In the previous chapter: Team 7 arrived in the dangerous Land of Silence, following the trail of Hashirama's cells being trafficked on the black market. After infiltrating a village dominated by criminals and rogue ninja, they discovered that numerous individuals were seeking to obtain this forbidden power.
The investigation led them to Kirisaki, a rogue medical ninja connected to the sale of the cells. Thanks to a risky infiltration and Konohamaru's use of the Sexy Jutsu, they managed to capture and interrogate him. In doing so, they discovered that a mysterious woman named Sakuya had acquired Hashirama's cells and planned to use them to regain her youth.
Following the clues, the team arrived at Sakuya's castle. There, Konohamaru impersonated Kirisaki to infiltrate the castle, accompanied by Sakuya. During the mission, they discovered that Sakuya's butler had also been infected by Hashirama's cells and that the woman's followers were so obsessed that they were willing to sacrifice their lives for her.
However, it all turned out to be a trap. While Konohamaru distracted the castle's inhabitants, Saku infiltrated the castle in search of the cells. There, she discovered that three mysterious brothers had already gotten there first. The criminals murdered Sakuya and the butler, causing chaos within the castle and turning all suspicion against the Konoha ninja.
Although Saku temporarily recovered Hashirama's cells, the brothers ambushed and stole them from her and escaped. To make matters worse, they spread rumors throughout the Land of Silence accusing the Leaf shinobi of murdering Sakuya and stealing her riches.
Now, with the cells once again in unknown hands, the castle surrounded by dozens of rogue ninjas, and an angry mob seeking a reward, Saku and Konohamaru find themselves caught in the middle of a situation that threatens to turn into a desperate battle.
At that moment, Saku and Konohamaru found themselves completely surrounded at the entrance to Sakuya's chamber. The door was blocked by enormous roots, while the castle guards pushed with all their might to try and force their way through.
Saku stared at the door for a moment, looked at Konohamaru, and spoke with obvious annoyance.
—This is a nuisance.
Konohamaru turned his gaze towards one of the windows and answered.
—We have to get out of here. Our priority is the cells.
They both jumped and reached the windows. With a swift movement, Konohamaru shattered the glass with a kunai and stepped outside, immediately followed by Saku.
Upon seeing what was outside, his eyes widened. The building was completely surrounded by rogue ninjas.
Saku spoke with surprise.
—I felt several chakras, but I didn't think there were so many.
At that moment, the rogue ninjas discovered the broken window. One of them pointed at the two shinobi and shouted at the top of his lungs.
—There they are! Catch them!
A smile appeared on the faces of all the enemies. At the same time, they drew their kunai and hurled them forcefully at the building.
Konohamaru and Saku began running down the building, dodging the projectiles flying toward them. They leaped between rooftops, deflecting some kunai with their own, the metallic clang echoing with each impact.
They ran across the rooftops until they made a great leap that took them to the castle entrance, although they were still completely surrounded by the rogue ninjas.
Konohamaru and Saku bumped their backs together to protect each other.
—Saku, clear a path! We have to get out of here!
The rogue ninjas charged at them. Saku performed several hand seals and extended both palms toward her enemies. By slightly opening her fingers, enormous branches and roots sprouted from the ground, raising two immense walls of trees that formed a path while pushing the ninjas to the sides.
The enemies were surprised and many of them jumped back to avoid being crushed.
Without wasting a second, Saku and Konohamaru took advantage of the opening and ran at full speed, leaving the castle to venture into the streets.
As they walked forward, Konohamaru glanced sideways at Saku and spoke.
—From now on, avoid using jutsu. Save chakra; we'll need it later.
Saku nodded silently.
They both continued running, jumping between buildings until they disappeared among them, with the goal of reuniting with their team.
The rogue ninjas lost track of Saku and Konohamaru while searching the entire village.
On the roof of one of the buildings, Saku remained kneeling on one knee with an annoyed expression, watching the street where several ninjas were running past.
One of them was shouting:
—Where is the treasure?
Saku frowned and spoke in a low voice.
—How complicated... How will we get rid of this? Besides, what treasure? We don't have anything.
At that moment, from another building, Mugino and Sarada appeared in a leap, landing next to them, remaining on one knee.
Konohamaru observed them and spoke with a serious expression.
—What a problem... All those people found out there's some treasure.
Sarada looked at Konohamaru and answered calmly.
—I heard several people shouting earlier that there was treasure in the castle.
Saku stopped looking at the street and turned her gaze towards her companions.
—It was the ninjas with the earrings.
Mugino frowned slightly and asked.
—Which ninjas?
Saku lowered her gaze slightly before answering.
—The women who were with Kirisaki at the bar. They were transformed ninjas. I already had Kirisaki on my radar.
Konohamaru clenched his fist and spoke firmly.
—So they used us, they got ahead, they entered the castle first, they stole the cells and killed the lady of the castle.
Mugino let out a long sigh and commented.
—How troublesome... Do we have anything to catch them or any way to recognize them?
Konohamaru took out a kunai covered by a cloth, completely impregnated with poison, and showed it to the others.
—This is what I have. Maybe with this we can track them down.
Saku lowered her head and sighed.
"This is my fault. I sensed their chakras earlier, but I thought I could stop them. My sensory abilities aren't strong enough yet, so I got overconfident and failed. I apologize."
Mugino looked at him with slight annoyance and asked.
-What do you mean?
Saku took a deep breath before answering.
—Earlier, on the bridge, I sensed their chakras. I thought about using them to gain an advantage, but in the end, we were the ones who ended up being used.
