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The Raikage and his group did not stop.
Nine figures moved through the forest at an astonishing speed.
As they ran, they left no traceable marks.
The sounds of battle behind them had long faded, yet they seemed to linger in their ears.
The Raikage ran at the very front, all his chakra fluctuations suppressed.
But Killer Bee could clearly feel that his older brother was very angry.
Killer Bee was also angry.
But they couldn't stop, and even more, they couldn't let anger cloud their judgment.
He adjusted his state to the best possible, carrying Mabui, and followed closely behind his older brother.
Mabui bit her lip tightly, not letting herself make a sound.
She dared not think of anything. The only thing she could do was to transform this sacrifice into a resolute will to complete the mission.
"Where is the destination, and how much longer?"
The Raikage finally spoke, his voice low and suppressed.
A Kumogakure shinobi glanced at the map and said, "We are moving along the centerline between Konoha and the capital."
"After passing through this area, we will reach the western part of the Land of Fire."
"At our current speed, we should reach the destination in about a day."
The Raikage pondered, his feet not stopping.
They landed on the eastern coast of the Land of Fire, then traversed the entire Land of Fire, creating the illusion of a surprise attack on the capital.
Making Konoha believe that they intended to attack the daimyo.
This was the strategy they had decided upon before setting out.
Konoha would never have guessed that their true destination was to lie hidden in the western part of the Land of Fire.
"Accelerate. Half a day, we must arrive in half a day."
"Yes!"
The nine of them did not hesitate, immediately quickening their pace.
Unlike the tragic determination of the Raikage's group, the daimyo manor in the capital was filled with luxury and comfort.
Deep within the Crimson Moon Pavilion, the steam from the hot springs filled the air.
The entire bath was carved from massive stones, drawing in scalding, steaming spring water from the mountains, which blurred the vision in the area.
Amidst the mist, Uchiha Kasumi's figure appeared and disappeared.
A few strands of water-soaked thin gauze barely concealed the most intimate parts of her body.
Her wet black hair clung to her smooth back, and water droplets rolled down her breathtaking curves, falling into the pool and creating ripples.
Shin leaned against the pool wall, his eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of the spring water.
Uchiha Kasumi knelt behind him, her soft, boneless hands gently massaging his shoulders. "My lord, are you satisfied with this pressure?"
Her warm breath brushed against Shin's ear.
"Mm." Shin did not open his eyes, letting out a sound of contentment.
Upon receiving his affirmation, Uchiha Kasumi's brows curved into a smile.
Her movements became even more focused. Each glide and press of her fingertips relaxed Shin's muscles.
A moment later, she swam to Shin's front, her slender, fair arms wrapping around his neck.
She personally brought a peeled grape to his lips.
Shin opened his mouth to take it in.
Then, he naturally took her delicate fingertip into his mouth and gently sucked.
Uchiha Kasumi trembled instantly. Her cheeks rapidly flushed crimson, and her eyes filled with a spring-like moisture that almost dripped.
"My lord... you're teasing me again..."
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, captivating to the bone.
Shin then opened his eyes, surveying the dazzlingly beautiful face before him, a slight curve on his lips. "How am I teasing you?"
"You..." Uchiha Kasumi lightly bit her red lip.
This man always managed to do the most heart-stirring things with the most casual tone.
Making her continuously fall deeper, willingly becoming soft as a willow branch.
Just as the room was filled with intimacy and warmth, an untimely voice sounded from outside the bath.
The voice came through a landscape screen, its tone steady.
It was a Shadow Guard.
"My lord, an urgent report from Konoha."
His arrival instantly pierced the intimate atmosphere.
Annoyance flashed in Uchiha Kasumi's eyes, but she quickly hid it, obediently releasing her arms and preparing to retreat.
Shin, however, held her hand, pulling her back into his embrace.
Without lifting his head, he said, "Read it."
"Yes, my lord."
Behind the screen, the Shadow Guard's voice sounded again.
"Konoha border report: A Kumogakure squad of ten to fifteen individuals breached the eastern border last night and infiltrated deep into the Land of Fire."
