What a coincidence, Lord Daimyo!

After setting up the Lightning Rod on the northwest coast, Tōka and Kisame planned to head to the agreed-upon location in Kumogakure to meet the others.

At this moment, huge waves rolled in, the tall gunwales of the ship broke through the water, and the water flowed out in streamlines to both sides.

"A ship?" Kisame sensed that Tōka had stopped and followed Tōka's gaze, seeing a luxurious and enormous cruise ship emerging from the haze on the sea.

"The ship of the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning!" Tōka's vision could see further, the cruise ship's flags and its flamboyant attire, and the four escort ships.

Aside from the Daimyō's travels, Tōka couldn't think of anyone else in the Land of Lightning who would have such a grand entourage.

Upon hearing this, Kisame narrowed his Sharks- like eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them, as if he were pondering how to take advantage of this chance encounter.

"It seems we can now openly go to Kumogakure." Tōka's lips curled up slightly, revealing a strange smile.

"Yes, indeed!" Kisame grinned, revealing a set of chilling shark teeth that exuded a menacing aura.

A strange fluctuation rippled through the space, and the figures of Tōka and Kisame gradually disappeared into the Void, their auras fading away and vanishing on the shore in the blink of an eye.

Kumogakure, Raikage Building.

"Lord Raikage! Kirigakure..." Raikage's assistant, Samui, hurriedly pushed open the door and rushed into the Raikage's office.

"What's wrong? You're so impulsive, this isn't like you, Samui." The Raikage sat upright in a large chair, calmly watching the blonde beauty rush in.

"I'm sorry." Samui took a deep breath to calm her heaving chest before slowly saying, "Kirigakure Hozuki Mangetsu has quietly left."

"Hozuki Mangetsu is gone?" The Raikage suddenly stood up, slamming his two thick hands on the table, causing the documents on the table to jump.

Even the smallest movement carried immense force, nearly splitting the table in two.

The Kirigakure team was still on the front lines of the Cloud Gorge Chunin Ninja Exams. How could Hozuki Mangetsu, as the Jonin the team, have simply left without a word?

The situation smelled of conspiracy, and the Raikage wasn't stupid; his sense of smell was extremely sharp!

The Raikage stared intently at Samui, his expression tense, and asked in a low voice, "What exactly happened? Where did Hozuki Mangetsu go?"

"According to the report from the Anbu, Hozuki Mangetsu was last seen in the southwest of the village." Without concrete information, Samui dared not speculate.

However, the Raikage immediately understood Samui's implied meaning.

It's very likely that Hozuki Mangetsu has Land of Fire!

Why would you run to the Land of Fire at a time like this?

"Send one Elite Squad, no, send two Elite Squad to search for Hozuki Mangetsu's whereabouts. If they discover any ill intentions, eliminate them on the spot!" The Raikage was an impatient man, and he preferred to nip danger in the bud.

Samui was not surprised at all by the Raikage's order.

She respectfully responded and turned to leave, her mind now preoccupied with deciding which two Elite Squad to send to pursue Hozuki Mangetsu.

The Hozuki Clan's Water Transformation Technique grants immunity to physical attacks, but it is countered by Lightning Release.

Not long after Samui left, another Cloud Ninja rushed in, abandoning even the most basic knocking etiquette.

"What's going on? Why are you in such a panic?!" Raikage had just picked up a Scroll and Mirai read the first word when he was interrupted, his dark face immediately darkening.

The sound was like a booming bell. The Cloud Ninja had barged into the Raikage's Office straightened up and quickly slowed his pace to the desk.

The Cloud Ninja presented a letter with both hands, saying, "This is a letter from the Daimyō."

"Your Daimyō?" Raikage frowned in displeasure and reached out to take the letter.

Although the relationship between the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning and the Kumogakure is relatively harmonious, unlike the Daimyō of the Land of Wind who deliberately reduces the village's funding.

However, the Raikage still didn't really like this guy.

The Raikage finds the Daimyō troublesome, and not only the Daimyō, but also the accompanying officials!

An ominous premonition rose in the Raikage's heart, and he unfolded the letter with his broad hand...

"As expected! The Daimyō is coming to observe this year's Chunin Ninja Exams!"

Upon seeing the few lines of text on the letter, the Raikage felt terrible. Dealing with Daimyō was the thing he hated most!

Those fat, big-eared guys are always looking for trouble, and they're always causing a lot of trouble.

"Where 'Samui? Have her receive the Daimyō and his entourage." The Raikage immediately thought of his capable assistant; the Daimyō and his group absolutely had to be shaken off!

"Samui just went out," the Cloud Ninja glanced cautiously at the Raikage and replied in a low voice.

