Mizukage's Pokémon Ninja Scroll

Chapter 271 A Troublesome Situation

"Gentlemen, we may be in trouble."

As soon as Jianchuan Ju finished speaking, everyone's expression turned serious.

Chunyu also asked with a serious expression.

"Tachibana, is that the incident you mentioned in the village?"

This mission should theoretically be classified as top secret.

There may be some people who know about this operation, but those who know the route are all high-ranking members of the village.

Given that the Cloud Village was able to appear at the landing point so quickly to intercept them, and even mobilized top-tier combat power like the AB combination, without asking any questions and immediately launching a Tailed Beast Ball, it was clear that they were not just passing by by chance.

And there's also that strange enemy who can use Wood Release and seal the "Zero Eight-Tails".

Harusame, unaware of Obito Uchiha's true identity, clearly mistook him for a third-party force that had come specifically to deal with "Zero Eight-Tails".

If Obito Uchiha hadn't killed quite a few Cloud Village ninjas, Haruame would have even thought he was Cloud Village's backup plan.

After thinking for a moment, Jianchuan Ju did not answer the question immediately, but instead took out a few soldier's ration pills and threw them into his mouth.

He then used Ice Release to create an ice platform resembling a ship on the sea surface.

Then he sat down and said.

"Yes, but let's head towards Whirlpool Island first. I need to sort out my thoughts."

The group exchanged bewildered glances, but remained seated on the ice boat, activating water-style ninjutsu to move forward.

Lanzi thoughtfully took out several plush cushions from the 'secret space' and laid them out for everyone.

Meanwhile, Tachibana Kanagawa was lost in thought.

There are some things that are inconvenient to say directly to Chunyu and the others, and the current situation is also quite different from the original work. Jianchuan Ju herself needs to think things through before deciding how to proceed.

"First of all, without a doubt, Madara was behind this whole thing, and his main goal was to push Obito to the dark side."

"However, unlike the original story, the timeline is earlier, and the target is no longer Konoha. This is probably because Kirigakure is about to withdraw from the Shinobi World War and is currently negotiating peace with Konoha. Delaying or continuing to attack Konoha would both seem very abrupt."

This also suggests that Madara Uchiha's control over Kirigakure wasn't particularly deep; otherwise, he would have continued training Obito for a while, just like in the original story.

"However, since Madara Uchiha didn't choose to control the Lightning and Earth Kingdoms, which are still at war with Konoha, perhaps he had a backup plan with Kirigakure beforehand?"

Immediately, Tachibana Kanagawa thought of the unusual relationship between the Third Mizukage and Yagura Karatachi, as well as the green-haired ANBU member who always followed behind the Third Mizukage.

"Captain Harusame, before we set off, did you see that green-haired ANBU member who was following the Third Hokage before?"

Tachibana Kanakawa's sudden question startled Chunyu for a moment, but she immediately answered.

"That guy should be Madara from the logistics department. You've seen him before. He's the only green-haired guy in the Anbu, and the mask matches."

Chunyu paused for a moment before continuing hesitantly.

"But that guy has always worked in the logistics department, and his strength isn't that great. I don't know how he got to be the Third Hokage's personal bodyguard."

Even without listening to what Chunyu said next, just the code name "Ban" was enough to make Jianchuan Ju speechless.

Tachibana Kanagawa also remembered that when he joined the Anbu, it was this guy who handed him his equipment through the window. He had even secretly mocked this guy's codename back then.

However, since Tachibana Kenkawa hadn't been in the Anbu for very long and hadn't changed her equipment afterward, she didn't remember him at all.

There's no need to think about it now; this guy is definitely a White Zetsu assigned to Kirigakure.

"I wonder how many White Zetsu like these exist in the village."

"It seems the White Zetsu has a transformation technique that even the Byakugan can't see through."

As for Black Zetsu, Black Zetsu can possess these White Zetsu at will, so whether he stays there permanently or not doesn't make much difference.

"That's really a twisted sense of humor. Aren't they afraid Old Man Ban will destroy it later?"

"Since that Anbu member is a White Zetsu, it's almost certain that the Third Mizukage has been controlled. However, he must have been controlled only recently, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to enter into peace talks with Konoha so soon."

"But what about Yagura?"

Kanagawa Tachibana was a little unsure whether Yagura Karatachi was also controlled by White Zetsu.

Although everything seemed normal when I met Yagura Karatachi before the mission that day, he didn't seem to be under control.

However, since this guy had been controlled for more than ten years before revealing a flaw, Tachibana Kanagawa wasn't too sure if his judgment was accurate.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the village's only two Kage-level powerhouses are likely now on Madara Uchiha's side.

And that's where the biggest problem lies.

The Third Mizukage had previously hinted at wanting Tachibana Kenkawa to be a candidate for Mizukage. Regardless of whether Tachibana Kenkawa himself wanted to be the Mizukage, he was a potential threat to Madara Uchiha, or rather, to Obito Uchiha's future control of Kirigakure.

Moreover, during this incident, Tachibana Kanagawa demonstrated an ability that could threaten Kamui, and at this point, she has probably become a thorn in the side of the mastermind behind the scenes.

"I wonder how badly he was injured after being hit by the aurora beam?"

Jianchuan Ju thought for a moment, then realized that Obito Uchiha was still wrapped in a white Zetsu coat at the time, and felt a little unsure of himself.

"But thinking about it this way, the constant attacks on the front lines by Kumogakure recently, could it have been the work of White Zetsu? Just to send Nohara Rin here?"

Kanakawa Tachibana shook her head; such things weren't important right now.

In short, if one hadn't read the original work and roughly guessed the underlying reasons, going straight back to the village would probably be like a lamb entering a tiger's den, walking into a trap.

"Hmm, if they find that even the Kaleidoscope's power can't hypnotize me, I might have to resort to the Gedo Statue."

Jianchuan Ju rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. The current situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable to her.

Putting aside the fact that the Third Mizukage and Yagura Karatachi are holding the moral high ground in Kirigakure, if he makes a mistake, he could be besieged by the entire village.

In terms of combat power alone, two veteran Kage-level powerhouses are difficult enough to deal with.

Obito Uchiha, who has just awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, may still harbor hatred towards Kirigakure and is kept in the dark, so he may not necessarily show up.

But the strength of that White Zetsu codenamed "Madara" is still unknown, and behind him is the "True Madara," who, although old enough to be on a ventilator and unable to leave his spot, has countless backup plans.

"Given this dire situation, maybe I should just defect."

Of course, that was just what Jianchuan Ju was thinking.

They haven't reached the end of their rope yet, and Tachibana Kanagawa already has too many ties in Kirigakure. It's impossible for her to abandon everything and run away without even trying.

"I have to give it a try. I've already fought the Fourth Raikage, so I should be able to handle the Mizukage too, right? Probably."

"But the most important thing right now is to get to the front lines and reunite with Teacher Qing. With the Byakugan, we can then confirm who in the village has been controlled, and at least distinguish between friend and foe."

Thinking of this, Jianchuan Ju walked to Chunyu's side and told him some of the things she had guessed.

During this time, Tachibana Kenkawa did not hide anything from the other surviving members of the Anbu. After hearing this, everyone's expression turned extremely ugly.

(End of this chapter)