Konoha's Tag-System Ninja

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Infiltrating Sunagakure, Going Big!

This was Shūichi Hoshita's first time truly carrying out a mission alone.

In the Root Division, it might have seemed like he was acting solo, but there were always other Root members in the shadows following him.

But now, it was just him and a flock of crows.

Shūichi was grateful he had brought along his trained crows, or he might have genuinely gotten lost.

The desert was incredibly hard to navigate!

...

Finally, he had arrived!

On the third day, after avoiding several of Sunagakure's outposts, Shūichi finally caught sight of the village.

"What a godforsaken place! How do people even survive here?"

Shūichi spat out a mouthful of sand.

"The Third Ninja World War saw Iwa-nin and Kirigakure both launch attacks on the Land of Wind, right?"

As Shūichi gazed at Sunagakure from a distance, he pondered silently, "It makes sense for Kirigakure, since not all of the southern Land of Wind is desert, but the northern part... I can only assume their goal was to eliminate Sunagakure and secure more missions from the Land of Wind."

After taking a brief rest, Shūichi called his crows down from the sky, giving them water and food, and replenishing their chakra.

More cautiously, Shūichi placed seals on each of the crows, temporarily sealing his chakra within them to prevent detection when they entered Sunagakure.

The seals were set to automatically release after a certain time, at which point the crows could turn into his clones.

This was Shūichi's infiltration plan.

If this plan didn't work, he'd have to resort to using the Toad Flatness Shadow Manipulation Technique to enter a lone Sunagakure ninja's shadow and infiltrate that way—but that would require more time and waiting.

Once everything was prepared, the dozen or so crows flapped their wings and took off, scattering as they flew toward Sunagakure.

Within less than 15 minutes.

By a garbage dump in Sunagakure, the crows gathered and transformed into Shūichi, who then quickly slipped away.

Moments later, Shūichi had transformed into an ordinary Sunagakure villager and blended into the crowd.

Wandering aimlessly, Shūichi discreetly observed the village.

However, he didn't linger in any one place for too long, in order to avoid drawing attention.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Shūichi spotted a familiar figure.

That back... there was no mistaking it!

It was Pakura of the Scorch Release!

But after just a glance, Shūichi quickly averted his eyes.

On the other side, Pakura, who was shopping with her student, felt a strange sensation and turned her head. But all she saw was a moving crowd, with nothing unusual.

Her student, asked curiously, "Sensei, what's wrong?"

Pakura turned back with a smile, "It's nothing."

"Alright, break time's over. Let's resume training!"

...

After a quick sweep of Sunagakure, Shūichi set his sights on the building where the Kazekage's office was located.

His ideal target? One of the secretaries working near the Kazekage.

Such individuals wouldn't be too strong in combat but would likely know the Kazekage's whereabouts.

If that didn't work, he could go after one of the Kazekage's bodyguards, but that would mean he'd have to retreat immediately after taking action.

So, he began.

Shūichi started passing by the Kazekage's building multiple times, using different disguises each time, blending in with different groups of people.

Then, he transformed into a child and played with other kids near the Kazekage's building.

At other times, he transformed into a bird, hopping and flapping around on the rooftops, appearing harmless.

Yes, Shūichi had learned to transform into a bird and fly.

He achieved this by repeatedly dissecting birds with his shadow clones, studying aerodynamics, and improving his Wind Release abilities, which allowed him to finally master the art of flying by jumping off cliffs in bird form.

This breakthrough caused his progress with the [Transformation Master] skill to skyrocket, as mastering bird transformations was half the battle in learning to become any type of bird!

Time passed slowly, and soon it was night.

Shūichi had already scouted his spot, transforming into a tiny insect and hiding in the shadows of a balcony, quietly waiting.

Near midnight, the target finally returned.

Shūichi heard the door open and hopped inside the room.

Steam rose from the bathroom, but Shūichi continued to wait.

Not long after, a woman entered the bedroom, completely naked, stretching lazily before slipping into bed.

Sunagakure—hot during the day, freezing at night.

Without a sound, Shūichi appeared and formed a series of hand seals.

Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!

Just as the woman was about to fall asleep, she suddenly realized she was being bound to the bed by roots. Her eyes snapped open.

"A dream?"

"No, it's genjutsu!"

