Early morning.
At the gates of the Hidden Mist, Kitahara Kaede leaned against a pillar, having waited for nearly an hour.
There was one person he had been eyeing for a long ti. To be precise, ever since the Third Shinobi World War, he had been searching for a way to get close to him.
Ao.
A Mist Village Jonin and the "White-Eye Killer."
Ao had a Byakugan from the Hyuga clan transplanted into his right eye, allowing him to see chakra pathways and pierce through genjutsu.
Yagura had not yet ascended to power, but eventually, he would fall under Obito's control. Since Rin's death remained an unchanged event, the trajectory of Obito controlling Yagura would remain the sa. Once Yagura beca the Mizukage, the issues surrounding his condition would inevitably co to light.
When the ti ca for Kaede to help Terumi i secure her claim to power, he would need evidence. He would need a witness who could personally see the foreign chakra manipulating the Fourth Mizukage's body.
In the entire Hidden Mist, the only person capable of seeing such evidence was Ao.
However, a man like Ao wasn't soone you could befriend just by walking up and striking up a conversation. He was a veteran who had survived the era of the Bloody Mist, a man who had personally killed a Hyuga ninja to seize the Byakugan, and soone whose na had appeared on the Hidden Leaf's high-priority Bingo Book.
Smooth talking wouldn't work.
Three days ago, when Kaede saw the team recruitnt notice on the mission board, he knew his opportunity had arrived.
An A-rank international reconnaissance mission. A three-man squad. The captain listed: Ao.
Kitahara Kaede had torn the request off the board and signed his na on the spot.
He didn't need Ao to trust him right now. But at the very least, they needed to be acquainted. By the ti Yagura's truth surfaced and Terumi i made her move, Ao would at least be willing to listen to what he had to say.
Footsteps approached from behind.
A young Chunin walked up to the gate and nodded upon seeing Kitahara Kaede.
"Are you also on this mission?"
"Yeah."
"Maruyama. I specialize in Water Style."
"Kitahara Kaede. Reconnaissance and terrain analysis."
The corner of Maruyama's mouth twitched. He likely felt that "reconnaissance and terrain analysis" was a sowhat ager introduction for an A-rank mission, but he said nothing.
Kaede didn't mind.
A few minutes later, the light at the gate dimd as soone approached.
The man had grey-blue hair, a tall and sturdy build, and hard, sharp features. A black eyepatch covered his right eye, and a charm hung from each of his ears. He wore a cyan vest over dark, tight-fitting clothes.
Ao walked up to the two of them, his gaze sweeping the surroundings before landing on them.
"Everyone's here?"
Maruyama snapped to attention. "Maruyama, reporting!"
Kaede nodded. "Kitahara Kaede."
Ao began the mission briefing. "A-rank international reconnaissance. The target is an outpost on the outer periter of the Stone Village's third line."
"We need to confirm three things: the number of stationed troops, the supply cycle, and the state of their fortifications."
"Observe only—do not engage. Anyone who takes unauthorized action and causes the mission to fail will be severely punished upon returning to the village."
"Understood?"
Both n nodded simultaneously.
Ao glanced at Kitahara Kaede.
"Have you done international recon before?"
"No."
"Taking an A-rank on your first try," Ao paused. "Aren't you nervous?"
"The core of reconnaissance is bringing the intel back alive. There's no fundantal difference regardless of where it's done."
Ao stared at him for two seconds without comnt.
"Move out."
***
The three left the village.
Maruyama led the way, Kaede stayed in the middle, and Ao brought up the rear.
The positioning was logical. The Byakugan's field of vision was vast; by staying at the back, Ao could simultaneously monitor the flanks and the rear of the entire column.
Kaede remained quiet, focusing on his duties.
Two days later.
The three of them lay prone behind a thicket on the outskirts of the Stone Village outpost.
The outpost, situated in a mountain hollow, had clearly seen combat. The earth walls were a patchwork of old and new repairs; so of the supports hadn't been packed down firmly, leaving visible gaps in the masonry.
Maruyama, lying beside him, whispered, "Not many tents. I counted a bit over twenty."
Kaede wasn't looking at the tents. His gaze was fixed on a drainage ditch at the eastern edge of the camp.
There was sothing wrong with the silt in the ditch.
The top layer consisted of light-colored wet mud that had been repeatedly washed by water, but the bottom layer was mixed with darker, freshly turned soil.
The alternating layers of mud indicated that a large volu of water had rushed through this ditch in a very short period.
Even if twenty-odd tents were at full capacity, the daily water usage for washing and cooking shouldn't have produced this level of erosion.
Where did the extra water co from?
There was only one explanation.
"There are more than twenty people," Kaede said.
Maruyama turned to look at him. "There are only that many tents. Where would the rest be hiding?"
Kaede pointed toward the drainage ditch.
"The soil layers in that ditch are turned over too frequently. The volu of water flow far exceeds what those tents on the surface would require. The excess must be coming from underground. The Stone Village is skilled in Earth Style; digging an underground garrison isn't a difficult task."
He paused.
"There should be at least a dozen more people."
Maruyama frowned, clearly skeptical.
Kaede didn't expect him to believe it. He was waiting for the reaction of the man behind them.
After two seconds of silence, Ao raised his hand, the veins around his right eye bulging as he activated his vision.
A few breaths later, Ao's expression darkened.
