[Naruto : Yellow Flash] Chapter 721 - 725

Chapter 721: Subject 49

"Is he attempting that record?" Iruka murmured, his eyes widening as he finally understood Sasuke's intention.

"Tat-tat-tat!"

Three of the five shuriken Sasuke had initially launched struck the centers of the targets directly in front of him. Meanwhile, the remaining two shuriken continued their arcing flight paths, accompanied by the faint sound of air being cut as Sasuke's final two projectiles—thrown with his full strength—rapidly approached.

"Clink! Clink!"

Four shuriken collided in mid-air, creating a metallic ring that echoed across the training ground. The two shuriken that had been flying forward suddenly altered their trajectories, a maneuver that caused the surrounding students' expressions to shift from curiosity to astonishment.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, the deflected shuriken veered sharply toward the targets positioned on the left and right, embedding themselves firmly into the wooden surfaces.

A brief, stunned silence fell over the training ground before one student broke it with an excited shout: "Amazing!"

"Sasuke-kun is so awesome!" Immediately afterward, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Lower your voices!" Iruka quickly intervened. "Other classes are still in session." Despite his admonishment, surprise was evident in his eyes as he regarded Sasuke.

"This guy..." Naruto muttered from within the crowd, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Prior to the holiday break, Sasuke's shuriken skills had been impressive, but certainly not at this level. It seemed Naruto wasn't the only one who had dedicated himself to rigorous training during the past month.

Sasuke, indifferent to the reactions around him, critically examined the two side targets. Although his shuriken had hit them, they hadn't struck the centers perfectly. Compared to Itachi's original feat, there remained a significant gap.

Amid the continuing exclamations, Sasuke returned to his initial position as the next students prepared for their turn.

Far away in the Land of Sound—a country absent from current world maps and even now barely deserving of the designation "country"—a small ninja village had been established. This fledgling settlement was known as Otogakure, the Village Hidden in Sound.

To the northeast of Otogakure stretched a continuous mountain range riddled with countless primitive caves. These natural formations appeared nearly identical to one another; once you ventured away from a cave entrance, without some distinguishing marker, you would likely become hopelessly lost among the ancient peaks.

However, among these countless caverns, one in particular presented a different character altogether. From its entrance, this cave appeared no different from its neighbors for the first dozen meters or so. But deeper inside, the natural stone gave way to a laboratory filled with sophisticated instruments and enormous glass vessels.

These massive containers—each taller than a person—were filled with an eerie green liquid. Many such vessels lined the cave walls, and in three of them floated human-shaped shadows.

Standing before these three particular containers was a man with long black hair, observing their contents with an unsettling intensity. He held a clipboard in his hand, and his strange, snake-like eyes gleamed with calculated purpose.

This pale-skinned man with an almost sickly complexion was none other than Orochimaru, who had defected from Konoha seven years prior.

After what seemed an eternity of silent observation, Orochimaru slowly raised his gaze to the three human forms suspended in the vessels before him. His eyes held the cold, predatory focus of a serpent watching its prey—utterly devoid of emotion.

"Come out," he commanded, his voice slow and hoarse.

"Crack."

As his words fell, fissures suddenly appeared on the surface of the glass containers.

"Bang!"

The cracks rapidly expanded until the vessels shattered completely.

"Splash!"

Green fluid gushed out, flooding across the stone floor. The three naked individuals who had been suspended within the containers slowly stepped forward to stand before Orochimaru.

White scales covered portions of their skin, reminiscent of a snake's hide. Their eyes contained almost no pupils, instead glowing an alarming blood-red that gave them a terrifying appearance.

Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged. He retrieved three syringes from the ninja tool pouch at his back and injected each subject one after another.

"Hiss."

A slight sound emanated from the skin of the three test subjects as white, snake-like scales rapidly proliferated across their bodies.

As the scales spread, the flesh beneath began to writhe and shift unnaturally.

"AAAHHH!"

The undulation of flesh and blood evidently caused excruciating pain, causing two of the men to howl in unbearable agony.

Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly with interest. He was well aware that the body transformation he had initiated should, theoretically, produce pain beyond what human nerves could tolerate.

Yet the third experimental subject endured in silence—a feat requiring extraordinary willpower that piqued Orochimaru's curiosity.