Mugino let out a sigh of frustration, while Konohamaru shook his head slightly and replied.
—You should have told us that sooner. We could have stopped them.
Saku looked away for a moment before explaining.
—When I noticed their chakras were already inside the building, and I never thought they would go to such extremes, even killing the butler and the lady of the castle.
Sarada watched him with a little pity, without saying a single word.
Saku looked up and spoke with determination.
—But I could sense their chakras and I know which direction they went.
Saku pointed towards the northwest of the city.
—This time I won't fail. I'll recover the cells, I promise.
Mugino watched him for a moment and then nodded.
Konohamaru looked at everyone and spoke seriously.
"The first thing we need to do is find a way out of the city. If we stay here, they'll find us at any moment."
They all nodded.
At that moment they stood up and began to run, jumping from building to building at full speed with the aim of leaving the village.
Suddenly, one of the rogue ninjas glanced at them out of the corner of his eye and shouted at the top of his lungs.
—They're over there, the Konoha shinobi!
Sarada glanced at them sideways and spoke with concern.
—This is bad... They noticed us.
Saku let out a small smile as she continued running.
He raised a hand and began to wave to the ninjas who were chasing them.
—They're our fans!
Then he looked straight ahead again and added with a smile.
—Well, at least we're famous now. All that's left is for people to ask us for autographs.
Sarada glared at him. Even so, she couldn't help but let out a small laugh before becoming serious again.
—Stop joking. This is all your fault.
Saku lowered her head with a dejected expression as she continued running.
-Yes I know.
Enraged by the taunt, the rogue ninjas pulled out several kunai with explosive tags and threw them with all their might towards Team 7.
The explosions began to resonate throughout the area, causing several loud bangs.
—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The explosions erupted above the rooftops of the houses, sending tiles flying and raising huge clouds of dust that completely covered the street.
To dodge the barrage of explosions, Konohamaru, Sarada, Saku, and Mugino leaped simultaneously into the streets, landing on their feet. However, the moment they touched the ground, they discovered the exits were already blocked by more rogue ninja. The four of them lined up back to back, ready to defend themselves.
At that moment, a loud metallic sound was heard from a narrow alley.
CLANG!
A manhole cover opened from below.
From it emerged a small boy, the same one Konohamaru had helped earlier. The boy glanced quickly at the Konoha shinobi and made a desperate gesture.
—This way!
Konohamaru and the others exchanged a quick glance and, without needing to say a single word, nodded at the same time.
Saku and Mugino took out smoke bombs and threw them on the ground.
BOOM!
A thick gray curtain covered the entire street just as the rogue ninjas launched themselves at them.
—Don't let them escape!
But it was already too late.
Taking advantage of the chaos and confusion, Team 7 quickly descended into the sewer guided by the boy, disappearing beneath the village streets while the enemies searched in vain through the cloud of smoke.
When they went downstairs, the boy lit a lantern that illuminated the dark passageway and spoke calmly.
—Follow me.
The little boy started walking while being followed by the four shinobi. They all observed the place with curiosity.
Saku looked around the tunnel and spoke in surprise.
—This place is huge. Are these tunnels?
Mugino glanced at him sideways before answering.
—It doesn't look like it. They're sewers.
Upon hearing the conversation, the boy smiled with pride.
—That's right, they're sewers, but they've been reinforced with iron. It's our place to protect ourselves from adults... and also our lair.
Saku smiled sincerely.
—It's a good hiding place.
The boy turned slightly and answered with a smile.
—Don't worry. No one will enter this place.
Mugino watched him with curiosity.
—Why are you helping us?
The boy lowered the lantern slightly and answered.
—Because I owe them a very big favor.
Sarada tilted her head slightly.
—A favor? What's it about?
The boy smiled mysteriously.
—They'll find out when they meet their partner.
Saku opened her eyes a little.
—Our colleague?
They continued walking through the sewers until, after several minutes, they reached a much larger area where several pipes connected. In the center stood a small house built on iron pillars, raised several meters above the ground and accessible only by a ladder.
Team 7 went up the steps and entered the house.
The boy turned on the lights and, at that same moment, a door at the back slowly opened.
Saku smiled enthusiastically.
—Mitsuki!
Sarada also smiled with relief.
—How are you here?
Saku quickly approached and happily grabbed his shoulders.
—You're better!
Mitsuki nodded with a slight smile.
—That's right. I'm feeling better now. Thanks to that, I was able to come.
Sarada breathed a sigh of relief.
—That's great. We were very worried about you, Mitsuki.
Konohamaru approached, intrigued.
—But... how?
Mitsuki responded calmly.
—I came as soon as I could move, but I didn't come alone.
As he spoke, he glanced behind him.
Behind him appeared a little girl, the same one who had been hospitalized with the disease caused by Hashirama's cells.
The girl moved forward timidly, hiding for a moment behind Mitsuki's back.
Sarada recognized her immediately.
—That girl is the one from the hospital...
Then he smiled warmly.
—I'm so glad they've recovered.
The little girl stood next to Mitsuki and spoke with a smile full of gratitude.
"Thanks to him I'm still alive. I told my brother he risked his life to save me."
The boy who had guided them approached their side and explained.
—She's my younger sister.
Saku opened her eyes slightly.
—Now I understand. That's why I was alone at the entrance of Yubina's hospital.
The boy lowered his gaze and answered honestly.
—I didn't have the money to pay for her treatment, so I had no choice but to leave her at the hospital entrance.