"There are chakra signatures underground," he whispered. "It's more than twenty just like you said."
Maruyama shut his mouth.
Ao deactivated the Byakugan and glanced at Kitahara Kaede.
"Put it in the report."
Kaede nodded.
***
The three continued to observe the periter, recording the direction of supply wagon ruts and the progress of the wall repairs.
Problems arose during the withdrawal.
The planned route took them across a low slope, and they estimated there was still half an hour before the patrol shift changed. However, as Kaede had walked less than fifty paces along the tree line, the sound of faint footsteps echoed ahead.
The patrol had returned early, blocking their path of retreat.
Maruyama's hand already drifted toward his tool pouch.
Ao raised his hand, signaling the three to stop.
Maruyama whispered, "Let's circle around via the right cliff face."
"We can't go right," Kaede interrupted.
Ao's gaze shifted to him. "Why?"
"The patrol shifted early, which ans they've compressed their rotation. If the front is blocked, the flanks are likely reinforced with checkpoints."
Kaede stared toward the right cliff. "There are many crevices over there; it's more than enough space for two or three people to lie in wait. If we circle around and hit a blind spot, we're dead."
Ao didn't respond imdiately. The veins around his right eye surged once more.
Three seconds later, Ao's voice dropped even lower.
"Behind the right cliff... three people, crouching in the crevices. They've suppressed their chakra; you wouldn't see them unless you looked closely."
Maruyama's face paled. If they had simply circled around, they would have walked straight into the ambush.
Kaede didn't look at Maruyama's expression.
"Maruyama, how wide of an area can you cover with water mist?"
"Across this low slope? I can hold it for thirty seconds without a problem."
"That's enough." Kaede pulled three kunai with attached strings from his pouch. "Maruyama, create the mist to cover the slope. Senior Ao, keep an eye on the patrol's position. I'll divert their attention with fake footsteps."
After a mont of consideration, Ao gave a single command.
"Execute."
Maruyama ford hand signs.
A thick water mist spread across the ground of the low slope, instantly obscuring the vision ahead. Simultaneously, Kaede acted, hurling three kunai in different directions. Once they embedded into the mud, he yanked the strings, sending pebbles tumbling. Within the mist, a series of footsteps suddenly appeared, heading deeper into the slope.
As expected, the patrol chased after the sound.
Within thirty seconds, the three of them silently retreated along the opposite tree line.
As the mist dissipated behind them, two Stone Village ninja realized they had been tricked and gave chase.
Ao turned back, preparing to cover the retreat.
Kaede was one step faster. He threw a kunai, pinning it into the root of a tree ahead.
"Senior Ao, wait until they step over that tree before you strike."
The two Stone Village ninja charged into the forest one after another.
The first one stepped onto the mud beside the tree root.
The layer of soil was nothing more than decayed leaf litter from years past; it crumbled under the weight, and the balance suddenly shifted.
Ao moved.
A short blade swept across in a single strike.
Kitahara Kaede pressed against the second man's side, sliding a kunai beneath the ribs and ripping it out.
The man collapsed.
Maruyama stood behind them, his mouth hanging open in shock.
Kitahara Kaede wiped the blood from his kunai on the grass before returning it to his tool pouch.
***
After safely withdrawing from the target area, Ao found a sheltered rock crevice for the three of them to rest and regroup.
"Organize the intelligence," he commanded.
Kitahara Kaede unfurled a scroll and dipped his brush in ink.
He listed everything clearly, layer by layer: the number of garrison troops, the direction and cycle of supply wagon tracks, evidence of underground structures, anomalies in the patrol rotation schedule, and the speed of fortification repairs.
After finishing, he paused and added two extra points at the end.
*The Stone Village is currently training a large number of newly ford squads with low coordination; they lack the capability to launch a large-scale offensive in the short term.*
*The restoration speed of the fortifications is faster than expected; there may be a dedicated Earth Style repair team stationed there.*
Ao took the scroll and read it from start to finish. Upon finishing, he took the pen and crossed out those last two lines.
"Write what can be proven. Keep the conjectures to yourself for now."
Kitahara Kaede looked at the ink lines crossing out his words and nodded.
He made a ntal note: when dealing with this man, speak only with hard evidence.
***
Back in the Mist Village, Ao submitted the report at the mission office.
While waiting for the receipt at the counter, Kitahara Kaede caught a glimpse of the cooperation evaluation section out of the corner of his eye.
Maruyama: Stable execution.
Kitahara Kaede: Outstanding judgnt.
Kitahara Kaede took the receipt and headed for the door. He exited the mission office and turned toward the river. Footsteps followed behind him.
Ao walked up to his side, and the two paced together for a few steps.
"Your observation is very keen," Ao said, looking at the road ahead. "That judgnt regarding the drainage ditch—you noticed it even before I used my Byakugan."
Kitahara Kaede glanced at him. "You flatter , Ao-senpai."
"It's not flattery; it's the truth." Ao paused. "I look forward to cooperating with you again."
Kitahara Kaede nodded. At the intersection, Ao turned into an alley to the right.
The footsteps gradually faded.
Kitahara Kaede stood at the intersection, watching the alleyway.
Ao was loyal to the Hidden Mist. He didn't care about factions; he cared about the village itself.
If the genjutsu cast upon Yagura were ever exposed, Ao would undoubtedly take action. Because it concerned the fate of the entire Hidden Mist, he would never sit idly by.
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