Gradually, the skin of all three subjects transformed completely into white scales, while the flesh beneath continued its grotesque undulation.

Agonized screams echoed throughout the cave as the three men collapsed before Orochimaru, their bodies convulsing violently as their flesh continued to writhe beneath their skin.

"Crack!"

Suddenly, the midsection of one subject began to split open. The fissures spread rapidly throughout his body before it exploded in a gruesome shower of viscera.

Blood, flesh, organs, and bone fragments splattered in every direction. Some blood speckled Orochimaru's face, but his expression remained impassive as he watched the two remaining subjects.

"AAAAHHH!"

One continued screaming in agony until, a minute later, his body detonated just like the first.

Orochimaru's attention shifted to the final remaining subject.

From beginning to end, this one had not uttered a single cry. Even his eyes, now unnaturally transformed into blood-red orbs due to the mutation, still retained a glimmer of rationality.

This resilience genuinely surprised Orochimaru, drawing a small smile to his lips.

The flesh throughout the subject's body continued to writhe and shift. Eventually even the bones seemed to mutate, transforming the person before Orochimaru into little more than an irregular mass of constantly twisting, pulsating tissue.

This grotesque metamorphosis continued for another half hour.

Finally, the writhing flesh began to slow its movements. The distorted form started healing at an astonishing rate, gradually reconstituting into a human shape.

The white, snake-like scales progressively lightened before sinking beneath the surface of the man's skin.

Having finally exhausted the last reserves of his willpower, the experimental subject lost consciousness.

As he lay there, his appearance gradually returned to normal—revealing a handsome boy who looked to be thirteen or fourteen years old.

"Success at last," Orochimaru whispered, his eyes burning with excitement as he gazed at the young man who had regained his human form.

He had been researching this particular subject for a considerable time, and today he had finally achieved a breakthrough!

In his elation, Orochimaru retrieved a document from the table behind him. Attached was a photograph showing the unconscious boy's appearance before the transformation. Though slightly altered now, the features remained recognizable.

The file was labeled: "Experimental Subject No. 49, Kimimaro."

Chapter 722: The New Squad Leader

Chiharu's admission to the Academy and direct promotion to the third grade had created quite a stir. Much like Kakashi and Itachi before her, she quickly became known as a "genius" and the focus of everyone's attention.

The level of interest she garnered, however, exceeded even what those prodigies had experienced. This was partly because Chiharu wasn't just any genius—she was also the daughter of the Fourth Hokage.

Unlike Naruto when he first entered the Academy, Chiharu responded to the constant attention with gracious smiles, never letting it affect her. In her mind, simply being able to spend each day with her brother, Sasuke, and Hinata was what truly mattered.

Where Naruto possessed a fierce competitive spirit, Chiharu shared more of Minato's temperament—gentle, kind, and naturally adept at building harmonious relationships with her classmates.

In this peaceful and comfortable environment, nearly half a year passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.

In the Hokage's office, Minato sat at his desk, a small scroll in his hand. Though the message contained barely a dozen words, his expression had grown solemn as he studied its contents.

"It seems Shisui is in trouble," Minato said, rising from his chair, his eyes darkening with concern.

"But even if we wanted to abort the mission now, it would be impossible..."

Uchiha Yoruki, standing before him, lowered his gaze slightly. The scroll from Shisui indicated that communication with the village had been temporarily severed—a clear sign that their operation had been compromised.

Minato had long suspected that among the masked man's accomplices was someone specifically tasked with intelligence gathering. This development seemed to confirm his theory.

"What should we do next?" Uchiha Yoruki asked, looking to Minato for guidance. The way Shisui had handled the mission had already exceeded standard ANBU protocols, though there was always flexibility in how specific operations were managed.

One thing was certain: Shisui and his team must now be in grave danger.

"Under normal circumstances, their mission should be terminated immediately," Minato replied. Though he suspected Kirigakure was being manipulated by outside forces, he wouldn't willingly risk Shisui's life to confirm his suspicions.

"But we've lost contact with them. All we can do now is trust in Shisui's abilities and judgment."

"I believe he'll make the right decision," Uchiha Yoruki nodded in agreement. Shisui had always acted with caution and precision. If he hadn't immediately aborted the mission, he must have had his reasons.

For now, all they could do was wait for news. If a truly critical situation arose, Minato could still provide rescue, as Shisui carried one of his Flying Thunder God markers.

