Naruto: I have an attribute panel

Chapter 503 Joy Turns to Sorrow

The Hokage's office.

Seeing Minato's grim expression, the Third Hokage realized that more bad news had arrived.

"Minato, what's going on?"

Minato put down the intelligence report in his hand, glanced at the Third Hokage and Taichi, and sighed, "The Akatsuki organization is truly swift and decisive. News came from the Land of Water that the Three-Tails seal they just retrieved was lost three days ago, and no trace was left at the scene."

"It's that Uchiha who knows space-time ninjutsu. Only space-time ninjutsu can steal the sealed item without anyone noticing, even under layers of barriers and protection."

Taiyi gave the answer almost without thinking, and everyone nodded silently.

Compared to Jinchuriki, each capture involves a battle, and the commotion is naturally significant.

But if it's just a sealing artifact, then it's exceptionally simple for someone skilled in space-time ninjutsu.

In the current ninja world, especially sealing techniques, there are very few that are specifically designed to target space and time.

This is partly due to the immense difficulty in developing it, but more importantly, the extremely complex and costly setup of this type of sealing technique.

"Is there any information about other Kirigakure members in the intelligence report? Are their Six-Tails Jinchuriki alright?"

Minato shook his head. "Please take care" wasn't mentioned, but Kirigakure is basically transparent to Akatsuki. I don't think they can protect the Six-Tails at all.

Taiichi shared the same sentiment. Unlike Minato and the others, he had only recently returned from Kirigakure and was well aware of the current chaos there.

If it weren't for their marshal, Kirigakure might have split into two ninja villages.

Minato grew increasingly worried, not only about Kirigakure but also about Takigakure. His expression suddenly turned extremely serious, and he solemnly said to Taichi, "Taichi, you must go back and confirm with Lady Tsunade whether we should go to Takigakure to carry out the mission. Akatsuki's actions are too swift; I'm worried that if we're too late, they won't be able to protect the Seven-Tails."

Taiichi was taken aback at first, then realized that it was just as Minato had said. With the Akatsuki's speed of action, they really had to hurry.

"I'll go right away."

Taiyi immediately set off, said hello, and walked out.

The best izakaya in Konoha.

Tsunade, unusually, invited Orochimaru for drinks, allowing them to reminisce about their long-lost friendship.

Compared to the original story, where one of them was wandering outside and the other had defected from the village, both of them have now returned to Konoha.

And thanks to the fact that they often collaborate on research projects, their relationship turned out to be surprisingly good.

This is completely different from the original work.

"How long do you plan to stay in the village this time?"

Orochimaru took a sip of his drink and ate a few bites of snacks, then asked casually.

"Since I have nothing else to do, I might as well stay a little longer. Otherwise, Taiichi will be chasing after me every day."

Tsunade spoke with a tone of disdain, but Orochimaru perceived it as a different kind of boasting.

"Heh, you've taken on a fine disciple—"

Orochimaru stopped mid-sentence.

Speaking of the three legendary Sannin, Tsunade had Matsushita Taichi as her disciple, and Jiraiya had Namikaze Minato as her disciple. It seems that only Orochimaru did not have a single outstanding disciple.

Compared to this, Orochimaru suddenly felt that the drinking session didn't taste so good anymore.

Tsunade, seeing that Orochimaru only said half a sentence and looking at his conflicted and depressed expression, immediately guessed most of what he meant.

"You—hahahaha."

Tsunade slapped the table, laughing so hard she almost fell over. This was one of the few times she could make fun of Orochimaru.

Laughing, Tsunade rubbed her eyes and finally muttered, "I'm starting to hallucinate from laughing so much, how did Taichi end up here?"

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru followed Tsunade's gaze and turned his head to look. Sure enough, he saw Taichi walking towards them step by step, his goal quite clear: to come for them.

Tsunade, realizing what was happening, didn't give Tai a chance to speak and immediately slammed her hand on the table, shouting angrily, "You brat, how dare you come to this place?"

That's a good example of striking first, but unfortunately—Taiyi isn't easily intimidated.

He greeted Orochimaru first, and then got straight to the point and explained his purpose.

"Teacher, I've come to ask you for a task—"

"I'm not going!" Taiyi was interrupted by Tsunade before he could finish speaking. "When you asked me to come back, you promised that I could cultivate in peace."

Taiyi raised his hand and touched his nose, feeling quite embarrassed. He didn't have much experience with this kind of situation where someone didn't keep their word.

But since things have come to this point, what needs to be said still needs to be said.

"The Third Hokage will also be on this mission."

