A shadowy figure cloaked in black and wearing a bone-white mask emerged before Hyūga Asane.
She did not flinch. She had been expecting this meeting.
The Byakugan is almost omnipresent.
Unlike the Sharingan, which grants direct combat enhancements, the Byakugan's strategic capabilities are unmatched.
Its reconnaissance ability alone makes it an indispensable asset to Konohagakure.
Even branch members can see hundreds of meters ahead with x-ray precision, making stealth near impossible against them.
Yet, the average Byakugan paled in comparison to Hyūga Asane's.
With such an advantage, it was no surprise she could monitor the movements of Sunagakure's forces with ease.
"Uchiha Takashi?" she inquired, her tone neutral yet curious.
Despite the modifications to the bone mask—inscribed with foreign symbols and imbued with chakra that obscured it from her Byakugan—she could still identify him.
"Call me... Enryū," the masked figure intoned, his voice altered through seals.
Uchiha Takashi had chosen a codename. After all, operating under the newly formed "Karakugumi" organization meant discarding his real identity.
He had taken inspiration from the Akatsuki's naming conventions but chose not to imitate them outright.
Asane had already borrowed techniques named after "Shinra Tensei" and "Banshō Ten'in"—if he took from their codenames too, he half-joked that Nagato himself might emerge from the past to chastise him.
Instead, he opted for the names of the Twelve Ancestral Witches from legend. Unified, symbolic, and imposing.
Enryū—the god of fire. A fitting title for an Uchiha specializing in Fire Release.
His mask and cloak were infused with sealing techniques, altering his voice, suppressing his scent, and even slightly shifting his height.
More importantly, the enhancements increased their durability, ensuring they wouldn't break in battle. If an enemy could destroy them easily, then he was unworthy of using them.
Sealing techniques were truly remarkable—though mastering them was another matter entirely.
Even with the Seimei elixir in his possession, Takashi had to painstakingly study to approach Kushina Uzumaki's level.
"From now on, you are 'Rōshō,'" he declared, handing Asane a matching cloak and mask, inscribed with a different symbol.
She donned them without hesitation.
Immediately, her scent changed, her voice shifted, and even her silhouette was altered. No longer Hyūga Asane—now, she was Rōshō, a faceless enforcer of Karakugumi.
Unlike the Akatsuki, who operated in the shadows yet wore their identities on their sleeves, the Karakugumi organization would be different.
Low-key. Mysterious.
Their presence would be unknown, but their actions—undeniable.
Tonight, they would make their move.
---
A moonless sky loomed over the vast desert landscape as the two figures moved undetected. With Asane leading the way, they wove through the Sand Village's patrols and sensor nets as if they were mere shadows.
Even Kage-level ninja could not achieve such seamless infiltration.
The Byakugan was a terrifying tool—not weak, only underutilized by its clan.
Their destination: the main tent.
---
Inside the Sunagakure war tent, tension ran high.
"If Iwagakure doesn't send reinforcements soon, we will have no choice but to retreat!" Pakura's voice rang across the room.
A long wooden table dominated the center of the tent, with Sunagakure's key figures seated on one side—Elder Chiyo at the head, flanked by her brother Ebizō, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, and Pakura.
Opposing them sat representatives from Iwagakure, clad in earthen-toned armor and bearing red-scarved headbands.
"Impossible," the Iwa-nin commander scoffed. "Our last unit suffered severe losses while your forces retained three-quarters of their strength. You expect us to bleed further for your sake?"
Despite their words, the Iwa-nin never intended to send reinforcements.
They merely wanted to maintain the illusion of cooperation, ensuring Sunagakure did not falter before their usefulness expired.
Conversely, Sunagakure played the same game, feigning retreat in hopes of extracting additional support.
A delicate balance of deception.
Yet, all these calculations were interrupted when the tent flap was pulled back.
Two figures stepped inside.
The room went still.
The black cloaks. The bone-white masks, inscribed with unreadable characters.
The two unconscious Suna guards at the entrance.
"Who are you?" Chiyo demanded, her hands subtly preparing her concealed poisons.
Without her Chikamatsu puppets, she relied on her lethal concoctions. Even Orochimaru respected her skills in this field.
"Relax," the taller figure spoke. "We're not here as enemies."
His casual tone had the opposite effect, heightening their wariness.
"State your business," Ebizō interjected, playing for time while calculating their options.
"If I said we were just passing through, would you believe me?" The masked man chuckled. "No. We're here for business. A mutually beneficial arrangement."
Chiyo's sharp gaze didn't waver. "And who exactly are you?"
"We are Karakugumi. A group dedicated to... let's say, balance. And entertainment."
Takashi, or rather, Enryū, took a deliberate step forward. "We bring information—on Konoha's newest military movements. The kind that might interest you."
For the first time, the Suna delegation hesitated. Valuable intelligence was always worth considering.
"And the price?" Chiyo asked, unfazed.
"A billion ryō in supplies—and your puppet techniques."
A chill passed through the room.
"Absolutely not." Chiyo's refusal was immediate and absolute. "Puppet techniques are the heart of Sunagakure. We do not trade away our foundations."
Money was negotiable. But knowledge? Knowledge was power.
Takashi merely chuckled, as if amused by the answer.
He hadn't expected them to accept so easily.
Because that wasn't his real price.
(End of Chapter)