Konohamaru smiled with satisfaction.
—As always, helping others can bring unexpected rewards.
Mugino also let out a small smile as he contemplated the scene, while the tense atmosphere that had accompanied them throughout the chase disappeared for a few moments.
A moment later, everyone gathered around an old table to discuss their next move, while the two children remained seated on the floor, watching the conversation with curiosity.
Konohamaru placed his hands on the table and spoke seriously.
—Let's talk about what happens next. Saku was able to track their chakras and they are heading northwest.
Mugino crossed his arms as he analyzed the situation.
—Those ninjas who posed as the women from the bar have probably already left the village.
Saku shook her head slightly as she thought.
—Judging by the way they were moving, I wonder what village they're from.
Sarada placed a hand on the table and gave her opinion.
—They must have left here at full speed.
Mitsuki calmly observed everyone before answering.
"I don't think so. Hashirama's cells are very unstable. They'll have to transport them very carefully; if they rush things, everything could go wrong."
Konohamaru nodded slowly.
—If that's the case, then our biggest problem right now is getting out of the village without being detected.
Mitsuki smiled slightly.
Before anyone could say anything else, the boy excitedly raised his hand.
"If that's the reason, don't worry. All these sewers connect to the outside of the village. Let me guide you and I'll get you out without anyone seeing you."
They all stared at him for a moment.
Mugino let out a slight smile and spoke decisively.
—So we have a plan. It's time to go.
Konohamaru, Sarada, Saku, and Mitsuki exchanged glances before nodding in unison. They all wore slight smiles. They were ready to leave.
The two children said goodbye to them and, without wasting any time, began to guide them through the sewers.
As they walked through the dark passageways, Sarada noticed the boy at the front of the group lighting the way with a lamp.
A sad expression appeared on her face and she thought.
"These children are growing up in a place filled with pain... Perhaps, if no one helps them, in the future they will end up becoming rogue ninjas, having had no other choice."
Sarada let out a soft sigh.
He reached into his ninja pouch and touched a three-pronged kunai inside. He remained silent, then sighed, and withdrew his hand from the pouch. He slowly approached the child.
Gently, he gave her a light touch on the shoulder.
The boy turned to look at her curiously.
Sarada gave him a kind smile.
"Someone will come to visit you in the future. Perhaps they can help you get out of this place."
The boy tilted his head slightly, not fully understanding those words, but still gave her a small smile.
Sarada looked straight ahead again as a thought crossed her mind.
"I saw their photographs... They look a lot like them. I hope Boruto gets to meet them someday. When we return to the village, I'll tell him."
With that thought, the group continued moving through the silent sewers, leaving the city behind as the dim light from the child's lamp illuminated the path to the exit.
After several minutes of walking, the boy stopped and looked up at the ceiling. Without saying a word, he took an old iron ladder, leaned it against the wall, and began to climb. When he reached the top, he pushed open the heavy manhole cover and stepped outside, followed one by one by the Konoha shinobi.
Once everyone was outside, the boy climbed back down to the opening and prepared to return to his hiding place. Before disappearing, he raised his hand with a genuine smile.
—Don't die, boys.
The four shinobi exchanged glances and smiled at him before nodding. Slowly, the manhole cover closed again, concealing the child and plunging the place back into silence.
Team 7 turned towards Konohamaru and Mugino, awaiting their next orders.
Konohamaru stepped forward and spoke seriously.
—It's time to split up. You two will go your separate ways to look for them. If you find any clues, don't fight and let us know immediately. Understood?
Mugino crossed his arms and added in a firm tone.
—We'll handle the fighting. The important thing is to recover the cells without damaging them.
Saku, Sarada, and Mitsuki exchanged a quick glance and, with a slight smile, answered in unison.
-Yeah!
Without wasting a second, both groups took different paths and disappeared among the trees.
While that was happening, in another part of the Village of Silence, dozens of people continued to roam the streets in search of the Konoha shinobi.
Far removed from the chaos, inside a restaurant, a completely different scene was unfolding. Next to a window rested an exquisite plate with a perfectly cooked piece of meat. A person draped in a long cloak moved their hands with absolute calm. They took the knife, cut a small piece, and, with the help of a fork, brought the meat to their mouth. They chewed slowly and, after a few seconds, spoke with evident distaste.
—It tastes like sand... It's disgusting.
With complete composure, he raised the hand holding the knife and, without even looking, threw it with terrifying force towards a target board located at the back of the restaurant.
CLACK!
The blade pierced right in the center.
The person stood up and slightly adjusted their cloak.
—Since I've come from so far away... I hope I can enjoy myself a little more.
He started walking towards the exit. With every step, he could see bodies lying all over the restaurant, on both the first and second floors, all motionless in a disturbing pool of blood.
As we passed the reception desk, a large bloodstain covered the counter, and the manager lay dead behind it. The entire restaurant was utterly silent; the only sound breaking the eerie calm was the dripping of blood onto the floor.
Drop... drop... drop...
The mysterious figure took out a banknote and carefully placed it on the counter.
—Thank you for the food.
Without waiting for a reply, he left the restaurant. As he walked away down the street, a smile of amusement slowly appeared on his face, almost completely hidden beneath the shadow of his hood.
Meanwhile, Team 7 advanced through the forest, searching for any trace of the thieves. The three of them were on the ground, carefully observing, looking for any sign that might lead them to Hashirama's cells.
Sarada broke the silence.
—Saku, can't you sense their chakras?
Saku glanced at her and answered calmly.
