Konoha's Mission Master

That evening, at nine o'clock...

Yakumo quietly entered the dilapidated bungalow.

In an instant, the surrounding environment came into view: a very dilapidated wooden table, a washbasin missing a leg, and an equally worn-out wooden bed. The room was somewhat dim, with the light bulbs flickering... as if it was about to break down.

The red-haired girl was washing the teeth marks on her arm with warm water. Kushina Uzumaki, also a member of the Uzumaki clan, was bold and courageous like a burning flame.

But Rina Uzumaki was like a wounded little animal, moving cautiously with every move, as if she was constantly in fear, yet her eyes were numb and empty.

Her face was very clean and pretty, and her red hair was neatly combed into a ponytail, but her body was very thin. She was wearing a Grass Ninja uniform that was obviously a size too big, and she looked a bit malnourished. The real reason was that she was deficient in energy.

Each treatment drains her life force, and over time she will die very young. But this hellish life... isn't a short life a kind of happiness?

Are you pretending you didn't notice me?

Yakumo spoke up.

Kagura's Mind's Eye is a unique ability of the Uzumaki clan.

He could clearly sense the subtle feeling of being watched, but the girl in front of him pretended as much as possible that she hadn't noticed the intruder.

"Are you here... to kill me?"

Rina Uzumaki stopped washing her hands and asked calmly. She turned around and looked directly into Yakumo's eyes. It wasn't that she wasn't afraid of death... she had simply prepared herself for it in her heart.

"Do you want to leave Kusagakure... I come from Konoha. Kushina Uzumaki is in Konoha. You should have heard of her. Most importantly, going to Konoha is better than being a healing tool here."

Yakumo spoke very quickly and directly stated his purpose, as he didn't have much time.

"Who are you? You're not lying to me."

Rina Uzumaki trembled slightly, her eyes revealing excitement, her voice carrying three parts doubt, four parts excitement, and three parts longing.

Yakumo performs hand seals…

A shimmering green light emerged from her hands. Rina tried to dodge, but was completely enveloped in the green light, and the wounds on her arms and legs healed at an extremely fast speed.

"Time is of the essence... To make a long story short, I will come to find you in a few days and then leave Kusagakure. You know what to do. I have dealt with the ninja outside who was monitoring you. You may have some trouble tomorrow, but there shouldn't be too much punishment. After all, you are the most important treasure of the medical department."

With a bang, Yakumo's shadow clone dissipated.

Rina Uzumaki stood frozen in place until she had completely processed Yakumo's instructions before collapsing onto the bed, clutching the blanket tightly, and sobbing softly... but her lips were full of smiles as if she were celebrating a new life.

On the other hand, Yakumo pulled his ninja sword from the corpse in front of him, quickly retreated, avoided the splattered blood, and hurried back to the inn.

This man followed him all the way, intending to get some money out of this little lamb, but unexpectedly, the little lamb turned into a big tiger in the alley and easily killed him.

This time, Yakumo didn't loot the corpse. After all, he was dressed in tattered clothes, and even his knife was full of nicks. He didn't look like someone who was rich.

After returning to the inn, Yakumo ate a simple meal on the first floor and then went back to his room, also packing a meal for Jiraiya.

Half an hour later, Jiraiya returned to his room.

Although his clothes were a little disheveled, he didn't look injured, and his aura was still steady and powerful. Yakumo handed the packed food to Jiraiya, who immediately began to wolf it down.

A dozen minutes later, Jiraiya let out a burp.

"Ishihara Naoki has surgery tomorrow night at six o'clock, and it will be finished around eight o'clock. I plan to ambush him on his way home." Jiraiya said softly while biting into his bread.

In just a few hours, Jiraiya underwent a significant change, seemingly becoming even more determined to complete his mission.

During this time, he used the Toad Concealment Technique and the Toad Shadow Manipulation Technique to infiltrate the Guard Department's most confidential intelligence room, where he witnessed the sins of Kusagakure and the darkness that had been concealed.

"Of the five most famous wandering ninja groups on the border of the Land of Fire, four are composed of people from the Hidden Grass Village. They are like insects parasitizing the Land of Fire, sucking its marrow and blood!"

"They deserved to die!"

Jiraiya did not tell Yakumo that he had discovered evidence of Danzo's collusion with Kusagakure in the Guardian's core intelligence database.

Kusagakure paid Danzo protection money every year, and Danzo would notify Kusagakure when Konoha sent people to exterminate wandering ninja groups.

This is the real reason why Jiraiya failed to achieve anything in the previous months. It wasn't because he was incompetent, but because there was a traitor within his ranks.

That's right... his plan is absolutely flawless!

I never intended to tell Yakumo about such dark things. He was a young boy, living in the sunlight, and there was no need for him to be exposed to those dark things beforehand.

"The Minister of Health was assassinated, so what about the others?"

Yakumo was writing furiously in his diary when he asked Jiraiya a question, saying that multitasking was not difficult for him.

"The others... kill them!"

Jiraiya finished the last sip of soup and continued speaking.