With just one sentence, Tsunade, who was about to speak again, shut up. At the same time, Orochimaru and Tsunade both looked at Taichi, waiting for him to continue.

"Takigakure has entrusted Konoha with a long-term mission: to protect the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. The Third and Fourth Hokage both felt that this was a mission that could expand Konoha's influence, so they both agreed to accept it."

There's no need for Taiyi to elaborate further; the two people present are both outstanding individuals, so they can naturally understand the situation clearly.

"That old man really doesn't admit he's getting old!" Orochimaru muttered, it was unclear whether he was delighted that his teacher was still as sharp as ever, or lamenting that he had devoted so much to Konoha.

Tsunade said angrily, "Nonsense," and then fell silent.

However, such a performance is already quite obvious.

Finally, after drinking another pot of sake, Tsunade slammed her hand on the table and roared, "Go, go, go! Get out of here! I owe you guys a lot. You just got back and you're already leaving again. I'm never coming back next time!"

Saying these angry words, Tsunade pushed the table and used the momentum to stand up and walk out.

As Tsunade passed by Orochimaru, she clearly saw his mouth moving silently. Being familiar with lip reading, Tsunade immediately understood what Orochimaru was saying.

"What a fine apprentice!"

Tsunade's face immediately darkened. She reached back and pinched Taiichi's ear under his puzzled gaze, complaining, "This disciple is better off without."

Konoha's speed is very fast, or more accurately, the Third Hokage's speed is even more swift and decisive.

Freed from the burdens of political affairs, the Third Hokage regained the decisiveness he had as a ninja in his youth.

After Taichi rubbed his ears and led Tsunade over to confirm her participation in the mission, the Third Hokage didn't delay and immediately took Tsunade to pack supplies and prepare to set off.

Looking at Tsunade's "lifeless" eyes, Taichi felt a pang of guilt for a moment, wondering if he had been too harsh on his teacher.

But this sense of guilt vanished when he saw her cheeks, flushed from drinking. Oh well, going on a mission is better than constantly drinking.

Taichi walked to Tsunade's side, took out a specially made kunai from his ninja tool bag, and handed it to her.

"Here you are, Tsunade-sensei. If there is any danger, activate him and I will arrive immediately."

Tsunade rolled her eyes at Taiichi, but still took the kunai from him.

She knew very well that this was not the time to throw a tantrum. The Akatsuki were not to be trifled with, and if she really ran into those ruthless characters, even she and the Third Hokage would be in danger.

Tai looked up and happened to see Minato's affirmative gaze. He was stunned for a moment before he immediately realized what was happening.

Well, Minato, you were just waiting for me here. You were sure I would give you this Flying Thunder God Kunai to ensure your teacher's safety.

Sure enough, anyone who becomes Hokage will gradually have their heart corrupted!

Ten kilometers away from Takigakure Village lies a secluded canyon, a place rarely visited by people. It was also the place chosen by the higher-ups of Takigakure for the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, Fu.

Although the ninjas from Konoha have not yet arrived, Fu has already been arranged to live here by Takigakure.

Accompanying them were two squads of eight ninjas responsible for protection; however, it would be more accurate to describe them as surveillance rather than protection.

In the small canyon, a little girl of eleven or twelve years old was struggling to build a house.

However, the eight people guarding her, some near and some far, simply watched without offering any help, and some even had obvious hostility in their eyes.

This is the tragedy of Jinchūriki. Not all Jinchūriki are loved and respected by their fellow villagers. On the contrary, being disliked is the norm for them.

One kilometer away in this canyon, on a large tree, Zetsu, with half of his body exposed, was remotely monitoring the situation of the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.

After an unknown amount of time, Jue, who had been motionless like a plant, suddenly moved. He turned his head to look into the depths of the dense forest behind him, and a surprising smile appeared on his lips.

"Finally—it's here!"

After muttering to himself, he sank into the tree and moved quickly using the intertwined roots of the trees underground.

When he reappeared, he was already 10 kilometers away, with two Akatsuki members, Kakuzu and Hiruko, in front of him.

"You're too late!"

"The organization can't treat people like cattle, can it? We just captured the Two-Tails, and before we could even catch our breath, we're back here again."

Hiruko clutched his chest, feigning breathlessness, and complained that the organization didn't care about its subordinates.

Black Zetsu suppressed the urge to retort that White Zetsu had deep in his mind, ignored Hiruko, and pointed in the direction behind him.

"The situation has been clarified. The Seven-Tails Jinchuriki is in that canyon over there, guarded by eight Takigakure ninja. However, their strength is limited, with only one barely reaching the level of a Jonin."