—I can't. My sensory abilities don't have that great range, so we'll have to find them the traditional way.
Despite his words, he continued to smile calmly.
Sarada sighed when she saw him so relaxed.
"You seem too relaxed. We can't let our guard down, you know? Other ninjas from different villages are also after the cells."
Saku shrugged.
—Well, that just means we'll have more people to ask for directions when we get lost.
Mitsuki let out a small laugh with her characteristic serene smile.
Sarada looked at him with annoyance.
—Don't go along with it.
Saku burst out laughing.
-Ha ha ha!
However, the laughter disappeared from her face a moment later.
A few meters away, among the branches of the trees, several shadows suddenly appeared.
Saku's eyes snapped open.
—Jump!
At the same time, Mitsuki also sensed the enemy's presence.
—Dodge it!
At that moment, a Raiton technique descended from the branches and violently struck the place where Team 7 had been just seconds before.
BOOM!
A powerful roar echoed throughout the forest as electricity spread across the ground, burning the grass and leaving blackened marks in its wake.
Saku, Sarada, and Mitsuki landed several meters further back, sliding across the ground while carefully observing the place from which the attack had come.
Sarada noticed the electrical marks on the ground and spoke in surprise.
—That technique... it's a Raiton, but who are they?
Saku frowned as she adopted a fighting stance.
—You, those who are hiding. Who are you?
The three shadows that had been perched on the branches leaped to the ground and revealed themselves fully. They were three shinobi wearing the uniforms of the Hidden Cloud Village. One had spiky yellow hair, another wore a hat with his ninja insignia, and the third, who appeared to be the leader, had white hair. All three carried long katanas strapped to their backs.
The leader stepped forward and looked at Team 7 seriously.
—You are ninjas from Konoha.
Saku held his gaze.
—So you're coming for the cells too.
The white-haired man frowned slightly.
—Apparently, you are the ones who murdered the lady of the castle and stole Hashirama's cells.
The other two shinobi exchanged glances.
—They're just children.
-What a surprise.
The leader turned his attention back to Team 7.
—Give us Hashirama's cells and nothing bad will happen to you.
Sarada stepped forward and answered firmly.
—We don't have them. This is all a misunderstanding.
The leader smiled slightly.
—Since we've come to this, we'll check it out for ourselves.
Saku looked at him with obvious annoyance.
—We told you we don't have them. Wasn't that enough?
The Cloud shinobi slowly drew his katana and extended it to one side.
—Since they don't intend to hand them over, they could end up seriously injured.
Behind him, his companions clasped their hands, preparing to perform jutsus.
Saku clasped her hands together as she gathered chakra. Beside her, Sarada and Mitsuki assumed fighting stances, ready to face them.
However, just as tensions were about to erupt, two figures appeared in an instant in front of both groups.
Konohamaru and Mugino.
—Both of you stop.
Konohamaru took a step forward and observed the Cloud shinobi.
—They're from Cloud Village, right? You're Omoi.
The leader, now identified as Omoi, watched him attentively.
—So you're Konohamaru.
Konohamaru nodded with a small smile.
Sarada blinked in surprise.
—Do you know them?
Konohamaru nodded.
—He is a confidant of the Raikage and is also a friend of Karui.
Sarada opened her eyes a little.
—Chocho's mom?
Omoi barely paid attention to the conversation. His gaze remained fixed on Konohamaru.
—But first answer this.
The atmosphere immediately became tense again.
Omoi held his katana firmly and asked seriously.
—Were you the ones who stole the cells and murdered the lady of the castle?
Konohamaru shook his head.
—No. That's all a misunderstanding.
Omoi observed his expression for a few seconds and then nodded. The tension in his face disappeared, and he slowly sheathed his katana as he walked toward the group, accompanied by his companions.
—A rumor began circulating throughout the Land of Lightning. The Raikage sensed something dangerous was happening and sent us to investigate. That's why I came here with Marui and Kakui.
The shinobi with the hat, Kakui, let out a sigh.
—But when we arrived, there was already a huge scandal.
Marui, the blond one in the group, crossed his arms.
—Rumors said that some Konoha shinobi had stolen the cells and murdered Sakuya.
Saku let out a sigh filled with annoyance.
—That's not what happened. They set us up and blamed us for everything.
Sarada nodded.
—That's why everyone was chasing us.
Omoi put a hand to his chin.
—So, do you know who the real thief is?
Mugino shook his head.
-No. We only know that they are shinobi.
Konohamaru continued the explanation.
—This is all we found.
He took out the kunai wrapped in cloth and showed the blade impregnated with a strange purple poison.
Omoi looked at the weapon closely and his expression turned serious.
"I've seen that poison before. It comes from the Land of Mist. They use it quite often."
Saku lowered her gaze in annoyance.
—The Land of Fog?
Suddenly, Omoi's eyes opened wide.
-It just can't be!
Everyone looked at him, confused.
Omoi began to imagine the worst possibilities.
—What if the cells ended up in the hands of a mad scientist? No, worse! What if someone is trying to create an artificial version of Hashirama?
His expression became increasingly serious.
—They could be conducting human experiments right now. They might already have a hidden lab full of test subjects. If the cells get out of control, they could cause mutations, destroy entire villages, or even create unstoppable monsters.
Omoi began pacing back and forth.
—And if they manage to stabilize them, they could sell the research to the highest bidder! Smaller villages would start a race to get them! There would be wars over Hashirama cells all over the continent!
Kakui put a hand to his face.
—He's started raving again.
Marui let out a sigh of resignation.
