjutsu at its absolute limit.
The plan was simple: the moment the Eight-Tails was free, Genzo would inject an illusion of pure, unadulterated hatred into the beast. It wouldn't just be a rampage; it would be a Message.
Genzo's forehead was drenched in sweat. This is it. For the honor of the Kurama!
"Orochimaru-sama! Now!" Genzo gasped.
"Release!" Orochimaru roared.
The Iron Armor Seal shattered.
The Eight-Tails' chakra erupted like a volcano. A massive, multi-tailed octopus made of ink and lightning surged into the air, its roar shaking the very foundations of the Hidden Cloud.
But instead of a mindless animal scream, the Beast, fueled by Genzo's illusion, bellowed words that echoed through every street of the village:
"AN EYE FOR AN EYE! THE CLOUD WILL PAY FOR THE WHIRLPOOL IN BLOOD!"