Eliminate the Third Mizukage!

Aragaki Yasushi put away the Ninja Mask and looked over the other items he'd drawn.

Lo Pei's Talisman Strap.

It looked pretty sturdy. You could say it was useful, but you could also say it wasn't especially meaningful.

If he drew more Talismans later, he could keep them in the strap instead of stuffing them in his pockets and fumbling around for them—and he wouldn't have to worry about accidentally dropping them. It was a practical little accessory.

But then Aragaki Yasushi thought it over and found himself a little unimpressed.

For him, the strap was completely unnecessary.

After transforming into a Paper Person, he could create hollows inside his body and engrave the Talismans directly within them, like Shendu's stone statue—except his body would be fully enclosed. That was much safer than keeping them in a strap, and he wouldn't have to worry about losing them at all.

Aragaki Yasushi looked at the Section 13 Beam Cannon.

This thing packed a serious punch.

He remembered that in the original, it had been used to shatter the Twelve Talismans, kicking off the search for the animals.

But using it against ninja would be overkill.

Ninja weren't idiots. Who would just stand there and let someone shoot them?

By the time he got the cannon set up, his target would probably be long gone.

Still, it might come in handy against a Tailed Beast!

Tailed Beasts were huge. Even if one tried to run, it wouldn't get far.

He could blast the Three-Tails with this cannon a few times and leave it completely dazed.

After thinking it over, Aragaki Yasushi turned and walked out of the room.

The reinforcements would arrive soon, and it was time to put the mission to eliminate the Third Mizukage on the agenda.

As soon as he stepped outside, he ran into Uchiha Shisui, who was hurrying in with a rolled-up intelligence report in his hand. He looked somewhat anxious.

Aragaki Yasushi's eyes lit up, and he went straight over. "Shisui, are the village's reinforcements here?"

"When will they arrive?"

"Is Minato-sensei coming?"

Shisui quickly stopped and handed him the report with both hands. "The village's reinforcements are almost here, Aragaki-sama. They're not far from Kirigakure and should arrive this afternoon."

He paused, then added, "Namikaze-sama didn't come in person, but they brought his specially made Kunai. It can be used with the Flying Thunder God Technique to summon him for support when the time comes."

At that, Aragaki Yasushi's lips curled into a smile.

That was good. The reinforcements would be here soon.

Next, it would be their turn to take action and eliminate that old geezer, the Third Mizukage!

Three thousand points were practically within reach!

Even if he drew from the Permanent Pool, three thousand points would be enough for three ten-pulls.

Maybe he'd even draw a Talisman or a new mask.

Time flew by, and before long, afternoon arrived.

Aragaki Yasushi brought Uchiha Inabi to a clearing in the woods outside Kirigakure, arriving early to await the village's reinforcements.

The two stood still, gazing into the distant mist.

Before long, four figures gradually emerged from the haze, their outlines growing clearer. They were the reinforcements sent by the village.

Aragaki Yasushi narrowed his eyes to get a better look, then froze in surprise and rubbed them.

Was that... Yamanaka Inoichi, Nara Shikaku, and Akimichi Choza?

And Aburame Shibi?

He never would have expected the village to send the old Ino-Shika-Cho trio as reinforcements.

And on top of that, they'd sent Aburame Shibi, the head of the Aburame Clan.

This was quite a formidable lineup.

Aragaki Yasushi marveled to himself.

Had the village really gone all out?

They'd actually sent all of these people.

Akimichi Choza and Aburame Shibi made sense. They often worked with Minato Namikaze on missions.

They seemed to have been on the Kumogakure front already, so it was only natural they'd come.

But why had Yamanaka Inoichi and Nara Shikaku come too?

Yamanaka Inoichi headed Konoha's intelligence division and rarely left the village.

As for Nara Shikaku, he was the Hokage's advisor and spent most of his time by the Third's side, helping that old geezer handle village affairs.

Neither seemed like the type to leave the village for a mission without good reason.

But after thinking it over, Aragaki Yasushi understood.

It made sense. Their opponent was the Third Mizukage, a powerful Kage. He was not to be taken lightly.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio had worked together for so many years that they understood one another perfectly. Their combined strength was far greater than the sum of their individual abilities—one plus one plus one was more than three.

The village leadership had probably sent the three partners together for exactly that reason.

Soon, Aragaki Yasushi and Uchiha Inabi met up with Nara Shikaku and the others, and the atmosphere immediately grew lively.

Nara Shikaku spoke first, his expression composed. "Aragaki, Inabi, you've worked hard gathering intelligence and keeping the situation in check here in Kirigakure. We'll take it from here."

Aragaki Yasushi put on an obedient, agreeable expression. "You're too kind, Nara. It's what we should be doing. Just tell us what you need, and we'll do everything we can to help."

Nara Shikaku nodded and laid out the plan in an orderly fashion. "Let's return to our base in Kirigakure first. I need to meet with Karatachi Yagura again and confirm the timing of the operation."

"Minato is still holding off the enemy on the Kumogakure front and can't get away for now. We'll call him in for support once we actually begin eliminating the Third Mizukage."

Aragaki Yasushi immediately nodded in agreement. "No problem."

He was eager to return to the base, meet with Karatachi Yagura, and settle on a time for the operation.

After all, he could barely wait to get his hands on those points and draw from the Jackie Chan Adventures Permanent Pool.

The group didn't waste time. Using the mist for cover, they quietly returned to their inn in Kirigakure.

They proceeded cautiously the whole way, afraid that the Third Mizukage's people might spot them.

As soon as they got back, Nara Shikaku called over Yamanaka Inoichi and Hyuga Homura.

"We three will meet with Karatachi Yagura. The rest of you stay at the inn and keep watch over our base. Don't go out unless you have to, or you might expose us."

With that, the three hurried out, leaving Aragaki Yasushi, Uchiha Inabi, Uchiha Shisui, Akimichi Choza, and Aburame Shibi behind to wait at the inn.

It wasn't long before Nara Shikaku and the other two returned. They looked relaxed enough, so it seemed the meeting had gone smoothly.

As soon as he entered, Nara Shikaku got straight to the point. "Everyone, we move tonight. We're eliminating the Third Mizukage."

Time flew by, and before long, night had fallen.

The night was dark, and the mist in Kirigakure was thicker than usual. It was the perfect time to act.

Aragaki Yasushi and the others gathered in the inn's common room, all ready to go.

Nara Shikaku looked around at everyone and gave them a stern reminder. "Karatachi Yagura and his people will be the main force in this mission. Our job is to keep the enemy occupied."

"Remember, our priority is to stay alive. Don't do anything reckless."

"If the mission fails, don't get bogged down in a fight. Abandon it and flee Kirigakure. I don't want any of you dying here for nothing."

Everyone nodded and replied in unison, "Understood."

Seeing that they understood, Nara Shikaku nodded and said firmly, "Then let's move!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, no one moved. They all turned to look at Nara Shikaku.

Nara Shikaku took a specially made Kunai engraved with the Flying Thunder God Mark from his pocket.

The next moment, a golden figure appeared before them in a flash.

It was Minato Namikaze.

He wore a bright, cheerful smile, showing no sign that they were about to assassinate the Kage of another village. He looked more like the friendly older brother next door.

Minato Namikaze looked around at everyone and asked lightly, "Are we ready to move?"

Nara Shikaku nodded, his voice firm. "That's right."