Yamanaka Mokuno leapt swiftly through the rubble-strewn terrain, his expression tense.
Up ahead, several Konoha shinobi stood encircling a mound of broken stones. A large white dog padded around the area, sniffing intently and letting out low growls.
"Yamanaka-san," called a member of the Inuzuka clan, "White Wind picked up a faint scent here. I think Lord Yuan might be trapped underneath this pile."
"Quickly!" Mokuno ordered. "Clear the rubble and get him out!"
"I'll handle it."
A booming voice sounded as Akimichi Kai landed beside Mokuno.
"Expansion Jutsu!"
His body swelled to towering size, and he began hurling massive boulders aside with effortless strength. One after another, the rocks tumbled away until the pile was nearly gone.
Then, with a loud crack, one of the largest stones suddenly burst upward—revealing a dark pit beneath.
A moment later, Uchiha Yuan climbed out, covered in dust.
"Lord Yuan!" Mokuno rushed forward, relief flooding his face. "Are you all right?"
In the eyes of everyone present, Yuan looked battered beyond belief—his clothes torn and scorched, his skin marred by burn marks.
"I'm fine," Yuan said simply, brushing the dust from his shoulder.
Mokuno exhaled, then asked, "The attacker—was it the Cloud Jinchūriki?"
Yuan nodded. "Yes. The one leading the strike was Killer B, the Eight-Tails' host."
The surrounding shinobi exchanged stunned looks. Even though many had suspected it, hearing it confirmed sent a chill down their spines.
Cloud had actually sent an entire Jinchūriki to assassinate one man.
The Next Day – Konoha Forward Command Tent
Jiraiya lowered the report in his hand, sighing. "So it's confirmed—the Tailed Beast attack last night was from Killer B of Cloud."
The tent was filled with high-ranking officers, including Shimura Ichizō and several unit captains.
Ichizō's eyes narrowed slightly. "So he attacked our rear camp? What's the damage?"
Jiraiya's tone turned heavy. "His target wasn't the camp. It was Uchiha Yuan."
A flicker of satisfaction flashed across Ichizō's face. "Then that brat—did Killer B finish him off?"
Jiraiya gestured toward the table, where two documents lay. "No. He's alive—but badly injured."
Ichizō frowned, stepping forward to pick up the reports. One was Yuan's personal account of the incident; the other, a medical report from the camp's healers.
He read both quickly, then sneered. "Hmph. Lucky little bastard. To survive Killer B's full transformation and all those Tailed Beast Bombs… with only internal injuries?"
According to Yuan's own report, once he realized Killer B's target was him, he immediately retreated. During the chase, he relied on his speed to dodge the Jinchūriki's attacks.
The medical report seemed to corroborate that story—most of his damage came from internal shock and chakra backlash rather than direct strikes.
Jiraiya rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's clear Cloud's taking him very seriously. After multiple failed assassinations, they even risked sending their Eight-Tails host behind enemy lines. That's no small thing."
"Humph." Ichizō snorted. "If that Uchiha brat had held Killer B off a little longer, we might have captured him and forced Cloud to negotiate peace."
Jiraiya shot him a sideways glance. "Killer B left because he knew staying would mean entrapment. He's reckless, but not stupid."
Konoha Rear Camp – Uchiha Yuan's Tent
Pharmacist Nonōyu (Yakushi Nono) carefully examined Yuan's condition, her expression grave.
After a few minutes, she exhaled and said, "Your internal bleeding has stabilized. But for the next few days, you must rest completely—no movement, no chakra use."
"I understand," Yuan said quietly.
When she left, Mokuno and several others entered the tent.
"Lord Yuan," Mokuno began, "a message from the front. Lord Jiraiya sends his regards—and an order. Once you recover, you're to report to the Grass Country front."
Yuan frowned slightly. "Grass Country? That's the border against Iwagakure. Why move me there?"
Mokuno hesitated. "I believe it's Lord Jiraiya's way of protecting you. Cloud clearly wants you dead. Moving you to the Iwa front will keep you out of their reach."
Yuan was silent for a long moment, then nodded. "I see."
Over the next few days, Yuan remained in the camp, recuperating.
Meanwhile, on the front lines, Konoha and Cloud clashed four more times—each battle involving over a thousand shinobi.
Each time, Konoha emerged victorious.
Killer B never reappeared.
But on the fifth day, everything changed.
When the next Cloud offensive began, a surge of massive chakra erupted across the battlefield. Moments later, a gigantic blue-flamed beast appeared before the Konoha ranks.
The Two-Tails—Matatabi.
The monstrous cat spirit tore through Konoha's defensive line with overwhelming speed and power. Within minutes, the front collapsed into chaos.
Only when Jiraiya arrived, summoning Gamabunta, did the slaughter finally halt.
That night, Jiraiya sat in his tent, one arm bandaged from burns sustained in battle. The atmosphere was heavy with tension.
He looked at a middle-aged intelligence officer. "No updates from the intel division?"
The man bowed his head. "None yet, Lord Jiraiya."
Jiraiya's voice hardened. "The Two-Tails appearing means Cloud and Iwa's negotiations are likely over. Send immediate inquiries—we must know their next move."
"Yes, sir!" The officer rushed out.
At the rear camp, Yuan soon received word of the defeat.
Mokuno's face was grim. "Damn it. Now they've brought in the Two-Tails. If both Jinchūriki are on the same front, we'll be fighting a losing war."
Yuan didn't answer. He simply stared toward the distant battlefield, his eyes reflecting the faint glow of campfires.
The front line was no longer his battlefield. Tomorrow, he would leave for Grass Country.
But deep down, he was certain—Killer B hadn't escaped unscathed.
That was why Cloud had sent the Two-Tails instead.
Some people die… but they're never truly gone.
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