Kapitel 248: 247- War
The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the bustling market of Kusagakure. The market was alive with activity—vendors hawking their goods, shoppers bargaining for the best prices, and the sweet scent of fresh fruits and herbs filling the air.
Laughter and chatter wove together in a comforting, familiar rhythm. But amidst the vibrant energy of the marketplace, a conversation was unfolding that carried with it a darker undercurrent, one that spoke of unease and growing tension.
At one of the many stalls, a merchant stood behind a cluttered table, surrounded by wares ranging from dried spices to colourful textiles. He was a stout man with a greying beard and kind eyes, and his hands moved deftly as he wrapped up a bundle of dried herbs for a customer.
The buyer was a middle-aged man, sharp-eyed and tall, with the rough look of someone who had spent his life working hard.
"Good day to you, Ichiro," the merchant greeted cheerfully, handing over the bundle. "The herbs this season are especially potent. Perfect for that cough of yours."
Ichiro nodded as he took the bundle but didn't seem particularly focused on the herbs. His eyes darted around the market before he leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice. "I've been hearing some strange things lately, Hideki. You know anything about it?"
Hideki, the merchant, raised an eyebrow. "Strange things? What kind of things are you talking about?"
Ichiro shifted on his feet, his expression turning serious. "War. That's what I've heard."
The word seemed to hang in the air between them, heavier than the usual chatter of the marketplace. Hideki frowned, clearly caught off guard by the statement.
"War?" he repeated. "With who? And where did you hear such nonsense?"
Ichiro glanced around again as if to make sure no one was listening too closely. He leaned in even more, his voice barely above a whisper. "Konoha."
Hideki blinked, his confusion deepening. "Konoha? Why in the world would we go to war with Konoha?"
Ichiro straightened up, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I don't know the full story, but it's what I've been hearing all over the village. Word is, some of our shinobi have gone missing. You haven't noticed? They're not just missing, though. They've been gathering—at the borders."
Hideki's eyes widened in disbelief. "At the borders? For a war with Konoha? That's ridiculous. What could we possibly gain from provoking them?"
Ichiro shrugged, but there was a grim look on his face. "That's the thing, Hideki. I don't think this is about what we gain. I think our leaders have decided something's coming, and we're about to be caught up in it. I don't like it one bit. "
"We've all heard the stories about Konoha—everyone knows their military strength. They've got the Hokage, powerful clans, and even a jinchūriki. We don't have that kind of power, Hideki. We'd be crushed."
Hideki crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head. "We don't even have a jinchūriki, for crying out loud. How do they expect us to stand up to Konoha's might? Whoever's behind this must be out of their mind."
The two men exchanged a sombre glance, both of them knowing that if war truly was on the horizon, their peaceful village would be the first to suffer.
Meanwhile, in a small herbal shop just across the street, a similar conversation was unfolding. An old man, hunched over with age but still spry in his movements, stood at the counter, exchanging a few coins for a bundle of herbs.
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged woman named Teruko, smiled as she wrapped up the herbs in brown paper.
"There you go, Takashi-san. That should last you a good while."
The old man smiled back, his weathered face crinkling. "Thank you, Teruko-chan. You always take good care of me."
As he turned to leave, he paused at the door and glanced back over his shoulder. "Be sure to keep yourself safe, now."
Teruko blinked, confused. "Safe? From what, Takashi-san?"
Takashi sighed, his brow furrowing as he shuffled back toward the counter. "Haven't you heard? War is coming."
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "War? What are you talking about?"
Takashi nodded sagely. "That's what I've heard. My grandchild's friend's brother's wife's sister… she said the same thing just yesterday. Kusagakure is preparing for war, and it's Konoha we're up against."
Teruko let out a soft, disbelieving laugh. "Takashi-san, are you sure about this? It sounds like a rumor that got blown out of proportion."
Takashi shook his head, his expression somber. "I wish it was just a rumor. But I've lived long enough to know when something big is about to happen. Mark my words, Teruko-chan. It's coming."
With that, the old man turned and slowly made his way out of the shop, leaving Teruko standing behind the counter, her brow creased in thought. As the door swung shut behind him, the smile faded from her face, replaced by a dark, contemplative expression.
Teruko moved with purpose now, her fingers deftly reaching into one of the cabinets behind her. She pulled out a small piece of parchment, the edges worn and delicate. Her hand trembled slightly as she uncapped a vial of ink and dipped her brush in, writing swiftly and silently across the paper.
When she was finished, she held the parchment up to eye level, scrutinizing her work. Without a word, she tossed the parchment into the small brazier beside the counter.
The flames leapt up, swallowing the paper whole, but as the fire died down, something strange happened. The parchment left no ashes behind, disappearing entirely into the air as if it had never existed at all.
Teruko watched the flames with cold, calculating eyes.
'I have to let them know this' she thought.
