The setting sun shone through the gaps between the leaves of the towering trees, creating a patchwork of shadows. Shuimu's mood was like that pattern of light and dark. In the joy of escaping safely, there was also a lot of haze that followed.
After finding the right way to deal with it, solving the problem is a natural thing. Although there will be twists and turns, the general direction is good and the result will not be too bad.
With the help of two powerful jonin, Yamashiro Aoba and Maki, Mizuki successfully resolved the biggest crisis at the moment. With two strong backups, Mizuki finally expelled the alien energy in his body. The natural energy and the tailed beast chakra were expelled, and the ordinary chakra that Yamashiro Aoba and Maki injected into their bodies naturally dissipated without a trace not long after leaving the body.
Mizuki, who had narrowly escaped the disaster, was also very pleased with his luck at the critical moment. However, looking at the exhausted Yamashiro Aoba and the exhausted Maki, Mizuki once again felt the extent of the chakra volume of the jonin level. He sighed sincerely that in the ninja world, the importance of qualifications is indeed self-evident. Apart from the type of people like Hatake Kakashi who have less chakra, there are generally only Maki and Yamashiro Aoba at this level.
However, there are always some people with extraordinary talents that make people sigh at the unfairness of this world. With a breath-retaining technique, Mizuki's chakra reserves can crush most of the jonin. But this level is still far behind the talented guys like Uzumaki Naruto, Gaara, and Hoshigaki Kisame.
Also, feeling the emptiness in his body and the damage to his meridians and acupuncture points, Shuimu knew that he was no longer suitable for a battle of too high intensity in the short term. Before recuperation, it was best not to call on chakra too frequently.
However, Shuimu was actually quite satisfied with this situation. There were almost no irreparable physical sequelae, and he did not overdraw the vitality of his body cells. This was quite rare after a series of fierce battles.
As for whether there are any other hidden troubles, we will have to wait and see later. At this time, Shuimu was looking up at the giant eagle circling in the sky, making rhythmic calls, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Has the other side been completed? Is it also common in this world that key characters always arrive late?"
The arrival of the messenger eagle confirmed that the anti-traitor operation had ended. Feng Shuimu could not care about the bloody incident on the dark side of the village for the time being, but now his side was also preliminarily completed. Except for minor details, he and Yamashiro Aoba would bring the two Genin back to Konoha Village, and his mission would be completed.
After a while, after a period of rest, the exhausted people finally recovered a lot of strength. In addition to feeling grateful that the "Akatsuki" organization did not launch a counterattack or send other strong forces to reinforce, they also felt regretful for their compatriots who died in battle.
Logically speaking, the results of the three ninja villages were actually quite impressive. The elimination of a powerful warrior like Scorpion, who could independently conquer a country, was already an extremely rare victory, and they also repelled immortal monsters like Kakuzu and Hidan. However, compared with the losses in the battle, it can only be said to be unsatisfactory.
Although Akadochi and Kurotsuchi, who led the Iwagakure Village, had no problems, the accompanying personnel suffered heavy losses, especially when faced with the sudden rebellion of the traitor and the Mirror Raider Technique, the character ninjas with ordinary qualifications and insufficient potential, who could not break through on the spot, suffered great damage. On the contrary, although there were a few people accompanying the elite Sand Village, except for a few injuries, they were basically not hurt by the clones. It's just a pity that in the face of the disadvantages of Hidan and Kakuzu, the loss of two jonins is a pity. On the contrary, the sparsely populated Konoha had the most complete personnel.
Before they knew it, it was almost evening. Given the current situation, it seemed a bit difficult to travel overnight. As a result, the three ninja villages, after a brief discussion by the three leading jonin, officially decided to gather the team and act together. After a night of rest, they would quickly complete the rest of the journey.
