Two days later, late at night, after two consecutive nights of travel and enduring wind and rain, Team Guy finally arrived at the capital of the Land of Fire.
The capital's towering walls and the samurai patrols that enforced curfews at night were practically useless to the ninjas.
Chakra imbued beneath their feet allowed them to scale the city walls with agility and ease, easily evading patrols. The five members of Team Guy arrived at a secluded courtyard where the Konoha envoy was staying.
Might Guy knocked rhythmically on the door, a coded signal used by Konoha Ninja, and the door opened from the inside.
As for why you shouldn't use the wall, if you're not afraid of stepping on one or more Explosive Tag traps when you land, then go ahead and use it.
How could Konoha, the largest exporter of Explosive Tag Explosive Tag, lack a stockpile of them? Don't be shy, there's plenty. It's worth mentioning that Amegakure is Konoha's largest customer, and Danzo and ' Hanzō ' are its closest comprehensive Explosive Tag partners.
The five entered the courtyard, but instead of rashly pushing open any doors, Might Guy spoke first:
" Team 3 the Konoha Genin squad, led by Jonin Might Guy, has important information to deliver to the Lord Hokage."
"Information about the Lord Hokage? Give it to me."
A man with a pineapple-shaped hairstyle and multiple scars on his face came out, and Might Guy was obviously very familiar with the man, handed him the letter with confidence.
" Shikaku, please arrange accommodations for my disciples so they can get a good night's rest. We need to head to our next mission location tomorrow."
Shikaku Nara took the letter, opened it, glanced at it a few times, and then calmly scanned it one by one, starting with Thick Eyebrows Number Two, without lingering on Naoki Senju at all.
If Naoki Senju hadn't known that Hiruzen Sarutobi's target was him, he wouldn't have been able to see any flaws.
"Okay, I understand. There are plenty of rooms available. You can choose whichever you like. Might Guy, come with me."
Shikaku Nara left with Might Guy, and the remaining four Genin exchanged glances before each wearily choosing a room to rest.
Although Naoki Senju really wanted to follow them and listen, the risk of being discovered was too great, so he eventually gave up and found a room to rest.
Shikaku Nara did not take Might Guy to the conference room, but instead chose a relatively secluded storage room, deliberately avoiding Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, who were also in the same courtyard.
"Kai, what's your opinion?"
Although he didn't know the contents of the letter, Might Guy guessed Shikaku Nara's meaning based on the task given to him by the Third Hokage.
"Although Naoki Senju and Neji don't get along very well, I can assure you that he doesn't harbor any underlying hostility towards Konoha."
Shikaku Nara nodded, glanced at the letter, and said:
"Alright, I understand. I will report the situation you described to the Third Hokage. Go back and rest. You can spend a day in the capital tomorrow before carrying out the mission. There's no need to rush that mission."
"Yes, Shikaku."
After Might Guy left, Shikaku Nara loosened his right hand, and the letter in his hand slowly fell to the ground, where it was then torn into tiny scraps by the dark shadow.
" The Senju Clan, the Third Hokage, the Konoha Sannin, and the Root of Konoha, Shimura Danzō —this game is truly chaotic..."
With one of the two treasures gone, the chessboard is out of balance. What stance should the Nara Clan take in this grand game...? Shikaku Nara spent the entire night awake. Although he lacked conclusive evidence, he had already guessed the mastermind behind it all—
Orochimaru was clearly unwilling to accept defeat in the election for the Fourth Hokage. However, his support for Princess Tsunade and the Senju Clan raises the question: was it Orochimaru's resentment, or was it Princess Tsunade proactively contacted him?
No one could have imagined that the mastermind behind all of this was just a teenager who escaped on the night of the massacre.
The following day, after consulting with the entire team (and at Tenten's insistence), Team Guy decided to stay in the capital of the Land of Fire for one day before carrying out their second mission.
Although we didn't encounter any real danger this time, at most we killed two tigers, three black bears, and countless venomous snakes while traveling at night.
However, the non-stop travel still exhausted Team Guy, who were on their first mission outside the village, except for the ever-energetic Rock Lee.
Naoki Senju glanced into the depths of the courtyard and knew that this was Shikaku Nara, the Hokage's strategist, testing him. Anyone returning to a familiar environment would inevitably lower their guard, and Shikaku Nara was trying to use this method to verify whether he had grown up in the capital of the Land of Fire.
Once this was confirmed, the massacre of the Soga Clan, the disbandment of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, and the killing of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire all became interconnected, and the true mastermind behind it all became self-evident.
The question is, would Hiruzen Sarutobi let the murderer who severely injured his son go? Would he care about the hatred stemming from the annihilation of the entire Soga ( Senju ) clan? Obviously not.
However, as long as the time is right and the bullets are allowed to fly for a while, Naoki Senju will definitely not give Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Therefore, when Tenten went shopping together, Naoki Senju never acted as if he was familiar with the place, acting as Tenten's guide. However, he also didn't deliberately pretend to be a complete stranger, as that would be too contrived.
Naoki Senju didn't Konoha. Even if he had never been to the capital of the Land of Fire, he must have been to other major cities. He wouldn't be as curious as Tenten and Rock Lee, who had never left Konoha.
Neji, being born into the Hyuga Clan, had naturally left the village and had no curiosity about the daimyo's capital. Neji, he was just being dragged here by Tenten to do hard labor. However, the main hard labor would definitely be Rock Lee, fully demonstrating the tradition of "the capable do more."
After a full day of shopping spree in the capital of the Daimyo, Tenten handed over her spoils to a caravan to be sent back to Konoha. Tenten herself then bid a reluctant farewell to the capital and embarked on her journey to the Fire Temple.
Right after Team Guy left the capital, a Root ninja hiding in the shadows immediately wrote a note, tied it to the eagle's leg, and sent it back to Root in Konoha.
Naoki Senju glanced at the eagle soaring overhead, then at Might Guy shouting his passionate youth slogans, and felt genuinely happy for Danzo's misfortune.
Even if Danzo old dog Danzo resurrected Madara Uchiha, he wouldn't be worried at all. Eight Gates Released Formation, Night Guy of the Gate of Death —have you heard of that?
The Root the Konoha.
A Root ninja wearing a tanuki mask presented a small note to Danzo with both hands.
Danzo had been dozing with his eyes half-closed, opened his left eye, took the small note, unfolded it, glanced at it, and then looked at the Root ninja beside him, saying:
" Sai, now that you've killed Shin, you'll take Shin's place on this mission. Pass the word down: Fire Hunt Plan officially begins."
Hidden beneath the mask, Sai bowed respectfully, his voice flat and emotionless, like that of a machine devoid of feeling.
"Yes, sir."