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Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
Ephesians 5:11
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*TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP*
Pervading the ambience were gentle thuds, soft footsteps that almost seemed non-existent, like a wraith lurking in the shadows.
A duo strolled along the darkness, and their silhouettes were distinguishable under the courtesy of the flame that emitted from one of them.
One of the figures had ominous crimson eyes embellished in 3 tomoes, signifying the activation of the Sharingan. She held on to a wooden log which emitted a brilliant orange flame that lit the path.
The red-haired man beside her had callous grey eyes, vigilantly scanning the terrain.
They strode along, unperturbed by the distance they had travelled in this seemingly endless tunnel.
They were none other than Saruto and Kaede.
Before long, however, a chasm became visible in the distance, which seemed to be veiled in an even sinister darkness, as though attempting to admonish anyone from approaching it.
However, the couple's gait remained steadfast, and they tread forth, eager to unravel the mysteries that lay beyond!
And finally, the realm transitioned, from the vacant tunnel to a dark partition that seemed tainted in a clutter of items scattered recklessly. However, if one thing piqued Saruto's attention, it was the faint chakra signature that surrounded him!
Suddenly, he commanded, "Kaede, stay put now."
Kaede immediately halted, assuming an uncomfortable position that tempted her to take another step, yet she was forced to abstain.
Saruto got on one knee and caressed the ground right in front of Kaede's feet...
*CRACKLE*
A crackling sound, akin to the sound of initiating a firework rang out, and a fiery hue subtly erupted from beneath the ground, before dissipating into fine particles of orange.
This eerie phenomenon allowed Saruto to approach a simple deduction;
"It's a paper bomb... No, this entire cavern is surrounded in paper bombs!" He corrected.
Sweeping the entirety of the terrain, his Veil Of Chakra Erasure could pinpoint every anomalous fragment that blended with the cavern.
These paper bombs were all camouflaged, and Saruto continued, "If we activate one, it'll stir a chain reaction that'll blow up the entire cavern."
A bead of sweat traced Kaede's fair cheek, and she let out a strained sigh, and said, "Let's get this over with quickly."
She was frustrated at herself for being unable to assist even though this mission posed of utmost significance, and yet again, all she could do was watch as Saruto vanished from his spot, and methodically and prudently tended to dismantle every single paper bomb!
...
It didn't even take 10 seconds, and Saruto had already neutralised the threat.
*SWOOSH*
He patted his attire to shake off the dust and grime, and without further ado, the duo sauntered along the ground.
Saruto's eyes remained a gloomy grey, the unsettling type of grey that hinted at an incoming storm.
It was a type of grey that would repel anybody from coming near him.
Kaede, who held onto a log of wood that carried fire, lighted the way ahead, and she let out a soft gasp as she noticed a chasm of light in the distance.
"Dear," Kaede called, and Saruto hummed tacitly.
Both of them didn't need to engage further to confirm that the opening ahead was a secret chamber.
The further they ventured, the darker it became, and their drive remained undeterred as their focus remained on the looming light.
Before long, their figures were engulfed by the light as they ushered into another realm.
...
"!"
A sharp exclamation rang in the air as the duo's eyes unfurled in shock.
"Incredible... To be this meticulous," Saruto was the first to speak, expressing shock which also seemed to be tinged with awe.
"How... How is this possible?" Kaede was lost for words. Her pondering ceased as she found herself baffled by the intricate glyphs that encircled the entire partition.
"This level of Fuinjutsu is extremely high-leveled. So this is what repelled you from seeing any further into this space?" Saruto inquired.
Kaede shakily nodded her head, and added, "Not only does it stop me from assessing any further, but even the Hyuga will be rendered helpless."
"Such levels..." Saruto paused.
"Maybe Konoha might not be the only village where the Uzumaki sought refuge," Kaede whispered.
Saruto nodded, "True."
Well, they did adopt an Uzumaki from another village anyway so it's not like the information was ground-breaking.
Saruto turned his head to Kaede, and asked, "Can you read the inscriptions?"
"Yeah, give me some time," Kaede confirmed, planting her palm on a wall adorned with foreign symbols, and caressing it.
Closing her eyes, she entered a cogitative state, seemingly unveiling the true essence of the numerous runes that engulfed the tavern.
The level of concentration required hinted at the terrifying complexity, so much so, that even someone like Kaede who Lord Third revered to be adept, was faced with difficulty.
Her delicate brows creased, and she groaned a little.
