"Meow!"
"Meow meow!!"
Accompanied by a series of piercing screeches, Matatabi (Two-Tails) retreated back into Yugito Nii's body.
Yugito, visibly terrified, huddled in the corner, clutching her chest, trembling all over.
She looked like a small, abused animal caught in a storm.
A tailed beast?
Put a huge question mark after those two words.
The big monster bullied her again.
Itsuki, wearing a satisfied expression, walked out of the room.
As he walked, he straightened his clothes.
The look on his face was one of smugness.
Yugao Uzuki stood awkwardly at the door. When she saw Itsuki, she instinctively took a step back.
"What are you doing?"
"What are you doing?"
Itsuki, displeased, said, "I just gave a tailed beast a good beating. What's with that expression?"
Yugao, with a low voice, replied, "You won't even spare a cat?"
Itsuki: "..."
A cat?
Come on.
That's a tailed beast!
A natural disaster tailed beast!
Matatabi, the Two-Tails!
I can call it a cat, but you too?
Little Yugao, you're being a bit too casual!
"Alright, stick to the plan!" Itsuki said, looking at Yugao. "Starting today, you and Yamato are dead, and Hayate will return to the village with me."
"Understood!"
Yugao nodded, but there was a worried look in her eyes as she glanced at Itsuki.
"Be careful!"
"Careful about what?" Itsuki laughed. "Are you really worried about me? You know my strength, don't you?"
Yugao sighed softly.
She had no doubts about Itsuki's power.
However!
This time, things were a bit too conspicuous.
All of the ANBU were dead.
Yugao truly feared Itsuki might end up fighting against the Third Hokage as soon as he returned.
"If you can avoid it, try to."
Yugao advised, "Our plan is already in motion. It will be completed in at most two years. After that, the sky's the limit!"
"Haha, I know, no need to comfort me!"
Itsuki nodded.
As for what he was really thinking… well, haha!
Hold back?
Why should I?
In all of Konoha, is there anyone worth me holding back for?
Across the entire shinobi world, there are only a few people I'm wary of.
Among them...
The closest one would be Madara Uchiha.
But by my calculations, that guy is still lying in a coffin right now.
Itsuki believed that Madara must have left behind a contingency plan, ready to be revived at any time.
That was just his nature; he trusted no one but himself.
There was no way he'd put all his hopes in Nagato.
Those people weren't worth trusting either.
However!
Would he speed up his plan because of Itsuki?
Even if Madara agreed, there's no way Black Zetsu, the ultimate filial son, would allow it.
Now that he's finally close to reviving his "mother," he would ensure that goal is completed.
So, if Madara dared to make a move, Black Zetsu would be the first to stomp him back into the grave.
At worst, he might initiate his backstab earlier!
With that in mind...
As long as Itsuki didn't stir up the whole shinobi world, there shouldn't be any major issues.
In Konoha, a small number of deaths—even if it's the Hokage—shouldn't cause much trouble.
Smiling slightly, Itsuki said, "Instead of worrying about me, you should be more cautious yourself. Who knows which will come first, an accident or tomorrow?"
"Don't worry!"
Yugao hugged Itsuki briefly, then walked forward, grabbing Yugito and taking her away.
Yes.
She grabbed her and left.
Yugito had considered resisting.
Unfortunately, in Yugao's hands, she couldn't.
Because Itsuki had drained all her strength.
Under the power of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Matatabi was nothing more than an oversized cat.
Itsuki, in an overbearing manner, extracted the strength from both Yugito and Matatabi.
Now, they were just empty shells.
"The plan has begun!"
Itsuki smiled, heading toward the village.
On the way, Hayate appeared, following behind him.
After a few words from Itsuki, Hayate nodded and instantly disappeared.
…
Konoha.
Hokage's office.
"Lord Hokage!"
An ANBU knelt on one knee before Hiruzen Sarutobi, saying in a serious tone, "Uchiha Itsuki has sent word that the mission is complete, and he is returning to the village."
"Mission complete? Returning?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback. "The mission I gave him was to monitor Kumogakure and ensure they wouldn't move against Konoha within seven days. It's only been three days, and he's certain Kumogakure won't act in the remaining four days? Where does he get that confidence?"
"I don't know, sir!"
"What about the ANBU? An entire squad was assigned to follow Itsuki. What word do we have from them?"
"They've all lost contact!"
Hearing this, Hiruzen couldn't hold back anymore. He jumped up, shouting, "An entire ANBU squad, including their captain—seventeen people—all lost contact?"
"Yes!"
The Anbu member's voice trembled as he responded.
He was shocked too.
The entire Anbu squad had gone silent. This situation was too unusual.
It had never happened before!
The regular Anbu unit consisted of more than seventy people, divided into four squads.
Each of them was among the elite of the elite.
Losing an entire squad was a serious blow to the Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat down with a grim expression.
It wasn't just one squad. Hiruzen, concerned about any unexpected incidents, had sent two additional elite members.
These were truly elite, Jonin-level shinobi.
This kind of loss made Hiruzen's breathing heavy.
"Contact Uchiha Kazuki, get in touch with him immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
After the Anbu left, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and walked out with large strides.
He needed to see Danzo!
What was happening with his plan?
To avoid suspicion and distance himself from it, Hiruzen Sarutobi had chosen to ignore Danzo's plans.
But now!
Now, he was anxious!
He had to know what Danzo's plan was and how far it had progressed.
Little did he know, the first thing Danzo said when he saw Hiruzen sent a chill down Hiruzen's spine. He stumbled, almost falling over.
"Hiruzen, something has happened!"
Danzo, you bastard! ...
Kumogakure! "Lord Raikage, we've made a discovery, a huge discovery!"
Mabui hurriedly rushed into the Raikage's office.
The Fourth Raikage was working out again.
His office was also his training room.
Even though Kumogakure had suffered great losses, so what?
If they were short on money, they'd ask the daimyo! And if the daimyo refused?
Then they'd just go out and plunder!
Kumogakure would never forget their roots.
Whenever they felt itchy, they would revisit their old ways.
The ancestral craft couldn't be lost.
And this time, there was plenty of reason to bare their fangs at Konoha and Iwagakure.
The Raikage was already prepared.
"What is it?"
The Raikage calmly stood up, threw himself onto a chair, and wiped his sweat with a towel.
But Mabui was still anxious, her expression more panicked than ever before. "Lord Raikage, our people have found traces of Wood Release!"
The Raikage froze.
"Wood Release?"
"Yes!"
"Konoha's First Hokage, Hashirama Senju's Wood Release!"
"Yes!"
The Raikage fell silent.
"Mabui, are you sure?"
It was a redundant question!
Who was Mabui?
She was the most competent Raikage assistant, the head secretary.
With such an important matter, how could she be wrong?
Mabui nodded heavily and said, "I'm absolutely certain. This is critical, so I went personally to confirm it was indeed Wood Release!"
The Raikage muttered to himself, "Konoha, you have Wood Release again?"
"Is this what gives you the confidence to provoke Kumogakure?"
"Heh, interesting!"
(End of chapter)