"Damn it! That bastard actually dared to steal from my house!"
With a furious roar, Kazuyama Gekkō vanished from sight.
Minato Namikaze and Fugaku Uchiha exchanged glances, each seeing deep shock in the other's eyes.
Instead of targeting the Hyūga or Uchiha—major clans—they attacked the Gekkō clan? What exactly is Kumogakure planning?
The Flying Thunder God Technique spanned a kilometer in an instant, and Kazuyama Gekkō had left his markers all over the village.
When he returned home, the place was already in ruins.
Signs of corrosion and dampness were everywhere.
"Pakura!!"
"Aunt Same!!"
In the glow of the flames, Pakura's face twisted with anger, her appearance slightly disheveled.
Several fireballs swirled around her, evaporating the lingering moisture. A faint green light also encircled her.
Her opponent, the Kumogakure leader Tōkaku, had already vanished.
"Kazuyama, he took Senko!"
"Hehehehe! How bold! Kumogakure truly has guts—stealing someone from me?"
"Where is he? With your strength, you couldn't stop him?"
Kazuyama Gekkō laughed wildly, his voice filled with killing intent.
He'd been cautious for so long, yet never imagined Kumogakure would dare to steal someone right from under his nose.
He had thought the Hyūga would be their target. Never did he expect this.
Pakura was strong—too strong for him to believe that a mere Kumogakure lieutenant could defeat her.
"He had a small bracelet—some kind of ninja tool. It released black water that even my Scorch Release couldn't evaporate."
"It was highly corrosive."
A bracelet? Black water? Corrosive?
Kazuyama Gekkō's expression darkened. So that's it. A treasure. Tōkaku… does this mean he's connected to Kinkaku and Ginkaku?
A tool with that kind of power… a Six Paths ninja tool? Weren't there supposed to be only five?
"What about Aunt Same?"
"She was knocked out by poison smoke. When I realized, he already grabbed Senko and tried to run."
"While fleeing, he released that black water."
Pakura's panic had vanished the instant she saw Kazuyama Gekkō.
That was her faith in him—as long as her man was there, nothing could collapse on her.
"Good. Very good!"
"But running away? That won't be so easy."
"I've been a thief my whole life… heh, fine, fine!"
Kazuyama Gekkō raised his head, laughing coldly. Around him, crystals began to form in abundance.
"Tagorihime, did that bastard flee that way?"
The faint green glow surrounding Pakura was indeed Tagorihime—a safeguard Kazuyama Gekkō had left on her and their son, Michihito Gekkō.
Yet, a single oversight had led to Senko's abduction.
"Northeast. Do we give chase?"
"Where are Michihito and Ichikishimahime?"
"Michihito's at the Hatake residence. He said he wanted to study the Hatake sword technique and is staying with Lord Sakumo."
The Hatake sword technique? That boy really took a liking to it, huh?
Forget it. That's for later.
Now… northeast.
"Crystal Release: Celestial Dragon!"
Crystals surged into the form of a colossal dragon, soaring into the sky. Kazuyama Gekkō stood on its head, his face filled with ruthless fury.
He was enraged. Someone would die for this. Kumogakure owed him an explanation!
"Kazuyama!"
"Relax, he won't get away!"
"Tagitsuhime, get to work!"
As he spoke, a dense crimson light burst forth.
Minato Namikaze and Fugaku Uchiha arrived at the Gekkō residence just in time to see the dragon soaring into the sky, followed by the crimson glow illuminating the entire village.
"This guy… he's furious."
"That feeling… could it be Senjutsu?"
Fugaku Uchiha looked stunned. No one could remain unmoved before such power.
Meanwhile, Minato fixed his gaze in the direction Kazuyama Gekkō had flown.
"Alert the ANBU. Deploy northeast!"
"Fugaku, looks like we won't be sleeping tonight. Let's go."
Fugaku nodded. For Kumogakure to stir up this kind of incident inside the village, he too bore responsibility.
Just as they moved out, the sky shifted again.
"Kazuyama, there!"
"I can sense him."
"Catch him, kill him, and bring back my daughter!"
Tagitsuhime cackled and wasted no time. A massive crimson serpent surged into the sky, then shot northeast.
Blinded by rage, Kazuyama Gekkō didn't even bother using the Flying Thunder God. Flying straight was faster.
Dragon and serpent vanished from the village in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, Tōkaku was already sprinting desperately outside the village. He knew that once Kazuyama Gekkō reacted, pursuit would be swift as lightning.
He glanced at the bracelet on his right hand—it was his lifeline, with limited uses. He wouldn't waste it unless absolutely necessary.
But thoughts meant nothing against reality.
Mid-run, a crimson light fell from the sky, wrapping around him. The crushing weight of chakra pinned him in place.
Tōkaku froze in disbelief. What the hell? This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
"Hehehe… Kinkaku, Ginkaku, Tōkaku."
"I don't care what relation you have to the first two. You dared sneak onto my land and steal my daughter."
"Have you decided how you're going to die?"
Kazuyama Gekkō's icy voice slithered into Tōkaku's ears, sending shivers through his body.
It was cold and venomous, like a viper about to strike.
The dragon descended in a blaze of crimson, and Kazuyama Gekkō looked down at Tōkaku, bound in place by Tagitsuhime.
Tōkaku still clutched his daughter in his left hand—a sight that ignited Kazuyama Gekkō's fury even further.
"You dare hold my daughter like that?!"
"Fine. I'll drag you to Kumogakure the same way."
"If the Four Lightning Brothers want to commit evil, then they'll pay the price for their evil deeds."
Leaping from the dragon's head, Kazuyama Gekkō strode up to Tōkaku and snatched his daughter back.
Senko, still unconscious from the poison smoke, lay quietly in his arms. Kazuyama Gekkō carefully checked her over, terrified that bastard might have hurt her.
Only after confirming she was unharmed did he let out a faint breath of relief. His eyes then shifted to Tōkaku's right hand.
"Oh? So this is the bracelet."
"A ninja tool that can block Scorch Release, huh?"
"It's mine now."
He tore the jade bracelet away, and Tōkaku's eyes went wide with shock.
"That's mine! Bastard!"
"Give me back my bracelet!"
Kazuyama Gekkō smirked at him, giving him a look reserved for fools, before turning his attention back to the bracelet in his hand.