We Are All Time Bombs

"They didn't follow?"

The Great Sword: Samehada opened its abyss-like maw and spat out Suikazan Fuguki with considerable difficulty. It was clear that Suikazan Fuguki's plump physique was not easy for Samehada to swallow or spit out.

Suikazan Fuguki, covered in dripping mucus, wiped his face and looked around. He saw palm trees, sandy beaches, reefs and waves, and the endless azure ocean.

They were on a beach somewhere.

"No."

Hozuki Mangetsu, crouching under a palm tree, said lazily, "They didn't chase at all!"

"They didn't chase?"

Suikazan Fuguki scanned his surroundings. Besides him and Hozuki Mangetsu, the remaining dozen or so subordinates were also gathered around.

"We suffered heavy losses!"

Suikazan Fuguki sighed.

"You brought this upon yourself, didn't you?"

"That's right. I underestimated that kid named Hyuga Ritsu. I didn't expect him to not only possess two Kekkei Genkai but also have such a massive amount of Chakra. This was my miscalculation."

Suikazan Fuguki didn't shirk responsibility, directly admitting that he made the wrong judgment, which led to the needless loss of his subordinates' lives.

However—

He gripped the hilt of the Great Sword: Samehada, gritting his teeth, "But next time, I'll send him to the underworld to accompany my subordinates!"

Hozuki Mangetsu pouted.

Logically speaking, Suikazan Fuguki should bear the responsibility for his wrong decision that led to the deaths of so many Kirigakure Shinobi comrades. But in reality, many things don't happen according to logic and rules.

This matter was just left at that.

Could they really trouble Suikazan Fuguki, one of the village's top experts, because of a group of dead people?

Suikazan Fuguki would still be able to lead a large team to continue his operations next time.

"And although the losses were unexpectedly high, it wasn't without gain. We did gather information on Hyuga Ritsu, who possesses both the Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai. I believe the Mizukage and those battle-crazed members of the Kaguya Clan would be interested in this!"

Suikazan Fuguki pondered, "Next time we hunt Hyuga Ritsu, we can ask the Mizukage to send some experts, preferably including you, Mangetsu. The Kaguya Clan could also send a few experts. This lineup should be enough to deal with Hyuga Ritsu."

"Assuming there is a next time!"

Hozuki Mangetsu couldn't help but pour cold water on his plans, saying, "You caused such a huge commotion this time. Hyuga Ritsu, unless he's an idiot, will definitely sense something is wrong. It will be difficult to get another opportunity like this."

"That's not something you or I need to worry about. Some people in Konoha might be more eager to eliminate Hyuga Ritsu than we are. They'll naturally try their best to find a way. All we need to do is gather our strength and act immediately when we get news."

Suikazan Fuguki didn't care about Hozuki Mangetsu's pessimism. He believed that the people in Konohagakure wouldn't disappoint him.

Especially Shimura Danzō. That old man would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. They had cooperated before, more than once, and had used those opportunities to kill more than one Konoha ninja.

Hearing this, Hozuki Mangetsu was speechless.

A moment later, he finally said, "Let's go find the Mizukage first! This matter needs the Mizukage's decision."

In front of the precarious earth fort on the mountaintop, watching the remaining eight Konoha ninja guarding the area and the Medical Ninja named Yamanaka Kaito cleaning up the battlefield below, collecting the bodies of the Kirigakure Shinobi.

Uchiha Shisui pursed his lips, his eyes dim and lifeless, and he subconsciously murmured, "Senior Ritsu, it's a miracle the Shigushan Mountain defense line held on until now!"

This was clearly sarcasm.

"Truly miraculous."

Hyuga Ritsu nodded.

With the combat power of the Kirigakure Shinobi, it should have been a matter of minutes to break through the Shigushan Mountain defense line. Yet, the defense line, though precarious, had held on until their arrival.

Undoubtedly, this was a trap.

A trap set for him... Wait!

Hyuga Ritsu suddenly looked at Uchiha Shisui. The Uchiha Clan's number one genius had a gloomy expression and was in low spirits, as if he had been betrayed.

His eyes darted, and an idea formed in his mind. He asked, "Shisui, who do you think dragged whom down this time?"

"Huh? Senior Ritsu, what do you mean?"

"Don't tell me you haven't realized this is a trap? Someone colluded with the Kirigakure Shinobi, sold our intelligence, and set this trap for the prey to walk right into. I just don't know if the prey is you, or me, or if we're both their prey."

Uchiha Shisui remained silent, unable to speak.

All his energy had been focused on the battle before, leaving no time to ponder the situation today. But now that the Kirigakure Shinobi had retreated and there was no longer a need to concentrate and stay on high alert, he could no longer ignore this abnormal situation.

After more than ten seconds, Uchiha Shisui forced a smile, "Senior Ritsu, maybe it's just a coincidence! How could someone collude with the Kirigakure Shinobi?"

"How could it not be possible? Shisui, don't deceive yourself! Politicians have no bottom line. They'll do anything to achieve their goals."

Hyuga Ritsu stared at the people cleaning up the battlefield below and said, "This time, it was both of our luck. The Kirigakure Shinobi underestimated our strength, so we managed to turn the tables and break the trap. But next time, if the Kirigakure Shinobi know our whereabouts in advance and set up a net, do you think we'll survive?"

Uchiha Shisui remained silent.

"However, I think I might have dragged you down this time. Certain people in the village must want me dead, so they sold my information to the Kirigakure Shinobi, and specifically sent the prodigy of the Hozuki Clan to annoy us. If it weren't for you, Shisui, this time, I would have either died here or failed the mission and faced accountability upon my return."

Hyuga Ritsu didn't press further. Instead, he took a step back, actively helping Uchiha Shisui disengage, and attributed the reason to himself.

But this only made Uchiha Shisui's eyes widen. He hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back, before finally asking, "Ritsu-senpai, who in this village would want to harm you?"

"You must have heard how I became the Clan Head of our Hyuga Clan, right?"

"Th-this..."

"The adults in the village didn't like the way I took power. They thought I was like your Uchiha Clan, an uncontrollable time bomb. They wanted to dismantle me like they wanted to dismantle the Uchiha Clan. Isn't that perfectly normal?" Hyuga Ritsu said with a smile.

Uchiha Shisui's eyes widened. Was Ritsu-senpai mocking himself, or was he taunting and ridiculing their Uchiha Clan?