Chapter 130: A Brother's Reunion

Chapter 130: A Brother’s Reunion

“What’s with that look?” Sasuke Uchiha scowled as Izayoi eyed him and his team with obvious skepticism.

“You were summoned here too?” Izayoi asked, folding his arms.

“Summoned? What summoning?” Naruto Uzumaki blurted before wincing as Kakashi thumped his head.

“Dummy, show some respect to Hokage-sama!” Kakashi chided, while Tsunade waved a dismissive hand.

“Naruto’s right in one way,” Tsunade mused, eyeing the boy fondly. His brashness reminded her of a young, whiskered Nawaki. “These are your mission scrolls. Handle the client negotiations yourselves.” She tossed a scroll to Kakashi, then turned to Naruto. “You’ve never been great at theory, have you? Every team has different specialties—balanced skills, taijutsu, genjutsu, or sensing. Team 8 is our village’s top perception squad right now. This mission demands sensing, so I summoned them. Can you sense chakra?”

“Since when is Izayoi a ‘perception ninja’?” Naruto grumbled.

“The real question is whether you can survive your own missions,” Izayoi quipped. “From what I’ve seen, eight or nine out of ten times, your team stumbles into chaos. This one might be no different.”

Team 7 stiffened, sweat-dropping. Painfully aware their missions rarely earned proper paychecks or recognition.

“Pessimist!” Tsunade rolled her eyes at Izayoi before shooing Team 7 out.

Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame arrived moments later. Tsunade leaned back, her tone grave. “A foreign army attacked Wind Country last night. They wield steel warships and armor-clad soldiers channeling chakra-like energy. Their movements are too fast, and since they lack chakra, Suna’s sensors can’t track them. We’re aiding our allies.” She tossed a scroll to Izayoi. “Your task is to locate these invaders. Nothing else.”

Team 8 saluted and dispersed. As Izayoi secured his exit papers, Hinata and Shino packed supplies. They regrouped at the village gates, only to find Team 7 lingering.

“You’re heading to Wind Country too?” Naruto brightened. “Let’s travel together!”

“We’d love to, but we’re on a tight schedule,” Izayoi grinned, vanishing with a blur. Team 8 dissolved into the horizon, leaving Kakashi and Sasuke exchanging glances.

Meanwhile, in Obito Uchiha’s Kamui dimension, ten Akatsuki statues materialized. Deidara eyed the void. “Not bad, Obito. Didn’t expect this from you.”

“Thanks, but I’ve got a long way to go,” Obito chuckled, scratching his head. The others, save Hidan and Deidara, studied him warily.

“Space-time ninjutsu? Who’s behind that mask?” Kakuzu muttered.

Itachi activated his Sharingan but found Obito’s chakra signature identical to the statue.

“Is this about confronting Shinkuro Ōtsutsuki?” Sasori rumbled.

“No,” Pain’s Deva Path intoned. “Shinkuro’s Rinnegan sees beyond ours—possibly even meteors in space. Only this dimension hides us from his gaze.”

The room tensed.

“Last night,” Pain continued, “I detected a massive energy surge near River Country. Coinciding with Wind Country’s attack—steel warships, chakra-like energy, and a flying mobile fortress.”

“Mobile fortress? Sounds like Suna’s finally caught up to our tech,” Sasori mused.

White Zetsu split. “They’re hunting a ‘Grell Stone’—probably tied to their energy source.”

“Retrieve them,” Pain ordered. “Kisame, Itachi, Deidara, Sasori—intercept this force and their fortress.”

Kisame grinned. “Artists’ team or solo?”

“I’m more interested in those armored men, and since I’m already familiar with Wind Country and have spies in Sunagakure, I’ll handle that region.” Sasori of the Red Sand declared.

“Then leave the mobile fortress to me and Itachi-san.” Kisame Hoshigaki nodded.

“Zetsu’s clones will assist you. If you encounter difficulties, summon the Six Paths of Pain.” Pain (Deva Path) stood. “Meeting adjourned!”

…

Without using the Flying Thunder God Technique, Team 8 took three days to reach Sunagakure in Wind Country.

“The Hyuga Clan’s main house heiress, the Aburame prodigy, and a Wood Release ninja…” In the Wind Shadow’s Office, Chiyo sighed as she looked at Team 8. “I never expected Tsunade-hime to send you all. She’s certainly thought this through.”

“We’re here to assist Wind Country.” Izayoi’s tone was serious, with no pleasantries. “I need detailed intelligence. Please assign someone to take us to the nearest incident site—I’ll check for residual scents.”

“Normally, I’d offer hospitality, but Wind Country’s situation is dire.” Chiyo clapped her hands, and a familiar figure entered.

“Temari, escort Lord Izayoi’s team to the latest incident site.” Chiyo instructed, emphasizing the honorific to remind Temari to be courteous.

“Yes, Elder Chiyo.” Temari bowed respectfully.

As they exited the Wind Shadow’s building, Izayoi noticed Temari’s hesitant expression and smiled. “Long time no see.”

“L-L… Long time.”

Relieved by Izayoi’s casual greeting, Temari straightened and bowed gratefully. “Thank you, Lord Izayoi. I’m grateful you spared Gaara last time.”

Izayoi blinked, then chuckled. “No need to thank me. Sunagakure paid a heavy price regardless.”

“Even so… you could’ve killed him to extract Shukaku during the Chūnin Exams. You chose mercy.” Temari’s voice hardened.

Learning Izayoi possessed Wood Release—and that he’d awakened it early—had terrified Temari. With his power then, three Nature Transformation fusions were mere preliminaries. Yet he’d let Gaara live, sacrificing his chance to become Konoha’s hero at the Exams.

“I’ll accept your thanks. Let’s focus on the mission now.” Izayoi shaded his eyes, squinting at the blazing sun. “This heat in Wind Country’s going to tan me in days.”

“You should’ve worn a cloak. I’ll get you one and fresh water.” Temari smiled.

After purchasing supplies, Temari led Team 8 toward the incident site. Along the way, she struggled to make conversation with Hinata Hyuga.

Meanwhile, Izayoi monitored Wood Clones surveying Wind Country. Though his Rinnegan offered a “God’s-eye view,” it had limits. He couldn’t read lips or track non-chakra signatures—ordinary humans blended in. For three days, he’d scoured the desert.

He’d found the armored army—exactly as Tsunade described—using amphibious steel warships hidden in dunes. No chakra meant no trail to their base.

“This must be a new plot or my butterfly effect.” Izayoi mused. “Reliance on Rinnegan’s making me lazy.”

Suddenly, two scenes materialized. One showed Sasori and Deidara locating a warship in the desert. The other revealed Team 7 following a hound to a fortress in River Country—where countless armored soldiers gathered.

Izayoi’s eyes narrowed. River Country? They’d passed through it days earlier. A mountain-like structure had masked the base.

Why were Sasori and Deidara here? Curiosity—or orders from Nagato? If the latter, had Nagato anticipated this?

Another vision struck him—a reckless idea that could nullify the new threat. Issuing swift commands to his clones, he turned to Temari.

Back in River Country, Team 7’s search for Naruto Uzumaki had led them face-to-face with a chilling duo.

“Itachi Uchiha!!” Sasuke Uchiha snarled, his face twisting with murderous rage. Black chakra seemed to radiate from his body as Sakura Haruno paled beside him.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end