Chapter 115: Kumo's Attacking the Amegakure!

January 8, Konoha Year 61.

At Izayoi's new home, an invisible barrier suddenly rose, preventing any outsiders from entering and blocking all forms of sensory detection.

Click! Click!

"I-Iza… Izayoi-kun, are we done now?"

On the veranda of the traditional building, camera shutters kept snapping, punctuated by the embarrassed voice of a young girl.

"One sec, Hinata—hold on a bit longer, I'm switching angles... slurp."

Izayoi called out excitedly, and at the end, it almost sounded as though he swallowed his own saliva.

He couldn't help it: the current sight of Hinata was simply too enticing.

She wore a sheer, translucent gown custom-made by Izayoi: a white, short-sleeved top with a blue split skirt on the bottom. Not only did it perfectly showcase her figure, it also exuded a half-revealed allure.

On top of that, her pose right now was practically lethal.

She was bracing her hands on the floor in a handstand, her legs drawn like a strung bow, head tilted up to gaze forward; in her pinkish lips rested a red arrow.

Indeed, Hinata had once again been coaxed by Izayoi into shooting "artsy photos."

Originally, she had worn a shrine maiden outfit out here on the veranda to practice archery. Then Izayoi popped up out of nowhere, camera in hand.

Being photographed was one thing—but as it went on, Hinata somehow found herself agreeing to switch to this outfit, which, despite not being "revealing," was more embarrassing than her Pikachu and Squirtle T-shirts. Under Izayoi's direction, she assumed poses that really made her brain start to overheat.

"…All right!"

At long last, Hinata heard Izayoi's voice let out a sigh of relief. Hastily, she lowered her legs, prepared to go inside and change back.

"Hinata, wait…"

Izayoi suddenly called out to her, producing a sword from who-knows-where. Laughing, he said:

"Let's take a few more shots. We did archery just now, so now let's do sword dancing."

"L-Let this be the last time," Hinata murmured, cheeks reddened. She still couldn't deny Izayoi's requests.

"Sure."

Immediately, Hinata took up the sword and began a sword dance around the garden.

At Izayoi's urging, she tried her best to set aside her shyness, adopting a frosty beauty with sharp, piercing eyes.

If she'd been wearing a flowing robe, she'd look just like some proud, noble lady from a famous swordsmanship clan, emanating razor-edged grace.

But dressed in the translucent gown, she gave off a pure-yet-seductive vibe and sense of contrast that practically overwhelmed Izayoi.

Shooting photo after photo in rapid succession, Izayoi abruptly regretted choosing the Tenseigan route for himself, rather than a personal dōjutsu path like the Sharingan or Rinnegan.

If he'd gone the Sharingan route, then his current "Eye that Reflects the Heart" would likely involve time—maybe traveling to the future.

Even though the first ten years had gone by so quickly, Izayoi felt that this second decade was crawling along at a snail's pace.

He nearly finished a roll of film and was about to end the session, when Hinata—her bashfulness just under control—suddenly created a Shadow Clone to snatch the camera away, while her real body pulled Izayoi into a sword duel.

With Hinata all but handing him a golden opportunity, Izayoi naturally took advantage.

Fetching a sharp sword, Izayoi "accidentally" sliced at Hinata's attire during their mock fight, cutting gashes here and there. Its semi-opaque look now went even further, nearly making Hinata's clone self-destruct with embarrassment.

Yet fortunately, it wasn't her first time doing an "art shoot."

Compared to her first fiasco, this was much better—still within acceptable limits.

And now, Izayoi was her boyfriend.

Whenever they went out, Hinata no longer had to hide their relationship. She could openly hold Izayoi's arm—even share the same food.

Fulfilling her boyfriend's little hobbies, she considered part of being a good girlfriend.

Particularly since Hanabi had resumed classes, Karin had to go help at the Hokage's office and also train daily, and Sasuke was obsessed with training and missions (showing off his strength), leaving nobody around to vie with her for Izayoi-kun. Hinata had grown quite addicted to that kind of atmosphere.

