Age Sixteen (continued)
The next full moon was four days away.
I stood in the Hokage's office, my new eyes adjusting to the light. The Eternal Mangekyo was different from the regular Mangekyo—clearer, sharper, with less strain. I could see threads of consequence stretching out from every person, every object, every decision.
"The bomb is in Kiri," I said. "Orochimaru helped them build it, but he's not there anymore. He's gone underground."
"How do you know?" Hiruzen asked.
"I can see it. The threads of consequence. The bomb is connected to Kiri, not to Orochimaru."
"You're certain?"
"I'm certain."
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Then we need to destroy it before it's used. But we can't send an army. Kiri would see it as an act of war."
"Then send a small team. Infiltrate. Destroy the bomb from the inside."
"Who would lead such a team?"
I looked at him. "Me."
---
Tsunade was not happy.
"You just had surgery. Your eyes are still healing. You're not ready for a mission."
"We don't have time to wait."
"You'll get yourself killed."
"Then you'll have to come with me to keep me alive."
She stared at me. "You're serious."
"I'm serious."
"I'm a medic-nin, not an infiltrator."
"You're also the strongest person I know. I need you."
She was silent for a long time. Then: "Fine. But if you die, I'm bringing you back just so I can kill you myself."
"That's fair."
---
The team was small: me, Tsunade, and a Konoha infiltration specialist named Shikaku Nara. He was a few years older than me, with a lazy posture and a sharp mind.
"The bomb is in the Kiri fortress," Shikaku said, spreading a map across the table. "It's guarded by the three-tails jinchuriki and a dozen elite jounin. Getting in will be difficult. Getting out will be worse."
"What's the plan?" I asked.
"We create a distraction. A big one. While Kiri is focused on the distraction, we slip in, disable the bomb, and get out."
"What kind of distraction?"
Shikaku smiled. "The kind that involves fire."
---
We left Konoha that night.
The journey to Kiri took three days. We traveled by boat, then by foot, avoiding patrols and checkpoints. Shikaku scouted ahead, his shadow techniques making him nearly invisible. Tsunade handled the medical supplies. I led, my Eternal Mangekyo active, scanning for threats.
The fortress was built into a mountain overlooking the sea. It was massive—walls of black stone, towers bristling with archers, gates reinforced with sealing tags.
"The bomb is in the central chamber," Shikaku said, pointing at the map. "We need to get in, disable it, and get out before the jinchuriki wakes up."
"And if she wakes up?"
"Then we run."
---
The distraction worked.
Shikaku had planted explosive tags around the fortress's supply depot. At midnight, they detonated. The explosion shook the ground, sending plumes of fire into the sky.
Guards rushed toward the depot. The jinchuriki's chakra flared—she was awake, angry, but focused on the fire.
"Now," I said.
We moved.