Early in the morning, Uzumaki Raiden had already reunited with the ten-man team under his command. However, instead of returning to the Konoha camp, he led his team into hiding, monitoring the retreating Cloud ninja.
Although Raiden had reached an agreement with Raikage Ai, necessary precautions were still required.
"Crack!"
The faint sound of firewood snapping echoed from the bonfire. Raiden idly stirred the fire with a small wooden stick, the flickering flames providing warmth against the increasingly cold weather. In such temperatures, sitting by the fire was rather comfortable. As for keeping an eye on the Cloud ninja, the skilled shinobi in his team were more than capable of handling it.
As the leader, he didn't need to personally oversee everything.
Not far from Raiden, four shinobi sat in a circle, hands clasped together, channeling chakra with their eyes closed. They were using a collaborative sensory technique to monitor every movement of the Cloud ninja several miles away. Meanwhile, five other shinobi were stationed throughout the surrounding forest, maintaining a defensive perimeter.
Seated next to Raiden, Nara Shikadai added more firewood to the flames.
"Lord Raiden, won't Cloud ninja notice us making a fire like this?" Shikadai asked, glancing at the rising smoke with a puzzled expression as he scratched his head.
"Let them notice—so what?"
"Don't worry. Cloud ninja won't be that reckless."
Raiden responded nonchalantly, tossing his firestick aside. He stretched his body and lay down on a moisture-proof mat. Gazing at the fire, he continued, "I knocked out Raikage Ai's brother last night. He won't be back to full strength anytime soon."
"Since Raikage Ai has already made his decision, I'm not worried about him going back on his word."
"In the end, the shinobi world only respects strength. And Raikage Ai, more than anyone, understands that."
With that, Raiden closed his eyes, intending to take a nap. However, just as he did, there was a sudden bang! Nearby, a small eagle landed on Shikadai's shoulder.
"A messenger hawk? And a passive summoning method?" Shikadai remarked in surprise. He carefully examined the hawk before retrieving a small scroll from its leg and swiftly unfolding it.
"This…" Upon reading the contents, Shikadai's expression shifted, and he instinctively glanced at Raiden.
"What happened?" Raiden opened one eye and asked.
"Please take a look." Shikadai stepped forward, handing the scroll to Raiden.
Raiden took the scroll and read it carefully. It was a report from the Anbu intelligence division, detailing the disappearance of Kamizuki Ken from the Konoha camp. It also conveyed Nara Shikashin's request for Raiden to ensure Kamizuki Ken's safety and bring him back.
After finishing, Raiden tossed the scroll into the bonfire.
"Lord Raiden, what should we do?"
"If Kamizuki Ken really intends to attack the Cloud ninja army, will this affect your plans?"
"If we're going to save him, we need to act now!"
Shikadai asked quickly. He made no attempt to hide his words, allowing the nearby shinobi to overhear and listen intently.
"Save him?"
"This was his own decision. We'll continue monitoring the Cloud ninja. If Kamizuki Ken appears, do not intervene."
"Just collect his corpse afterward."
Raiden's expression remained indifferent. Kamizuki Ken's actions had taken him by surprise—he hadn't expected him to leave the camp, even at the risk of being labeled a traitor, just to avenge his younger brother.
While Raiden understood his motives, he didn't agree with them. Kamizuki Ken's personal vendetta was completely different from Raiden's objectives. He couldn't allow sentimentality to jeopardize the bigger picture.
"Lord Raiden, this…"
"Kamizuki Ken is our comrade. How can we just stand by and let him die? If he truly plans to assassinate Raikage Ai, I beg you to save him!"
Shikadai pleaded anxiously. Though his relationship with Kamizuki Ken was merely that of comrades-in-arms, he deeply valued the bonds forged through battle. To him, the word comrade carried significant weight.
As a shinobi raised under the Will of Fire, Shikadai couldn't accept Raiden's cold approach.
"Shikadai, from the moment he abandoned the camp without authorization, he ceased to be your comrade."
"Not putting him on the wanted list is already a mercy on my part."
"This was his own choice. And when a man makes a choice, he must be prepared to face the consequences."
Raiden paid no further attention to Shikadai, closing his eyes once more to rest. Shikadai opened his mouth as if to argue, but in the end, he said nothing. The other shinobi exchanged glances, absorbing the conversation.
Though they didn't fully understand the situation, they could infer enough from Raiden and Shikadai's words. A sense of melancholy settled over them.
Midday
The morning sun gradually dispelled the chill of the forest. As time passed, the sun climbed to its peak in the sky.
During this period, Raiden's team relocated twice to maintain their surveillance of the Cloud ninja. Each time, they carefully selected new positions to ensure optimal coverage.
Suddenly, within a mountain ravine, the four shinobi using sensory ninjutsu opened their eyes in unison.
"Report! We've detected traces that appear to be from Kamizuki Ken!" one of them called out.
Raiden, who was seated on a rock about to light a fire, paused upon hearing the report.
In the Land of Rivers
A vast expanse of mountains stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with jagged peaks and barren rock formations. There was little cover aside from the natural terrain.
The Cloud ninja forces slowly made their way along a winding mountain path, maintaining an orderly formation. Despite being a ninja unit, they moved at a leisurely pace, clearly prioritizing stability over speed.
Among the group, Kirabi walked alongside Raikage Ai.
"Brother, this is all my fault. If it weren't for me, we wouldn't have lost to that guy," Kirabi said.
Despite his words, he looked full of energy—his body showing no signs of weakness. The resilience of a Jinchūriki was truly remarkable.
"Bi, don't blame yourself. You and I both witnessed Uzumaki Raiden's strength firsthand."
"Come on, as long as we grow stronger, Cloud ninja can take back what belongs to us!"
"Once we return, let's train hard at Thundercloud Gorge!"
Raikage Ai lightly patted Kirabi's shoulder in encouragement.
BOOM!!!!
Suddenly, a deafening explosion roared from the horizon at the far end of the road.
The entire Cloud ninja unit was stunned. Instantly, they snapped into high alert.
(End of Chapter)