—It's always the same. He hears a track and starts imagining the worst possible scenario.
Saku, Sarada, and Mitsuki watched Omoi with anime-style sweatdrops sliding down their faces.
Finally, the three of them let out a long sigh at the same time.
—How tiring...
His companions touched his shoulder and Omoi finally came out of his delirium.
Konohamaru looked at him seriously and spoke up.
"In Konoha, we had them preserved under strict surveillance. I still don't know how they managed to steal them, but we have to recover them as soon as possible."
Omoi nodded firmly.
—Then we will help them too.
Konohamaru returned the gesture.
—Transporting the cells requires careful handling. If they experience too much disturbance during transport, they could become unstable.
Omoi put a hand to his chin as he analyzed the situation.
—If that's true, then they won't take the shortest route to the border. They'll look for a safer, more reliable way to transport them.
Mugino nodded.
—Then please guide us along that path.
Omoi looked up and pointed in a direction.
—Understood. If I were them, I'd go that way.
Konohamaru observed everyone present.
—Very well, let's get going.
They all nodded.
The next instant, the Konoha and Cloud shinobi began running through the forest, disappearing among the trees as they followed the possible trail of the Mist shinobi.
Elsewhere, the real thieves were moving much more calmly.
The three Mist shinobi who had disguised themselves as women during their time in the Village of Silence remained hidden in the forest. One of them perched on a tree branch, watching the surroundings, while the other two rested by the enormous roots of an ancient tree.
Among them was the container that stored Hashirama's cells.
One of the shinobi carefully examined the container before speaking.
—The cells remain stable.
His partner nodded calmly.
"The ninjas of Konoha gave us the time we needed. By the time they discover the truth, we'll already be out of the Land of Silence."
The third shinobi leaped down from the branches and landed next to them.
—I don't see any signs of being followed. I don't think they followed us.
The other two exchanged a glance and nodded.
—Perfect. Then let's keep moving forward.
The three stood up and resumed their march. As they walked among the trees, they kept the container protected at all times, moving carefully to avoid any damage to Hashirama's unstable cells.
Convinced they had managed to escape, they continued deeper into the forest, unaware that several groups of shinobi were already on their trail.
Meanwhile, in the Village of Silence, Sakuya's castle had descended into complete chaos. Following the death of its owner, numerous rogue ninjas had stormed the castle, looting everything in sight. Chests filled with jewels, paintings, decorative weapons, and even furniture were dragged through the halls. Doors were destroyed, windows shattered, and dozens of people swarmed the castle, searching for any remaining treasure.
At that moment, a figure appeared at the main entrance.
He wore a long, dark cloak that concealed almost his entire body. Only the lower part of his face was visible.
The rogue ninjas watched him as soon as he crossed the castle gates.
The mysterious person moved with absolute calm among the remains of the place.
—Stand aside.
Her voice was calm, but firm.
The rogue ninjas exchanged glances before drawing their weapons.
One of them stepped forward.
—Have you come for the treasures?
Another smiled arrogantly.
—These treasures are ours.
The figure didn't even slow down.
—I already told them to move aside.
The renegades ignored the warning and attacked him.
Moments later, they were all dead.
The mysterious figure continued walking among the corpses while a slight smile appeared on its face.
—They should have listened.
Without showing the slightest emotion, she roamed the castle corridors, eliminating anyone who crossed her path. The screams gradually faded, replaced by an unsettling silence.
Finally, he arrived at the main hall.
There he found Sakuya's lifeless body.
He stared at him for a few seconds.
-I see...
Without saying anything else, he resumed walking.
Upon leaving the hall, he encountered several rogue ninjas carrying bags full of treasure. Seeing him, they immediately tried to flee.
—Wait. I want to ask you some questions.
No one answered.
They tried to escape.
They died before taking ten steps.
The figure continued moving through the castle for several more minutes, until it finally encountered a small group of renegades running down a corridor.
Upon seeing the stranger surrounded by corpses, everyone stopped dead in their tracks.
Terror was reflected on their faces.
One after another they fell to their knees.
—Please, don't kill us!
—Take the money!
—Keep it all!
They offered him their bags full of coins and jewelry.
The figure observed them for a few seconds.
—I'm not interested in money.
The renegades swallowed hard.
"All I want to know is where the Konoha shinobi are. Do they know anything?"
The men nodded quickly.
-Yeah!
—We know!
—They say they escaped through underground tunnels.
—They headed northwest!
The stranger's smile widened slightly.
—I see... so that's the way he went.
Without asking any more questions, he turned around and started walking away.
Shortly afterwards he left the castle with the same tranquility with which he had arrived, leaving behind a building full of corpses and a silence more terrifying than any battle.
Elsewhere, the three Mist shinobi continued their advance through the forest. One of them carried the container with Hashirama's cells strapped to his back. As they walked among the roots and rocks, he tripped over a stone and nearly lost his balance.
-Be careful.
One of his colleagues approached immediately.
—Let me take them for a while. You need to rest.
The shinobi shook his head and readjusted the straps of the container.
-I'm not well.
His gaze fell down at the container.
"These cells will help our country... and they'll help us too. We have to get them to their destination, repay the favor we owe, and keep the promise we made."
As he spoke, he reached down to the earring hanging from his ear.
For a moment he remembered his sister, the same one who had sacrificed herself so that they could cross the castle barrier.
She squeezed the earring between her fingers.
—We cannot waste their sacrifice.
The other two remained silent and continued walking beside him.
