Hoshigakure's Friendship?

"You're not a formal member of the organization anymore, so we have no obligation to handle your personal matters."

Hearing Kakuzu's words, Akahoshi's face turned bright red.

"How can this be a personal matter? That star is the most precious treasure of our Hoshigakure! If I can obtain it, my strength will increase dramatically, and my contribution to the organization will be even greater! This will also benefit you!"

"Benefits?" Kakuzu scoffed. "I only care about tangible benefits. You say you can become stronger, that's a matter for the future."

"Helping you seize the village's treasure requires us to invest time and take risks now. What if it attracts the attention of other ninja villages—" He shook his head, "It's not worth it."

Hiruko coldly from the sidelines, finally spoke slowly, "You need to understand that the organization is currently in the eye of the storm. Konoha has spread our information throughout the entire Ninja World, and every ninja village is watching us."

At this point, to attack a ninja village and steal its priceless heirloom for a candidate who hasn't even officially joined yet—

It's too conspicuous.

"You—" Akahoshi clenched his fist, his Chakra subtly fluctuating around him, a special energy with a dark purple glow.

Kakuzu's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Want to fight? You can try. Let me see if your power, cultivated through external means, can withstand my Ninjutsu."

The atmosphere froze.

Akahoshi's chest heaved violently, and finally, he loosened his fist.

He wasn't stupid; if those two really fought, he had no chance of winning.

"Then... what do you want in return for your help?" Akahoshi asked through gritted teeth.

Kakuzu's green eyes narrowed.

Hiruko was very familiar with that expression—it was the look on someone's face when they saw their prey step into a trap.

"It's simple," Kakuzu. "Since you're not a full member now, there's no 'companionship and mutual assistance' relationship between us. But there can be another kind of relationship—" He paused, "An employer-employee relationship."

Akahoshi was stunned. "Hire?"

"You, in your personal capacity, have hired the two of us to assist you in seizing the Hoshigakure's most precious treasure."

Kakuzu's voice was as calm as if he were discussing the weather, "We'll provide a price based on the difficulty of the mission and the time required. You pay, we provide the service. Payment is made, and neither party owes the other anything."

Hiruko's smile deepened. "What a greedy Senior man, Kakuzu."

Akahoshi clearly realized this as well. His expression shifted, and finally he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth. "----How much?"

Kakuzu called out a number.

Akahoshi gasped, "This... this is almost all my savings!"

"You can refuse." Kakuzu turned, as if to leave. "We're busy. Chief Pain asked me to recruit new people, but we don't have time to waste on unprofitable things."

"Wait!" Akahoshi called out to him, his face pale. "I—I agree. But I don't have that much cash right now. Could you—pay half first, and the other half after it's done?"

Kakuzu turned around, stared at him for a few seconds, and slowly nodded. "Okay. But a contract must be signed. If you breach the contract—" He didn't finish his sentence, but the coldness in his eyes said it all.

"I understand." Akahoshi nodded dejectedly.

"Well then," Hiruko finally spoke again, a hint of amusement in his voice, "It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Akahoshi. I hope that star from your Hoshigakure is as valuable as the legends say."

For a week, aside from practicing Sage Mode, most of his time was spent traveling.

Taiichi, carrying Itachi, Jiangtai, Yami, and the Nine-Tails clinging to his shoulder, traveled through the Land of Rain, passed through the Land of Birds, and finally arrived at the Land of Bears.

Considering the time involved, this far exceeds the marching speed of ordinary ninjas.

If Taiichi didn't frequently use the Flying Thunder God for long-distance movement, it would be extremely difficult for him to move so swiftly.

According to intelligence, Taiichi and his group went straight to the small town located on the outskirts of the canyon, adjacent to a major transportation route.

The town is small, and the buildings are mostly constructed of wood and rough stone, exuding the ruggedness and simplicity of a remote area.

Upon arrival, they did not delay and immediately began their investigation.

Fortunately, it didn't last long, and the townspeople still remembered the two teams of Konoha Ninja had recently rested and recuperated here.

According to a hotel owner, both groups simply checked in after a long journey, stayed overnight to replenish their food and water, and left normally the next morning, without any particular or noticeable behavior.

The trail seemed to have gone cold, and the group was at a loss for what to do.

Just as Taiichi was pondering whether to expand the search area or use more unconventional methods, an unfamiliar ninja took the initiative to walk from the street corner, his gaze clearly falling on them, who were obviously outsiders.