In a grand building at the heart of Kusagakure, Nao Kita, the kage of the village, sat at his desk, deep in thought. Papers and reports were scattered across the surface, but his eyes were fixed on a single letter in front of him, his brow furrowed in frustration.
"I just hope the payment comes soon," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples.
The situation was growing more complicated by the day, and the weight of leadership pressed heavily on his shoulders.
A sudden knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and Nao straightened up, composing himself.
"Enter."
The door creaked open, and his aide, a tall man with sharp features named Ryota, stepped inside. There was a worried look on his face, one that Nao recognized immediately.
"What is it, Ryota?" Nao asked, his voice weary but commanding. "What's the problem?"
Ryota hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It's the rumours, Lord Kita. The villagers… they've been talking."
Nao raised an eyebrow, motioning for Ryota to continue.
"For the past two days, there's been talk all over the village. People are saying that Kusagakure is preparing for war… with Konoha."
Nao's eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger sparking within them. "How did they come to that conclusion?"
Ryota shifted uncomfortably. "Someone must have noticed the movement of our shinobi. Word has spread that we've been gathering forces near the border."
The Kage slammed his hand down on the desk, the sound reverberating through the room. "Idiots!" he spat. "Do they think I'm foolish enough to start a war with Konoha? Our forces were just supposed to—"
Before Nao could finish his sentence, a small spark appeared on his desk, crackling with faint energy. Both he and Ryota stared in shock as a parchment materialized out of thin air, settling on top of the desk.
"What is this?" Ryota asked, his voice filled with alarm. "That's not one of our usual communications. How did it get here?"
Nao's eyes were locked on the parchment, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached out cautiously and unfolded it, his hands steady despite the fear gnawing at him.
As he read the words on the parchment, his face paled. He swallowed hard, then looked up at Ryota, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's from the northern border. Iwagakure… they've attacked our forces."
=====
Bless me with your powerful Power Stones.
Your Reviews and Comments about my work are welcomed
If you can, then please support me on Patreon.
Link - www.patreon.com/SideCharacter
You Can read more chapters ahead on Patreon
Kapitel 249: 248-Spiralling
[A Few Hours Earlier]
The small clearing where the three ANBU operatives stood was silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. The moon hung low, casting long shadows over the village outskirts. Yano's gaze fixed on Renjiro, who had just finished outlining his suggestion.
"Are you sure about this?" Yano asked, his voice low and measured, the faintest hint of doubt creeping into his tone.
Renjiro didn't flinch. His eyes, concealed behind his mask, locked onto Yano's, and his answer was unwavering.
"Yes, I can."
Yano's expression didn't change, but his silence spoke volumes. He knew the weight of what Renjiro was proposing. There was always a risk when using the Sharingan, particularly for something as delicate as framing another village, but Renjiro had proven himself to be competent. Still, Yano needed to be certain.
"There's a chance—however small—that things won't work out as planned. You're aware of that?"
Renjiro nodded. "I'm aware. But the risk is worth it."
Yano considered this for a moment, his gaze moving to Kakashi, who stood off to the side. Kakashi remained silent, waiting for Yano's decision.
"Alright then," Yano finally said, exhaling softly. "Once we destroy this outpost, there are four others we need to hit before sunrise. We'll keep moving until the job is done."
As the leader of the squad, Yano had to ensure the mission's success, but the plan Renjiro had proposed was nothing short of audacious.
A day ago, when the three of them had first arrived in Kusagakure, they had spent the night gathering as much intel as possible. There was a chance that Konoha's information on Kusagakure had been outdated and Yano knew that acting on bad intelligence could lead to disaster.
So, they'd spent the first night carefully blending in with the locals, observing movements, and listening to whispers. By morning, they had pieced together enough to understand that Kusagakure was preparing for something big, but not enough to understand their intent behind it.
That day, the team split up, each of them tasked with sowing the seeds of chaos in the village. Rumours were their weapon of choice, whispers about an impending war with Konoha spreading like wildfire.
If their direct actions couldn't put enough pressure on the village's kage, then the civilians would do it for them. It was a subtle but effective strategy, and Renjiro, in particular, had found a way to accelerate the process.
Using his Sharingan, Renjiro subtly influenced the minds of the civilians he encountered, planting the rumour deep into their subconscious. It wasn't outright genjutsu—no, that would have been too obvious, too risky—but a gentle nudge, a suggestion that would encourage them to spread the gossip to everyone they met.
It was delicate work, and Renjiro had been careful not to draw attention to himself. The Sharingan's power could be overwhelming if not wielded properly, but Renjiro was nothing if not meticulous.
The second phase of their mission was even more dangerous. The plan was to attack Kusagakure's outposts near the border with the Land of Earth, framing Iwagakure for the destruction.
