Konoha easily suppressing the Box of Ultimate Bliss proved quite different from Obito's expectations.
When Satori actively brought the Box of Ultimate Bliss to the Land of Fire, Obito originally thought he could stir up sufficiently large chaos. Unexpectedly, things quieted down so quickly.
He needed to create more trouble for Konoha. Their recovery speed exceeded imagination.
Thus he came to Kirigakure, controlling Yagura and ordering the dispatch of more Kirigakure squads to launch attacks against Konoha during the Joint Chūnin Exam timeframe.
However, no news came.
Wearing the Mizukage's hat with the upper half of his face hidden in shadows, Yagura's voice proved flat, revealing no emotion. "Harassment operations targeting Konoha progress too slowly. What is the reason?"
Summoned Elder Genshi, facing the Mizukage's questioning, answered, "Kirigakure lies far overseas. Mobilizing forces for infiltration proves inherently difficult. Konoha's eastern coastal defense system also proves quite comprehensive. Operations struggling to achieve effectiveness also follows reason."
Having defended Ao at the front lines, this Kirigakure elder raised his eyes toward the Mizukage. "The daimyo hopes Mizukage-sama can personally proceed to the Water Capital to provide detailed explanation regarding this year's additional military operations budget and subsequent funding applications."
After listening to Genshi's words, Yagura only answered after considerable time. "This matter, leave it to your responsibility, Genshi. You go."
Though having anticipated this answer, Genshi still departed with visible disappointment.
Fourth, why did you become like this?
After the Kirigakure elder departed, Uchiha Obito emerged from behind Yagura.
"Zetsu, has Kirigakure's strength declined to such an extent?"
The floor in one office corner wriggled slightly. Black and white Zetsu surfaced.
"Well, this also cannot be helped, right?"
"The Bloody Mist policy continued so long. Bloodline limit families within the Land of Water were purged round after round."
"Combat power losses truly proved severe."
Then Zetsu said, "Kakuzu recently seeks prey in the Land of Waves. Should we issue a commission to him under Kirigakure's name?"
Obito contemplated briefly. At this stage, Akatsuki indeed proved unsuitable for openly provoking the Five Great Nations, but if merely acting as mercenaries with the Mizukage providing endorsement, it would not appear conspicuous.
"Acceptable." He made his decision. "You deliver the commission to Kakuzu."
Controlling Yagura to sign an employment commission, Obito tossed the scroll to Zetsu, one hand pressing on his shoulder. Space twisted. Both figures were rapidly absorbed into Kamui's dimension.
He decided to personally visit the front lines to see exactly what was happening.
Having discovered Kirigakure's abnormal movements, Shuji decided to temporarily remain and personally observe actual circumstances.
At this time, he truly did not wish to see Kirigakure demonstrate any presence.
After several hours of rest, the two squads Shisui led departed again, executing patrol and defensive line alert duties. Shuji followed behind their flank, primarily to observe Kirigakure's situation while providing support when necessary.
Over the following half-day, they successively encountered two waves of Kirigakure squads attempting infiltration.
Combat erupted suddenly and concluded hastily.
The first time, twelve Kirigakure shinobi attempted crossing a river valley. Discovered by Uchiha clan ANBU, the first instant of engagement, discovering opponents were Uchiha and unable to gain advantage, they immediately threw smoke bombs, activated Hidden Mist Technique to retreat, showing absolutely no entanglement intent.
The second time, numbers proved somewhat greater, sixteen people in four squads. Leading them was a shinobi wearing an eyepatch who looked quite familiar. Shuji recalled briefly, remembering the opponent seemed called Ao, possessing one Byakugan.
The team he led proved even more cautious. Just as Shisui used genjutsu to fell two people, Ao immediately led his people to disengage from combat.
After continuously observing two contact battles, Shuji had to admit Shisui's evaluation proved quite accurate.
These Kirigakure shinobi's combat attitude was perfunctory. Attempting infiltration, after attempting with no opportunity, immediately retreating.
Mainly going through the motions.
Shuji originally speculated this was some strategic intent from Kirigakure's upper echelon, but after actual observation, it felt not quite like that.
What meaning existed for harassment at this level besides wasting resources?
Or perhaps this was actually not upper-level will but rather Kirigakure being impoverished, owing these shinobi wages?
That seemed unlikely...
Though completely confused, Shuji felt no need to continue observing.
After returning to the village, perhaps Tsunade's side held other intelligence capable of explaining Kirigakure's behavior.
He decided to reveal himself to bid Shisui farewell before immediately returning to Konoha.
