The wilderness was cold and damp. This was Byakuya's first mission outside the village, and he lacked experience. With no one to remind him, he hadn't brought a camping tent.
But he was in a good mood. He'd actually managed to obtain Space-Time Ninjutsu: Summoning Technique from an enemy.
Chewing on a slightly sweet Military Ration Pill, he'd recovered about half his stamina. He sprinted across the open plain, hoping to find somewhere he could take shelter for a while.
He planned to rest until tomorrow, then hunt down the remaining enemies once his stamina had fully recovered.
He had to admit, the information for this Root Organization mission was terribly wrong. Those weren't wandering ninja at all—they were bounty hunters from the Bounty Exchange.
The mission's difficulty had increased several times over.
The map he'd seized only highlighted the facilities in the rear. Everything else was marked with little more than a few towns, forests, and roads. Where he was now, there were nothing but mountains and trees all around.
After crossing a forest, he gazed into the distance by the faint moonlight. Mountains surrounded him, and wisps of smoke rose from a village.
Before reaching the village, he tucked the Shuten-dōji Mask inside his coat, then knocked on someone's door.
After explaining why he was there, he offered five hundred ryo for food and lodging. The family welcomed Byakuya in without hesitation.
He ate a hot meal that tasted awful. Staying cautious, he didn't sleep deeply, and heard a rooster crow while he drifted in and out of sleep.
He got up and headed straight for the Military Ration Pill research base.
His stamina still hadn't fully recovered, but it was close. The same went for his chakra.
He brought up the Fate Grid Panel.
Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success Limited time: 3 days: Practice Storm Release ninjutsu (0/50) Reward: Slight increase in ninjutsu talent
He'd been hoping for a Fate Grid mission that would improve his ninjutsu talent, and now one had appeared.
But this wasn't the time to practice Storm Release. He should hurry and complete the Root Organization mission that Hiroya, that old schemer, had given him. After all, he really did need the nourishment of "Konoha's Root."
Adjusting his pace to match his stamina, Byakuya put aside all distractions and headed straight for the Military Ration Pill research base.
Meanwhile, two Root Organization ninja wearing animal masks had arrived at the Ninja Tool Research Branch.
They crouched beside the bounty hunters' bodies, which had been blown beyond recognition by Explosive Tags.
"The identity tags and Bounty Exchange mission for those two Anteater Bounty Group ninja have been taken."
"Let's take a look inside the research branch."
The two searched the area but found nothing of note. Even the traces of fighting outside the basement weren't worth examining. The ninja had merely used Shadow Clones to test each other.
"Adding the two Anteater Bounty Group ninja we killed at the Military Ration Pill research base, all four Chunin who infiltrated the Land of Fire's rear have been killed. Let's go back and report to our superiors."
"Who do you think killed them at the Ninja Tool Research Branch?"
"It's none of our business."
"Sorry."
The Root Organization ninja wearing the bird mask watched his partner lower his head. "You have no name, no feelings, no past, and no future. All you have is your mission."
The two immediately hurried back to Konoha.
The mission they'd been given this time was nothing more than a warm-up, something they'd handled along the way. Their next assignment would take them to the front against Kumogakure. That was where they'd be tested.
That was because these two nameless Root Organization ninja were among those tasked with investigating the whereabouts of Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
Root knew very little about Yugito. They only knew she was undergoing brutal training in Kumogakure. But other intelligence suggested that Kumogakure might deploy a Jinchuriki on the battlefield.
The reason they suspected it was the Two-Tails rather than the Eight-Tails was that Root didn't believe Kumogakure's Eight-Tails Jinchuriki could control the beast's terrifying power.
Whether that assessment was right or wrong, they would need to send out a large number of people to investigate.
The two trudged back to the village. They ignored the Konoha ninja guarding the gate and went straight to Root's underground base to report to Aburame Tatsuma.
After hearing them out, Aburame Tatsuma nodded. "It's time for you to set out as well."
"Understood."
"Dismissed."
Aburame Tatsuma fell silent for a moment, then found Shimura Danzō and bowed his head. "Lord Danzō, one of Hiroya's external operatives seems to have potential."
He briefly explained the bounty hunters' deaths, along with his own analysis.
"Lord Danzō, we need people right now. He has the strength to kill two Chunin and can handle some of the organization's missions."
Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes, his thoughts unclear. After a long pause, he said slowly, "Have Hiroya come here."
"Understood."
Vice Principal Hiroya came as quickly as he could.
"Who did you assign the wandering ninja mission to?" Danzō asked.
Hiroya was horrified. He secretly wondered if Byakuya had botched the mission. If this implicated him, what could he do? How could he shift the blame?
"Speak."
"This subordinate assigned it to Senkaku Byakuya, the good-for-nothing son of Senkaku Tetsuji."
"Oh? You're not lying to me, are you? You really assigned it to Senkaku Byakuya?"
Hiroya nearly burst into tears. He kowtowed and said, "Lord Danzō, even if you lent this subordinate a hundred bear's gallbladders, I still wouldn't dare lie to you. I absolutely assigned the mission to eliminate the wandering ninja to Senkaku Byakuya."
"I understand. You're dismissed."
"Ah?! Yes, this subordinate obeys."
Hiroya left, his heart pounding with anxiety.
Aburame Tatsuma looked through Byakuya's detailed file. "For him to have killed two Chunin, given the skill he's demonstrated, seems like a pipe dream."
"Senkaku Byakuya... He only just graduated from the Ninja Academy. One mission proves nothing. Perhaps the bounty hunters were careless, or perhaps he was lucky. We should keep watching him."
"My lord, why are you willing to be so patient with this boy?"
Danzō replied slowly, "If his strength were really as recorded in the file, he'd already be a corpse."
"This subordinate doesn't understand what you mean."
Danzō headed for the door. He planned to meet Sarutobi Hiruzen and discuss Kumogakure's Jinchuriki. Konoha was facing unimaginable pressure from the war, and they had to work together. "You don't need to understand what I mean. Just do what I tell you."
Aburame Tatsuma hurriedly dropped to one knee. "This subordinate was wrong."
"Lord Danzō, the latest intelligence from Sunagakure."
Yakushi Nonō had long, pale blond hair and wore round glasses. She hurried over and handed the intelligence to Shimura Danzō.
He broke the seal on the report.
Shimura Danzō skimmed it quickly, then read it again, word by word.
"Although the Third Kazekage is missing, Sunagakure hasn't met its end."
He handed the report to Yakushi Nonō and said, "Sunagakure has managed to stabilize the situation, but they may well try to divert their internal pressure by opening a front elsewhere. Tell our spies in Sunagakure not to expose themselves, and to keep searching for valuable intelligence."
"Understood."
Danzō's figure gradually disappeared down the corridor.
Aburame Tatsuma stepped up beside Yakushi Nonō and looked at the report.
"Rasa of Sunagakure. So he's the one who stepped forward. I remember he also possesses the Third Kazekage's Kekkei Genkai, Magnet Release."
"And there's Pakura. She shouldn't be underestimated either. She possesses the rare Scorch Release."
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