"Why? Haven't you noticed that the tribe is facing a severe shortage of supplies lately?"
Kawajirō finished his cigarette in one gulp, and then exhaled heavily after a long while.
Upon hearing this, Yundou fell silent. How could he not know? He simply believed that the clan leader would be able to resolve the issue.
After all, for so many years, the former young master, now the clan leader, has been supporting the survival of their clan.
They are able to perfectly resolve every predicament.
"I believe the clan leader can do it!" Yundou shook his head and said firmly to Kawajirō.
Kawajirō did not respond; as an older generation, he knew far more than Yundou.
"Cuckoo--Cuckoo--"
The voice came from behind him in the distance. Kawajirō turned around, grinned, and said:
"The shift change is here. Go back, wash up, and get some rest, Yundou."
This is the sound they usually use when changing shifts; this is the sound they should be making at this time.
No, it seems it should be--
Kawajirō's face turned pale as he realized something was wrong, and even Yundou behind him hadn't responded.
Snap--
A hand rested on Kawajirō's shoulder, causing the previously pale-faced Kawajirō to exhale a breath.
He turned his head with a slightly displeased tone, saying, "Yundou! This is no joke—"
The words stopped abruptly, and what came into view was a head covered with black insects.
Kaspersky --
A crisp sound of a neck snapping rang out, and Denjiro's body went limp and he collapsed.
The Kikaichū that had been clinging to the Yundou flew away and gradually merged into one figure.
As soon as he condensed, Muta unconsciously swayed, looking at the corpse at his feet in disbelief.
"What's wrong?"
Hagoromo picked up the bodies of Kawajirō and Yundou and looked at Muta, asking a question.
"I'm so sorry, Lady Hagoromo, I almost messed it up."
Muta looked apologetic. Even though he had already controlled Yundou, who only had a little consciousness left, still reached out and put his hand on Kawajirō to remind him.
If Hagoromo hadn't appeared in time and dealt with Kawajirō, the plan would probably have ended before it even began.
"This person's Kekkei Genkai slowed down the release of my toxins."
Hagoromo raised an eyebrow. "Smoke Release, huh? Looks like I'll have to look into that sometime."
It's important to know that the Kikaichū of the Aburame Clan are no ordinary creatures, yet this young man was able to slow down the neurotoxins due to his own Kekkei Genkai.
Without further thought, Hagoromo pressed the two of them against the wall, and the release of Chakra caused ripples to spread across the wall.
Before long, the two corpses were embedded in the wall by the Hagoromo.
Immediately, Hagoromo transformed into Kawajirō, while Aburame Muta transformed into Yundou.
"Don't panic during the handover; their signal is the sound of birds."
Hagoromo explained to Aburame Muta, who was standing to the side, that Kawajirō had been thinking so much just now because he had been controlled by Hagoromo's Genjutsu.
"Yes!"
Having understood the Aburame Muta nodded, and the two continued their feigned surveillance.
A moment later, the clear chirping of birds came from the entrance behind me.
Hagoromo and Muta exchanged a glance and then called out in the direction the sound came from, "Cuckoo, cuckoo."
This was the signal for the change of shifts; however, the sound Kawajirō had just heard was the sound they were required to make.
"Hey, Kawajirō, I didn't expect you to actually not slack off?"
One of the two men emerging from the smoke said with a mocking smile:
"Hurry up, I'm exhausted after a long day!"
Kawajirō, dressed in Hagoromo robe, responded with great dissatisfaction, then beckoned to 'Yundou' beside him and stepped into the smoke.
It wasn't surprising to see Kawajirō and his companion like this, since Kawajirō always seemed so eager to get back during shift changes.
"Hey, this guy, he's just arrogant because he's a veteran."
As he spoke, the man who had just been teasing Kawajirō said in a slightly displeased tone.
"Alright, you know what kind of person he is, he's a sly old fox."
Another man waved his hand and then leaned against the wall to begin his guard duty.
That wall is where Kawajirō and Yundou's bodies are buried.
"Too--"
Using their own methods, Hagoromo and Muta emerged from the thick smoke.
Muta reached out, and a Kikaichū that had already entered flew onto his hand and then slowly crawled into his sleeve.
Let's proceed according to plan.
"Yes."
The two then split up in a corner and went about their respective tasks.
Hagoromo confirmed a direction, pointed with her hand, and gradually merged with the ground beneath her feet.
"Earth Release, Mayfly Technique!"
This was a Ninjutsu that Hagoromo had previously acquired, but it was altered by the system and is no longer Wood Release.
As a result, he lost the ability, like Black Zetsu, to blend into the vegetation.
However, it's already quite practical.
At least, the entire Sealed Vault Canyon was like an empty field for Hagoromo, who possessed this Ninjutsu.
After wandering on the ground for a while, Hagoromo, having confirmed that she had almost reached her target location, began to sneak upwards.
The chieftain's residence in Sealed Vault Canyon, beneath a wooden building more imposing than the others.
Hagoromo figure slowly emerged, looking at the wooden plank above, pondering how to proceed.
A middle-aged man's voice came from above.
"Clan leader, news has arrived from the Sand Shinobi again—"
They told us that if we didn't take action, they would first send troops to flatten Sealed Vault Canyon.
Snap--
The sound of a cup shattering rang out above Hagoromo, who listened with interest, resting her chin on her hand.
"Action! The Sand Shinobi is just sending our clan to act as the vanguard!"
A slightly younger voice shouted, its tone full of anger.
"But···"
"Let's leave it at that for now, I'll think about it some more." The young voice interrupted the person who was about to speak.
"Yes!"
Snap--Snap--
Footsteps gradually approached the door, and after the sound of the wooden door being pushed and pulled, the room fell silent.
The Hagoromo on the ground remained motionless, carefully sensing its surroundings.
Thump--
The heavy footsteps began to move further in.
Chance--
A glint appeared in Hagoromo's eyes, and she began to act.
Splash--
Inside the room, a young man dressed in a kimono with the Ibu Clan crest embroidered on his back looked at two portraits on the altar.
They slowed their pace as they approached the altar, began to burn incense and light candles, and started their worship.
"Father, Mother--"
"I will restore the glory of the Ibu Clan! I will plunge Konoha and Sunagakure into utter ruin!"
Before the words were even finished, a darkness, like a jet-black silk ribbon, enveloped the kneeling young man.
"Bringer-of-Darkness Technique--!"