"Border patrol encountered them and engaged in battle. Four were killed in action."
"Currently, Hyuga Hiashi has led a team in pursuit."
After hearing the report, Shin's brow furrowed slightly. "Inform Minister Tanaka, tell him this news!"
"Yes, my lord!"
"Also, inform the Department of Internal Affairs."
Shin thought for a moment, then added, "To die protecting the country's borders is an honor."
"Give them a grand funeral!"
"Additionally, urgently commission four plaques, inscribed with 'Hero's Home,' to be personally delivered to their relatives by Department of Internal Affairs officials."
This was not only a condolence payment but also a way to showcase his image as a leader who cared for his people.
The Shadow Guard's gaze wavered slightly, then his head bowed even lower. "Yes, my lord!"
Shin waved his hand. "You may leave!"
"Yes, my lord."
The presence behind the screen quietly disappeared.
Uchiha Kasumi leaned against him, feeling his steady heartbeat, and softly asked, "My lord, did something happen at the border?"
"Just a few small mice that snuck into the granary. They won't cause much trouble."
This kind of small-scale infiltration was common during wartime.
In his eyes, it wasn't even a minor inconvenience.
If Konoha couldn't even handle such small troubles, it would have been destroyed countless times already.
After the Shadow Guard left, Shin lowered his head, gently lifted Uchiha Kasumi's chin, and the smile in his eyes once again became intense. "Don't worry about these things."
He leaned down and lightly pressed a kiss on her lips.
"Our time, after all, is very precious."
At Konoha, in the Hokage building, the atmosphere was tense.
Minato held the urgently delivered battle report, his expression grave.
The mission failed.
Hyuga Hiashi personally led a team, with hundreds of elite trackers, yet they lost the trail.
No, it wasn't just losing the trail.
The few short lines in the battle report clearly described the tragic scene.
The enemy used the lives of four elite jonin to forcefully carve out an opening in the inescapable net laid by Konoha.
Then, they calmly departed.
"Using the lives of four elite jonin just to buy a few minutes of evacuation time?" Koharu's face no longer held its previous disdain.
"These lunatics... what exactly do they want?"
Homura remained silent, his brows furrowed, his mind also speculating.
This was not infiltration, nor was it harassment.
This was a desperate resolve!
Four elite jonin were a core force in any shinobi village, especially today when talent was scarce after the war!
Kumogakure actually treated them as disposable consumables, discarding them without hesitation.
Their ambition was immense.
There must be some conspiracy.
Minato decided instantly. "We must report this to the daimyo manor immediately."
"Still need to report?" Homura looked up sharply. "Minato, such matters should be resolved internally by us!"
"And not trouble the daimyo again and again!"
In his view, the daimyo only needed to sit in the capital.
War was a matter for shinobi.
Allowing the daimyo to interfere too much was a sign of Konoha's incompetence.
"Elder Homura!" Minato suddenly stood up. "Now is not the time to worry about appearances."
"Didn't you see the enemy's route?"
"The capital... it's very possible that's their target!"
This speculation made Minato's heart race.
Homura was immediately horrified. "You mean, the daimyo..."
Koharu also looked shocked. "Has Kumogakure gone mad? This is breaking the rules. They will be attacked by everyone."
"Aren't they being attacked now?"
"This..."
"Besides this, I can't think of any other possibility!" Minato said with a serious expression. "We not only need to report, but also send shinobi to the capital!"
"But..."
"No buts!" Minato interrupted sternly. "As Hokage, I have a responsibility to ensure the safety of every inch of the Land of Fire, including the daimyo's safety!"
"The daimyo must know that there is a group of desperate individuals currently moving towards the capital!"
Minato's deduction left the two elders speechless for a moment.
They then realized the seriousness of the situation, which had exceeded the scope of internal village matters.
They knew the daimyo had a group of capable guards around him, but that didn't mean they could just stand by and watch.
They had to make a show of it, and they had to make a grand one.
Finally, Homura nodded solemnly. "You are the Hokage, you decide."
Soon, a top-level secret report, more urgent in its wording and detailing the battle process and the enemy's resolute stance, was sent to the capital.