Chapter 64: Still Leaving The Village
Yoru took Purple Cat and the two strongest new recruits, forming a new Fox Squad, and had them wear the masks of Antelope and Black Bull.
After receiving the mission scroll, Yoru looked at it, then led the squad to the northwest corner of the Senju Compound.
The squad’s mission was to monitor a Senju clansman.
This Senju clansman was passionate about fishing, and with no missions, he would fish all day long.
He was a darkly tanned fishing guy, with the Senju Clan emblem on his clothes.
After a brief thought, Yoru understood why the Anbu wanted to conscript the Kurozaru Squad, a squad that was still rebuilding.
Today’s mission was very severe, requiring a lot of manpower.
The Anbu already knew that Senju Kashi had contacted Uzumaki Remnants, and anyone who had contacted Senju Kashi might know the truth about the Uzumaki Clan Annihilation.
Increasing defensive forces at the Senju Compound was the first layer of protection.
These Senju clansmen scattered throughout the village each had to be monitored.
The monitoring continued from daytime into the afternoon until a explosion broke the peace.
The fishing Senju Uncle heard the explosion coming from the direction of the clan territory, picked up the fish basket and found not a single fish, then threw away the fish basket and vanished with Body Flicker Technique.
Yoru and the others hurriedly followed.
From afar, they saw quite a few people in an alley outside the Senju Compound, including Senju clansmen and Anbu Ninja.
Seeing other Anbu Squads, Yoru didn’t hide, staying right behind the target.
Arriving at the outskirts of the alley, the fishing-loving Senju clansman stood on tiptoe to look inside, cursing:
“Enemy village rats are so annoying, all staring at Lord Mito, probably another spy investigating Lord Mito.”
A cloth covered the corpse, making it impossible to identify who it was.
Every Senju clansman knew that Mito Uzumaki was about to pass away, the most important matter for the Senju Clan recently.
An Anbu came to the alley entrance and said to the Senju clansmen: “Anbu is handling the spy, please disperse, Senju clansmen, don’t crowd around.”
Yoru peered through the gaps in the crowd and saw the corpse on the ground.
The bit of grayish-white hair showing was very likely Kamachi.
A distinctive footstep sounded from behind, and Senju Ka arrived nearby, leaning on his cane.
However, he was destined to see nothing, as the Anbu had already retrieved the corpse.
Senju Ka anxiously inquired with the Anbu, wanting to know exactly what had happened.
In this life, Senju Ka still didn’t know the truth; last night Kamachi had just met Senju Kashi, and before Senju Kashi returned to the clan compound, the incident occurred.
Near the Senju Compound, the guards were strict and wouldn’t let any suspicious personnel enter.
Yoru followed the fishing-loving Senju Uncle back to the small lake, continuing to monitor him from the shadows.
Until midnight, when an Anbu found Yoru.
“Kiiroinu Captain has ordered! All squads halt current missions and assemble at the Konoha Main Gate!”
Yoru’s heart tightened.
No way, he had only slightly hinted to Kamachi, and it caused so many changes?
Assembling at the Konoha Main Gate meant they were going outside the village?
The plot had not only changed, but changed drastically; even he had to leave the village.
With no resurrection opportunity now, what if he died outside the village after leaving?
Arriving at the Konoha Main Gate entrance, Yoru, due to his acting squad leader status, directly heard the Kiiroinu Captain’s mission briefing.
Kiiroinu Captain said:
“Senju Clan traitor ninja Senju Kashi, this afternoon amid the chaos, has already left the village heading north, toward the Land of Grass.
Based on current intelligence estimates, he may be going to find the Young Clan Head of the Senju, Senju Nawaki.
We must intercept and kill him before he meets Senju Nawaki!”
Yoru was shocked in his heart; had Senju Nawaki entered the high-ranking officials’ sight?
The chaos created by Kamachi that afternoon was very likely intentional, to give Senju Kashi an opportunity to slip away in the confusion.
Kiiroinu Captain continued:
“Senju Kashi has Special Jonin strength, excels in Earth Release, and crucially, he masters the Senju Sensory Secret Jutsu.
By touching the ground with his fingers, he can detect seismic movements within several kilometers, knowing the enemy’s numbers.
Now he’s entered the forest, making the chase and kill somewhat difficult.
The other two squads, rely on your own sensory ninja to find Senju Kashi.
