Scheme Within a Scheme

"Mutual destruction? You're overthinking it!"

Brilliant lightning destroyed the Iwa shinobi's internal organs completely. At the same time, the voice in his ears became deep and resonant, and Hatake Sakumo's originally slender figure turned tall and powerfully built.

"Cloud... Shinobi..." the Iwa Jōnin groaned.

"Hmph!" The towering figure snorted. "Hell Rush—Four-Finger Nukite!"

Dazzling lightning flashed, and in an instant, the earth prison crumbled apart!

The figure that rushed out instantly became Hatake Sakumo again. Thunder roared, the White Fang Dagger flashed, and screams and furious roars rose without end. Before long, the shinobi throughout the entire outpost had been killed or wounded.

The next morning.

Three elite Iwa Jōnin squads inspected the Tiequ Mountain outpost.

"Damn the Konoha White Fang!" A red-faced Iwa shinobi clutched a young corpse on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

The body on the ground belonged to his younger brother. He had rushed here as soon as he received the intelligence last night, only to find a field of corpses when he arrived this morning.

The leader of the shinobi investigating the scene was Shū, a Blast Release user. He had brought two elites from the demolition unit and commanded the entire investigation team.

"What did the inspection reveal?" Shū asked with a solemn expression.

"Captain, the enemy was likely an expert in Lightning Release Ninjutsu and swordsmanship. Earth Style Hardening Jutsu offered almost no chance of defense. Everyone was killed in a single strike. However, after Jōnin Tsuchikai died, someone destroyed his brain."

"Also, all the Refined Iron stored in the Mine was looted. The ordinary workers were all caught in genjutsu and discovered nothing. We suspect there was another squad specifically responsible for transportation!"

Even with Sealing Scrolls, it would have taken seven or eight shinobi to transport all the ore from the mining area. Clearly, one person could not have done it.

Shū came to Jōnin Tsuchikai's corpse. Looking at the remnants of the earth prison beside him, his expression changed. "This is... Inner Earth Prison Tomb? Even this technique was broken?"

The entire earth prison had been wrecked beyond recognition. It was impossible to tell what ninjutsu had destroyed it.

Looking at Tsuchikai's wide-open eyes and terrified expression, Shū slowly reached out and closed them, muttering, "What exactly did you see?"

Iwagakure.

"So, you suspect there's something wrong with this matter?" Two-Headed Oonoki sat in his chair, his face grave and his gaze sharp.

This Mine incident had enraged him beyond measure, but now he had to calm down to avoid making the wrong judgment.

"That's right. Although the outpost's initial call for help claimed that the Konoha White Fang was attacking, for a star shinobi like Hatake Sakumo to directly assault a Mine in the Land of Earth would be an outright declaration of hostilities. It really doesn't seem like Konoha's style."

Shū had a long, thin face, and with his spiky hair, he did not look particularly intelligent. In truth, however, he was quite shrewd.

"Do you have evidence?" Ōnoki remained unmoved. After serving as Tsuchikage for over a decade, he had learned to conceal his emotions.

"No direct evidence." Shū shook his head. "The murderer cleaned up thoroughly and even destroyed Tsuchikai's brain because he had discovered something. But that very attempt at concealment is proof in itself."

"So you think the Cloud Shinobi did it?" Ōnoki suddenly asked.

"Lord Tsuchikage shares the same view? That's right. Those skilled in Lightning Release Ninjutsu and swordsmanship include the Cloud Shinobi as well!" Shū said excitedly.

"Furthermore, Tiequ Mountain is close to the Land of Lightning, making it convenient for the Cloud Shinobi to act. Most importantly, all the Refined Iron from Tiequ Mountain was looted!"

"A master like the Konoha White Fang being able to evade Iwagakure's Intelligence Network and enter the heart of the Land of Earth doesn't surprise me. But if an ordinary shinobi squad, carrying a large number of Sealing Scrolls, could also move freely through the Land of Earth, that would be pure fantasy! Only the Land of Lightning, which borders Tiequ Mountain, could accomplish such a thing!"

Ōnoki fell silent for a moment. "Where is the evidence?"

It was as if Shū had been doused with a bucket of cold water. He gave a bitter smile. "There is no evidence."

"Without evidence, Konoha did this, and only Konoha could have done this. Do you understand?" Ōnoki stared Shū down and spoke in a low voice.

"...I understand." Shū's reply was dry and hoarse.

Seeing this, Ōnoki could not help sighing. "I know the Cloud Shinobi most likely did it, but Konoha is putting more and more pressure on us. If we clash with the Cloud Shinobi now, Iwagakure will truly never have another chance to catch up!"

"Are we just going to let this go?" Shū could not help retorting.

"Of course we won't let it go! We fear Konoha and dare not start a major conflict, but do the Cloud Shinobi not fear Konoha as well? If we make no response and simply swallow this humiliation, the Cloud Shinobi may push their luck and go even further," Ōnoki said coldly. "But we cannot openly tear relations apart with the Cloud Shinobi. Didn't they impersonate Hatake Sakumo? I recall Konoha has an Earth Release expert named Orochimaru!"

"I understand." Shū's expression immediately brightened. "As expected of Lord Tsuchikage!"

Ōnoki smiled. "This is called returning the favor in kind! If the Cloud Shinobi do not want to tear relations apart with us, they will have to swallow this silent loss. It will also make Iwagakure's stance clear..."

"Lord Tsuchikage! Urgent intelligence!" Before Ōnoki could finish, an Anbu rushed in frantically and pulled out an expedited Intelligence Scroll.

Ōnoki frowned, took the intelligence from the Anbu, and rapidly scanned it.

"Damn it! Those barbaric bastards!" Ōnoki suddenly shot to his feet. Powerful Chakra erupted from him, and the terrifying pressure left the half-kneeling Anbu unable to breathe for a moment.

Shū, standing nearby, was greatly startled. He had no idea why Lord Tsuchikage was so furious.

Ōnoki seemed to calm down somewhat. He withdrew his pressure, handed the intelligence to Shū, and gestured for the half-kneeling Anbu to leave. "You take a look too."

Shū opened the Intelligence Scroll, and his eyes narrowed. "It's actually... the Konoha White Fang again. He hit three of our outposts! Have those barbarians gone mad?"

"They haven't gone mad! Their appetite is enormous!" Ōnoki's expression was grim. "Look at this 'Konoha White Fang's' route. Can't you see it yet?"

"This is... the Tianhuang Mountain Range? He's heading toward Konoha along the Tianhuang Mountain Range?" Shū asked in confusion.

"Hmph, you still don't understand?" Ōnoki said coldly. "Kumogakure wants to occupy the Tianhuang Mountain Range. For Kumogakure, that terrain is the ideal position for an invasion of the Land of Fire!"

"First, they remove our Land of Earth outposts, then they attack Konoha from there. Once they launch their offensive against Konoha, it will be difficult for Iwagakure to intervene," Ōnoki said through gritted teeth. "But do they think they can take advantage of Iwagakure so easily? Those barbarians are dreaming!"

"This time, I will personally hunt down this 'Konoha White Fang'!"