"This woman looks like she's awake!"
"I heard she's an important member of Akatsuki. I wonder why Lord Hanzō captured her? Umatsu, you hear plenty of rumors. Tell us about it."
Umatsu shook his head. "This operation was extremely secretive. Lord Hanzō even brought in his core guards. How would I know? Aoki Tsuki, Lord Hanzō values you so highly. You must know something, right?"
"I'm on the periphery just like you. How could I know?" Aoki Tsuki denied it.
"But Danzo from Konoha came with his men this time. They must be planning something big."
Hearing this, Konan, who was nearby, felt a jolt in her heart and had a bad feeling.
Hanzō had obviously captured her to use as a hostage, and now even Konoha's shinobi were involved.
Could Hanzō be planning to move against us?... I feel like I've seen this guy somewhere before... Right... it was back then...
Aoki Tsuki had always worn a mask during their transactions, but there was his long, dark blue hair and the long sword hanging at his waist.
Those personal features were too distinctive.
Konan recalled that he had once tactfully warned Yahiko that Hanzō might move against Akatsuki.
"What happened? How are Yahiko and Nagato doing now?"
She realized that what Aoki Tsuki had just said had actually been meant for her to hear.
Aoki Tsuki looked at Konan, who was lost in thought. He knew that this woman was extremely intelligent.
She handled most of Akatsuki's coordination. She was meticulous in her thinking and thorough in her work.
"I saw the people from Konoha too. That Danzo is called the 'Shinobi of Darkness.' Nothing good can come of his arrival," Umatsu replied.
Kurokawa scratched his head. "Is Akatsuki even harder to deal with than the Iron Fang Group back then? We actually need Konoha's help? Come to think of it... are we even on such good terms with Konoha?"
Good terms, my ass. Both sides had suffered countless casualties in the Second Shinobi World War.
In the end, the war had concluded with Hanzō bestowing the title of "Konoha Sannin."
"Tch! Who knows about that? Our job is to guard this woman. We'd better stay out of everything else."
Their squad had naturally been assigned to guard the hostage because he was a sensory-type shinobi and more reliable. It showed that this woman was likely a key figure in the upcoming plan.
"I'm a little hungry. I'll watch this woman. You two go get something to eat," Aoki Tsuki said.
"All right. We'll leave her to you."
Kurokawa and Umatsu turned and left.
Clearly, Aoki Tsuki had something to say to the female prisoner. They had to do him this favor, so they tactfully made themselves scarce.
Seeing that Aoki Tsuki had sent his companions away, Konan asked, "What is Hanzō going to do to us?"
"Akatsuki has grown into a huge organization. Lord Hanzō sees its existence as a threat, so naturally, he's going to eliminate you to prevent future trouble."
That one sentence explained both the reason and the objective.
"But our goal is to bring peace to the Land of Rain. That would only benefit the village," Konan said, puzzled.
"Peace... perhaps it doesn't matter to him. It doesn't matter what happens to the Land of Rain, either. Whoever threatens his position has to die.
"Akatsuki already has the ability to do that, whether you intend to or not."
"What? Just for that reason, he's going to... Why is this happening...?"
Konan found it ironic. The goal they had fought and sacrificed so much for was worth so little in someone else's eyes.
And to think they had once held out hope for Hanzō.
Aoki Tsuki said nothing, waiting for Konan to digest the news. The cruelty of the shinobi world was no mere figure of speech.
After a while, Konan asked again, "What is Hanzō planning to do... Is he going to use me as a hostage?"
"Tomorrow morning is when the two sides are supposed to meet. An entire Anbu force from Konoha will arrive in Amegakure at the same time. Hanzō and Danzo have joined forces and set a trap.
"Anyway... prepare yourself for anything that might happen."
Aoki Tsuki wasn't stupid enough to run off and warn them. There was no telling how many eyes were watching right now.
Sending Kurokawa and Umatsu away for a short while was no problem, but if he tried to let Konan escape, he would be finished, and his entire squad would go down with him.
At a time like this, anyone who dared leave everyone's sight would be dealt with.
The Masked Man was watching Nagato constantly. Anyone who dared show himself would surely be killed in an instant.
Hanzō, Danzo, and the Masked Man-none of those three forces were easy to deal with.
Konan was immediately filled with despair. "Yahiko, Nagato..."
Just then, Umatsu's voice came from outside the door. "Captain Shinonome, what brings you here? Don't worry, that woman's fine. With us watching her, nothing will go wrong."
Sure enough, those two, Kurokawa and Umatsu, hadn't both left the dungeon. One of them had stayed nearby to keep watch.
Although they trusted Aoki Tsuki not to do anything foolish, they wouldn't put their lives and fortunes in someone else's hands.
That was what made a competent shinobi.
"Why are you here? What if that woman escapes?!" Shinonome rebuked him in a displeased tone.
Umatsu hurriedly explained, "She won't. Aoki Tsuki is inside watching her."
Aoki Tsuki knew Umatsu was warning him, but he remained seated and didn't move, waiting until Shinonome came up to him.
"What brings you here, Captain Shinonome? Does Lord Hanzō have new instructions?"
"Hmph. Don't bring up Lord Hanzō to pressure me at every turn, Aoki Tsuki. Back then, it was your repeated interference that gave Akatsuki the chance to grow.
"They brutally murdered Lord Hanzō's clansmen. He hasn't said anything, but he's already displeased with you.