…
After a quick dinner, Mizuki sat quietly by a stream, relaxing his mind. This relaxed feeling was what Mizuki was most used to. For a ninja like Mizuki, perception was like an extremely important third eye, an important means of observing the world. But since the Sage Mode was activated, this eye was like being covered with a thick veil, which made Mizuki's cognition of the world completely blurred. This huge difference once made Mizuki's anxiety extremely inflated. Mizuki, who was used to using perception to predict, was almost at a loss in this state of confusion. Fortunately, Shino Aburame and Neji Hyuga would perceive for him from time to time.
Now, it was as if the haze in front of his eyes had been completely dispelled, and the world was once again brightly displayed in front of Shuimu. The birds flying in the sky, the insects in the grass not far away, and the fish swimming under the water were all clearly visible to Shuimu.
After a long time, Shuimu reached out and picked up the bloody March sickle that was casually thrown at hand. He bent his fingers and flicked the steel blade, making a crisp sound, and then nodded with satisfaction. This thing was a trophy that Yamashiro Aoba specially collected when Shuimu was unable to get away. In addition to this bloody March sickle, there was also a small piece of broken body of Hidan, which was also sealed by Shuimu. He planned to go back and take a good look at this monster with a strong vitality that was so exaggerated that it seemed like a joke. What was going on? However, that was all a story for later. Now the material of this sickle is extremely excellent. It can withstand Shuimu's full-strength attack from the side and is almost unscathed. It is already a very rare weapon. Should I use it directly or melt it down to make a handy one? I will ask a professional weapon master first.
Just as Shuimu was counting his unsatisfactory spoils of war, he suddenly felt a thin figure approaching.
Feeling the chakra and characteristics of the person coming, Shuimu couldn't help but frown.
"It seems that nothing serious has happened."
After a while, Hyuga Neji walked out from the shadows of the jungle behind him.
"What happened? Neji?"
Hyuga Neji walked over and said in a deep voice: "I found a person who is quite suspicious. Maybe there is something wrong?"
"Huh?" Shuimu's heart tightened. If someone came to cause trouble at this time, it would be difficult to deal with. Fortunately, the mission was almost completed, and Shuimu could directly choose to retreat and not get involved in this mess.
"Who are you talking about?"
"Deidara, the prisoner of the Iwagakure Village." Hyuga Neji said a name that was beyond Mizuki's expectations.
"Deidara? Why is it him?"
In any case, Shuimu never thought that there was something wrong with this person.
"Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"
"There's absolutely no mistake." Hinata Nanning said firmly, "Before the mission began, I observed this person. Even when he was sealed up by layers of seals, his features were still quite obvious. But now, that person is completely free from restrictions. Is he pretending to be captured?"
"Disguise?" Shui Mu asked in surprise, "Why don't you run? There should be plenty of opportunities to escape, right? The chaos just now..."
As he was talking, Shuimu stopped by himself.
"Is that so?" Shuimu smiled bitterly and shook his head, "It's too late."
Saying that he won't run away is too presumptuous. It is very likely that he has run away long ago and is now just an insignificant substitute here.
"White Zetsu, it's really hard to guard against..."
In the ninja world, White Zetsu is the best one who can evade Mizuki's perception without anyone noticing. Before setting off, Mizuki also carefully confirmed Deidara's condition. Mizuki couldn't think of anyone else who could replace Deidara under Mizuki's perception, except for White Zetsu's clone who could simulate the situation vividly at the chakra level.
Mizuki's good mood was immediately ruined by the news that Hyuga Neji had just brought.
"Captain Mizuki, what should we do?"
"When was this discovered? Who else knows about it?" First of all, Shuimu still had to confirm the specific situation.
"I discovered it shortly after we reunited with the Iwagakure Village. I made a routine observation and found out." Hyuga Neji replied, "So far, I haven't told anyone else except Captain Mizuki."
"Very good." Shuimu nodded.
It didn't matter that no one else knew about it, because the insignificant secret mission to assassinate Deidara was officially declared a failure.
"Next, we just need to pretend that we don't know anything. After the matter of Deidara is handed over to the Iwagakure Village, it has nothing to do with Konoha. Any problems that arise are their business. You should also forget about this matter for the time being and pretend that nothing happened."
"Is this okay? Is it dangerous?"
