Early morning, just as the sky began to lighten.
"Still haven't found them?"
"I'm sorry, Jiraiya-sensei, nothing on my end."
Minato, who was operating with Jiraiya in the southern valleys of the Land of Rivers, just shook his head slightly at Jiraiya's question.
"Damn it, who would've thought a mission would turn into this mess."
Jiraiya punched the tree next to him, biting his teeth in frustration.
He wasn't actually worried about Sakumo's side, since the mission details Sakumo received weren't tampered with. The problem was with the other three—that group had fallen completely into Root's trap.
Since he didn't know what move Root would make, Jiraiya couldn't tell what those from Root were planning for the three of Sakumo's subordinates.
No matter how you looked at it, this whole situation was because of his own momentary slip, causing the three to end up like this.
But then, who could have imagined that even the Hokage's own Anbu would have spies planted by Root?
Jiraiya really wanted to use this incident to do a full sweep of Root.
Daring to mess around even with the Hokage's direct Anbu—this was no small matter.
Anbu dealt with confidential missions, and also the Hokage's security; no accidents could be allowed.
But then, thinking of his own teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi—a man weighed down with old sentiments—Jiraiya worried that, at most, there'd just be a slap-on-the-wrist verbal warning.
"Please don't be like this, Jiraiya-sensei. Maybe those three are protected by fate, who can say? All we can do is find them as soon as possible, dead or alive."
Minato said, trying to comfort Jiraiya.
"I know, I'm just venting. Next, all that's left is to check the canyon floor up ahead. I've been there once before with Tsunade and Orochimaru—the terrain's pretty complicated. Minato, make sure you don't stray too far from me."
"Yes, sir."
Minato nodded solemnly.
Although he trusted his own strength, compared to his teacher Jiraiya—a high-level Jonin—he still had plenty of places to grow and mature.
"I just hope those three are okay. Otherwise, the Uchiha side…"
Jiraiya was by no means ignorant of the situation in Konoha. Right now, the Uchiha were the village's top clan, and the number of Jonin with Three-Tomoe Sharingan in their ranks was anyone's guess. Dealing with even one was troublesome; if united, they could easily suppress every other clan except the Senju with sheer force.
Unlike the conservative and gentle Hyuga, the Uchiha were mostly a pack of wild, unruly types.
If you pissed them off, there was nothing they wouldn't dare do.
Thinking of this, Jiraiya started cursing Danzo up and down in his heart again.
◎
Though it was early morning, the fog shrouding the ravine above was so thick that sunlight couldn't penetrate below; it diffused in the mist, with only a faint glimmer leaking through.
Inside the pitch-black cave, only a campfire burned, pushing back the gloom and cold.
On the flat ground of the cave, Ruri had her eyes shut, both hands clutching her chest tightly. Her face was twisted in pain, her breath coming out in gasps so weak it seemed her life could end at any moment.
There was also a violent force not yet dissipated from her body—that power called "Immortal Technique."
"How is she?"
Ayane asked with concern.
It was her first time seeing Ruri look so weak.
Pale as a corpse, struggling painfully for breath—it left no doubt she could die any second.
But thinking back to the destructive power of that Fire Style Jutsu, such aftereffects were only to be expected.
Though that Fire Style Jutsu wasn't on the level of the Tailed Beast's power they'd seen before, it was still an invincible strength no ordinary ninja could withstand.
Immortal Technique, huh? Ayane sighed inwardly.
She couldn't help but admire Ruri's boldness, and also felt a bit inferior herself.
In those circumstances, being able to merge Natural Energy with Chakra was unimaginably difficult.
But Ruri had managed it—barely, perhaps, but there was no mistaking she'd used Immortal Technique.
"It's tricky. I need to start surgery right away. Help me hold her down."
Hakushi pulled out a scroll from his Ninja Tool Bag, unraveled the seals, and a medical kit appeared on the ground with all the needed medicines and surgical instruments.
Even with his advanced Medical Ninjutsu, there was still risk. But right now, the longer they delayed, the more they'd miss the best window for surgery.
So, he could only take the risk and operate.
"Understood."
Ayane knelt beside Ruri and pressed her body down with both hands.
Hakushi took a deep breath, then—under Ayane's startled gaze—rolled Ruri's clothes up to reveal her snowy white stomach, not stopping until they'd bunched up at her chest.
Ayane's face instantly turned red.
"Don't get distracted. Just keep her steady."
Hakushi's calm voice sounded.
"Okay…"
Ayane hung her head lower, face even redder.
Hakushi ignored Ayane's embarrassment and placed his palm on Ruri's bare abdomen.
Hakushi closed his eyes to sense things for a moment, then opened them, his expression turning ever more grave.
The Chakra and Natural Energy inside Ruri were in chaos. The Natural Energy, usually mild and stable, had been thrown into turmoil by its sudden fusion with Chakra, causing the power of the Immortal Technique to rampage inside her body.
If he wanted to bring Ruri out of danger, he could only extract the Natural Energy from inside her.