His tone was soft, yet it carried a convincing confidence: Jiraiya… He intended to suppress a small ninja village single-handedly.

This is his spirit...

It's like him infiltrating the Akatsuki headquarters alone.

"Just make sure you stay safe tomorrow... leave everything else to me..."

"No problem, Jiraiya-sama."

Yakumo continued writing furiously, while also informing Jiraiya about Rina Uzumaki and awaiting his reaction.

“Those bastards from Kusagakure are truly beasts. Konoha and the Uzumaki clan have been allies for generations. You did a good job with this. Tomorrow, find a way to take her away from Kusagakure while things are in chaos.”

"it is good…"

"Tomorrow I will leave you with a trump card to protect your life," Jiraiya said.

"No need... I have a plan... It's safe."

Yakumo quickly refused, as Jiraiya's trump card was likely a toad left on him to protect him when necessary.

But he has so many secrets, and having a toad by his side would only restrict his actions and hinder his performance.

Jiraiya carefully examined Yakumo for a few moments.

"Okay, but be careful."

"rest assured."

Jiraiya got up and went into the bathroom to wash up. Half an hour later, Jiraiya, wearing a bathrobe, lay down on the bed to sleep, while Yakumo continued to write furiously.

Reading notes, diaries, and daily summaries.

He wrote tirelessly, producing 20,000 words in one night.

The next morning, when Yakumo opened his eyes, he found that Jiraiya was gone, leaving only a letter. Yakumo read it twice, and the words were filled with... "Be careful, act cautiously."

Yakumo forms hand seals.

"The fluctuations of the heart."

Invisible fluctuations spread.

The specific situation of Kusagakure village flashed through my mind...

There were fourteen Jonin-level chakra fluctuations, two of which were close to Kage-level. The remaining Kage-level chakra fluctuation should belong to Jiraiya-sama.

There have been no changes in the strength of the players.

After washing up and having a quick breakfast, Yakumo rushed to the vicinity of Kusagakure Hospital, quietly waiting for Rina Uzumaki to start work.

Half an hour later, Rina Uzumaki appeared in Yakumo's sight, and her mental state had undergone a dramatic change overnight.

He was radiant, his eyes sparkling with joy.

Yakumo felt a faint sense of being watched. This was Kagura's Mind's Eye. Yesterday's brief contact had allowed Rina Uzumaki to remember Yakumo's chakra fluctuations.

After sensing Yakumo's presence, Rina Uzumaki's smile deepened. At this moment, she finally confirmed that everything that happened yesterday was not a dream...!

Yakumo, perched on a treetop, shook his head helplessly.

Not long after, the Hidden Grass Village discovered that the medical ninja had gone missing. After failing to get any information from Rina Uzumaki, the head of the medical department, Naoki Ishihara, slapped her a few times, and that was the end of it.

On the other hand, Yakumo noticed three Chunin-level chakra emanating from around Rina Uzumaki, suggesting they were new surveillance personnel.

On the second floor of the Kusagakure Hospital, a Kusagakure ninja with a bandage on his left arm gripped Rina Uzumaki's arm tightly, sucking blood with a ferocious grin on his face.

A dozen seconds later, the man looked up.

There was no thanks, just a cold glance.

Throughout the entire process, Rina Uzumaki's face remained expressionless; she simply picked up a cotton cloth, soaked it in alcohol, and wiped the drool off her arm.

She has been doing this job for two or three years, arriving at Kusaka Hospital in the morning to be bitten, and leaving exhausted in the evening.

From initial fear and screaming to her current calm and numbness, she had lost all hope in life. But yesterday, someone suddenly entered her world carrying light.

She had never seen such vibrant chakra before, and it almost instinctively made her feel a sense of goodwill. Rina Uzumaki vigorously wiped the wound on her arm.

She felt a bit disgusted by the feeling of being torn apart by others... Suddenly the door was pushed open... The next ninja who needed treatment walked in.

Time passed, and the moon rose above the branches.

Night gradually fell.

Rina Uzumaki dragged her weary body away from Kusagakure Hospital. She could feel the reassuring chakra fluctuations that were always watching over her.

On the other side, Jiraiya hid in the shadows, with two toads perched on his shoulders, gathering natural energy.

A fly suddenly flew by, and Shima instinctively wanted to catch it, but was stopped by Fukasaku.

"Old woman, bear with it. Don't forget that Jiraiya is preparing an assassination."

"Croak." Shima-sensei was a little angry and turned his head.

The flies seemed completely oblivious to the approaching danger, continuing to buzz around Jiraiya's head.

Swish.

Fukasaku flicked out his tongue, wiping away the ungrateful fly, and Shima immediately gave him a displeased look.

"Hehe, I couldn't resist..."

“They’re here…” Jiraiya opened his eyes.

On the other side of the street, a middle-aged man with brown hair was slowly approaching. He was thin, wearing a white coat and thick black-rimmed glasses, and occasionally revealed a neurotic smile.

He's a madman... a bloodthirsty madman.

Jiraiya held his breath and calmed himself.

"Croak, croak, croak, croak."