The three little ones went on alert almost instantly.

Although it wasn't outwardly obvious, the three of them had already subtly shifted their positions, forming a loose triangle with Taiyi positioned prominently in the center and Taiichi forward. This ensured that they were in a position that wouldn't interfere with the teacher's ability to perform at any time, while also being able to effectively monitor their surroundings and provide support as needed.

This tacit understanding was naturally formed through their cultivation and Taiichi's teachings.

The visitor was none other than Hotarubi, who had been in town for two days.

He wore Hoshigakure Headband, his face showing signs of fatigue and anxiety. He had originally estimated that the Konoha investigators would take at least a few more days to arrive, but he hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly.

Before Hotarubi could even get close, he proactively revealed his identity. He wasn't stupid; the other party was clearly already wary of him.

After a brief introduction, the two learned that the man before them was none other than Konoha's "White Reaper," Taichi Matsushita. Hotarubi was taken aback, and his attitude became even more solemn.

He immediately stated his purpose, representing the Third Hoshikage of Hoshigakure, declaring that this matter had nothing to do with Hoshigakure and that he was willing to fully assist in the investigation. He also revealed the preliminary results of his investigation over the past two days.

Unlike Taiichi and his group who were newcomers, he had already roughly determined the area where the two Konoha teams last disappeared through visits and tracking.

This undoubtedly saves a lot of time.

Taiichi nodded his thanks without saying anything more, and then gestured for Hotarubi to lead the way.

The group left the town and ventured into the dense forest not far from the town. About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at a clearing in the woods.

The terrain here is relatively flat, and the vegetation shows signs of being trampled and impacted by force. Although some time has passed, the traces of battle still remain in the eyes of those who are observant.

"This is it." Hotarubi pointed to the open space. "I found this place based on the clues. Judging from the marks, they had a fight before they disappeared. However—" He shook his head, looking ashamed, "I couldn't find any clear clues pointing to the killer."

Taiichi did not immediately offer his opinion; his gaze slowly swept across the entire area as if scanning it.

"Let's begin," he said calmly, then stepped into the center of the open space.

The three little ones followed closely behind, while the Nine-Tails leaped off his shoulder, its small nose twitching slightly in the air, its golden eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

The following scene made Hotarubi deeply realize the difference in "foundation" between a major ninja village and a minor ninja village.

The gap lies not only in individual ability, but also in a whole system of knowledge, experience and inheritance.

Taiichi, with his three children, began a thorough investigation of the scene, much like the most sophisticated instruments.

Some of the traces they examined were things that Hotarubi had seen but hadn't paid attention to, while many more were subtle details that he had completely overlooked or had never noticed before.

What impressed Hotarubi even more was Taiichi's teaching method.

At each location he inspected, he would explain in a low voice to his three apprentices, as if he were not investigating a crime scene, but conducting an outdoor practical lesson.

"Look here." Taiichi squatted down and pointed to a relatively clear patch of muddy ground where many footprints were interspersed. "Carefully examine the patterns of these footprints. This specific anti-slip groove pattern is unique to our Konoha standard ninja shoes."

Based on size and depth, they can be roughly divided into four different specifications, which perfectly match the size configuration of a standard four-person team.

He gestured with his hand to indicate the direction of several footprints, "Judging from the stride and direction, they were either dispersed and on guard or preparing to engage the enemy."

Then, he moved a few steps and pointed to the other side. "Look in the direction they're facing. Footprints—only one pair."

It's very clear and very stable. This means that the opponent is likely only one person.

Taiichi stood up, his gaze following the lone footprint, his tone analytical, "Observing the initial distance between the two sides, and the lack of signs of maneuvering or shifting around—the opponent is quite confident in their strength, perhaps even toying with the situation, choosing the most direct, head-on confrontation."

Jiangtai, Yami, and Itachi listened intently, their eyes following Taiichi's fingers and explanations, trying to connect the theoretical knowledge with the scene before them.

Hotarubi, standing nearby, couldn't help but prick up its ears, secretly marveling: So many things can be gleaned from footprints!

Taiichi walked to several tree trunks and pointed to some deep scratches and charred marks. "Look at the marks left by these attacks. These are typical cuts caused by Wind Style, with sharp edges. Over there are marks from Fire Style scorching; pay attention to their location and orientation."

He guided his disciples' gaze, "They're all pointing from our squad's location towards the enemy. In other words, in the early stages of the battle, it was our people who initiated the Ninjutsu attacks."