"In the meantime," Minato continued, "Shisui's position as captain remains vacant. Someone must take his place." He looked meaningfully at Uchiha Yoruki.

The ANBU commander's expression shifted subtly, as though there was something he hesitated to voice.

Noticing this, Minato smiled reassuringly. "Today, don't overthink the situation. As long as the person you have in mind is qualified for the position of squad leader, that's all that matters."

He had already guessed who Yoruki was considering and understood his concerns.

"Among the current ANBU, the most suitable person to succeed Shisui as captain is Uchiha Itachi," Yoruki finally stated.

Since becoming Hokage, Minato had implemented a series of policies that greatly improved relations between the Uchiha clan and the village. Nevertheless, ANBU remained a highly classified division directly under the Hokage's command, tasked with operations involving the village's most sensitive secrets.

For the sake of balance, it might seem inappropriate for the son of the Uchiha clan leader to serve as an ANBU captain. One had to maintain a certain vigilance, after all. Even though the Uchiha appeared content with their position in the village, radical elements still existed among the clan elders.

Moreover, Uchiha Yoruki still couldn't fully read Fugaku's intentions.

"Thank you," Minato said softly, recognizing the concern in Yoruki's tone.

Though born into the Uchiha clan, Yoruki had transcended clan allegiances, dedicating himself wholly to the village and to Minato as Hokage.

"I've watched Itachi grow up," Minato continued. "Though still young, he's considered by you to be your only worthy successor. His abilities speak for themselves."

At just thirteen years old, Itachi had already developed into an exceptionally talented shinobi. Few in either the Uchiha clan or ANBU could claim to surpass him.

"Even as a child, Itachi's thinking far exceeded his years," Minato observed. "Like you and Shisui, he considers himself a Konoha shinobi first and foremost. We need not question his loyalty."

When Itachi was around seven, some of his insights had genuinely surprised Minato. Even then, his perspective resembled that of a Hokage, considering the village's welfare above all else.

"As for Yoruki, I trust him as well. I've long maintained that we must place our faith in the Uchiha, and my position hasn't changed."

Minato acknowledged that his approach might seem naïve, given the complex history between Konoha's leadership and the Uchiha clan. But that belonged to the past. Starting with him and continuing with the next generation, these prejudices needed to be dismantled.

History, after all, was shaped by human actions. Though as Hokage he could never forget the past, he refused to be imprisoned by it. Together, they would forge a new chapter in Konoha's story.

"I understand," Uchiha Yoruki replied, his respect for Minato evident in his tone.

After discussing a few more details regarding ANBU's recent operations, Yoruki departed from the office.

Once alone, Minato turned to gaze out the window, drawing a deep breath. The masked man had operated in the shadows for years, repeatedly evading capture. Shisui faced no simple task in executing his mission undetected.

Yet Minato believed in his abilities.

Gradually, a smile formed on the Hokage's face as he contemplated the future. A thirteen-year-old ANBU captain—Itachi would be the youngest in Konoha's history. Though already proving himself capable, it would take time for him to fully establish his authority in the position.

The shinobi world had never lacked for prodigies. Not only in Konoha, but across all the hidden villages, exceptional talents continued to emerge.

He'd heard that a few years ago, Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, had taken on a new disciple—a child of remarkable talent. Yet this apprentice apparently gave Ōnoki little peace, occasionally setting off explosions along Iwagakure's outskirts.

If rumors were true, that boy was even younger than Itachi...

Chapter 723: Deidara

Iwagakure, the Village Hidden in Stone.

The village stood amidst a desolate desert landscape, its outskirts dominated by craggy mountains formed from countless accumulated boulders. Among these rugged formations sat a simple house with a thatched roof.

"RUMBLE!"

Several kilometers southwest of the house, a thunderous sound suddenly erupted. A violent explosion had occurred, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.

WHOOSH!

A silhouette burst from the rising smoke cloud—a large white bird with a peculiar, almost artificial appearance. Atop this strange creation stood a figure who reached into a pouch and flung something downward.

"Ha!" the figure exclaimed, forming a one-handed seal.

The object he had thrown began to emit an intense light before—

"BOOM!"

A violent explosion erupted in mid-air, its force rippling outward to affect the rocks below. The mountainside suddenly collapsed, sending enormous boulders tumbling down the slope.

"Hmm," the young man standing on the giant bird murmured with satisfaction as he observed the explosion's aftermath.

He had a strikingly handsome appearance, with long golden hair dancing in the wind. "My art truly is perfection, hmm!" he declared to himself.

Reaching once more into the ninja tool pouch at his waist, he paused momentarily. When he withdrew his hand, it held a palm-sized white bird—a miniature replica of the larger creation he was riding.

He opened his palm, and the small white bird took flight. Again, he formed a one-handed seal, preparing to detonate it as he had the previous explosive.

Suddenly, he raised his eyes and noticed something peculiar—white origami shapes floating in the distance, approaching his position at this considerable altitude.

The boy froze in confusion. Why would there be such densely packed origami at this height?

The paper constructs drew closer, hovering before the young man before gradually condensing into a human form.

"Who are you?" he demanded, staring at the purple-haired woman who had materialized before him.

"You're Deidara, correct?" the woman asked, ignoring his question entirely.

"How dare you ignore me!" Deidara's brows immediately furrowed. To his mind, the purple-haired woman's refusal to answer showed tremendous disrespect.

"To create an explosion of such magnitude..." the woman murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed him.

"You bitch!" Seeing that she had dismissed him again, Deidara's patience evaporated. He formed a seal with one hand, sending the white bird directly toward the woman.

"Katsu!"

At his command, the bird detonated, engulfing the area in dust and smoke. Only then did Deidara's expression soften slightly in satisfaction.

"Hmph!"

However, the woman emerged from the dust cloud completely unharmed, floating serenely on paper wings.

"Just as Zetsu described—a boy who talks to himself," Konan thought privately. She recognized that an ordinary ninja would likely have been seriously injured by Deidara's attack.

"Impossible!" Deidara exclaimed, shocked to see the woman unscathed.

Without hesitation, he reached into his pouch again. When his hand reemerged, it held several white creatures of various shapes.

Seeing this, Konan feigned mild surprise before increasing her speed and turning to fly away.

"Trying to escape?" Deidara refused to let her go. The massive bird he rode flapped its wings powerfully, pursuing Konan closely.

As he gave chase, he hurled the creature-shaped explosives from his hand and rapidly formed a seal.

"BANG! BANG! BANG!"

Explosions rocked the air in succession, yet somehow Konan evaded each attack without suffering a scratch.

As their aerial pursuit continued, the two gradually moved farther and farther from Iwagakure. Behind them, scattered throughout the rocky terrain, lay the bodies of several shinobi wearing Stone Village uniforms.

The aerial battle continued for some time until, at considerable distance from Iwagakure, Konan descended toward a dense stone forest and disappeared into it.

"Done running away?" Deidara laughed, seeing that Konan had stopped her retreat. Rather than follow her directly, he performed his familiar technique, creating several white creatures larger than his previous explosives.

With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent these creations plummeting toward the stone forest below.

"Art is an EXPLOSION!" Deidara's eyes burned with excitement as he formed a detonation seal.

Before his explosives could reach the forest floor, however, a whistling sound cut through the air as several projectiles shot upward from the stone formations.

"SWOOSH!"

These missiles collided with Deidara's explosives in mid-air.

"BOOM!"

A cataclysmic explosion sent shockwaves in all directions, the force of the blast affecting even Deidara hovering above.

As the explosion subsided, Deidara surveyed the scene below. The stone forest had sustained damage, though less than he would have expected.

"How dare you interfere with my art!" he snarled through clenched teeth. "Absolutely unforgivable!"

As he spoke, his hands worked frantically, preparing to craft even more devastating explosives.

SCREECH!

Suddenly, an enormous, strange-looking bird burst from the stone forest, heading straight for Deidara.

Caught off guard, he hastily maneuvered his clay mount to evade the attack. An aerial battle ensued, with Deidara gradually forced lower and lower.

When he was flying dangerously close to the treetops, he felt an irresistible gravitational force erupting from below. His bird was instantly dragged downward into the stone forest and slammed violently against the ground.

"Damn it!" Deidara cursed as he pulled himself up from his fallen mount.

Before him, two figures emerged, walking slowly in his direction. One was Konan, who had led him to this trap.

"So there's an accomplice," Deidara's eyes darkened, though he showed little fear. Immediately alert, he reached for his ninja tool pouch.