By doing so, they hoped to force Kusagakure to redistribute its forces, stretching them thin. If all went well, Kusa might even retaliate against Iwa, thinking them the aggressors.
The damage caused by Yano and his team would be blamed on Iwagakure's shinobi, giving Konoha the upper hand without ever directly engaging Kusagakure in combat.
It was then that Renjiro had an idea, one that took even Yano by surprise.
"What if I use genjutsu during the attack?" Renjiro had suggested earlier, the idea fresh in his mind.
"Instead of just mimicking Iwa's jutsus, I could implant the memory of Iwa shinobi attacking them. That way, if anyone survives, they won't just think it was Iwa—they'll 'know' it was Iwa."
Yano had been silent for a long moment, considering the implications. It had been years since he'd worked with an Uchiha, and he'd nearly forgotten just how powerful the Sharingan could be in the right hands. But before he could voice his approval, Kakashi had raised a valid concern.
"What if Kusagakure figures it out?" Kakashi had said, his voice calm but pointed. "If they have a way of digging through the memories of their soldiers, they might find evidence of genjutsu—especially Sharingan-induced genjutsu. If they figure out it was Konoha's doing, this whole mission could blow up in our faces."
Yano had nodded thoughtfully, turning to Renjiro once more. "He's right. This could backfire if we're not careful. Are you sure you can pull this off without leaving a trail?"
Renjiro had met his gaze, his expression unreadable behind his mask. "I'm sure. The genjutsu will be flawless. They'll believe what they saw, and what they saw will be Iwa."
It had been a bold proposal, but Yano had ultimately agreed to the change in plans. If it worked, it would be far more effective than simply mimicking Iwa's jutsus. And now, a few hours later, they stood on the cusp of executing that plan.
The outpost lay ahead of them, nestled in the dense forest near the border of the Land of Earth. The night was dark, the only light coming from the small fires that flickered around the outpost's perimeter. The shinobi stationed there were unaware of the storm about to hit them.
Renjiro knelt in the shadows, his Sharingan active, the familiar red glow illuminating his gaze. His mind was focused, and calculating. He had already opened the four gates, allowing him access to the full power of his four-tomoe Sharingan. He wasn't taking any chances—not with a mission like this.
"Ready?" Yano whispered, crouching beside him.
Renjiro nodded. "Let's move."
With a flicker of movement, the three ANBU operatives launched into action. Yano and Kakashi attacked with a series of earth-style jutsus, mimicking the techniques commonly used by Iwa shinobi.
The ground rumbled as they unleashed their chakra, the earth splitting and rising like waves, crashing into the outpost's defences. Shouts of alarm rang out from the Kusa shinobi stationed there, but the assault was swift and brutal.
Renjiro moved with precision, his Sharingan tracking every movement of their enemies. He singled out the shinobi who would survive the attack—those who would be allowed to escape and spread the word of what had happened here.
One by one, he cast his genjutsu, implanting the memory of Iwa shinobi in their minds. When they fled, they would carry the tale of an Iwa attack, not the truth of what had really occurred.
The battle was over quickly. The outpost lay in ruins, its defenders either dead or fleeing for their lives. Renjiro stood in the aftermath, his Sharingan fading as he deactivated his genjutsu. His breathing was steady, his focus unbroken. Everything had gone according to plan.
Yano surveyed the destruction, nodding in approval. "One down," he said quietly, his voice cutting through the night air. "Four more to go."
Without another word, the team moved on, disappearing into the darkness as they made their way to the next target.
---
Back in Kusagakure, the atmosphere was tense. Nao Kita, the village's kage, paced back and forth in his office, his mind racing with uncertainty. Things were unravelling faster than he had anticipated, and he wasn't sure how to stop it.
"I didn't expect this," Nao muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed in frustration.
"I didn't expect Iwa to attack."
Ryota, his aide, stood by the door, watching his leader with a concerned expression. "Lord Kita," he said carefully, "wasn't there an agreement between Iwa and Konoha? Some kind of treaty? Why would Iwa make such a move now?"
Nao paused, his eyes narrowing. He glanced at Ryota, then quickly looked away. "I don't know," he lied. "Perhaps they found out… about the plan I had with… those guys."
"Call for a council meeting," Nao instructed his voice tight with barely controlled panic.
"Get everyone here. Now."
Ryota's eyes widened slightly at the vague reference from before, but before he could ask for clarification, there was a knock at the door. Nao gestured for the newcomer to enter, and a shinobi stepped into the room, his face pale with shock.
"Lord Kita," the shinobi said breathlessly, "two members of the village council… they've just been killed."
=====
Bless me with your powerful Power Stones.
Your Reviews and Comments about my work are welcomed
If you can, then please support me on Patreon.
Link - www.patreon.com/SideCharacter
You Can read more chapters ahead on Patreon
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
200+ Power-
Rangliste 
33 Power-
Stein Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen
Kommentar absatzweise anzeigen