Chapter 55: Shinnō's Challenge and the Sudden Plan!
At the foot of the cliff, after only a moment of awkwardness, Tsukasa immediately collected his thoughts and looked around.
The three of them were no longer on the cliff where they'd battled Kakuzu. Dozens of Jashin Cult members wearing black robes and some dressed as samurai were visible below, continuously expanding their search perimeter.
At some point, the team had moved to the other side of the valley—specifically, to the opposite side of the cliff that Kakuzu's Wind Release: Pressure Damage had caused to collapse.
Right under the noses of the Jashin Cult members. Bold, but risky.
However, if they continued like this, it was only a matter of time before they were discovered and surrounded.
"Do you see it?" Shinnō stood aside, looking down and speaking flatly.
"The commotion from your battle with Kakuzu was too loud, and it's put them on high alert."
"Including what you see now and what you don't, there are four teams on the perimeter constantly expanding their search radius from the battle center. The entrance to the Jashin Cult headquarters' underground cave is guarded by six fully armed chūnin-level teams."
"Inside, it's still unknown how many members are stationed."
"Today seems to be a special day for them. Most of their forces have been recalled to headquarters."
Shinnō paused, then looked back at Tsukasa and Mei Terumi, saying lightly:
"It's time to face reality, don't you think?"
"With your current strength, wanting to accomplish something like destroying the Jashin Cult is pure fantasy."
Tsukasa frowned slightly, about to refute.
However, Mei Terumi turned around at that moment, her eyes solemn and determined.
"I'm going. I have intelligence that I must confirm inside."
"Besides, it's not without a chance."
She pointed toward the castle location and frowned. "The underground cave is directly below the castle. We don't need to charge in from the front. We can infiltrate by tunneling straight down from above."
"The enemy's defenses are concentrated at the entrance now. The castle above shouldn't be as heavily guarded."
"This is an opportunity."
Shinnō shook his head slightly. "First, you don't know the depth of the cave. Second, how can you guarantee that your tunnel will actually reach it?"
"Also," Shinnō asked calmly, "how can you be sure this isn't a deliberate trap? For all you know, there could be a hundred people inside the castle waiting to ambush you."
"Just buy me a little time." Mei Terumi said resolutely, determination written across her face.
"I'm proficient in Water, Earth, and Fire Release techniques. I can use Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique to scout the castle's layout and intelligence. Moreover, the limestone layer that forms the cave can be easily corroded by my Lava Release."
"It'll only take a moment." Mei Terumi cast her gaze toward Tsukasa.
Shinnō might be powerful, but his presence here resembled an idle observer with no investment in the outcome.
If they wanted to finish their unfinished business, it would depend on her and the other active member of the team—Tsukasa.
But Mei Terumi hesitated. Looking at Tsukasa, who had just endured a brutal battle—covered in burns, scrapes, and blood—she felt her request seemed excessive.
And Shinnō sneered at just the right moment:
"Little girl, have you forgotten?"
"When we first arrived, you proposed what seemed like a feasible plan."
"But what was the result?"
He stretched out his hand and pointed at Tsukasa struggling to stand.
"Because of your hesitation, you missed the opportunity to infiltrate the Jashin Cult headquarters."
"Because of your hesitation, you ran into the S-rank missing-nin Kakuzu."
"Because of your hesitation, this kid is lying here half-dead."
"The kid named Hidan who followed you was captured, and the Jashin Cult's security increased dramatically. Now you want him to risk his life for you again?"
"If you had listened to this kid earlier and rushed straight into headquarters, wouldn't you already have what you need?"
Shinnō didn't finish explicitly, but his discouraging tone was already obvious.
Shinnō, who had been an observer from the beginning, saw it clearly.
In his eyes, the only one truly determined to reach the cult's headquarters was Mei Terumi.
Tsukasa and Hidan were just impulsive kids playing at being heroes, boasting and treating it like a game. It wasn't until Tsukasa risked his life against Kakuzu and revealed his hidden potential that Shinnō began taking this makeshift team slightly seriously.
Under Shinnō's questioning, Mei Terumi fell silent.
She exhaled, clenching her fists, feeling somewhat foolish.
This was clearly her own mission—so why was she instinctively relying on Tsukasa?
For a moment, no one spoke.
The atmosphere grew oppressively heavy, everyone's faces solemn and guarded.
Just then, Tsukasa, having struggled to his feet, suddenly spoke up.
"No problem. Let me buy you that time!"
"What?"
Mei Terumi and Shinnō looked at him in surprise, their eyes filled with bewilderment.
Their expressions held the same meaning—as if asking: Young man, do you even have the right to volunteer? Don't you see how miserable your condition is? Do you even have any chakra left?
"The plan is sound. Kakuzu's appearance was an unexpected emergency." Tsukasa activated his Sharingan, scanned the positions below, and analyzed aloud.
"With the enemy's current defenses, charging in directly is obviously not feasible."
"I think we should try this approach."
Then Tsukasa looked at Mei Terumi and asked:
"I'll draw their attention while you gather intelligence. Where should we meet up afterward? How much time do you need?"
Mei Terumi took a deep breath, her eyes struggling for a moment before she spoke coldly:
"You'll need to descend from here, bypass the outer wall, pass through our previous battle site, lead them on a chase around the castle walls, then head to the fork in the road before the Jashin Cult headquarters' underground cave entrance, turn toward the inner castle wall and climb up. That's the meeting point..."
Mei Terumi pointed to the terrain below and explained the route to Tsukasa in detail, including critical checkpoints.
Then, her expression slightly stiffening, she continued:
"It'll take about five minutes. Once I complete the reconnaissance, I'll arrive at the fork ahead of schedule and use Hidden Mist Technique to help you escape your pursuers."
"If the plan succeeds, we might also find the intelligence I need and Hidan's location."
"Then we rescue him."
Shinnō, standing nearby, couldn't help but scoff.
"That sounds nice, but what if the plan goes wrong?"
He paused, then added quietly:
"Say you let this kid draw fire and lead dozens of enemies away, and after you get what you want, you never come back—"
"Without your Hidden Mist Technique to help escape, this kid would..."
Before Shinnō could finish, Tsukasa laughed.
"In that case, I'd probably be facing ten Jashin Cult squads, twelve reconnaissance team shinobi, countless wandering samurai, and eighteen fully armed chūnin wielding the cult's secret techniques."
"In that situation, I'd probably die."
Then Tsukasa turned to Mei Terumi.
"But I believe in you!"
End of Chapter 55
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Power Stone or Review!
P@atreon/Soulforger (45+ advanced chapters)
Buy me coffee - ko-fi*com/soulforger01