"Twelve Anbu, hmm?"
Following the positions Kaito had previously observed with his [Aura Power], the chakra clone easily located the Anbu members stationed inside and outside the Tsunade estate.
"And a barrier jutsu enveloping the entire residence. But for an elite member of the noble Otsutsuki clan like myself, this is a trivial matter. Watch me infiltrate perfectly and capture the Nine-Tails jinchuriki."
He swept back his black cloak, revealing his hands, and formed hand seals with a slight awkwardness.
The river of chakra flowing within him followed the guidance of the seals, materializing outside his body as a massive earthen dragon that charged forward with astonishing force.
"Earth Release: Earth and Stone Dragon!"
Boom!
The barrier shattered on impact.
Caught off guard, the two Anbu hiding by the wall were hit head-on, thrown into the courtyard along with the entire wall.
"Enemy attack!"
The highly trained Anbu ninja sprang into action.
Those farther away launched signal flares into the air, which burst into red fireworks. Those closer converged on Nawaki's location without hesitation.
They had only one mission: protect Nawaki.
Unfortunately, the chakra clone was faster.
He leaped from the back of the earth dragon and shot towards Nawaki's bedroom like a phantom.
Just as he reached the bedroom door, the ground suddenly split open, and two figures shot out.
Kunai gleaming with a cold light aimed straight for the chakra clone's heart and neck.
"Heh~" The chakra clone sneered, flashing past the two Anbu in front of him, leaving two sprays of blood in his wake.
"What?!" The two Anbu clutched their bleeding throats, watching in horror as he broke through the door.
However, after kicking the door open, the chakra clone was met not by a trembling Nawaki, but by a raging torrent like a thousand stampeding horses.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
"Naive!"
The chakra clone advanced instead of retreating, charging straight into the wave.
To the utter shock of the Anbu ninja, the water vanished into thin air the moment it touched the chakra clone.
Shocked as he was, the Anbu's hands didn't slow in the slightest, and his next ninjutsu formed instantly.
A barrier of water erected itself in front of him.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
"Quick reaction, but useless!"
As if the water barrier didn't exist, the chakra clone's foot passed through the current and kicked the Anbu squarely, taking him down in a single blow.
Having dealt with all obstacles, he glanced at the empty bedroom and the open window, sneered, and with a flash of golden light from the soles of his feet, vanished in an instant.
In the courtyard outside, an Anbu member was carrying Nawaki, moving quickly towards his allies.
"Master Nawaki, don't worry. We'll be safe soon."
"Mmm."
Nawaki clenched his fists, frustrated by his own weakness. 'If only I could master the Nine-Tails' power...'
"Safe? I wouldn't be so sure."
Just as they were about to rendezvous with their comrades, Nawaki heard a hoarse voice, and his body was sent tumbling through the air.
His neck was seized, and he found himself in the grasp of the chakra clone.
The Anbu ninja who had been carrying him was now underfoot, his status unknown.
"Stop! Let him go right now, or don't blame us for what happens next!"
The other Anbu had arrived, but they were too late.
"Hmph. What can a few small-fry like you do to me?"
The chakra clone held Nawaki in front of him like a shield. "Be careful, or the boy loses his life!"
"Bastard!"
The Anbu gritted their teeth, but they were powerless.
At the same time, three figures in black appeared at Danzo's residence. Their masks were respectively printed with the patterns "One-Dot," "Two-Dot," and "Three-Dot."
"Alright, tonight, we'll let the little shadow Hokage see what we're made of!"
The three formed hand seals in unison, jointly launching an earth-style ninjutsu.
The ground churned, and the house before them was instantly reduced to rubble.
With several shushes, Danzo and a number of Root members landed before them. He asked coldly, "Who are you? Why have you come to attack me?"
"Danzo, Lord Hokage is the rightful leader! Don't even think about disrupting the peace of Konoha! For the tranquility of the village, you can rest in peace!"
"???" Danzo admitted that for a split second, he had doubted his old friend, but the thought vanished as quickly as it came.
"Hiruzen is not that kind of person!"
"Lord Hokage is merciful, but we can't stand by and watch anymore! Now, die!"
After spitting out their threat, the chakra clone's shadow clones charged forward, and the battle began in an instant.
It wasn't just Danzo. The residences of Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were also attacked by mysterious masked figures.
For a time, the light of signal flares bloomed one after another in the Konoha sky, and the ordinary villagers were thrown into an uncontrollable panic.
"What's happening? Why are there so many enemies in the village?"
In the Hokage's office, the Third's face was grim.
"The village's main barrier shows no abnormalities. These people were already lying in wait in Konoha. They have uniform attire, with only the mask patterns differing. We presume they are members of the same secret organization. Their numbers are unknown, but their strength is at least Jonin-level," several Anbu ninja reported from behind him.
"Where did so many Jonin come from? It seems we'll have to capture one alive."
As he spoke, the Third had already changed into his battle gear.
"Lord Hokage, which front should we reinforce?"
"Send two Anbu squads to support each of the Elders. The rest of you, with me!" the Third said without a moment's hesitation.
The Nine-Tails could not be lost. If it were stolen or went on a rampage within the village, Konoha would suffer immense losses. The consequences would be unimaginable.
"Also, activate the wartime response plan and arrange for the evacuation of villagers in the areas under attack."
"Yes, sir!"
Several Anbu scattered, leaving only two to follow the Third as he leaped swiftly across the rooftops, rushing towards the Tsunade estate.
"What's going on? Why are there so many fireworks tonight?"
"I don't know. Is something bad happening?"
"I have a feeling those aren't fireworks, but signal flares..."
In the bathhouse, listening to the discussions of the men next to him, Kaito gave a lazy yawn, unperturbed.
A few minutes later, the ground began to shake more intensely, and the bathhouse patrons cleared out in an instant.
Only then did Kaito slowly rise, wrap a bathrobe around himself, and walk out with his clothes in hand.
Watching the figures of ninja coming and going on the rooftops, he stroked his chin and said, "Looks like something really is happening."
"Something is indeed happening," Orochimaru, dressed in his Jonin uniform, suddenly appeared beside Kaito and said softly.
"What is it? Is it serious? Do you need help?"
Orochimaru studied Kaito's expression carefully. "Nawaki's place is under attack. If you don't want Tsunade to hate you for the rest of your life, I advise you to come back with me and save him."
"What? Something happened to Nawaki? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Kaito said anxiously, "If Nawaki dies, does that mean our deal is off?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll go on ahead!"
Kaito transformed into a flash of golden light and vanished from Orochimaru's sight in the blink of an eye.
'It wasn't him?' Orochimaru frowned, then also took off, leaping onto a rooftop.