Good Grief, Does the Shinobi World Have Its Own Infernal Affairs Too?

"We've been discovered."

"Tamaki, are you sure?"

"Kurenai sensed multiple Chakra signatures nearby."

"Damn it. What do we do now?"

Tamaki didn't answer Asuma, instead turning to Kurenai.

"Kurenai, how are these people positioned? How many are there? Can you tell their ninja ranks from their Chakra?"

"Seven people. One to the west, two in each of the other directions. I can't tell their ranks. They might be deliberately suppressing their Chakra."

Tamaki rubbed his chin and began to think.

Asuma paced anxiously nearby, while Kurenai continued sensing the ninjas' Chakra.

Ten minutes passed.

"Are they doing anything now?"

"No, they've barely moved."

"Then we should still have a chance."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's not count on getting lucky. Assuming this group is here to capture us, they clearly want us alive."

"Alive? They really are looking down on us."

"Precisely because of that, we still have time to escape."

"According to Sakumo-sensei's instructions, if something went wrong, we were either to make a commotion to alert him or leave directly for the other rendezvous point outside town."

"Which do we choose?"

"We don't know what rank the enemy is. Making a big commotion in town could easily draw more people. We'll go outside."

"Okay."

After packing and making preparations, the group left the inn.

"Young master, the food at that restaurant is really good. I went there with the butler yesterday."

"Then I'll take your word for it. Let's go have a look."

"Right away. I'll lead the way."

Tamaki understood what the Iwagakure Ninja were thinking. They weren't sure there were only three of them, and wanted to hook as many more fish as possible.

Besides, they didn't want to make a move in their own town, where it could very likely cause many casualties.

Even if they completed the mission, the village would still call them to account.

As for causing chaos and escaping, that approach wasn't very feasible either.

If chaos broke out and they still failed to catch the fish they were originally after, the Iwa ninja wouldn't just be called to account; they would be punished.

That would make them fight even harder, and it could easily draw more enemies.

Outside town was different. The terrain was open. They would be exposed, but the enemy would have nowhere to hide either.

Besides, once they picked up speed, their pursuers might become spread out.

That would mean fewer enemies for them to face at once.

And with a head start, they could set traps.

All in all, it was better than staying in the complicated environment inside town.

As for speed, Tamaki wasn't worried at all. At worst, he could open the Eight Gates Released Formation and take Asuma and Kurenai with him.

The only thing to worry about was whether there was an ambush outside town.

The other problem was how to rendezvous with Sakumo as quickly as possible.

As for whether he might be surrounded and captured, even Asuma wouldn't worry about that.

The Iwa ninjas' arrangements were probably meant to surround and capture them alive, then use them to pressure Sakumo.

Tamaki thought it over as he wandered through the streets with the other two.

Meanwhile, Sakumo was receiving the intelligence.

After setting out that morning, Sakumo had used the Transformation Technique several times and repeatedly changed direction along the way.

Only then had he arrived at the agreed location.

He then took out a particular signal item and put it on, before transforming into a wandering idler.

In his new guise, Sakumo looked here and there without buying anything.

Thud.

A ninja wearing an Iwa Forehead Protector came toward Sakumo and bumped into him, nearly knocking him to the ground.

"Hey, you! Are you blind?"

The ninja then dragged Sakumo off the street by his collar. No one nearby dared to stop him.

"That guy's in for it."

"Yeah, yeah."

"That ninja looks like trouble. He'll probably get locked up for a few days."

"He might even have his legs broken."

"Shut up, shut up! That's a ninja you're talking about. Do you have a death wish?"

After dragging Sakumo to a secluded spot, the Iwa ninja let go.

Sakumo stood up and confirmed the code and hand signs with the Iwa ninja. Only then did he dare to be certain of the man's identity.

"Where's the intelligence?"

"I only have part of it on me. The rest is somewhere else."

As he spoke, he tossed out a scroll.

Sakumo was cautious. He caught it on his short blade and only opened it after repeatedly checking that it was safe.

He compared it with some known intelligence and confirmed it was genuine.

"If there's no problem, let's go get the rest of the intelligence."

"All right."

Led by the Iwa ninja, Sakumo traveled a long way along an increasingly remote route, until there was gradually no one around.

"How much farther?"

"Not far. It's under that big tree up ahead."

Sakumo gripped his short blade with his right hand, showing not the slightest joy at being about to obtain the intelligence.

A dozen seconds later, the two reached the roots of the tree.

The Iwa ninja crouched down, dug up the intelligence scroll hidden there, then stood and held it out to Sakumo.

"Open it."

"You don't trust me?"

The Iwa ninja frowned at Sakumo's words.

"Caution is a ninja's greatest guarantee of survival."

"All right."

The Iwa ninja shrugged, opened the scroll, and showed it to Sakumo repeatedly so he could check it.

"Throw it over."

The Iwa ninja didn't hesitate and tossed it straight over.

Sakumo caught it with his left hand, then examined its contents while keeping his guard up.

He made a preliminary determination that the scroll contained the Iwa ninjas' intended troop movements against the Land of Fire, as well as the locations of important supplies.

Some of the troop movements matched the intelligence they already had. As for the accuracy of the rest, that would be up to the staff department to verify.

The supply locations would also need to be checked by people sent later.

His team's mission was only to receive the intelligence, not to verify it.

If they had to both receive and verify it, there was a good chance the intelligence would never reach headquarters.

Only then did Hatake Sakumo finally relax. He took out a scroll with his other hand and tossed it over.

"The village sent me to bring you this."

The man opposite him said nothing and simply caught it.

Sakumo didn't know exactly what it contained, but it had to be money, supplies, or Ninjutsu.

There was usually a letter from family in the village as well.

But the Iwa ninja opposite him showed no intention of opening it.

"What a pity. If only these things had come half a year earlier."

"What do you mean?"

Sakumo tightened his grip on his short blade as he asked.

The man opposite him made no sound. A voice came from nearby.

"I mean, Earth Release Barrier: Earth Prison Dome!"

"Damn it!"

Sakumo reacted immediately, but he was still trapped.

Before long, however, Sakumo broke through the Ninjutsu. An A-rank Ninjutsu like that couldn't hold him.

But he was still surrounded. There were a dozen or so ninja around him, and Sakumo knew the one leading them.

"Iwa Jonin, Explosion Release ninja, Gari!"

"Has my name spread so far already? Even Konoha ninja recognize me."

"But shouldn't you undo your Transformation Technique too? I hear the ninja sent to make contact this time is quite famous."

"How was our ninja exposed?"

"Exposed? He did very well, but he shouldn't have grown so attached to his wife and child here. Then again, who could blame him when he'd just had a son half a year ago?"

"Attachment, huh? That really is..."

Konoha's spy remained silent off to the side, without saying a word.

Sakumo trailed off without dwelling on the subject, but he undid his Transformation Technique as well. Every bit of Chakra saved counted.

Seeing Sakumo's face, Gari was delighted.

"So it's Konoha's White Fang? How subarashii."

"Then the intelligence is fake too?"

"The intelligence is real. Otherwise, why would a big shot like you obediently follow us here?"