Chapter 74: Trap
Inside the cave, the three members of Team 11 didn’t panic. Instead, they each drew their weapons and prepared for battle.
Yugito Nii’s gaze fell on Hyuga Kyo’s face, her brows furrowing as if she remembered something. “So it’s you. You’re from the Hyuga clan?”
It was clear that Yugito Nii recalled their previous encounter to retrieve the forbidden scroll during the mission. It was her first failed mission, so Hyuga Kyo left a deep impression on her. Now, without his dark-tinted goggles, she recognised him as a member of the Hyuga clan.
“A Byakugan and a Sharingan. No wonder you’ve been so difficult to deal with. Two dojutsu users,” Yugito Nii remarked, studying Hyuga Kyo and Shisui. She scoffed, “Fine, let’s settle old and new scores together!”
Hyuga Kyo ignored her, calmly saying to Shisui, “The one here is a Jinchuriki. Too bad.”
Shisui asked, “Should we activate it, Senior?”
Hyuga Kyo nodded.
Hearing their conversation, Yugito Nii sensed something was wrong and shouted, “Retreat, now!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Before her words could fully leave her mouth, explosions echoed through the cave, the blasts reaching far and wide.
As the smoke and dust began to settle, the massive form of the Two-Tails, Matatabi, became visible amidst the ruins. The dozen or so Kumogakure jonin who had followed Yugito Nii into the cave took shelter under Matatabi, barely escaping the explosions and the collapsing cave.
At that moment, several figures appeared outside the ruins, led by none other than the Fourth Raikage.
Scanning the scene, the Fourth Raikage asked in his deep voice, “Where are the enemies?”
Still coughing from the dust, Yugito Nii, who had reverted from her tailed beast form, replied, “It was a trap. They must have escaped!”
The Fourth Raikage looked into the distance and sighed, “It seems Konoha isn’t as weak as we thought. Maybe it’s time to end this conflict.”
Yugito Nii quickly protested, “Raikage-sama, please give me more time. I can kill them!”
The Raikage shook his head, “We’ve just received word from the front lines. The Third Hokage led a surprise attack against Killer Bee and the others. Killer Bee couldn’t hold them off and has begun to retreat. Not only that, but Iwagakure’s movements are unclear, and they might act against us.”
The Raikage was aware that Iwagakure wasn’t solely focused on Konoha. If Kumogakure showed any weakness, Iwagakure would seize the opportunity to attack.
Stunned, Yugito Nii murmured, “Does that mean all our efforts were in vain?”
The Raikage patted her shoulder, “Don’t be discouraged. There will be other opportunities.”
Yugito Nii’s face darkened, gritting her teeth, “Damn it, Konoha’s Team 11…”
On the eastern coast of the Land of Hot Water, Team 11’s four members were speeding toward Konoha.
Suddenly, Hyuga Kyo, who was leading, stopped.
The other three quickly halted as well. Shisui and Kakashi exchanged glances, their faces showing regret.
Shisui sighed, “It’s a shame it turned out like this.”
Looking down, Kakashi said, “Kumogakure’s reaction seems excessive. Sending a Jinchuriki to deal with just us? Isn’t the Two-Tails Jinchuriki supposed to be with their front-line forces? It’s so strange.”
Kakashi was unaware of the full extent of Hyuga Kyo’s actions, where he annihilated an entire valley and killed hundreds of Kumogakure ninjas in his Tenseigan Chakra Mode. Hence, he couldn’t understand Kumogakure’s aggressive response.
Shisui, cautiously glancing at Hyuga Kyo, thought, “Facing a powerhouse like Kyo-senpai, Kumogakure had no chance without sending a Jinchuriki!”
Hyuga Kyo, however, remained silent, his face stern.
He was displeased, knowing that so many explosive tags had been wasted.
After deciding to leave the Land of Hot Water, Team 11 had set up a large trap, hoping to deliver one last heavy blow to Kumogakure. The Team 11 members in the trap were merely shadow clones of Hyuga Kyo, Shisui, and Kakashi. Guy, who had no clone in the cave, had not yet mastered the Shadow Clone Technique.
They had expected to lure a squad of Jonin or at least a reconnaissance team led by a Jonin.
Unexpectedly, they had drawn in Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
Once a Jinchuriki enters their tailed beast form, protected by the beast’s chakra, ordinary explosions or cave collapses are unlikely to be fatal.
The hastily prepared trap was ineffective because Yugito Nii was a perfect Jinchuriki capable of cooperating with Matatabi.
After processing the information relayed by their distant shadow clones, the four members of Team 11 resumed their rapid retreat towards Konoha.
It had become increasingly dangerous with Kumogakure investing more forces into the Land of Hot Water. Despite their disappointment, Team 11 had no choice but to leave immediately.
Fearing the repercussions of the Konoha-Kumogakure conflict, the rogue ninjas in the Land of Hot Water had fled long ago. Thus, as Team 11 sped along the coast for several days, they encountered no ninjas, only a few fishermen.
After a long detour, the four finally re-entered the Land of Fire a week later.
Once in their homeland, they quickly encountered a Konoha scouting patrol. Through these scouts, they learned about the latest developments.
As Hyuga Kyo’s memories from his past life suggested, Kumogakure’s attack on Konoha was merely a probe.
The catalyst for this probe was the unexpected deaths of the Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
In essence, this conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure was a direct aftermath of the Nine-Tails incident, a chain reaction from Orochimaru’s defection and the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife.
Neither Kumogakure nor Konoha intended to wage full-scale war. Thus, after their attack failed, Kumogakure wanted peace talks.
The Third Hokage gladly accepted Kumogakure’s peace offer.
Unaware of the havoc Team 11 wreaked behind enemy lines, the Third Hokage would still have chosen peace talks, knowing Konoha couldn’t endure another Great Ninja War.
With representatives from both sides in contact, an unofficial ceasefire was in effect, and Kumogakure’s assault forces had retreated from the Land of Fire days before…
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