Buzz... buzz!
The windows of the tent began to vibrate slightly, glowing faintly. The surface of the water in the cups on the table rippled.
The tremor seemed to come from a very distant place, but it still woke up the ninjas in the other tents of the Konoha camp. They all became vigilant, grabbing their weapons and walking out of their tents with frowns.
"What's going on?"
"Is it an earthquake?"
Hearing the footsteps outside, Hyuga Kumo had the three puppets pick up their weapons and go out. He created a Shadow Clone Technique , had it change into the dead ninja's clothes, and followed the three out.
As for himself, he remained inside the tent.
A moment later, the tremor gradually subsided. Hyuga Kumo felt as if an invisible connection had formed in his mind.
A three-dimensional structural map of a five-level underground palace appeared in his mind. Although it felt vast, the interior was still empty.
However, as long as he wanted, he could directly enter the palace from anywhere within a kilometer of it.
"This palace should be able to withstand a strong attack, right?" Hyuga Kumo thought to himself. "Otherwise, even if you gave me a Budget Space-Time Ninjutsu (Budget Space-Time Ninjutsu), these three thousand points would be a bit of a waste."
He was planning to use these Ōtsutsuki Ruins (Ōtsutsuki Ruins) as bait; it couldn't be broken so easily.
But Hyuga Kumo couldn't test it now; he could only try to trust the system's "conscience."
Just then, his eyes moved slightly. He looked up outside the tent and sensed that the eight Root (Root) ninjas in the camp, including his shadow clone and the three puppets, were all gathering in the same direction.
"It seems Aburame Ryoma has arrived. Just as I thought, he's gathering the Root ninjas," Hyuga Kumo understood.
With this, there would be no problem. All that was left was for the show to begin.
Hyuga Kumo transformed into a black shadow and melted into the darkness of the rainy night, heading towards the Land of Hot Water.
He had to wait in the palace in advance.
Waiting to Be 'Unearthed' by Kumo and Konoha .
And then...
Hyuga Kumo looked up slightly at the full moon, which was obscured by dark clouds.
"Since Toneri Ōtsutsuki could control that giant Tenseigan, I should be able to borrow it for a bit too."
A joyful chuckle mingled with the wind and rain and drifted away.
————————
Meanwhile, at a port in the Land of Hot Water, a dozen Kumogakure ninjas stood silently in the rain.
Behind them, the hot spring inn that served as their contact point was lit with yellow lamps. The strong wind rushed in through every crack, making the light bulbs sway, and their black shadows stretched and wavered on the ground.
The person in the lead had short purple hair, wore a black tight-fitting combat suit with a white Kumogakure flak jacket over it, and a yellow scarf around his neck.
"Lord Toroi," a Kumogakure ninja appeared behind him with a body flicker. "Nothing unusual has been found. It should just be a normal earthquake."
Rumble!
A thunderstorm erupted overhead at that moment, and branching lightning filled the night sky with a pale white.
"A normal earthquake..."
Toroi murmured, raising his head. Large raindrops were thrown by the wind. Thick dark clouds gathered overhead, obscuring the moonlight. Only the python-like lightning illuminated the gaps in the clouds.
For some reason, he felt a tightness and unease in his chest, as if it were a sign of some impending disaster, as if the dark clouds above were pressing down on them.
He had always trusted his intuition. Already distrustful of Konoha, he became even more vigilant.
However, as the appointed time drew nearer, a faint sense of anxiety inevitably arose in his heart.
Just as Toroi's mind was wandering, the Kumogakure ninja beside him suddenly looked up and said in a deep voice, "They're here!"
In the distance, a dozen figures in black raincoats could be seen running towards them on the surface of the water.
Toroi put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. After hearing the same sound from the distance, he confirmed their identity.
A moment later, the Kumogakure members standing on the port shore saw the Konoha group, led by Akimichi Todo, under the warm yellow light from the inn behind them.
"Sorry, the weather isn't great, we're late..."
Akimichi Todo glanced at the Kumogakure group, scratched his head with a somewhat honest look, and apologized.
"Come inside for the trade." But before he could finish, Toroi interrupted, stuffing all his words back into his mouth.
With that, Toroi and the Kumogakure ninjas turned and walked into the hot spring inn behind them.
"In such a hurry?"
Akimichi Todo said, giving Hyuga Kumo a look before leading his group to quickly follow them into the inn.
This inn was funded by Kumogakure. The lobby was large enough to accommodate more than thirty people from both Kumogakure and Konoha.
The Konoha members glanced vaguely at Hyuga Kumo in their ranks. They only relaxed after seeing him nod imperceptibly.
"The weather is terrible tonight."
Toroi suddenly stopped, turned to look at Akimichi Todo, and said in a cold tone.
"..." Understanding his meaning, Akimichi Todo decisively took a step back and shrugged. "Alright, alright, let's get this over with quickly then."
Barking Dogs Seldom Bite.
Since the other party had shown such a tough attitude from the start, it wouldn't be too late to reveal their own weapons if a fight really broke out.
The moment he saw Toroi's face, he had already recognized him.
Toroi, a Jonin from Kumogakure, proficient in the use of the Kekkei Genkai, Magnet Release.
The Fourth Raikage actually sent him? Did he discover something unusual?
"If we fight, I don't know if I can protect that kid from the Hyuga clan," Akimichi Todo sighed inwardly. "Lord Third really gave me a troublesome mission."
"Where are the goods?" Toroi asked bluntly.
Akimichi Todo tilted his head slightly. Hyuga Kumo from behind him stepped forward, gave Toroi a cold glare, and then took out a scroll from his robes.
Poof!
A dark brown coffin appeared in front of them, exuding an aura of death under the warm yellow chandelier. The already oppressive atmosphere became even colder.
"As expected."
Seeing this, Toroi frowned tightly but said nothing.
On the way here, he had already received a message from the village and knew that the Daimyo had miscommunicated the message. So it wasn't surprising that Konoha had seized on the verbal loophole and handed over a "corpse."
However, as long as the corpse was Hyuga Hiashi's, it still held great value.
"Step back," Toroi said coldly. "We need to 'inspect the goods'."
The words, comparing a corpse to "goods," seemed to have struck a nerve with Hyuga Kumo, and a trace of anger appeared in his eyes as he looked at Toroi.
But just as he was about to say something, Akimichi Todo raised his hand to stop him, voluntarily stepping back to give Toroi space.
Toroi walked to the coffin, and a strangely shaped shuriken slid out from his sleeve, cutting into the seal of the coffin lid.
Click.
The moment the coffin opened, the black night sky was suddenly dyed a brilliant white by a flash of lightning. The dazzling flash cast everyone's shadow onto the floor, stretching them long and ghost-like.
"..."
Behind Akimichi Todo, Aburame Ryoma stared intently at Toroi's face, but unexpectedly saw an expression he hadn't anticipated.
Anger, horror, and fear were all mixed on his face.
Why that reaction?
A doubt suddenly arose in Aburame Ryoma's mind. He saw Toroi abruptly raise his head, his mouth open in shocked rage.
BOOM!
The thunder that followed the lightning arrived in an instant.
"Retreat!" Toroi's enraged roar was drowned out.
Akimichi Todo, who was closest, heard the unnervingly familiar "sizzle" of something igniting. His pupils shrank violently in an instant.
Exploding tags?
How is that possible?!
The next moment, before anyone could react, a roar far more terrifying than thunder enveloped the world!
A blinding white light erupted before them, rushing forward to engulf everyone!
BOOM!!