"Don't even dream of getting a chance to become a Jonin in this lifetime. Come to think of it... you aren't in league with Akatsuki, are you?"
Shinonome looked suspiciously at Aoki Tsuki, then at Konan. He had a feeling the two had been talking just now.
Konan remained silent at the side. One look was enough to tell that this man called Shinonome didn't get along with Aoki Tsuki.
All she had to do now was keep quiet.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of Yahiko and Nagato's safety.
"If you say so, Captain Shinonome, then it must be true. Whatever makes you happy," Aoki Tsuki replied with a smile.
Trying to intimidate him like that? Dream on.
"One thing I should make clear: I'm very satisfied with my current post, and I plan to stay in it for the rest of my life. No matter where I am, I'm still contributing to the village, aren't I?
"Unlike certain people who use a slightly higher position to bully others at work so they can climb the ranks. It's beneath contempt."
"Are you talking about me, brat? What gives you the nerve?!"
A hint of savagery crept into Shinonome's calm voice. He suddenly drew his sword and chopped down at Aoki Tsuki's head.
A mere Chunin dared talk back to him to his face.
Clang!
A long sword of the same standard design swept across to block the descending blade.
Crackle... crackle...
Blue arcs of electricity lit up both blades.
"So you've quietly mastered Chakra Flow too. Is that what gives you the nerve to provoke me?"
"You're a Jonin, and I'm just a Chunin. How would I dare provoke you? You attacked me for no reason. I'm only defending myself.
"Was I supposed to stick out my neck and let you cut it? Even if this reaches Lord Hanzō, I have something to say for myself."
"You're awfully confident. People in the village all say your sword is fast. I'd like to see just how fast..."
"Why don't you try and find out? Talking won't get you anywhere!"
Umatsu had long since fled outside in fright. There were only so many people in the guard unit; everyone knew about the grudge between Aoki Tsuki and Shinonome.
"This is bad. We can't let them interfere with Lord Hanzō's important business. I need to get the captain."
Candlelight flickered in the dim dungeon.
The next moment, lightning flashed, sparks flew, and blades rang out incessantly.
The two exchanged dozens of blows in an instant.
As a veteran Jonin, Shinonome was naturally no slouch in speed.
Aoki Tsuki was one of the finest of Amegakure's younger generation and excelled in swordsmanship. He had ground the Body Flicker Technique to a state of mastery, and he wasn't intimidated in the slightest.
Jonin was a rank, and it couldn't fully represent strength.
This guy's strength has actually reached this level. It's one thing for his speed to match mine, but his strength even exceeds mine.
Shinonome was shocked. Once an expert made a move, it was clear what he was capable of.
Aoki Tsuki had precisely intercepted every one of his attacks. His hands had remained steady through every clash, without the slightest tremor.
What did that mean?
Shinonome didn't dare think any further. He refused to believe he had been surpassed by a junior he had once bullied.
"Don't get too cocky, brat!" Shinonome's face suddenly turned vicious.
"Lightning Blade Slash!"
Lightning Release Chakra gathered on the blade, glowing a dazzling blue-white as it chopped down through the air at tremendous speed.
It combined the speed of Lightning Release with his own strength.
"Countercurrent Fang!"
In an instant, a gigantic blue fang surged upward from below.
Boom!
Lightning Release and Water Release clashed with a low, muffled sonic boom. The force traveled through their bodies and into the ground.
Crack...
Spiderweb-like cracks immediately spread across the floor tiles beneath Aoki Tsuki's feet.
"If that's all you've got, you can't do anything to me."
Aoki Tsuki turned sideways and kicked out. Shinonome tried to take the blow head-on with his left arm, but he had underestimated Aoki Tsuki's explosive power.
He was sent flying into the wall, where he hung for several seconds before slowly sliding down.
Every bone in his body ached, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
"You bastard!!"
After catching his breath, Shinonome poured all his Lightning Release Chakra into the blade in his hand.
Enraged and humiliated, he launched one final charge at Aoki Tsuki.
"Explosive Current Blade!"
"Compressing Lightning Release Chakra to increase its piercing power? That's an interesting move."
Aoki Tsuki made the same move.
"Cold Rain Breathing: Cloud Piercer!"
Using the gentle flow of water to control the violence of lightning, he brought thunder and rain together, greatly increasing their power and piercing the target as though it were a cloud of mist.
Crackle... crackle...
As the sword tips collided, the two currents of lightning rapidly condensed into a ball.
Crack...
At the critical moment, Shinonome's blade proved unable to withstand such violent force and broke.
Lightning Release was violent by nature and required extremely fine Chakra control. Without sufficient control, this could happen.
"Ah...!!"
Shinonome's eyes widened. He hadn't expected such an accident either. The sudden break in their clash sent the violent ball of lightning gathered between them blasting toward him.
He wanted to dodge, but his legs went weak. Fear of death had taken hold of his body.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
At the critical moment, an earthen wall rose beneath Shinonome's feet, lifting him up.
Boom...
The lightning ball immediately blasted the wall to rubble. Shinonome fell to the ground, his face full of lingering fear.
"I... almost died just now..."
He turned to look at the man who had saved him: Satō Ichirō, the guy who wore his hair in a ponytail and always had a gas mask on.
He had managed to marry such a beautiful wife.
Ninety-nine percent of the men in the village hoped this guy would die soon, yet he was as steady as an old dog.
For the first time, Shinonome felt grateful to this colleague.