Upon entering the Land of Land of Rivers once again, Hinata felt that Kakashi's entire aura was different.
It's a kind of, well... how should I put it?
It's probably that kind of pretentious, chuunibyou (delusional) aura where "pretentiousness is like the wind, always by my side."
Kakashi made a 'stop' gesture and landed in a clearing in the forest.
Kakashi glanced around, about to say something.
Kakashi glanced at Hinata casually and said with a headache, "Hinata, don't say anything!"
Hinata looked aggrieved. "What did I do wrong?"
I haven't said a word yet!
Hinata looked at Kakashi, her little face serious, and said, "Teacher Kakashi, I know I'm not very good at talking, and I often make you angry..."
Kakashi nodded in satisfaction; Hinata at least had some self-awareness.
After a pause, Hinata continued, "If you can't stand it, then you should reflect on yourself and see why others can!"
Kakashi: "..."
As expected, we shouldn't have too high expectations for Hinata!
Hinata concluded, "Teacher Kakashi, your mental fortitude isn't up to par!"
Having found one of Kakashi's weaknesses, Hinata decided that from now on, she would never idolize Kakashi again.
Take another look at Kakashi.
Tch... so-so, he just exudes a salty, unappealing aura.
"Cough cough!"
Kakashi coughed lightly and said calmly, "If more enemies appear, we're likely to have a tough battle ahead..."
Baki interjected, "If we follow the plan we made yesterday, we should be able to avoid the enemy, right?"
Baki thought Kakashi was quite intelligent; Baki thought Kakashi's previous plan to lure out the enemy was quite good.
I was tricked by Might Guy.
Kakashi and Might Guy both glanced at Baki at the same time. What an ungrateful guy!
Kakashi ignored Baki and continued, "The enemy could come from two directions: Iwagakure... or other ninja villages."
"Although it is only speculation at present, we must take precautions."
"And the people following us probably won't abandon the mission either... We also need to be wary of them."
Baki frowned and said, "In that case, we should follow last night's plan even more closely. The path you're on now isn't the route we planned last night!"
Kakashi thought for a moment and then explained, "The plan we made last night may have been exposed. Even now, I can't guarantee that there are still enemies watching us."
Hinata her Byakugan and surveyed the area, not even missing a single snake, insect, or rodent.
However, the secret techniques of the Yamanaka clan and Aburame Clan are still quite troublesome. Without Chakra reaction, it is difficult to see the flaws with just the Byakugan.
Unless you use experience to judge.
Kakashi is not an arrogant person. Although he really wanted to use the Nine-Tails' Chakra to have some fun, a mission is a mission, and he wouldn't be so reckless.
Looking at Baki, Kakashi concluded, "The reason I said these things is simply to prepare everyone mentally."
"As for plans... it's better to just improvise!"
Let's go!
Somewhere in the Land of Rivers.
Kitsuchi and four Anbu squads were lying in ambush.
The ground beneath his feet trembled slightly, Fugai emerged from underground.
Kitsuchi looked at Fugai and asked, "Have you found out any useful information?"
Fugai chuckled and said arrogantly, "Breaking news: Danzo's people have failed."
"It failed?"
Kitsuchi frowned and asked in a deep voice, "What are the specific details?"
Ōnoki agreed to be Danzo's tool because, in Ōnoki's judgment, Danzo's primary goal should have been to eliminate Gaara, not to target Iwagakure.
Compared to the Jonin and Anbu of Iwagakure, the Jinchūriki of Sunagakure are obviously more valuable.
The Sunagakure has already lost its Kazekage, and if it also loses its Jinchuriki, it will be plunged into a huge crisis in an instant.
Whether it's the other major Shinobi Village or the surrounding minor Shinobi Village, they all have their eyes on Sunagakure, this lucrative prize.
Since the interests of both sides are temporarily aligned, there is nothing wrong with joining forces.
However, Ōnoki and Kitsuchi were not so sure that they would readily believe the information Danzo had given them.
So when Kitsuchi Tu heard that Danzo's operation had failed, he immediately became vigilant.
Fugai reported, "There are Hyuga Clan ninjas in Konoha, so I dare not get too close."
"Danzo probably sent about twenty-two ninjas, and they encountered Konoha's Jonin Might Guy... That guy's techniques are very interesting. You should have heard about the 'Mist's Seven Ninja Swordsmen' from more than ten years ago, right?"
Kitsuchi nodded upon hearing this.
Although there wasn't much intelligence about that battle, some information did circulate.
Fugai said calmly, "That's all..."
"Oh, right! Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja from Konoha, planned the split-team operation to lure out the enemy, and now the two sides have reunited."
Kitsuchi asked, "Do you know their current whereabouts?"
Fugai shook his head and said, "I don't know! There are two Hyuga Clan ninjas in their group. These two take turns activating their Byakugan, so I can't keep following them."
Kitsuchi fell silent upon hearing this.
Based on Ōnoki's assessment of Danzo likely had two plans in mind.
If the assassination plot against Gaara fails, Danzo might join forces with Kakashi and his group to target Iwagakure.
From these two preparations, it is not difficult to see Danzo's true intentions.
They could either start a war and take advantage of the situation to Sunagakure, or weaken Iwagakure and, incidentally, curry favor with Sunagakure.
When Root assassinates Gaara, they will definitely disguise their identities.
However, once they join forces with Kakashi to fight against Iwagakure, their identities will become Konoha's Anbu.
Kitsuchi Tu knew very well that if their plan to assassinate Gaara failed, Konoha and Sand Village would have a common enemy.
Regardless of whether the four from Sunagakure discovered any flaws in Root's organization, they were unlikely to reveal it.
Because that would only disrupt the peace between the two villages.
Kitsuchi asked again, "Besides Kakashi, Might Guy, Baki, are there any other troublesome figures over there?"
"There shouldn't be any more." Fugai thought for a moment and said calmly, "The people they brought should just be Konoha Genin, and they all look quite young."
"Kindness?"
Kitsuchi frowned and asked in a deep voice, "Are they all Genin?"
Fugai also realized that something was wrong.
How could Konoha possibly send a few genin to escort such an important mission as the Jinchuriki of Sunagakure?
Kitsuchi suddenly remembered some information.
Given the huge commotion in the Land of Rice a few days ago, it's impossible that the Iwagakure was completely unaware of it.
Orochimaru's Otogakure was destroyed by Konoha, and Ōnoki had even planned to use this incident to cause trouble for Konoha.
However, according to the information sent back from the Land of Rice, that battle that day was not a battle between ninjas at all.
Saying it's a complete collapse of the heavens and earth might be an exaggeration, but the earth shaking is a fact.
I heard that even the landscape around the Otogakure's base has changed.
Jinchuriki...
Kitsuchi grasped the crux of the matter almost instantly.
Among those Genin in Konoha, there must be another Jinchuriki, perhaps even a perfect Jinchuriki.