"Tch, still the same old good-for-nothing."

Kakuzu scoffed, looking in the direction of Takigakure with disdain.

"You're blind! I didn't even notice. Kakuzu, you used to be a Takigakure ninja. So, how about it? You're not going to hesitate to deal with your old employer's Jinchuriki this time, are you?"

Hiruko placed her hand on Kakuzu's shoulder, completely ignoring Kakuzu's eerie green gaze, and spoke tauntingly in a cheeky manner.

"Hmph, don't worry about it. When I defected, I killed all the high-ranking members of Takigakure. I have no feelings for Takigakure now. You'd better watch out when you encounter Konoha ninjas in the future."

The two exchanged sarcastic remarks, ignoring the intelligence agent, and headed straight towards the canyon.

At this moment, on the open ground in the center of the canyon, Fu was unaware that disaster was imminent.

She wiped the sweat mixed with mud from her forehead, and swayed her little hand on the half-built wooden door frame. Her sore and numb arms almost gave way.

She secretly glanced at the shade of a tree not far away, where a Takigakure ninja was ordered to "protect" her.

However, when she shamelessly asked him for help, she was met with a spitting curse and the malicious mockery that "monsters should do their own work."

Fu clutched her faded ninja clothes, swallowing back the words she was about to say.

She should have been used to these words long ago, but every time she heard them, she still felt incredibly wronged.

This time was no different. If the Akatsuki organization hadn't wanted to capture the Tailed Beasts, the higher-ups wouldn't have thrown her into this remote canyon. Calling it protection was no different from exile.

"In the end, they're still worried that I'll drag the village down with me."

Fu muttered to herself, rubbed her eyes, squatted down to pick up the straw rope on the ground, and continued to tie and secure the wooden frame. The sun slowly sank in the west, and the golden afterglow shone in the empty canyon, but it did not bring any warmth to this lonely little girl.

The unexpected happened just as the sun completely sank into the valley.

Two figures entered the line of sight of the sentry ninjas on the outer perimeter without making any attempt to conceal themselves.

"Who goes there? This is the forbidden area of ​​Takigakure. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter."

One of the ninja from Takigakure threw a kunai at the same time, while also issuing a warning.

However, the newcomers clearly had no intention of stopping. They not only actively knocked away the kunai that were being shot at them, but one of them even made a taunting remark.

"Kakuzu, this is the ninja village you used to live in? Takigakure is really weak!"

"You bastard, what did you say?"

The younger generation may not know Kakuzu's name, but they are certain that he insulted Takigakure.

"Look, they're angry. I didn't expect the village to have such a strong sense of honor."

"Shut up, or I'll kill you first."

As the two argued, they drew closer and closer. In the dim light, the vigilant Taki Shinobu finally made out the newcomer's clothing.

A black robe with red cloud patterns.

"It's the Akatsuki! Watch out for an enemy attack!"

Unfortunately, since they had already seen each other clearly, it meant they were already close enough.

Hiruko activated his Swift Escape technique, his body instantly disappearing from the spot and reappearing behind the vigilant ninja.

A drop of blood slid from the kunai in his hand.

The next moment, a spray of blood mist suddenly spurted from the neck of the vigilant ninja. He blankly reached out to cover his neck, and died without ever knowing how the other party had done it.

However, his call worked, and the other seven Taki ninja rushed over.

Before the person arrived, the ninjutsu arrived first.

Water Release: Water Cannonball

Water Release: Water Arrow.

Water Escape: Water Flow Whip.

Takigakure-ryu: The Sword of Water.

Various water-style ninjutsu attacks came, but Hiruko didn't take them seriously at all.

To the ninja, the Akatsuki member stood motionless, frozen in place as they were struck by his water-style attack.

Before they could even rejoice, the Akatsuki member who had been hit vanished like a bubble. It turned out that Hiruko was too fast, leaving behind a deceptive afterimage in his place.

That's not all. Hiruko, who had disappeared, reappeared three times around Takigakure before finally returning to Kakuzu's side.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft!"

Three sounds of blood splattering rang out; in just that instant, three more Takigakure ninjas died.

This devastating blow completely shattered the last shred of hope held by the Takigakure ninja. The eldest Takigakure ninja shouted, "Gentlemen, it is time for us to serve our village to the best of our ability!"

After saying that, he took out a bottle of Hero's Water from his ninja tool bag, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

The other four ninjas gritted their teeth, took out Hero's Water from their ninja tool pouches, and drank it all in one gulp.

The next moment, surging chakra burst forth from their bodies as if it were materialized, and the powerful aura caused the surrounding trees to rustle.