The Mission to Hunt the Two-Tails Failed

At the border of the Land of Lightning, dark clouds hung low, and the air was thick with dampness and distant thunder. Zetsu's white half emerged from a massive tree, his voice carrying its usual strange tone. "The situation has changed. Kumogakure has entered its highest alert status. Things look normal on the surface, but ANBU deployments have become frequent, and their defensive network has been fully upgraded. Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, has at least four direct guards assigned by the Raikage monitoring her in shifts. Her movements are unpredictable. Most importantly..."

He paused and looked at the impatient Hidan and the seemingly calm Neji. "Fourth Raikage A has personally kept the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B, by his side at all times. Rather than protection, it is more like keeping the most unstable 'treasure' under his absolute control. Kumogakure is now like a crouching thunder beast covered in spines."

Under his mask, Neji's brow instantly furrowed. It felt as though ten thousand wild horses were stampeding through his mind, trampling the Konoha Hokage Office and Tsunade's favorite casino into rubble. Granny Tsunade! My Hokage-sama! Your generosity is broader than First Hokage Hashirama Senju's Wood Release forest! You just shared intelligence that could directly weaken our greatest competitor?! And you shared it so "promptly"! With Kumogakure acting like this, never mind capturing the Two-Tails—even sneaking in will cost us a layer of skin! Did you think Konoha had been too peaceful lately, so you wanted to warn Kumogakure while raising the difficulty of my undercover mission to hell?!

He forcibly suppressed the complaints threatening to burst out, along with the urge to raise a middle finger toward Konoha. His voice remained steady through the mask, though it carried a trace of stiffness on closer listening. "Is the intelligence source reliable? Has news of the Kazekage's attack leaked that badly?"

Zetsu's aloe-like head swayed. "The Sand Village isn't monolithic, especially after such a huge disturbance. Add a few 'enthusiastic' villages stirring things up... Hmph. In any case, charging into Kumogakure now is no different from running straight into the Raikage's fist."

"Then what do we do? Sit here and wait? Wait for Kumogakure to hand over the Two-Tails themselves? Huh?" Hidan swung his Three-Moon Scythe irritably, gouging deep trenches into the ground. "Lord Evil God doesn't like waiting! It's been half a month! We've done nothing but stare at these damned clouds and trees!"

Neji was equally anxious. Waiting meant increasing uncertainty, as well as greater exposure risk and time cost. But Zetsu's intelligence showed that a direct assault would be suicide. He tried to analyze the situation calmly. "Zetsu, can we determine Yugito's specific routine? Or create some chaos on the outskirts to draw away part of their attention?"

Zetsu shook his head. "They are very cautious. Yugito has rarely gone out recently, and her range of activity has been heavily restricted. With the Raikage personally stationed there, ordinary diversion tactics will be difficult to pull off. They may even alert the enemy instead. We need... more precise, longer-term arrangements."

"Longer-term? I can't wait that long!" Hidan's patience finally ran out. His blood-red eyes glared at Zetsu and Neji. "Hey, Sake! You're the newcomer. Tell me—do we keep hiding here like burrowing rats, or do we charge in and offer Lord Evil God a glorious opening with blood and screams?!"

Neji quickly weighed his options. Supporting Hidan would be reckless, but it fit his persona as a newcomer eager to prove himself and someone with a personal grudge against Kumogakure. It would also allow him to test Kumogakure's actual defensive strength. Opposing him would make Neji seem overly cautious, perhaps even suspicious. Besides, Tsunade's absurd maneuver had truly left him with a simmering rage, and his old resentment toward Kumogakure had not faded.

"...I support Hidan-senpai." Neji spoke slowly, turning his mask toward Zetsu. "Zetsu-senpai's intelligence is crucial, but excessive waiting may also cause us to miss an opportunity. Kumogakure's heightened alert must have weaknesses and signs of fatigue. We can attempt a rapid infiltration raid to obtain more direct intelligence. If we cannot win, we can still retreat." That old schemer Zetsu definitely has a way to slip off by himself. Hidan and I... we'll play it by ear. If it comes to it, running away shouldn't be a problem. Hidan talks too much, but he's not weak.

Zetsu's black half seemed to sneer. "Hmph. Since you insist... I will receive you from outside and provide the necessary information interference. I hope you enjoy your... 'hunt.'" With that, he slowly sank into the ground and vanished.

Hidan excitedly licked his lips. "That's more like it! Let's go, Sake! Let those Kumogakure idiots witness the terror of the Evil God!"