"There's an intruder!"

This woman wasn't an ordinary person—she was a Special Jōnin and reacted swiftly, but she couldn't break free from the genjutsu.

Meanwhile, Shūichi sat calmly beside her, placing a cold kunai against her slender, pale neck.

"Miss Mami, you wouldn't want to die silently in your own bed, completely naked, would you?"

Shūichi had taken on the appearance of a Sunagakure ninja at this moment.

Mami gritted her teeth, "You... you must be from Konoha, right?"

"I won't betray my village!"

Shūichi chuckled softly, "Smart woman. But women who are too smart often die quickly—and painfully."

Mami snorted coldly, "As a ninja, I've long accepted the idea of death."

Shūichi's kunai slowly moved downward, causing Mami to break out in goosebumps. "I believe in your resolve, but I doubt you want to experience what I'm capable of."

"My methods are quite... unpleasant, but I have a mission to complete."

Mami's body trembled, her face going pale. "You devil!"

Shūichi smiled lightly, "Don't worry, as long as you share some information, I won't harm you."

"And besides, the information I want isn't even that confidential."

"So, tell me—has the Third Kazekage left the village on any missions in the past month? And if so, when?"

Mami blinked, momentarily taken aback. "That's all?"

Shūichi grinned, "Of course. It's simple, right?"

Mami hesitated.

Shūichi's kunai moved lower again.

"You bastard..."

Gritting her teeth, Mami finally began to speak, revealing the Kazekage's recent schedule.

Shūichi listened silently, his brow furrowing.

Unlike Hiruzen Sarutobi, who mostly stayed in the village, the Third Kazekage frequently left Sunagakure. However, he seldom left the Land of Wind and only traveled with his personal guard.

And in the past month, the Kazekage hadn't gone on any missions with Chiyo.

Unless Mami didn't know, or she was lying.

But that seemed unlikely.

After Mami finished recounting the Kazekage's movements for the past month, Shūichi quickly formed another set of hand seals.

Mami's eyes widened in alarm.

Genjutsu: Temple of Nirvana!

Feathers began to fall before her eyes, and already trapped in the genjutsu, Mami's eyelids grew heavy as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Shūichi left the bedroom and transformed into a bird, flapping away.

Throughout the entire encounter, Mami's blanket had never been disturbed—everything had been an illusion.

In the dark of night, Shūichi continued his work, targeting several other Sunagakure ninja.

His targets were mostly lower and mid-level ninja, allowing him to indirectly verify the accuracy of Mami's information.

It became clear that Mami hadn't deceived him.

In a shadowy corner, Shūichi, now feeling the toll on his chakra reserves, dispelled his crow clones.

In an instant, dozens of crows fluttered into the night sky.

"Huh? Why are there suddenly so many crows?"

A Sunagakure ninja on patrol was surprised to see the flock of crows take off.

Their squad captain, however, paled. "Something's wrong... Maki, report this immediately! There's a strong chance an intruder has entered the village!"

With that, the captain and his team set off in pursuit of the crows.

Maki hesitated for a moment before jumping off to relay the message.

Before long, the previously silent Sunagakure sprang to life, with Jōnin leading squads to investigate.

...

Outside Sunagakure, Shūichi fed his crows and replenished their chakra after they landed.

As the crows flew off, he looked back at the village. "So, they've discovered me... That was fast."

"But based on the intel I've gathered, my previous suspicions have been disproven. If Inuzuka Kaku's information was correct, the puppeteer who attacked Sakumo Hatake wasn't Chiyo."

"But I still can't confirm if the Kazekage was involved."

"And was there a large-scale assault at that time?"

Seeing the approaching Sand ninja, Shūichi rubbed his chin. "Actually, there's a simple way to get the answer."

Time for a big move!

In some way, Shūichi felt responsible for changing the fate of Sakumo Hatake. Emotionally and rationally, he couldn't accept Sakumo's disappearance or unclear death.

Shūichi didn't know if the White Fang of Konoha had reached Kage-level strength, but he was undoubtedly one of the top elite Jōnin of the village. Even Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, the Sannin of Konoha, respected him.

Though he wasn't the highest authority under Hiruzen Sarutobi, his strength and mission experience placed him at the top among Konoha's Jōnin.

