At this moment, the man whom Shibuki desperately wished to capture as quickly as possible had not truly fled beyond the reach of Takigakure's territory.
Instead, Shibusa remained hidden within an extremely secluded valley on the eastern outskirts of Takigakure.
This area was rarely visited.
Surrounded by treacherous mountain ridges, steep cliffs, and dense wilderness populated by dangerous beasts, it was a place ordinary civilians would never dare approach. Even Takigakure shinobi rarely entered without direct orders or special circumstances.
The reason was simple.
This valley served as the exclusive training ground of Fū, Takigakure's Seven-Tails jinchūriki.
A large-scale sensory barrier had also been established throughout the surrounding region. Though far inferior to the advanced barrier systems maintained by the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Takigakure's detection barrier still possessed sufficient functionality for defensive purposes.
More importantly
Fū herself trained here year-round.
With her presence, very few individuals could hope to evade detection.
Naturally, Shibusa was no exception.
However, his presence here was not the result of stealth or infiltration.
He had entered openly.
Because
Fū herself had granted him permission.
And currently, she was the only person in the village aware of his location.
After leaving Takigakure's administrative center, Fū returned directly to her personal training grounds. The two Taki shinobi who usually accompanied her had been dismissed under one of her usual casual excuses.
Once she arrived at her residence deep within the valley
Shibusa emerged from inside.
"It seems… you've confirmed the answer for yourself, haven't you, Fū?"
Shibusa's tone was calm, even carrying a trace of carefully crafted gentleness as he looked at the visibly upset girl.
Fū's face was clouded with both anger and sorrow.
"…Yes."
Her voice was low.
"It's confirmed. Shibuki-nii… he really lied to me, just like you said, Uncle Shibusa."
Then her expression shifted, becoming deeply anxious.
"Grandpa Mizuno… is something really wrong with him?"
That question
Was not spontaneous.
It had been deliberately guided.
Carefully implanted through Shibusa's calculated manipulation.
Its purpose was simple:
To test Shibuki.
Of course
Neither Shibuki nor Fū understood this.
Fū remained completely unaware that she was being drawn deeper into Shibusa's conspiracy.
Shibusa, however, understood his objectives perfectly.
If he wished to seize control of Takigakure, there were two obstacles he absolutely had to account for:
Elder Mizuno Satoru, Takigakure's respected elder and stabilizing political force.
And
Fū, the village's ultimate military asset.
As for Elder Mizuno
Shibusa already knew his condition intimately.
As a former high-ranking official of the village, he was fully aware that Mizuno's failing health rendered him increasingly incapable of meaningful intervention.
Thus, Elder Mizuno posed only minimal resistance.
The true variable was Fū.
And so
Shibusa chose to weaponize Mizuno's illness.
Though risky, it was a strategy with enormous potential.
He could not directly control every interaction between Fū and Shibuki.
But he could guide Fū's suspicions.
And judging by the current outcome
The results were highly effective.
"I don't know the full extent of Elder Mizuno's condition," Shibusa said, his voice heavy with manufactured concern, "and that uncertainty is precisely why I chose this path."
He paused deliberately before continuing.
"You know better than anyone, Fū… Elder Mizuno's health has been declining for years. Last year, he was nearly at death's door."
Fū's expression tightened.
"Recently, many important matters have arisen within the village. I repeatedly requested to see Elder Mizuno… but Shibuki consistently denied me access, claiming I would disturb his recovery."
Shibusa let those words sink in.
"Ordinarily, I could accept that. After all, Shibuki is the village leader."
Another pause.
Then
"A few months ago, however, an external mission tied to the Land of Fire and Konohagakure was brought before the village."
Shibusa's tone grew sharper.
"I believed the mission carried enormous risks for Takigakure. I opposed it strongly."
His gaze darkened.
"But Shibuki ignored my concerns. Worse he once again refused to allow me to consult Elder Mizuno."
At this point, Shibusa lowered his voice, as though revealing an unbearable truth.
"That was when I realized something was terribly wrong."
"Shibuki… may already be placing his personal authority above the village itself."
Fū's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What?!"
Her voice trembled.
"Betray the village…?"
"Perhaps 'betrayal' is too direct," Shibusa said with false restraint. "But I believe Elder Mizuno and I had become obstacles to Shibuki's complete consolidation of power."
He sighed deeply, as if burdened by sorrow.
"He may have concluded that removing us was necessary."
The lies flowed seamlessly.
Full of contradictions.
Full of manipulative omissions.
Yet devastatingly effective against someone as emotionally sincere and politically inexperienced as Fū.
The fabricated mission involving Fire Country interests
Menma's disguised interference
All of it was twisted into ammunition.
For a girl as young and sheltered as Fū, such deception was tragically easy to accept.
"Power…?"
Fū's voice shook.
"Status…?"
Her expression crumbled into visible pain.
"Just for something like that…?"
"Would Shibuki-nii really hurt Grandpa Mizuno… and you… for power?"
To Fū
Shibuki.
Elder Mizuno.
Shibusa.
These three men had formed the emotional foundation of her life.
They were family.
And now
That family was being torn apart.
"Which is why," Shibusa said solemnly, "we must correct this mistake."
His voice became righteous, almost heroic.
"Perhaps Shibuki has merely lost his way. Perhaps outside influences have clouded his judgment."
Then he stepped forward.
"But if we act now… we may still be able to save him."
Every word was calculated.
Every phrase designed to paint himself as Takigakure's protector.
And Fū
Young, emotionally vulnerable, and desperate to preserve her bonds
Believed him.
"…Then tell me what to do, Uncle Shibusa."
Her voice was firm now.
Resolved.
"I'll help."
"I trust you."
Shibusa's lips curled ever so slightly.
The trap had fully closed.
"Good."
Then, with carefully measured precision, he began outlining his plan.
Step by step.
Piece by piece.
Using Fū's loyalty
Using her strength
Using the power of the Seven-Tails itself.
Shibusa believed that with Fū by his side, his coup would proceed smoothly.
And as for any remaining obstacles
Once he secured full control of Takigakure
They would cease to matter.
Looking at the obedient young jinchūriki before him, Shibusa's heart swelled with ambition.
At that moment
He could already envision it.
Himself ascending as the true leader of Takigakure.
Commanding the village.
Expanding its influence.
And one day
Dominating the shinobi world itself.
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