(Akio Pov)
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After a couple of hours, we decided to set up camp inside the tunnel.
Although this location is far from ideal, with the soil teeming with worms and insects—a sight that delights Aburame Arata—we had little choice in the matter.
The tunnel's structural integrity is questionable, making it unsafe for us to fully utilize the body flicker technique without risking a collapse.
Additionally, most of us were exhausted and hungry, so rest was a necessity.
One small blessing, however, is that the entrance of the passage is covered by a cloak rather than blocked by a boulder, which prevents suffocation that would have happened.
With no time to waste, I set about preparing the campfire.
As we unpacked the consumables, we placed a pot of water over the campfire to prepare the rice.
Using warm water wasn't strictly necessary, as Anbu rations accompanying the rice always taste unappetizing, but it would make the meal marginally better and provide some much-needed warmth in the cold underground tunnel.
As usual, our pair of sensors remained diligent in their duties, allowing the rest of us to relax for a while.
As the water came to a boil, we discussed who would stand guard so the others could sleep, and, as always, I volunteered for the task without hearing 'no' as an answer from them.
'I haven't slept since arriving in this world, so it isn't a big deal,' I thought to myself, having almost forgotten that sleep is a natural human need. The ever-present fear of death within me was as intense as the flame that once burned me alive.
...
When the water was bubbling hot, we each took the pot and carefully poured it into our rice packets. We mixed the contents thoroughly with a spoon to ensure even distribution and began to eat, accompanied by the rest of our rations.
"So, do you have any plans on how to locate the Jinchuriki?" Sakumo asked while gently blowing on the rice on his spoon to cool it down before taking a bite.
"I don't know the exact location," I began, "but I was given one crucial piece of information from Ojiee-sama.
The one-tailed Jinchuriki is quite unstable and can only be suppressed by the Third Kazekage, and since the latter is currently occupied on the Iwagakure war front, I have drawn a conclusion.
Since the Jinchuriki cannot be controlled within the village due to the absence of the Third Kazekage, he must be confined outside the village, likely in some form of a prison. Considering the importance of such an asset, it is logical to assume that this location is heavily guarded, either by a large number of shinobi or by a few exceptionally strong ones.
Therefore, our best approach is to utilize Hyuga Hideo's Byakugan and Aburame Arata's insects to search for a concentration of shinobi stationed in an isolated area. This task will undoubtedly be long and tedious," I concluded, believing my mix of half-truths and lies would be sufficient.
Their expressions lit up with relief as they realized they wouldn't have to infiltrate the village to accomplish their mission. Sakumo, especially, seemed visibly relieved, now assured that he could make it to his girlfriend's birthday celebration on time. The prospect of searching for the Jinchuriki within the village would have been arduous, far more time-consuming, and posed a significant risk of discovery and a higher chance of dying while carrying on the mission.
Observing their reactions, I couldn't help but think, "Well, we're all human, after all." There was nothing inherently wrong with their expressions; even the most dedicated shinobi, trusted by Sandaime-sama himself, deserved to have a life outside of their profession.
While death might hold honor for individuals like them, it didn't mean they were willing to recklessly seek it out for the sake of that fleeting sense of honor.
"Before we head out, make sure to erase the Anbu mark on your arm and roll up your sleeves. We need them to recognize us as shinobi from 'Kumogakure' by our skin color," I reminded them.
The masks we wore weren't an issue, with public masks, recognized as Anbu Black Ops masks, differing from those used in private missions, where each of us sported a random mask purchased from a shop.
The real challenge lay in concealing the chakra tracker on our arms, bearing a resemblance to the Konoha Anbu organization symbol. Sandaime-sama would surely be on edge if any of us were deemed 'missing,' but I had already briefed him on my plan to avoid any misunderstandings.
Unsurprisingly, there was reluctance among the team to remove the sealing formula, bestowed upon them personally by Sandaime-sama upon completion of the Anbu Trainee program, reminding them of the honor of joining Anbu and the honor of serving him (somewhat) directly while being ignorant of the actual function of the 'tattoo.'
It never fails to impress me how effectively Sandaime-sama could sway someone's loyalty with just a simple gesture, showcasing his mastery over the human heart. In contrast, BlameKage's approach of giving 'hard love' yielded results but lacked the same finesse.
'Will my technique surpass theirs?' I mused to myself, diverting my focus to inhaling the nutrients.