"Don't worry, leave it to me." Mizuki said confidently. Since he is not a powerful A Fei, killing one or two White Zetsu clones is really insignificant. After rescuing Deidara and leaving a substitute, it is obvious that he is here for reconnaissance, and it is very likely that he is targeting Mizuki to explore the information of the Samsara Eye. It is better to continue pretending that he doesn't know and let him see enough. Anyway, the danger is not great. In the end, he will be discovered and killed by the Hidden Rock Village. There is no need for Mizuki to meddle in other people's business.
"So we still have to go with them? Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
"Go back and rest early." Shuimu smiled but did not answer. Then he waved his right hand, and a night owl that was resting in the shadow of the treetop flew out and landed steadily on Shuimu's arm. "Tomorrow morning, you will know."
After hearing what Mizuki said, Hyuga Neji wanted to ask again, but he also understood that obedience was what the Genin should do now.
Looking at Hyuga Neji's leaving back, Mizuki looked at Night Owl who was spinning his arms and making a humming sound with his head, and wondered how to write the mission report.
"So, how much key information should I reveal? I really need to think about it carefully!"
…
In a hidden base, Kakuzu was helping Hidan sew up his torn body. While doing this delicate work, he had to endure Hidan's nagging, who had been cursing and chattering from the beginning.
"Shut up, Hidan, or I'll kill you if you say anything more."
"If you can do it, just give it a try, bastard. I just told you to wait. That prematurely gray-haired guy suddenly burst out with such a powerful force. It's obvious that he can't last long. Can't he just hold on for a while longer? What a good sacrifice, wasted..."
"Hmm?" Hearing Feiduan's arrogant words, Kakuzu stopped sewing Feiduan's ground complaint. "The guy lying on the ground in a mess, saying such arrogant words, is really annoying. And when you said hold on for a while, did you mean let me hold on alone? A guy who has been beaten flat is really arrogant."
"Mr. Kakuzu, please speak nicely. As long as you help me sew it up, everything will be fine! And look, am I missing some flesh... No, I really am missing a lot of flesh. You bastard, why didn't you bring my body back intact? Also, where is my weapon? That is my favorite weapon, go find it for me quickly..."
Kakuzu, however, seemed not to have heard Hidan's curse and turned towards the door with a serious expression.
"Who's outside?"
Following Kakuzu's words, the air in the room became much colder.
No one answered, but the door was immediately pushed open, and with a creaking sound, two figures appeared in Kakuzu's eyes. The one in front was a young man with arrogant blond hair, blue eyes, and a cynical smile. His tired look could not hide his crazy temperament. Behind him was a strange man with a very unfamiliar face and pale skin.
"Isn't this Deidara? You're so lucky to have escaped." He looked at the man behind him and said, "Who is this? Zetsu's clone? It's you? No wonder you were able to save Deidara."
Being in the core of Konoha, Jue had no way to save people, but in the wild, as long as he could disrupt the battlefield, this environment would be like a fish in water for Jue. He could sneak in and save a few hostages, and as long as he was not deliberately targeted, the success rate would be quite high.
"I really have to thank you two for this time, otherwise it would have been really bad. However, it is a pity that my companion who pursued the ultimate art together, Brother Scorpion, died in battle."
Although he said it was a pity, Deidara still had a cruel smile on his face, directed at someone unknown.
…
In Konoha, it was late at night, and the Hokage's office building was still brightly lit. The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, was looking at the information that had just been sent back with a headache. She reached out to pick up the teacup out of habit, but found that the tea in it had been drunk up long ago.
"Oh, what a troublesome bunch of guys."
"Always frowning will make you age faster, right?"
Along with these cynical words, Jiraiya, a man with white hair, suddenly appeared and sat on the windowsill behind Tsunade.
"Are you qualified to say such things?" Tsunade said, suppressing her anger.
"None of this is important." Jiraiya quickly changed the subject, "What's the matter with you calling me so late at night?"
"Take a look at this first." Tsunade took out the information of two people and handed it to Jiraiya.