"Hmph!"
Watching Aoyama Ryuyun leading the way and acting so indifferent, Sarutobi Shinnosuke let out a cold snort, his expression darkening.
"Just you wait. I'll definitely get my revenge for this severed arm!"
Originally, Hiruzen Sarutobi had intended for Shinnosuke to be dispatched to the Iwagakure battlefield.
However, upon learning that Aoyama Ryuyun would be commanding the Kumogakure front, Shinnosuke resolutely chose to go there instead—
for no other reason than to find an opportunity to avenge the arm he had lost years ago.
Shinnosuke's obsession ran so deep that even Hiruzen Sarutobi's attempts to dissuade him were useless.
Still, the fact that Hiruzen permitted Shinnosuke to participate in the Kumogakure campaign made it clear that he believed Aoyama Ryuyun would not go so far as to kill his son outright.
As long as Shinnosuke returned alive, Hiruzen wouldn't pursue the matter further.
At this moment, though Shinnosuke hid the hostility in his eyes, not everyone failed to notice it.
"Lord Ryuyun!"
Nara Shikaku quietly appeared beside Aoyama Ryuyun, intending to offer a word of warning.
However, Ryuyun, already aware of Shikaku's thoughts, merely smiled casually and cut him off.
"Don't worry. If you can see it, I naturally can too."
"Uh…"
Hearing that, Shikaku's face froze awkwardly.
The logic was sound, yet somehow, it still felt like a jab at his intelligence.
Why did it sound so insulting?
With his Kenbunshoku Haki, Aoyama Ryuyun could perceive even the slightest movement—naturally, that included Shinnosuke's hostile gaze.
"Then, Lord Ryuyun… how do you plan to handle it?" Shikaku asked cautiously.
After losing an arm, Shinnosuke's strength had certainly declined, but as the Hokage's son, he couldn't be dealt with openly.
At the very least, not in a way that would draw political backlash.
If Aoyama Ryuyun really intended to move against Shinnosuke, Shikaku was prepared to devise a strategy.
However, Ryuyun didn't seem to take it nearly as seriously.
"He's just a small fry. When the war starts, I'll find an opportunity to deal with him."
Ryuyun's tone was calm—almost lazy—but it carried a chilling certainty.
He had no habit of being targeted by men.
If Shinnosuke wanted to play with fire, Ryuyun wouldn't hesitate to burn him.
"Uh…" Shikaku blinked, momentarily at a loss. So reckless?
"Is there a problem?" Aoyama Ryuyun asked, turning his gaze toward him.
Shikaku paused for a long moment, clearly wanting to speak, but in the end, he sighed and shook his head.
"Nothing. Lord Ryuyun's idea is… excellent."
Perhaps this was the mindset of the truly strong.
Indeed, in the face of overwhelming power, all schemes and plots were meaningless—
like clouds drifting past the sun, easily scattered.
Thinking that, Shikaku could only give a bitter smile and say no more.
"Shikaku! What's wrong?"
Seeing him return, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza both looked over with concern.
"Nothing," Shikaku replied. "But… we should be a bit more careful from now on."
"Careful about what?"
Inoichi and Choza were puzzled at first.
But after Shikaku briefly explained Ryuyun's attitude toward Shinnosuke, both men were speechless.
"This new leader of ours is really… direct," Inoichi muttered.
"Yeah," Choza chuckled. "But isn't that a good thing? At least Lord Ryuyun handles everything out in the open.
Unlike Hiruzen Sarutobi—you never know when he'll secretly have you killed."
"..."
Choza's blunt remark made both Shikaku and Inoichi glance at each other—then nod in reluctant agreement.
"That actually makes sense," Shikaku said wryly.
"Following someone like Ryuyun… at least you know where you stand."
"Forget it," he sighed. "Let's just focus on our mission."
As they spoke, Aoyama Ryuyun—still leading the massive formation—suddenly stopped.
His expression shifted as he looked toward a specific direction deep within the forest.
"Lord Ryuyun?" Shikaku immediately asked, scanning the trees but seeing nothing.
"Nothing," Ryuyun said, shaking his head, though his gaze lingered on that spot, a faint smile touching his lips.
Then, with a wave of his hand, he shouted, "Continue forward!"
"Yes!"
Though the crowd was confused, no one dared to question him.
The two thousand Konoha shinobi resumed their march toward the Kumogakure battlefield.
'So… the monsters hiding in the shadows have finally appeared,' Ryuyun murmured inwardly, his expression calm and unreadable.
The spot he'd been watching soon stirred.
After the army disappeared into the distance, a half-black, half-white, humanoid figure slowly emerged from the trees.
"Just now… were we discovered?" Black Zetsu frowned, staring after the departing force.
Ryuyun's sudden halt earlier had clearly not been a coincidence.
"Oh my, oh my~ what an amazing man!" White Zetsu grinned.
"To think he actually sensed us! There aren't many in this world who can do that!"
"In terms of stealth, very few can detect us," Black Zetsu muttered.
"Perhaps… his sensory perception is far beyond what we imagined."
"Speaking of which," White Zetsu said with a mischievous grin, "Lord Madara wanted us to find that person mentioned in the plan, right?"
"I already have a target," Black Zetsu replied coldly.
"Really? You? No way!" White Zetsu laughed. "I thought you'd been slacking off this whole time!"
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