"You are Deidara, correct?" the man beside Konan asked, repeating the same question she had posed earlier. His eyes reflected complete indifference.

Deidara couldn't tolerate this continued dismissive attitude. Plunging his arm into his pouch, he withdrew it violently, flinging several explosives toward the pair.

"Go to hell!" he shouted, detonating the bombs without concern for the fact that he stood well within the blast radius.

From within the explosion came a voice that seemed to command the very forces of nature:

"Shinra Tensei!"

A terrifying repulsive force erupted outward, blasting away the explosion, the white bird, and Deidara himself!

Chapter 724: Subjugation

"BOOM!"

The entire stone forest trembled as Deidara and his giant white bird were blown backward, dust and debris billowing in their wake.

"Damn it, what kind of jutsu is this?" Deidara propped himself against the rocky outcrop, blood seeping from between his clenched teeth. He wiped the crimson stream from his chin with the back of his hand.

A gentle breeze swept through the area, dispersing the dust cloud that had settled between the stone pillars. Deidara stared ahead as the orange-haired man—clad in a black robe embroidered with red cloud patterns matching Konan's—slowly lowered his arm. His expression remained as impassive as before.

"What's your purpose in bringing me here?" Deidara asked, his defiant attitude finally giving way to wary curiosity.

"Oh?"

Konan and Pain exchanged glances, somewhat surprised. This Deidara was evidently not merely a simple-minded explosives enthusiast as they had been led to believe. It made sense why the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki valued him so highly—even going so far as to suppress knowledge of Deidara's participation in a coup in another country, instead simply confining him to a stone forest several kilometers from Iwagakure.

Pain fixed his ringed eyes on Deidara. "We're impressed by your abilities," he stated calmly. "We'd like to invite you to join our organization."

"Akatsuki."

"Akatsuki?" Deidara's eyebrows rose. He waved his hand dismissively and chuckled. "What does that have to do with me? Don't disturb me from creating and appreciating my art."

He showed no interest whatsoever in their offer.

"Art?" Konan raised an eyebrow.

Seeing her surprised expression, Deidara's pride swelled. He reached into his ninja tool pouch and produced another white clay creature.

"This is my art," he declared. "Look at its simple lines and the deliberate pursuit of unadorned form!"

His eyes blazed with passion, like a master artist revealing his magnum opus to an audience.

"However, if it remains just an empty shell, it cannot be called true art." He continued with growing fervor. "So it must explode—and through that explosion, its existence is sublimated, transformed into something truly perfect. An aesthetic that is both fleeting and eternal."

"Art is an EXPLOSION! Hmm!"

"What a simple-minded individual," Konan thought privately. In Deidara's worldview, creating explosions was merely a means to share his artistic vision with others. This explained why he had been recruited by rebel shinobi to assist in their coup attempt. Deidara didn't view his actions as crimes or terrorist attacks, but rather as exhibitions of his art for an unappreciative world.

Pain's expression remained unchanged. "I won't waste words. I'm inviting you to join our organization."

"What kind of attitude is that? Are you disrespecting my art?" Deidara snapped, anger flashing in his eyes. "I have zero interest in joining Akatsuki or whatever you call yourselves. I only want to continue creating and appreciating explosive art, hmm!"

"You've been unanimously marked for elimination by Iwagakure's leadership," Konan interjected. "If not for the Third Tsuchikage's protection, you would have been executed long ago."

"But even the Tsuchikage can't shield you forever," she added.

"So what?" Deidara remained unmoved, preparing to turn and depart.

"What I just said wasn't a request for your opinion," Pain stated coldly. "This is God's decree. You have no choice but to join our organization."

"God? You actually call yourself a god?" Deidara sneered, turning his gaze toward Pain.

Their eyes met, and suddenly, gazing into those strange ringed purple eyes, Deidara felt an overwhelming pressure—a crushing sense that absolute obedience was the only option. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, trickling down his face unbidden.

"You should understand that you stand no chance against me as you are now," Pain continued. "Obeying my command is your only viable choice."

Pain stood calmly while Deidara attempted to assume a fighting stance.

"Why can't I..." Deidara found his body trembling uncontrollably despite his best efforts to steady himself.

The man before him seemed like a force of nature, making Deidara feel insignificant as an ant. His very presence commanded submission, impossible to resist.