He then pointed to several slightly strange spots in the open space: there were craters in the ground as if they had been hit by a heavy object, with broken wood chips and stones scattered around them, but there were no corresponding footprints near the craters.

"And these traces," Taiichi's voice was slightly lower, "Look like they were caused by a physical impact, but there are no footprints near the point of origin, indicating that it wasn't a direct Taijutsu attack. It's more like—some kind of long-range, invisible physical attack."

Judging from the entire scene, the enemy seemed to have remained stationary or made only minimal movements throughout, essentially engaging in stationary attacks.

This further demonstrates that the enemy's strength is clearly superior to our squad's, and that they possess a special secret technique—different from the conventional five-elemental Ninjutsu.

The three children nodded frequently as Taiichi explained, their thoughts gradually becoming clearer, and their understanding of the scene deepening layer by layer.

However, Hotarubi's face gradually turned pale and ugly as Taiichi spoke his last few words.

Unlike the three children, as Taiichi explained, he immediately connected the dots and wondered what that "special" and "invisible physical attack" might be!

The Mysterious Peacock Method, a secret art passed down through generations in the Hoshigakure, uses Chakra to materialize various attacks, and its characteristics are remarkably similar to those described by Taiichi!

Cold sweat silently soaked through Hotarubi's inner shirt.

He was originally only ordered to make overtures and distance himself from the situation, and thought that with his investigation, he could at least take some initiative.

But now, Konoha's Taichi Matsushita, through objective analysis of the traces at the scene, has almost pinpointed the core secret technique of Hoshigakure!

This sent a chill down his spine, leaving him with a sense of helplessness and bewilderment.

Taiichi caught a glimpse of Hotarubi's drastically changed expression out of the corner of his eye.

In fact, with his knowledge and perception, after arriving at the scene and conducting a preliminary sensory scan, he had already identified everything he had just said from various traces.

But he pretended not to know.

This progressively unfolding "on-site teaching," while undoubtedly instructing the disciples, is it not also a form of probing, a way to intimidate and observe their reactions?

He wanted to see how much this ninja, who had come on behalf of Hoshigakure, actually knew about this, and how he would react.

The Hotarubi's desperate attempt to conceal its panic and its ugly expression made Taiichi realize: this person Hoshigakure were truly unaware of the situation, but the culprit must be someone from the Hoshigakure.

Taiichi's mind raced, but his face remained calm and composed, as if he had simply completed an ordinary on-site analysis lesson.

He turned to the pale-faced Hotarubi and asked in a normal tone, "Lord Hotarubi, based on these traces, what are your thoughts? Or, in your village's records or knowledge, are there any Rogue Ninja or wandering ninjas skilled in this type of special ranged attack in the vicinity?"

His question sounded reasonable, but it made Hotarubi's heart clench. She opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know how to answer.

The shadow of a tree reflects a person's name; Taiichi's fearsome reputation had already resounded throughout the Ninja World. At this moment, Hotarubi felt the cold sweat on her forehead flowing even faster.

His unusual behavior—hesitant to speak and sweating profusely—was noticed not only by the perceptive Taiichi, but even by the Nine-Tails perched on Taiichi's shoulder.

"Boy," Nine-Tails Fox whimpered, yet spoke in a condescending Hotarubi, "You must know something, right? Judging from your expression, you're not exactly honest."

When questioned in such an interrogative tone by a fox, Hotarubi's face flushed red and then turned pale.

Normally, he might have found it absurd, but at this moment, under Taiichi's calm yet extremely oppressive gaze, he felt an invisible pressure surging from all directions, almost making it hard for him to breathe.

The kind of spiritual intimidation that can only be felt when faced with it firsthand is more compelling than imagined.

The three little ones beside them also curiously observed the Hotarubi.

They could sense the tension in this Jonin from Hoshigakure, and even see the fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

The teacher was just asking a normal question, and his attitude was quite calm, so why was this man so afraid?

Their strength was insufficient to fully comprehend the oppressive power of a Kage -Kage Level being, but this scene planted a seed of pursuing strength in their young hearts.

Under Taiichi's ambiguous gaze and Nine-Tails' relentless questioning, Hotarubi's psychological defenses finally crumbled.

He swallowed hard, his voice dry as he spoke, "This—this is truly not something I intentionally concealed from you all. It's just—it's just that listening to your analysis of the traces at the scene, Taiichi, made me—made me think of a secret technique from our Hoshigakure. Its manifestation seems—somewhat similar."