The Hunt Begins! (Seeking Follow-up Reads!)

Another failure!

Looking at the report from his subordinates regarding the loss of contact with the assassination squad, the Third Raikage Ai stood up, looking slightly agitated.

How enviable! Konoha has birthed yet another super genius!

Gazing at the scenery outside the window, the Third Raikage sighed inwardly.

For this second assassination attempt, the village had dispatched one elite Jonin, three Jonin, and even activated a crucial pawn embedded within Konoha.

With a team of this scale, if prepared properly, they would have had a chance to ambush and assassinate even a Kage.

Yet, unexpectedly, they had suffered another defeat within Konoha.

Is that brat named Shimura Kizaru truly so monstrously strong, or is Konoha's protection simply too impeccable?

With insufficient intelligence, the Third Raikage and his team of strategists were unable to make a judgment for the time being.

At the same time, a new problem lay before the Third Raikage.

Should he continue to dispatch ninjas for assassinations, or give up now?

Or perhaps, should he find Sunagakure and Iwagakure—who provided the intelligence—and launch a new round of joint assassinations!

Just as the Third Raikage hesitated, Kizaru provided him with a new option.

The master has delivered himself to your doorstep!

After two days of rapid travel, Kizaru's three-man squad successfully infiltrated the Land of Lightning.

Hiding in a secluded cave, the three were conducting their final confirmation before the mission began.

Before infiltrating the Land of Lightning, all three had disguised themselves; at this moment, they were dressed as Bounty Ninjas.

"According to intelligence detected by the Anbu, Kumogakure has set up seven strongholds along the coastal border," Sarutobi Shinnosuke said, pointing to seven points on the map. "We need to split up and launch surprise attacks on these seven strongholds."

"Each of these seven strongholds has at least one Chunin squad on guard, and some may even have Jonin present. During the surprise attack, we must not be careless; we must finish it quickly!" Having said this, Sarutobi Shinnosuke specifically looked at Kizaru, who loved to spout nonsense during combat.

"Jonin? How terrifying!" Kizaru echoed, feigning shock without a hint of self-awareness.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke wanted to add a few more words of caution, but upon recalling Kizaru's monstrous strength, he held back.

"For this raid, we must leave survivors so that Kumogakure receives the information, which will make it easier to lure the snake out of its hole. But don't make it too obvious, lest they become suspicious."

"How many should we leave?" Hatake Sakumo asked directly.

Looking up and scanning Kizaru and Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi Shinnosuke said, "Sakumo, you leave one, and I will leave one as well."

After finishing, Sarutobi Shinnosuke looked at Kizaru and continued, "Kizaru, your Light Style is too conspicuous. For the strongholds you are responsible for, kill everyone—leave no one alive."

Kizaru had wanted to say that he didn't need to use Light Style and could take out the enemies with just taijutsu.

But guessing that Shinnosuke wouldn't be at ease, Kizaru didn't say it aloud and simply nodded.

After the instructions, Sarutobi Shinnosuke allocated the seven strongholds and concluded the briefing.

"Rest now; we move when it gets dark!" Sarutobi Shinnosuke said, putting away the map.

It was already afternoon, with only two or three hours left until dark.

The three men didn't speak again; each leaned against the wall, swallowed a Military Ration Pill, drank some water, and closed their eyes to rest.

Time passed quickly; the sun slowly set, the moon rose, and darkness fell.

Opening their eyes in unison, the three exchanged glances, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke spoke.

"Move out!"

With that, Sarutobi Shinnosuke stood up first and walked out of the cave.

Following closely behind, Kizaru and Hatake Sakumo stood up together and exited the cave.

A dark night with a high wind—the perfect night for killing!

None of the three made a sound; each used the Body Flicker Technique to head toward their assigned strongholds.

The stronghold Kizaru was responsible for was in a dense forest to the northwest.

To avoid exposing his tracks, Kizaru did not transform into golden light to travel, but instead used the Invisibility Technique, weaving through the mountainous terrain.

Quickly crossing a vast stretch of barren mountains, a forest appeared before Kizaru's eyes.

Having studied the map and intelligence, Kizaru knew that two of Kumogakure's strongholds were deployed in this dense forest.

Slowing his pace and activating Observation Haki, Kizaru walked into the woods, swallowed by the darkness.

Hidden in the shadows of the dense forest, Kizaru was like the most terrifying, top-tier predator in the woods, heading toward the first stronghold.

Using Observation Haki to capture the presence of three Kumogakure ninjas, the corners of Kizaru's mouth curled up.

"How interesting!" he whispered, lurking near the first stronghold.

Two were inside the wooden hut of the stronghold, and one was hidden in a large tree at the 6 o'clock position, about three meters away.

Locking onto the positions of the three with his Observation Haki, Kizaru made his move.

With a single Body Flicker, Kizaru arrived in front of the ninja hidden in the tree, who was responsible for keeping watch.

Judging by the aura perceived through Observation Haki, this person should be an ordinary Chunin.

Kizaru, using his Invisibility Technique, stood right in front of him with his hands in his pockets, his presence completely undetected.

Prioritizing the mission, Kizaru didn't speak; he simply raised his right hand, extended his index finger, and unleashed a Finger Pistol thrust, piercing straight through the center of the enemy's forehead.

The powerful air current generated by the Finger Pistol punched clean through the enemy's head.

He withdrew his right hand and gave it a casual flick in the air.

Seeing the enemy's corpse about to collapse, Kizaru reached out to steady it, gently propping it up against a tree trunk.

Having dealt with the first target, Kizaru turned his gaze toward the wooden cabin ahead.

He leaped down from the tree, landing without a sound; at this moment, Kizaru was like an elegant reaper, walking toward the cabin.

Perhaps to make it easier to hear movements outside, the cabin door wasn't shut, but left half-ajar.

Inside, two ninjas were present: one was maintaining his ninja blade, while the other was smoking.

Walking into the room and approaching the ninja who was smoking, Kizaru raised his right hand once more and extended his index finger.

Given the unpleasant tactile sensation from his index finger just moments ago, Kizaru opted for a different method of attack this time.

A golden laser flashed by, striking the enemy's forehead with precision and killing him instantly.

It turns out that smoking in public places is hazardous to your health!

The sudden death of his teammate stunned the other ninja, who had been wiping his blade, but he reacted immediately.

Just as he gripped his sword with his right hand to point it forward, he felt a massive force surge from the blade, driving his own hand to stab into his own forehead.

His mouth opened, but before he could make a sound, the enemy—now impaled by his own blade—was already dead!

Having eliminated all enemies, Kizaru deactivated his Invisibility Technique, revealing his form.

Looking around at the bloody scene of death inside the cabin, Kizaru sighed, "How truly terrifying!"

With that, Kizaru strolled slowly out of the cabin.

He glanced up at the dim moon in the sky, then walked into the shadows of the dense forest, his figure slowly fading away once more.