One Piece: I am Imu

Once Hizashi finished describing the distribution of the defense forces, Minato finally spoke.

"That's a seriously professional defensive layout. With this setup, any movement on any of the towers would be instantly noticed. And they're not even shinobi?"

Minato frowned slightly.

In their worldview, ordinary people simply didn't have this level of military discipline—not even the samurai.

"We might be able to sneak in using invisibility," Chōza suggested.

"It's worth a try," Minato nodded, "but according to intel we got from Kumogakure, some of them possess extremely sharp sensory abilities. A few can even predict their opponent's next move during battle."

"So first, we need to test whether anyone in that watchtower has it."

As he spoke, Minato quickly formed hand seals and created two Shadow Clones.

"We're off, then!"

The two clones said in unison.

One clone used the Transformation Technique to turn into a desert lizard and burrowed into the sand, while the other activated the Invisibility Technique and silently departed.

Meanwhile—

Hizashi continued using his Byakugan to relay the Shadow Clones' movements and the internal situation of the watchtower to the other three.

Inuzuka Gaku and his ninken occasionally sniffed the air, monitoring for any scents.

On the other side—

The 'lizard' hidden beneath the sand had already reached the base of the watchtower.

"No reaction from the people inside," Hizashi reported with a pleased smile.

"It's possible that they have sensory abilities," Minato mused, "but can't detect Transformation Techniques or subtle movements beneath the sand. Or maybe their sensory ability needs to be actively triggered?"

"Of course, there's also the possibility that they simply don't have any sensory capabilities at all…"

At some point, Minato had taken out a pen and begun writing intel on a blank scroll.

Moments later—

The clone using the Invisibility Technique approached the watchtower on near-silent feet, leaving barely any trace in the sand.

Hizashi focused intently on the two gun-wielding soldiers atop the tower, watching for any reaction.

Five seconds passed.

"Captain, no response from the personnel on top or inside!"

"Is that so? Excellent," Minato said thoughtfully. "Seems like they really don't have that kind of sensory ability. If they did, the odds of them missing the Invisibility Technique are slim to none."

The others nodded in agreement.

"Thinking about it logically," Minato continued, "that kind of powerful perception ability wouldn't be assigned to everyone. And certainly not to outer sentries like these."

"But once we get close to Rōran itself, we'll need to be extremely careful. There are definitely high-level sensors there!"

While warning his teammates, Minato couldn't help but worry about Queen Sāra of Rōran—

He hoped she wasn't in danger.

"So what now?" Inuzuka Gaku asked.

"Infiltrate," Minato replied calmly.

He collected his thoughts, his deep blue eyes sweeping over his three teammates before showing them a reassuring smile.

"Chōza-san and I will take the front. Hizashi-san and Gaku-san, you'll cover the rear. Maintain a 50-meter distance between pairs. If necessary, use this to stay in touch."

He pulled out a radio earpiece and placed it in his right ear.

"Yes, sir!"

Chōza, Hizashi, and Gaku responded in unison, each equipping their own earpieces.

"Move out!"

The four-person team split into pairs. Each transformed into a desert lizard about 10 centimeters long and then used the Invisibility Jutsu to further conceal themselves.

Soon enough—

They slipped silently through the outer watchtowers.

To avoid drawing too much attention, their pace was slow and cautious. It took nearly an entire hour before they finally reached the eastern city wall of Rōran.

At this point—

The four of them had silently agreed to stop using radio communication, fully aware that many experts were likely stationed above—especially those capable of sensory perception.

Still, no matter how dangerous it was, they had to find a way inside. They were shinobi, and that was their mission.

Next—

While maintaining the effects of the Invisibility Jutsu, Minato restored his human form. Following the operation plan they'd discussed earlier, he attempted to enter the city alone first.

He covered his hands and feet with chakra and climbed the surface of the wall like a gecko.

Moments later—

"So many of them!"

Once atop the city wall, Minato was shocked to find that it wasn't just one soldier every ten meters or so guarding the ramparts with rifles.

