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Imai Kuriyama was not doing well. She was covered in blood. It looked like she might lose her life at any moment.
Kifu saw his chance. He waited for the right timing. He formed hand seals. A wave of fire surged forward like a tide. It covered everything.
"Hah!" (Great Flame Flower!)
It was a [B-Rank Skill]. It consumed a massive amount of his Mana instantly.
The power was impressive.
The Hidden Mist ninja fighting Imai Kuriyama was caught off guard. He was swallowed by the sea of flames. There was no saving him.
At the same time, Kifu flickered next to Imai Kuriyama. He caught her as she stumbled.
"Are you okay?"
There was no reply. She had fainted.
"It is you?!"
Akebino Shinno saw Kifu return. His face changed. His eyes looked like a venomous snake ready to strike. He forced Kakashi back with one hit and stood on a tree branch.
"Where is Yamato?" Akebino Shinno asked in a heavy voice.
Kifu looked honest and sincere. 'I need to keep a straight face.'
"The Hidden Mist ninja from before? I told him about a great BBQ shop. He should be eating there by now."
"..."
BBQ?
Who was he trying to fool?
"Kifu, take Kuriyama and go. We can handle this," Kakashi said.
Kakashi was previously distracted by Imai Kuriyama. Ito Itsuki was losing, but he would not be defeated easily.
Akebino Shinno was excited to see Kakashi. Kakashi also felt excitement. He had been suppressing it to focus on the mission.
The mission was now safe. He did not need to suppress his desire to fight anymore.
Kifu had no objections to leaving. He would have left earlier if not for his companions.
He looked at the Mist ninja corpse. It was being burned to a crisp. He felt a bit of regret. He felt conflicted about the lost [Exp] and loot.
He pushed those thoughts aside.
He picked up Imai Kuriyama. "Do not worry about us. Good luck."
He left without any hesitation. He did not look back.
This was a retreat by order.
A Ninja must follow orders!
Chapter 12: Going Berserk
Outside the border of the Land of Fire.
The Land of Hot Springs.
Orochimaru was in a hotel room in a small town. He was working with precision instruments and strange liquids.
The Hidden Mist had been active lately. Sarutobi Hiruzen sent Orochimaru here to ensure safety. He brought a group of Konoha ninja and Anbu.
They showed no mercy to the Hidden Mist scouts. They killed everyone.
They demonstrated the power of Konoha.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. He licked his lips. 'The war could start at any moment. We just need a spark.'
*Bang!*
A glass container exploded. It destroyed most of the things on the table.
Orochimaru was not angry.
This was science. Accidents happened. The process was not important. Only the results mattered.
'Teacher Sarutobi is too conservative. He should pick a weak target and destroy them. That would scare the others.'
Konoha was at its peak. It could easily destroy one village. But if one village started a war, the others would follow. Konoha would be stuck in a long war. The outcome would be uncertain.
Orochimaru was used to the conservatism of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Stationing him here was a bold move for Sarutobi. Jiraiya or Tsunade would not be as decisive as him.
Orochimaru was about to restart his experiment. An Anbu ninja appeared silently in the room.
"Lord Orochimaru, the Hidden Mist is acting strange."
Orochimaru did not look up. He continued to adjust his instruments.
"Oh? Did Suikazan Fuguki make a move?"
"No. It was not Suikazan Fuguki. Our scouts saw a Jonin from the Kaguya clan. He forced his way through our blockade. He entered that area."
"The Kaguya clan? Those lunatics..."
Even Orochimaru called them lunatics. Their reputation was well known.
"The Body Collection Team might be in danger. Should we act for the sake of the intel?" the Anbu asked.
Orochimaru looked up. His tongue flicked out.
'The Hidden Mist is getting impatient. They want to test Konoha. Sending a fool from the Kaguya clan kills two birds with one stone.'
The Mist wanted to see the resolve of Konoha. If the Kaguya survived, it meant Konoha was focused on the Hidden Stone and Hidden Sand. If he died, the Mist leaders would be happy to lose a political rival.
Orochimaru waved his hand.
"Send a squad of Anbu."
He could not leave. If he left, the Hidden Mist would know Konoha was short on manpower. Suikazan Fuguki would take advantage of that.