"What?" Raikage's eyelids twitched, a bad thought flashing through his mind. Could that guy have personally joined the pursuit of Hozuki Mangetsu?

"That..."

A hesitant voice interrupted the Raikage's thoughts.

The Raikage subconsciously glanced at the Cloud Ninja in front of his desk.

"The Daimyō and his men have already entered the village." The Cloud Ninja a chill run down his spine under the Raikage's gaze; he was just a messenger!

"What?! We're here?!" The Raikage's voice inexplicably rose dozens of decibels.

With a Body Flicker Technique, he flashed to the window, looking down over the mountains and onto the main street leading into the village.

Just as expected!

A group of people, carrying flags high, marched in with great fanfare toward the center of Kumogakure, their grand procession almost completely filling the nearly three-zhang-long avenue!

"Holy shit!" Raikage couldn't help but curse.

Daimyō showed up so suddenly, he didn't even have time to shift the blame!

Raikage's eyelids twitched; there was no way to dodge now, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it.

Let's go.

Where to go?

"Of course, we're welcoming the Daimyō!"

"..."

As the Daimyō arrived, the villagers of Kumogakure quickly moved aside on both sides of the road. A group of tall, burly men approached from a distance.

Hidden in the middle of the group, Tōka immediately sensed the Raikage's frenzied chakra.

Raikage didn't give off the feeling of a human being, but rather like a ferocious beast about to break free of its cage, exuding a powerful and frenzied aura.

"What should we do? The Raikage is incredibly cunning." Kisame, who was using Disguise Technique, exchanged glances with Tōka.

"Don't worry, the Six Harmonies Divine Technique is no ordinary Genjutsu." Tōka followed behind the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning with a calm expression.

Neither the Genjutsu cast on the Daimyō nor the Disguise Technique applied to himself were ordinary abilities.

At least, someone of Raikage's skill level wouldn't be able to tell!

Kisame silently withdrew his gaze and followed the group forward Budong.

The two sides stood still on the central street, with the Raikage and his group looking expressionlessly at the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.

"Raikage, there's no need to be so formal. I'm quite familiar with Kumogakure." The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, completely oblivious to his surroundings, said with a smile.

"Should the Daimyō rest first or..." The Raikage's lips twitched. I don't want to see you!

"Where are we in the Chunin Ninja Exams right now?" The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning looked around, his eyes filled with excitement.

"The Chunin Ninja Exams started with the battle at Cloud Gorge." The Raikage sighed helplessly, resigned to being stuck with such a Daimyō...

"Then I'll take a stroll around the village now," Daimyō said after a moment's thought.

"Whatever makes you happy." The Raikage nodded and winked at the Cloud Ninja beside him, signaling them to protect the Daimyō's safety.

After a brief exchange, the Raikage left.

The Raikage didn't really want to see the Daimyō in the first place and was eager to leave as soon as possible, while the Daimyō was happy to be free after the Raikage left.

After being reinforced with a Daimyō number of Elite Squad of Cloud Ninja guards, the Daimyo and his party continued towards the center of Kumogakure.

Tōka and Kisame followed closely behind. The two, disguised as guards of Daimyō, exchanged a glance, a cunning glint in their eyes.

Having the Daimyō wander the streets is a better way for them to investigate the distribution of power in Kumogakure.

No Anbu hidden in various places can escape Tōka's eyes. Only by controlling everything can the Lightning Prison Plan be better implemented!

Sudden!

"Wait!" Tōka paused and called out.

The entire group moved in sync with the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning, and as a mere guard, I instantly attracted the attention of the whole group.

Tōka glanced at the Daimyō, and the mysterious Mental Energy he felt was awe-inspiring.

"What's all the noise about? You're such a killjoy!" Daimyō waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away a fly, and said, "Get out of here, I don't want to see you!"

Seeing this, Kisame curled his lips into a cold smile, then released his grip on Samehada's handle.

His tense nerves relaxed, and he knew that Tōka must have used Genjutsu on the Daimyō in order to get him away from the group.

Kisame didn't know Tōka was planning, but he chose to Budong.

Whatever Tōka's plans were, he would secretly pass on information to Kisame; if he didn't, it meant he didn't need to take any action.

Obeying the Daimyō's orders, Tōka Budong walked to the back of the group.

In the Daimyō line of daimyo, apart from the group surrounding the Daimyō, the others are easily overlooked by the crowd.

Especially a lowly guard who angered the Daimyō and was punished.

Taking advantage of the increased crowd and the chaos, Tōka vanished from his spot in a flash, completely unnoticed by those around him, who would have missed the presence of a mere guard in the crowd.

