When Secrets Leak

On the sea route between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water.

The sky was cloudless for miles.

Numerous Cloud Village ships were speeding forward.

Cloud Village possessed highly advanced technology, and its naval vessels were at the forefront of the ninja world in both development and speed.

At the front was a massive steam-electric hybrid ship, flanked by slightly smaller escort vessels.

Behind them were even smaller transport ships. The smallest could carry around fifty people, while the larger ones carried anywhere from one to two hundred. The escort ships could hold roughly three hundred people.

The largest ship at the front could carry five hundred people.

The entire fleet numbered around three thousand, all elite chunin or above.

This was Cloud Village's assault force, and its leader was the Fourth Raikage A, aboard the lead ship.

Behind those three thousand was a second fleet, carrying personnel of comparatively lower strength.

The highest rank among them was chunin, with even more genin. If the fighting at the front went smoothly, these chunin and genin could swiftly occupy civilian areas.

They would rapidly erode Hidden Mist Village's strength.

Flap, flap...

A messenger hawk descended from the sky.

After receiving the message, the Cloud Village personnel immediately went to report to the Raikage.

The Raikage's temporary office aboard the ship.

"Yugito and Killer B's raiding force broke through Hidden Mist Village's vanguard on the first day and successfully landed on the islands."

"They then captured Hidden Mist Village's outlying islands one after another until they reached the Twin Islands, Tsuzawa Island and Tsuzuren Island, which they needed to take."

"The two split their forces. Yugito attacked Tsuzawa Island, while Killer B attacked Tsuzuren Island."

"Yugito was held back by the Akatsuki. Their stronghold was attacked by Deidara of the Akatsuki, resulting in more than half their forces being killed or wounded. Yugito successfully killed Deidara. Killer B led his team back to reinforce them."

"After the two teams reunited, they rested for five days. During that time, the Uchiha killed Sasori of the Red Sands."

"Afterward, Yugito led her team to scout Tsuzawa Island, while Killer B went alone to Tsuzuren Island."

"Lady Yugito was ambushed. According to the Uchiha, the attacker was Kakuzu of the Akatsuki."

"Killer B was also ambushed on the other side, likewise by the Akatsuki, though the attacker's identity is unknown."

"Lady Yugito was severely injured by an unknown force and is currently unconscious. After treatment, her life is no longer in danger."

"Killer B suffered multiple penetrating wounds and is seriously injured, but he has already regained consciousness."

"Both were rescued by the Uchiha."

"Our people are all holding the Tsuzawa Island stronghold and waiting for our reinforcements."

When the Raikage heard that Killer B had been seriously injured, his fists clenched tight. But upon hearing that Killer B had regained consciousness, he relaxed somewhat.

Sending two Jinchuriki as the vanguard had been a risky move.

The goal had been to seize the initiative.

The two had indeed landed smoothly.

But no one had expected the Akatsuki hired by Hidden Mist Village to be so powerful.

If not for the Uchiha, Cloud Village's losses would have been enormous.

As long as the two Jinchuriki were not dead, injuries were a minor matter. A Jinchuriki's recovery ability was extraordinary. Once they regained consciousness, they would recover before long.

Hearing that Killer B had awakened, the Raikage finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It did not matter if they had failed to take the Twin Islands. Though it would make things more troublesome later, A did not want his younger brother taking any more risks.

The Raikage said to Mabui, "Send word to Killer B. They must hold the stronghold at all costs and are not to attack. Also, convey my gratitude to the Uchiha Clan."

"We have been at sea for eight days. News may have already spread. Order close surveillance of Hidden Stone Village and Konoha. Report immediately at the slightest sign of movement."

"Yes!"

Just as the Raikage had anticipated.

After Cloud Village's main force had sailed at sea for eight days.

The news finally spread, shocking the entire ninja world.

The smaller countries and villages were especially terrified, because Cloud Village's operation was enormous. Conservative estimates put their deployed forces at five thousand.

The two Jinchuriki, along with A, the Raikage, had all gone to Hidden Mist Village.

That meant Cloud Village had likely set out with the intention of destroying Hidden Mist Village and occupying the Land of Water.

Fortunately, Cloud Village's two Jinchuriki were locked in a stalemate on the outlying islands of Hidden Mist Village. They would likely wait for Cloud Village's forces to arrive before launching their next offensive.

Judging by the time, Cloud Village's ships should already have covered half the journey.

While ordering his subordinates to prepare for battle, Ōnoki also sent out a messenger hawk to contact Uchiha Shamu.

Hidden Sand Village had originally been preparing for war in secret as well, but after Chiyo delivered Shamu's verbal message, Rasa considered it and halted the preparations. Still, he dispatched many scouts.

On Konoha's side, they also recalled some elite shinobi who had been away on missions.

For a time, the entire ninja world seemed poised beneath gathering storm clouds.

Everyone was waiting for the first clash after Cloud Village reached Hidden Mist Village.

Zetsu was still lurking two hundred meters beneath the sea, but due to the water pressure, he ventured out less often.

After observing for several days, he had gained some understanding of the massive formation Hidden Mist Village had set up underwater.

This formation could disrupt the balance of water pressure beneath the sea, creating destructive waves on the surface.

In other words, it could trigger a tsunami.

It seemed the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, was no easy opponent either.

He wondered how much damage it could inflict on Cloud Village's ships.

Because of the water pressure, sensory abilities underwater were greatly suppressed.

That allowed Zetsu to eavesdrop near Mei Terumi without much difficulty.

However, Mei Terumi had spent the past few days entirely occupied with the underwater formation, and there had been no valuable intelligence.

Zetsu was preparing to withdraw when Ao arrived.

Fortunately, Ao did not have the habit of keeping his Byakugan active at all times, or Zetsu would have been discovered.

"Mizukage-sama, Mr. Flying Waterfall helped us call back several Hidden Mist Village talents."

"Who are they?"

Mei Terumi looked utterly exhausted, with dark circles beneath her eyes.

But upon hearing that talented people had been called back, she immediately perked up.

Ao reported, "Biwa Juzo, Momochi Zabuza, and Hozuki Mangetsu's younger brother, Hozuki Suigetsu."

Mei Terumi's eyes lit up. "Good, good, good. Where did Mr. Flying Waterfall find them?"

Ao said helplessly, "All three are members of the Akatsuki."

Mei Terumi was stunned.

Zetsu beneath the ground was equally stunned. What was going on?

Flying Waterfall had poached Akatsuki members and sent them to Hidden Mist Village?

Ao's next words shook Zetsu to the core.

"...The Uchiha sent Itachi and Shisui to the front to aid Cloud Village, but the truth is that both of them are Flying Waterfall's spies."

In his shock, Zetsu let out the faintest trace of his presence, and Ao instantly caught it.

Ao's Byakugan flashed. "Who goes there!?"

Then he saw a humanoid mass of Chakra stealthily fleeing. It was so fast that he could not catch up.

"Mizukage-sama, we've been monitored."

Mei Terumi's heart sank. How long had she been watched? How much intelligence had the other side overheard?

Which faction was it?