Naruto: Promotion is my Ninja Way

Shihouin Naraku set aside all other considerations, focusing entirely on understanding what was truly happening within the Land of Water. The situation demanded his complete attention and analytical capabilities.

In particular, he possessed crucial insider knowledge that the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure, Yagura, had been under Uchiha Obito's genjutsu control for an extended period. Any current unrest in the region could very well be connected to this ongoing manipulation.

According to his memories of future events, this was approximately the timeframe when Kirigakure would discover the truth about their leader being controlled by illusion techniques. However, the exact timing remained uncertain, making direct investigation essential.

Naraku's inquiry was straightforward and focused on gathering actionable intelligence.

Nameashi Raido's response proved disappointingly limited. He had already reported all available intelligence to Konoha Village during his previous communications. Given the short timeframe since those reports, the border garrison had been unable to gather any significant additional information.

Furthermore, their primary mission involved guarding the Fire Country's borders rather than conducting active intelligence operations. The discovery of Water Country's internal troubles had been purely coincidental rather than the result of systematic espionage efforts.

"Reporting to Lord Naraku, we don't possess any additional information at this time," Raido admitted with professional honesty. "However, ever since I first noticed the unrest occurring within the Land of Water, I've maintained a persistent feeling that something important remains hidden beneath the surface."

"What kind of feeling exactly?" Naraku inquired, recognizing that experienced soldiers often developed valuable intuitions about enemy movements and intentions.

"The Kirigakure shinobi appear to be deliberately controlling and limiting their own actions, showing absolutely no intention of provoking us or drawing us into their conflict," Raido explained thoughtfully.

"While the Mist Ninja are clearly attempting to conceal their activities from outside observation, they're also making every effort to control the scale and scope of their battles. This behavior pattern strongly suggests they're dealing with serious internal problems, and before they can resolve these issues, they want to avoid involving us in ways that would complicate the situation further."

Although Nameashi Raido had experienced considerable professional misfortune throughout his career, the fact that he had been selected twice to serve as a Hokage's personal bodyguard despite those setbacks demonstrated his genuinely exceptional analytical and protective capabilities.

Even with limited intelligence sources available, he could still derive significant useful insights from seemingly minor observations and behavioral patterns.

Naraku nodded approvingly and posed another analytical question: "If I asked you to speculate based on available evidence, how many different factions do you believe were involved in the current unrest within the Water Country?"

"At least three distinct parties!" Raido responded without hesitation.

Three separate factions?

Nameashi Raido recognized this as an opportunity to demonstrate his analytical capabilities to one of Konoha's most respected leaders.

Understanding that Naraku was far from an ordinary shinobi, Raido continued his explanation with increased confidence: "Initially, I assumed the conflict involved only a rampaging Tailed Beast and the Kirigakure forces attempting to contain it. However, after several days of careful observation and analysis, I've developed strong suspicions that additional parties are operating behind the scenes."

"Unfortunately, our limited information makes it impossible to determine the identity or origins of this third faction!"

"Your analysis is genuinely impressive!" Naraku praised, giving Raido an enthusiastic thumbs up to show his satisfaction with the border captain's performance.

Naraku then began developing his own theoretical framework based on his superior knowledge of the situation. According to his understanding of future events, he could be relatively certain that the rampaging Jinchūriki was indeed the Fourth Mizukage Yagura. The Mist Ninja weren't pursuing Yagura as an enemy, but rather attempting to safely retrieve and restore their compromised leader.

Regardless of the political complications, Kirigakure would never willingly abandon their Three-Tails Jinchūriki to outside forces.

However, due to Yagura's prestigious status as the Fourth Mizukage, the Mist Shinobi recovery teams were likely operating under significant restraints, preventing them from using maximum force and explaining their apparent lack of success.

As for the mysterious third party, Naraku strongly suspected Uchiha Obito's involvement.

During their previous confrontation, although Naraku had succeeded in severely injuring his opponent, he understood perfectly well that such damage wouldn't prove fatal to someone with Obito's resources and abilities.

Whether through Uchiha Madara's contingency plans or Black Zetsu's direct intervention, Obito possessed too many advantages to die at this particular point in the timeline.

Therefore, his survival and continued involvement seemed virtually guaranteed.

Of course, what Naraku couldn't have anticipated was that Uchiha Obito's extended comatose state had forced Black Zetsu to rely on White Zetsu for maintaining genjutsu control over Yagura. As expected, this substitution had created vulnerabilities that led to the discovery of the manipulation.

Additionally, Uchiha Obito's harsh treatment of Kirigakure over many years had already made the Mist Ninja naturally suspicious of their Mizukage's behavior. The combination of these two factors made exposure of the deception almost inevitable.

After departing from the Konoha garrison's base, Naraku launched himself into the sky and flew toward the open ocean at high speed.