After they worked up a sweat, the pair went for a swim and soaked in the hot spring, then changed into gym clothes to play basketball in the indoor court.

Izayoi "went man-mode" a few times, showing off: dribbling through tight coverage with both hands, then one big leap from near the free-throw line, dunking so hard that he ripped the hoop from the board.

The next day, Izayoi took Hinata, both donning snowman outfits, and used Flying Thunder God to teleport to the Land of Iron for a skiing trip.

Once they got tired of skiing, they started a snowball fight, Izayoi letting Hinata fully use her Byakugan so it nearly tripped him up, leaving snow all over his head.

Feeling "embarrassed and angry," Izayoi tackled Hinata, and the two rolled down the slope in a giant snowball, "brawling" until they nearly triggered an avalanche.

This blissful life, however, only lasted a few days before Tsunade came in to "punish" these two slacking lovebirds.

"Izayoi-kun, Hinata—Tsunade-sensei wants you at the Hokage's office. Shizune-nee already went to inform Shino."

At Karin's summons, Team 8 finally reassembled after more than two months.

Noticing that Izayoi and Hinata weren't wearing their green flak jackets and no longer displayed an ounce of "ninja aura," Aburame Shino couldn't resist a sarcastic remark:

"I thought you'd both retired."

Since Tsunade took over as the Fifth Hokage, the other squads had been frenetically taking on missions. The rare times everyone had a moment to gather, the other "Rookies" would come over to Izayoi's place for a meal and swap stories about their latest tasks.

Team 7 had the best adventures: not only encountering a rogue-nin armed with the Sword of the Thunder God in the Land of Tea, but also helping Fujikaze Yukie, who posed as a celebrity actress—actually Princess Kazahana Koyuki of the Land of Snow—reclaim her throne.

Though Team 6 and Team 10's experiences weren't as dramatic, they still faced bandits, rogue wanderers, and even small-village shinobi, padding their records with multiple C-rank and B-rank missions.

Team 8, on the other hand, had only logged two C-ranks and one A-rank since October, then did nothing.

Shino had basically been "retired" at home for over two months.

Or so he wondered—did those two forget him and slip away using their Chūnin privileges to go on missions alone?

He'd repeatedly tried to come to terms with it, even resigning himself to the possibility that maybe he wouldn't mind if the Aburame turned into the Inuzuka—he just really wanted missions!

Sensing Shino's resentful aura, Izayoi and Hinata both gave apologetic smiles, realizing they owed him.

Izayoi even patted his chest, promising:

"Don't worry, Shino—I'll rack up enough achievements so you can qualify for the mid-year Chūnin Exams."

Even if lazy mode hit him, worst case, he'd do like during the "fetal stirring" period and use a Wood Clone to double up—Shino wouldn't notice it was a clone, so he wouldn't feel upset.

"We'll see," Shino said, losing faith in Izayoi's assurances. Maybe once he became a Chūnin, he'd sign up for ANBU or something, leveraging his abilities in obscurity.

No one else noticed Shino's pessimism. When Team 8 finished exchanging greetings, Tsunade spoke firmly:

"I summoned you this time for an S-rank mission."

"Nani?!"

Hinata and Shino both flinched in mild shock. Shino, adjusting his shades, asked:

"Doesn't an assignment of that level require Kurenai-sensei to lead us?"

"Having Kurenai wouldn't help," Tsunade replied with a shake of her head. "Aside from Karin, only you in Team 8 can do this mission."

Hearing that, Shino and Hinata quickly turned serious, awaiting Tsunade's explanation.

Without delay, Tsunade revealed the details:

"According to intel from the ANBU, Kumogakure is preparing to launch retaliation against Akatsuki, and their forces have already moved toward the Land of Rain."

"Your job as Team 8 is to observe Kumo's and Amegakure's movements. If war breaks out, compile the battle situation into intel and send it back in real time."

