Hozuki Sengetsu's hunt happened to be witnessed by Araki, who had run over intending to jump into the river.
Splash!
The sudden sound of water startled Hozuki Sengetsu as well, having just finished his misdeed.
"Who's there?"
He instantly used the Hydrification Technique, drifting a considerable distance backward before turning to look behind him.
Now that he was in the water, the Wind King Barrier naturally lost its effect, and Araki and Mangetsu came into Hozuki Sengetsu's view.
"Why are you two here too? Did you get the Sword of the Thunder God?"
Hozuki Sengetsu had only asked casually, mainly intending to show off the three pairs of Byakugan he had just acquired.
Yet to his surprise, Araki actually pulled a sword hilt-shaped object from his robes, gave it a shake, and said calmly:
"Yeah, I got it."
Hozuki Sengetsu: ...
He looked at the hilt in Araki's hand, then recalled the three pairs of Byakugan he had acquired so easily just moments ago. A bold idea immediately arose in his heart.
So Konoha's defenses really were nothing but a façade?
They could just take whatever they wanted?
Then...
Could they perhaps set their sights on the legendary Scroll of Seals, which recorded all of Konoha's forbidden techniques?
And the Nine-Tails...
Since White Fang of the Leaf could release the Six-Tails in Mist Village, wouldn't releasing the Nine-Tails in Konoha be perfectly normal reciprocation?
As one mad plan after another flashed through his mind, Araki's voice rang out again. "Lord Sengetsu, we need to leave. There's a Konoha Anbu with a dog following me."
"Were you discovered?"
Hozuki Sengetsu was pulled back to reality. He shook his head, dispelling those impractical fantasies, then frowned. "Since you've obtained the Sword of the Thunder God and I've gotten the Byakugan, our gains