When the mission reached the border, Shu came face-to-face with a man whose reputation could shake the entire shinobi world.
After leaving Danzo's office, Hoshishita Shu regrouped with Inuzuka Ryo and the other two.
"You can keep the copies of the secret technique materials," Shu said evenly. "But under no circumstances are you to circulate them. Not even within the squad."
Sarutobi Atsushi nodded at once. "Understood!"
The other two quickly echoed the same.
Shu waved a hand. "Dismissed."
The three of them vanished with the Body Flicker Technique, each returning to their own quarters.
Shu returned to his room as well. He changed out of his gear and—having completely lost the desire to wander around Konoha—pulled out the sealing technique materials he had just obtained.
"So the Sky Ninja are stealing Konoha's sealing techniques…"
"Is their goal… the Zero-Tails?"
"And they were already planning this so early?"
Shu narrowed his eyes as he thought.
The Sky Ninja Village… if he remembered correctly, it had been destroyed by Konoha during the Second Shinobi World War.
Was this theft incident the fuse that lit the powder keg?
He also remembered that in later years, remnants of the Sky Ninja had attempted to assassinate Danzo more than once.
"Shinno…"
Shu let out a quiet snort.
"Daring to call yourself that… you're asking to die."
He pushed the thought aside and immersed himself in the materials.
Tsuchiya Naoya had stolen quite a lot.
Basic sealing techniques like the Fire Sealing Method, the Five Elements Seal, and even Uzumaki-clan seals such as the Four Symbols Seal…
There was also the legendary Reverse Four Symbols Seal, said to have once sealed an entire bridge.
These were relatively complete and detailed.
More alarming, however, were the many incomplete fragments.
Some didn't even have names.
Yet from their structure, they were clearly sealing techniques designed specifically for tailed beasts.
Those partial records were likely leftovers from Konoha's past research into sealing the Nine-Tails.
By the time Shu finally pulled himself away from the documents—
It was already five in the morning.
"The Zero-Tails… Void…"
Shu frowned.
"If I remember right, it's a monster formed from dark chakra."
"In terms of the mind… it might be even more dangerous than the tailed beasts."
After a moment, he set the matter aside.
He packed away the documents, changed clothes, and went out to train.
Basic physical conditioning.
Taijutsu drills.
Those were habits he had built long ago.
But now his training list was heavier than ever.
Wood Release went without saying.
The spiral chakra technique he wanted to recreate would greatly improve his chakra control.
As for Wind Release—his original specialty—
It had been pushed to last place.
Breakfast was handled with a soldier pill.
Shu trained nonstop from morning until noon before returning to the Root base to eat.
Unexpectedly, he had barely finished swallowing his meal when Nakamura appeared again.
"Codename A."
"Lord Danzo summons you."
Shu wiped his mouth once, then moved at top speed.
In moments, he was before Danzo, dropping to one knee.
"Lord Danzo!"
Danzo nodded slightly, then spoke in a low voice.
"According to ANBU pursuit and investigation, someone in the border defense force is colluding with the Sky Ninja."
"They sold a route map of our border defense deployments."
"At present, there is no conclusive evidence."
"Only suspects."
"Codename A."
"You will lead a team there."
"Identify who betrayed the village."
As Danzo finished, Shimura Daichi handed Shu a thick stack of documents.
Shu accepted them and answered firmly.
"Rest assured, Lord Danzo. I will find the parasites gnawing at Konoha's roots."
Danzo's voice remained calm.
"The current commander of the border defense force is Hatake Sakumo."
"Go."
"Depart immediately."
Shu's eyelid twitched.
But his voice remained steady.
"Understood."
…
Five minutes later.
Shu led his squad out of the Root base and left Konoha, heading toward the northeastern border.
On the road, Sarutobi Atsushi asked, "Captain, what's the mission?"
"To identify the traitor in the border defense force who is selling our defense intelligence to the Sky Ninja."
Shu's tone was flat and precise.
"Intelligence currently lists three primary suspects."
"Uema Kushigami."
"Michikami Takuya."
"Akabane Nozomi."
"Do any of you know them?"
Aburame Hiiichi spoke first.
"Captain, I know Akabane Nozomi."
"We were in the same class at the Ninja Academy."
"He's gentle by nature. Even back then he was well-liked, and he worked very hard."
"He's already a chunin."
Shu nodded slightly.
He had already memorized the files.
Besides what Hiiichi mentioned, Akabane Nozomi was also an orphan with Fire Release and Earth Release.
His reputation was… almost too clean.
Everyone who knew him praised him.
No one in the ANBU investigation had anything negative to say about him.
And combined with the orphan background—
Shu's suspicion sharpened.
Not for sentimental reasons.
For practical ones.
A profile that spotless was exactly what a planted spy looked like.
As for the other two suspects, their dossiers were unremarkable.
None of Shu's three subordinates recognized them.
Shu briefly introduced their information and then said, "For this mission, our outward identity will be ANBU."
"On the surface, our purpose is to evaluate candidates for potential ANBU recruitment."
Sarutobi Atsushi hesitated. "Captain… will that reason be believable?"
"According to their profiles, none of those three really qualify to enter the ANBU."
That was true.
All three primary suspects were ordinary chunin—nothing outstanding.
And ANBU, especially those directly under the Hokage, were at minimum elite chunin.
Shu didn't argue.
Instead, he asked calmly, "Then in the northeastern border defense force… do you know anyone who does qualify?"
Sarutobi Atsushi immediately nodded.
"Yes. Mimura Yomaki."
"He's currently a special jonin. From what I know, once his mission quota is met, he should be promoted to jonin."
Inuzuka Ryo added, "Our Inuzuka clan has one there—Inuzuka Kyo. Chunin."
Aburame Hiiichi followed, "The Aburame clan has one as well—Aburame Shisei. Chunin."
Shu nodded.
"Good."
"Add those three."
The rest of the journey passed in silence.
By evening, the four of them reached the border defense force's main camp.
Leaving his three subordinates outside, Shu entered Hatake Sakumo's tent alone.
At first glance, Hatake Sakumo gave Shu a surprisingly gentle impression.
It didn't match the lethal sharpness implied by his reputation.
"Sakumo-sama," Shu said respectfully.
"By Lord Danzo's order, I am here to evaluate six individuals as potential ANBU candidates."
As he spoke, Shu produced Danzo's written authorization—nothing more than a single sheet of paper.
Hatake Sakumo accepted it, read it, and nodded.
"No problem."
"However, mobilizing six people at once may affect the frontline defense."
Shu answered immediately. "Then three at a time will be enough."
Hatake Sakumo agreed without hesitation.
"That would be best."
"Which six?"
"I'll need time to arrange the schedule."
Shu listed the names.
Then he said, "For the first group, please begin with Uema Kushigami, Michikami Takuya, and Akabane Nozomi."
"I'll trouble you, Sakumo-sama."
In front of a shinobi like Hatake Sakumo, Shu remained polite.
Partly because he didn't want to create unnecessary hostility.
Partly because there was no need to posture here.
But most importantly—
Because he couldn't win.
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