Chapter 54: Will It Be This Time?
"Meet the supply transport squad?"
"That's right. The forward camp is dispatching personnel to transport supplies, but due to manpower shortages, they really can't deploy more people. So they've only sent a single jonin squad responsible for the transport mission. Therefore, I must trouble Hyuga clan head to make this difficult journey to meet Kakashi's squad."
"Which squad?"
Hyuga Ritsu's gaze sharpened.
The young man with a pineapple-shaped ponytail before him was stunned by the question, answering somewhat hesitantly, "Kakashi's squad."
At the same time, a storm raged through his clever mind, wondering if there was some situation between Kakashi's squad and this new Hyuga clan head.
However, if he remembered correctly, Kakashi's squad seemed to include a Hyuga clan member? But why would the Hyuga clan head be releasing such terrifying killing intent?
"Nara clan head, because of manpower shortages, only Kakashi's squad—a single team—was sent to transport supplies? Has the forward camp's strength weakened to this extent?" Ritsu sneered coldly.
This man with the pineapple-shaped ponytail was named Nara Shikaku, the clan head of the Nara clan representing "Deer" in Konoha Village's famous Ino-Shika-Cho trio. He currently held the responsibility of commander at the Mount Kinko defensive position.
Hearing Ritsu's question, a bitter smile tugged at his lips. He sighed and said, "I'm not too clear about the situation at the main camp. However, among the jonin squads, Kakashi's squad is definitely among the elite. Captain Hatake Kakashi is an undeniable genius. Three of his squad members include special jonin from the Uchiha clan and your clan, and the only chunin is a professional medical ninja. This configuration shouldn't have problems under normal circumstances unless they encounter large Mist forces or top-tier experts."
"Hm? There's someone from my clan in Kakashi's squad?"
Ritsu was shocked.
"Uh... You didn't know, Hyuga clan head?"
Hearing this, Nara Shikaku was also shocked. Without even searching through documents, he simply looked through his mental database, found the name, and quickly said, "I remember the one in Kakashi's squad is a girl named Hyuga Akiba."
"Akiba?"
Ritsu's brow furrowed deeply.
Numerous thoughts spun through his mind, and in an instant, he understood.
With Uchiha Obito's "death in battle," only Kakashi and Nohara Rin remained in Kakashi's squad. When squads were reorganized previously, Kakashi's squad had most likely been on the reorganization list. Because of Kakashi's genius reputation and his relationship with the famous teacher Namikaze Minato, receiving preferential treatment was perfectly natural.
It was precisely during this squad reorganization that special jonin from both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans were added to Kakashi's squad.
The two elders probably thought this was a good arrangement. After all, being assigned to such an elite squad had a much higher survival probability than ordinary cannon fodder squads.
However, what they didn't know was that the dangers Kakashi's squad would face weren't just the Mist shinobi on the battlefield, but also the terrifying enemy lurking in the shadows attempting to subvert the entire shinobi world.
"Will it be this time?"
Ritsu murmured to himself.
"What?"
Nara Shikaku was somewhat bewildered by Ritsu's sudden comment. Even though their clan consisted almost entirely of wise, resourceful people, no matter how clever they were, they couldn't create something from nothing.
"Nothing. I just think this was probably Deputy Commander Aburame Torune's doing. Dispatching a single squad to transport supplies while specifically arranging for me to go meet them—I can't help feeling he doesn't have good intentions."
Ritsu spoke casually.
But after speaking, his heart stirred. Because he knew Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu were hiding in the shadows acting as agents of chaos, he instinctively felt this might be a trap set for Kakashi's squad.
But thinking more carefully—why specifically arrange for him to go meet Kakashi's squad? The Mount Kinko defensive position currently had over a hundred shinobi stationed here. Though it also bore the responsibility of guarding against Mist surprise attacks, if they really tried, they could still deploy personnel to meet Kakashi's squad. It didn't necessarily have to be him going to meet them.
"Hyuga clan head, this is an order from the main camp."
Nara Shikaku's expression stiffened somewhat as he insisted with a forced tone.
As a clever person from the Nara clan, he could naturally detect the abnormality in this arrangement. But the problem was that on the surface, there was nothing improper about it. Even if questioned, reasonable answers could be provided.
Therefore, he could only play dumb and silently choose to execute the order.
After all, strictly speaking, their Nara clan was subordinate to the Sarutobi clan. Deputy Commander Aburame Torune was Hokage Advisor Shimura Danzo's confidant, and Hokage Advisor Shimura Danzo was Hokage-sama's black glove. Calculating it this way, he didn't want to investigate deeply whose will this order was truly implementing.
Some things were better left unknown. There really was no need to insist on understanding everything clearly.
"Nara clan head, are you worried I'll disobey orders?"
Ritsu looked at the stiff-faced Nara Shikaku and couldn't help teasing him.
"How could that be? Your clan is the foundation of our Konoha. Hyuga clan head, you would never do such a thing." Nara Shikaku laughed dryly. Of course he was afraid—afraid this young Hyuga clan head couldn't control his temper and would do something difficult to clean up.
"Don't worry, Nara clan head. I'm merely suspicious, but I have no evidence to support my suspicions. Therefore, I'll naturally comply with this order. Moreover, I'm prepared to depart immediately!"
Ritsu turned around, looking toward the shimmering ocean in the distance.
They were currently on a platform halfway up Mount Kinko. Standing here, they could gaze eastward at the ocean, northward at the wilderness, and southward at the forest.
"Then I'll trouble Hyuga clan head."
Nara Shikaku immediately said, "According to the message transmitted from the main camp, Kakashi's squad will take Route Seven this time."
With shinobi's mobility to traverse mountains and forests as if walking on flat ground, there was no need to necessarily stick to main roads. Ten operational routes had been planned from the forward camp to the Mount Kinko defensive position. This was done to facilitate communication between the two locations. Otherwise, if everyone wandered randomly at will, meeting missions would be impossible to execute.
"Route Seven? I understand."
Ritsu recalled the route in his mind and nodded to show he knew. Then he stepped forward twice and leaped directly from the platform's edge, diving down along the steep, craggy mountain wall. After over ten seconds, his figure disappeared into the dense forest below.
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