By the time Kudo and the shadow clones left Tanigakure, the evening sky had settled into a deep indigo, speckled with the first stars of the night.
Travelling at night posed no significant challenge for them, especially since their pace could now increase without the young Daimyo's son, Akihiko, to worry about.
The darkness provided cover, allowing them to move swiftly and silently through the night.
The distance between Tanigakure and the border of the Land of Rivers was quite significant. Hours passed before Saseki and his group intercepted Kudo and the shadow clones.
Meanwhile, as Renjiro and the rest of the squad remained behind in Tanigakure, their presence was undetected even by Akihiko's convoy.
It was not particularly difficult for them to stay hidden, given their skills and experience.
They blended seamlessly into the shadows, their senses attuned to any potential threat.
'If nothing happens after a day, then I guess we will go back to the village. There won't be a need to waste both the squad's and my time,'
Renjiro thought as they decided to monitor the situation regarding Akihiko.
Tanigakure was a bustling village, and they had welcomed several high-ranking nobles of similar standing to Akihiko. The security was tight, though not as stringent as Renjiro would have preferred.
'If we can move undetected, then it means that other people can also do so,' Renjiro thought, a sense of unease settling over him.
Then it happened. Dead in the night, one of the guards from Akihiko's convoy attempted to assassinate the young master.
Renjiro and his team, ever vigilant, acted swiftly. The would-be assassin was immobilized within moments, his weapon clattering to the ground with a metallic thud.
Renjiro's eyes narrowed as he regarded the immobilized guard.
"Check whether he is under some sort of Genjutsu," he instructed Akira.
"The rest of you, secure the area while I raise the alarm."
Akira nodded, her Sharingan activated as she began to examine and interrogate the guard.
The rest of the squad fanned out, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any additional threats.
Renjiro moved quickly, his footsteps silent as he made his way to inform the head guard from the convoy and the one in charge of security in Tanigakure.
The head guard from the Land of Fire was surprised to see Renjiro and his squad still in Tanigakure.
"Renjiro-sama, I thought you had left," he said, his voice tinged with confusion.
Renjiro gave a brief nod. "I had a hunch that something would happen to the young master," he explained.
The head guard's eyes widened in understanding, a newfound respect shining in his gaze.
"I see. Your foresight may have saved the young master's life. We owe you a great debt," the head guard said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Renjiro nodded curtly, acknowledging the compliment. "Ensure that the rest of the convoy is secure. We need to be prepared for any further attempts," he advised. They then went to do other preparations
After informing the concerned parties, including the team in charge of security in Tanigakure, Renjiro quickly returned to his squad as the head guard informed his superiors
The rest of the convoy guards were now on high alert, Renjiro wanted to interrogate them to ensure that there weren't any more spies in their ranks but he quickly shot that idea down.
'If we can both interrogate the two people we caught then we can fish them out. While the guard might not know if there are other spies present, that other guy in Kudo's custody might know.' Renjiro thought.
As Renjiro approached, he could see Akira still interrogating the guard.
"What did you find out?" Renjiro asked, his tone brisk.
Akira looked up, her Sharingan deactivated.
"He's not under any Genjutsu," she reported.
"But after a brief interrogation, I discovered he is a spy for a local group of rogue shinobi who wanted to kidnap Akihiko but after they failed, they decided to kill him."
Renjiro's eyes narrowed as he processed this information. "So, it wasn't just an assassination attempt. They wanted to kidnap him," he mused, his mind racing with the implications.
"We need to secure him. Killing him would be easier, but it would bring more issues as he is our best shot at proving what happened." Renjiro said as he looked at the dazed guard. He was still under Akira's genjutsu.
With a swift movement, Renjiro planted a seal on the guard, ensuring that he would be unable to escape even if he managed to break out of the Genjutsu.
Just as he was about to give further instructions, memories flooded into his mind from the shadow clone that was with Kudo.
The sudden influx of information was a bit disorienting, but Renjiro quickly regained his composure.
He saw the battle, felt the intensity of the fight, and experienced the capture of Saseki, the rogue jounin.
The memories provided valuable insight, and Renjiro knew they needed to act on this information swiftly.
He turned to his squad, his voice calm and authoritative. "We've captured the leader of the rogue shinobi. Kudo is securing him now."
When Kudo arrived with Saseki in tow, they quickly decided to interrogate him to compare notes with what the got from the guard.
"He might have valuable information about their plans and the organization behind these attacks."
Kudo nodded, stepping aside to allow Renjiro to take the lead. Renjiro knelt down beside Saseki, his eyes meeting the rogue shinobi's. "You have two choices," Renjiro began, his tone cold. "You can cooperate, and we'll ensure you are treated fairly. Or you can resist, and things will get much worse for you."
Saseki's eyes flickered with defiance, but he remained silent. Renjiro sighed, knowing that this would not be easy. He signalled to Akira, who stepped forward, her Sharingan activating once more.
"Let's see if we can get you to talk," Akira said, her voice soft but menacing. She locked eyes with Saseki, and within moments, the rogue jounin's resistance began to crumble. The Sharingan's power was undeniable, and Saseki found himself unable to resist its influence.
Slowly, painfully, Saseki began to talk. He revealed the plans of his group, their intentions to kidnap Akihiko, and the broader conspiracy at play.
"Tell us about the organization behind you," she demanded.
Saseki's face twisted with pain and defiance. "I... can't..." he gasped, his breath coming in ragged bursts.
The struggle was evident in his eyes, the internal battle between his will and whatever force was preventing him from speaking.
Renjiro's eyes narrowed, noticing something strange. Black lines began to form on Saseki's face, creeping across his skin like a sinister web.
'What is that?' Renjiro wondered, alarm bells ringing in his mind.
Akira pressed on, her voice firm. "Who are you working for? What are their plans?"
Saseki's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. His eyes bulged with terror and agony, the black lines spreading rapidly. The squad watched in shock as his body convulsed violently.
Renjiro's heart raced. "Stop! Akira, stop the interrogation!" he ordered, his voice sharp.
Akira immediately ceased her questioning, but it was too late. Saseki's body stiffened, and with one final shudder, he collapsed, lifeless. The black lines receded slightly, leaving his face pale and contorted.
Tora and Miki rushed over, their faces pale with horror. "What just happened?" Tora asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Renjiro knelt beside Saseki's body, examining the black lines closely. "That's Juinjustu," he said grimly.
"A curse mark. He wasn't allowed to talk about the organization behind him. The mark killed him the moment he tried to reveal anything."
The squad fell silent, the weight of the revelation settling over them like a dark cloud.
Renjiro's mind raced, piecing together the implications of what they had just witnessed.
'I guess this was not Danzo's original idea,' he thought.
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