Leaving Daimyō's group, Tōka slipped into a rocky canyon.

The towering mountain peaks were surrounded by white clouds, like wisps of morning mist blurring the vision.

Serene, lofty, and aloof—these are the most accurate descriptions of the many mountains within the Land of Lightning, with secluded paths winding around these towering peaks.

Nestled in a secluded mountain valley.

Tōka opened his Tenseigan with a gloomy expression. Everything around him was reflected in his pupils. After confirming that no one was approaching within a one-kilometer radius, he...

The Tenseigan's Puppet Technique is activated.

Hozuki Mangetsu's perspective suddenly came into view, and as they got closer to the Land of Fire, the terrain of the Land of Lightning gradually became flatter.

The Forest gradually increased in number and became dense and lush.

Hozuki Mangetsu, who was leaping through the Forest, suddenly stopped, and then an Ice Blue halo appeared in his eyes.

Tōka has already taken over control of Hozuki Mangetsu's body.

The Tenseigan has the ability to wirelessly control puppets. The controlled puppets possess self-awareness and can also control the mind and actions of others, obtaining information from their brains.

In a short time, Tōka quickly scanned through the information in Hozuki Mangetsu's mind...

"Not only are we surrounded, but we haven't even properly installed the Lightning Rod!" Tōka spat out, his face grim.

It seems that Hozuki Mangetsu's instincts are not yet completely controlled by Tōka.

The power of the Tenseigan's restraints have weakened? A hint of doubt flashed in Tōka's eyes. Was it because of the seal?

All the power of the Tenseigan is used to convert the Natural Energy within the seal, which is why the Puppet Technique is weakened?

"Never mind that for now, the most important thing is to Lightning Rod in place!" Tōka guessed that Kimimaro Squad and Sasori's team had already put the remaining Lightning Rod in the designated locations.

This Lightning Rod in the southwest of the Land of Lightning is the last one!

Whoosh!

Tōka controlled Hozuki Mangetsu to directly transform into water, which then seeped into the depths of the earth.

The four figures that were in hot pursuit suddenly stopped on the tree trunk.

"Wait, their aura has vanished!" said the Cloud Ninja Sensor Ninja in charge of tracking them, his expression serious.

"Disappeared?" Samui, stared at the surrounding area.

Didn't you just say it was only a hundred steps or so? Why did it suddenly disappear? Does the Hozuki Clan of Kirigakure have Secret Technique for concealment?

The Cloud Ninja Sensor Ninja the surroundings, closed their eyes, and slowly released chakra from their bodies, forming an invisible detection net as they searched intently for Hozuki Mangetsu's whereabouts.

Everything the Cloud Ninja did was clearly presented in Tōka's vision. The power of the Tenseigan lies in its broader vision and insight than the Byakugan!

Perception?

Apart from Mind's Eye of the Kagura, no other Sensory Technique can compare to Tōka's Tenseigan.

"Hurry up and finish the mission. As for this puppet, since it's disobedient, let's just discard it." Tōka controlled the water-transformed Hozuki Mangetsu and quickly left.

The Cloud Ninja's Sensor Ninja were caught off guard, as the Sensory Technique spread across the entire ground.

I believe that within a few minutes, once the other party figures it out, they will immediately realize where Hozuki Mangetsu is.

Therefore, Tōka had to Lightning Rod into the designated location as soon as possible, and then be "discovered" by the opponent's Sensory Technique, which would lure all the Cloud Ninja away.

The water moves silently through the soil...

Soon, Tōka widened the gap between Cloud Ninja Samui squad.

Meanwhile, from another direction, the Cloud Ninja stationed at the border, after receiving Samui's message, also dispatched a small team to flank them.

Hozuki Mangetsu was now caught in a pincer movement.

Sensing the four approaching presences, Tōka couldn't be sure if they had discovered Hozuki Mangetsu, who was hidden underground.

He dared not be careless, seeing the Cloud Ninja squad charging straight at him like that.

If any one of the six Lightning Rod is missing, the power of the Lightning Prison Jutsu Formula will be greatly reduced.

A sharp glint flashed in Tōka's eyes, an invisible killing intent emanating from him. "The approaching Cloud Ninja squad can't be avoided, let's just take them out!"

Glug glug...

From the earth, a pool of clear water seeps out.

"Halt! There's something ahead!" The leader of the Cloud Ninja immediately noticed Hozuki Mangetsu's presence and raised his arm, clenching his fist to signal everyone to stop.

Swish swish swish!!

The four Cloud Ninja reacted with lightning speed, instantly scattering and finding the nearest hidden place to take cover!

A somber atmosphere permeated the air, enveloping the entire Small Woods...

Battle is about to break out!