Some time later, several kilometers further back, the shinobi of Konoha and the Cloud were advancing at full speed through the trees.
As they ran, Omoi watched Mugino.
—What exactly happens when someone comes into contact with Hashirama's cells?
Mugino responded without slowing down.
—The body can undergo mutations. In some cases, it begins to transform into wood. In others, the person completely loses their mind and ends up becoming a creature incapable of controlling their own power.
Omoi's eyes opened in surprise.
Mugino continued.
"Hashirama's cells are extremely powerful. Whoever obtains them..."
Suddenly, a voice interrupted the conversation.
—Who gets them what?
All the shinobi stopped instantly.
Omoi turned his head around.
-Who are you?
Saku quickly looked at the forest, observing the shadow on a tree, and thought.
"What the hell? When did I get here? I didn't notice... It's so fast."
The voice was heard again.
-I'm here.
They all turned at the same time. On a thick branch, a few meters away, stood the hooded figure.
The stranger smiled.
—Yes, they are slow. It took me a while to find them, but here they are.
Konohamaru stepped forward.
-Who are you?
The figure let out a small laugh.
—There's no need for me to introduce myself.
At that moment, he leaped from the branch. His cape came off during the fall. He landed in front of the group with complete composure.
When he raised his head, an amused smile spread across his face.
—But if you want to know my name...
She smoothed her hair with one hand.
—Call me Deepa.
Her smile widened even more.
—Although, to be honest, it doesn't matter if they know.
Deepa listened attentively to the conversation and then smiled with amusement.
—From what I could hear, it seems you don't have Hashirama's cells after all.
Konohamaru stepped forward and adopted a fighting stance.
—Since you showed up looking for trouble, then let's begin.
However, Omoi raised a hand to stop him.
-There's no need.
He took a few steps forward until he stood in front of Deepa.
—We'll take care of him. You go on ahead and catch the real thieves.
Deepa's smile widened.
—So they do know who has the cells. That's very good news.
Team 7 exchanged glances.
Konohamaru looked at Omoi.
Are you sure you can handle this?
Omoi nodded without taking his eyes off Deepa.
—Go ahead. We'll catch up later.
Marui and Kakui also stepped forward, making it clear that they would stay and fight alongside him.
—We will support him.
Konohamaru observed the three Cloud shinobi for a few seconds and finally nodded.
—Understood. Be careful.
Deepa let out a small laugh.
—What confidence you have in yourselves.
At that moment, Konohamaru, Mugino, Sarada, Mitsuki, and Saku moved simultaneously, taking a different direction and speeding past Deepa.
Deepa didn't even try to stop them. She remained motionless, watching them disappear among the trees. Then she slowly turned her gaze back to Omoi and his companions.
The amused smile was still on her face.
—Well... now that we're alone, we can have a little fun.
In a single instant, Omoi charged at Deepa at full speed, slashing vertically with his katana. Deepa leaped back and dodged the attack with a grin on his face. Omoi's companions seized the opening and attacked simultaneously, but Deepa evaded each of their slashes with insulting ease, as if he were barely moving. After a final leap, he moved several meters away from the group and watched them with amusement.
Omoi frowned.
"It's fast. If we're not careful, it will kill us."
His colleagues smiled and nodded.
Deepa let out a small laugh.
—If you don't come, then I'll go.
In an instant, he appeared before the group and threw a powerful punch. Omoi blocked the blow with his katana.
Sparks flew in all directions upon impact. The others took a step back, and seizing the opportunity, Marui appeared behind Deepa and launched a direct slash at his back. However, Deepa turned at the last second and blocked the sword with his forearm.
A metallic clang echoed through the forest as more sparks flew. Deepa pushed Marui back and unleashed a barrage of rapid punches. Marui managed to block them one after another with his katana, but then Omoi re-entered the fray, forcing Deepa to leap back. The three Cloud shinobi regrouped.
Omoi observed his companions.
They understood the signal.
The three ran back towards Deepa. He prepared to greet them, but suddenly they all stopped abruptly and ran off in the opposite direction.
Deepa smiled.
—Are they fleeing?
Without a second thought, he began to pursue them. The Cloud shinobi leaped through the trees as Deepa ran after them. After a few seconds, Deepa stopped abruptly and spun around.
Just as I expected.
The three shinobi appeared behind him simultaneously, descending from different directions with their katanas raised. Deepa smiled. At the last instant, he raised a fist and blocked all three swords at once.
The force of the impact shook the nearby trees. With a sudden movement, he pushed the three shinobi back.
And then it happened.
The bodies of Omoi, Marui, and Kakui exploded in yellow beams.
BOOM!
The electricity spread throughout the ground and nearby trees, causing a tremendous roar. The forest was covered in smoke and dust.
The lightning gradually faded, and Deepa stood amidst the smoke. Small plumes of steam rose from his body as he kept his head bowed. Several meters away, Omoi, Marui, and Kakui watched the scene unfold. The three of them had used Rayo clones to lure him into the trap.
—We have it.
Marui and Kakui grinned and rushed towards Deepa at full speed, their katanas ready to finish him off. However, Omoi noticed something strange.
Deepa's body moved slightly.
Omoi's eyes snapped open.
—Stop!
The two of them ignored him and lunged at Deepa. At that moment, a smile appeared on Deepa's face. He vanished from his position and reappeared in front of Marui.
His fist slammed into the shinobi's stomach. Marui spat blood and was sent flying to the ground, instantly losing consciousness. Before Kakui could react, Deepa appeared in front of him and delivered another devastating blow.
