Chapter 27: Urgent Mission

In the heart of Konoha, the village's main thoroughfare pulsed with its usual rhythm—voices mingling, footsteps echoing, the scent of market goods drifting on the air. Amid the motion, Itoshiki Furukawa moved quietly, his presence gentle but deliberate, as though the chaos flowed around rather than through him.

He paused before a familiar storefront: the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Its carved wooden sign swayed softly in the breeze, the gold-inked lettering catching the sun. Odd, in a way. The shop's future heir, Yamanaka Ino, had not yet been born. That meant the hands arranging the bouquets within belonged to her mother—Yamanaka Ryouko.

Sunlight filtered through the glass panes, casting warm light across the interior, where petals and leaves shimmered with a gentle brilliance. Standing at the counter, Itoshiki studied the arrangements, his eyes finally settling on a cluster of vibrant daisies. He picked them up with the care one might give to memory.

"Ryouko," he said softly, "would you mind wrapping these for me?"

Ryouko looked up, startled for only a moment before her lips curved into a warm, surprised smile. "Furukawa-san? That's a rare sight. Word is you've made quite the name for yourself lately. Who would've guessed, back at the Academy?"

Her tone was teasing, but friendly. She gestured to the bouquet with raised brows. "They're lovely. Who's the lucky recipient?"

Itoshiki's smile was faint, almost imperceptible. "An old friend. A meaningful one."

Ryouko tilted her head, narrowing her eyes in amusement. "Is it Mieko, then?"

He did not answer, nor did he need to. A quiet shake of the head and a deeper, unreadable smile served as his reply.

He took the wrapped bouquet gently, exchanged coins without ceremony, and turned toward the door. But before he could take a step outside, a flicker of motion interrupted him.

A masked Anbu operative appeared with sudden precision, kneeling before him. "Itoshiki-sama," the ninja said respectfully, "the Hokage has requested your immediate presence in his office."

Itoshiki's brow knit subtly, though his face remained composed. His leave had only just begun—a brief respite following his success in mastering the Yang Release Chakra Mode. He had not expected a summons so soon.

"I see," he said with a quiet sigh. He held out the bouquet. "Deliver this to Tsunade-sama, if you would. No message. She'll understand."

The Anbu took the flowers with a nod and vanished as quickly as he had come.

Straightening his robe, Itoshiki adjusted his collar and turned toward the Hokage's tower. There was no time to wonder.

Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, a document in hand, his face shadowed by deep lines of concern. As Itoshiki entered, the older man glanced up, offering a rare, almost regretful smile.

"Furukawa," he greeted, "my apologies for the abrupt call. I know you were promised rest."

Itoshiki shook his head lightly. "Rest is a luxury. Duty is the promise."

The Hokage nodded solemnly and passed the document across the desk. "This just arrived from the River Country. Read it."

Unfolding the report, Itoshiki read in silence. The contents were grim: Konoha's forces strained thin, the Sand Village growing emboldened, and whispers of Stone Village collaboration painting a far darker intent—perhaps even an assault on the Land of Fire itself.

After a moment, he looked up. "You want me to reinforce the front lines?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "No. This mission... is far more dangerous than holding a crumbling front. And far more delicate."

Itoshiki's gaze sharpened. "...What do you require of me?"

The Hokage took a deep breath, as though bracing himself for the words. "We need you to infiltrate the Land of Earth—under the guise of a Cloud ninja. Your goal is to instigate disorder. Subtle chaos. Enough to push the Stone and Cloud villages into conflict with one another."

Itoshiki stood motionless, processing the gravity behind each syllable.

"A false-flag operation," he said at last. "High risk. Nearly no precedent."

"Indeed," Hiruzen replied. "And nearly no one else who can walk that knife's edge without falling."

Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long, quiet breath, as if exhaling the weight of the war itself. His voice was low and deliberate.

"We want you to disguise yourself as a Cloud ninja and sow unrest in the Land of Earth—create enough disruption to spark direct conflict between the Cloud and Stone villages."

Itoshiki Fukuwara stood in silence. For a moment, he seemed to drift inward, as if trying to reconcile the task with the threads of consequence it might unravel. This mission—its nature, its cost—was not what he had expected.

"...Hokage-sama," he finally spoke, his voice calm but edged with hesitation. "I've never conducted black ops of this nature. And my chakra techniques... they're not exactly subtle. Too distinct."

"I'm aware," Hiruzen said, cutting gently but firmly across his doubt. "This is not a task without peril. If you're discovered, you'll be hunted by both the Cloud and Stone forces. But, Fukuwara—you are the most qualified for this mission."

Itoshiki raised an eyebrow, still not convinced. "There are others. Why me?"

"Several reasons," Hiruzen answered without pause. "First, your heritage. You carry the Senju bloodline and you've successfully mastered the Yang Release Chakra Mode. That alone makes you uniquely adaptable in the field."

He leaned forward, continuing with clear intent. "Second, while your chakra signatures are recognizable, your taijutsu is uncommonly precise—almost uncharacteristic of Konoha. It closely resembles the style favored by Cloud shinobi. With some subtle changes, your Yang Release can be passed off as a Lightning Release variant. Convincing enough to deceive, if played right."

He paused then, fingers steepled, as though weighing whether to say more. "But most importantly… because you're the only one I can trust with this. Others may have the strength. None have your clarity. Or restraint."

Itoshiki said nothing. He didn't need to. The air between them filled with quiet understanding.

Finally, he spoke, voice low but resolute. "...Very well. I'll accept the mission."

A faint glimmer of approval touched Hiruzen's eyes. "Thank you, Fukuwara. I had hoped you'd say that."

"However," Itoshiki added, "instigating a conflict of this scale, alone... is not something even I can guarantee. I will require a support unit—taijutsu-focused, preferably. If we are to masquerade as Cloud shinobi, we must be more than convincing. We must be believable."

"Of course," Hiruzen nodded, already prepared. He opened a drawer, withdrawing a folded parchment. "I've taken the liberty of selecting four potential operatives—elite in close combat, and all experienced in covert maneuvers. Review the list."

Fukuwara unfolded the document, scanning the names in silence. Familiar. Capable. Efficient. After a moment, he gave a small nod.

"These choices are sound. No objections."

"Then make your preparations immediately," the Hokage instructed. "Your goal is not direct confrontation. Do not try to defeat the Stone forces—you are to remain in the shadows, provoke instability, turn suspicion inward, and let chaos do the rest."

"I understand," Itoshiki said.

"And one more thing," Hiruzen added, voice tightening. "No matter what happens—come back alive. You're too valuable to Konoha. Too valuable to lose to a shadow war."

Itoshiki's gaze dropped for the briefest second, not in fear or uncertainty, but in acknowledgment of what lay ahead.

"I will do everything I can, Hokage-sama," he replied. "But war, as always... rarely grants us such luxuries."

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