Humm—!
The tent's windows began to vibrate faintly, emitting a slight glow. Ripples formed on the surface of the sake in the bowls on the table.
The tremor seemed to originate from very far away, yet it was enough to rouse the other ninjas in the Konoha camp. They emerged from their tents, weapons in hand, frowning with heightened alertness.
"What's going on?"
"Was that an earthquake?"
Hearing the footsteps outside, Hyūga Kumokawa instructed his three puppets to pick up their weapons and head out. He also sent out a Shadow Clone, dressed in the deceased ninja's uniform, to follow the three.
As for his true self, he remained inside the tent.
After a moment, the tremors gradually subsided. Kumokawa felt a new, intangible connection form in his mind.
A three-dimensional blueprint of a five-tiered underground palace appeared in his consciousness. It felt vast, yet its interior remained empty.
However, if he wished, he could directly enter the palace from any location within a kilometer of it.
'This palace should be able to withstand a direct assault, right?' Kumokawa pondered silently. 'Otherwise, even if it gives me a knock-off space-time ninjutsu, spending three thousand points feels like a bit of a loss.'
He intended to use these ruins as bait. They couldn't be so easily breached.
But for now, Kumokawa couldn't test it. He could only try to trust the system's... conscience.
Just then, his eyes flickered. He looked up, sensing the eight Root ninjas in the camp—including his Shadow Clone and three puppets—gathering towards the same location.
'Seems Aburame Ryōma has arrived. Just as I thought, he's rallying the Root personnel.' Understanding dawned on him.
With that, everything was set. All that remained was for the show to begin.
Hyūga Kumokawa melted into a wisp of shadow, merging with the darkness of the rainy night as he stealthily made his way towards the Land of Hot Water.
He needed to be waiting inside the palace beforehand.
Waiting for Kumo and Konoha to "dig" him out.
And then…
Kumokawa tilted his head slightly, gazing at the full moon shrouded by dark clouds.
"Since Ōtsutsuki Toneri could control that Energy Vessel... I should be able to borrow it too."
A soft, amused chuckle was lost amidst the wind and rain.
Meanwhile, at a port in the Land of Hot Water, over a dozen Kumo ninjas stood silently in the rain.
Behind them, a hot spring inn serving as a communications outpost glowed with yellow lamps. The gale forced its way through every crack, causing the light bulbs to sway, making their black shadows drag and twist erratically on the ground.
The man at the forefront had short purple hair. He wore black form-fitting combat gear, over which was the standard white Kumo flak jacket, with a yellow scarf wrapped around his neck.
"Lord Toroi," a Kumo ninja appeared behind him in a flicker. "No anomalies detected. It appears to have been just a regular earthquake."
BOOM!
At that precise moment, thunder crashed directly overhead. Forked lightning spread across the night sky, painting everything in stark, pale flashes.
"Just a regular earthquake..."
Toroi murmured, lifting his head. Raindrops the size of beans were hurled by the wind. Thick, heavy clouds loomed overhead, blotting out the moonlight, illuminated only by the serpentine flashes of lightning splitting their seams.
For some reason, he felt a tightness in his chest, a sense of unease, as if it were an omen of impending disaster. It felt like the oppressive clouds were physically pressing down upon them.
He had always trusted his instincts. Already distrustful of Konoha, his vigilance spiked even higher.
However, as the agreed-upon time drew nearer, a faint but distinct anxiety began to stir within him.
Just as Toroi's thoughts were wandering, the Kumo ninja beside him suddenly looked up, his voice low. "They're here!"
In the distance, over a dozen figures in black raincoats could be seen skimming across the water's surface, speeding towards them.
Toroi put his fingers to his mouth and let out a sharp, piercing whistle. An identical whistle echoed back from the distance, confirming their identities.
Moments later, standing on the port under the warm yellow light spilling from behind them, the Kumo contingent saw the Konoha group led by Akimichi Chōza.
"My apologies, the weather's been rough. We're a bit—"
Chōza scanned the Kumo ninjas, scratching his head with a somewhat apologetic, simple-minded expression.
"Inside. Now."
Before he could finish, Toroi cut him off, his words a definitive block.
With that, Toroi and the Kumo ninjas turned and walked into the hot spring inn behind them.
"Quite impatient, isn't he?" Chōza muttered under his breath. He shot a meaningful glance back at Hyūga Kumokawa before quickly leading his team into the inn.
The inn, backed by Kumo funding, had a large lobby capable of accommodating over thirty people from both villages.
The Konoha ninjas subtly glanced towards Kumokawa within their ranks. Only after seeing his slight, almost imperceptible nod did they relax a fraction.
"The weather tonight is terrible," Toroi suddenly stopped and turned to face Chōza, his tone icy.
"..." Understanding the implication, Chōza immediately took a conciliatory step back, shrugging. "Alright, alright. Let's settle this quickly then."
A dog that bites doesn't bark.
Since the other side was coming on so strong from the start, there would be plenty of time to draw weapons if things turned physical later. The moment he saw Toroi's face, he had recognized him.
Toroi. Jōnin of Kumogakure. Master of the Kekkei Genkai: Magnet Release.
'The Fourth Raikage sent him? Did they suspect something?'
'If a fight breaks out, I'm not sure I can protect that Hyūga kid,' Chōza sighed inwardly. 'Lord Third really gave me a troublesome mission.'
"Where is it?" Toroi asked bluntly.
Chōza tilted his head slightly. Hyūga Kumokawa stepped forward from behind him, casting a cold glance at Toroi before pulling a scroll from within his coat.
THUD!
A dark brown coffin materialized on the floor before them. Under the warm glow of the hanging lamps, it exuded an aura of utter lifelessness, making the already tense atmosphere grow even colder.
"As expected."
Seeing this, Toroi's brow furrowed tightly, but he said nothing more.
On his way here, he had received a message from the village. He knew the Daimyō had miscommunicated their demands, giving Konoha a verbal loophole to exploit. Handing over a "corpse" was not surprising.
However, as long as the corpse was Hyūga Hiashi, it still held significant value.
"Step back," Toroi's voice was cold. "We need to 'inspect the goods.'"
The phrasing, likening the "corpse" to "merchandise," seemed to strike a nerve with Hyūga Kumokawa. A flicker of anger appeared in his eyes as he looked at Toroi.
Just as he seemed about to speak, Chōza raised a hand to stop him, actively stepping back to give Toroi space.
Toroi approached the coffin. A strangely shaped shuriken slid from his sleeve as he began to pry open the sealed lid.
Crack.
The moment the coffin lid loosened, the black night outside was violently bleached by a flash of lightning. A blinding, searing white light flooded the lobby, casting everyone's elongated, ghostly shadows onto the floor.
"..."
Behind Chōza, Aburame Ryōma stared intently at the expression on Toroi's face. But instead of what he expected, he saw a complex mix of emotions: fury, shock, and... fear.
'Why that reaction?'
A sudden doubt arose in Ryōma's mind. He saw Toroi's head jerk up, his mouth opening in a mix of shock and rage.
BOOM!
The thunderclap, following the lightning, arrived.
"Ba—!" Toroi's startled, furious shout was swallowed by the noise.
Chōza, standing closest, heard an all-too-familiar hiss-fizz sound. His pupils constricted to pinpricks in an instant.
'Explosive tags?
How?!'
In the next moment, before anyone could react, a deafening roar—far more terrifying than any thunder—engulfed the world!
A blinding, incandescent white light erupted from before them, surging forward to consume everyone!
KABOOOM!!!