A Number That Shakes the Tsuchikage
Tsuchiki quickly organized the sequence of events and reported everything to Ōnoki.
"Those were Kumogakure ninja?" Ōnoki frowned deeply, anger flashing across his face. He immediately ordered Tsuchiki to examine the corpses.
Even without their heads, the ninjutsu scrolls, weapons, and personal items they carried were enough to confirm their identities.
"And you are?" Ōnoki turned to Kamizuki Gen.
Gen casually tossed over the mission scroll and said flatly, "Akatsuki."
At the same time, he sized up the old man.
On the way here, Orochimaru had already given her assessment of Ōnoki—an old-school shinobi, stubbornly clinging to tradition.
"Akatsuki??"
Ōnoki's expression changed drastically. He caught the scroll, opened it, and glanced through it. It was indeed an assassination request issued by Iwagakure targeting Kumogakure ninja.
His thoughts raced.
Someone who could instantly kill six Kumogakure shinobi—his strength was terrifying.
And this person… was also a Konoha rogue ninja?
Could it be…
That Akatsuki was secretly established by Konoha, stirring chaos in the shadows of the shinobi world?
A branch of ANBU, perhaps?
"…You must be the leader of Akatsuki, then?" Ōnoki unconsciously used a respectful tone as he held the scroll.
No wonder Akatsuki completed missions so quickly—and with such efficiency.
With a leader this powerful, what assassination couldn't they accomplish?
Gen added silently in his mind:
Future leader.
He shook his head.
"No."
Ōnoki adapted quickly. Gen couldn't help but think the old man was quite perceptive.
"…Hmm?"
Ōnoki was puzzled.
If this boy wasn't the leader, then what kind of existence could possibly command someone like him?
Moments later, Tsuchiki rose from among the corpses, holding their weapons and a pile of scrolls.
"Tsuchikage-sama, these six are indeed Kumogakure ninja—the Falcon Squad and Thunder Squad."
"I see."
Ōnoki nodded, then smiled at Gen.
"Thank you for intervening and crushing Kumogakure's despicable scheme."
"Payment," Gen reminded.
Ōnoki blinked, then quickly replied, "I'll have someone deliver it immediately!"
He glanced up at Deidara, still bound by the massive white hand in the sky, and chuckled.
"That useless disciple of mine…"
"You trained him yourself," Gen said calmly. "So that costs extra."
"Hahaha!"
Ōnoki stroked his beard.
"You've got a sense of humor. Very well—an additional one million ryō will be added as a reward for rescuing Deidara."
Gen didn't hesitate.
"I'll name a number—five million ryō. For your prized disciple and future successor, that's a bargain."
Ōnoki sucked in a breath, his lips twitching.
Five million ryō…
He could hire Akatsuki to assassinate multiple Kumogakure jōnin with that amount.
He shot Deidara an irritated glare, still trapped midair.
"…Fine!"
"Tsuchikage-sama is generous," Gen said with a smile.
Then suddenly, his expression sharpened.
"Looks like more ninja from another village are trying to infiltrate Iwagakure."
"Oh?"
Ōnoki frowned.
The next instant—
Gen manipulated gravity and shot into the air, leaving behind a streaking afterimage as he flew east.
"That guy can fly too?!"
Ōnoki's face filled with shock.
Without hesitation, he turned to Tsuchiki.
"I'll go check it out. When the others arrive, have them return to the village and bring the payment!"
With that, Ōnoki rose into the air and chased after Gen.
Another village's ninja trying to infiltrate Iwagakure?
That was something he absolutely could not tolerate.
…
About fifteen kilometers from Iwagakure, along a rocky mountain path—
Jūzō Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki walked side by side, heading toward the village at a steady pace.
Jūzō's body was massive, his face marked with oily green patterns. He wore a gray-white robe, and on his back rested the enormous, bandage-wrapped blade—Samehada.
In contrast, Raiga was much smaller. His dark green hair obscured his dull eyes, and the Lightning Blades were strapped to his back.
"I'm saying… how about we just abandon this mission?" Raiga glanced at Jūzō.
He had already been considering defecting from the current Kirigakure, just like Zabuza.
There was no point risking his life for a regime steeped in tyranny.
"Abandon it?" Jūzō said coldly. "And then you become a rogue ninja? What about me?"
Raiga rested his hands behind his head and said casually, "You can come too."
"Idiot. I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Don't ever say it again," Jūzō sneered. "There's no future in being a rogue ninja."
But in truth, his thoughts were far more calculating.
It wasn't that he didn't want to defect—
He simply planned to first obtain Kirigakure's classified intelligence, sell it to other great nations for a massive profit, and only then defect.
Compared to that, Raiga's clean break was nothing but stupidity.
"Hypocrite," Raiga snorted.
As they spoke—
High above, Gen glanced back.
Ōnoki was catching up, breathing heavily as he accelerated.
"Young man… wait…" Ōnoki said as he reached Gen's side, panting. He looked down—and sure enough, spotted the two figures below.
Gen chuckled.
"Tsuchikage-sama, Iwagakure hasn't been very peaceful lately."
"…."
Ōnoki's gaze sharpened as he recognized them.
"Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen… Jūzō Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki. What are they doing here?!"
"This is the Land of Earth. If they're here, they're obviously targeting Iwagakure," Gen said with a smile. "Don't tell me they came looking for me?"
"…."
Ōnoki fell silent.
"These two are far more troublesome than those six Kumogakure jōnin," Gen continued lightly. "As members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, they're not comparable to ordinary jōnin."
He smiled.
"I'll name a number—fifteen million ryō per head."
Ōnoki quickly waved his hands, laughing.
"No need for your help this time. They've openly entered the Land of Earth and are attempting to infiltrate the village. I, this old Tsuchikage, will handle it myself."
"Fine. I'll enjoy the show."
Gen paused, then added:
"But I discovered them first. So… how are we handling the intelligence fee?"
Ōnoki stiffened slightly, clearly afraid of hearing "I'll name a number" again.
"Ten thousand ryō per head. Including everything before, I'll pay you a total of ten million ryō!"
"Deal," Gen said with a grin.
At that moment—
Two shadows rapidly expanded, casting over the two men below.
Jūzō suddenly stopped, sensing something.
Raiga frowned and looked at the shadow beneath them, then up at the sky.
"Clouds?"
As the figures above drew closer—
Jūzō's pupils shrank. He grabbed Samehada's hilt and said coldly:
"We've been discovered. Prepare for battle!"
Without hesitation, he drew Samehada and formed hand seals with one hand.
"Needle Hair Senbon!!!"
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