Someone like him could be killed, but it had to be in a way that commanded respect—otherwise, it wouldn't be acceptable.

...

Soon enough, the three Sand ninja who had been tracking Shūichi arrived.

"Hey, who are you?" one called out.

"What are you doing in our village?"

"Surrender now, or we won't show any mercy!" the leader shouted from a distance of about ten meters.

Shūichi took a step forward, and in a flash, he vanished.

"He's fast!"

"Where'd he go?"

The Sand ninja captain looked around, trying to spot Shūichi, but he was nowhere to be seen. Then, a thud came from behind them.

Turning around, the captain saw his two subordinates lying on the ground.

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as his grip tightened on his kunai, his knuckles turning white, and his throat dry with nervous gulps.

Swish!

Suddenly, Shūichi appeared right in front of the captain, their eyes locking. "I am Shūichi Hoshita from Konoha."

Before the Sand ninja could respond, Shūichi grabbed him by the throat, lifted him, and slammed him into the ground, knocking him out with a single punch.

Three prisoners, captured!

"But this isn't enough..." Shūichi muttered as he applied the Five Elements Seal and Limbs Sealing Jutsu to each of them, securing the three in place. Then he remained on alert, waiting for more reinforcements.

Not long after, another squad of Sand ninja arrived. The leader was clearly a Jōnin, someone more formidable than the previous group.

Shūichi, uninterested in small talk, drew his blade. In an instant, his figure split into three, and the swords in their hands shimmered with blue chakra, the intense heat causing the air around them to warp and distort.

His speed was so great that to the Sand ninja, his three figures seemed not only to leave afterimages but also to bend reality itself.

Modified Dance of the Crescent Moon: Three Raging Suns Dance!

"He's so fast!"

The Sand Jōnin was startled and immediately shouted, "Be careful, this guy isn't ordinary!"

But before he could finish, he drew his sword.

At this speed, there wasn't even time to form hand seals for a jutsu.

In the blink of an eye, the three Shūichis were upon them.

Clang!

Metal clashed with metal as blades collided.

In the next moment, the Sand Jōnin's eyes widened in shock. His sword, reinforced with Wind Release chakra, was being sliced through by Shūichi's blade.

"This heat..."

Sweat dripped from the Sand Jōnin's brow, and he soon heard the sounds of bodies collapsing behind him.

Without even looking, he knew—his three subordinates were already down.

Realizing the danger, the Sand Jōnin abandoned his sword and leapt into the air, quickly throwing several shuriken to buy himself time.

However, Shūichi responded with even more precise shuriken throws, not only intercepting the Jōnin's shuriken but also forcing him to dodge, preventing him from forming hand seals for a jutsu.

Clang clang clang!

Shuriken and kunai clattered to the ground as they were deflected mid-air.

Facing Shūichi's two Fire Release clones, the Sand Jōnin was rapidly pushed back, unable to mount any counterattack. His opponent's speed matched his own, and his kenjutsu was terrifying. Even kunai were easily sliced apart.

After only a few exchanges, the Sand Jōnin was drenched in sweat. "Where did this terrifying kid come from...?"

"I need to find a way to alert the village!"

Gritting his teeth, the Sand Jōnin struggled to hold his ground, waiting for an opportunity to fire a signal flare.

But Shūichi didn't give him the chance. His real body, which had been observing the fight, vanished and reappeared behind the Jōnin, delivering a precise chop that knocked him out cold.

The fight was over.

After dispelling his clones, Shūichi calmly sealed the four captives, just as he had with the others.

Looking down at the seven unconscious prisoners, Shūichi felt satisfied—especially since one of them was a Jōnin.

He left a shadow clone behind and then disappeared into the night.

Although he was planning a big move, Shūichi wasn't reckless enough to endanger himself.

Leaving a shadow clone was more than enough.

...

After waiting for a few minutes, Shūichi suddenly looked up.

Birds were circling overhead.

"A summoning beast, huh..."

He ignored it and continued to wait.

Soon, two squads of Sand ninja arrived. Seeing the captured prisoners scattered on the ground, their faces darkened, and they refrained from launching an immediate attack.

Maki, who had also come with them, saw his team's Jōnin leader and comrades captured, and his expression changed. "Captain..."

"Don't get close!"

With a shout, Maki was pulled back.

