Chapter 178
2-in-1-chapter
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It was well known that the Land of Earth was a country of mountains, much like the Land of Lightning. Yet unlike the latter's lush peaks and scenic rivers, the Land of Earth's mountains were barren and stony. Centuries of wind and rain had stripped the soil bare, leaving only vast expanses of exposed rock.
As a result, many oddly shaped peaks stood scattered across the land, and the rendezvous point specified in Yakushi Nonō's secret letter was one such distinctive formation.
"A bowl-shaped mountain… this should be the place, Juri."
Kakashi held the map and examined the peak before them. Its base was narrow and its summit wide, resembling a gray earthen bowl turned upside down upon the land.
"It should be right."
The woman called Juri replied. Wearing a dark red fox-patterned mask, her slender figure was outlined sharply by the ANBU uniform. In her hands she held an unfurled white scroll as black birds from all directions dove toward her, one after another vanishing into the parchment.
"This is the only bowl-shaped mountain nearby, and there are no settlements or villages within range. It's a completely desolate area." She studied the intelligence written across the scroll and relayed it to her captain.
"Good. As long as we're in the right place."
Kakashi folded his map and asked, "What about Chihaya and Ameyuri? Did they deal with the tailing squad behind us?"
Hatake Kakashi, Juri, Uchiha Chihaya, and Ringo Ameyuri—this was the special operations squad personally selected by Konoha's higher-ups to rendezvous with the Walking Shrine Maiden. The four departed from the village, traversed a vast distance, broke through the Iwagakure border defense forces, and infiltrated the Land of Earth.
"All targets eliminated. None escaped."
The one who spoke was not Juri, but Uchiha Chihaya.
The spirited young woman approached, carrying the Kusanagi Blade. This sword shared its name with the Wind Style: Vacuum Blade technique. In fact, that ninjutsu had been named after this weapon—said to amplify the cutting force of Wind Release chakra—symbolizing that its destructive power rivaled that of the Kusanagi Blade itself.
Ringo Ameyuri followed beside her, gripping the Thunder Blade: Kiba tightly in both hands. Intense killing intent radiated from the two young kunoichi. Though no blood stained their weapons, the scent of battle clung to them so thickly it felt almost tangible.
"Eight Iwa-nin. Ameyuri took down five, I only managed three kills. They didn't have time to send any signals." Uchiha Chihaya didn't sound pleased, while Ringo Ameyuri was grinning from ear to ear. The two had sparred and competed countless times. Until now, because Wind Release naturally countered Lightning Release, Chihaya had always held the advantage. This was the first time Ameyuri had managed to turn the tables.
Their infiltration into the Land of Earth had not gone unnoticed.
Although Iwagakure's main forces had yet to mobilize southward, the border defense corps had already received direct orders from the village leadership. The already-tight security along the frontier had been raised by two full alert levels, creating immense obstacles for Kakashi's squad.
If they had taken a longer route, they could likely have found a gap somewhere along the vast border to slip through, but time was something they did not have. Yakushi Nonō, the Walking Shrine Maiden, had not only confirmed the rendezvous location but had also specified the exact timeframe.
That meeting was scheduled for today—specifically, from this afternoon until midday tomorrow.
To avoid missing the appointed time, they had no choice but to force their way through the Iwa-nin defense lines. As expected, they were discovered. Fortunately, Iwagakure did not see fit to launch a full-scale response for a handful of intruders. Only two squads were dispatched in pursuit, and those had been swiftly eliminated by Uchiha Chihaya and Ringo Ameyuri working together.
"All of them taken care of? That should buy us half a day at most."
Kakashi frowned slightly and looked up at the sky. "Let's hope the shrine maiden arrives soon."
Eliminating their pursuers was only a temporary measure. Once the border troops realized their scouts had not returned, they would undoubtedly send more forces to investigate. The four of them might hold out against two or three waves of attacks, but there was no way they could withstand an endless assault from Iwagakure's reinforcements.
"Captain Kakashi, what if she doesn't show up on time?"
The masked woman, Juri, asked quietly.
"Then we search for her," Kakashi replied. His own face was obscured by a mask, concealing any change in expression. "The Hokage's order is clear—alive or dead, we must find her. Under no circumstances can the shrine maiden fall into Iwagakure's hands."
"That shrine maiden… she's quite formidable. She knows a great many secrets. Even Danzō himself was wary of her. If he hadn't found leverage against her, it wouldn't have been so easy to force her to continue acting as a spy."
Juri spoke softly.
Kakashi gave her a sidelong glance but said nothing.
He knew little about this woman besides the fact that she had once been a member of Root. From the way she spoke, it seemed her former position there had been anything but low.
"Captain Kakashi, people like her are most safely dealt with by eliminating them outright. That way, there are no loose ends. Danzō had already devised a plan for it, but…"—she paused briefly—"…unfortunately, he died before it could be carried out."
Juri's tone was calm and sincere. In her view, spies like Yakushi Nonō, who carried too many secrets, were a liability. Better to eliminate her on the spot than bring her back alive and burden the village leadership with the question of what to do with her. To someone raised in Root, swift and final measures were the cleanest solution.
"Juri, Do not suggest that again. The Hokage did say we are to find her dead or alive, but before departure he also made it clear that, if possible, we must ensure her safety. She is a great asset to the village. I don't want to hear that suggestion a second time."
Kakashi rejected Juri's proposal without hesitation and issued a warning.
"Cold-blooded Kakashi… looks like the rumors weren't accurate after all."
Juri showed no sign of disappointment at being rebuked. Instead, she studied Kakashi curiously. Back in Root, she had heard stories of the cold-blooded Kakashi of the ANBU—Danzō had even tried to recruit him once, though the Third Hokage had intervened and put a stop to it.
Rumor had it that during his time in ANBU, Hatake Kakashi was infamous for his cold and emotionless execution of missions. Few in the organization had wanted to work alongside him.
But now, seeing him firsthand, the reality seemed somewhat different—or perhaps the man had changed since leaving the ANBU.
"I don't know what kind of nonsense you heard before," Kakashi said evenly. "Remember, I'm the captain of this mission. You will follow my orders. If anyone acts on their own, I won't hold back." He fixed his gaze on her, his voice sharp.
"Your job is to use your sensory techniques to monitor the surroundings and locate the shrine maiden. Beyond that, I'd better not catch you doing anything else out of line."
"I'll do my part."
Juri responded calmly, showing no resistance.
Obedience to command was second nature to her—something ingrained during her years in Root. Since the captain had rejected her proposal, she would not act on her own. In Root, absolute obedience had been law.
Nearby, Uchiha Chihaya and Ringo Ameyuri paid no attention to the conversation between their teammates. The two straightforward, battle-loving girls were carefully tending to their weapons. Even though the blades they carried were legendary tools—ones that wouldn't rust even if submerged for decades—they still maintained them with meticulous care, polishing them like cherished treasures.
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