Imoni Mountain, Kogaku Temple.
This place was considered a fairly well-known scenic spot within the Land of Fire. The taro stew of Imoni Mountain was one of the country's famed local specialties, and Kogaku Temple atop the mountain had a history stretching back several centuries, an ancient temple that already existed during the Warring States period.
When the Kirigakure delegation had come to Konoha, they had stayed here for a night.
On their return journey, they once again paid a visit to this temple.
Inside the dining hall.
"The taro stew from Imoni Mountain is just as delicious as ever!" Akimichi Choza set down his completely empty bowl, deep satisfaction spreading across his plump face.
"…Choza, you really never get tired of eating, do you?"
Across from him, Nara Shikaku twitched slightly at the corner of his eye as he looked at the tall stack of empty bowls piled on the table.
Although he had witnessed Choza's terrifying appetite countless times since childhood, Shikaku felt that as the years passed, Choza's capacity only continued to grow. He had no idea when, or if, it would ever reach its limit.
"Haha! How could anyone ever get tired of taro stew this good? Though…" Choza licked his lips and sighed regretfully. "If only there were another ten or so pounds of grilled meat to go with it."
"…" Shikaku had nothing to say.
At that moment, Yamanaka Inoichi, seated beside Shikaku, suddenly changed expression.
"Shikaku, something's wrong!"
"What?"
Shikaku's nerves instantly tensed.
They had not come to Imoni Mountain merely to enjoy Kogaku Temple's taro stew. They were tasked with escorting the Kirigakure delegation.
In theory, this mission should have involved little risk.
The delegation had arrived safely before, without encountering any incidents. Mizushiro, the Kumogakure spy, had only acted after reaching Konoha, and that unstable factor had already been eliminated. Logically, there should be no trouble on the return journey.
Unless… there was still another spy hidden within the Kirigakure delegation?
But Kirigakure was not a sieve full of holes.
It was impossible for so many spies to be planted in a single envoy group.
"Inoichi, what did you detect?" Shikaku asked.
Choza, sitting opposite, immediately swallowed back the words "another bowl, please" that were about to leave his mouth. He held his breath and fixed his gaze on Inoichi, fists unconsciously clenching as he prepared for a fight at any moment.
Inoichi closed his eyes, already using the Yamanaka clan's inherited sensory ninjutsu.
"There's someone approaching Kogaku Temple. Just one person. The chakra is unfamiliar, and enormous. It's on the level of a jinchūriki."
After hearing this, Shikaku looked out through the dining hall window.
It was already evening, and in this season the days were short and nights long. The sky outside was not completely dark yet, but close. Lanterns throughout Kogaku Temple had already been lit.
At this time of day, anyone arriving was unlikely to be ordinary.
After all, this era could hardly be called peaceful. Konoha regularly received commissions to suppress bandits, thieves, and escort caravans. That alone showed just how dangerous the wilderness was.
Anyone who dared to travel alone was certainly not an average person.
"Let's go," Shikaku said as he stood up. "We'll see whether this visitor is friend or foe, or simply someone like us seeking lodging."
Inoichi and Choza immediately rose with him.
The three left the dining hall and headed toward the main gate of Kogaku Temple. The incoming presence Inoichi sensed was approaching from the front, which made Shikaku uncertain of the visitor's identity. After all, those who sneak over walls or through tunnels are almost always up to no good.
Someone who walked openly through the front gate was harder to judge.
They would need to meet and question the person to be sure.
Just as they were about to reach the main gate, they encountered three figures approaching from the opposite direction.
Koeda Kyoichi, Hōzuki Mangetsu, and Ringo Ameyuri.
"So you noticed it too, senpais," Kyoichi said with a smile, greeting the trio of Ino-Shika-Cho.
"Kyoichi, since you're here as well, let's go together," Shikaku replied. With Inoichi, one of the shinobi world's top sensory ninjas, Shikaku had already known of their approach before seeing them.
He had no intention of stopping Kyoichi and the others.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were not fragile weaklings in need of protection. Moreover, Kyoichi was a shinobi personally praised by both Minato and Orochimaru. Rather than restricting their movements, it was better to act together.
If the unidentified visitor turned out to be hostile, having Kyoichi and the others as backup would only make things safer.
"Sounds good. Let's go together," Kyoichi agreed.
The two groups merged and proceeded toward the main gate.
"Kyoichi," Shikaku said, "I'll handle questioning the visitor first. Don't intervene right away. If there's no issue, we'll return. If there is a problem, then please hold back if possible. Capture alive if you can."
Shikaku was a pragmatic man. He understood flexibility and did not cling to pride. Accepting assistance from Kirigakure was not something he found unacceptable.
If Konoha and Kirigakure were still enemies, then of course lines would need to be drawn clearly.
But now they were allies.
Cooperation was only natural.
"I understand. I'll act accordingly," Kyoichi replied cooperatively.
However, in truth, he was already prepared for a full confrontation.
The others might not recognize the approaching presence, but Kyoichi did.
It was the chakra of the Uchiha who had killed Sarutobi Takeo and the others, the pawn personally chosen by Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu.
When Sarutobi Takeo and the rest had been killed, one of Kyoichi's shadow clones had been flying overhead using Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique, witnessing the entire event and memorizing that unknown Uchiha's chakra.
That was why, the moment he sensed that chakra approaching, Kyoichi immediately informed Anjō Oniyuzu and rushed over with Mangetsu and Ameyuri.
He did not know why Madara and Black Zetsu's chosen pawn had come looking for trouble with Kirigakure.
But reality was simple.
Trouble had already come knocking.
The reason no longer mattered.
What mattered now was this:
How to deal with the trouble that had come to their door.