Thus, under Zetsu's disapproving gaze—if he even had one—Neji and Hidan bypassed the regular border outposts. Relying on Neji's Byakugan and Hidan's bizarre instinct for the scent of blood, they infiltrated deep into the Land of Lightning and gradually approached a heavily guarded canyon estate where Yugito was believed to reside.

However, just after they cleared out two teams of elite Kumogakure ANBU on the perimeter—Hidan excitedly collecting the blood of "sacrifices," while Neji used Earth Release and precise water blades to eliminate the enemies—they had yet to reach the estate's core when—

BOOM!!!

A figure wreathed in violent Lightning Release chakra descended from the sky like true lightning and crashed down before them. The ground cracked, and shattered stones flew everywhere! The newcomer was broad and powerfully built, with dark skin and furious white hair—none other than Fourth Raikage A! He moved so fast that even Neji's Byakugan caught only an afterimage!

Immediately afterward, another figure descended amid an oddly rhythmic rap. "Yo~! Big bro makes a shining entrance, fool and tool! Sneaky little rats trying to get near Yugito, you gotta get past this great man first, yeah~!" Killer B spun as he landed, seven blades already unsheathed, while the enormous chakra of the Eight-Tails flickered around him.

Neji's heart sank. The Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki were personally guarding this place?! This was beyond taking the Two-Tails seriously. They were using her as bait to fish for criminals! Granny Tsunade, wasn't the intelligence you shared a little too detailed?!

Hidan only grew more excited. "Oh?! A big one's here! Your blood must be some good stuff!" He raised his Three-Moon Scythe and prepared to charge.

"Hidan-senpai! Calm down!" Neji hurriedly grabbed him. Was he joking? Going head-on against an enraged Raikage and the perfect Jinchuriki Killer B? Ten lives would not be enough to throw away! And the enemy had clearly prepared for their abilities—especially Hidan's Evil God ritual. The active Tailed Beast chakra around Killer B would never give Hidan the chance to draw blood and form his ritual circle.

Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique! Neji formed hand seals without hesitation, instantly spewing out a vast amount of dense mist. This was no ordinary water vapor. It was mixed with chakra under his precise control, greatly interfering with vision and perception while also obstructing the conduction of Lightning Release to a certain extent—an improved technique he had adapted from intelligence on Demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi.

The thick mist instantly enveloped an area nearly a hundred meters across.

"Tricks!" the Raikage roared. Lightning Release: Lightning Storm! More intense lightning burst from his body as he attempted to disperse the mist. Killer B also released part of the Eight-Tails' chakra, creating a whirlwind.

But the moment Neji unleashed the Hidden Mist Technique, he seized the still-reluctant Hidan and, using the Byakugan's advantage in the mist along with a retreat route he had already observed, pushed their speed to the limit and shot toward the canyon's outer edge without looking back. At the same time, he continuously threw kunai mixed with Explosive Tags and smoke bombs behind them, creating greater chaos and obstacles.

"Trying to run?!" The Raikage's figure flickered through the lightning at terrifying speed, but the thick mist and Neji's deliberately layered interference—Earth Release: Rock Pillar and variations of Water Release: Water Wall—still slowed his pursuit slightly. Killer B, meanwhile, was intentionally lured in another direction by Neji's Shadow Clones.

They fled at full speed, danger following every step. The Raikage's fists brushed past Neji's back several times, and the wind they generated made his skin ache. Hidan was also forced to abandon the temptation of his "sacrifices," cursing as he ran after Neji.

In the end, after Neji nearly drained all his chakra, repeatedly using various releases to interfere and alter the terrain, and taking advantage of a region with highly active lightning—where natural lightning disrupted part of the Raikage's perception—the two barely escaped pursuit and reunited with Zetsu, who was waiting outside with an unpleasant expression.

"I told you this was foolish," Zetsu said coldly.

Hidan panted heavily, clearly unconvinced. But seeing Neji's obviously depleted state—his breathing unstable beneath the mask—he also understood how dangerous the situation had been. "Tch! Next time, I'll definitely..."

Neji ignored Hidan's stubborn bravado. Leaning against a rock with almost no chakra left, he was filled with frustration and heartfelt "greetings" for a certain Hokage. The mission had completely failed, and they had alerted the enemy. Kumogakure's vigilance would only grow stricter.

Before long, Pain's summons arrived through their rings. The three of them—or rather, two people and one plant—silently set off on the road back to Amegakure.

Inside Amegakure's tower, the atmosphere was even more oppressive than usual.

The Rinnegan of Pain's Deva Path swept over the bedraggled Hidan, Neji, whose chakra had not fully recovered, and the unconcerned Zetsu.

"The mission failed. Explain." His voice was cold, devoid of discernible emotion, yet the pressure was mountain-like.

