"That technique... is it the S-rank missing-nin from the Waterfall, Kakuzu? Has he joined the Akatsuki as well?"
Standing at the center of the battlefield atop the cylindrical cliff, Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. Alongside the other members of the delegation, he stared at the eastern wall—now a heap of rubble—and the colossal sea of fire that followed, swallowing the swarming Cloud forces.
The Akatsuki, where Ren Uchiha belongs, has already made its move, Jiraiya mused. Yet the Cloud's reaction here is noticeably a step behind.
He shifted his gaze slightly, trying to peer toward the western side, but his view was blocked by the sheer rock face.
I can't see it from here... but according to the plan, Minato should have started. Still, even with Minato's mastery of Sealing Jutsu, a barrier of this scale shouldn't have been deactivated so quickly. Did something unexpected happen?
Jiraiya reached into his tool pouch and gripped a uniquely shaped kunai, taking a deep breath.
To fulfill the Great Toad Sage's prophecy and protect Ren, Jiraiya had defied Hiruzen Sarutobi's direct orders five days ago. Before departing for the Land of Lightning, he had secretly released Minato Namikaze—who had been under "debriefing" (house arrest) alongside Kushina Uzumaki—and rushed to Unraikyō with his disciple.
Their goal was to eliminate the most troublesome link in the Cloud's defense: the massive perception barrier enveloping the inner city.
A barrier like that was essentially a "map hack" for the Cloud, allowing them to sense enemy positions instantly and deploy overwhelming numbers of counter-shinobi. Even a Kage would find it nearly impossible to survive such an environment.
An army with an information advantage and one without were two entirely different beasts. The former could prepare coordinated ninjutsu to counter an opponent's specific weaknesses, reaching a power level that could even tangle with the Ten-Tails. The latter, when faced with the absolute powerhouses of the Akatsuki... would be fragile as glass.
In a world where individual strength could touch the heavens, the advantage of numbers only truly shone when combined with vision and intelligence. Jiraiya had brought Minato specifically for this purpose. No matter how much A boasted about his "Flawless Defense," he was bound to look like a fool once Jiraiya's hidden blade struck the core.
Over the last five days, Jiraiya had used his expert infiltration skills to map out the barrier's weaknesses. Now, with the Cloud army's "eyes" effectively gouged out, the first two defensive rings were essentially defenseless against the advancing Akatsuki!
So, what will you do now, son of the Raikage? Jiraiya allowed a small smile to play on his lips as he glanced at the young A. It's about time you reveal the actual personnel of the third ring. Otherwise, we can't exactly rest easy...
Just as Jiraiya predicted, seeing the first line of defense crumble so easily, Baki—the Sand representative who had been thrown into this mess by Rasa—turned pale. He didn't hesitate to start interrogating A.
"Son of the Raikage! Is this the 'Flawless Defense' you bragged about? You can't even guarantee the safety of the delegation! I think you're—"
But before Baki could finish putting the pressure on, A turned his head coldly, glancing at him with a flat gaze.
"The Cloud is not as fragile as you think. Watch closely!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the situation shifted again!
Originally, the first-ring Cloud units hit by the Fire-Wind: Turbulent Flame had only managed to throw out a few scattered Water Style techniques in a desperate struggle, and they were being decimated. However, just as the gap was being pried open, the Cloud forces acted as if they had anticipated this. Two reinforcement units surged from the left and right flanks to plug the hole.
Unlike the first group, these units were clearly prepared.
"Coordinated Ninja Art: Water Collision Wave!"
The units contained a massive number of Water Style users who performed a combined jutsu, exponentially increasing its power. This standard technique, cast by hundreds of shinobi at once, possessed the destructive force of the Great Explosive Water Colliding Wave. It slammed into Kakuzu's firestorm, instantly erupting into a thick screen of white steam.
Jiraiya's brow furrowed. His eyes fell on something floating in the air on the flanks of the two reinforcement units—black, cloud-like clusters. It seemed these clusters were coordinating the Cloud troops locally, allowing for the rapid transmission of intelligence and orders.
"Are those... bees?"
"Correct," A stated calmly. "That is the Kamizuru Clan of the Stone. They specialize in controlling bees, much like your Konoha's Aburame Clan. When Ren Uchiha declared his intention to assassinate the Daimyo, he made an enemy of the entire Shinobi world."
"Such a move... is simply idiotic. The struggle here is no longer worth watching. Please, everyone, hurry along to the summit hall."
Hearing this and seeing the battlefield stall into a stalemate, Jiraiya felt a pang of tension. The Cloud Village, built on brotherhood and possessing the fewest Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques, had managed to secure the secret arts of other villages through the influence of the Daimyo.
If the Akatsuki's momentum was halted and they couldn't punch through to the Tenshu Pavilion in one go, the only path left for them was total defeat.
To ensure Ren stayed alive, Jiraiya's only plan was to leverage his status as an envoy to reach the core where Ren was bound to appear, and then hand him Minato's kunai. But will Ren be there? What should I choose? Jiraiya wondered.
Suddenly, a frantic clatter of footsteps echoed from the spiral stairs below.
"Lord A!"
A group of Cloud Barrier Corps members, wearing white coats over their uniforms, ran up panting, their faces masked in panic.
"Urgent intelligence! He's appeared! Ren Uchiha... he's here!"
A's expression shifted instantly, a surge of excitement flashing in his eyes. "What did you say?"
The Barrier Corps member pointed toward the direction Jiraiya had come from. "He's at the Northern Gate! Right at the main entrance!!"
A cold smirk spread across A's face. He waved a massive arm.
"Perfect timing! He actually dares to walk through the front door? Just how much does this brat look down on us?"
"Listen—" A glared at the ninja, shouting with a dark ferocity:
"Immediately message Bee! Tell him to prime the Chakra Cannon! Give Ren Uchiha a taste of it!!"
Note: Support me and get early access to chapters on Pat reon.com/XareonMTL