Then Tsunade looked at Hinata:

"Hinata, do you have a Summoning Beast yet?"

"No," Hinata said, shaking her head.

"Then, like Karin, you should contract with Shikkotsu Forest." Tsunade instructed. "That way, if you need to pass intel along, use Summoning to call Slug Sage. Hand her the scroll, and she'll deliver it to me immediately."

"Yes!" Hinata replied, delighted, nodding earnestly.

Straight away, Hinata was led aside by Karin to sign the Shikkotsu contract. Meanwhile, Tsunade addressed Izayoi with a solemn tone:

"Be sure to stay hidden. If you're discovered, I authorize you to abort the mission."

Though Izayoi possessed Wood Release and had developed no-seal arts and flight ninjutsu on top of that—enough to threaten even a Kage in principle—everyone still believed he wasn't fully grown.

Humans only reached their prime after adulthood. Before that was just the growth phase. Even after Shippūden, Naruto and Sasuke were still getting stronger, and at age nineteen, Naruto—without Six Paths Sage Mode, Yin-Yang Release, or Truth-Seeking Orbs—still defeated Ōtsutsuki Toneri even after letting half the Nine-Tails out.

Sasuke at that age could blow up half a meteor with just a Chidori. Until Boruto, when the two became "depleted," they were constantly growing.

A part of why Tsunade refused any crusade against Akatsuki was her wish to protect Izayoi. A few more years, and he'd hit full strength, granting Konoha a super-tier fighter.

Then even Sage Eyes wouldn't scare them. If not for Hinata's Byakugan—its long-range vision surpassing typical Hyūga limits—and how crucial the intel on Kumo and Akatsuki was, Tsunade wouldn't risk sending Team 8 on something so dangerous.

"Understood, Lady Hokage."

Izayoi also nodded solemnly.

"Head out."

Tsunade waved.

After taking the official leave docs from Shizune, Team 8 left the Hokage's office, hurried home to pack, then regrouped at the village gate, bound for the Land of Rain.

…

Though it wasn't Sunday, Amegakure uncharacteristically had clear skies.

Having received the "angel's"

announcement, the civilian populace took shelter underground.

Thus, in the broad streets of Amegakure, only around a dozen figures remained—namely, the entire Akatsuki, each effectively Kage-level.

It was a lineup that would make even the great shinobi villages uneasy. Apart from "intern" Tobi plus Black and White Zetsu, along with the seldom-seen Konan and the five Paths of Pain, all the rest—led by Tendo Pain—were S-rank rogues notorious in various villages.

Uchiha Itachi, who at age thirteen massacred his entire clan, erasing the grandest bloodline in the ninja world.

Hoshigaki Kisame, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, dubbed "the Tailless Tailed Beast."

Kakuzu, once the strongest of Takigakure, now a famed "Bounty Hunter" on the black market.

Sasori of the Red Sand, who once annihilated a small country, currently outranking even the "Wood Release ninja" at second place on the black market bounty list.

Tendo Pain, who obliterated Kumogakure with a single move, crossing all lines, becoming the first to exceed a billion bounty—the head of Akatsuki.

And those whose details remain unrevealed: Hidan and Deidara.

All of them had gathered on Pain's usual "rainwatching" rooftop, gazing upon the rare sunny sky.

"It's coming…"

From Black-White Zetsu, White Zetsu abruptly giggled:

"Two of them, indeed."

As if echoing his words, two enormous black spheres materialized far above Amegakure: one in the south, one in the north.

Tendo Pain, still expressionless, floated into the air. Simultaneously, a shout rang out somewhere in Amegakure:

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Boom! The Preta Path (Gakidō) on the rooftop vanished in a plume of smoke, reappearing beneath the southern Tailed Beast Bomb.

"Shinra Tensei!"

As that dignified voice resounded, a terrifying repulsive storm instantly formed a greenish curtain surging skyward.

Under the green aura's coverage, the Tailed Beast Bomb looked as though it was being erased by an invisible eraser, vanishing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

~~~

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