CHAPTER 266: CHAPTER 266: JUST MIGHT RUN INTO MADARA

The summit had taken an unexpected turn, and the situation had completely flipped.

Though both sides now appeared to have reached an understanding, Obito still stood there scratching his head, utterly confused, with a blank and bewildered expression on his face.

Wait, what just happened...?

Gato... just backed off?

And somehow they ended up saddled with a strange new mission?

Shiranui Genma guessed this mission might’ve been a form of "compensation" for them. He didn’t fully understand what had transpired either, but it felt like this had something to do with their teacher.

Otherwise...

Why had support arrived so fast?

Even with a slug relay for communication, that still would’ve taken time.

Of course...

That’s assuming one truly understands Kyoichi.

Ebisu might’ve sensed something.

As for Might Guy and Obito...

Guy was still unconscious.

And Obito...

He was still struggling to make sense of what just happened. Something felt off in his gut, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

They had now accepted the task of escorting Gato and his people out of the Land of Waves.

The difference was—

They had arrived with just four people, but were now leaving with Rin in the group as well.

"Hehehe... Rin, what are you doing here?" Obito asked, grinning.

"Just happened to pass by during a mission," Rin replied casually, offering no further explanation.

With Obito’s personality, if he learned the truth now, the whole village would know in no time.

That blabbermouth...

Better to wait and tell him once they were back.

Calling it an "escort mission" was generous—it was more like monitoring Gato’s departure from the Land of Waves.

Gato, to his credit, was fully cooperative.

He might’ve had plenty of money, but not so much that he’d lost his sense of self-preservation. He knew full well the power gap between ordinary people and shinobi—and more importantly...

Kanda Kyoichi was even scarier than Hōzuki Chikage.

He’d dropped Chikage with a single punch.

That level of power sent chills down Gato’s spine.

Now seated in a boat, legs trembling, he kept replaying the earlier scene over and over in his head.

Only once they had crossed the border and watched Might Guy’s team step onto the Land of Fire’s shore did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Boss, about the Land of Waves—should we still..."

"Still your ass! You idiot! We’re done with the Land of Waves!"

He wouldn’t dare touch the Land of Waves again—not until he was absolutely sure what Konoha’s intentions were.

Money could be earned slowly.

But lose your life, and it’s game over.

Power forces clarity.

That same Hōzuki Chikage who had just been threatening to kill everyone a minute ago had bowed and apologized the next—wasn’t that proof enough?

And Gato? He was nothing in comparison.

"We’re going home. I... I don’t want to see that godforsaken Land of Waves for at least ten years," Gato muttered, practically incoherent.

---

The Land of Waves was undeniably valuable.

Whoever monopolized the ferry traffic here would essentially control the sea trade route between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire. It would be a goldmine.

But precisely because it was important, there was no way Kyoichi would let someone like Gato control such a vital route.

This would soon become a key outpost for trade convoys traveling to the Land of Water.

Naturally, it needed to be in trusted hands.

And Kyoichi had no shortage of merchant convoys under his command. He could just have Morita Shin come and establish operations here another day.

For now...

He still had business in the Land of Water.

"Sensei... are we just going straight to Kirigakure like this?" Shisui asked quietly.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that things were dangerous on that side of the sea.

"Mhm. Your skills have matured well enough—consider this a real-world trial. Shouldn’t be any big problems..."

Just maybe we’ll run into a puppet controlled by Uchiha Madara, Kyoichi added silently.

A puppet was still a far cry from the real thing.

Besides...

Assuming the rumors about Madara manipulating the Third Mizukage were true, the Third was no spring chicken—he already had one foot in the grave.

In that state...

How strong could he possibly be?

The real danger wasn’t his strength, but the authority he held and the control Madara exercised through him.

As long as they didn’t give him the opportunity, nothing would happen.

Yagura must have let his guard down—he tried to stage a rebellion right after returning home, and didn’t even try to avoid contact with the Mizukage. What did he expect?

After Kyoichi finished speaking, no one said a word.

Kakashi, Kurenai, Shisui—

This team was arguably the strongest lineup of the next generation, both in combat ability and mental resilience. Since the destination was Kirigakure, they had no objections.

But—

Once they landed in the Land of Water, Hōzuki Chikage began to hesitate.

Previously, he’d been too scared to think straight. But now, after a night’s rest, his fear of Kyoichi had somewhat settled.

As a jōnin...

He realized what he was actually doing.

Put nicely, he was facilitating a diplomatic exchange between villages.

Put bluntly—he was a collaborator.

And the problem was...

He still had no clue what Kyoichi really wanted.

Tracking a rogue ninja?

What a joke...

He was from the Hōzuki clan and had decent access to information. Before departing on this mission, he’d heard nothing about any "Hiruko" active in this region of the Land of Water.

Even if such a person existed, it would’ve been a matter for the Kirigakure assassination corps—not something Konoha should be meddling in.

And of course...

Under normal circumstances, allowing Konoha shinobi into their territory might not have raised any alarms.

But these weren’t normal times.

Right now, the village was acting strangely—Kirigakure had effectively closed off the Land of Water, barring all foreign shinobi from entry.

Under these conditions, if he led Konoha ninja inside...

He might be asked to commit seppuku.

Cold sweat beaded on Chikage’s forehead as he desperately tried to think of a solution.

"Captain Chikage, you look a bit pale—is something wrong?" Kyoichi asked.

"N-No, I just..."

Chikage didn’t know what to say.

Logically, the best move now would be to have an honest talk with Kyoichi about the current situation in the Land of Water and try to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement.

But the moment he saw Kyoichi’s pleasant expression, his knees nearly buckled again. He couldn’t bring himself to respond.

"Milord, what my sensei is trying to say is—given the circumstances, perhaps we should start by conducting a perimeter search, and then let our village send someone to discuss cooperation," Mei Terumi interjected.

"Yes! Exactly!" Chikage nodded rapidly, shooting her an appreciative glance.

He hadn’t realized until now—

This girl actually had a sharp mind!

When they got back, he’d be sure to train her properly. She was definitely jōnin material.

His heart filled with gratitude.

Kyoichi smiled.

That was precisely what he had hoped for.

Charging blindly into enemy territory? That was the move of a blockhead.

Only fools would do that.

Yes...

He was thinking of Jiraiya.

After considering for a moment, Kyoichi said, "You have a village elder named Genji, don’t you? Let’s have him come."

"Y-Yes!"

Chikage was stunned at first, then quickly nodded in agreement.

He turned to look at Ringo Ameyuri, Zabuza, and Mei Terumi, and after a moment’s thought, he locked eyes with Mei.

"You go back and report to Elder Genji. No need to say anything extra."

"Understood..."

Mei wasn’t stupid.

That’s exactly why Chikage picked her for the task.

If he’d sent Zabuza or Ringo...

Who knows what kind of mess they might stir up.

Kyoichi smiled. "You’re Mei Terumi, right? May I have a private word with you?"

"Of course, at your command."

Mei lowered her head humbly.

Chikage, Zabuza, and Ameyuri all held their tongues.

Kyoichi and Mei walked off to the side, leaving behind Kakashi, Shisui, and Kurenai.

Chikage exchanged glances with his subordinates, then silently sat down, not daring to make a move.

Flying Thunder God...

Unless they could take Kakashi’s group hostage instantly, giving Kyoichi no time to react, they’d be dead the moment they made a move.

And...

Shisui’s strength was on full display during the Chūnin Exams. Kakashi was a genius raised on the battlefield. As for Kurenai—

She could summon slugs, meaning she had inherited Tsunade’s lineage.

No. No way. Not making a move.

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