Chapter 193 The Restoration Plan
After Sasuke listed a whole bunch of benefits of joining the Konoha Pact, he finally smiled and looked at Kazeka Koyuki, saying unhurriedly,
"Most importantly, Your Highness, you don't want to see the country your father has painstakingly governed continue to be in dire straits, do you?"
Sasuke's words undoubtedly killed the game. Kazeka Koyuki finally made up her mind at this moment and nodded, saying, "Alright, once I reclaim the throne, I will sign this treaty on behalf of the Land of Snow."
"A wise choice, a pleasant cooperation, Your Highness," Sasuke said with a smile.
"So what do we do now?" Kazeka Koyuki asked.
"Of course, we wait for Konoha's support. We can't just have the three of us accompany you to storm the palace, can we?" Sasuke shrugged and said.
"Also, let's finalize the plan," Sasuke said. "By the way, I also need to ask Your Highness what you think."
"My thoughts?" Kazeka Koyuki asked, somewhat puzzled.
"That's right. It depends on how Your Highness plans to reclaim your throne. Will you wait for our Konoha reinforcements to arrive in a couple of days, then we'll escort you into the palace and kill your traitorous uncle? Or will you consider this more carefully?" Sasuke said.
"If possible, please don't cause too much damage to the Snow Country's palace..." Kazahana Koyuki hesitated.
"Understood. You and your father have precious memories there, right?" Sasuke chuckled. "However, that comes at a different price."
"Okay, but you must ensure that Snow City isn't severely damaged, and also, ensure the safety of the Snow City's civilians," Kazahana Koyuki said.
"You seem to be getting a bit of a princess's air already," Sasuke chuckled. "In that case, let's wait until our future chief of staff of Konoha arrives. But you can rest assured about one thing: Konoha ninjas always consider fulfilling their employers' requests their duty."
After confirming their mission to help Kazahana Koyuki restore her country, everyone in her crew was temporarily taken into custody. They returned together to a small town in the Land of Demons. After waiting there for two days, Uchiha Shisui arrived with Team 10 and Team 8, joining Sasuke and his companions.
Soon, a strategy meeting began in a room at an inn.
"Sasuke, before we came, the Hokage instructed me that all three teams, including myself, would be under your command," Shisui said, establishing Sasuke's leading role in the operation.
However, his words puzzled some of those present. Wasn't this arrangement already decided by the Hokage before departure? Was it really necessary to reiterate it?
However, what they didn't know was that this was a habit Shisui had developed since Uchiha Tokō took over and restarted his ninja career. In every operation, regardless of the size of the team—from a joint mission of dozens of people to a small team of only two or three—Shisui would immediately identify the commander. Whether it was him or not was irrelevant; what mattered was ensuring that there was only one voice during the operation.
This was a rare lesson he had learned from his clan's previous predicament. Before Uchiha Tokō's intervention, the Uchiha clan's endless infighting had nearly led the clan to its doom. Conversely, after Uchiha Tokō's forceful intervention, the Uchiha clan, with only one voice, displayed astonishing execution capabilities, perfectly resolving the historical issues between the clan and the village.
So, after that, Shisui also developed this habit.
"Okay." Sasuke nodded and took the seat of honor.
"Let me explain the mission objective first," Sasuke said, unfolding a map in the center of the room. "This is a map of the Snow Country's capital, Snow City. There are no ninja villages in the Snow Country. Their ninjas are armed forces directly under the command of the Daimyo, so they are basically stationed around the palace."
"Based on the information we have so far, the enemy has at most two or three Jonin. It wouldn't be too difficult for us to attack directly, but that doesn't align with our employer's goal of protecting the palace from destruction. So, my idea is to lure the usurper, Fuuka Nuta, out of the palace and then kill him," Sasuke said. "As for how to lure him out of the palace, Shikamaru, what are your thoughts?"
"Based on the current information, Fuuka Nuta probably already knows that Princess is still alive, and there must be a mole within the film crew you were in before," Shikamaru analyzed immediately after being called on. "After all, the location where you were attacked was less than 20 kilometers from the Snow Country's border."
"That's right, that's what I thought too, which is why I had Mr. Asama detain everyone in the crew. However, it's a bit troublesome to investigate who the mole is one by one. After all, these people only signed work contracts with the crew, and they've already become quite agitated while we've detained them here for the past few days," Sasuke said.
"Since we can't find out, then let's not investigate. Let's find a reason to transfer them all away," Shikamaru said
. "Mr. Asama, besides the Land of Snow, there should be other filming locations for this movie, right?" "Besides the Land of Snow, the scenes in other locations have already been filmed," Asama Santayu said.
"Then let's make up a location and take the whole crew far away. The mole in the crew shouldn't have had a chance to deliver the news of our arrival to Fuuka Nutō before. We can't let this mole pass on any more information," Sasuke said. "Also, Shino, can your insects parasitize each crew member for a period of time and monitor their condition in real time?"
"Yes," Aburame Shino nodded and said.
"That makes things easier," Shikamaru nodded and said. "Once we split up, the mole within the crew will inevitably make a move, and we can then catch him."
"Let's arrange the mole situation," Sasuke said. "Right now, the most important thing is to lure Fuuka Nuta out of the palace. We've dealt with the Snow Country ninjas who came to attack, and Fuuka Nuta should have received the news by now. Although he may not know who did it, I think he won't dare to leave the palace for a while."
"Your Highness, do you have any token that can directly prove your identity?" Shikamaru asked at this moment.