Fox Squad, you follow me, responsible for passing intelligence.”
The Anbu Battalion advanced in silence.
Kamachi had bought Senju Kashi quite some time; Senju Kashi had left the village three hours ahead of the Kiiroinu Battalion.
For ninja, three hours was enough to run two hundred kilometers.
An entire battalion chasing one Senju ninja showed the Anbu’s emphasis on this mission.
Or rather, Danzo’s emphasis.
Once the Anbu’s role in the Uzumaki Clan Annihilation was exposed, Danzo would be finished.
After walking over two hundred kilometers northwest, they still hadn’t seen Senju Kashi’s figure.
Byakugan couldn’t spot him, and the Inuzuka Clan’s ninja dogs had lost the scent.
Senju Kashi was very familiar with Konoha’s tracking methods, skilled in Earth Release to erase footprints, skilled in Water Style to erase scents.
Kiiroinu Captain thought for a moment and said:
“We can’t chase so aimlessly; Fox, go find the Rat Squad, have the Rat Squad go directly to the front line, guard by Senju Nawaki’s side, monitor any suspicious figures appearing around Senju Nawaki.
Senju Kashi may have secretly contacted others; if someone relays Senju Kashi’s rumors, that would be trouble.”
Yoru nodded and hurriedly went to find the Rat Squad ahead and to the side.
After receiving the order, the Rat Squad accelerated again, heading straight to the front line.
The front line five days later.
Orochimaru led Nawaki and three team members away from the headquarters camp; he suddenly turned his head and glanced to the side.
In the darkness of the woods, an Anbu Squad also left the camp.
The Rat Squad Leader was startled.
Orochimaru’s strength was formidable, already at Elite Jonin level. Moreover, his temperament was ruthless, harsh on enemies and his own people alike.
Just a glance made the Rat Squad Leader’s heartbeat slow a bit.
Nawaki was very perceptive and asked: “Teacher, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Orochimaru just thought the Anbu was unnecessary; with him there, did they still need to send a squad to protect Nawaki?
Nawaki’s Senju Bloodline was extremely pure, and at 12 years old, he was in a period of rapid strength growth.
Given time, Nawaki would surely become an outstanding ninja like the Senju Clan’s predecessors.
Orochimaru had taken a simple reconnaissance mission, leading the new recruit squad to scout the Stone Ninja’s movements.
This mission had no difficulty; after the Battle of Ushi-ga Mountain, Hidden Stone Village’s strength was greatly damaged, in a defensive stance in the Land of Grass, unlikely to launch a large-scale offensive for now.
The three-day reconnaissance mission encountered no Stone Ninja.
Orochimaru asked: “Nawaki, given the current situation, do you think the front line camp can advance further, further compressing the Stone Ninja’s activity space?”
Orochimaru’s gaze was only gentle and full of expectation when looking at Nawaki.
The squad’s other two members, boys from the Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan, looked at Nawaki with jealous eyes.
Nawaki thought for a moment and said:
“I believe whether the front line camp advances doesn’t depend on us, nor on Hidden Stone Village, but on Hidden Cloud Village or Hidden Sand Village.
No matter how great our advantage, pushing too deep could provoke Hidden Stone Village’s counterattack.
However, if Hidden Sand Village or Hidden Cloud Village enters, taking advantage of Hidden Stone Village’s weakness to force them to open a second battlefield, that would be the best time for us to press the advantage.”
Orochimaru nodded repeatedly and said: “Nawaki, your thinking is good. Senju Uncle Mito Mon’en is on his way to Hidden Cloud Village; perhaps Hidden Cloud Village will soon be unable to restrain its impulsiveness and attack Hidden Stone Village.”
Orochimaru was very satisfied; not only was Nawaki’s strength growing rapidly, his judgment based on the big picture was also very good.
Exchanging with geniuses was that simple.
Unlike the idiot Jiraiya, Orochimaru didn’t want to say a single extra word to Jiraiya.
Once he became Hokage, he could cultivate Nawaki as the next generation Hokage.
On the border of the Land of Grass, Yoru was still following Kiiroinu Captain to search for Senju Kashi.
Yoru looked at the moon’s shape and thought to himself, if Senju Nawaki must die, please die next month.
Before Nawaki dies, he definitely had to touch him, get some reward.
Nawaki, praised by so many people, must have very strong bloodline limit power, right.