After a tense moment, Deidara's face darkened, and he whispered reluctantly, "Fine."

Even Deidara himself didn't fully understand why he had conceded so easily.

"Welcome to the organization," Pain responded dispassionately.

Deidara lowered his gaze, then locked eyes with the man before him once more. "One day, I will defeat you with my art!"

"If you can manage that feat," Pain replied softly before exchanging a glance with Konan.

She reached into her robe and tossed something toward Deidara. He caught it reflexively—a ring with the character for "Blue" (青) engraved in its center.

"Every official member of our organization carries a ring," Konan explained. "Your code name is Blue Dragon."

As she spoke, a hunched figure emerged from the stone forest behind her. The newcomer had an unsettling appearance, with gloomy eyes peering out from within a misshapen form. He too wore an Akatsuki robe.

"From this point forward, you two will operate as a team," Pain instructed. "When I'm not present, defer to his judgment should the need arise."

The hunched figure finally stepped forward, standing before Deidara.

"You expect me to take orders from this ugly freak?" Deidara asked, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Sasori, I leave this one in your care for now," Pain said, ignoring Deidara's insolence.

"Understood," came the muffled reply from within the puppet body.

"POOF!"

Without another word, Pain transformed into a wisp of smoke and vanished.

Konan's body likewise dissolved into a flurry of white origami sheets that scattered on the breeze.

After their departure, Deidara looked down at Hiruko before him and said with a mocking smile, "Now that they're gone, you'd better watch yourself. I could bury you under my art at any moment."

"I have no interest in making you into a puppet," Sasori responded indifferently. The massive scorpion-like tail of his Hiruko puppet slowly raised, its poisoned tip glinting menacingly in the light.

It would clearly take some time for these two to adjust to one another.

Meanwhile, not long after these events, in Iwagakure, a figure hurried into the Tsuchikage's office within the administrative building.

The man quickly knelt before Tsuchikage Ōnoki and reported urgently, "Lord Tsuchikage, all the shinobi you dispatched to monitor Deidara have been killed. Deidara himself is nowhere to be found."

"What?!" Ōnoki's expression changed instantly.

The Stone shinobi he had sent all carried emergency flares, yet none had managed to signal the village before their demise.

"Hmph!" Ōnoki grunted in concern. Could Deidara have been responsible for all this?

Chapter 725: Crisis

A few days after Deidara's encounter with the Akatsuki, Iwagakure issued a wanted notice to the entire shinobi world. The announcement declared that Deidara, after killing several Iwagakure ninja, had fled the village. He was now classified as an S-rank missing-nin—the highest threat level possible.

This news caused a significant stir throughout the Five Great Shinobi Nations. According to intelligence gathered from various countries, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki had been grooming this gifted Iwagakure prodigy as his potential successor. Deidara's defection represented not only a substantial blow to Iwagakure's standing but to the Third Tsuchikage's reputation as well.

More damaging still was the fact that Deidara had previously participated in terrorist activities in other nations—crimes that Ōnoki had personally ensured were suppressed from public knowledge. His defection was equivalent to the Third Tsuchikage publicly slapping himself in the face, making him a source of mockery among certain circles.

Several months later, in Konohagakure, Minato sat in the Hokage's office examining an intelligence report personally compiled by Uchiha Yoruki.

"You believe Deidara's defection might be connected to the masked man and his associates?" Minato asked, scanning the document in his hand.

"Yes. From what we know, the boy called Deidara specializes in creating devastating explosions. His ninjutsu utilizes an Iwagakure secret technique known as 'Exploding Clay,'" Yoruki explained.

"Typically, he would blow his targets to pieces. However, when the bodies of the Iwagakure ninja were later recovered and examined, forensic analysis revealed that the explosion wasn't the actual cause of death."

Uchiha Yoruki added that Iwagakure would never make this information public. Regardless of the circumstances, Deidara had betrayed his village. If the world discovered that his defection might have been orchestrated by outside forces, it would deliver yet another humiliating blow to Ōnoki's standing.

Such matters, like Orochimaru's human experimentation, represented the darker, hidden facets of shinobi village politics.

"First Orochimaru, now this Deidara," Minato mused, his eyes darkening. "It appears they're systematically accumulating power for some purpose."

