The Big Fish That Took the Bait

After the masked man completely left, Masashige Hagoromo suddenly said, "Naoyasu, did you hear that?"

From behind the tent curtain where Izuna had been standing, a man of about thirty years old emerged, his armor also bearing the crest of the Hagoromo Clan.

Naoyasu Hagoromo, the peak Jonin of the Hagoromo Clan, served as the captain of Masashige Hagoromo's secret security detail.

Although the Hagoromo Clan did not possess Kekkei Genkai like the Uchiha or Hyuga, they, like the Senju, had their own specialties.

The Senju Clan's specialty was their terrifyingly abnormal Chakra capacity, with Hashirama Senju being a veritable bottomless pit, as if his Chakra was inexhaustible on the battlefield.

The Hagoromo Clan, on the other hand, possessed extremely strong sensory abilities.

And their sensory abilities were quite unique, possessing exceptionally excellent hearing.

While Naoyasu Hagoromo's overall strength had not reached the Kage level, his sensory abilities were perfected, even not inferior to the current Tobirama Senju.

The masked man's last words before leaving, though quieter than a mosquito, were still heard by him.

"Clan Head, that guy just said he couldn't stay too long."

"Couldn't stay too long... couldn't stay too long..."

Masashige Hagoromo repeated the words, then looked up and asked, "With your senses, you couldn't detect how he appeared?"

Naoyasu Hagoromo replied, "It was definitely not the Body Flicker Technique, but a brand new Ninjutsu. When my senses detected him, he had already appeared in the tent."

"He is by no means an ordinary person... Naoyasu, who do you think this person is?"

Hearing this, Naoyasu Hagoromo's eyes narrowed slightly, "I suspect he is someone from the Shimura or Sarutobi Clan."

Instantly, a flicker of surprise crossed Masashige Hagoromo's eyes, "Indeed, you think so too?"

The masked man's address to Furukawa Sarutobi and Keizo Shimura earlier as "Furukawa" and "Keizo" indicated that they likely knew each other.

And before that person left, he muttered to himself, "couldn't stay too long."

The reason was likely that he was from these two clans, and venturing to their location without permission meant he had to rush back quickly to avoid being discovered by Furukawa Sarutobi and the others.

"But, if he really is from the Sarutobi Shimura, why would he tell us this information?"

Naoyasu Hagoromo was puzzled.

Masashige Hagoromo pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Perhaps, he is someone who opposes Furukawa Sarutobi and Keizo Shimura."

"Clan Head, you mean..."

"Internal clan struggles are also extremely common. That masked man is likely a man within the Sarutobi Shimura who opposes the current clan heads. By telling us such important information, he also wants to use us to bring down Furukawa Sarutobi and Keizo Shimura."

Having said this, Masashige Hagoromo shook his head, "But these are all just our speculations. All we can do now is wait and see."

"Then what about the Fuma Four Clans..."

Masashige Hagoromo's pupils narrowed, "Be constantly vigilant, absolutely do not be careless!"

"Yes!"

What Masashige Hagoromo and the others didn't know was that after Izuna left the Hagoromo camp, he didn't directly leave the overall Five Allied Clans Army.

Instead, he turned around and used the Flying Thunder God to quietly enter the Onigawa Clan's camp, which was closest to the Hagoromo camp.

Unlike Masashige Hagoromo, who was busy researching strategies, Kenji Kōkawa, as the new clan head succeeding Kōkawa Yokōichi, was embracing a female ninja of passable looks and a voluptuous figure, engaging in unspeakable acts from time to time.

"Clan Head Kōkawa, enjoying yourself~~"

A hoarse voice rang out, startling Kenji Kōkawa into immediate impotence.

Useless, no wonder he's only elite Jonin level.

Izuna thought with disdain.

"Who are you?!"

Kenji Kōkawa immediately got up.

The first thing he did was not pull up his pants, but grab the katana on the table.

"Don't be nervous, I'm on your side. I want to tell you some information concerning your Onigawa, no, concerning your entire Northwest Four Clans."

After Izuna returned to his room in Stone City, he finally removed his mask.

"That Masashige Hagoromo fellow, he's probably suspecting I'm from the Sarutobi Clan by now."

Thinking this, a cunning smile curled at the corner of Izuna's lips.

The reason he deliberately said that was to mislead Masashige Hagoromo.

However, this was only the first step.

For him, a spider, to lure these ninja clans, his prey, completely into his web would still take time.

At noon on the third day.

The season had long since entered autumn. No matter how much one trained their body to be strong, in the end, they were still mortal. The autumn wind blew, and it couldn't help but make people shiver.

"Vice Clan Leader, we've intercepted intelligence from the Ino-Shika-Cho Three Clans. They've refused Hagoromo Masashige's alliance request."

The Uchiha Reconnaissance Ninja reporting couldn't help but sound a little pleased. The enemy not increasing was undoubtedly a good thing for their side.

"But the Sarutobi and Shimura are still watching us covetously..."

Izuna thought to himself, but he didn't say it out loud.

His activities under the guise of "Kite" were unknown even to Madara Uchiha, let alone these clan ninjas.

Afterward, Izuna sent the reconnaissance ninja to scout around the Five Allied Clans Army Camp.

He heard that Hagoromo Masashige hadn't shown much anger at the Ino-Shika-Cho's refusal.

Izuna could understand such a reaction.

After all, because of "Kite," Hagoromo Masashige already suspected the four clans.

He couldn't even manage his current allies, and adding three more, who knew what would happen.

"Report!"

At this moment, another reconnaissance ninja appeared before Izuna using the Body Flicker Technique.

"Vice Clan Leader! Hagoromo Masashige himself is leading five hundred enemy troops to attack!"

It had been two months since they arrived at Northwest Stone City. The enemy's attacks had long since become a daily routine, like eating.

"Relay my orders. As usual, adopt defensive formations and avoid unnecessary battles."

Izuna waved his hand and commanded.

However, the reconnaissance ninja kneeling on one knee hesitated for a long time and did not answer with a "yes."

After a moment of hesitation, the reconnaissance ninja looked up. "Vice Clan Leader, it's been over two months. Except for the very first battle, we've been adopting a conservative defensive strategy. Shouldn't we... attack?"

Izuna didn't answer. He merely tilted his head slightly, closed his eyes, and stared at him condescendingly.

Before he even used his Sharingan, he had already made the other party break out in a cold sweat.

"I... I'll go deliver the message now!"

With that, the reconnaissance ninja quickly left using the Body Flicker Technique.

"A bunch of impatient fools."

Izuna's expression darkened.

It had only been two months, and they couldn't hold on any longer. With this little patience, they still wanted to defeat the Senju of the Forest?