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"Kushina, Mikoto, they''re getting away!"
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Shin pointed at the remaining five bandits, who were fleeing in panic after their leader''s death.
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Kushina reacted first. Without using any Jutsu, she threw two Shuriken, killing two bandits instantly.
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Mikoto, her initial shock subsiding, activated her Sharingan and unleashed a Fireball Jutsu, incinerating another bandit. She then threw a Kunai, taking out the fourth.
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Mikoto might look gentle, but she was a fierce fighter when necessary.
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Shin finished off the last bandit with a Kunai.
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"Congratulations, Master. Mission complete. Reward: One Common Replication Card."
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"Looks like you''ve taken care of the bandits." Kato Dan arrived, having witnessed the last bandit''s death.
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Tsunade frowned at him. "I thought you were waiting at the bottom of the mountain. Why are you here?"
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Dan hadn''t followed them up the mountain.
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"I was a bit worried, so I came to check. It seems the bandits have been dealt with. Your students are quite impressive, Tsunade-san."
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Dan said with a smile.
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"Dan-san, where are the three Genin you brought with you?"
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Shin''s sharp gaze made Dan feel exposed.
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"They didn''t come with me. I left them waiting at the bottom," Dan replied, his smile stiffening.
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"Dan-san, are you familiar with the Uzumaki Clan''s secret technique, the Mind''s Eye of Kagura? It can sense Chakra within a radius of several dozen kilometers and pinpoint their location."
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Dan''s smile faltered, then vanished completely.
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"Everyone''s Chakra is unique. I memorized the Chakra signatures of the three Genin you brought with you. But I can''t sense them. Care to explain, Dan-san?"
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Tsunade''s eyes narrowed.
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She knew about the Mind''s Eye of Kagura. Her grandmother, Mito, had told her about it. It was a powerful sensory technique, comparable to the Byakugan.
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She believed Shin. If he couldn''t sense those Genin, there were only two possibilities: they had left, or they were dead.
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They couldn''t have left; even she couldn''t cover that much distance in such a short time. That left only one possibility: they were dead.
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"Kato Dan, explain yourself." Tsunade was ready to apprehend him.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
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"Tsunade-san, you''re not going to believe this brat, are you?" Dan said, frowning.
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"I believe Shin. He''s more trustworthy than you."
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Tsunade channeled Chakra to her fist, creating a gust of wind. Dan gulped, his heart pounding.
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He knew how strong Tsunade''s punches were. She could kill him with a single blow.
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"Also, I sensed five unfamiliar Chakra signatures at the bottom of the mountain. Judging by their strength, they''re at least Jōnin level, maybe even elite."
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Shin stared at Dan. Those five Shinobi were definitely connected to him.
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"Looks like I''ve been found out."
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Dan dropped the act. There was no point pretending anymore.
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His previously gentle expression turned cold. He took out a signal flare and launched it into the air.
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"Tsunade, don''t attack yet," Shin stopped her.
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"Hey, brat, what are you doing? This guy is clearly up to something. We need to apprehend him..."
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"Relax, I''m ready for whatever he throws at us. But first, I have some questions for him."
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Shin interrupted Tsunade, his eyes fixed on Dan.
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"Dan-san, we have no quarrel. Why do you dislike me so much?"
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This was what Shin wanted to know. He hadn''t done anything to provoke Dan.
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"I''ll tell you now that I''ve been exposed. It''s Lord Danzō''s order. He wants me to bring you back."
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Dan glared at Shin.
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"Danzō? You''re working for Danzō?" Shin was surprised.
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"That bastard Danzō!"
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Tsunade clenched her fists in anger. Kushina and Mikoto didn''t know who Danzō was, but they understood that Dan was the enemy. They prepared for battle.
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"I can''t believe it. But why would Danzō target me?"
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Shin was baffled. He had been keeping a low profile. Why was Danzō interested in him?
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Was he simply too dazzling to ignore? Shin couldn''t help but feel a bit narcissistic.
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"I don''t know Lord Danzō''s reasons. My mission is to bring you back and eliminate Tsunade."
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Dan looked at Tsunade.
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His mission was twofold: capture Shin and kill Tsunade.
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"That bastard wants me dead?" Tsunade was furious. She wanted to pulverize Dan and then tear Danzō apart.
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Just then, Dan''s reinforcements arrived: five masked ninja, dressed similarly to Anbu. They were probably Root Members.
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Shin''s eyes narrowed as he noticed the only red-haired ninja among them.
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"Uzumaki Hikaru, is that you?"
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Among the Uzumaki survivors who came to Konoha, besides Shin and Kushina, there were Akiko, Kai, and Hikaru, the only adult.
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Shin hadn''t expected him to join Root and become Danzō''s lackey.
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He suddenly understood why Danzō had targeted him.
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Shin''s lineage was a secret. He had both Uzumaki and Uchiha blood. Kushina didn''t know the full details, and neither did Akiko or Kai. They were too young.
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But Hikaru knew. If he had told Danzō, it would explain his interest in Shin.
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He probably wanted to capture Shin for research. After all, who knew what kind of power a combination of Uzumaki and Uchiha blood could produce? Danzō would be intrigued.
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As for killing Tsunade, that was also understandable. It would weaken both the Senju Clan and the Sandaime Hokage. Two birds with one stone.
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"Shin, you said that''s Uzumaki Hikaru?" Kushina asked, moving closer to Shin.
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Shin nodded. His senses couldn''t be wrong. He could sense the Uzumaki''s Sage Body.
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The Uzumaki''s Chakra, due to their Sage Body, was different from others. A sensitive sensor could detect it.
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Shin, with his Mind''s Eye of Kagura, was practically the best sensor there was. He hadn''t been able to sense Hikaru from a distance, but now that they were close, there was no mistaking it.
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"Betrayed by my own clan. How unpleasant." Shin''s eyes glowed red, his three-tomoe Sharingan fixated on Hikaru, killing intent radiating from him.