After Mitsuki pulled Shisui along to meet up with Heiji and Ruri, the group first stopped by the Intelligence Division to obtain information about Ao's possible movements. With that data in hand, they wasted no time and immediately departed from camp.
It was only thanks to Mitsuki's title as a advisor that he was able to access such classified intelligence—normally, high-level information like this would never be shared so freely.
They spent about half a month scouring the Land of Fire, and during that time Mitsuki even took the chance to search for any trace of the Seven Swordsmen. Unfortunately, there was still no sign of them. According to all available intel, those seven shouldn't currently be in Kirigakure, but after searching for so long without results, something felt off.
Finally, near the end of the month, the team received solid information on Ao's whereabouts. Without wasting a moment, they prepared their gear and set off together.
Mitsuki led the way, moving at a brisk pace. The intel came from a high-ranking Root spy stationed within Kirigakure, which made it highly reliable. According to the report, Ao had infiltrated the Land of Fire for multiple missions—though the details remained unclear. The spy, however, had included a map marking several possible locations where Ao might appear.
Now, Mitsuki's task was simple: eliminate the false leads one by one, as quickly as possible.
Behind him, Ruri and Shisui followed silently. They acted like strangers, not exchanging a single word on the road. When they'd first met, Shisui had politely greeted both Ruri and Heiji. Heiji, as expected, returned the greeting with courtesy. Ruri, on the other hand, simply gave Shisui a quick glance and a faint nod in acknowledgment.
Mitsuki had originally assumed, based on the titles he'd heard about the two from that rescued Konoha squad, that they might at least know each other. Clearly, he had overestimated their familiarity.
Location A—no sign.
Location B—nothing.
Location C…
Mitsuki activated his Six Eyes, scanning vast distances in an instant. Then his gaze sharpened—something caught his attention. He abruptly turned and changed direction.
"Found him!"
Shisui blinked in surprise.
"Already?"
Without hesitation, Ruri and Heiji followed Mitsuki's lead, pivoting sharply toward the new direction. Realizing what was happening, Shisui quickly caught up. He suspected Mitsuki must possess an extraordinary sensory technique — unsurprising for someone often hailed as Konoha's greatest prodigy.
Within a dense forest somewhere in the Land of Fire, a six-man Kirigakure squad moved swiftly between the towering trees. Each bore the Mist's forehead protector, and at their head was a man with an eyepatch covering his right eye — Ao, the very target Mitsuki's group had been hunting.
Their mission in the Land of Fire was of utmost importance. To protect the operation's secrecy from potential leaks—even from spies buried deep within Kirigakure's own system—the village had officially assigned Ao's team several decoy missions as cover.
Unfortunately for them, their luck had run out. Mitsuki, with his uncanny intellect and perception, had systematically eliminated every false lead until he pinpointed their real trail.
As Ao's squad sprinted through the woods, two members in the middle of the formation suddenly screamed, collapsing as they clutched their heads in agony.
Ao immediately stopped, eyes narrowing.
"Genjutsu?!" he barked, scanning their surroundings. "When did it—?"
Then, sensing something, he spun toward the darkness of the forest and formed a hand seal. Chakra surged into his right eye.
"Byakugan!"
His vision expanded instantly, revealing a Konoha ninja standing atop a distant tree branch. Ao's expression hardened.
So it's Shunshin no Shisui of Konoha… Damn it! Has our mission intel already been leaked? Don't tell me the Mist's intelligence network has become a sieve…
The mission was already compromised. Knowing that, Ao made a swift decision—he would retreat immediately, before his Byakugan could be captured.
But just as he turned to issue the retreat command, a uniquely shaped tri-pronged kunai whistled through the air toward them.
"Shadow Shuriken!"
Standing on a nearby treetop, Mitsuki formed a single hand seal. Chakra surged, and the airborne kunai multiplied a thousandfold in an instant.
The storm of blades rained down like a barrage of floating turrets, tearing through the forest. Trees splintered and toppled, the ground erupting into countless craters of varying depth and size.
It looked less like a battlefield and more like the aftermath of an artillery strike—utter devastation.
The six Kirigakure shinobi who had been running moments ago were instantly thrown into chaos. The two genjutsu-afflicted subordinates were killed outright. The remaining four barely escaped the deadly range by using Body Flicker.
Ao gritted his teeth, glaring toward the direction the kunai had come from.