Chapter – 164 Strangeness.

Code Names:

Dog: Hatake Kakashi Anbu Code

Eagle: Hyuga Kuroto Anbu Code

Monkey: Might Guy Anbu Code

Cat: Uchiha Shisui Anbu Code

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Now Kuroto understood that he had initially misunderstood Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.

Before he thought that in the Ice Release, the first to be used will be Water Nature Chakra as it is responsible for shaping the ninjutsu, and later the Wind Nature Chakra will be added for the final Ice nature integration.

However, it turns out that this was the wrong method.

If someone wants to actually use Ice Release, he/she must first complete the Chakra Nature fusion of Water and Wind into Ice Nature.

Hand sign printing, Chakra flow mechanism, and shape transformation of the ninjutsu are all after steps that are to be used when the Nature fusion is completed.

This is precisely why Haku mentioned that he has to use all his concentration and can't afford to get even a little distracted when performing Ice Release Techniques, therefore one can't be distracted and needs to pay full attention.

This sentence tells Kuroto that Nature Fusion isn't a one-time process, rather it is continuous, although, one would eventually get used to it and wouldn't need to be that focused after having a mastery.

After understanding this point Kuroto knew how to learn and practice Ice Release.

Kuroto is confident that it is only a matter of time before he masters Ice Release.

…

Time is a continuous river and it keeps flowing. In the blink of an eye, 3 months have passed.

In these 3 months, the peace negotiations between Konoha and Kumo made progress and as per the news Kuroto received from Anbu, in the near future, Kumogakure will be sending their envoys to Konohagakure for the final signing of the peace treaty between the two great shinobi Villages.

For this purpose, Team-11 of the Anbu Black Ops is summoned to the Hokage Office.

After passing over the scroll detailing all the information to the captain of Team-11, Sandaime-Sama said in a deep voice, "This scroll contains the map highlighting the route Kumo envoys would be taking, Team-11 will be responsible for 'protecting' them during their time in the Land of Fire, you all must understand that no 'Harm' should come to the envoys!"

Dog as well as the rest understood that there was some strangeness in the mission from the words of choice Hokage-Sama has used. So after carefully checking the information contents on the scroll handed over by Hokage-Sama, Dog asked, "Hokage-Sama, does anyone else knows the route that the Kumo envoys would be taking?"

Sandaime exhaled the tobacco smoke and answered, "No more than four people other than your Team-11 knows of their route in Konoha, and you can rest assured that they are all reliable, so you don't have to worry about the information leakage."

After listening to Hokage-Sama's words, Dog re-sealed the map in the scroll and spoke, "Please rest assured Hokage-Sama, Team-11 will ensure Kumo envoys 'safety' in this trip!"

Leaving the Hokage Building, Dog ordered the rest of the members of Team-11, "This task is very important as everyone already knows, so without any delay, everyone will prepare and gather at the meeting point in thirty minutes!"

The rest of the members of Team-11 nodded and went to their homes to prepare for the mission.

At this time, the Eagle Anbu of the team-11, i.e., Hyuga Kuroto was actually using Water Clone Body.

In the past three months, he has been using the water Clone body most of the time, and this has increased the soul and body fit between Kuroto's soul and Water Clone-B, and it has also given Kuroto enough opportunity to practice Ice Release, Water Release and some extent of Wind Release Techniques to further cultivate Water Clone-B's strength.

However, considering that this mission was quite important with a probability of several accidents that could happen, so after weighing it out a little bit, Kuroto decided to transfer his soul back to the main body for this mission.

With that done, Kuroto did some preparation and soon left his house and went towards the meeting spot.

There was not much need to wait for others as all four arrived around the same time, so after a brief-over of the objective, they soon set off.

Since this mission was very important and they had a good amount of time in their hand, so Team-11 didn't hurry all the way and traveled slowly in order to preserve their strength for any emergency as a result of which it took two weeks of trekking to reach the border of the Land of Fire and Land of Hot Water, and even then the Team-11 was already at the dedicated location one day prior to the arrival of the Kumo envoys.

Standing atop a steep cliff, Dog pointed towards the path in the distance, "If there is no accident, tomorrow the Kumo delegation will enter the Land of Fire from this path."

While Dog explained, Eagle activated his Byakugan and carefully observed the surroundings, "There is nothing abnormal here."

At this time, Monkey asked, "Are we going to meet the Kumo envoys here or protect them from shadows?"

The dog said after thinking a little bit, "We are only responsible for their safety, let alone meeting them, then don't even need to know of our presence!"

With the Dog's words, everyone nodded and prepared.

Soon night fell.

Team-11 chose a small cave as a temporary camping site.

While chewing on the dry food, the four members of the Team-11 indulged in some light chatting about all sorts of topics.

While they were talking, Dog casually mentioned, "Did you all read the report about that small-scale conflict that occurred between two bounty-nin organizations? It seems the resulting impact of that feud is quite severe and the Black-market circle seems to have been affected by this feud."

Cat also added with an annoyed tone, "Yes, the bounty ninjas are really causing too much trouble, the most annoying is that they dare to resolve their conflict in the territory of our Land of Fire!"

The Uchiha Clan has increased its effort to collect the information of the happening of the Shinobi World to search the whereabouts of Uchiha Shinichi and the most powerful of the Uchiha Clan, at least officially, Cat is naturally aware of most of the information.

Therefore, he was really not happy that just two small bounty-nin organizations dared to cause trouble in the Land of Fire.

At the time, Monkey asked, "We won't be encountering Bounty-nin in the mission, right?"

Dog's face sank upon hearing Monkey's question.

Even the Cat was also silent.

Konoha's control of the Land of Fire has been affected due to their internal and external issues, and the fact that Land of Fire is a really big nation with most of it is covered in thick and dense forest, therefore, it is difficult to guarantee whether the Land of Fire could be considered completely safe.

As such it is more difficult to say whether any bounty-nin wouldn't dare to attack if they heard of the news.

That is the reason for Dog and Cat's worry.

After all, the battle between Konoha and Kumo has already consumed too much manpower and material resources, making Konoha a little overwhelmed when it was recovering post third Shinobi War and Kyuubi's Rebellion, and in such case, if the peace treaty isn't successfully signed due to some unlikely accident, then the burden of Team-11 will be too much.

Even Eagle who has been indifferent about most of the Anbu missions was also a little worried.

He knows that just because the Kumo envoys managed to arrive in Konoha safely in the original story doesn't mean it will smoothly go in this time-space.

After all, the changes caused because of the butterfly effect are getting bigger and bigger as time passes.

It is really hard to guess the events from here on out.

But considering that he didn't receive any news from Shinichi must mean that Akatsuki isn't focusing on this mission.

'I just hope that things go smoothly!' – was the thought of all four of Team-11.

…

Early next morning, the members of Team-11 were stationed around the border waiting for the arrival of Kumo envoys.

It wasn't until the Sun was high did signs of movement appeared along the route.

Observing the approaching unit that consisted of twelve ninjas, Eagle confirmed that it was the Kumo team. "Twelve Kumo Shinobi, it should be the unit of Kumo envoys!" – But after continuous observation, Eagle frowned, "This is strange…"

Listening to Eagle's mutter, Cat asked quickly, "What happened Eagle-San?"

"It doesn't seem right!" – Answered Eagle.

At this time, the captain of the Team, Dog questioned, "What did you find?"

"From the perspective of Chakra Volume, only two of the twelve Kumo ninjas are at the level of Jonin, while the rests are only chunin or genin class, such a configuration of manpower is too trifling to carry out the peace treaty signing between two great powers!" – said Eagle.

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