Locating a Jinchuriki lurking in the shadows of a town with a population of over ten thousand was undoubtedly no easy feat.
While the Byakugan's scouting capabilities were formidable, Neji had to avoid the scrutiny of the Resistance's Nen users and couldn't keep the dōjutsu active indefinitely. This was especially true near the town center, where Nen users clad in Ten could be seen at almost every intersection, screening pedestrians.
Had Neji and Karin not completely suppressed all their presence and energy before entering, they would likely have been approached by guards questioning their identities by now.
"It's incredible! Only a few months ago, these guys were just lunatics who only knew how to vent their frustrations through slaughter and destruction. Now, they've managed to establish a fairly decent semblance of governance. Those hidden sentries alone are no worse than the patrols of most hidden villages," Karin remarked in a low, slightly surprised tone.
"You might not know this, but ever since the Akatsuki fully intervened in the war, these independent Resistance factions have fought several fierce battles over territory. Now, any group of a significant size is no longer simply rebelling against nobles, Daimyos, and ninja villages; they are attempting to build a new system of rule. According to Allen, these people will eventually change the world permanently," Neji responded meaningfully.
The internal composition of the Resistance was undoubtedly complex.
The first wave consisted mostly of commoners who held blood feuds against the Daimyos, nobles, and ninjas. When they joined, they did so with the mindset of "trading one life for another," never expecting to survive until the end.
However, as the Resistance's influence expanded and they secured stable territory, opportunists, merchants, and ambitious schemers flocked to the cause. They sought to secure an advantageous position before the wave completely overturned the old interest groups, hoping to carve out power and wealth once final victory was achieved.
Neji cared deeply about the future of the shinobi world, so he frequently discussed the Resistance with Allen. He knew that the inclusion of these opportunists was a double-edged sword.
On one hand, these opportunists often possessed significant administrative talent. It was their inclusion that allowed the Resistance leaders, who knew nothing of management, to effectively govern their occupied towns and villages and collect taxes to meet daily operational costs, rather than relying solely on looting the wealth of slain nobles.
On the other hand, their presence made the Resistance less pure, introducing various conflicting ideologies and personal ambitions. The several instances of forced annexations between Resistance groups were prime examples. In this process, those who mastered effective methods of rule grew stronger until they became nations capable of confronting the remaining four Great Hidden Villages head-on. Those lacking such means naturally grew weaker, eventually being eliminated or absorbed.
Furthermore, since Nen ability is not passed down through bloodlines, the barriers of class would inevitably be broken. The new era was destined to be a hundred times better than the old.
Karin clearly had no interest in such sociopolitical analysis. She shrugged indifferently. "What does that have to do with us? Why bother worrying about it? I just want to find the Two-Tails Jinchuriki as quickly as possible, knock her out, and take her back."
"You want to make your move here in the middle of town?" Neji asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
"What's there to fear? I guarantee that woman will never get the chance to fire a Tailed Beast Bomb, let alone transform into her Tailed Beast form." Karin cracked her knuckles, her eyes glowing with confidence.
To outsiders, a Tailed Beast was a terrifying monster, impossible to truly kill and capable of causing staggering destruction with a single strike. But Karin, who now fully understood the nature of Tailed Beasts, didn't view these artificially created lifeforms as a threat. Especially after mastering a vast array of the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu, a Tailed Beast was, at most, a pet she could manipulate at will, not even the "strongest" Nine-Tails was an exception.
Just as Neji was about to say more, a beautiful woman dressed in a black kimono with her blonde hair pinned up passed by them.
It was only for an instant, but Karin sharply sensed the flow of Chakra and immediately signaled her partner.
Understanding the cue, Neji instantly activated his Byakugan. Sure enough, he saw the violent, raging Chakra symbolizing a Tailed Beast sealed within her body.
"Ha! Looks like our luck is in." Karin licked her lips, looking eager for the fight. It was obvious she was itching to capture the target and claim credit from Allen.
"Don't be in such a rush. Let's see what she's actually up to first," Neji said, hurriedly restraining the increasingly violence-prone red-haired girl.
"Is that really necessary?" Karin asked in an uncertain tone, staring at the enemy's back.
"Of course. Don't you think it's strange for a ninja to be dressed like that?" Neji reminded her with a half-smile.
Karin nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Now that you mention it, those clothes of hers are exactly like the women in the pleasure districts who sell their charms for money."
"If I'm not mistaken, she's using a fake identity to get close to, or rather, to seduce, a high-ranking official of the Resistance. So, let's not rush to strike. There might be more Cloud shinobi lurking in this town. Since we're going to act, we might as well pull them all out by the roots."
As he spoke, Neji's voice carried a raw, undisguised murderous intent. From the moment he accepted this mission, he intended to make Kumogakure pay for their past actions, a price paid in blood and death.
"I'll follow your lead. Let's hide in the shadows and see what kind of scheme this woman is cooking up."
Karin was well aware of the blood feud between Neji and Kumogakure and had no intention of stopping him.
The two followed Yugito from a distance, eventually arriving at a massive, luxurious estate. From the decorations and layout of the main gate, it was easy to see that this was once the home of some high-ranking noble. But now, the noble's family had long since been slaughtered, and the estate had become the residence of the Resistance leadership, guarded inside and out by over thirty formidable Nen users. Breaking in would be difficult for anyone.
Yugito smoothed her hair with a seductive gesture, said something to the guards at the gate, and was then allowed inside.
"Damn! Are those guards blind? They can't sense that intense Tailed Beast Chakra? How could they just let her in?" Karin asked, dumbfounded.
"I don't know. Maybe they lack sensory or detection-type Nen users here. Come on, let's head in too."
With that, Neji pulled out a bottle of Invisibility Potion and drank it. He then easily bypassed two hidden sentries and landed softly inside the vast courtyard.