Chapter 439: A Deal

Chapter 439: Chapter 439: A Deal

After switching Shisui’s own Mangekyo Sharingan back into his eye sockets, Kagami shared his speculation with Shisui and Itachi.

After listening to Kagami’s analysis, Itachi asked in some confusion, "Senpai, if your speculation is correct, then that means the Hokage not only knows that Akatsuki is planning to make a move, but even has a rough grasp of when they’ll act. But Akatsuki operates with such secrecy. How could the Hokage know their plans in such detail?"

Shisui said, "Could it be that the Hokage has also planted a spy inside Akatsuki?"

The reason Shisui used the word also was because he had already guessed that Shinichi had most likely defected to Kagami’s side and become Kagami’s eyes and ears within Akatsuki.

Kagami shook his head. "Akatsuki just suffered a major setback. They even lost their base in Amegakure. Right now, they should be at their most cautious. It shouldn’t be that easy to infiltrate them."

Even Shinichi, who had long since gained Obito’s trust, hadn’t had an opportunity to pass any information to Kagami recently. No matter how he looked at it, it was highly unlikely that the Third Hokage had managed to successfully plant a spy inside Akatsuki during such a sensitive period.

After pondering for a moment, Itachi analyzed, "That means the Hokage has another source of information."

Kagami nodded lightly. "I suspect that Akatsuki may have a partner cooperating with them in this operation against the village. And perhaps the information was leaked from that partner’s side."

If Akatsuki itself hadn’t leaked the information, then there was only one other possibility—

The leak had come from the party cooperating with Akatsuki.

And in the entire shinobi world, the only organizations qualified to cooperate with Akatsuki were shinobi villages. The various small-time missing-nin organizations scattered throughout the shinobi world simply weren’t qualified to work with an organization on Akatsuki’s level.

Shisui asked, "Senpai, then what should we do?"

Kagami took out the plan Itachi had previously handed him and said, "I have a mission for the two of you. Follow the exploration route laid out in this plan and go through it thoroughly from beginning to end!"

Shisui took the plan and glanced through it, then froze for a moment.

He remembered this plan as well. It was the very same plan Itachi had drawn up at Kagami’s request while protecting Shisui—a plan for improving his strength.

However, all the sections concerning training in ocular power, ninjutsu, taijutsu, ninja tools, and the like had been completely crossed out with a pen.

Only one section remained—

Exploring Uchiha ruins dating back to the Warring States Period.

Itachi was somewhat surprised. "Senpai, you’re actually serious about this?"

Kagami slowly explained, "I learned from an ancient text that there is a divine weapon in the shinobi world known as the ’Totsuka Blade.’ This divine weapon is also known as the ’Sword of Sealing.’ It can seal any enemy it strikes into a genjutsu world. And according to the ancient records, this divine weapon is connected to the Uchiha Clan. The clues to its whereabouts may very well be hidden among these Uchiha ruins!"

Realization dawned on Itachi. "So that’s why you’ve mentioned the ’Totsuka Blade’ and the ’Yata Mirror’ to me several times."

Kagami continued, "I need the Totsuka Blade to deal with that powerful enemy in Akatsuki who possesses space-time ninjutsu. And when it comes to exploring Uchiha ruins, there’s no one more suitable than the two of you."

Shisui was somewhat worried. "But what about the village...?"

"If we can’t find the Totsuka Blade, we’ll always remain on the defensive. Even if we stop them this time, we won’t necessarily be able to stop them the next time. So trust the Third. He’s the Hokage. He can protect the village!"

Compared to pouring all his effort into weakening his enemies, Kagami preferred concentrating his energy on strengthening himself.

Because he had both a direction and a plan.

As long as he was given enough time, he would eventually stand at the very summit of the shinobi world, looking down from above as he watched all his enemies with a smile.

So this was a race.

A race between—

Kekkei Mora...

and the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki!

If Kagami achieved Kekkei Mora first, then none of these problems would be problems anymore.

But if Akatsuki managed to gather all nine Tailed Beasts first, create the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, and release Kaguya, then Kagami himself would amount to nothing more than slightly stronger cannon fodder.

Therefore, aside from throwing obstacles in Akatsuki’s path when it came to the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, Kagami had no reason to waste his energy fighting tooth and nail against every single move Akatsuki made.

Just then, a ninja crow flew into the room and landed on Kagami’s shoulder.

Removing the small scroll tied to the ninja crow’s leg, Kagami opened it and took a look. He then turned to Shisui and Itachi.

"Karatachi Yagura has secretly arrived in the village!"

"What!?"

Shisui and Itachi were both startled.

Kagami himself was actually somewhat surprised as well.

Although two full months had passed, things were different now. For the Kage of an entire village to leave his village, he first had to make the necessary arrangements at home. Then there was the selection of capable guards, scouting out covert travel routes, and countless other preparations, all of which required time.

So for Yagura, the Mizukage, to reach Konoha within two months of receiving the message was already remarkably efficient.

Itachi sighed in admiration. "The Hokage’s operation this time is truly secretive. Even our Uchiha Clan didn’t receive the slightest bit of information."

Shisui seemed to feel the same way and nodded. "Yeah. We didn’t hear even the faintest rumor."

Looking at the sheer astonishment on their faces, Kagami silently complained,

"Is it really appropriate for you two to look this surprised? Isn’t the village successfully keeping something hidden from the Uchiha’s eyes and ears the normal outcome?"

As a prestigious shinobi clan that hadn’t noticed a single thing even on the very night of its own extermination, Kagami couldn’t even be bothered to mock the Uchiha Clan’s intelligence-gathering capabilities anymore.

Kagami waved his hand. "All right. Yagura has already secretly arrived in the village, which means the Third’s plan is proceeding smoothly. The two of you don’t need to worry about what’s happening here anymore."

He continued, "Right now, you only have one important mission—

"Find me that Totsuka Blade!"

"We understand!"

Hearing this, Shisui and Itachi immediately nodded with serious expressions.

After leaving the Uchiha Clan compound, Kagami returned home. He then took out a storage scroll from his ninja tool pouch—the scroll containing the sealed Chimera Technique and a living Chimera Bud.

Cultivating the Type-A and Type-B Wind Release clones had already consumed the last batch of precious medicinal ingredients Kagami had in reserve.

Now, he didn’t even have enough money to prepare nutrient solution.

Therefore, he needed to sell the Chimera Technique and the living Chimera Bud in his possession as soon as possible in exchange for some much-needed research funds.

As for the buyer...

He had already chosen one long ago.

...

Outside Konoha, in a forest thick with vegetation.

A figure wearing a black cloak with gold trim and a mask bearing the pattern of a raging wind slowly made his way through the dense forest, step by step, heading deeper into the woods.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a Root shinobi suddenly burst out from the undergrowth and launched an attack.

However, before the short sword in the Root shinobi’s hand could even touch the figure’s black-and-gold cloak, strands of black Iron Sand wrapped around his body one after another, binding him tightly and immobilizing him on the spot.

"Tell Danzo...

"I want to make a deal with him."