In the border region between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers, vigilant patrol teams of four moved cautiously through their assigned territory. Their duty was both monotonous and demanding, but no Konoha ninja dared to let their guard down. With ongoing conflicts against Sand Ninja, the border was constantly under threat, and the enemy could appear at any moment.
Among these diligent patrollers was Jutaro ryusuke, a squad captain with a special background. He had spent nearly two years stationed on this border, engaging in numerous skirmishes with Sand Ninja forces. Thanks to his proficiency in ninjutsu, as well as a combination of strength and good fortune, he had survived while his subordinates had changed multiple times.
The Team had rotated several times, yet he remained resolute and unyielding.
On this particular day, Jutaro ryusuke adhered to his usual routine. He employed sensory ninjutsu every ten minutes to scan the surroundings, ensuring a constant watch within several hundred meters. Satisfied that no immediate threats were present, he signaled for his shadow clone and lurking teammates to proceed ahead.
Jutaro ryusuke, however, remained at the rear of the formation, maintaining a cautious distance from the others.
His vigilance was the key to his survival on this treacherous border. It had only grown more acute over time. Suddenly, without warning, Jutaro ryusuke and his shadow clone simultaneously cried out in agony before coming to an abrupt halt.
"Captain, what's happening? Did you detect an enemy?" inquired his concerned teammates, their expressions tense.
In recent times, Sand Ninja activity along the border had escalated, and some of their adversaries possessed the ability to evade sensory techniques.
"No, it's nothing. Just a sudden headache, probably due to insufficient rest lately," Jutaro ryusuke shadow clone replied with a sheepish smile.
A sense of relief washed over the team members. They had feared a confrontation with a formidable foe this time.
However, their relief was short-lived as a four-armed puppet suddenly descended from the sky. Poisonous needles shot forth from the puppet's mouth, striking Jutaro ryusuke shadow clone and two team members instantly.
An explosive sound followed, and Jutaro ryusuke shadow clone vanished. The two unfortunate teammates stared wide-eyed, succumbing quickly to the deadly poison.
The lone surviving team member managed to evade the attack through a substitution technique and rushed to Jutaro ryusuke side, desperately seeking his assistance.
"Sound the retreat signal immediately. I'll hold off the enemy," Jutaro ryusuke declared, stepping forward.
"Yes, Captain ryusuke," the team member responded, deeply moved by his captain's willingness to face the danger head-on.
However, his brief gratitude toward Jiu Qilong was short-lived as an earthen wall suddenly materialized in front of him, causing a shiver to run down his spine.
Jutaro ryusuke, the man he had just been thankful for, had employed the Earth Style: Earth wall technique to block his escape route.
He got to be a fool to not understand why
"Boom!"
The team member had no time to react and collided heavily with the earthen barrier.
The pursuing puppet extended its hand, its razor-sharp blade emerging from the palm, and pierced theman heart through the earthen wall.
Jutaro ryusuke glanced at the lifeless eyes of his teammate, a flicker of guilt passing through his gaze, quickly concealed by a mask of indifference.
Moments later, four Sand Ninja, distinguished by their white turbans, appeared before him. Their leader was a middle-aged man with elongated eyebrows. A few subtle movements of his right hand brought the puppet swiftly to his side, where it stood as an obedient companion.
"I never expected the one to trigger my memories would be you, Lord Ebizu," Jutaro ryusuke stated, taking several steps back, a trace of fear in his voice.
"Hehe, don't fret. I won't take your life, as long as you can provide me with useful information," Ebizu replied, a cold smile tugging at his lips. He extended his hand toward Jutaro ryusuke.
Jutaro ryusuke attempted to dodge, but to his dismay, he found himself immobilized. Unbeknownst to him, Ebizu had secretly ensnared him with nearly invisible chakra threads, rendering him powerless.
"Speak, what do you want from me?" Jutaro ryusuke asked, his voice laced with despair.
He had once been captured by the Sand Ninja, ultimately surrendering under the torment and becoming their operative. A specialized ninjutsu had been implanted in him, temporarily sealing certain memories, making it difficult to detect. Consequently, he forgot the time he had spent as a captive and collaborator, believing he remained a loyal Konoha ninja. This ordeal had recurred multiple times, subjecting him to psychological torment on each awakening. He felt the agony of betrayal without remembering the betrayals he had committed.
The mastermind behind this cruel scheme was Ebizu, the primary spy orchestrating Sand Ninja's infiltration of Konoha, now standing before him.