"Yes, yes." Kazahana Koyuki nodded, then took a hexagonal crystal pendant from her neck. "This is an important token of the Land of Snow, and also the key to unlocking our Land of Snow's treasure. The reason my uncle has been relentlessly pursuing me is because of this."
"I see," Shikamaru nodded. "Do you know where the treasure is located? Don't misunderstand, we have no interest in your Land of Snow's treasure, we just want to confirm it so we can formulate a plan."
"I know," Kazahana Koyuki nodded. "The treasure is located at Rainbow Glacier, but let me make it clear first, the treasure left by my father is not something monetary."
"That makes things easier." Shikamaru nodded. "With this, we should be able to easily lure him out of the palace. However, it might require your cooperation, Princess."
"What do I need to do?" Kazahana Koyuki asked.
"Naruto, you can use Shadow Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu to disguise an entire film crew, right?" Shikamaru looked at Naruto at this moment.
"No problem," Naruto said.
"Then we'll just swagger into Snow Castle. And then, Mr. Asama, I need you to subtly reveal Princess Koyuki's identity within Snow Castle, preferably in a cryptic way." Shikamaru looked at Asama Santayu and said.
"I understand," Asama Santayu nodded. "However, based on my understanding of that usurper, even if Koyuki does this, he won't personally leave the palace to act until the situation is clear." "
Of course I know that's not enough to lure him out, so the next step is the second step: to escalate the situation," Shikamaru said with a smile. "Once the common people of Snow Castle know that the princess might have returned, we'll proactively release the news that the princess's identity is just a publicity stunt used by the 'Princess of the Wind and Cloud' production team to boost the movie's popularity, and that Princess Koyuki's identity is fake."
"This… why is that?" Asama Santayu asked, puzzled.
Shikamaru looked at Asama Santayu speechlessly. "Dude, you don't even understand this most basic way of starting a conversation? What kind of manager are you? So Kazahana Koyuki's popularity in the ninja world is all thanks to her own hard work?"
"I understand," Sasuke nodded in agreement. "After that, all we need to do is fan the flames. The more heated the debate about the princess's true identity gets in the Land of Snow, the more restless Kazahana Noto in the palace will be, right?"
"That's right," Shikamaru nodded. "Then, when the hype is at its peak, we just need to have the princess make a high-profile appearance, take out this pendant, and publicly announce that she will use this key to unlock the Land of Snow's treasure in front of everyone." "By then,
even if Kazahana Noto can't figure it out, he probably won't have a choice," Shikamaru said.
"However, Her Highness's safety might be a little compromised during this process," Sasuke said. He then looked at Uchiha Shisui, who had remained silent, "Shisui-nii, I'll be entrusting the princess with your personal protection for the next few days."
"No problem," Shisui nodded and smiled, "Leave it to me."
"Kiba, Shino, and Hinata, while we're in Snow Castle, you'll be the 8th team, the reconnaissance squad, constantly checking for potential risks and ensuring Her Highness's safety."
"Understood!" The three members of the 8th team nodded.
"Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji, your 10th team will work with our 7th team. After using the Transformation Jutsu, you'll create public opinion within Snow Castle."
"Understood!" The three members of the 10th team nodded in acceptance.
"Then, tomorrow morning, we'll set off directly to help Princess Kaguya reclaim the throne of the Land of Snow," Sasuke decided.
"Yes!" Everyone replied confidently.
Shisui watched Sasuke steadily control the pace of the entire battle plan, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. Compared to Itachi at age 12, Sasuke's strength was no less, perhaps even stronger. In other aspects, especially leadership, Sasuke's maturity far surpassed that of Itachi at that age.
At least, Itachi at twelve couldn't have united a group of equally strong peers around him and command them.
After the battle plan was finalized, Asama Santayu immediately arranged for the film crew to change their destination, and Shino went with him to manipulate the insects to conduct parasitic surveillance on the crew members.
The others made their own preparations.
"Neji-nii, this is what Tenten-neechan asked me to bring you after she knew I was coming to support you. Also, here's a bento I made." After the meeting, Hinata approached Neji, handing him a scroll and a lunchbox.
"Thank you." Neji smiled and accepted the scroll, then asked, "Hinata, how have you been doing these past few days?"
"It's alright..." Hinata said weakly, "Kiba, Shino, and Shisui-sensei have all been very kind to me."
"That's good." Neji nodded. "While I was away, those old fogies in the clan didn't say anything they shouldn't have to you and Hanabi, did they?"
"No." Hinata shook her head. "After you taught that elder a lesson last time, no one has dared to bother Hanabi and me."
"Good, but if anything happens, you must tell me. Those old fogies are still determined to put you and Hanabi in the Caged Bird Seal. Give me a little more time, and I'll take care of it completely." Neji said.
"Okay." Hinata nodded.
Having experienced being caged like a bird himself, Neji didn't want his two younger sisters to go through the same thing, so he was always on high alert against those old fogies in the main branch of the clan.
"Well then, Neji-nii, I'll be going now." Hinata said at this moment.
"Where are you going?"
"Um..." Hinata blushed slightly upon hearing this, then pointed with her finger, "Um, before I came out, I made an extra bento box, I wanted Naruto-kun to try it too."
Neji's face also began to turn red. For a sister-complex guy, the most painful thing isn't that his beloved is being taken by a pig, but that his beloved actively goes after the pig.
"Naruto, you deserve to die!" Neji gritted his teeth silently as he watched Hinata's departing figure.
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(End of Chapter)