Zetsu spoke first, reporting in full detail how Kumogakure had received advance warning and strengthened its defenses, as well as how Neji and Hidan had ignored his advice, launched a forced assault, exposed themselves, and nearly been captured by the Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. His tone was flat and matter-of-fact, but the direction of blame was unmistakable.

Hidan craned his neck. "Those Kumogakure bastards were too crafty! And the intelligence came too late!"

Neji—Sake—knelt on one knee and lowered his head. His voice carried just the right amount of regret and apology. "Leader, I bear responsibility for this failure. I underestimated Kumogakure's reaction speed and defensive strength, and I failed to effectively dissuade Hidan-senpai from launching the assault. I am willing to accept any punishment." Punish me, go ahead. The main blame lies with a certain Hokage who randomly shared intelligence and the reckless Hidan. At most, I'm an accomplice. Besides, Pain, you approved this mission in the first place, and I had no say in the intelligence leak. More importantly, let's see how Pain reacts to the leak.

Pain fell silent for a moment, light flowing through his Rinnegan. "I will investigate the intelligence leak. Konoha... hmph." He did not pursue the matter further, but the chill in his tone made Neji's heart stir. It seemed Pain and Obito were indeed displeased, but they were more inclined to believe this was Konoha's "routine" intelligence activity. For the time being, they did not suspect a high-ranking mole within Akatsuki. Thank goodness. Tsunade's "open and aboveboard" sharing does have its advantages?

"The capture of the Two-Tails is suspended for now," Pain finally ordered. "Kumogakure has become a frightened bird. The cost of forcing a capture is too high. Prioritize the progress of capturing the other Tailed Beasts. Zetsu, continue monitoring Kumogakure and wait for an opportunity when their vigilance relaxes."

"Understood," Zetsu replied.

"Hidan, go meet Kakuzu at the location of your next target. Sake..." Pain's gaze fell on Neji. "You will accompany Zetsu. Continue assisting with intelligence and reconnaissance. Do not act without my orders."

"Yes." Neji and Hidan answered simultaneously.

Hidan muttered, "What a drag," then walked away carrying his scythe. Zetsu slowly sank into the ground as well.

Neji remained where he was, waiting for further instructions. Pain looked at him and slowly said, "Your Rock Transformation Kekkei Genkai and adaptability are passable, but you must learn patience and planning. Akatsuki's operations will not tolerate another failure this low-level. Dismissed."

"I will remember your instruction, Leader." Neji bowed and withdrew.

Back at his temporary residence, Neji removed the barrier and sat down wearily. Although this mission's failure had been unexpected—thanks to someone—it had also made him understand more clearly that even with foreknowledge and ever-growing strength, within the great vortex of the Shinobi World, one variable could trigger a chain reaction and push events beyond his control.

Tsunade's "generosity," Kumogakure's excessive response, Obito and Nagato's suspicions... the butterfly's wings had already begun to flap. He took out a secret scroll and began drafting follow-up intelligence for Orochimaru and Konoha. Naturally, the contents would need careful selection and embellishment.

For Orochimaru, he focused on reporting that Wind Release transformation had reached a critical point at 98%, new discoveries regarding the hidden synergistic effects between Hashirama Cells and Wood Release—there had actually been no discoveries; he still could not use Wood Release, and could only use Earth Release and Water Release—and the valuable data exposed by the mission's failure regarding Kumogakure's current defense network, as well as the combat speed of the Raikage and Eight-Tails. Of course, he also noted that Wind Release transformation would soon succeed, that he already possessed chakra of all attributes, and that he wished to learn more Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tōta techniques. Dust Release, the Kekkei Tōta of the Third Tsuchikage, would be ideal if possible.

As for Konoha... he hesitated, but still objectively described how Kumogakure's excessive vigilance had caused the capture attempt to fail. He subtly mentioned that the mission's difficulty had surged because certain intelligence might have spread too early. Finally, he once again emphasized the hardships of his infiltration and his loyalty to Konoha, while "tactfully" suggesting that perhaps the sharing of certain strategic intelligence could be more... "situationally appropriate."

After writing it all, he looked out at the ceaseless rain beyond the window, a helpless curve tugging at the corner of his mouth beneath the mask. This undercover life was becoming more and more "exciting." He had failed to cause trouble for Kumogakure and instead suffered a setback himself. It seemed he needed to accelerate the final step of chakra transformation, master as many Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tōta as possible, and quickly find an opportunity for the Byakugan to evolve. Strength was the foundation for dealing with every unforeseen variable.

The rain pattered on, as though mocking every carefully arranged chess piece that fate could still casually move.