Kakui was also thrown off and fell unconscious from the force of the impact.
—Marui! Kakui!
Omoi shouted his comrades' names as he pointed his katana at Deepa. For the first time since the fight had begun, he understood something terrifying.
That monster had received virtually no damage.
Deepa looked at him with amusement and, the next instant, ran towards Omoi at full speed. At that same moment, Omoi disappeared in a Shunshin and vanished into the trees, immediately pursued by Deepa.
The forest became a battleground. The metallic clang echoed constantly as they both sped through the treetops. Omoi leaped from branch to branch, trying to gain ground, but Deepa followed with ease, gradually chipping away at his lead.
Omoi unleashed a flurry of sword slashes as he ran, forcing Deepa to either change course or block the attacks, buying himself a few extra seconds. They raced through the forest, leaving broken branches in their wake as they leaped between trees. Omoi tried to break away several times by changing direction, but Deepa always reappeared behind him. He gritted his teeth in frustration. No matter how fast he sped up, he simply couldn't shake Deepa off.
The battle raged for hours. The sun continued its climb across the sky as the two shinobi traversed vast stretches of forest. Gradually, the day drew to a close, but the chase continued unabated.
As he jumped between the treetops, Omoi gritted his teeth.
"He's a monster..."
Many hours later, the sky had turned a deep orange. In the middle of the forest, Omoi lay on the ground, still conscious, but his body no longer allowed him to get up. He was breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath. A few meters away, Deepa watched him with a smile.
—You are very weak.
At that moment, Marui and Kakui arrived. Both were covered in wounds and could barely stand. Omoi looked up when he saw them.
—Marui... Kakui... you must flee. You cannot stay in this place.
The two of them watched him sadly, but did not respond.
Deepa walked slowly towards them.
—Tell me where Hashirama's cells are now.
Omoi glared at him angrily.
—I won't tell you anything.
Deepa sighed and approached Omoi. He grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground with one hand while slowly beginning to squeeze.
—If you don't tell me, then I'll ask your colleagues.
Marui and Kakui clenched their fists as they watched him suffocate.
—If you tell me where the cells are, I won't kill him.
The pressure increased and Omoi began to run out of air.
—Stop!
The two shinobi shouted at the same time. Marui stepped forward.
—They've gone in the direction of the Land of Water! They're going there! So stop, please!
Deepa smiled.
—The Land of Water? I see.
He released Omoi, who fell to the ground breathing heavily. Marui and Kakui breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was all over.
But in the next instant, Deepa appeared before Kakui and pierced his chest with his hand. The shinobi's eyes snapped open as blood gushed from his mouth. Before Marui could react, Deepa appeared before him and pierced his chest as well. Blood splattered the ground as both bodies fell heavily among the leaves.
Omoi's eyes opened completely.
-No...
His body trembled as he looked at his dead companions in front of him, unable to do anything.
Deepa wiped the blood from her hand and looked at him calmly.
—I told you I wouldn't kill you. I've kept my promise.
A smile appeared on her face.
—So live.
In the next instant, he disappeared in a Shunshin. The forest fell silent.
Omoi began crawling along the ground toward his companions. His arms trembled, and every movement caused him pain, but he continued until he reached them. He extended a trembling hand and gazed at the lifeless bodies of Marui and Kakui.
Despair appeared on his face as he stood motionless beside them.
Elsewhere, many hours earlier, after Team Konoha had separated from Team Kumogakure.
Team 7, along with Konohamaru and Mugino, sped along a narrow path through the forest. On both sides rose enormous trees whose canopies almost completely covered the sky.
A few hundred meters further on, the path opened onto a small plain. In the center of this place stood a gigantic tree that towered above all the others, its thick branches extending in all directions, completely dominating the area.
Perched on one of those branches, hidden among the foliage, one of the Water Land shinobi stared intently at the path the Konoha ninja were taking. The shinobi closed his eyes for a moment, recalling what had happened hours before.
Flashback
From a tree branch, one of the three brothers observed the path they had taken.
—They're following us.
The other two, who remained on the ground, looked up.
—So they're close now.
One of them carefully held the container where Hashirama's cells were located.
—They've already given us enough of an advantage. I guess this is as far as it goes.
The brother who had been on the branch jumped down. He put a hand to his ear, took off one of his earrings, and handed it to the brother carrying the container.
—Take him home, brother. It's my turn to sacrifice myself... just like our other brother.
The shinobi took the pendant and held it tightly.
—Don't worry. I won't fail.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds and then nodded.
Without saying another word, the brother disappeared in a Shunshin.
The shinobi who was no longer carrying the container lowered his head for a moment.
—It's time to move on, brother.
The other one put the earring in his ear. Now he wore three earrings together. Then he adjusted the container on his back and nodded.
—Yes... let's continue.
They both turned around and continued deeper into the forest.
End of Flashback
The shinobi opened his eyes as he sensed the Konoha ninja approaching. He dropped from the enormous branch and sped down the trunk until he landed on his feet in front of the great tree.
A moment later, Team 7, Konohamaru and Mugino arrived at the plain and stopped in front of the Water Country shinobi.
The shinobi observed them calmly.
—You'd better go back the way you came.
Saku stepped forward.
"You'd better stop and hand over the cells. We don't want to fight."
The shinobi smiled.
—You will die in this place... and we will win.
Sarada frowned.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but stop. We don't want to hurt them. What they have won't do them any good."
The shinobi's smile disappeared.
