"We entered the country illegally." Naruto rolled his eyes, "Shikamaru That guy must have already written a letter of apology. It doesn't matter if there is one more or one less."
"I have a way." Sasuke pointed to a cable car transporting ore below, "That is the special passage leading to Tsuchikage Building underground."
Ten minutes later.
Two figures in dusty miner uniforms huddled in a mine cart filled with cinders. Naruto felt a sharp stone pressing against his waist, but he did not dare to move because above his head was Iwagakure's patrol.
"Is this your way?" Naruto complained in a low voice, "Hokage and Shinobi World are the strongest, hiding in the coal pile like mice?"
"Quiet." Sasuke closed his eyes, "Someone is coming."
The cable car stopped with a clang. Several Iwa ninjas came over to check.
"Where is this shipment sent?"
"Heating system for Tsuchikage Building."
"Okay, let it go."
The cable car started up again and slid into the dark tunnel.
A few minutes later, the cable car stopped at a huge underground boiler room. Taking advantage of the steam, the two quickly jumped out of the mine car and sneaked into Ventilation Duct.
Tsuchikage Office.
Kurotsuchi is crossing her legs on the desk, holding a report in her hand, her brows furrowed. Since the death of Ōnoki, the debate within Iwagakure about the "Artificial Human" technology has not stopped. Coupled with the recent rampant smuggling at the border, her temper has become increasingly grumpy.
"Akatsuchi! Have you found out the source of Black Oil?" Kurotsuchi threw the report on the table.
"Still checking, eldest sister." Akatsuchi's honest voice came from the door, "However, just now Perception Squad reported that a very weak but very familiar Chakra appeared in the village."
"Familiar Chakra?" Kurotsuchi raised his eyebrows.
At this moment, the office window was suddenly pushed open.
"Hey, Kurotsuchi! Long time no see, your legs are still so long!"
Naruto jumped into the window sill in disgrace, with two soot marks on his face, and bared his big white teeth to say hello. Sasuke appeared in the corner of the room like a ghost, folding his arms and saying nothing.
Kurotsuchi was stunned for two seconds, then jumped up from the chair and kicked Naruto.
"Uzumaki Naruto! Do you think this is a public toilet? Come here if you want!"
This kick carried the sound of breaking wind, and the prelude named "Lava Release·Lava Release: Quicklime Congealing Technique" had already condensed on the soles of her feet.
Naruto did not force it, but rolled on the marble floor in an extremely embarrassed manner, barely avoiding the kick. A corner of the desk was kicked to pieces.
"Hey! I'm here to talk about business!" Naruto got up and patted his butt, "Is this how you Iwagakure treat guests?"
"Hosting guests?" Kurotsuchi sneered and adjusted the red cheongsam, "Only those who come in through the gate with customs clearance documents are called guests. Anyone who comes in through the window is called a thief. Especially with your current virtue... I heard that Nine-Tails is gone and you have become a soft-footed shrimp?"
"Is it a soft-footed shrimp? You can try it." Naruto stood up straight and his eyes became sharp. Although Chakra was not as strong as before, the aura of being at the top for a long time still made Kurotsuchi restrain a bit.
Sasuke stepped forward and threw the remains of Mechanical Insect captured in Daming Mansion on the table.
"We found this in Land of Fire Daming Mansion." Sasuke said concisely, "The Black Oil inside was produced by your Land of Earth. This thing attracted Remnant Weapon from Otsutsuki and almost destroyed Kikyo Castle."
When Kurotsuchi saw that Mechanical Insect, her expression changed instantly. She waved her hand to Akatsuchi to close the door and put a soundproof barrier around the room.
"This thing... I'm looking for it too." Kurotsuchi sat back on the chair with a solemn expression, "Since my grandfather passed away, some radicals have not given up on the research of "mustard". They believe that only by mastering this power can Iwagakure be great again."
"Where are they?" Naruto asked.
"I don't know." Kurotsuchi scratched his hair irritably, "They are hiding very deep, and they seem to have received some kind of external funding support recently. I suspect they are restarting an abandoned mining base."
"External funds?" Naruto thought of Enen'suke, "It seems that the nobles of Land of Fire have colluded with your traitorous ninjas. There is really a mess everywhere."
Boom!
A loud noise interrupted the conversation. The entire Tsuchikage Building shook violently, and dust fell from the ceiling.
"What's going on?!" Kurotsuchi rushed to the window.
I saw the industrial zone Kakkō to the north of Iwagakure rising into the sky. In the billowing black smoke, several huge figures were wreaking havoc. Those figures looked like Stone Puppet, but their movements were extremely flexible, and black steam was sprayed from their joints.
"That's... an improved version of "Mustard"?" Kurotsuchi's pupils contracted.
"It seems we have found the right place." Naruto walked to the window and looked at Kakkō in the distance, "The enemy knows we are coming and wants to strike first and create chaos to cover up the evidence."
"These bastards!" Kurotsuchi gritted his teeth, "How dare you do something in the village! Akatsuchi, summon Anbu!"
"Wait." Naruto pressed Kurotsuchi's shoulders, "Those things are not ordinary puppets. Their core is Black Oil, which will absorb Chakra. Let ordinary ninjas just die."
"What should we do?"
Naruto tightened Forehead Protector on his head and turned to look at Sasuke.
"Old rules. I'll draw the firepower, you look for the weak point. Kurotsuchi, you're responsible for evacuating the civilians, don't let them get close."
"You?" Kurotsuchi looked at him suspiciously, "Are you okay now?"
Naruto grinned. Although there was still soot on his face, the smile was as dazzling as the sun.
"Don't underestimate Hokage. Even if there is no Nine-Tails, I am still Uzumaki Naruto."
After saying that, he jumped up and jumped out of the window.
"What a show-off idiot." Sasuke shook his head and disappeared instantly.
Kurotsuchi looked at the two people's leaving figures and snorted, "Tah, you said they weren't soft-legged shrimps. When they landed on the ground, their legs shook." She turned around and yelled at Akatsuchi, "Still standing still. What! Didn't you hear Hokage's order? Evacuate the crowd! If Leaf's people steal all the limelight, why should I, Tsuchikage, do it anymore!"
Iwagakure North District is a mixture of huge smelters and abandoned mines. At this moment, it has become a hell.
Three giant puppets with a height of five meters are destroying crazily. They are different from the smooth "mustard" made by Ōnoki, but full of rough industrial beauty-the body is made of black rocks and rusty metal, and a transparent container is embedded in the chest, with sticky Black Oil rolling inside.
"Ouch--"
A puppet roared like a siren, and its huge iron fist smashed into a residential building.
"Don't even think about it!"
Naruto fell from the sky. He did not use ninjutsu to resist, but threw out a kunai with a steel wire, entangled a nearby chimney, and kicked the puppet's side hard with the centrifugal force of the swing.