Escaping the Mist Ninja starts with backstabbing your teacher.

"Cough cough, did you manage to escape?" Yashamaru clutched his chest, looking around cautiously, appearing somewhat disheveled.

That night, Ye Cang spotted the disciples the moment he saw them, and immediately flew into a rage, attacking them without hesitation.

If it were only Ye Cang, their group wouldn't have ended up in such a state, and they might even have been able to kill Ye Cang.

However, the presence of Izumi Taketori, a rogue ninja from Kirigakure who possessed the Shikotsumyaku bloodline limit, caused their rapid defeat.

He was severely injured and landed next to Juan, who took him away from the battlefield, which is how he survived.

A green medical ninjutsu appeared in Yashamaru's hand as he pressed it against the wound on his shoulder and looked at the exhausted, sleeping Maki beside him.

If Juan hadn't taken him away while he was still seriously injured, he probably wouldn't have been able to escape and would have died there.

After treating the wound again, he felt as if the memory of that night was veiled, making it seem somewhat unreal.

However, it was too late now, the mission had failed. He was certain that Maki and Yoko had no problems, because Yoko believed that Maki had betrayed her because they had been discovered.

After a short rest, Yashamaru dared not linger any longer. He woke up Maki, and the two quickly headed towards Sunagakure.

……

Not far from the other side, Izumikawa used his Byakugan to observe Yashamaru's reaction and nodded slightly.

Because of the scroll, he readjusted Yashamaru's memories, making his memories of that night the same as the scroll's.

Similarly, at a specific time, the two will have their memories triggered and recall what happened that night.

However, Maki received the original memories, while Yashamaru received the second, modified version of the memories—the memories of his cooperation with Yoru.

The world is characterized by nested deceptions: Black Zetsu deceived Madara, Madara deceived Obito, and Obito tricked Nagato.

What Izumikawa did was merely deceive the second layer; he's hardly an outstanding player.

Watching them leave, he closed his eyes, his veins receding, and slowly said, "They're gone. I didn't notice anything unusual."

Ye Cang nodded slightly, offering no further response. Her expression was calm yet cold as she gently tucked the ends of her gradient-colored hair behind her ear.

The rest depends on how the Sand Village reacts.

The deaths of Maki and the others have effectively severed one of Rasa's powerful arms, and Yashamaru, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will likely become their inside man.

As for how far Juan can go, that depends on her own opportunities.

With Yashamaru's report, she should be cleared of suspicion, but she will likely still be punished.

"Let's go too!"

Izumi raised his hand, and white bones sprouted from his palm, transforming into a skeletal bird that detached itself and grew larger in the wind, becoming a giant bird several meters long.

The three of them leaped onto the bird's back and headed towards their base.

……

On the other side, in Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village).

The Taketori clan received a letter from the Hyuga clan, inquiring about their attitude and information about Taketori Izumigawa.

Today, they are a major clan in Kirigakure, but due to Izumi's betrayal, their clan is not happy in the village.

"The Hyuga clan's inquiry suggests they also have no way to deal with that traitor."

This person has red eyeshadow and an ancient hairstyle left over from the Warring States period. He is the current head of the Bamboo Clan.

They reacted to Izumi's betrayal by sending people to capture him, but the Kirigakure refused.

Distrusted, they were helpless against the attitude of the Hidden Mist Village.

Because most of the clan members are battle maniacs, coupled with the conflict between ordinary ninjas and bloodline ninjas in Kirigakure.

The Kaguya clan's position in Kirigakure was similar to that of the Uchiha clan in Konoha; they were not well-regarded, and their attitude was even more blatant.

"Reply to them and give them the information about that traitor; there's nothing useful about it anyway."

"After all, even we didn't know that this traitor would have such strength."

Izumi's betrayal surprised them, and they were even more puzzled as to why Izumi had taken the Byakugan, since he had not made any significant contributions to the clan and was practically invisible.

Only after awakening the Corpse Bone Vein did the clan take notice of him, but by then he had already graduated and become Qing's disciple.

"It's a pity that because of this traitor, our clan is unable to participate in the competition for the Fourth Mizukage. It's infuriating."

"However, no one can rival Yagura Karatachi, who became the perfect Jinchūriki."

"In the village, the ordinary ninjas are becoming increasingly resistant to us bloodline ninjas."

The head of the Kaguya clan looked quite displeased, annoyed that they would treat ninjas without bloodline limits in this way.

With a slight snort, she thought, "The weak should have the attitude of the weak. The Bamboo Clan will prove everything with their strength sooner or later."

……

Similarly, in the Land of Fire, Konoha.

Located underground within the Root, Danzo, with his single eye, stared at the intelligence report in his hand, his face extremely gloomy.

"I didn't expect that even Hizashi's personal intervention couldn't defeat them?"

"Alright, let's let that kid go for now. There are more important things to do."

He is currently busy pushing Orochimaru to become the Fourth Hokage.

Having lost an eye and an arm, it's currently impossible for him to become Hokage.

However, Orochimaru, who had been cooperating with him all along, was qualified to do so.

If the other party is pushed into the position of the Fourth Hokage, then his power will not shrink, but will even expand.

At that time, the two of them will conduct more in-depth research, Orochimaru will gain immortality, and he will be able to achieve his wish and become Hokage after Orochimaru abdicates.

Danzo's idea was wonderful and very likely to come true, but his old friend, the Third Hokage Hiruzen, seemed to have a different idea.

That old man hesitated when recommending Orochimaru and didn't immediately decide on the position of Fourth Hokage.

This made him sense something was wrong, and coupled with the rising momentum of Minato Namikaze, he guessed what the other party was thinking.

Hiruzen's desire for Minato to become the Fourth Hokage was something Danzo found hard to accept.

"Damn it, I absolutely cannot let Minato become Hokage. If he becomes Hokage, then I will have no hope left."

He understands Orochimaru and knows that Orochimaru doesn't really crave the Hokage position, so they will cooperate in the future.

Once the goal is achieved, Orochimaru will step down, and he will become Hokage without any problems.

But Minato was different; he was too young, so young that it filled him with despair.

"There's still time. The war isn't completely over yet, so there's still room for maneuver, as long as..."

"Sir, urgent intelligence! The Sand Village has surrendered!"

The Root ninja who rushed to report interrupted Danzo's thoughts, bringing news that was by no means good for him.