Strange Footprints in the Land of Lightning

Konoha, 11:40 PM.

The backyard of the Uzumaki Estate.

The lights were off in the yard.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the eaves, casting several slanted shadows on the stone floor.

Konan sat on the edge of the corridor, an encrypted intelligence scroll she had brought from Hidden Rain lying open on her lap.

The paper was yellowed and the edges were badly worn. It was covered with dense notes from over a decade of her work, including the distribution of Akatsuki, the flow of funds, and mission records.

Bai squatted beside her, holding a teapot in his hands, ready to refill the water at any time.

Karin sat opposite her, hugging her knees, her eyes fixed on the symbols on the scroll that she couldn't understand, and asked softly, "These are all... things you did before?"

Konan didn't look up. "Hmm."

The voice was so flat, as if the speaker was telling someone else's story.

Karin bit her lip, wanting to ask again, but swallowed the question back.

The wooden door at the end of the corridor was pushed open.

Naruto came out of the house carrying a kettle of hot water in one hand and had his other hand in his pocket.

Don't stay up too late.

He placed the kettle next to Konan's feet.

"Take your time to organize the intelligence; no one's rushing you."

Konan looked up at him; her amber pupils gleamed faintly in the moonlight.

"I know what I'm doing."

Naruto didn't try to persuade him further.

He turned and walked towards the courtyard gate.

Sasuke was already standing there.

Wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, Forehead Protector tied diagonally across her forehead, and two rows of Kunai) at her waist.

"Big brother."

He spoke, his voice deeper than usual. "I'll keep an eye on the perimeter."

Naruto paused.

"Snake Seal?"

"Um."

Sasuke his right hand on the back of his neck, his fingertips rubbing the skin beneath his collar.

"I've been experiencing some reactions lately. It doesn't hurt, but I keep feeling like something's drilling into me."

He paused for a moment.

"I can't sleep either."

Naruto stared at him for two seconds.

I didn't say anything like "you can't do it".

He simply took a Kunai out of his pouch and threw it over.

The Kunai streaked through the air, its hilt wrapped with pale gold Chakra Threads.

Sasuke reached out and caught it.

The moment I touched it, a warm energy flowed into my meridians through my palm, like a living fire.

"Sealing Kunai"

Naruto's voice came through.

"If you discover anything unusual, report it immediately. Don't try to be brave alone."

Sasuke gripped his Kunai.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"... I know."

This time he didn't deny it.

They didn't say, "I can handle it."

He simply nodded, turned, leaped over the courtyard wall, and disappeared into the night.

1:17 AM.

The southwest corner of the wall surrounding the Uzumaki Estate.

Sasuke crouched on the wall, his hands resting on the rough brick surface, his eyes scanning the street below.

Most of the streetlights were already off.

Occasionally, patrolling Anbu would sweep across the rooftops in the distance; their Chakra fluctuations were regular and unremarkable.

He did not let his guard down.

His right fingertips were constantly rubbing the hilt of the Kunai, maintaining a ready stance to draw the sword at any moment.

The area on the back of my neck is starting to itch again.

It's not pain.

It's a dull, tingling sensation, like insects crawling under the skin.

He gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to grab it.

My older brother once said that the more we try to catch them, the more trouble we'll cause.

Time ticked by, second by second.

A few withered leaves were blown up by the wind on the street, twirled twice under the streetlights, and fell back to the ground.

Sasuke's pupils suddenly contracted.

There are footprints on the ground.

Three strings.

Very shallow.

It almost blended into the shadows.

However, there was a ring of charred marks around the edge of the footprint, as if it had been burned by high temperature.

He jumped down from the wall, squatted down in front of the footprints, and reached out to touch them.

A speck of dust settled on my fingertip.

It's still warm.

Sasuke looked up and followed the direction of the footprints.

Three sets of footprints extended from the outside of the Uzumaki Estate's wall, turned into the adjacent alley, and disappeared around the corner.

He gripped the Kunai.

My first thought was to chase after him.

But Naruto's words rang in my ears—

"Report any abnormalities immediately."

Sasuke gritted his teeth.

He took a marked Kunai from his pouch and stuck it into a crack in the ground next to the footprints.

After finishing that, he turned and ran back.

One thirty-one in the morning.

The backyard of the Uzumaki Estate.

Sasuke rushed in through the courtyard gate, stepping on the stone slab and kicking up a small cloud of dust.

"Big brother!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was enough to alert the few people who were organizing intelligence.

Naruto walked out of the corridor, raising an eyebrow. "So fast?"

"Footprint."

Sasuke took a breath and recounted what he had just witnessed.

"Three strings, very shallow, but with traces of Lightning Release scorching along the edges."

He took a small piece of something out of his pocket and handed it over.

"I found this next to the footprints."

Naruto took it.

It is a thin sheet of metal.

About the size of a thumb, with irregular edges, it looked like a fragment that had fallen from something.

The surface is engraved with blurry patterns.

He took it and examined it closely under the light.

At the center of the pattern is a lightning bolt design, surrounded by several distorted characters.

The exclusive mark of the Land of Lightning Merchant Guild.

Konan stood up, walked to Naruto's side, and glanced down at the piece of metal.

"Not Hidden Rain."

Her voice was calm.

"It's the Hidden Cloud's Lightning Release Marching Method."

