Uchiha Shisui

After drawing two tubes of blood, Hiruko returned to his quarters to pack. He was moving into the Hyuga Clan's camp; naturally, deciphering the Caged Bird Seal required a Caged Bird Seal for reference, and staying in the Hyuga Clan's camp was the most convenient arrangement.

After checking the soldier pills, Explosive Tags, smoke bombs, and other ninja tools in his pouch, Hyuga Ritsu instructed the two elders to cooperate with Teacher Hiruko's requests as much as possible before leaving the tent.

The moment he stepped outside, he saw Hyuga Akiba standing at the entrance.

He stopped, considered it for two seconds, then beckoned the girl over.

"Akiba, come here."

Hearing that, the girl hurried over. "Brother Ritsu, uh, Clan Head, what are your orders?"

"You don't have to call me that. Just call me what you used to."

Hyuga Ritsu reached out and patted the girl's head, smiling as he asked, "Still haven't figured out the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fist?"

"It's hard, okay? Brother Ritsu, do you think everyone is as talented as you?"

At the mention of that, the girl's face instantly fell, and she looked thoroughly dejected.

"Don't be discouraged. Once I return from this mission, I'll teach you hand in hand and make sure you learn the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fist. Also, let me tell you something in advance: everyone will soon be assigned to different ninja teams for missions. Have the two elders help you vet them and find a reliable team. And once you're on the front lines, stay sharp. Don't be reckless!"

"Don't worry! Brother Ritsu, I'm not some rookie."

"It's precisely because you're not a rookie that I'm worried you'll try to show off. All right, just be careful. I need to head out on my mission too."

Hyuga Ritsu waved goodbye to his cousin.

Once he reached the edge of the camp, he saw a young man from the Uchiha Clan waiting for him. He had black hair and black eyes, wore a Konoha forehead protector, and had rather handsome features, including an unusually rounded nose. He was dressed in the Uchiha Clan's typical dark blue-black combat uniform, with a short sword strapped to his back, its hilt protruding from behind his right shoulder.

The youth was Uchiha Shisui, known as Body Flicker Shisui. The Uchiha Clan's greatest genius, he was an incomparably sharp blade Konoha used against the Mist ninja, slaughtering them until they trembled at the mere mention of his name.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Shisui."

Hyuga Ritsu greeted him with a smile.

"Senior Ritsu—no, I should call you Hyuga Clan Head now. I only just arrived." Uchiha Shisui was gentle and courteous. There was none of the arrogant disdain for others so common among the rest of the Uchiha.

"No need to be so formal. Just address me like before."

Hyuga Ritsu reached out and patted Uchiha Shisui on the shoulder.

This was not the first time he and Uchiha Shisui had worked together. The two had been fighting the Mist ninja on this eastern battlefield for several years. Hyuga Ritsu traveled all over the field, and because of the Byakugan's tactical value, he had teamed up with many people. Uchiha Shisui was one of them.

The two had worked together to hunt Mist ninja more than once, and had developed a fairly good friendship as a result.

"Then, Senior Ritsu, please guide me again this time."

Uchiha Shisui smiled gently.

He was fourteen this year, one year younger than Hyuga Ritsu, which was why he addressed Hyuga Ritsu as senior.

Looking at Uchiha Shisui, one could truly understand what a real genius was.

"How could I possibly guide you? Same as before, we'll need you, Shisui, to slaughter those Mist ninja. I'll support you from the side. All right, let's get moving! We can talk as we go. If we're late and the Shigushan Mountain defensive line really gets breached, we'll both be in trouble!"

Hyuga Ritsu naturally took command.

"Yes, Senior Ritsu."

Uchiha Shisui did not mind being commanded. His temperament was so mild that he hardly seemed like an Uchiha.

Of course, the reason he did not mind was that Hyuga Ritsu had already proven through his actions that he was capable of commanding well, allowing Uchiha Shisui to cut loose and kill to his heart's content.

Meanwhile, inside Aburame Ryoma's tent.

"Kaito, do you know what you're supposed to do at the Shigushan Mountain defensive line?"

"Find an opportunity to take out Hyuga Ritsu with a sneak attack."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Aburame Ryoma looked somewhat helplessly at the subordinate kneeling on one knee before him. "Your mission is to observe and gather intelligence on Hyuga Ritsu. Understand?"

"But Lord Danzo's order was to kill Hyuga Ritsu."

The subordinate voiced his objection.

"Even Namikaze Minato failed to kill Hyuga Ritsu after making two attempts. Do you think you can kill Hyuga Ritsu just by firing a sneak attack from behind? Do you think your little tricks can escape those Byakugan eyes of his? Do you really think Hyuga Ritsu managed to eliminate the Hyuga Clan's Main House and rise to become Clan Head through nothing but luck?"

Aburame Ryoma snapped sternly.

The man named Yamanaka Kaito was left speechless. He wanted to argue, but with Namikaze Minato as an example, he truly did not dare claim he was stronger than the Yellow Flash.

"Kaito, think carefully about Lord Danzo's order again. What Lord Danzo wants is for Hyuga Ritsu to die plausibly at the hands of the Mist ninja. There cannot be the slightest trace linking it back to us. Hyuga Ritsu's death must have nothing to do with the village!"

"Of course, killing Hyuga Ritsu ourselves and framing the Mist ninja is also an option, but that would require destroying the body and covering every trace flawlessly. The battlefield is too chaotic and unpredictable; it is almost impossible to leave no clues at all. So it would be best if Hyuga Ritsu really died at the hands of the Mist ninja."

Aburame Ryoma's attitude was resolute.

There absolutely could not be any mistakes in this mission. It could even fail, but it could not go wrong. Put simply, it did not matter if they failed to kill Hyuga Ritsu; they could find another chance later. But if they killed Hyuga Ritsu and failed to clear the village of involvement, he would most likely be pushed out as a scapegoat and sent to his death.

That was not an ending Aburame Ryoma wanted. As a ninja, he did not fear death, but he did not want to die burdened by such an infamous charge.

Therefore,

The only one who could kill Hyuga Ritsu was a genuine Mist ninja.

"Yes, I understand."

Yamanaka Kaito lowered his head in reply, the yellow ponytail tied behind his head bobbing along with the motion.

"Then get moving. Go directly to the Shigushan Mountain defensive line. This is the order document prepared for you. You will reinforce the Shigushan Mountain defensive line as a Medical Ninja. Remember, do not do anything unnecessary. While carrying out your duties as a Medical Ninja, use your clan's Sensing Technique to keep a close eye on Hyuga Ritsu and record every one of his movements for me."

Aburame Ryoma handed him a document.

After Yamanaka Kaito left, Aburame Ryoma was the only one remaining in the tent. He returned to his desk and began working diligently. Holding the title of deputy commander gave him the authority to act as he saw fit, but he also had to fulfill his own responsibilities.

However,

Neither Aburame Ryoma nor the insects he kept within his body noticed a pale, wood-ear-like thing beneath the desk slowly sink into the ground and vanish without leaving a single trace.