The Age for Brainwashing

After receiving information from her clansmen, Yuki Koru quickly summoned ninjas from various Bloodline Limit families to discuss the matter.

When everyone heard that Yuki Koru had information on the possible whereabouts of the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, most people supported Yuki Koru and expressed their desire to take down the Six-Tails. After all, Karatachi Yagura's strength was undeniable, and they did indeed need a ninja who could keep Karatachi Yagura in check.

Although they are also Bloodline Ninja Clan, the number of ninjas in their clan is not as large as that of a renowned clan like the Yuki Clan Ninja World. If they suffer too many casualties in the battle against Karatachi Yagura, their clan may face the risk of annihilation.

Therefore, capturing the Six-Tails is something that only brings benefits to them. No matter how powerful the Six-Tails is, can it be as difficult to deal with Karatachi Yagura?

As for who will ultimately become the Fifth Mizukage, it doesn't really affect them much. Whether it's the Yuki Clan, the Terumi Clan, or the Hozuki Clan, it's all the same to them. It's not their turn anyway.

Only the heads of the Terumi Clan and Hozuki Clan had a flicker in their eyes. Their thoughts were clear: in a few more days, when the geniuses in their clans had grown a bit more, their chances of becoming the Fifth Mizukage would be greater.

However, when Yuki Koru mentioned that Genji might also have received the information, she couldn't bring herself to object.

The reason is simple: the conflict with the Yuki Clan is a struggle for interests, while the conflict with the Genji is a struggle for class. The Genji represents the interests of Minor Ninja Clans, and they are not aligned with the large ninja clans.

If the Genji's side wins, it will inevitably suppress the living space of the Great Ninja Clan.

On this point, the ninja clans present, though possessing bloodline limits but lacking significant family strength, were not particularly worried. If it weren't for Karatachi Yagura's malicious exclusion of these Bloodline Ninja Clan, they might have gone to Genji instead of staying with the Yuki Clan.

However, both the Terumi Clan and Hozuki Clan are large ninja clans. With the Genji faction in power, sacrificing their interests to benefit the Minor Ninja Clans was an inevitable outcome.

The meeting proceeded smoothly, and everyone unanimously approved Yuki Koru's proposal to send elite ninjas to capture the Six-Tails.

What they didn't know was that Yichen had only given Genji an empty scroll.

Although Yichen now has some subordinates, few are truly capable, Special Jonin, but none of them Jonin all. Elite Jonin are even less likely to be found.

Therefore, after he passed the information to the Yuki Clan, the task of monitoring their movements fell to Yichen himself.

If we send a Special Jonin, he probably won't even know how he died.

After exchanging a few words with Feng and the others, Yichen left the camp.

Yichen's task this time is to monitor the movements of the Bloodline Ninja Clan, and there's a high chance he'll be discovered using Sensory Ninjutsu. Moreover, the Yuki Clan's Ice Release completely counters Camouflage Jutsu, something Yichen has experienced firsthand.

Therefore, Yichen's surveillance relied entirely on his passive perception skill, Mind's Eye. Yichen dared not get too close, but simply kept watch on the road leading from Kirigakure to the place described in the intelligence report.

Yuki Koru acted swiftly; the very next day, he personally led a team of about thirty people to the area indicated by the intelligence to search for the whereabouts of Six-Tails Jinchuriki Utakata.

Yichen only conducted a rough reconnaissance from a distance of about one kilometer at the beginning to confirm the number of people in Yuki Koru's group. After that, he did not follow them at such close range.

Knowing the general outline of Yuki Koru and the others' destination, Yichen a roundabout route and waited for them near their location.

The information provided by Wu was not detailed; it only mentioned that Utakata's teacher had been seen in this area. Yichen didn't have enough manpower and energy to verify the authenticity of the information, nor did he have time to search for Utakata's exact whereabouts based on it.

Therefore, what Yuki Koru obtained was Yichen's vague information, and they still need to spend time carefully searching for clues to confirm the possible existence of Utakata.

Yichen wasn't in a hurry. He stayed far away on the outskirts of the village where Teacher Utakata had appeared, thinking about how many of the thirty or so people that Yuki Koru had brought should die.

Over three days, following the clue given by Yichen, Yuki Koru and her group traveled to several places and finally confirmed Utakata's location.

About 100 kilometers away from Kirigakure, outside a village, Yuki Koru and others were discussing their battle plan.

"This current Six-Tails Jinchuriki is still young and definitely cannot control the Six-Tails' power yet. So there's no need to worry about him teaming up with the Six-Tails."

"However, if the Jinchuriki's mind is severely stimulated, it is possible for the Tailed Beast to go berserk. Therefore, there is a principle for this operation: try not to kill anyone, including the villagers. Protect as much as possible everyone and everything related to the Jinchuriki."

"The priority is to persuade the other party to cooperate, followed by subduing everyone. If an accident causes the Six-Tails to go berserk, then we will use the final sealing method."

After hearing Yuki Koru's warning, everyone else nodded to indicate that they understood.

Seeing this, Yuki Koru nodded slightly and said, "The Six-Tails Chakra has a strong corrosive effect, so everyone should put on their protective suits to reduce the damage."

Yuki Koru considered everything very thoroughly, devising the most meticulous plan and preparing for the worst.

After everyone had put on their protective suits, Yuki Koru turned to a ninja wearing a trench coat, with his head covered and his face completely sealed by a mask, and asked, "Iketani Chief Iketani, did your Red Eye detect any other ninjas approaching?"