"Dear, this seal is also connected to a large-scale bomb. If triggered, the entire cavern will collapse," Kaede snapped.
Saruto remained eerily placid, and calmly approached, "Alright. Keep looking into it. I'll teleport us out of here if things go south."
Kaede was unresponsive, as though anticipating his statement. Her concentration remained on the intricate runes.
The world around her turned dark, and she made internal articulations on the vast symbols.
Meanwhile, Saruto would spare glimpses of his companion, whose frown seemed to deepen with time.
The entire cavern seemed to rumble in protest, as though finally taking note of the trespass!
"This..." Kaede had a shocked expression.
"Kaede, any time now," Saruto called, snapping her out of her reverie.
She gave a satisfied nod, and affirmed, "Let's get outta here."
He kept a firm grip on her shoulder, and their eyes reflected the stone shower that beckoned to bury them.
*CRASH!*
The entire structure collapsed, producing a deafening boom!
***
"Not a single noteworthy thing in here," a childlike tone that carried disappointment declared.
The youth was none other than Shisui, and his surroundings seemed to carry racks of weapons, ranging from long-range to short-range.
"Mmm, they're not all that exceptional," Genma agreed with the youth's ranting, holding onto a sturdy stick, with the end holding a metallic spiked ball.
Genma felt the need to remark, "I'm good with my cocktail stick."
Aoba, who was silent, examined the terrain, and added, "If I remember correctly from the bingo book, it was stated that Jiro the Earthbreaker was proficient with Kenjutsu. It was stated that he had a respectable sword that was crafted in the Land of Iron. Perhaps the corpse left behind... Ohh right..." Aoba paused, facepalming himself out of clumsiness.
He corrected himself, "The corpses were all stolen. Nevermind."
"Sigh," Shisui sighed.
He understood that Aoba's remark was to assist Shisui, as Shisui too, was proficient with the sword.
Unfortunately, it was rare to come across such exceptional blacksmiths, and he whined internally, 'My sword is getting rusty. I need a new sword.'
He was adamant about getting a new sword, but the armoury seemed to hold no promise.
'I guess I have no choice but to use up my savings,' he cried, despising the thought of depleting his stash.
*RUMBLE*
"!"
Everyone's nonchalance shifted to high alert as a hazardous tremor coursed through the earth, causing everyone to momentarily stumble.
"What the-" Genma expressed his shock, gritting his teeth to make sure his cocktail stick didn't slip out.
"Is it them?!" Shisui questioned, and without the need to elaborate, Aoba intervened, "It must be from the hidden chamber below."
"Let's reconvene outside," Genma quickly issued a command.
Shisui and Aoba nodded, and the trio body flickered from the site.
*BOOM*
Moments later, the infrastructure collapsed in itself.
The trio of ninja had safely made it outside, heaving a breath of relief at their last-second escape.
"This confirms it; the puppet that chased us in the forest, the absence of corpses, the numerous Fuinjutsu seals... There's definitely an enemy squad, but their intentions remain unknown."
Genma kept his gaze focused on the ensuing destruction, before adding on, "The most probable answer I can gather is that they are trying to find something, but are unable to... Something that links with Jiro the Earthbreaker, and they don't want anyone else to get their hands on it..."
Shisui and Aoba arrived on common ground, and said simultaneously, "The scroll."
"Yes..." Genma supported, before expanding on his knowledge, "To be precise, they're after the forbidden jutsu; the Mountain's Wrath."
Aoba couldn't help but feel unnerved, before he swallowed hard, and theorised, "And even though Konoha and Suna have a peace treaty... The evidence we've gathered suggests that the culprits are from Suna."
"You mean the puppet?" Shisui inquired.
"Yes." Aoba nodded. He examined the vast expanse, and worriedly chided, "Do you think those two are okay?"
"Yes, because Haya-, captain Saruto is with Kaede-san," Shisui quickly corrected.
*WHOOSH*
A sharp gust whistled in the air, seemingly prompted by the devastation of the collapsing monolith.
Sparks of emblazoning orange encompassed the region, and everyone's hairs fluttered in response to the searing wind.
"I believe you're all fine," a reassuring tone echoed from behind the trio.
The trio didn't look back, and Genma replied, "Yes. We weren't able to find anything."
Genma felt a soft tap on his shoulder, and a red-haired man stood beside him.
Saruto's eyes reflected the chaotic arson ahead, and he muttered, "Don't worry. The enemies are just as meticulous as one would anticipate, but thankfully, Kaede managed to extract some clues."