"Hey, what exactly do you want?" one of the older Sand ninja yelled. "State your demands—what will it take for you to release them?"

Shūichi nodded. "Smart. No need to waste time then."

"I am Shūichi Hoshita from Konoha..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, murmurs erupted among the Sand ninja.

"Shūichi Hoshita, the youngest Chūnin and Special Jōnin of Konoha, the one with a 30 million ryo bounty from Iwa?"

"This kid's supposed to be only around ten years old?"

"Why is he here? And why is he attacking us?"

"Is he crazy? So arrogant, challenging our Sunagakure like this!"

...

Shūichi's strength hadn't been particularly remarkable during his previous encounters with the Sand ninja, though he had left a deep impression on Rasa and Pakura.

However, it was Iwa's bounty that made Sunagakure aware of his name.

Even so, few had actually seen Shūichi in person. Not even Pakura knew his true strength now.

While some were shocked by Iwa's actions and Shūichi's age, many of the Sand ninja remained dismissive.

A Special Jōnin around ten years old?

Surely, it was just an empty reputation!

But now... looking at Shūichi and the captured Sand ninja, there was a mix of anger and deep shock.

They had just witnessed his power firsthand—the defeated captives were undeniable proof of his prowess.

The middle-aged Sand ninja, hearing Shūichi's introduction, shouted angrily, "A Konoha ninja... Are you trying to provoke a conflict or war between our villages?"

Shūichi chuckled lightly. "Don't make it sound so serious. I just captured a few people; I didn't kill them."

"Of course, if you want to start a war, that's fine too. Go ahead!"

The Sand ninja were momentarily speechless, but they were furious.

This kid was way too arrogant!

Shūichi continued, "Now, back to the main point. Call your Kazekage to meet me, or I'll kill all these prisoners."

The moment he said that, the Sand ninja's fury exploded.

"Demanding to see the Kazekage like this... This brat!"

"How dare he?! Does he plan to assassinate the Kazekage?"

"Damn it! Use smoke bombs and attack together. Even if a few of us die, we have to kill this brat. Letting him meet the Kazekage like this would be a disgrace!"

"Wait! Don't rush in. This could just be a clone!"

...

The middle-aged Sand ninja eventually held the others back. He glared at Shūichi. "I don't know what your goal is, but the Kazekage isn't someone you can meet whenever you want!"

"Oh?"

Shūichi's eyes narrowed, and he grabbed a prisoner who seemed about his age. With a swift motion, he cut the prisoner's wrist with a kunai, and blood began to flow.

Shūichi's expression turned cold. "It seems you don't understand—I'm not negotiating."

"If you don't follow my demands, you'll watch them bleed to death, one by one."

The Sand ninja paled, and suddenly, one of them threw a kunai at him. "Die, brat!"

The middle-aged Sand ninja's expression changed, but it was too late to stop the attack.

Shūichi sneered. He easily caught the kunai and, with even greater speed, infused it with Wind Release chakra and threw it back.

Thud!

It hit the attacker right in the forehead.

The Sand ninja fell, eyes wide open.

"So fast..."

The remaining Sand ninja were stunned, too afraid to make any sudden moves.

The middle-aged Sand ninja gritted his teeth and shouted, "Maki, go back and inform the Kazekage immediately!"

Maki nodded quickly—she didn't want to see his comrades die here.

Hearing the name "Maki," Shūichi glanced over with some surprise, not recognizing her at first.

Just then, a cold voice echoed through the air. "There's no need. The Kazekage already knows."

The Sand ninja parted, revealing a tall figure approaching Shūichi.

An old acquaintance!

Shūichi chuckled. "Pakura, we meet again!"

"So it really is you!"

Pakura scoffed, though she was deeply shocked inside.

She hadn't expected that the one who, along with the Yellow Flash, had caused them so much trouble before was now the same person Iwa had placed a bounty on—Shūichi Hoshita.

Her intuition back then had been right.

It must have been this brat watching her from the shadows, just like in the Land of Rivers!

"The Kazekage is on his way. Can you stop this now?" Pakura asked.

Shūichi nodded, sounding almost cheerful. "For an old acquaintance? Of course, no problem."

With that, he gently held the prisoner's wrist, and a green healing glow appeared from his hand.

(End of Chapter)

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