6:30 PM, Kishō-ji (Temple of Good Fortune).
Clack, clack, clack—
Sasuke, having just finished dinner, strolled through the temple wearing a loose-fitting white yukata and wooden clogs. Sakura and Karin followed close behind.
It was normal for the temple to be pretty empty at mealtime, but today it felt too deserted. They hadn't seen a single person since entering.
Something felt off.
Sasuke sensed it immediately. His sensory skills weren't the best, but he was strong enough to detect that there were quite a few distinct chakra signatures around the temple.
Logically, he couldn't imagine anyone causing trouble in the Allied Shinobi Forces base—going up against the Alliance was basically suicide, with no chance of resting in peace even after death. But this temple was right near Tobirama's lab. If a fight broke out and disturbed Link's sleep, that would be a real problem.
"Karin, check the place out," he said quietly.
Karin promptly closed her eyes. A few seconds later, Sage Mode markings appeared on her face, and she opened her mind's eye (Mind's Eye of the Kagura) wide. Instantly, the entire Kishō-ji area became transparent to her perception.
Combining her Kagura's Mind Eye—which already had a range of several dozen kilometers—with Sage Mode meant she could sense not just chakra but even faint signs of life. She could instantly lock onto a target's body condition and movements, rivaling even the Byakugan in power.
"Thirty-seven shinobi in the main hall, talking about something… One of them has a chakra I recognize. Huh?"
Karin made a surprised noise. "They noticed me. The other side is the Third—"
Swish!
"—Mizukage."
The Third Mizukage landed before them, his face cold as he regarded the three unexpected visitors. He didn't rush to attack; he recognized the Uchiha boy who traveled with Link.
(An Uchiha…?)
Outwardly, his expression remained impassive, but inwardly he was calculating how to handle this.
(And a sensor-type ninja, with strong perception… That chakra style… Uzumaki?)
(If they recognized me, then…)
He glanced at the girl who was quietly sending some kind of message on Web Net and said in a harsh voice, "You have no authorization to be here at Kishō-ji. What do you think you're doing?"
Accusing them of trespassing first, then discussing other matters—standard tactics.
(Sasuke, I'm detecting a bunch of Stone Temple members' chakra. This Third Mizukage has probably joined that group. Also, there's another familiar chakra—it's Kakuzu from our world's Akatsuki… A barrier just went up around the temple. Be careful.)
Karin's message arrived, and she stayed in Sage Mode, eyes locked on every chakra signature.
Kakuzu?
Sasuke felt a jolt of surprise but then thought it made sense—if in the Main World Kakuzu ended up in Akatsuki, here in World #2, him joining Stone Temple, a ragtag group, wasn't such a stretch. That made Stone Temple no laughing matter, though.
Just Mizukage #3 and Kakuzu alone were definitely two Kage-level fighters.
Sure, the Alliance had plenty of power, but the base was huge. Most of the patrol squads were chūnin and jōnin—Kage-level ninja weren't that common. If Stone Temple decided to cause trouble with that level of strength, it could be big.
"You—" Sasuke began. Three tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly, forming the Mangekyō. His tone sharpened. "What exactly are you planning?"
His Susanoo stood ready. Even in the middle of the city, he'd commit to crushing any threat that close to Link.
Seeing that kid's harsh words, the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes, the Third Mizukage twitched around the corners of his face. Inwardly he boiled with rage.
He'd been questioned, defeated, and exiled from Kirigakure by a brat about this age. That condescending look was infuriating. Recently, the Fourth Raikage had used the same kind of glare on him, and they'd ended up brawling in the Land of Rivers, which led the Alliance to fine them both heavily. That was how he got stuck working for some gutter organization—couldn't afford the penalty.
But now going up against someone from Link's circle… The reason he was forced to do side jobs was that the man keeping the peace was that monstrous Hashirama. Offending Link would be like crashing headlong into the Alliance. A quick death might be kinder. So fury and fear warred within him, making his temple throb.
"M-Misunderstanding! All just a misunderstanding!" The bald head priest of Kishō-ji came running, drenched in cold sweat.
"Are you three tourists here for prayers?"
(The barrier's down,) Karin noted internally. (All the Stone Temple members' chakra is leaving; Kakuzu's fleeing underground at top speed. Should we chase?)
A chase through the city?
Sasuke glanced icily at the Third Mizukage. There was substantial suspicion around him, but if Kakuzu, the main suspect, had fled already and the barrier was undone, there might be no need for a fight now. Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear technique let him tunnel away swiftly; catching him would be tough.
"You can't leave the Alliance base anytime soon—I've already notified the Enforcement Squad," Sasuke declared, sending everything that'd happened at Kishō-ji to Tobirama and the Squad Captain Hashirama #2 via Web Net.
Stone Temple presumably didn't want to exist anymore if they were messing around so close to Link. Hiring Kakuzu and the Third Mizukage meant someone was backing them financially, and Sasuke intended to uproot whoever it was. Didn't matter if it was a ninja village or an individual; it had to be wiped out completely.
The Third Mizukage's anger extinguished at once.
The Alliance maintained both a Security Force and an Enforcement Squad. The Security Force handled everyday policing in the city, staffed mainly by chūnin and jōnin, not that big a threat. But the Enforcement Squad was a real problem: it was all elite jōnin or Kage-level ninja, led by the First Hokage #2 (Hashirama #2).
Two vice-captains were the Main World's Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and Main World's Uchiha Shisui. Their jurisdiction covered any and all disputes within the Alliance. They had enormous authority, answering only to Tobirama. It was basically the Anbu on steroids. Alongside Web Net and the "media" for real-time info, plus Flying Raijin teleportation, they could show up instantly anywhere trouble started.
Last time, the Third Mizukage had fought the Fourth Raikage for more than two hours, but once Hashirama #2 showed up out of nowhere, he'd just snatched them apart without even needing Wood Release. He'd separated them with raw taijutsu alone. Of course they'd tried ninjutsu; the man had simply clapped his hands, and in the blink of an eye, Wood Release bound them like mummies, drained their chakra, and dragged them to the Alliance base's jail.
The Third Mizukage tried to mold chakra to escape, but a familiar silhouette flashed into view nearby.
All hope was lost.
~~~
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