"You know nothing. This is what we were sent to get, and we'll do whatever it takes to obtain it. Perhaps you know something about us... but that doesn't matter anymore."
He joined his hands, forming several seals.
—I will kill them here and now.
Konohamaru stepped forward.
—You won't win against all of us alone.
The shinobi smiled again.
—We'll see.
He began forming seals at great speed. Green markings spread across his body as his gaze changed completely, displaying absolute determination, as if he had lost all fear of death.
—Kasumi Ninpo: Kinjutsu... Kageru Ichigo... Forbidden Technique: The Life of an Ephemeral, Guide of the Underworld!
As the jutsu ended, blood gushed from his mouth while a thick black mist began to emanate from his entire body.
—With this... you will all die.
Sarada took a step back.
—What is that thing...? It gives me a bad feeling.
Saku observed the fog carefully.
—You're right... I sense a strange chakra. It doesn't seem human.
Konohamaru and Mugino assumed a fighting stance.
The mist slowly began to condense, forming a semi-transparent creature that held a small gem in its hands. The creature lifted the sphere and swallowed it in one swift motion. Meanwhile, the shinobi's body completely dissolved into the dark mist.
The gem descended to the center of the creature's chest, and suddenly it opened its enormous mouth towards the sky.
A red beam shot upwards.
Upon reaching a certain distance, the light expanded, forming a gigantic red barrier that covered the entire plain.
Mugino opened his eyes.
—Damn! This is bad!
Saku did not take her eyes off the creature.
—That gem... I sense a very strange chakra emanating from it.
The creature's body finished materializing. Its skin took on a grayish hue, its torso was round and oval, it had two horns, long arms ending in enormous hands, short legs, and a gigantic black mouth next to dark eyes that glowed with a faint white energy.
The creature slowly closed its fists, observed its new body for a few seconds, and finally looked up at the Konoha shinobi.
Sarada activated her Sharingan to its full power and assumed a fighting stance, followed by Saku and Mitsuki. Saku took a step forward, but at that moment the creature vanished and reappeared in front of him, forcefully lowering one of its enormous arms. Mitsuki reacted immediately, grabbing Saku's arm and pulling him away. The creature's fist slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth cracked as a cloud of dust rose around them. Saku regained her balance next to Mitsuki and stared at the creature in surprise. It looked back at her. Without wasting a second, Saku clasped her palms together, and a multitude of branches and roots erupted from the ground at lightning speed. The creature vanished again and reappeared beside the gigantic tree on the plain, but the branches changed direction and struck her squarely, slamming her against the enormous trunk, piercing it, and hurling her several meters into the forest.
BOOM!
The enormous tree finally collapsed, raising a gigantic cloud of dust that covered part of the plain. Mugino watched the scene in surprise. Saku didn't take her eyes off the place where the creature had fallen and, out of the corner of her eye, glanced at Sarada. She instantly understood what she intended to do and responded with a slight nod.
From the cloud of dust, heavy footsteps began to sound. It was the creature. Its body was covered in cracks, but it kept moving forward. In an instant, it vanished and reappeared, running toward them. Saku raised a hand, and the tree branches shook violently once more. One of them hurled itself directly at the creature, but it shattered it with a single punch. Saku smiled. It was just what she had hoped for. More branches and roots sprouted from the ground, ensnaring the creature by its arms and legs, immobilizing it completely.
Sarada performed a quick sequence of hand seals and placed one hand to the side.
—Raiton: Senraikyu. Lightning Release: Piercing Sphere!
A sphere of yellow lightning appeared in the palm of her hand as electrical discharges expanded in all directions. Sarada closed her eyes for a moment and thought:
"This technique is derived from the Lightning Balls. It's weaker than the Chidori, but it consumes much less chakra..."
He opened his eyes and murmured:
—Remember the speed of the Chunin Exams.
The creature struggled, tearing apart the branches and roots that held it, but at that very moment, Sarada appeared in an instant before it. The beam of energy pierced its chest, shattering the gem in the process. Yellow lightning crackled through the creature's body, which remained motionless for a few seconds before exploding in a puff of smoke. At the same time, the red barrier surrounding the plain vanished completely.
Saku raised her head to the sky and smiled.
—This was a bit complicated... hahaha.
Sarada took a deep breath, looked at the palm of her hand, and deactivated her Sharingan before looking at her companions.
Mugino remained silent for a few seconds, still surprised by what he had just seen.
Konohamaru let out a half-smile.
—This is really complicated... hahaha. We didn't do anything. They're already very strong.
Mitsuki looked at his teammates and smiled slightly, satisfied with the teamwork.
Saku slumped down on the floor and sighed.
—What a disappointment... I prepared a bunch of cool jutsus and Sarada ended the fight before I could even show them off.
Sarada let out a small laugh.
—Don't start.
Saku smiled and then glanced back.
—Konohamaru-sensei... Mugino-san... thank you for coming to offer moral support.
Konohamaru raised an eyebrow.
—Moral support?
Saku nodded quite naturally.
—Of course. They made us feel watched throughout the entire fight.
For a moment there was silence.
Sarada couldn't contain her laughter, Mitsuki smiled more broadly, and even Mugino let out a slight smile.
Konohamaru sighed with a resigned smile.
—How thoughtful of you...
Then he regained his composure.
"It's best to rest for a few hours. We'll continue our journey after nightfall. It will be easier to move around without attracting attention, and besides, Saku has already used up quite a bit of chakra."
Saku glanced at him with a smile, stood up, and nodded.
They all gathered to rest for a moment before continuing the journey.