"Don't display such a wretched expression. This isn't your first or second time. You'll grow accustomed to it, and soon you'll forget these painful experiences. You can continue being a proud Konoha ninja, happily serving your village. Just ensure you provide me with valuable information," Ebizo replied coldly. With a slight movement of his fingers, he tightened the restraint on Jutaro ryusuke, causing the man to writhe in pain.
Jutaro ryusuke, a soft target, quickly relented under the pressure, divulging the latest border defense map and personnel transfers. Ebizu had gained the information he desired, and he proceeded to apply further memory manipulation, erasing Jutaro ryusuke recollection of these recent events.
Left on the brink of death, Jutaro ryusuke was discovered by another patrol team, narrowly escaping the clutches of demise once more.
A week later, within Konoha Underground's Genbu Headquarters, in an office closely resembling the Hokage's, Danzo received an urgent report. A glint of intrigue flickered in his eyes as he muttered, "I never expected that boy's value would exceed our initial estimates. If a small fish like us could attract such a big one..."
The contents of the urgent report were concise, consisting of just five words: "Ebizu has gone missing."
Danzo had acquired this information at a substantial cost through the black market of intelligence. The seller, a high-ranking figure within the Sand Ninja Village who had engaged in numerous transactions with him, held a credible reputation.
Considering the recent surge in Sand Ninja attacks on border patrols, Danzo quickly connected the dots, surmising that Ebizo, the chief Sand Ninja spy, was likely involved.
Undoubtedly, the desert fox had departed Sand Ninja Village with the intent of assassinating Kirito, the Konoha Jinchuriki, who had became a thorn in the side of Sunagakure.
"However, Ebizu is cautious. If the odds of a successful assassination are low, he won't take the risk. Once he senses danger, he'll make a swift escape," Danzo mused.
As the heads of intelligence for their respective villages, Danzo and Ebizu were old adversaries. Over the years, they had orchestrated countless assassination plots against each other. On several occasions, Danzo had come perilously close to falling victim to Ebizu's machinations.
Thus, Danzo was well aware of Ebizu's character—he was a cautious individual who did not make errors lightly. He was not one to be easily deceived and would flee at the slightest hint of danger.
"Proceed."
Danzo issued a command.
In response, a Root ninja promptly knelt before him, offering a respectful salute. "Lord Danzo, your orders?"
"Retrieve the most recent information on Kirito."
Danzo issued his instructions.
"Understood."
The Root ninja acknowledged the order before vanishing into thin air through a series of hand seals.
Within approximately one minute, a comprehensive dossier on Kirito, complete with meticulous detailing, arrived in Danzo's hands. This document chronicled Kirito's recent activities and habits, even presenting a data table enumerating his daily routines. Furthermore, it offered a rough estimate of Kirito's abilities, factoring in his exhibited ninjutsu and combat prowess.
"It seems this boy is quite the enigma," Danzo concluded, glancing through the dossier with his Sharingan-embedded right eye.
The information indicated that Kirito adhered to a disciplined lifestyle. Since his graduation, he had followed a consistent routine: attending work at the hospital, toiling diligently until the end of his shift, and returning directly to the senju Clan. His physical presence never deviated from this pattern.
The hospital itself was a highly guarded establishment within Konoha. Despite outward appearances of vulnerability, it was secretly monitored by over ten Jōnin, including elite Hyuga and Yamanaka clan members.
In other words, any suspicious activity within the hospital would not go unnoticed. Additionally, the hospital's interior was laden with a multitude of sealing barriers and traps, rendering infiltration an arduous task for those unfamiliar with its layout.
The Senju Clan compound, on the other hand, served as a veritable fortress. Notably, the village's strongest ninja currently resided there, deterring any nefarious activities. This meant that no trespassers, ghostly or otherwise, would find success.
Kirito's daily routine included creating three shadow clones. Two would proceed to the orphanage and a branch of Yakushi Gourmet House, never returning. Danzo's Root operatives trailed these two shadow clones extensively. They discovered that the branch of Yakushi Gourmet House was inaccessible due to an enchantment, while the orphanage was entirely off-limits, sealed by an enchantment.
The remaining clone wandered the village, engaging in mundane activities and returning with various purchases to the Senju Clan compound. Regrettably, this shadow clone's attempts at angling for fish had thus far proved fruitless.
"This situation cannot persist. The old fox will not linger in Sunagakure for long. We need to orchestrate a scenario to draw him out," Danzo concluded, a sinister smile creeping across his face.
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