Chapter 78: Ritsu's Account
"Lord Orochimaru."
Before Ritsu could speak, someone couldn't help but speak first, their tone full of unease and dissatisfaction. "I believe the urgent priority is to properly settle the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. If the Jinchuriki loses control and goes berserk now, the entire camp will be destroyed in one fell swoop. If the Mist ninja take advantage to attack, we..."
"Shut up."
Kakashi's eyes brimmed with killing intent as he stared fixedly at the speaker, saying angrily: "The seal on Rin's body has already been examined by the Hyuga clan head. It's quite solid and reliable—there's absolutely no risk of losing control and going berserk."
"Hatake Kakashi, I understand your desire to protect your comrade. That's an excellent quality. But this isn't a reason for you to gamble with the lives and safety of so many people in this camp."
The speaker glanced at Kakashi, his attitude firm.
The killing intent in Kakashi's eyes grew even stronger. His right hand was somewhat losing control, wanting to reach for his blade handle. Having mixed in battlefield combat for too long, his first thought when encountering problems now was to draw his blade and employ physical methods to resolve issues.
However—
Ritsu placed his hand on Kakashi's shoulder and looked at the person who'd raised the Nohara Rin threat theory, saying with a smile: "As Kakashi just said, I've already examined the seal on Rin's body. If no one maliciously breaks it, there's no need to worry about the seal loosening for several years. After all, the Mist ninja inherited part of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques—their craftsmanship is trustworthy."
"Clan Head Hyuga, are you vouching for the Three-Tails Jinchuriki? If any accident occurs, can you bear..."
"I can bear it."
Ritsu's smile remained unchanged, but his pure white, flawless eyes held not a trace of emotion, cold as an iceberg. "Setting aside that no accident will occur at all, even if the Mist ninja dispatched the Six-Tails to attack right now, I could handle it. Does this satisfy you, member of the Sarutobi clan?"
The speaker was a jonin of the Sarutobi clan. His sleeves and collar bore the Sarutobi clan crest.
"Clan Head Hyuga, anyone can boast..."
"Enough, Jonin Sarutobi Mochimoto, shut your mouth."
Orochimaru looked thoroughly impatient. Those golden vertical pupils revealed snake-like cruelty and ruthlessness. Though Sarutobi Mochimoto still wanted to debate further and remained unconvinced, he sensibly shut his mouth.
Having dealt with the troublemaker—
The others all obediently dared not speak further.
Only then did Orochimaru restore his smile and look again at Ritsu, asking: "So you're saying the Mist ninja sealed the Three-Tails into Nohara Rin's body?"
"That's correct. Kirishima Shinya, nicknamed 'Acid Mist,' led a squad that precisely ambushed Team Kakashi. They captured Rin alive and sealed the Three-Tails into her body. They planned to bring Rin back to Konoha, then break the seal to release the Three-Tails and cause massive destruction."
"Kirishima Shinya, an elite of the Kirishima clan! You killed him?"
"That's right."
Ritsu's expression didn't change as he lied.
Kirishima Shinya, Kaguya Daizo, and Gyokko were all imprisoned in Dragon Cave. They were all gifts prepared for Teacher Hiruko, so Ritsu simply reported them as dead. Otherwise, with all the tossing and turning later, these gifts might not reach Teacher Hiruko's hands.
Besides, having Suikazan Fuguki as a prisoner was sufficient. Worst case, there was still Ao's severed head.
"Originally Kirishima Shinya had already been captured alive by me, but afterward, Suikazan Fuguki, Ao, Biwa Juzo and others came attacking. During the battle, Kirishima Shinya got caught in the crossfire—not even his corpse remained."
Ritsu added a patch.
After all, Kakashi and the others had seen him capture Kirishima Shinya and White Zetsu alive. But fortunately, they hadn't participated in the subsequent battle with Suikazan Fuguki and the others, allowing Ritsu free rein.
"Suikazan Fuguki and the others weren't with Kirishima Shinya?"
"Speaking of this makes it even more interesting."
Ritsu smiled and glanced at Aburame Torune, who was keeping a low profile and hadn't made a sound until now. "I received orders at Kinkozan to support Team Kakashi. After I left Kinkozan, Suikazan Fuguki and a group of elite Mist ninja precisely intercepted me halfway."
Hearing this, Orochimaru also narrowed his eyes, glanced at Aburame Torune beside him, and continued asking: "Then what? You escaped from their hands?"
"No, from the very beginning I was on guard that this mission might be a trap targeting me!"
Ritsu declared loudly.
These words—
Were an unmistakable accusation and indictment.
"And then?"
Orochimaru acted as though he hadn't heard Ritsu's accusation, didn't pursue who had arranged and issued this mission, but only pressed for the subsequent plot, exactly like a reader demanding updates.
"Because I was guarding against the possibility this mission was a trap from the start, I sent a shadow clone to move openly. What Suikazan Fuguki and the others intercepted was only my shadow clone, while my real body used other methods to rush to Kakashi's side."
Hearing this, the thoroughly bound and gagged Suikazan Fuguki emitted weak, unwilling whimpering sounds.
But no one paid him attention.
Orochimaru crossed his arms over his chest, nodding thoughtfully as he summarized: "Ritsu-kun, you used a shadow clone to deceive Suikazan Fuguki and the others while your real body rendezvoused with Team Kakashi."
"Unfortunately, I was still a step too late. Rin had already become the Three-Tails Jinchuriki."
"Mm. You arrived at the scene after the Three-Tails was sealed into Nohara Rin's body, rescued her, defeated and captured Kirishima Shinya. Then, unwilling to accept defeat, Suikazan Fuguki and the others pursued again. This time you engaged with your real body and, united with Team Kakashi, counter-killed Suikazan Fuguki, Ao and other Mist ninja."
"No, Kakashi and the others didn't participate. I alone killed Ao, Biwa Juzo, and a Kaguya clan jonin, and captured Suikazan Fuguki. Ringo Ameyuri and another Mist ninja named Hoshigaki Kisame escaped while I was capturing Fuguki!"
Ritsu corrected the errors in Orochimaru's speculation.
Orochimaru's eyebrows shot up. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Ritsu flickered with faint light, gradually becoming sharp.
"This is truly... astonishing. Ritsu-kun, even if I personally took action, I might not be able to achieve better results than you. The name White Yaksha can now be said to be truly deserved!"
Not only was he astonished—
The others listening also cast looks of profound surprise at Ritsu. Whether it was accomplished single-handedly or jointly by two people made these such illustrious battle achievements two entirely different situations.
If the former, it meant Ritsu now probably possessed "Kage"-level strength. In this shinobi world where one person could match a thousand troops, this was extremely important intelligence!
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