The assembled border guards watched his departing figure with obvious envy and admiration. Throughout the entire shinobi world, only one ninja possessed the ability to fly freely through the air. Such a capability represented something truly worthy of aspiration.

Over the Ocean

Strong winds swept across the ocean surface, creating rolling waves that stretched to the horizon. The salty, humid air struck Naraku's face as he soared through the sky, scanning the vast expanse below for any signs of his targets.

Utilizing his enhanced Observation Haki, Shihouin Naraku conducted systematic searches across the maritime region.

However, the ocean proved to be genuinely vast in scope. Even though Naraku's Observation Haki possessed an ultra-long-range detection capability far exceeding normal sensory techniques, he still hadn't located any appropriate targets within the searched areas.

"Fishing vessels, tourist boats, commercial ships... it's strange that across such an enormous area, there are no signs of the people I'm seeking," Naraku muttered with growing frustration.

His figure flashed across the sky like a shooting star as he adjusted course toward the Land of Waves.

According to reports from the Konoha shinobi guarding the Great Naruto Bridge, Mist Ninja had definitely been observed in that region recently. While they had certainly moved on by now, the area might still contain valuable traces or clues about their activities.

Naraku streaked through the atmosphere and soon appeared high above the Land of Waves, hovering in the sky while observing the Great Naruto Bridge and its constant flow of pedestrian and commercial traffic.

Compared to conditions in years past, life throughout the Wave Country had become dramatically more prosperous and stable. The bridge connection to the mainland had transformed the isolated islands into participants in continental commerce. Even small portions of the Fire Country's economic prosperity that filtered into the region proved sufficient to provide Wave Country civilians with comfortable living standards.

Of course, this improvement came with a significant political price. While the Great Naruto Bridge had been constructed using Wave Country resources and labor, actual ownership and control remained firmly in Konoha Village's hands.

There truly was no such thing as a free lunch in international relations!

Naraku's enhanced vision swept over the Konoha shinobi stationed at strategic positions throughout the bridge structure. Due to the recent unrest reported from the Water Country, the assigned guards maintained heightened vigilance while observing all travelers and merchants to prevent potential security incidents.

"Good, they're maintaining proper discipline and awareness," Naraku noted approvingly.

"However, there are no signs of Mist Ninja presence here currently, let alone any trace of Yagura or Uchiha Obito!"

Naraku gazed toward the distant horizon, where he could vaguely discern scattered islands dotting the boundless ocean expanse.

"Could they be hiding on one of those remote islands?" he wondered aloud.

While shinobi possessed the ability to fight effectively while standing on water surfaces, they still required secure locations for rest, recovery, and strategic planning. This practical necessity meant they would need some form of permanent base or hideout.

Considering the situation from this perspective, hiding on isolated islands throughout the Water Country's maritime territory seemed entirely plausible.

"Time to investigate!"

Naraku changed direction and flew toward the overseas islands, simultaneously extending his beyond-visual-range Observation Haki to maximum effectiveness.

With the assistance of his enhanced sensory abilities, he didn't even need to physically visit each island. Naraku's search speed proved remarkably efficient, allowing him to systematically examine dozens of small islands within minutes.

These scattered islands all belonged to the Water Country's territorial waters. Some remained sparsely inhabited due to harsh environmental conditions, while others boasted superior climates and supported thriving civilian populations.

Occasionally, Naraku detected individual Mist Ninja operating on certain islands, but they were exclusively Genin or Chūnin engaged in routine administrative tasks. Not a single Jōnin appeared anywhere within his detection range.

Clearly, these low-ranking personnel weren't the individuals he sought.

Naraku's systematic search continued without pause!

Far From the Search Area - Hidden Island

On a particularly desolate and barren island, jagged rocky mountains dominated the central landscape, creating a forbidding and inhospitable environment.

Deep within a perfectly concealed cave system carved into the mountain's heart, faint groaning sounds and bestial howls echoed through the darkness.

Occasionally, confused and desperate voices resonated against the stone walls!

"Who... who am I?" the voice questioned with obvious distress.

"What happened to me?"

"Where is this place?"

"My head... it hurts so much! The pain is unbearable!"

"Something is trying to break free... it hurts!"

Accompanied by the sound of a body hitting stone, a short figure rolled frantically across the cave floor. Against the wall nearby lay a distinctive staff weapon featuring a curved hook at its forward end.

As time passed, the roars emanating from the cave depths grew increasingly terrifying and inhuman.

An aura of apex predator dominance filled the surrounding air, causing large numbers of insects, rodents, and other small creatures to flee the area in absolute panic, as if desperately avoiding some monstrous threat.

At that critical moment, the space near the island's shoreline began distorting with supernatural energy. A mysterious figure wearing a black robe and distinctive mask suddenly materialized from the dimensional portal.

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