Into the Land of Rivers Again

The four of them left the Hokage Building. A light breeze swept past, easing some of the tension they had carried out of the office.

"I can't believe we're getting a B-Rank Mission right away. They must recognize how strong we are!"

The moment they stepped outside, Asuma started grinning like a fool. His whole face radiated a pure, innocent stupidity.

That's Asuma for you. Does he really think a B-Rank Mission will be easy?

Tsukimi gave him an amused look. Kurenai Yuhi had worn a frown since leaving the office, and now she glanced at Asuma and spoke gently.

"Don't get carried away, Asuma. According to the Medical Department, that special toxin comes from an herb found only deep in the mountains of southwestern Land of Rivers. It's refined using a special method."

Her expression grew graver as she spoke, and she revealed the most frightening detail.

"If they've been operating in the Land of Rivers for a long time, and they're even there now... then when we went to Bluestone Town last time, we might have been under their noses the entire time."

Asuma's face froze. The implication finally hit him, wiping away his smugness. Cold sweat soaked his back. "You mean they were watching that house in Bluestone Town all along?"

"Get it now?" Tsukimi shot Asuma a sidelong glance and patted his shoulder. "A B-Rank Mission means there's a good chance we'll run into enemy Ninja and fight for our lives. We might even go deep into enemy territory. If you don't take this seriously, you might not come back."

Their previous mission in Bluestone Town had made Asuma let down his guard. After Tsukimi's warning, he finally stopped underestimating the danger.

More than anything, Tsukimi really didn't want the kid dying out there.

"Ahem... I get it." Asuma coughed twice to hide his embarrassment.

Kurenai Yuhi let out a long breath and continued following the clues.

"The Land of Rivers lies between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. It has no hidden village, so the local factions probably couldn't have planned this so carefully."

"They're skilled at making poisons, and the southwest of the Land of Rivers is close to the Land of Wind. Could Sunagakure be behind it?"

Sunagakure had always excelled at puppetry and poison-making. During the Second Shinobi World War, its poisons had caused Konoha shinobi plenty of trouble. It was only when Tsunade was transferred to the Sunagakure front that Chiyo's poisons had been dealt with.

Seen that way, Sunagakure did fit.

Asuma nodded in agreement. "It does look like Sunagakure is the most likely suspect."

The other two seemed ready to settle on Sunagakure as the force behind it. Tsukimi spoke up, his tone casual, and pointed out the flaw in their reasoning.

"We can't say it's Sunagakure yet."

"Don't forget Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Maybe they chose the southwestern Land of Rivers to frame Sunagakure. Until we have solid evidence, all three are suspects."

"We have too few clues right now. Any guess is just speculation." Tsukimi gave his conclusion. "We won't be able to judge until we reach the mountains in the southwestern Land of Rivers and find traces of their poison-making operation."

Orochimaru, walking ahead, glanced back. A flicker of approval passed through his narrow, snake-like eyes.

Nara Tsukimi was more cautious than many Chunin who had spent years on missions. Orochimaru appreciated that. The Shinobi World had no shortage of geniuses, but few survived long enough to fulfill their potential. Often, what they lacked was precisely this caution.

"Tsukimi is right," Orochimaru said in his raspy voice, setting the course for the mission. "Jumping to conclusions when the clues are unclear will only lead us astray."

"Our first priority is to locate their poison-making base. Identifying the force behind it comes second."

He paused and looked over the three of them. With their priorities clear, Orochimaru gave his final instructions.

"Go back and pack your gear. Those mountains in southwestern Land of Rivers are full of miasma and biting insects. Make sure you bring medical supplies."

"Meet at Konoha's main gate in an hour. Then we leave for the Land of Rivers."

The three immediately split up and headed home.

Tsukimi returned to his courtyard and packed his gear. Ninja tools, explosive tags, medical supplies—he had everything ready.

"So they gave you the Land of Rivers mission?"

Shikaku's voice came from behind him. Tsukimi wasn't surprised; Shikaku was Konoha's foremost strategist. He kept packing without looking up.

"Yeah."

"It's at least a B-rank mission. Don't let your guard down." Shikaku smiled as he offered the reminder.

"If you have something to say, just say it." Tsukimi stopped packing and looked at him helplessly.

Do you take me for Asuma?

"All right, I'll get to the point. The Medical Department says that special toxin comes from the mountains in the southwestern Land of Rivers. Have you considered something?"

Shikaku dropped the teasing, though he still looked as laid-back as ever.

"What?"

"What would happen if a little-known toxin like that made its first appearance on a battlefield?"

Huh?

Tsukimi stopped what he was doing and thought for a moment before speaking slowly.

"You mean the people in charge might not have intended for the poison to get out?"

Shikaku smiled and nodded. "If a major nation is behind this, the best way to use a little-known toxin would be on the battlefield, where it could cause the enemy serious trouble. Not to poison Kawata Genji."

With Shikaku's hint, Tsukimi understood. "So someone lower down might have used it on their own initiative?"

"Right. If that's what happened, you should be prepared to find nothing. Once they learn that information about the toxin has leaked, they'll withdraw."

Shikaku spread his hands and looked at Tsukimi with a faint smile.

"But a hasty retreat could leave an opening, couldn't it?"

Shikaku's expression turned serious. "You're right. But that's exactly why you need to be careful. They might leave traps behind."

"I know." Tsukimi nodded.

The hour passed in a flash.

Nara Tsukimi, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi arrived at the village gate on time.

Orochimaru was waiting there, having already registered the mission. When all three had arrived, he waved them over.

"Move out!"

The four passed through Konoha's gates and headed toward the Land of Rivers, where trouble stirred beneath the surface.