Chapter 86: Operation Cicada Shedding
Capital City of the Land of Bears, east of Ghost River.
The building complex of the new Star Ninja Village rose from the ground, with the entire urban area designated as a military control zone, and eye-catching prohibitions posted on the gray-white high wall.
Patrolling Star Ninja stopped any civilians attempting to approach outside the perimeter line.
“Lord Nameless!” The prison iron gate opened amid harsh friction sounds, and the two Star Ninja responsible for guarding at the door respectfully saluted the black-haired girl.
Uchiha Hikari continued walking inside expressionlessly, her footsteps echoing in the long corridor.
The dim light in the holding room cast Kakuzu’s strong figure on the stone wall, where he was boredly counting this month’s newly issued salary and the subsidy for guarding the prison.
“A rare guest. The dungeon’s musty smell can’t compare to the sunlight on the surface.” Kakuzu’s hoarse voice came from under the mask.
“‘Cicada Plan’ can begin. You haven’t forgotten, have you?” Uchiha Hikari slightly turned her head, glancing at Kakuzu who was counting money. The two Anbu Ninja in the corner of the wall unconsciously straightened their backs.
“Has another year passed outside already?” Kakuzu put away the money, took out a string of keys, and led Uchiha Hikari deeper into the prison.
For Kakuzu, what he had the most of was time, and what he cared about the least was also time.
Moreover, during this period, he had been in charge of the prison guarding task, so it had been a long time since he had gone to the surface to move around. It was normal not to know about the outside days.
The two walked one after the other deep into the dark dungeon, and soon Kakuzu stopped at a cell.
Uchiha Hikari turned her head to look. Yakura from Sand Village had her hands and feet bound by iron chains, sitting cross-legged on a pile of dry grass.
Sensing someone approaching, Yakura suddenly raised her head, the iron chains rattling.
During the time she had been imprisoned, Yakura had tried to escape more than once, but each time she was caught back by this masked big man, and the opponent’s attack methods were extremely strange!
Her Scorching Release Ninjutsu required hitting the target to evaporate the moisture in their body and kill them.
But this guy called ‘Kakuzu’ could extend his body trunk like a puppet. Her Scorching Release couldn’t even touch him before it was shattered!
It completely countered her!
As for the black-haired girl beside him, although Yakura had never fought her, she could see a familiar arrogance in the other’s eyes…
Just like, just like the Uchiha Clan of Konoha!
Outside the cell, Uchiha Hikari and Kakuzu just glanced at Yakura a few times before continuing deeper into the dungeon.
Soon, the two arrived at another cell.
Three Star Ninja were imprisoned inside.
They were Akaboshi with purple hair, bald Yoruya, and black-haired Shikizo.
They were nailed to crosses, undergoing interrogation every day. Now their consciousness was blurred, and the mental torment from Illusion Technique far exceeded the physical torment.
These three were the traitors who had last sold Star Ninja Village intelligence, issuing rescue mission commissions to Sand Village, Stone Village, and Konoha.
Last time, Kakuzu had captured more than a dozen Star Ninja who still harbored disloyalty based on the list from Menma. After Kakuzu’s interrogation and verification with Uzumaki Kushina’s Kagura Shingan perception ability for lie detection, it was basically confirmed that they were led by these three as a force lurking inside.
These three were just bottom-tier small roles among Jonin.
This time, they could use this group to flush out the nest.
“How many?” As one of the organization’s members, Kakuzu naturally knew part of the ‘Cicada Plan.’
“Release the Sand Ninja first, send one squad.” Uchiha Hikari thought for a moment before saying, “In a few days, release the Stone Village Ninja and stage it again.”
“Alright, then it’s yours.” Kakuzu used the key to open the cell iron gate.
Uchiha Hikari strode in, and under her flowing long hair, the Mangekyo Sharingan began to bloom.
The same Mangekyo pattern appeared on the backs of the hands of the three Star Ninja traitors. Their previously fainted heads lifted up, and their eyes became empty and lifeless.
——————
Two days later.
On the borderline between Land of Wind and Land of Bears.
Yashamaru led three squad members including Yura on a routine patrol mission to a border outpost.
“Teacher Yashamaru!” Yura, whose long hair covered half his face, suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?!” Yashamaru quickly raised his hand, signaling the squad to spread out and set up a boundary.
All of them wore standard Sand Village windproof gear: head wrapped in scarves, faces covered with wind shields, exposing only their eyes. Among them, Yashamaru wore a Jonin vest similar to Konoha’s and was the leader of this patrol squad.
Ever since last year when the Star Ninja Village of Land of Bears launched the ‘Long Knife Coup,’ slaughtering the Daimyo and nobles of Land of Bears, the patrol mission level on this borderline had directly skyrocketed to B-rank. That was without encountering enemies; if the enemy numbers were few and they were repelled, it was fine.
If the enemy numbers were many or very strong, it would be a solid A-rank mission, and might even directly spark a war!
Therefore, Yashamaru, as the leader of this patrol squad, was also extremely cautious.
“Three o’clock direction, anomaly!” Yura formed hand seals, used sensing Ninjutsu to probe, and immediately reported.
“Everyone, prepare for battle!” Yashamaru drew a kunai.
The others also drew their weapons, one of them being a puppeteer.
The four-man squad advanced toward the anomalous location sensed by Yura.
Soon, at the end of the yellow sand ahead, they saw three staggering figures being chased by several Star Ninja.
“It’s Senior Yakura and them!” Yura recognized one of them and said in a lowered voice.
Yashamaru also confirmed their identities and immediately ordered, “Provide support!”
Then Yashamaru rushed out first.
Yura and the others followed.
A fierce battle erupted on the border. Yashamaru-led patrol squad supported the returning Yakura trio and immediately surrounded and attacked the Star Ninja Village pursuers.
The Yakura trio, seeing they were their own ninja, also cooperated in counterattacking.
In the end, after a battle, the Sand Ninja paid the cost of one killed and two seriously injured to kill the five Star Ninja pursuers.
But just as Yashamaru wanted to get intelligence from a captured Star Ninja’s mouth, he found the other had already bitten a poison sac and committed suicide.
Yashamaru couldn’t help but sigh at these Star Ninja’s determination, then walked toward the resting Yakura group.
“Are you alright!” Yashamaru, as the Fourth Kazekage’s brother-in-law and a Sand Village Jonin, had known Yakura for many years.
“This is… Star Ninja Village’s intelligence…” Yakura’s bloodstained right hand struggled to pull a scroll from the ninja tool pouch and handed it to Yashamaru.
After speaking, Yakura collapsed, luckily caught by Yashamaru.
The other two Sand Ninja on her team were one dead and one seriously injured.
Yashamaru looked at the unfaded bloodstains on the scroll and immediately ordered his subordinates to carry Yakura and the other back to the village!