The ninja replied, "No, I haven't noticed any ninjas nearby these past few days."

Yuki Koru and said, "So far, there's been no action from the Genji side, and we've contacted the village as well; no one's causing trouble. This means we've fallen into a trap. The ninja who was supposed to give us the intelligence didn't pass it on to the Genji."

"Even disregarding the possibility that they only want us to retrieve the Six-Tails, they must have other tricks up their sleeve. Iketani, your Red Eye must remain active until we successfully retrieve the Six-Tails."

"Leave five people to protect Iketani. If any intelligence is received and ninjas appear, immediately issue an alert."

"Yes!" All six ninjas, including Iketani, responded in unison.

Unbeknownst to Yuki Koru, someone had been roaming around them all along. However, the person's Mist Ninja Anbu uniform had special runes engraved on it, which could block the see-through effect of special Dōjutsu.

One of the most important ways for Red Eye to scout is through-eye vision. Red Eye also have the ability to see far. Unfortunately, this clan chief Iketani had long been accustomed to completely covering himself up.

Even using farsightedness is based on X-ray vision; one uses X-ray vision to see through the trench coat covering them and then uses farsightedness to observe.

However, Yichen's Anbu uniform and mask could counteract the ability to see through objects.

It's fair to say that even if Yichen were standing right in front of the Iketani chief, he wouldn't be able to see him. To Yichen, the Iketani chief was less likely to detect his presence than the five ninjas protecting him.

Of course, Yichen himself did not know that there was Red Eyes Bloodline Limit holder in Yuki Koru's team; this was just a preparation to guard against Qing's Byakugan.

In Yichen's memory, Red Eye were unique to Ranmaru, and he did not associate this bloodline with a certain Kirigakure Bloodline Limit families.

In fact, not only Yichen, but many of the Mist ninja themselves couldn't even remember that their village had such a Bloodline Ninja Clan. This was because the number of people with Red Eye was too small, and in this generation there was only this Iketani chief.

Based on their search routes over the past three days, Yichen, who was on the outskirts, deduced that Utakata was likely in the village right in front of them.

So this time, Yichen slowly approached the distance that his Mind's Eye could sense.

After sensing that Yuki Koru group were entering the village, Yichen also went around to the other side and sneaked in.

As Yichen slowly approached, before the village had fully entered the range of his Mind's Eye's Eye's perception, the sounds of battle could be heard from within.

However, it doesn't seem very intense.

Yichen immediately quickened his pace.

The village was small. Yichen flew low and stealthily climbed to a tall tree at the village entrance, observing the village through the dense foliage.

There wasn't much that could be seen with the naked eye, but by combining Sensory Ninjutsu, Yichen still understood the current situation.

This village is very ordinary, inhabited by commoners. Only two people in the entire village can use Chakra: one is Utakata, who is only six or seven years old, and the other is his teacher.

At this moment, Utakata's teacher had been grabbed by two ninjas, one on each side, with the ninja on the right holding a Kunai to his neck.

Across from them, Utakata looked on blankly, offering no resistance as the three ninjas sealed him away.

"This is the perfect age, the perfect age to brainwash him." Yichen was very satisfied with Utakata's age.

"Hehe, luckily I arrived in time." Yichen breathed a sigh of relief. At this point in time, Utakata and his disciple didn't have much fighting power at all. If it had been any later, and Utakata had been successfully sealed by Yuki Koru, then Yichen would have made things worse.

However, this situation is just right now.

Yichen quickly used the Porcelain Release, then controlled some of the Porcelain Mud to quietly fly into the village, while his main body sensed the area outside the village.

"Utakata, run! These people want to use you as a tool. I have some research data in my room that might be useful to you. Take the data and run!" Utakata's teacher, who was somewhat oblivious to the situation, was still roaring as he was being held down by the two men.

Yuki Koru and said to Utakata, "Utakata, we are ninjas from the village. We're here to take you back to the village. Calm down. You probably don't want anything to happen to your teacher, do you?"

The others were also worried. They just needed to wait a little longer for the seal to be completed, and they hoped that Utakata wouldn't get into trouble at this time.

Just as everyone was watching Utakata's reaction with anticipation and tension, some mud suddenly spurted towards the ninja who was holding Kunai Utakata's neck.

The mud turned into rock in mid-air, but the attack wasn't very powerful because it hit a pressure point, causing the ninja's arm to tremble slightly.

This would normally be no problem, but now, with that sudden jerk, the Kunai in the ninja's hand severed Professor Utakata's neck.

In an instant, the air fell silent, save for the indistinct sounds emanating from Professor Utakata, whose throat was filled with a large amount of blood. The three ninjas who were casting the Sealing Jutsu were also momentarily stunned.

At that moment, everyone seemed to hear Utakata's abnormal heartbeat.

"Ah~~~ Teacher!" A few seconds later, Utakata's loud shout rang out, and at the same time, a large amount of red Chakra surged from his body.

The Sealing Runes the three ninjas had painstakingly set up were immediately dispelled.

At the same time, Yuki Koru immediately ordered, "Terumi Chizuru, you take some men to search the surrounding area. The rest of you, come with me to seal the Six-Tails."

"Yes." The chief of the Terumi Clan immediately began preparations to search the village.

Meanwhile, the others began preparing various offensive Sealing Jutsu.