Despite Deidara's youth—barely twelve years old—the unique nature of his explosive techniques made him a formidable threat to any shinobi village.

"What is their ultimate objective in all this?"

Neither Minato nor Uchiha Yoruki had yet discerned what the masked man and his companions were secretly planning. World domination? Even shinobi as powerful as Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha hadn't managed to unify the entire world.

And even if they conquered the world—then what?

A heavy silence fell between them.

"Shisui has been out of contact with the village for far too long," Uchiha Yoruki finally said. Several months had passed without a single communication from Shisui—highly unusual behavior, even accounting for the dangerous nature of his mission.

Minato nodded, his expression equally serious.

"It's possible that they have already..." Yoruki's voice trailed off, implying the grim possibility that Shisui and his team had been eliminated.

Minato's eyes flickered momentarily. "If that were true, Mei Terumi would have found some way to inform us of Shisui's fate—unless she too has been compromised."

"That's not entirely impossible," Uchiha Yoruki's eyes darkened as murderous intent gradually emerged in his gaze.

He had personally mentored Shisui, nurturing him into the exceptional shinobi he had become. Their relationship transcended that of merely superior and subordinate. Having no children of his own, Yoruki had come to view Shisui as a son, though he rarely expressed such sentiments openly.

Minato shared this sentiment. Shisui was his student, and he had already lost Obito and Rin to conspiracies with motives that remained unclear to this day.

Taking a deep breath, Minato declared, "The current situation leaves us no time for elaborate strategizing."

"Bring me someone," he called out. The door to the Hokage's office opened as an ANBU operative entered.

"Summon Sakumo and Nawaki-senpai," Minato ordered.

"Yes, sir!" The ANBU acknowledged before disappearing.

"Provide them with all the intelligence we've gathered since losing contact with Shisui," Minato instructed Yoruki as he stood up. Though they didn't know Shisui's precise location, Uchiha Yoruki had not been idle in his search.

"I'll also give them my Flying Thunder God marker. I can rush to their position if necessary."

Minato's expression hardened. Both Sakumo and Nawaki were elite shinobi, but the abilities of the mysterious masked man and his black-robed accomplice were too unpredictable. In the entire village, only Minato himself stood a chance of countering those two individuals.

"This approach is quite unlike your usual style," Uchiha Yoruki observed with a soft sigh. Minato typically operated with methodical caution, but his current actions seemed influenced by emotional considerations.

Minato inhaled deeply, resolution burning in his eyes. "If forced to choose between completing a mission and protecting my subordinates, I will abandon the mission without hesitation."

"A failed mission can be attempted again, but a life lost can never be recovered."

Though his words weren't absolute—after all, Minato himself had once died—all his efforts were ultimately directed toward preserving their hard-won peace.

"Even if we don't expose his conspiracy this time, he will eventually come to me again after gathering sufficient strength."

For a fleeting instant, a scarlet gleam flashed in Minato's eyes—so briefly that even Uchiha Yoruki failed to notice it.

On a small island shrouded in sea mist, a slender figure moved swiftly, finally landing at the entrance of a damp cave. Upon arrival, she paused momentarily before tapping the outer stone wall in a specific rhythm.

Judging by her attire, she was a Kirigakure ANBU operative—a woman.

The moment her hand left the wall, a dark shadow materialized before her eyes as a figure appeared.

"You've come," Shisui said, removing his mask.

"What news?" he asked directly.

The Kirigakure ANBU also removed her mask, revealing delicate, beautiful features.

"You were right—Lord Mizukage's behavior is indeed unusual," Mei Terumi confirmed, her striking eyes reflecting concern.

"Then our plan—" Shisui began, but Mei Terumi cut him off.

"Because of him, I trust you," she said, referring to Minato, "but I'm afraid that plan cannot proceed for now."

Her expression shifted to one of alarm. "Your presence has been discovered by other Kirigakure forces. You must leave immediately!"

Shock registered in Shisui's eyes. Despite severing all communication with the village to maintain secrecy, had the Kirigakure ANBU somehow detected them?

At that moment, another ninja wearing a Konoha ANBU uniform emerged from the cave beside them.

The man cast a wary glance at Mei Terumi before addressing Shisui urgently:

"We're in trouble! I just sensed a large contingent of Kirigakure shinobi approaching our position. We're surrounded!"