"Cough cough!"
In a sealed chamber, a Kumogakure ninja with dark skin, dark golden long hair, and a robust figure sat exhausted on the ground.
"How's the sealing, Blue Mu?" The voice of the Third Raikage echoed from the corner.
"Stabilized." Looking at the Third Raikage, Blue Mu, an elite Jonin from Kumogakure and a relative of the Raikage, stood up from the ground.
With an apologetic look at Blue Mu, the Third Raikage walked up to his trusted subordinate.
"You've worked hard."
"For the village, for you, any sacrifice is worth it." Although he had just experienced a Tailed Beast disturbance, Blue Mu still rallied, speaking with determination.
Without saying a word, the Third Raikage patted his loyal subordinate's shoulder approvingly.
Blue Mu was once a candidate for the Jinchuriki program. However, due to the repeated failures of the program, several Tailed Beast rampages occurred, resulting in the deaths of Jinchuriki and losses to the village, leading to the program's suspension.
Blue Mu was fortunate not to become a Jinchuriki as a result.
However, after the recent attack on the village by Kizaru, the Third Raikage, feeling the shortage of high-level shinobi in the village, decided to revive the Jinchuriki program.
As a former candidate, Blue Mu was chosen to become the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails.
Just a week after becoming the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails, Blue Mu experienced a Tailed Beast disturbance this morning. Fortunately, due to his considerable strength and timely discovery, disaster was averted.
"For this mission, you should stay in the village!" Showing concern for his subordinate, the Third Raikage spoke up.
"Lord Raikage, please take me and the Amber Purifying Jar together!" Blue Mu, who had prepared for sacrifice since becoming a Jinchuriki, made a determined suggestion.
Hearing Blue Mu's words, the Third Raikage fell into silence.
The Amber Purifying Jar was a Six Paths Ninja Tool once held by Kumogakure's defected ninja, Kinkaku. Later, it was recaptured by the Third Raikage and possessed extremely powerful sealing capabilities, serving as the village's ultimate means to suppress and seal Tailed Beasts.
Blue Mu's proposal to bring the Amber Purifying Jar to the front line indicated his readiness to sacrifice himself, treating himself as a disposable weapon.
After a long silence, feeling the pressure of the upcoming war, the Third Raikage made a decision in his heart.
"You will become the hero of the village!" Looking at Blue Mu with complex emotions, the Third Raikage said seriously.
With a big smile on his face, Blue Mu looked very happy.
"At five in the afternoon, you will join me. We will depart with the vanguard unit."
"Yes, My Lord!" Blue Mu answered loudly with a smile.
"Rest well!"
After saying that, the Third Raikage turned and left the sealed chamber.
...
Sitting with his legs crossed on a chair, Kizaru handed a check worth 5 million to Kakuzu, who usually dealt with cash at the currency exchange.
With a raised eyebrow, Kakuzu, taking the 5 million check with a frown, asked, "No cash?"
"Brother, this is the checkpoint for patrolling the border!" Kizaru explained with a smile.
Nodding, and accepting Kizaru's explanation, Kakuzu solemnly placed the check into the inner pocket of his clothes.
"Today's patrol is on you. From 10 to 12 at night, it's your responsibility."
"Understood."
"Then, please, brother!" Looking at Kakuzu, Kizaru said with a smile.
When it comes to money, everything is justified! Kakuzu answered, "Rest assured, there won't be any problems."
"Well then..."
Before Kizaru could finish his sentence, Kakuzu had already turned and left the room.
Shaking his head with a smile, Kizaru closed his mouth and looked out the window.
It's quite intriguing!
Living up to Kizaru's expectations, at five in the afternoon, the Third Raikage led a vanguard force of five hundred people, along with Blue Mu, who had just become the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails, and departed from the village.
As for the village's main force, it would be led by the two trusted subordinates of the Third Raikage, and they would set out three hours later.
The Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire were not directly adjacent; Kumogakure ninja who wanted to attack the Land of Fire had to pass through the Land of Hot Water.
The Third Raikage had no objections to this, and neither did the Land of Hot Water.
Speeding along, it took the vanguard force led by the Third Raikage three hours to reach the border from the village to the Land of Lightning.
Upon reaching the border, after allowing his subordinates a brief half-hour for rest and reorganization, the Third Raikage set out again, directly entering the Land of Hot Water.
To conceal their presence, the vanguard force led by the Third Raikage avoided getting close to the towns in the Land of Hot Water, navigating through mountainous terrain and forests.
The Land of Hot Water was not large, and the entire vanguard force took less than two hours to successfully reach the border adjacent to the Land of Fire.
"Five squads, stay vigilant within a three-kilometer radius. The rest, take a break." Hidden in the dense forest, the Third Raikage instructed his subordinates.
"Yes!" responded a member of the Yotsuki clan, an elite Jonin, stepping away from the Third Raikage to assign tasks.
As the vanguard force led by the Third Raikage began their brief rest, Kakuzu also commenced his first patrol.
Having left the base where Kizaru was located, Kakuzu, who had already memorized his patrol route, ventured into the dark woods alone.
As the most powerful and renowned figure in the bounty hunter community, Kakuzu relied not only on his formidable strength but also on his reliable service attitude.
Collecting money and completing tasks!
Adhering to this principle, Kakuzu demonstrated exceptional professional conduct.
Hiding his presence, Kakuzu silently maneuvered through the forest, gradually approaching the border.
Seemingly sensing something, Kakuzu, who was leaping among the branches, suddenly came to a halt.
Moving his body, hiding behind a tree trunk, Kakuzu looked towards the 10 o'clock direction.
Three Kumogakure ninja appeared in Kakuzu's field of vision.
With a delighted heart, Kakuzu knew that an opportunity to earn money had arrived.
Without apparent hesitation, Kakuzu jumped down from the tree, using Earth Release to burrow into the ground.
Approaching the three enemies, Kakuzu suddenly surged forward, his hardened fist striking one of the enemies.
Caught off guard, the Kumogakure ninja couldn't react in time and was sent flying by Kakuzu, crashing heavily into a large tree.
Having succeeded with the first strike, Kakuzu didn't pause. He retracted his right hand and detached his left hand directly from the wrist, using a secret art to control it, sending it towards another enemy wielding kunai.
Encountering such a mysterious ninjutsu for the first time, the Kumogakure ninja displayed a shocked expression, hastily wielding the kunai to defend against Kakuzu's attack.
Unfortunately, Kakuzu's controlled left fist was incredibly agile, spinning in the air to avoid the enemy's attack and landing a heavy blow on the enemy's abdomen.
The body was directly knocked into a crescent shape, and the Kumogakure ninja, severely injured, lost the ability to fight, falling to the ground.
To capture the target alive, Kakuzu had already held back; otherwise, the enemy's abdomen would have been pierced.
The enemy was too weak, and a hint of disappointment flashed in Kakuzu's eyes.
However, disappointment aside, Kakuzu wouldn't let go of any opportunity to make money.
Retracting his left hand, Kakuzu looked at the last enemy who had already started to flee. Using Body Flicker Jutsu, Kakuzu caught up.
Appearing behind the enemy in an instant, Kakuzu delivered a swift chop, rendering the enemy unconscious.
"A bunch of worthless trash!"
Criticizing, Kakuzu used Earth Release to control the enemy and returned to the initial battleground, starting to gather the spoils of war.