However, just as Shuji prepared to emerge from his hiding place, sudden changes occurred.
Surrounding air abruptly grew moist. An unprecedentedly dense fog spread at astonishing speed, rapidly shrouding the entire forest. Visibility plummeted dramatically.
Within the thick fog, blurred human figures soundlessly materialized, numbers exceeding the previous two rounds.
"Enemy attack! All personnel alert!" Shisui's voice rang out.
Konoha's two squads reacted extremely quickly, instantly contracting back-to-back, forming a tight defensive circle.
This was Hidden Mist Technique, and both range and supporting chakra quantity proved extraordinary... Shuji instantly made his judgment.
This technique could not be easily dispersed by ordinary Wind Release. In his memory, Yagura seemed to use Wind Release: Typhoon's Passing to counter it.
As for himself, though not knowing Typhoon's Passing, he possessed similar response techniques for large-scale environmental ninjutsu.
"Wind Release: Clear Sky!"
A powerful airflow generated before him, blowing violently forward. Where the airflow passed, dense fog stirred, pulled, ultimately forcibly dispersed, opening a clear passage. The forest's original scenery revealed itself again.
At this moment, Konoha's people finally saw surrounding circumstances clearly. Around them on tree trunks and branches, over twenty Kirigakure shinobi stood at unknown times.
This scale, were they planning serious action?
Shuji, having just deployed Wind Release to disperse partial fog, remained hidden at his original position, not immediately revealing himself but continuing to observe the field's situation.
Enemies comprised seven standard squads, twenty-eight people. On Konoha's side, Shisui led two squads totaling seven people. Adding Shuji made nine versus twenty-eight.
Directly facing enemies several times their number, Shisui remained abnormally calm. He raised his hand, making several concise gestures. Three squad members immediately scattered with tacit understanding, forming triangular formation positioned on the left. The other Uchiha ANBU squad similarly formed triangular formation on the right.
Uchiha Shisui himself drew the short blade from his back, standing alone at the squad's forefront. The ANBU squad captain retreated to the squad's rear. Scarlet Sharingan rotated, vigilant against possible ambushes from any direction.
Among Kirigakure shinobi, Ao activated his Byakugan, capturing Shuji's figure behind.
"Such powerful Wind Release, actually capable of so easily dispersing Hidden Mist Technique... Konoha reinforcements?"
This way, this operation could involve slightly fighting before retreating.
Thinking of that mercenary who came carrying Mizukage orders, Ao's heart grew even more troubled.
Actually allowing a mere rogue ninja to participate in their operations. The Fourth's determination to attack Konoha proved so resolute?
If so, why not tell them such attacks' significance and purpose?
Kirigakure lay far overseas. Without other major shinobi villages' coordination and cooperation, even occasionally achieving some minor results, what actual meaning could such action levels hold?
Fundamentally impossible to harm Konoha's foundation.
Just as Ao prepared to order a round of probing attacks before seeking opportunity to retreat.
From the battlefield's flank, within a patch of dense fog not completely affected by Clear Sky.
A bizarrely shaped black monster wearing two different expression masks appeared without warning.
It aimed at the alert Konoha squad. Both mask mouths simultaneously gathered distinctly different chakra.
Combination Ninjutsu: Masked Explosive Flame!
Violent flames mixed with compressed wind, forming an extremely wide-ranging, destructive flame storm sweeping toward the Konoha squad.
"Not good!" Uchiha Shisui's pupils contracted sharply.
This intensity ninjutsu could not be resisted through conventional means. Surrounding them were Kirigakure shinobi. Once the squad scattered to evade, they could easily be divided, surrounded, and defeated one by one!
In that split second, the scarlet three-tomoe in Shisui's eyes spun and connected. Just as he prepared to activate Susanoo to block this strike.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Rampart!"
A massive, heavy earthen wall far exceeding normal Earth-Style Wall scale rose from the ground, standing majestically before the flame storm!
Scorching flames struck the heavy earthen wall, blocked and diverted. The explosion's tremendous sound proved deafening.
High temperature made the wall's surface rapidly turn red and crack. Countless fragments scattered under impact, but it ultimately stood tenaciously, firmly isolating the destructive flames outside, protecting all Konoha people behind.
A figure appeared atop the rising earthen wall as it rose, then lightly descended, landing precisely between the flame attack direction and Konoha squad, also before that figure wearing a black robe with red clouds emerging from the fog's edge.
Kakuzu looked at Shuji, who suddenly appeared and blocked his technique.
His gaze lingered briefly on the Konoha forehead protector and that calm face. After brief recollection, he said, "You are... ten million ryō."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild