Chapter 63: The Cloud's Gambit
Sure enough, in the distance, a team of Kumo-nin watched the conspicuously perched figure of Akatsurugi in the caravan and fell into a grim silence.
There was no way around it. Akatsurugi was a living nightmare for Kumogakure. Their Third Raikage had confronted him twice, and both times Akatsurugi had escaped unscathed. Not only that, but masters of their village—ninja like Kujōgawa and Takahashi, the latter being their Two-Tails Jinchūriki—had all been killed by him.
With a monster like this guarding the caravan, their mission to intercept the supplies seemed like a pipe dream.
"Captain, what should we do? Should we fall back and inform Captain-General Kujō?" one of the Cloud ninja asked in a hushed tone.
They had sent three full squads on this mission to ensure its success. And now, Akatsurugi himself had appeared. According to their spy intelligence, Akatsurugi had vanished for two years. Everyone assumed he was in seclusion training somewhere, and now he had reappeared after just two years, more formidable than ever.
"We have no choice. We must report to Captain Kujō," another ninja sighed, his eyes filled with worry. It was unavoidable; the leader of their main force, Kujō Satoru, had a personal stake in this. His clansman, Kujōgawa, had died by Akatsurugi's hand.
As this scouting team withdrew, the night passed without incident.
The Iwagakure ninja trailing the caravan grew frustrated. They were so close to their target, but the Cloud ninja hadn't made a move?
They were following just to capitalize on any opportunity that arose. Was that too much to ask?
The key was that if the Kumo-nin could draw Akatsurugi away, everything else would be simple. They could easily seize the caravan. Unfortunately, in their eyes, the Cloud ninja were all cowards who didn't dare to fight.
Kujō Satoru received the news. Compared to two years ago, he was far more mature and controlled. At the very least, he didn't fly into a rage upon hearing Akatsurugi's name.
He frowned deeply. Kumogakure had conducted in-depth research on Akatsurugi. To deal with him, they would need a large number of Water Release users—a specialty they sorely lacked. The only village with an abundance of such ninja was Kirigakure.
His own Kekkei Genkai, Storm Release, was a fusion of Water and Lightning. However, his personal proficiency in Water Release alone was only average. And even if he were a master, it would take over a dozen ninja of that caliber to pose a threat to Akatsurugi.
"Lord Kujō, should we retreat?" a Cloud ninja ventured. "The Third Raikage himself said that if we encounter Akatsurugi, we are permitted to abandon the mission."
There was no helping it. Akatsurugi's reputation within Kumo was built on a mountain of their own losses. It was no wonder this ninja suggested withdrawal.
Kujō Satoru's brow furrowed in disgust at the speaker. The ninja flinched, thinking, The Third Raikage couldn't defeat him. What can we do? Are we, together, stronger than the Raikage?
Kujō Satoru scanned the faces around him. "This time, our goal isn't to kill Akatsurugi. We only need to delay him. The three youngsters with him will be much easier to handle."
"Lord Kujō, those 'youngsters' are not simple," countered another voice. It was Dan, an elite Jōnin from Kumo, who wasn't intimidated by Kujō Satoru. "One of them is Hatake Sakumo, that Konoha swordsman who has risen to prominence these last two years—already an elite Jōnin. The other two are Orochimaru and Senju Tsunade, both direct disciples of the Third Hokage!"
He didn't want Kujō Satoru's misjudgment to get them all killed.
Kujō Satoru's expression darkened further. He glared at Dan, snorted, but then his expression cleared as a new thought struck him. "Dan, you said Senju Tsunade is among them? The granddaughter of Senju Hashirama himself?"
Dan nodded grimly. His squad had confirmed the identities.
A spark of grim determination lit in Kujō Satoru's eyes. "This is our opportunity. Dan, if you were to face Tsunade and Orochimaru, could you capture Tsunade alive?"
Dan frowned, considering it, then nodded. As an elite Jōnin, subduing two opponents who weren't yet Jōnin-level should be manageable.
"Excellent," Kujō Satoru said, a plan forming. "Yi'er, you and Dan will break off from the main group. We will find a way to lure Akatsurugi away. Yi'er, your task is to delay the Hatake brat. Dan, you are responsible for capturing Tsunade. Once we have the Senju princess in our hands, this mission is as good as accomplished. Even someone as powerful as Akatsurugi would have to concede."
Dan was silent for a moment. "Akatsurugi won't be easily lured away. And he is immensely powerful. Are you certain you can manage this?"
He had no faith in Kujō Satoru's ability to handle Akatsurugi.
Kujō Satoru replied with a terrifying calm. "Don't worry. Even if I die, I will delay him. If we all fall, Dan, your only order is to get Tsunade back to Kumo. With Konoha's princess as our hostage, we can force Akatsurugi's hand. Whatever we exchange for her later will be worth the cost. As for me... I will simply be joining our fallen comrades."
"Why go this far? We can just abandon the mission," Dan said with a sigh.
"This is a strategic opportunity," Kujō Satoru insisted firmly. "The granddaughter of Senju Hashirama might be the key to forcing Akatsurugi out of Konoha. A Konoha with him in it is simply too powerful."
Dan fell silent. He could see the cold logic in the desperate plan.
Kujō Satoru looked around at the others. "Those who follow me will likely die. Meeting Akatsurugi gives you permission to retreat. If any of you wish to leave now, you may do so."
The other Cloud ninja exchanged looks. While some were fearful, they knew that quitting now would brand them as cowards forever in the village.
Kujō Satoru added, "If I die, you are all to disengage and flee. He won't waste his energy chasing you."
His meaning was clear: he, Kujō Satoru, would be the vanguard and the primary target.
"Lord Kujō, we will see this through!" one ninja declared, his voice firm. The others echoed the sentiment.
Kujō Satoru gave a grim nod. "Then it's settled. Dan, Yi'er, you two move out now. Take your positions."
Dan and Yi'er exchanged a final glance, nodded, and vanished in a shunshin.
Once they were gone, Kujō Satoru addressed the remaining shinobi. "Gentlemen, forgive me for being willful this once. I will do everything in my power to ensure some of you survive." With that, he took the first step forward. He was resolved; this was a suicide mission.
As he led his team toward the caravan, the line of supply wagons slowly continued its journey into the Land of the Moon, unaware of the storm that was about to break.