Setting out

Under the starry sky, Shunren and Hong lay back to back on the roof.

"How is it? The view of the sky from the rooftop is quite different, isn't it?" Shunren said with a smile.

Hong didn't speak, but simply stretched out one hand, her five fingers spread as if trying to touch the distant sky. Starlight and moonlight filtered through her fingers, reflecting on her small, innocent face. Hong nodded earnestly. "Indeed, it's different from what you see on the ground... By the way, you seem to have a lot of free time lately?"

"Yeah, you need to relax sometimes, right?"

"Tch~ Isn't it better to relax at home?" Hongyi, unmoved by Shunren's horse, pouted and said, "There are beautiful older sisters to serve me, and little sisters to tease..."

"Huh?" Shunren turned his head slightly in surprise. "Hong, have you grown into a young lady? You've even learned to be jealous?"

"Pfft!" Hong almost turned around and kicked Shunren when she heard that. "Huh? What are you talking about! What am I if not a young girl!"

"Loli."

"I'm going to bite you!"

"Ha, isn't that a loli?!"

"Hmph!" Hong slightly turned her head, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Are you... leaving again?"

Shunren jokingly asked, "What? Do you feel lonely if you can't see me?"

"Yes." This time, Hong didn't refute, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes. She said in a deep voice, "Shizune is gone, and you're leaving too. Team 8 will cease to exist."

Shunren paused, his eyes flickered slightly, and he said in a low voice, "At least, we're still alive, aren't we?"

Hong nodded seriously, "Besides our Team 8 and Xiaolin's Team 7, all our classmates from the same year are gone."

The brutality of the Shinobi World War far exceeded imagination, something Shunren had personally experienced. In just over a year, countless ninjas died in the war. Yet, this war was to last for four years!

Hearing Hong's words, Shunren couldn't help but feel regretful, thinking that Team 8 probably wouldn't survive either, and that Obito and Rin would soon face death.

Saving them is impossible, because the one who made the move Madara Uchiha, that world-class boss, and once his prey is targeted, there's no way it can escape.

But wasn't Shunren himself already being watched?

He reached out and touched his heart. Although he didn't feel anything unusual, Shunren knew that the curse mark branded on his heart was still there.

The strong dominate the weak; this is an age-old truth.

However, the conditions offered by the Konoha High Command this time were impossible for him to refuse—the White Fang Blade Technique.

There's only one way to avoid being controlled: become stronger than those who want to control you!

"Whoosh~" Shunren suddenly stood up.

Hong didn't turn around, but simply said calmly, "This time, you won't be coming back with burns covering 80% of your body, will you?"

"That's not necessarily true." Shunren thought about the content of his mission, a strange glint in his eyes. He thought to himself, "I didn't expect to see you again so soon. Speaking of which, you've had quite a few storylines lately. Do you think you're my leading lady?!"

"In short, come back alive..."

"Ah, of course." With a wave of his hand, a giant, jet-black ruler appeared on Shunren's back. The Heavy Black Iron Ruler was as heavy as ever, but now it would no longer weigh him down.

After leaving Konoha, Shunren headed east towards the Land of Water.

On the crystal ball, one could watch as Shunren's image disappeared from the range observable by the Telescope Technique.

"A determined young man like him is truly a rare talent."

"The Third said with a hint of regret, 'If they can be recruited, they are naturally talents; if not, they are enemies! Since they are enemies, they must be nipped in the bud as soon as possible...' Danzo coldly, 'Furthermore, it's one thing to take the Konoha-Style Kenjutsu and the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, but to covet the White Fang Blade Technique is truly insatiable!'"

"That's quite remarkable. And your insight is truly exceptional," the Third said calmly.

"Hiruzen, stop pacing around!" Danzo, his brow furrowed. "Although the possibility is very low, what if that kid comes back alive? Are we really going to give him the 'White Fang Blade Technique'?"

"Danzo, aren't you overthinking this? Based on the information we have, Shunren's combat strength should be more than enough to rescue Pakura. However, after that, facing the encirclement by Sand Ninja and Mist Ninja, he won't be able to escape alive, will he?"

"That's hard to say!" Danzo, true to his cautious nature, said coldly, his aged eyes filled with a deep gloom, "In just one short year, he has grown to this level! Giant ruler, black and white swords, Lightning Release gun, Ice Release sword, flying devices, bow, and all sorts of other techniques are constantly being used! What other trump cards are they hiding? Even we can't say for sure!"

The Third frowned upon hearing this and said in a deep voice, "Then what do you want?"

"To eliminate the root of the problem, you and I will send out our Anbu..."

"No way!" The Third shook his head. "My men can't infiltrate Mist Ninja. If they're discovered, my reputation as Hokage will be ruined."

"Aren't you afraid of ruining my reputation?" Danzo glared at him fiercely.

The Third gave him a dismissive glance, as if to say, "Your reputation is already ruined, it doesn't matter!"

Danzo was seething with hatred, but he had no choice but to back down, saying, "My Root team will go to Mist Ninja first. You send your Anbu to the border, just in case, to block his escape route back to the Land of Fire. Is that alright?"

A land shrouded in mist on the vast ocean, the Land of Water.

This is Pakura's second time setting foot in this country.

Her orders from the Kazekage were to act as a Sand Ninja and meet with the high-ranking members of the Mist Ninja Village.

Since it was a secret operation, their identities couldn't be exposed. Furthermore, after entering the Land of Water, Pakura didn't head directly to Mist Ninja's main town, but instead planned to conduct some preliminary investigations there.

Having been tricked by Rasa several times in a row, Pakura wouldn't be so foolish as to naively believe that her mission this time was just a simple diplomatic mission. There must be a conspiracy waiting for her ahead that she doesn't know about!

Therefore, Pakura must prepare for the worst and calculate her escape route in advance so that even if something unexpected happens, she can calmly withdraw from the territory of the Mist Ninja and escape back to the Land of Wind.

However, unbeknownst to Pakura, a conspiracy against her was quietly brewing between the Sand Ninja and the Mist Ninja!