Naruto looked up. "Are you sure?"

"Sure."

Konan pointed to the description of the footprints.

"Hidden Rain are skilled in Water Release and Paper Release, and their movements leave no burn marks. However, Hidden Cloud Lightning Release ninjas attach a small amount of Lightning Release Chakra to the soles of their feet to increase movement speed and reduce friction."

She paused for a moment.

"A side effect is that the edges of the footprints will be scorched by the electric current."

Naruto pinched the thin metal sheet between his fingers and twirled it.

"Chamber of Commerce Mark"

"Um."

Konan nodded.

"Hidden Cloud often uses merchant caravans as cover to send spies into other ninja villages."

A hint of coldness flashed in her amber eyes.

"The Akatsuki and the Hidden Cloud Village have clashed several times. I've seen their methods."

Naruto didn't say anything.

He simply tossed the thin metal sheet to Haku, saying, "Keep it; we'll show it to Tsunade later."

Bai caught it and carefully wrapped it in a handkerchief.

Karin sat on the edge of the corridor, hugging her knees, and asked softly, "Then... what do we do now?"

Naruto didn't answer her.

He turned and walked towards the courtyard gate.

"Sasuke, take me to see the footprints."

One forty-five in the morning.

The southwest corner of the wall surrounding the Uzumaki Estate.

Naruto squatted down in front of the footprints and pressed his hand against the charred burn marks.

The temperature has mostly dissipated.

But the Chakra residue remains.

Extremely weak.

Like a thread about to break.

He closed his eyes and began to circulate the Great Evolution Divine Soul Art.

The mental fluctuations spread out along the Chakra, tracing the footprints forward.

Ten meters.

Twenty meters.

Fifty meters.

Turn into the alley.

Cross three streets.

Finally, it stopped outside an abandoned warehouse.

Naruto opened his eyes.

"Found it."

Sasuke stood behind him, gripping his Kunai: "Shall we go?"

"Need not."

Naruto stood up and dusted off his hands.

"That was bait."

He turned and walked back.

The real people aren't there.

Sasuke paused for a moment, then quickly followed. "Where is it?"

"Have no idea."

Naruto's voice was calm.

"But I know what they're up to."

2:03 AM.

Hokage Tower.

The lights were still on in Tsunade's office.

The table was piled high with files, and two empty wine bottles were in the corner.

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter."

Anbu pushed open the door and knelt on one knee. "Lord Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki requests an audience."

Tsunade up, her brow furrowing. "At this time?"

"Yes."

She rubbed her temples and waved her hand. "Let him in."

The Anbu withdrew.

Less than ten seconds later, Naruto pushed the door open and came in.

Sasuke followed behind.

Without saying a word, he simply tossed the thin sheet of metal onto the table.

"Something Hidden Cloud."

Tsunade up and glanced at it; her face instantly darkened.

Where was it found?

"Outside the Uzumaki Estate."

Naruto leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets.

"Three sets of footprints, Lightning Release burn marks, and this thing."

Tsunade held the thin metal sheet in her hand, her knuckles turning white.

Are you sure it's Hidden Cloud?

"Konan is certain."

Naruto's voice was flat.

"She said that Hidden Cloud likes to use caravans as a cover to send spies in."

Tsunade was silent for two seconds.

He reached out and pressed a button on the corner of the table.

The wall was pushed open.

A member of the Anbu emerged from a hidden door and handed over a document.

"Lord Hokage, this is intelligence that came from the Hidden Leaf border three hours ago."

Tsunade opened the file, glanced at it, and her expression darkened further.

"The Hidden Cloud Merchant Caravan, consisting of twelve people, has submitted problematic customs documents."

She pushed the documents in front of Naruto.

"The team leader's signature doesn't match the one registered with the Hidden Cloud Merchant Association. The goods list also doesn't match."

Naruto glanced down at the document.

The list above contains the names of the caravan's members.

The team leader is called "Samui," a Jonin Hidden Cloud, skilled in Lightning Release and swordsmanship.

Two more team members' names were circled in red.

"Yugito" and "Killer B".

Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly.

"The Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails have both arrived?"

"Um."

Tsunade's voice was very low.

"Hidden Cloud is not here to discuss business this time."

Naruto didn't say anything.

I just looked up at the window.

The view outside the window is of Hidden Leaf at night.

The lights were sparse.

In the distance, Hokage Rock cast a huge shadow under the moonlight.

His lips twitched slightly.

It's not a laugh.

It's a cold, piercing arc, as if the prey has been spotted.

"The Akatsuki haven't even arrived yet, Hidden Cloud has already stepped in."

He turned and walked towards the door.

"Then let's clean up the ones closer by first."

Tsunade watched his retreating figure and called out, "Naruto."

Naruto stopped in his tracks, but didn't turn around.

"Hidden Cloud is not Hidden Rain."

Tsunade's voice was deep.

"That Raikage is a madman, fiercely protective of his own. If you touch his people, he'll bring the entire Kumogakure to kill you."

That's perfect.

Naruto's voice came back from the doorway.

"I'm fiercely protective of my own people."

"If he dares to come, I'll let him know—"

He turned his head, his azure eyes gleaming coldly in the lamplight.

"The new residence of the Uzumaki Clan must be built with the blood of their enemies."