Within Rōran, along the skybridges crisscrossing between the spires, there were also numerous rifle-wielding soldiers patrolling in formation. Occasionally, black-clad figures could even be seen walking in midair.

This was definitely a large, tightly organized force!

"But… where are the shinobi?"

Minato's eyes scanned the area. He saw no one dressed like a ninja. Could it be that Umigakure never existed, and everything before had just been an act?

Regardless, the mission had to continue.

With soldiers nearby, he couldn't make a sound. So, sticking close to the city wall, he gave a tactical hand signal downward—knowing Hizashi was watching from below.

Soon—

With Hizashi's silent guidance, the remaining three team members successfully scaled the city wall one after another. Maintaining their formation, they proceeded toward the central tower of Rōran.

"We've made it!"

They reached the base of a towering spire. They pressed against the spire's wall, observing the guards stationed near the distant gate.

"Captain, every level of this tower is packed with what appear to be civilians—men, women, young and old. Even the top floor has people. One of them, seated on a throne, should be the Queen of Rōran."

From behind, Hizashi spoke quickly into the earpiece in a low, suppressed voice.

It seemed the entire population had been imprisoned inside.

Minato's heart sank. If a battle broke out later, they had to avoid damaging the tower too severely.

Still, the fact that Queen Sāra was unharmed was a relief.

"So—should we try to extract the Queen of Rōran?" Chōza whispered toward what appeared to be empty air beside him.

"We can give it a shot."

Minato, after thinking it through, replied in a low voice. He also felt that, since that Crocodile wasn't here, there likely weren't any truly strong individuals left in the Land of Rōran.

Besides, with his skillset, taking someone away wouldn't be difficult.

"But our mission is to gather more intel. Taking her away now would definitely alert the enemy."

"Hizashi-san, next I want you and Gaku-san to head to the western side of the tower. Use your Byakugan to scan deep underground there—you should find a palace-like structure resembling an altar."

Minato couldn't shake the feeling that both Crocodile's appearance and the goals of this group were somehow connected to the Dragon Veins.

After all, that was the only thing of true value in Rōran.

"Yes."

Hizashi was remarkably obedient. Upon hearing the command, he and Gaku immediately and cautiously moved toward the west district. Hizashi didn't dare deactivate his Byakugan for even a moment.

"Chōza-san, we'll take point and rear again. Let's climb to the top of the tower. Once they find any useful intel on their end, we'll move in and extract the Queen of Rōran!"

Minato briefly laid out the next phase of their operation.

"No problem!"

Chōza nodded vigorously.

Next came climbing the outer wall of the central tower—child's play for them.

"We're here."

After quite some time, Minato finally reached the edge of the highest floor's window. Through it, he saw Sara—now standing and speaking to a woman in a black dress with violet hair.

"To be able to sneak in here… you shinobi really do have some skill. But this is perfect timing."

Just then, a cold voice tinged with mockery suddenly rang out from inside—startling Minato.

They'd been discovered!

Minato's reaction speed was unbelievable.

Almost the instant he heard the first syllable, he was already dodging backward—and in that same moment, a brilliant blade of light sliced cleanly through the very section of wall he had just been lying against.

In that instant—

The razor-sharp edge of the vacuum blade passed within two centimeters of Minato's nose. The pale blue arc reflected clearly off his face.

[Whoosh!]

But Minato vanished into thin air, and that crescent-shaped slash continued slicing through the air, flying off into the distant sky.

However, this caused his Invisibility Jutsu to cancel out, and he reappeared beside Chōza, who was still clinging to the wall below.

"Phew… So it's finally time to fight. Good—I was starting to feel stifled."

Chōza let out a breath of relief, and immediately activated chakra in his feet to stand upright on the wall.

Side by side with Minato, he looked up toward the figure that had emerged from the cut in the upper wall.

A man with long silver-white hair and a cold, stern aura.

In his hand, he held a slightly curved blade gleaming with an icy light.

"A samurai?!"

Chōza exclaimed in surprise.

"Die."

Without a word of nonsense, the man locked eyes with Minato—and in the very next instant, his body turned into a blur as he launched a high-speed dive straight toward them.

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