Orochimaru's Restlessness

Konoha, Hokage's office, conference room.

The urgent intelligence that had arrived in such a rush truly gave Sarutobi Hiruzen a headache.

Exposed again this time? As expected, the spy is right here in Konoha, and within the village at that? Who could it be? Who knows the village like the back of their hand and has the ability to sneak into my study...

Suspects and motives surfaced in his mind, only to be dismissed just as quickly. Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brows, slowly set down the letter, and picked up his brush to write furiously once more.

"Send this letter to Nara Shikaku. Once he reads it, he will understand. Stabilize the morale of the shinobi; the actions of the Mist Hidden are definitely not this simple."

The Anbu ninja, Elephant, nodded and departed. Gazing at the empty study, Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes to gather his thoughts.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist have all been wiped out, and their blades were seized by Uchiha Hanazuki. The Mist's retaliation surely won't end here. Who could it possibly be?

As dusk faded and the stars emerged, the Third Hokage, heavy with worry, endured an exceptionally agonizing night.

Meanwhile, at Uchiha Hanazuki's home.

His exquisite, intricate Mangekyo gazed at the Book of Vermilion Moon in his hands; that faint, flickering connection refused to dissipate.

The power of my ocular jutsu—why would it react to the Book of Vermilion Moon? Could it be...

Sage Markings gradually spread to the corners of his eyes, and his exquisite, intricate, dreamlike Mangekyo began to spin wildly.

"Bloom, Kyoka Suigetsu."

Turning the illusory into reality, or perhaps turning reality into the illusory—this was the Mangekyo ocular jutsu that, in Hanazuki's view, could rival the SSR-level Kamui.

The Book of Vermilion Moon in his hands slowly opened, formless and intangible, neither chakra nor natural energy.

The eerie, azure barrier was more akin to spiritual power, yet distinct. As another dimension was released from the Book of Vermilion Moon, a flood of knowledge from another world poured into his mind.

"So that's how it is. This thing can only be opened using Kyoka Suigetsu? No wonder, no wonder the Black Nine-Tails could only retrieve its own half. Without knowing the method, even after pouring in such vast amounts of chakra, it could barely manage to bring its own counterpart..."

Blood dripped down. Even in Sage Mode, the massive consumption of ocular power made every cell in Hanazuki's body ache, yet the smile on his lips smoothed away the pain.

"Plenty of interesting knowledge. It seems the Blut Vene can be further refined. Relying solely on chakra and those low-level defensive formations is hardly a perfect work."

The ancient bamboo scroll vanished from his fingertips, sinking back into his inner world. Hanazuki tilted his head, looking toward the Land of Bears, and raised an eyebrow.

"You've gone a bit too far, Orochimaru-sensei..."

At the same time, in the Land of Bears, at the Konoha camp.

"Nara Shikaku-sama, we can't hold out much longer like this. The medicinal herbs and protective masks have all been..."

The Medical Team ninja's tone was frantic. Nara Shikaku looked equally distressed; the Land of Bears was a treacherous environment filled with poisonous swamps and miasma. Without medical supplies, even shinobi could not endure.

"Report, Nara Shikaku-sama! We've discovered traces of Mist Hidden ninjas. Our base camp has been found..."

The scout who had rushed over only added to Nara Shikaku's mounting troubles. The location of the camp should have been top secret; how could it have been exposed so suddenly? Could it be?

"Byakugan? Is the leader of the opposing ninjas a Mist shinobi who has transplanted a Byakugan?"

The sound of kunai clashing erupted outside the camp, only to fall silent a moment later.

Everyone rushed over to find the Mist ninjas lying unconscious on the ground, strangely unharmed.

Turning around, a young man holding a katana, his eyes with spinning tomoe, nodded slightly toward the group.

"Uchiha Shisui? You've been a huge help. If these Mist guys had invaded at such a critical moment, things couldn't have gotten any worse."

Exhaling a long breath of relief, before Nara Shikaku could finish his lament, Shisui's expression shifted drastically as he turned to say, "Nara Shikaku-san, someone is approaching. There are many of them—at least a hundred. They are all elite ninjas."

"All units, prepare for combat!"

The many ninjas stationed in the camp braced themselves as a thick, hazy mist rolled in, refusing to dissipate.

Who could it be? Who is the enemy this time? The Seven Ninja Swordsmen? No, the Mist's elite should have been wiped out by Uchiha Hanazuki, and even their symbolic blades were taken.

Then, who is it?

Just then, a slightly youthful voice echoed, and figures hidden within the mist slowly revealed themselves. The petite figure in the lead wore an expression of surprise.

"Are they really here? I never thought that intelligence would actually be true. The Konoha camp—to think it was hidden in a place like this."

The figure was short, yet no one on the Konoha side dared to underestimate him. Beads of sweat appeared on Nara Shikaku's forehead.

"The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura."

The burly figure beside him scanned the surroundings, his sharp teeth grinding together to spark, Suikazan Fuguki filled with rage.

"That brat, Flash Phantom Moon, isn't here? Damn brat, where exactly did he take our ninja swords?!"

"Tch, not on the battlefield against the Mist? Another Uchiha brat is here instead. What should we do, Mizukage-sama?"

Biwa Juzo sneered, looking at the Konoha ninjas with ill intent. "Shall we kill them?"

"Even if we kill them, we won't be able to get back the seven ninja swords of the Mist. How about this: Uchiha brat, go and bring Flash Phantom Moon to me."

"The outcome of this negotiation will determine your fate. Do you understand?"

The words of the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, brought a smirk to Suikazan Fuguki's lips. He couldn't wait to see how that brat behind the Three-Eyed Demon Fox mask would grovel and kneel before him.

Facing the path that only allowed him to pass, Uchiha Shisui's expression remained tense. Only after he had completely escaped the Mist's encirclement did trails of blood begin to drip from the corners of his eyes.

Is this the limit of what I can do? Damn it!

The next morning, before he had even fully shaken off his sleep, Hanazuki was jolted awake by a series of urgent knocks at his door.

"What is it? Disturbing someone's dreams so early in the morning—what annoying fellows."

Pushing the door open, he saw an Anbu ninja wearing a monkey mask acting in a flustered manner; the moment Hanazuki appeared, the ninja urged him forward without delay.

"Uchiha Hanazuki, the Hokage has summoned you urgently. Proceed to the Hokage's office at once."

Is it this urgent? You've gone a bit too far, Orochimaru-sensei.

By the time Hanazuki arrived at the Hokage's office, the Anbu members present all cast their gazes toward him. Most wore indifferent expressions, though a few looked on with pity.

"You called me here in such a rush—what exactly is the matter, Third Hokage?"

"You've arrived, Uchiha Hanazuki. There is an urgent mission for you: rescue the Konoha ninjas who have fallen into the hands of the Mist Hidden."